GVMS Weekly Update

Garnet Valley Middle School Community,

We would like to thank all of our students and faculty who participated in this week's Red Ribbon Week themed days! A special thank you to our Heath and PE department and Student Council for making this a great success.

Next week the final week of Quarter One. Please take some time to review Schoology and Alma as there is still time left to make a positive impact on grades. In this newsletter we also include information regarding our upcoming conferences. If you are interested in signing up for a conference, the window officially opens on November 8th. Please note that conferences are not mandatory as we encourage communication throughout the school year.

In closing, we hope everyone who is at the GVHS football game and/or attending the homecoming festivities tomorrow has a safe and enjoyable time. Go Jags!

Sincerely,

Dr. Lisa Stenz, Principal

Mr. Rick Martin, Assistant Principal

Dr. Gerry Weinhardt, Assistant Principal

• Diwali: Schools Closed / Offices Open - November 1st

• Election Day: In-Service Day (No School for Students) - November 5th

• GVMS Fall Picture Retake/Make-up Day - November 7th

• Veterans Day - November 11th

• Fall Conferences - November 25-27th

• Schools & Offices Closed - November 28-29th

Want to support your learner’s success each night but not sure where to start? Here are a few simple ways you can help:

• Together, check the team slides and/or the Schoology calendar for upcoming assignments.

• Encourage them to complete their homework consistently.

• Help them review and study for upcoming assessments.

• Look at Alma and/or Schoology for teacher feedback on assignments and missing assignments.

• Official grades will always be located in Alma.

• Ensure your learner reads their independent reading book for at least 20 minutes each night.

Visit Garnet Valley's Parent Portal to access shortcuts to Alma and Schoology.

Thank you for your support, and please know that your involvement makes a big difference!

Fall pictures were handed out today, October 23, in your student's social studies class. If for any reason they would like a picture retake or were absent for fall picture day, they can go to retake day in our auditorium on November 7th.

Please make sure if this is a retake, your student brings their pictures with them to return to Barksdale.

At GVMS, we are committed to fostering a love of reading by offering a broad selection of books to meet the diverse needs and interests of our middle school students. We also understand that families may have preferences when it comes to the types of literature their children read, particularly regarding Young Adult (YA) books. With this in mind, we’d like to share an option that allows you to guide your child's reading experience while ensuring they continue to explore literature that suits their reading level and maturity.

If you prefer that your child not read Young Adult literature, please submit a YA Book OPT OUT permission form linked here. If you have multiple children, you can add them to the same form.

Our library offers a wide variety of books to cater to all students' needs, recognizing that while parents may feel a certain book may not be suitable for their child, it might be the perfect fit for another. We encourage families to discuss the books their children are reading and explore book ratings and reviews at Titlewave.

If you are comfortable with your child checking out books from the YA section, no action is needed. However, if you'd prefer to opt out, your child's ELA teacher and GVMS librarian will guide them in selecting alternative books.

Thank you for your support in helping us meet the reading needs of all students!

The GVMS After School Activity Program offers a multitude of clubs that meet the varied interests of our students. If you have any questions regarding club details, please contact the sponsor at the email listed in this brochure. Thank you for showing an interest in in our clubs and after school activities!

Click the image above or here to access our online club brochure.

If your child's parent or guardian is an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces during the 2024-2025 school year, please fill out this form, even if you’ve done so in previous years. We are required to report this information annually to the Pennsylvania Department of Education to meet federal data reporting requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

As a reminder, our counselors are now grade-based. Below, you will find the counselor assigned to each class cohort:

• 6th Grade: Mr. Matt Bradshaw

• 7th Grade: Mrs. Marisa Mahon

• 8th Grade: Ms. Wendy Xanthopoulos

• School Counselor: Mrs. Christy Francart

Although Mrs. Francart isn't assigned a specific grade, she will focus on delivering targeted, short-term, small-group interventions throughout the school year. This will allow us to expand and improve upon the various MTSS supports we offer our students.

We sincerely appreciate your trust and support as we implement these positive changes. Our commitment to your child’s well-being remains our top priority. We are confident that this reconfiguration will lead to stronger relationships and better support for all.

• Doors will open at 7:40am.

• You will have TWO options for carline drop-off only in the morning. You may utilize the Poolside entrance drop-off location or the GVES parking lot drop-off location.

• Please do not let students out of the car until you’ve reached the GREEN drop-off area.

• School buses will drop off in front of GVMS.

• Carline students are not permitted to use the main entrance of the building.

Students should be seated in 1st period by 8:00am. Late students must be checked-in at the main office.

• We will begin dismissal at 2:54pm.

• Students will be dismissed into two bus locations.

• There will be one parent pick-up area and is located in the GVES parking lot. Please enter off of Station Road.

• Parents needing to also pick up a student from GVES should exit and join the GVES pick-up line.

