Goodrich Middle School

School districts are required to meet a minimum number of instructional hours and days, as determined by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). The MDE also provides an allowance of up to 6 days which are forgiven without being made up. Due to the excessive amount of inclement weather experienced during the 2017-2018 school year, we exceeded the number of forgiven days by four. Like many other Michigan school districts, we submitted a waiver asking for additional forgiven days. The MDE granted only three more. As a result, we will be required to add an additional day of instruction, in order to meet State requirements.

Therefore, our calendar will be adjusted as follows: Monday, June 11 will now be a half day of instruction.

Thursday, June 7th and Friday June 8th will remain half days of instruction, with classes ending at 11:00am.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our families. Should our district fail to meet the State mandated threshold for student attendance on the added half day of Monday, June 11, we will lose a percentage of our State funding; which is approximately $100,000. A loss of that amount of revenue could have a negative impact on student learning and the school environment.

We appreciate your cooperation in adjusting your personal schedules to benefit our school community. Please make your child's attendance a priority.

Goodrich Middle School will continue to administer the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) in May for 6th and 7th grade students. Testing windows are established by the Michigan Department of Education. All testing, including make-up tests, must be completed during the four-week testing window established for each grade level.

Please note the testing dates below for your child:

Grade 7: Math and ELA

May 1, 3

Grade 6: Math and ELA

May 15, 17

It is important that students be in school on their testing dates. Missing any day will require a make-up session. Please refrain from making dentist and doctor appointments on testing days.

The M-Step tests are important to parents, teachers, students, and the school district. The results of these tests are analyzed to see if adjustments need to be made with curriculum objectives and alignment to the state standards. The results are used for the Michigan School Accountability ratings. Most importantly, individual student achievement is examined. The staff will be working with students to familiarize them with online tools that will be available during the tests, in addition to working through sample test items.

Please encourage your child to:

• Get plenty of sleep for the tests.
• Eat a good, nutritious breakfast on the mornings of the tests.
• Be at school on testing days, and be prompt.
• Bring a pencil and fiction pleasure book to the testing.
• Wear glasses, if needed.
• Ask the test administrator if the testing directions are not clear.
• Focus on one question at a time.
• Put forth his/her best effort on the tests.

Congratulations to the following students who were nominated by their teachers to be our GMS Students of the Month for April! Students are nominated based on many factors, including but not limited to: work ethic, grades, positive attitude, helpfulness and other PRIDE qualities. Congratulations to: Nicholas Ebbs- 6th (left) and Mary Brown- 7th (right).

Our Yearbook Team worked hard this year to put together an amazing keepsake of middle school memories in this year’s yearbook. There are a limited number of 2017-2018 yearbooks left to buy. The deadline is May 18th, or until they are sold out. Click the site below to order!

http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1064340/Goodrich-Middle-School/2018-Yearbook/20170613043054407145/CATALOG_SHOP/

Supply is VERY limited, so make sure to order yours today!

A free Martian Soccer Camp will be offered to ALL K-8th grade Goodrich students on Friday, May 11th. Camp participants will also receive free admission to the Goodrich High School varsity girls' soccer game on Wednesday, May 23 vs. North Branch @ 4:30pm. Free admission will be valid for the camper and one additional person. The camp and the Varsity game will take place at the Roy U Stacey Athletic Stadium at Goodrich High School.

Camp will run from 4:15 - 5:15pm on May 11, 2018. Participants are asked to be at the stadium behind the High School ready to participate at 4:10pm. The HS girls soccer teams will be practicing upon arrival. Please find a place in the stands to wait until the camp facilitators are ready to get started. HS and MS track practice may still be in session, so camp participants are asked to stay off of the track until camp begins.

The GHS girls' soccer team will be facilitating the camp. Age groups will be split accordingly so that we have reasonable ability and ages working together.

Campers are asked to sign up online prior to the camp. Sign up for camp at

https://goodrichsoccer.weebly.com/martian-soccer-camp.html

If you have questions, please contact Coach Huizenga at the number or email below:

(810) 280-5866
coachevanh@gmail.com

We're excited to announce that GMS now has a Twitter handle! Be sure to follow us:

@GMSMartians

Goodrich Middle School's LAST monthly book swap of the year will be on Friday, May 4th!

