Message from the Principal . . . .

Last year at this time, I wrote a message about the holiday season and how I spent time thinking of my grandfather who was orphaned at age seven and then began working in the coal mines at age 15. He taught me so much and his words still guide me each day. The moral of that story was about developing good work habits to be successful. I received so many positive responses from parents about that particular message and requests for more stories about my grandfather. I hope you find this one as interesting . . . . .

As if being orphaned for the majority of his life and having to enter the coal mines at age 15 wasn’t bad enough, my grandfather entered World War II at age 19. He joined the U.S. Army and was sent to Burma. His job was to deliver fuel by tanker truck. He explained to me that he would drive at night so he wouldn’t be as easy to spot by the enemy. A friend of his would walk in front of the truck with a flashlight so my grandfather could see the edge of the dirt road. While in Burma, his Sergeant called him for a brief meeting. So many men and women were overseas fighting that there weren’t enough back home to mine copper used to make ammunition. Since he was a coal miner prior to entering the war and had four years experience, his assignment had been changed from fuel transportation to copper mining. His new assignment was to take place immediately in Butte, Montana, thousands of miles away from the conflict. My grandmother’s wish had come true for they were able to spend Christmas together. He spent the remainder of the war in Montana mining copper every day. My grandmother told me that this was the only time in her life that she was glad he was a coal miner. Despite the dangers of working in coal mines, it was obviously safer than delivering fuel during the war. It might have actually saved his life. After the war, his supervisor told him he wasn’t needed anymore because there was no government contract any longer. So my grandmother and grandfather packed up and went back to West Virginia. Some time later, despite being told to go home, my grandfather hadn’t been officially discharged by the Army. Therefore, the Army sent an official to Kopperston, West Virginia to officially discharge him.

Today, my grandfather’s story has been replaced with other brave young men and women who are over in foreign lands who aren’t going to have the opportunity to be home during the holidays. Many of which, unfortunately, will never come home. I feel guilty having so much and being able to spend Christmas morning with my girls knowing that there are so many others who won’t be able to do the same. It’s so important for us to keep this in mind during the holiday season and to instill upon our students the importance of their hard work and sacrifice.

I want to send my sincerest gratitude this holiday season to all Veterans who have given so much to this country. I also want to send my warmest holiday wishes to the GEMS community. It is a privilege to work with the students at GEMS, where every day I have the opportunity to make a difference in each student’s life and the opportunity to have them affect mine.

Happy Holidays!
 

“Loose Change” Drive Starts December 1

Glen Este Middle School will be collecting loose change for the Clermont County YWCA starting December 1. The money will be used for food and or clothing for needy families in our community. There has been a severe shortage of donations this year so, please, let’s support our community during this holiday season as we have always done in the past!
 

Important Dates

December

1 Early Release - 11:00 A.M.
1 Winter Sports Pictures
15 PTO Meeting - 7:00 P.M.
16 7th & 8th Grade Orchestra - 7:00 P.M.
20 6th Grade Band, Chorus, Orchestra - 7:00 P.M.
21 7th Grade Band & Chorus - 6:30 P.M.
21 8th Grade Band & Chorus - 8:00 P.M.
23 Winter Break Begins

January

4 School Re-Opens
17 NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
19 PTO Meeting, 7:00 P.M.
21 Spartan Spectacular
26 Early Release Day - 11:00 A.M.
27 Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4:30-8:00 P.M.
 

Activate Edline NOW!

Edline is a great way to stay on top of your child’s grades, homework assignments and progress in general. It’s also a great way to stay in contact with your child’s teachers and you will receive special announcements from Mr. Thacker. You will need an activation code to get started. Then, on the internet, go to www.edline.net and type in your activation code. From there, you will be asked to set up a screen name and password of your own. That’s all there is to it! Call the school office at 947-7700 to get your activation code and get started on edline TODAY! Parents love it!
 

WINTER CONCERT DATES SET

Be sure to mark the following dates on your calendar and plan to attend your child’s concert. Concerts will be held in the Glen Este Performing Arts Center.

Thursday, December 16, 7:00 p.m.
7th & 8th Grade Orchestra
Monday, December 20, 7:00 p.m.
6th Grade Band, Chorus, Orchestra
Tuesday, December 21, 6:30 & 8:00 p.m.
7th Grade Band & Chorus
8th Grade Band & Chorus

This year during the music concerts, GEMS art classes will be displaying art in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center during concerts. Be sure to stop and see the visual arts display!
 

SPORTS NEWS

Basketball

Basketball officially starts Monday, December 8 for both boys and girls. Spirit wear t-shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve) will be sold at the girls home basketball game against Harrison on December 15.

Wrestling

The GEMS Invitational Wrestling Tournament will be held at Glen Este High School at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13. All winter athletic activities cost $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for students.
 

Check out our new Spirit Wear Shop link on the GEMS website! Spirit Wear is an excellent way for you to show your school spirit! GEMS Spirit Wear makes GREAT Christmas gifts!
 

Support Glen Este Middle School Student Council
Buy A Glen Este Spartans “Lanyard”
Lan yard : A stylish rope worn around the neck
used to hold keys or a GEMS student ID card.
Available in the school office for $2.00
Great Christmas Gift!
 

