GMS Weekly Newsletter

Good Evening Wolf Pack Families,

It was a short week! I hope all of our families were able to stay safe and warm. The MLK Day Celebration on Monday evening was a great event and I am proud of the video project our STAND students displayed at the event. Thank you Ms. Hart for working with these students to show what it means to be part of the Wolf Pack Community.

Students began their 2nd semester classes on Thursday. Report card grades will be available to families on January 22, 2024 beginning at 5 pm. I am confident that the 2nd semester will be just as great as the first and I look forward to seeing our students learn and grow.

Please see below for the great after school opportunities being offered at GMS. Students that participate in after school activities are more likely to feel connected to their school. Students who feel connected to their school typically have better academic achievement. Hoping to see many of our students taking advantage! Please make sure your student is picked up on time. Our coaches and sponsors appreciate your cooperation.

Wishing all of our families a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Stuart Riley

Principal, Geisler Middle School

1/24-Girls BB @ Millennium MS

1/24-GMS/Banks Swim Conference Meet-Away

1/29-Girls BB vs Mason MS-Home

1/31-PTSA FUNdraiser @ Urban Air

2/1-Girls BB vs Muir MS-Home

2/1-Wrestling @ Muir MS

iReady is an assessment tool that is given to all students grades 6-8 in math and English language arts. The results from the assessments give teachers information on how tailor their instruction to meet the needs of their class/students. It also gives individual feedback to each student/family on if they are at, behind or above grade level. Lessons can then be completed in iReady that are tailored specifically for each student. If your child is not at grade level at this time, it's ok! In the next week, we will be sending home strategies to help them get caught up. We'll need your support to help us do that.

• By Monday, January 22, your child's math and ELA teachers will be giving each student their individual diagnostic results report (most teachers sent this home on TH/F of this week).
• Please ask your child to see the results from each Diagnostic. Praise them on areas they did well and set some "at home" goals for completing iReady lessons to improve in those areas.
• Students will be reviewing their own individual data and setting some goals in school.
• Please review the 2 informational letters below to learn more about iReady and how you can help your student become more proficient in math and ELA.

The Chaldean Catholic observance of Ba’utha is January 22-January 24. In order to accommodate students who are fasting until 12:00 p.m. on these days, students who are actively fasting may follow the schedule below on January 22-24, with meatless options available.

6th Grade Students who are fasting may go to the media center during their regularly scheduled lunch period beginning at 11:18 and stay until noon. At noon, they may go to the cafeteria to eat lunch. They may return to class at 12:30.

8th Grade Students who are fasting may go to the media center for the first few minutes of their regularly scheduled lunch period beginning at 11:53 and stay until noon. At noon, they may go to the cafeteria to eat lunch. They may return to class at 12:30.

7th Grade Students who are fasting may go to lunch at their regularly scheduled time (12:25-12:55)

Parents of students who are fasting are asked to discuss this with their students. Students who are not fasting are asked to stay in class. Please reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions of concerns.

We wish those who observe Ba’utha our regards. More information on Ba’utha is available at https://chaldeanchurch.org/news/

Girls Basketball, Wrestling and Boys/Girls Swimming are going strong. Our boys and girls swim meet was cancelled this week; however, next week they will compete on Wednesday, January 24th at South Lyon East High School. Good Luck to all of our swimmers. Congratulations to all of the girls who made the basketball team. They will have their first game away on Wednesday against Millennium Middle School. Our wrestling team will have their first meet on February 1st at Muir. Come out and cheer all of our athletes on if you can.

Go Wolves!

MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS Thanks to a grant from National PTA, Geisler Middle School PTSA is in the process of planning mental health workshops to benefit our families and students! These workshops will be held after school for families who are interested. We need your help!! Please fill out the survey to help give us direction on planning: https://forms.gle/9ej1CmBL7eu2HNfv9

BUY TUITION EXPEDITION TICKETS FROM GMS PTSA

Looking to get your FFE 50/50 Tuition Expedition raffle tickets? Email the PTSA (geislerptsa1@gmail.com) - we have 7 tickets left to sell! Tickets are on sale for $50 or 3 for $100!

