PANTHER PROWL

Welcome GEMS family to a new and exciting school year!

As we prepare for another fantastic year at Glen Edwards Middle School, I am thrilled to welcome our returning students and families, as well as those who are new to our school community. We are excited to have you join us and look forward to a year filled with learning and memorable experiences.

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share information about the upcoming school year.

This is my first year at Glen Edwards and with WPUSD and I could not be more honored or proud to have been selected Principal.

I started my career as a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, where I also worked as an education specialist and instructional coach among other roles. The last several years I served as an assistant principal in Sacramento County.

The philosophy I choose to follow is centered on providing pathways to success for all students. Glen Edwards will set high expectations for all, and provide whatever support needed for people to meet or exceed those expectations.

With over 25 years of experience in varying fields of education I believe I can help the Glen Edwards team not only continue with the great things we have been doing, but reach new heights.

Our staff is ready for the upcoming year. We are committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. We believe in fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where each student can reach their full potential.

We are a team; staff, students, and parents all must work together to achieve success. With that in mind, please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas. We at Glen Edwards are committed to improving our practice and supporting the community.

The first day of school is Thursday, August 15th. We will be on a regular school day schedule, with gates opening at 8:00 am and classes beginning at 8:15am and the last class ending at 2:55pm. (ATTACHED BELL SCHEDULE)

A few quick reminders as we start the year:

• School pictures are scheduled for Monday, August 19th

• Student cell phones must be turned off and put away from 8:15 - 2:55

• Energy drinks, gum, and earbuds are not allowed at Glen Edwards Middle School

• Communication is important to us, please reach out to teachers or the office if you have any concerns or questions

Thank you, and let’s have a great year.

Go Panthers!

Michael Bose, Principal

Dear Panther Families,

We are thrilled to kick off the new school year! We have many exciting plans in store to welcome our students and the entire school community. This includes some fun welcome activities, a rally, and an assembly during PE for students on Tuesday 8/20 where we'll go over the Panther Way and our school expectations.

Looking forward to a great year together!

Mrs. Fernandez,

GEMS Asst. Principal

7th and 8th grade students can view (print-if they choose) their schedules from the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

As we navigate the first few days of school, there may be a need to level and balance classes based on enrollment. Please be aware of the potential need to modify schedules therefore we appreciate your patience as we get the school year started!!

Our Back To School Night is scheduled for Tuesday, August 27th. Please SAVE THE DATE to your calendars and be on the lookout for a detailed itinerary of the evening. We are excited and look forward to seeing you at GEMS!!

Hello Parents,

Fall Picture Day is Monday, August 19th. Viewing and ordering will be approximately one week AFTER picture day. You will receive a notification via email and text once the galleries are ready.

VIEWING/ORDERING: (approximately one week AFTER picture day)

-Parents will receive a link via email and text once images are available online.

-There will be a 72-hour window of free shipping starting once the images are available online.

FOR ORDERS PURCHASED:

-We will mail orders directly to the address input when ordering.

-Order Questions? Call (916) 749-1026 and select Option 1 or email services@billsmithphoto.com

Make ups are scheduled for 9/24/24. These are the two dates to have student pictures taken and these images will be used for the yearbook.

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE ORDER FORM

Upon completion of 6th grade, student chromebooks were collected and over the summer and our technology department performed the necessary updates on these devices. 7th grade students will obtain their school issued chromebook once school has started.

CHROMEBOOK Distribution:

• Thursday, August 15th: students will go to the library with their ELA teacher to checkout and be issued a chromebook.

PE clothes will be distributed through PE Classes once school begins. For convenience prices are listed below:

• $10 shirts

• $10 shorts

• $20 set (shirt and shorts)

• 
  

If you want to pre-purchase visit our ONLINE PE Omella Store or utilize this QR code.

Any students interested in trying out for Girls Volleyball, Boys Flag Football or Cross Country, make sure to upload your physical and have all forms signed on Final Forms before the first day of tryouts (specific information and link to final forms can be found under "Items of Interest for Panthers"). Fall team pictures are scheduled for September 6th.