Student Council Representatives Announced

The Glen Este Middle School Student Council (GEMSSC) elections have concluded. Nearly forty representatives from grades six, seven and eight have been elected into service. The following students are the GEMSSC representatives for the 2004-05 school year:

6-1 Hilary Morgan, Desiree Belew, Tara Zorb
6-2 John Hart, Ritika Shah, Leeann Malucky, Mathew Grau
6-3 Derek Daniel, Michelle Thomas, Lakin Louiso
7-1 Kaylin Hodge, Brittany Bender, Brittney Marlow
7-2 Tori Velton, Casey Neff, Dylan Gerding, Matt Weinstein, Ryan Hutcherson, Audri Givens
7-3 Jacob Kelch, Eileen Perry, Emily Large, Cody Winesett
8-1 Brandon Harris, Jeff Helenberg, Jennifer Rosell, Emily Wildhaber
8-2 Loren Masterson, Craig Scheidler, Angela Sena
8-3 Chris Gorman, Allie Bath, Kate Hart, Eric Cieclewicz
8-4 Olivia Moore, Amber Jones, Steven Kilgore, Kristina Brewer

This year’s GEMSSC officers are:

President - Kate Hart, 8-3
Vice-President - Jennifer Rosell, 8-1
Treasurer - Eileen Parry, 7-3
Secretary - Hillary Morgan, 6-1

Activities Coordinators:

6th Grade - Ritika Shah, 6-2
7th Grade - Tori Velton, 7-2
8th Grade - Allie Bath, 8-3

The GEMSSC has two on-going community service projects that need YOUR support!

Project One: Soldier Wish List drive. In conjunction with the Yellow Ribbon Support Center, the GEMSSC is collecting supplies to send to our soldiers overseas. Please send Dinty Moore dinners, boxed foods, coffee, coffee creamer, sugar packets, snacks, batteries, magazines, puzzles, disposable cameras, paper plates, cups, plastic utensils, napkins, holiday decorations, etc. Collection boxes are located in the GEMS office as well as throughout the school.

Project Two: “Principal for a Day” to help support the local YWCA. For every fifty cent donation, students get their name entered into a drawing to become “principal for a day.” One student from grade six, seven and eight will be drawn and these students will shadow their prospective principal. Donations will be collected beginning in December.
 

PTO NEWS

Next PTO Meeting Wednesday, December 15 GEMS Library, 7:00 P.M.

December PTO Meeting

The December PTO meeting will be a social meeting to celebrate the holidays. Please, bring your favorite holiday cookie to share with others! PTO would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Thanks to Volunteers

Thanks to the wonderful volunteers that helped with the Mega Bash on Friday, November 5. You are greatly appreciated. The Mega Bash was a wonderful success because of your help!

bigg’s Pay-Back Program

This year bigg’s has agreed to host a receipt pay-back program to help defray the cost of our after school Homework Club. For every bigg’s receipt turned in to the school, bigg’s will pay back one-half of one percent of the total on that receipt. Students should bring in their bigg’s receipts and turn them in to their first core teacher. Every month the first core classroom with the most total receipts will receive a doughnut party hosted by the PTO. This month’s winner: Mrs. DiOrio, team 7-2! Receipts totalled $4193.83. Congratulations! Keep bringing in those receipts and then maybe next month your class will be the winner!
 

Yearbook Sale Extended

You can buy a 2004-05 yearbook through Friday, December 1 for $25.00. Please make checks payable to GEMS. Order forms are in the school office.
 

2004 Straight-A Program

Once again, students who hit a home run academically can earn free Reds tickets as the Cincinnati Reds, The Cincinnati Post and the Kentucky Post kick off the 2004 Straight-A Program. The Reds have designed the Straight-A Program to reward academic achievement among students in grades seven through 12. Students obtaining an “A” or “A-” grade point average are eligible for the free tickets. Qualifying students will be given an order form redeemable for tickets. Each Straight-A student will be able to select two free View Level tickets for one of the designated Straight-A dates on the Reds’ 2005 schedule. Eligibility will be based on first trimester grades in all subjects. A list of students who qualify will be posted outside the office in late January.
 

Emergency Dismissals

In the past, early dismissal has occurred because of inclement weather, power failure, or a threat to the school. This sometimes catches parents off guard. Like you, we do not want your child going home to an unsafe situation. It is important for families to discuss with their children what to do if an emergency situation would occur. Please talk to your children about where to go if no one is home or about carrying house keys with them. All families should have a contingency plan.
 

Are We Closed?

Inclement weather will soon be coming! To see if school is closed Glen Este Middle School parents can call our School Closing Information Line at 947-7798. This line will have updated school closing information as received from the West Clermont School District. Please do not call the school office or transportation office to see if school is closed. We need to keep our lines open for emergency information. You can also go to our district’s website, www.westcler.org, to see if we are on any kind of delay. The notices are put on the front page of the web site under “announcements” by 5:30 a.m. Please listen to your radio or watch your television for WEST CLERMONT School District. Always continue to watch or listen for updates in case delays are changed.
 

Health News

As most people know, it is virtually impossible to escape illnesses in the school setting. But there are measures that can be taken to help lessen the spread of disease. Adequate sleep, eating breakfast every morning, covering the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, and regular hand washing will help protect your child from many contagious illnesses. If you have not done so yet this year, please consider sending in a box or two of tissue for the classroom. Thanks!

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