Garfield Gazette
February 2024 Newsletter
Words from Mr. Smith
Greetings,
The year is really moving fast. In the brief time we have remaining in the school year it will be essential to redouble our efforts to focus on the little things that make daily success possible. Cell phones remain one of our biggest challenges. Please remind students to place their phones in their lockers daily. Students can access phones throughout the building and make calls upon reasonable requests. Additionally, following all rules, regulations, and policies will help students successfully navigate the day-to-day routines.
Kindness is in demand. We are requesting students go out of their way to be kind to one another as well as staff and their parents.
As always, Win The Day!
Ouimet Smith
Assistant Principal
Introducing BRIDGES "Bites"
The students and teachers in the BRIDGES program are proud to announce that on Thursday, January 25th, the program launched its Garfield School business, titled BRIDGES "Bites."
Bridges "Bites" will offer snacks, drinks, and treats for purchase that staff can order through an online menu that will be presented approximately one week before delivery. Students will then work to take inventory and stock items for purchase, prepare orders, deliver orders, collect payment, and retrieve reusable bags that will be used for delivery. These are just some of the many jobs and vocational and life skills that students will be working to learn and utilize during this process. Initially, as the business grows, this will occur monthly, and only be available to staff. However, as students become more acclimated with the skills needed for the jobs in their "business," expansion of the business may occur.
Stay tuned...we look forward to sharing our successes with you in the future!
8th Grade Washington DC Trip
Final Fundraiser
This year we will not be hosting a Pasta Night, instead are thrilled to introduce a new and exciting fundraising opportunity. We are launching a sponsorship program that will enable local businesses to sponsor the field trip helping to offset the overall cost of the trip. We believe this fundraising initiative not only helps our students financially but also strengthens our community ties.
Here are some key details about the sponsorship program:
Sponsorship Levels
- Presidential Level: $600-a full scholarship for a student to experience the trip of a lifetime
- Supreme Court Level: $300-half scholarship for a student to experience the trip of a lifetime
- Congressional Level: $100-a sixth scholarship for a student to attend the trip.
- A donation in any amount would be greatly appreciated and go a long way in assisting our great students.
Benefits for Sponsors
- Prominent placement of your name or logo on the back of our official trip shirts.
- Lasting visibility as the shirts will be cherished by students and families for years to come.
How to Get Involved
- Below is the Sponsorship Form. If you know a local business that would be interested in sponsoring our Field Trip, we simply ask that you spread the word.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support. Let's make this 8th grade Washington DC Trip truly memorable for our students!
Important Dates
Winter Sports
š7th/8th Grade Boys Basketball
2/6 vs. University School
2/7 @ Greenbrier MS
2/12 vs. Hillside MS
2/14 vs. Harding MS
2/20 vs. North Olmsted MS
2/21 @ Rocky River MS (Maroon)
2/26 @ Rocky River MS (White)
2/28 @ Shiloh MS
š¤¼āāļø 7th/8th Grade Wrestling
2/3 MS GLC Championships @ Bay Village HS 9:00 am
Other Important Dates
2/5 Hungry Howie's Dine to Donate Night
2/8 Ski Club
2/15 Ski Club
2/16 Professional Day for Staff- No School for Students
2/19 President's Day- No School for Students
2/21 PTSA Meeting @ 7:00 pm in the LRC
2/22 Craft Night @ 7pm in the Cafetorium2/26 Craft Night @ 7pm in the Cafetorium
2/27 8th Grade Field Trip to Playhouse Square
2/27 Listen & Learn with Superintendent Niedzwiecki @ 6:00 pm at Hayes
3/1 Ohio City Burrito Dine to Donate Night
3/1 Spring Dance 6:30-8:30
3/4 Hungry Howie's Dine to Donate Night
3/6 8th Grade Band Festival @ 7:00 pm in Civic
3/8 Final payment for DC due
3/8 End of 3rd Quarter
Game Club Dates
2/1- All Grades
2/8- 8th grade
2/15- 7th grade
2/22- 6th grade
2/29- All Grades
Upcoming 8th Grade Field Trip
On February 27th, our 8th graders will be heading downtown to Playhouse Square to see a live performance of the musical project, āThe Unauthorized Biography Series."