• The GVES pick-up line forms off of Temple Road entrance at the star on the map.

• Students may not cut across the parking lot.

Health Information

Please update your child's SNAP Health Portal. This needs to be completed each year for your child's medical history as well as OTC medication administration permission.

SNAP Directions

6th Grade Requirements

Physical Exam - Students entering 6th grade are required to have a Physical Exam completed within the last year according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and submitted to the school nurse. Your child’s physician may use their own form or you can provide the form below for your physician to complete

PhysicalExam.pdf

7th Grade Requirements

Dental Exam: Students entering 7th grade are required to have a Dental Examination form submitted to school.

2024 dental form.pdf

For more health related information, please visit our website.

Breakfast will continue to be free for the the 24-25 school year. Students are able to pick up a breakfast prior to 8:00am. A paid lunch program also remains available.

Click here to access and learn more!

This eBook contains tips and tricks for navigating the transition to middle school as well as how to best support your learner in their quest for agency and growth toward independence. The contents express the ideas of teachers, caregivers, students, and administrators who understand what life is like "in the middle."

Remember to trust in your learner's resilience and embrace the opportunity for growth!

We know that there is so much information shared at the beginning of the school year. Please access Garnet Valley's parent portal, which keeps all of our information in one place. Click here to access the parent portal. To get direct access to some of our services please click the following links.

• Alma - Garnet Valley's Student Information System
• My School Bucks - Register your child for our school lunch program
• Safe Arrival - Report an absence
• Schoology - Garnet Valley Middle School Learning Management System
• GVSD Parent Tech Support - Issues with district technology.
  

Video - Alma Navigation for Parents

We look forward to welcoming caregivers into our building throughout the school year. In order to volunteer, community members must obtain clearances. If you have previously submitted clearances to our Human resources Department they are good for five years.

In order to obtain or re-obtain clearances, check out the info provided by the district: Volunteer Clearances document. If you have any questions please contact our office at 610.579.5102 or our district HR office at 610.579.7387.

Below are a few suggestions for helping your family navigate the ever-increasing presence of technology:

PA Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force - Safety Tips & Resources

https://onlinesafety.com/#

American Academy of Pediatrics Family Media Plan

https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/family-media-plan-promotional-materials/

Common Sense Media - age recommendations for games, apps, movies, books and more

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Shape the Sky Parent App guide

https://shapethesky.org/app-guide/

Cannabis Resources:

• Cannabis 101 Series for Parents and Caregivers – This video series offers tips and strategies for parents to have open and honest conversations with their child related to substance use, specifically marijuana.
  
• Cannabis Fact Sheet - This fact sheet provides research-based information to help lessen some confusion and help children make educated decisions about what they put into their bodies.
  
• Conversations that Matter Podcast– Cannabis – How it Affects the Behavioral Health of Our Youth Learn why our children and teens are more at risk and how cannabis impacts the developing brains and bodies of our youth.

The GVMS HSA would like to welcome you to the 2024-2025 school year! We are looking forward to a great year ahead as we plan a fun and engaging year for the students of GVMS. Here are some details about the HSA that we'd like to share.

1. GVMS HSA Events - Each year, the HSA hosts two events for each grade. In the winter, we host fun nights for each grade individually. In addition to being a fun event for students, these events serve as fundraisers for the HSA. In the spring, 6th grade has another fun night, 7th grade has a dance and 8th grade has a semi-formal Send Off.

Mark your calendars now...here are the event dates!

Winter Funtimes

6th Grade - January 10th

7th Grade - January 24th

8th Grade - February 7th

Spring Events

6th Grade - May 2nd

7th Grade - May 16th

8th Grade - June 6th

2. Want to help? - In order to organize these events, we need your help! Would you consider chairing an event and oversee the planning of it? How about volunteering at the event? We are also in need of new board members too. Most of the current board are parents of 8th graders. Please take a moment to complete this google survey and let us know how you'd like to help.

3. What do we do? - GVMS HSA supports a variety of activities that enhance our school and student experience. Some examples of activities that the HSA supports are: Red Ribbon Week, Grade-level Book Giveaways, End of year fun nights, dances and send off, In school celebrations, Staff Appreciation Week and so much more! Thanks to your generous support, we are able to provide these things!

Volunteer Survey - https://forms.gle/PGKzxmxwNrpSJY257

4. Membership Drive - At the start of each school year, we host a membership drive. These funds go to support the variety of activities described in #3.

To donate:

Venmo - @GVMSHSA

Cash/Check - Drop off in an envelope to the front desk, marked "GVMS HSA".

5. Questions - Email us! gvmshsa@gmail.com

Thank you! ~ GVMS HSA Board

Email: stenzl@garnetvalley.org
Website: https://www.garnetvalleyschools.com/gvms
Location: 601 Smithbridge Road
Phone: 610-579-5100
Twitter: @GarnetValleyMS