Principal's Message . . .

Throughout a given week I have numerous conversations with students, teachers, and parents. One particular word is continually used during most of my conversations: "Involvement." Middle school years are critical years to have children involved in activities after school, whether they’re school-sponsored or not. Students have to be involved academically, taking pride in themselves and their work. Along with student involvement comes the need for parental involvement. Having worked with middle school children for 14 years now, I’ve had the opportunity to see how much each child changes in their three middle school years. I’ve seen children make positive changes in their lives and, unfortunately, I’ve seen students go the other way. The one consistent factor in a child making positive changes is that each student had parents who were actively involved in what is going on at school. Those parents knew their child’s team number, teachers, and their friends. Your children spend 1/3 of their day here at school and it is important that we work as a team and are on the same page to help your child be successful.

To help parents stay involved with school news and their child’s academic performance, edline activation codes were previously mailed to each family. You can see your child’s current grades and homework for the week. Currently, only 45% of our parents have activated their edline accounts. We’re a long way from our goal of 90%. If you need help activating your account or have lost your access code, feel free to call and we will assist you. I want to do everything possible to keep you informed of school news and your child’s academic progress.

Parents have many opportunities to get involved in the school, as well. The PTO is always looking for volunteers and chaperones. You can volunteer to run copies for teachers, read with children, etc. I encourage you to attend PTO meetings, held the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 P.M. in the library, or you can contact your child’s teachers about volunteering.

Parent-teacher conferences will be on November 7 and November 17 starting at 4:30 P.M. Be sure to return your enclosed conference request form to school as soon as possible.

Lastly, on November 8 there is a great need for community involvement and commitment to the students. This community deserves first class facilities for first class children, parents, and teachers. I encourage you to get involved by taking a building tour of Summerside Elementary on October 16 from 2-4 P.M. and October 18 from 7-8:30 P.M. or tour W-T Elementary on October 23 from 2-4 P.M.

Picture Retakes Coming October 27

Lifetouch will return to GEMS the morning of Thursday, October 27 for picture retakes. Picture retake order forms are available in the school office.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, November. 7 and Thursday, November 17 4:30 - 8:00 P.M. (Conference request forms enclosed)

Important Dates

October

27 Picture Retakes
28 First Quarter Ends
28 7th-8th Grade Dance

November

3 PTO Meeting, 6:30 P.M. 
4 Report Cards Mailed
7 Evening Conferences, 4:30-8:00 P.M.
8 NO SCHOOL - Teacher Inservice
11 NO SCHOOL - Veteran’s Day
17 Evening Conferences, 4:30-8:00 P.M.
24-25 NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
28 Book Fair Begins
30 Early Release Day, 11:00 A.M.

Yearbooks Now On Sale!

2005-06 yearbooks are now on sale for $25. Students should turn in payment to their 1st core teacher. Yearbook delivery will be the last week of the school year. Mrs. Walls is now collecting baby pictures of students for the yearbook. Include your name and first core teacher on an envelope with your picture inside. Due by November 23. Pictures cannot be returned.

Attendance

Please refrain from late arrivals or early dismissals unless they are unavoidable circumstances or emergencies. For an "excused" tardy, students must bring a note, signed by the parent, stating an appropriate reason for the tardy. (See page 15 in the student handbook for a complete listing of valid excused absences set by the board of education.) A student who arrives at school tardy without an excuse note is charged with an "unexcused tardy". The same will apply if a student leaves school before 2:15.

Homework Requests

Homework requests may be made when students have missed two or more days. Parents can request homework on the 24-hour Attendance Line (947-7704) at the same time the absence is called in. Please allow 24 hours notice for teachers to prepare assignments. Students will be allowed two days for each day missed to complete assignments.

School Fees Due Now!

Please don't forget to pay your school fees as soon as possible. School fees are $30.00 per child. Checks should be made payable to Glen Este Middle School (or GEMS). Note: School fees must be paid before students can attend skating parties, dances, etc. If you need to make arrangements to pay the fees in installments, contact Mrs. Terris at 947-7708.

Sports News

Football

As of October 3, the 7th grade football team was 3-2 and the 8th grade team was also 3-2. There will be a home football game October 13 with Winton Woods. The season ends October 20 at Amelia with a 5:30 P.M. start time. The Cheerleaders continue to do an outstanding job representing GEMS and supporting our teams!

Cross Country

Congratulations to all cross country athletes for their hard work this season: Mitch Flory, Tyler Kenny, Chris Marchman, Barbara O’Conner, Tyler Renfro, Alyssa Sexton, Nate Sharp, Patrick Spall, Michael Teegarden, Cika Theuri, Michelle Thomas, Courtney Toler, Chelsea Whitford. Michelle Thomas and Alyssa Sexton have placed in the top 15 in every meet! Curt Wesp has been a top runner for the boys and Chris Marchman goes the “extra mile” for the team! The FAVC meet is Saturday, October 15 at Mason. Thank you to Coach Jenny Schwalbach, Robin Schwalbach, and all the volunteers and parents who helped at the October 1 Invitational at Glen Este!

Volleyball

The volleyball team is working very hard. As of October 3, the 7th grade team is 1-4 and the 8th grade team is 3-2 in the league. Both teams will be participating in tournament play on October 22. The 8th grade team will play at Nagel and the 7th grade team will play at Winton Woods on the 22nd.