Through a generous grant from the Lakewood Rangers Educational Foundation & The Cleveland Playhouse, the cost of the trip is just $3 per student.
āThis critically-acclaimed musical project packages history through Hip-Hop and biographical rap songsā¦to deliver powerful and transformative messaging in a way that resonates with and inspires audiences. It celebrates four of the worldās greatest cultural icons: Martin Luther King, Jr., former President Barack Obama, Malala Yousafzai and Serena Williams.ā
Students will be bringing home permission slips next week, please be on the lookout.
Yearbook Sale
Yearbooks are on sale now! If you did not purchase a yearbook with your picture package, this is your last chance to order a yearbook for the 2023-24 school year.
The cost of the yearbook is $20. The deadline to order is 3/8/24.
Go to: https://www.ripchostudio.com/yearbooks
Online Password: ybgarmid24
PTSA News
Greetings from the PTSA! We have A LOT going on right now, so bear with me as I give you ALL the details. If this has more of a TLDR feel to it, reach out to me at garfieldmsptsa@gmail.com if you want to:
Become a member
Donate to the PTSA
Become a member of the 2024-25 PTSA Board
Volunteer or Donate to the Spring Dance
If you want all the details now, read on! Thank you, as always, for your support of the PTSA! We couldnāt support our students, teachers & staff without your generosity!
Kristen Moran
PTSA President
Membership Update
As of February 1, we are at 246 members, far surpassing our initial goal of 185 members! Thank you to everyone who has joined this school year. If you are new to Garfield or would still like to join the PTSA, click here. Member dues are only $7!
Your membership to the PTSA is very important to the success of Garfield Middle School. Your dues and any donations help support a variety of activities and programs for the Garfield community including: Staff Appreciation events, Reflections Arts Program, Teacher Grants, Dances and much more! As a member, you can be involved as much or as little as your time allows - there are lots of ways to help and we will always welcome and encourage your participation!
PTSA Fundraiser
Thank you to the families who have already made a donation to our PTSA āAlternative Fundraiserā. While we are only at 12% of our goal, I am confident that with a little nudge, we can get there by the end of February!
Every single donation, regardless of the denomination, will help us reach our goal. We understand that not every family will be able to meet this request, but for those who are, we ask that you consider supporting one or more of your studentās classmates. Here are the suggested ways you can help:
If you wish to make a donation online, click here or scan the QR code above.
If you choose to send a payment into Garfield, make checks payable to GMS PTSA, mark the envelope āPTSA Fundraiserā and deliver it to the main office.
Thank you for your support!
PTSA Board Positions for the 2024-25 School Year
Are you interested in getting more involved in the PTSA next year? Or know someone who has a rising 6th grader who would be interested? We are in the process of forming a nominating committee to fill several spots for next year including:
I am serving as interim President now and am happy to pass on the reigns next year as I will have an 8th grader. Happy to stay on as co-President if anyone is interested
The current 1st VP would like to stay on and be a mentor to the incoming officer and will assist in the planning of the dances next year!
We are very interested in filling this role for next year! We scrambled to put together a fundraiser this year and would really like to have someone take the reigns here. Without fundraising, we, as an organization, canāt do all the good things!
I started at this position this year before becoming interim President so I can share everything with the new officer. With the new MemberHub, this is a fairly streamlined position.
This program is in flux at the moment but if youāre interested in working with Council and other PTAs to figure out how to revamp it for the District, let me know!
PTSA Upcoming Events
2/5 Hungry Howie's Dine to Donate Night
2/9 Trivia Night has been POSTPONED2/21 PTSA Monthly Meeting @ 7pm in the LRC
2/22 Craft Night @ 7pm in the Cafetorium
2/26 Craft Night @ 7pm in the Cafetorium
3/1 Under The Sea Spring Dance