Gananda Blue Panther Gazette

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Varicella (Chickenpox) is a highly contagious viral infection. Symptoms include an itchy, blister-like rash on the skin, which may pus or ooze. Treatment usually involves relieving symptoms. Spreads through...airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes), skin-to-skin contact (handshakes or hugs), saliva (kissing or shared drinks), touching a contaminated surface (blanket or doorknob). Students should be out of school until the sores are scabbed over (usually 5-7 days). Chickenpox can be prevented by a vaccine. You should always contact your pediatrician for medical advice.

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Today starts #ReadAcrossAmerica Week and we are celebrating with Dr. Seuss theme days. We invite all of our Richard Mann Elementary students and staff to celebrate this week, March 1 through March 5, by participating in our theme days below:

Our remote students can participate by emailing pictures to GanandaPR@gananda.org or posting them on Facebook or Twitter and tagging them with #GanandaReadAcrossAmericaWeek.

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On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, we officially passed the 100 days of school milestone! This year may look different but we are still learning, growing, and making strides for our future!

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The Eastside Family YMCA in Penfield is teaming up with us to offer a "School of Roc Virtual Day Program" for the Fridays that our elementary students are learning virtually. The program runs from 7am-6pm on each elementary virtual day and will assist students with logging onto their virtual classes and any asynchronous work due that day. Additionally, the YMCA School of Roc also provides various kid-friendly activities throughout the day such as crafts, games, and time in the Adventure Center.

Parents will need to transport students to and from the program and also provide a packed lunch. Breakfast and afternoon snack are provided by the YMCA. The cost to participate is $55 for YMCA members or $75 for non-members per day. You can sign up for as many days as you would like, from one to all seven. Once you register, you will also be sent a form to fill out your child's virtual learning schedule and homework assignments.

Space is limited in the program, so be sure to register soon! Registration forms are posted on ParentSquare. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Taylor Maiorana by email at: taylor.maiorana@rochester.ymca.org.

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We need to add remote learning days for our elementary students in order to provide our teachers with planning and professional development time for the second half of the school year. We have scheduled the following Fridays as remote learning days for our elementary students:

Friday, March 5
Friday, March 26
Friday, April 23
Friday, May 14
Friday, June 4

For additional information, please see Principal Ernstberger's letter on our website at: https://bit.ly/2XU8n4z.

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Congratulations to Sue DeGraff for being our PBIS staff winner! Sue has stepped up this year in her role as a 4th grade teacher, spending countless hours learning and teaching a new curriculum. She consistently puts her students and their needs first

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Athletic Registration is now open for the following sports. Please log into Family ID for registration:
Modified Boys Basketball
Modified Girls Basketball
Modified Cheer
Modified Volleyball

Fall 2 Season begins on March 15th.

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Eighth grade students who are interested in the PLTW Biomedical Program when they enter high school can find the application to complete here. The application deadline is Friday March 19, 2021. Students that are accepted into the PLTW Biomedical program will be introduced to a wide variety of science and medical based skills and experiences.

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Order your Gananda Middle School yearbook! Visit www.inter-state.com/yearbook and enter code 55257R to place your order. Softback and hardcover yearbooks are available with the option to add a personalized cover. Standard GMS yearbooks will be available to order until April 9, 2021. Orders with personalized covers must be ordered by March 1, 2021. Please direct any questions to Nickie Mereness: nmereness@gananda.org.

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There are so many good reasons to volunteer. Contact GDFScholars@gananda.org if you are interested to learn more!

Lisa Fox explains why she decided to join GDFS:

"I joined GDFS when it began in 1991 and have continued to support its work every year since then because I can see the tangible impact of this work. Because of this committee’s efforts, our students feel the financial support of their community and proudly go out into the education world beyond Gananda.

GDFS’ first spring phone-a-thon back in 1991 enabled $3,235 in scholarships to be awarded to qualified students. Our most recent phone-a-thon raised over $6,000 and in June, over $33,000 was distributed to seniors. Of course, the phone-a-thon is the largest but not the only fundraising source of scholarship money. In 2021, we will keep going. COVID-19 may require us to change our approach, but Gananda’s students will continue to graduate and further their studies and GDFS will continue to be there to provide financial encouragement. Want to join the fun? We welcome you at our Facebook page and at monthly planning meetings announced there and here in the weekly Gazette.

Gratefully yours, Lisa Fox, mom of Sue, Class of ’94 and Rob, Class of ‘97"

GDFS next meeting date is March 2 at 7 pm. This meeting will be available through Zoom.

Have you ever wondered what those tiled walls at the three schools were all about? Gananda Dollars for Scholars started the walls in 1996 as a way to commemorate loved ones, special events, or advertise a business. Each year, the money raised from the sale of Foundations of the Future commemorative tiles funds scholarships to graduating seniors continuing their education. Visit the Gananda website for more information about the Foundations of the Future Tiles and how you can order one.

Order from AmazonSmile! Designate Gananda Dollars for Scholars as your charity of choice at no cost to you. Amazon will donate .5% of your purchase. Over $800 has been raised to date! Sign up today!

Did you know that you can start gathering volunteer hours as soon as you leave 8th grade? Just download a volunteer log from the Gananda Dollars for Scholars webpage, and start recording your high school volunteer experience!

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Email: ganandapr@gananda.org
Website: www.gananda.org
Location: 1500 Dayspring Ridge, Walworth, NY, USA
Phone: (315)986-3521
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GanandaSchools/
Twitter: @WeAreGananda