GVMS Weekly Update

Garnet Valley Middle School Community,

As we prepare for parent-teacher conferences, we are excited to share a special tradition at our school—a classroom door decorating contest! Teachers and students worked together to create beautifully decorated doors that warmly welcome parents. Our students, teachers, and administrators also had the opportunity to vote for their favorite designs. While the results aren’t in yet, the creativity, collaboration, and schoolwide spirit on display have been truly inspiring. A huge thank-you to our yearbook club for putting together a slideshow to showcase these phenomenal efforts for everyone to enjoy!

During conference week, we are also supporting the Loaves of Love Food Pantry by collecting donations. If you’d like to contribute, we will have a donation table set up in the commons area.

Suggested items include:

• Non-perishables: pancake mix, syrup, pasta, pasta sauce, canned tuna/chicken, canned vegetables, soups, mac and cheese, rice, oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, peanut butter, jelly, and condiments.

• Household essentials: toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, detergent, and diapers.

As we approach Thanksgiving, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our families for your ongoing support and collaboration. Your engagement and dedication make our school a thriving community, and we are so thankful for each of you.

We wish you a joyful and restful Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones. We look forward to seeing you during conferences and throughout the coming weeks!

Sincerely,

Dr. Lisa Stenz, Principal

Mr. Rick Martin, Assistant Principal

Dr. Gerry Weinhardt, Assistant Principal

• Fall Conferences - November 25-27th

• Schools & Offices Closed - November 28-29th

• Winter Orchestra Concert - December 9th @ 7:00 pm GVHS

• Winter Band Concert - December 11th @ 7:00 pm GVHS

• Winter Chorus Concert - December 18th @ 7:00 pm GVHS

• Winter Break - December 23rd - January 1st
  

• School in Session - Thursday, January 2nd

But…shhhh the students don’t know!

We invite all families to surprise their student(s) with a candy gram message. Students will receive your special message with a gourmet lollipop attached.

Candy Grams will be on sale during Parent-Teacher conferences next week. There will be a table set up in the lobby outside of the auditorium where candy grams can be purchased. Candy Grams cost $1 each.

Not coming in for conferences? No problem! You can print out the message template below and complete it by writing your student’s first and last name, grade, and a special message. Then, place the message in a stamped envelope and return the message and money to GVMS.

You can mail the message and the $1 to :

Chrissy Baglione

601 Smithbridge Road

Glen Mills, PA, 19342

Or, you can send your student to school with the message slip and $1 in a sealed envelope labeled “GVMS Fundraiser”. There will be a box in the main office labeled “Fundraiser” where the envelopes can be dropped off. Please have all messages sent in by Friday, December 5th.

Don’t forget though…this is a surprise!

Candy Grams will be delivered to students during the week of December 16th - right before winter break. All money raised from this fundraiser will support our PBIS initiatives and school store where students get to cash in their Jag Cash for fun treats and items.

Thank you for helping our Jags be Safe, Respectful, Responsible, and Compassionate!

Click here to view and print the message template.

GVMS Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences will be offered face-to-face or via Zoom on the following dates:

Monday, November 25th, from 8 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, November 26th, from 12:45 pm - 7:30 pm

Wednesday, November 27th, from 8 am - 11:15 am

Please specify in the “Special Requests” section if you prefer face-to-face or via Zoom.

The online PTCFast program is now open for our entire community to schedule conferences. You have the option to sign up for an in-person or virtual conference. Please note that attending middle school parent conferences is not required. We believe in active and ongoing communication to monitor your child's progress through emails, phone calls, ALMA, and Schoology. If your child is doing well and the communication with your child's team has been working, please continue this communication. If, at any time, you need to communicate with your child's teacher, each of the grade-level teams has a "team time" available to meet during the school week. Caregivers can work with any team teacher to coordinate a “team time” meeting.

We also offer optional conferences with our elective subject areas. Elective conferences are separate from team conferences. Please understand we provide the maximum number of conferences possible within our allotted 2.5-day conference window. Conferences are 15 minutes long and will end promptly to ensure that the teams can meet with all their appointments on time.

Please provide your phone number and email when scheduling your conference in the PTCFast program. This ensures that you receive a Confirmation Letter for your conference. Remember to specify in the “Special Requests” section if you want to meet face-to-face or via Zoom. Click here to access directions for special requests.

Here is the link to PTCFast to schedule your conference.

https://ptcfast.com/schools/Garnet_Valley_Middle_School_Fall_2024

Please call Ms. Rosado at 610-579-5106 if you need help scheduling or canceling your appointment.

The GV Junior Jags Color Guard welcomes all interested middle school students! You will learn dance, colorful flagwork, and how to bring music to life through performance! No experience or equipment needed.

Students and parents are welcome to attend our Interest Meeting on Wednesday, December 4th, at 7:00 PM in the GVMS Little Gym to learn more about the program. Feel free to share this exciting opportunity with other families in the district who have students in grades 5-8!

New and returning students, please click here to fill out our interest form!

Dear Garnet Valley School Community,

I’m excited to share information about the incredible work of the Garnet Valley Community That Cares (GV-CTC). This organization is dedicated to enhancing our school community through programs, resources, and support for families and students.

GV-CTC continues to empower and inspire our students and families through innovative programs and initiatives. The "New Realities of Parenting" series equips parents with essential tools and insights to navigate the evolving challenges of raising children in today's world.

In addition, GV-CTC's annual Senior Walkthrough provides a meaningful opportunity for reflection and celebration, while its scholarship program directly supports graduating seniors in pursuing their future goals. These efforts exemplify our shared commitment to fostering both community connection and individual growth.

At this time of year, GV-CTC also focuses on supporting Garnet Valley families in need, providing donations that make a meaningful impact during the holiday season. This effort embodies the spirit of compassion and community that makes Garnet Valley so special.

How You Can Help

Your support can make a real difference! GV-CTC gratefully welcomes donations of any amount to help sustain and expand these impactful initiatives. Contributions can be made easily via Venmo @GVCTC or by visiting the GV-CTC website and navigating to the donation section. Every gift, no matter the size, directly supports families in our community, empowering them with resources and opportunities.

Thank you for making a difference!

Dr. Marc Bertrando, Superintendent

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).

Our counselors are 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

Our commitment to your child’s well-being remains our top priority. Please do not hestiate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

• 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 learn more about our Young Adult literature section and our opt-out process.

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