UPCOMING EVENTS

1/31/24: Half Day

1/31/24: GMS FUNdraiser at Urban Air in Commerce Twp from 4-8pm

2/12/24: Hot Cocoa with the PTA at 6pm - GMS

2/12/24: PTSA Meeting @ 7pm in the Media Center

✋Become a PTSA Member and learn about events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved before everyone else! Membership Options:

Individual Member - $11

Staff Member - $6

Student Member - $5.50

Helpful Links:

Website | Facebook | Email | Become a PTSA Member

We are so excited that GMS will have a Robotics Team this year!!!! Join the GMS Robotics team which will compete in a FIRST in Michigan competition in May. The competition date is not released, but we expect that information in February. You must be able to provide your own transportation to attend. Team meetings will be held on Thursdays from 3:05-4:45 pm whenever school is in session, beginning on Thursday, February 1st. Meetings will be held in room 121 (Design Tech classroom). As the competition approaches, meeting times may be added. Interested students should see Mrs. Frost to complete a short application form due by January 23rd.

Maya Prep is hosting a FREE after school enrichment for students who are interested in computer science, coding and web design. At the end of the sessions, students compete for CASH PRIZES in a "Hack-a-thon" for the best "technology project." These classes are taught by community members who work in the technology field. This was a huge hit with our students last year. Please see the attached flyer for more information and course dates. It is important that students have reliable transportation when the class ends.

GMS has a great opportunity for our girls to become involved in an after school Technology Club! The Girls Get IT teaches students coding, website design and other technology skills. The program is run by WL Western students. May of these students were former GMS students and we are grateful for them volunteering their time and expertise. The next meeting is on Tuesday January 23 from 3:10-4:10 PM. New members are more than welcome to join. Thank you Mrs. Frost for sponsoring this club. See the attachments for more details.

Free before and after school tutoring is back again for the 23/24 school year! If your student is struggling in Math or Reading (ELA), please consider signing them up for some additional support. All of our tutors are certified teachers from Geisler MS. Families must be able to commit to dropping off or picking up their student on time. This is a fantastic opportunity to help your student find success while at GMS! Tutoring sessions begin on October 25. Your student's tutor will reach out to you with further details once you have completed the Tutor Request Form .

Congratulations to our Students of the Month! These students have been nominated by one of their teachers for being an outstanding student in their classroom. We are very proud of your accomplishment!

Lara Bethoon 6

Chris Moss 7

Emma Tokai 7

Lamarr Charles- Small 8

Harper Klautky 8

Alaena Najem 8

Alexis Torman 8

The Geisler PTSA is excited to announce that district level judging for the Reflections program is completed and the following Wolves are having their entries move on to the state level of the competition, representing Walled Lake amongst other students in schools/districts across the state. Congratulations!

• Jacob Aronov – Film Production

• Jacob Aronov – Music Composition

• Arya Godase – Film Production

• Arya Godase – Music Composition

• Addison Jensen – Photography

• Ava Lengel – Dance Choreography

• Medha Vuyyuru – Dance Choreography

Supporting and caring for our students in any way possible is our mission at GMS. Geisler MS recently partnered with Hospitality House Food Pantry in Walled Lake to bring the Weekend Food Program to our students. If you are a family that could use a little extra help with meals on the weekends, please let your child’s counselor know. Your child’s name will be held confidential. The Weekend Food Program would provide approximately 6 meals and snacks for your student on the weekend. The food would be distributed to your student in a discreet bag or backpack for them to take home each Friday. There is no cost to participate in the program. To optimize a student’s success at school starts with students having enough to eat. Please see the attached flyer for more information about the Weekend Food Program. If you are interested in having your student participate, please contact your student’s counselor Ann Marie Rutherford (Counselor for 6th Grade Students (A-L) and ALL 8th Grade Students) annmarierutherford@wlcsd.org or 248-956-2917 or Amanda Hart (6th Grade Students (M-Z) and ALL 7th Grade Students) amandahart@wlcsd.org or 248-956-2916.