Tuesday Aug. 13 at 3PM in the GYM
Please have physical uploaded to Final Forms and all signatures submitted to be eligible to tryout.

Questions? Email dluci@wpusd.org

Meeting Monday, August 19th @ 3:00 in the Spirit Center
Practice begins 8/21
Questions?: jbanderas@wpusd.org or rsmith@wpusd.org

First practice: Tuesday, August 20th at 3:15 on the Field.
Questions: tcolson@wpusd.org

We are looking for a qualified Wrestling coach for this school year. TThe season begins in December and concludes in mid February. This sport is open to all three grade levels.

We need a head coach for athletes to have an opportunity! Please apply at this link

https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1934791

Questions? Email jnoonan@wpusd.org.

The link is live and open for all parents of WPUSD students to update their student emergency contact information and e-sign waivers on-line. https://powerschool.wpusd.org/public/

Please take a few moments to confirm, update and submit each module of information by August 15th. There are new modules that have been added this year.

Special Yearbook Offer

We sold out of yearbooks last year and are offering pre-orders at the lowest price of the school year, $48. This offer expires on August 23rd with prices going up throughout the year. Pre-order your yearbook online at jostensyearbooks.com

8th Grade Yearbook Dedication Ads
This offer expires on 8/31 as prices will go up! If you are interested in reserving space in the yearbook for an 8th grade dedication ad, please visit the link below

https://forms.gle/cqfbvvxL4bg93bim6

Please note: School supply lists will be shared by each teacher/class on their syllabi. The syllabi for each class will be handed out in the first week of school. A few general items to be sure your student is ready:

• Backpack

• Spiral & Composition Notebooks (100 pages +)

• Pencils

• Pens

• Highlighters

• glue/glue stick

• Colored folders (one for each class) or a binder with sections for each core class with binder paper

• Coded headphones to work with chromebook

OUR 24/7 GLEN EDWARDS MIDDLE SCHOOL Sideline Store is up and running. Stop reading and start shopping to score the latest fan wear and accessories.

*PLEASE NOTE: THESE CLOTH ITEMS WILL NOT MEET PE UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS. DO NOT PURCHASE FOR PE CLOTH FROM HERE.

If you haven't noticed yet in your cross town travels, please note there is a new stop sign placed at 5th and J St. This should help with congestion and LHS after school traffic.

Learn more about our food service program HERE and visit the food services website HERE for daily menu options.

IF your student wants to participate in any athletic capacity be sure you have an account created in Final Forms and physical clearance by a physician.

• Parent AND Student must create their own account, fill out and submit information via FINAL FORMS
• All students must have a current PHYSICAL on file with the school (current means within the past year).

NO CHILD WILL BE ALLOWED TO PRACTICE OR PARTICIPATE WITHOUT THE PROPER FORMS. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE GRANTED.

Check out the flier below. There are several ways to report absences. We hope you find it useful!

• When you receive a message that your student was absent, you can respond easily by clicking on the link within the message to report your student's absence.
• 7th period is actually the students PAW period and the first class of the day Tuesday - Friday.
• ALSO NOTE: There will be NO TRAVEL STUDIES allowed to last two weeks of school.
  

Dear Parent or Guardian of a 7th grade student:

Before your student enters the 7th grade this Fall 2024, documentation of Tdap- 1 dose (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis – whooping cough booster usually given at ages 11and up) and Varicella – 2 doses (VZV and/or MMRV -usually given at 12 months and 4-6 years) is required. In addition, please make sure that your student is current with all other immunizations.

If your student is up to date with all the required immunizations, please bring proof to the office for our health records. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact our office as soon as possible by calling 916 - 645- 6370.

Thank you!
GEMS Health Services

The Foundry is an After School Program available for GEMS students to see friends, get homework help, eat snacks, play games and participate in some Recreational Programs coordinated by the Foundry. This is a no cost program available Monday through Thursday.

We hope to see you at the Foundry after school once it starts!! It's going to be a GREAT School Year!!!

Don't forget to follow our GEMS Facebook Page to stay on top of all the fun things we are doing around campus! Click this link or the picture below to follow!