Fall Awards Program

Be sure to attend the fall awards program for Football, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Cheerleading on Thursday, Novebmer 3 at 7:00 P.M. in the gym.

** WINTER SPORTS UPDATE **

Girls basketball signups will take place Tuesday, October 18 in the lunchroom lobby during 7th and 8th grade lunches. Tryouts will be Nov. 2, 3 and 4. Boys basketball signups will take place Tuesday, October 25 immediately after lunch in the school library. Tryouts will be Nov. 7, 8 and 9. Wrestling begins November 11. Students should listen to WGEM for further information. Athletes must have a school physical form turned in before they will be permitted to try out or practice. Also, remember that grade eligibility must be 1.51 or higher to play. 

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is an after-school club that gives athletes and non-athletes alike the opportunity to do service projects throughout the school and community. FCA meets every Tuesday until 3:30 in room 310. FCA is open to students in all grades. Contact Ms. Erin Kurtz, club advisor, at 947-7775 for additional information.

Flight Club

Flight Club will soon begin to soar! Students will explore flight, model rockets, hot air balloons, etc. Exact date and time will be announced in late October. Be sure to listen to announcements. For more information, contact club advisor Kathy DeMougin at 947-7743.

Sign Language Club

Sign Language Club will begin Wednesday, October 26 after school until 3:30 P.M. in room 346. All students are welcome to come learn to “let your hands do the talking.” Contact Ms. Jennie Schwalbach, club advisor, for more information.

National Junior Honor Society News

The NJHS and the FCA have recently collected $602 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Fund. This amount was matched by Key Bank. The NJHS is now collecting Boxtops for Education and Campbell Soup Labels. Students can turn them in to their first period teacher or in the office. NJHS will be selling their popular soy-based candles from November 18 through November 28. For more information, please contact Linda Jones at jones_l@westcler.org.

Reminder:

Mandatory Washington, D.C. meeting for parents and students Tuesday, November 1, 7:00 p.m. in the gym.

PTO News

Next PTO Meeting:

Thursday, November 3, 6:30 P.M. in the GEMS Library.

Membership Drive

The PTO membership drive is still underway! Please join us by being active in our school through the PTO. Membership is only $5.00. You can pick up a membership form in the office. PTO meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 P.M. in the library. For more info call Jenny Kleinwachter, PTO President, at 752-9060.

Fundraiser Update

The winner of the $100.00 Katherine-Beich raffle drawing was Katie Keaton. The drawing was open to all students who turned in their orders on time. Congratulations, Katie! The fundraiser items will be delivered to the school on October 26 and can be picked up that day in the gym between 2:30 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. Volunteers will be needed to help distribute the orders at the following times: 2-4 P.M., 4-6 P.M., and 6-8 P.M. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Jenny Kleinwachter at 752-9060 or email her at jgkincinti@yahoo.com.

bigg’s Pay-Back Program

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 percent of the total on that receipt. The money will be used to help fund the after-school Homework Club. There will be a monthly donut party for the class that collects the highest dollar amount of receipts. Please send receipts in with students to turn in to their 1st period teacher or you can drop them off in the school office any time.

7th-8th Grade Dance

There will be a school dance for 7th and 8th grade students on Friday, October 28 from 7:00-9:00 P.M. Tickets will go on sale at lunch times during the week of October 24 for $3.00. Tickets will not be sold at the door. School fees must be paid in order to attend. Please note: the dress code for the dance will be casual. The school dress code will apply. Students dressed inappropriately will be sent home.

PTO Thanks Volunteers

PTO would like to thank the following people for volunteering their time at GEMS: Holly Chilewski, fundraiser chairperson, for all her time and work involved with running the fundraiser, and Holly Young, chairperson in charge of spirit wear, and her helpers Kathy Davis, Martha Zorb, Holly Schwierman, and Grace Ortalano, for selling spiritwear at football games and Open House.

Help Your Child Develop Better Study Skills

You can help your child develop better study skills by:

• Setting up a study plan at home where your child has a specific time and place to study each day after school;
• Connecting your child with study helpers including teachers, tutors, family members, and peer buddies who can help;
• Working with your child often on organization: keep extra supplies at home, help your child break down longer assignments into smaller chunks, assist in cleaning out book bags and lockers (before or after school hours) on a regular basis;
• Encouraging your child to read or skim text material the night before he or she will read it in class;
• Developing your child’s comprehension skills through taking notes, outlining, writing down questions, visualizing, and predicting while reading.
• Helping your child test better by spreading out studying for short periods on multiple nights instead of cramming the night before.
• Checking your child’s planner or edline for assignments due and asking your child to see his/her completed work.
• Communicating with your child’s teacher if homework is too difficult to complete or takes much longer to complete than expected.

For additional information, check these websites: homeworktips.about.com or www.how-to-study.com, or call Mrs. Urshel, school psychologist, at 947-7735.

Parent Volunteer Needed

Team 7-3 is seeking a parent volunteer to coach a group of students in preparation for a national science competition. Please contact Mrs. Kendra Ackerman at Ackerman_K2@westcler.org. if you are interested.

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