Students are allowed to bring in up to five gently used books to turn in to their ELA teacher the day before the event in exchange for tickets to pick out new books during the swap. Kathy Mulholland from Cottage Used Books in Goodrich supplies “new” books for the kids to choose from. This is a great way to clear out the books your middle-school student has already read in exchange for new reading material to use over the summer months.

Dates and times are subject to change.

Please check our school calendar at http://www.goodrichschools.org/GMS/Events/

for the most up-to-date information!

May:

5/4: LAST Cottage Used Book Swap - during lunches

5/5 - 5/9: 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip

5/9: PTO Meeting - 9:15am - Oaktree Elementary

5/16: LATE START

5/18: 7th & 8th Grade Band Field Trip - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland, OH

5/21: Board Meeting - 6:30pm

5/24: GMS Band Concert (5th - 8th) - 6:30pm - HS Auditorium

5/28: NO SCHOOL

5/29-6/1: BOGO Scholastic Book Fair Sale - 8:30-2:30pm - GMS Media Center

June:

6/1: 7th Grade Field Trip to CJ Barrymore's

6/1: 8th Grade Celebration - 5pm-8pm

6/5: 6th Grade Field Trip to Groveland Oaks

6/6: 7th Grade Awards Ceremony - 8:00am - GMS Cafe'

6/6: 6th Grade Awards Ceremony - 9:15am - GMS Cafe'

6/6: 8th Grade Field Trip to Cedar Point

6/7: 8th Grade Awards Ceremony - 9:00AM - GMS Cafe'

6/7: EARLY RELEASE - School Released at 11:00am

6/8: EARLY RELEASE - School Released at 11:00am

6/11: EARLY RELEASE - LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS - School Released at 11:00am

6/15: Final Report Cards made available on ParentVue/StudentVue -

***please note that report cards will NOT be mailed home.***

A huge THANK YOU to our EGG-cellent GMS families for helping to make our PRIDE celebration a BIG success! Your donation of hard-boiled eggs was EGG-xactly what kids needed to show their creativity!

Goodrich High School will offer the following testing out window for all students.

· Registration for testing out must be completed at this link: REGISTRATION 2018

· Spring Registration deadline is Friday, May 11, 2018.

· Some specific details for testing out of courses at GHS at link below:

Testing Out Course Specifics

· Passing the test places students in the next level of the subject area.

· The NCAA does not accept test out credit as credit for future college-bound student athletes.

· Passing is determined by a score of 87%.

· If a student does not pass the test out for a course that is required for graduation, he or she must take that course on schedule with his or her graduation year classmates.

· In compliance with Michigan law, a student’s grade on the test out will be placed on his/her transcript as a “Pass” (if the test is passed) and will not be calculated as part of the overall GPA. There are no grade appeals.

Please check the GHS website for a list of testing out dates, times and locations

Reid Elementary will be hosting their 3rd Annual Garage Sale for the Leader in Me Initiative on May 5th. If you are “spring” cleaning and find you have items that you would normally donate, they will take them! Drop off is May 4th immediately after school (3:45-6:00) or email dtoms@goodrichschools.org to arrange a different time. No Extra Large items, please, as everything that doesn’t sell is donated to a local charity.

For daily updates on GMS events and announcements, please be sure to check www.goodrichschools.org/GMS/! Just click on "News and Announcements" on the left side of the page. You can also check the online calendar to see upcoming events and activities!

Goodrich Middle School's complete Attendance & Tardy policies can be found in our handbook on the GMS website at www.goodrichschools.org/GMS under "Student Handbook and Policies."

The Martian PTO is always looking for people that would like to get involved and volunteer their time. The next meeting is Wednesday, May 9th at 9:15am. All meetings take place at Oaktree. Please email the Martian PTO at Martianptoinc@gmail.com or visit the Martian PTO webpage and Facebook page for more information.

Rachel’s Closet, located in the office at GMS, is a closet full of clothes, supplies and personal care items that middle school age students may need, but maybe cannot afford. Students are able to visit the closet for items they need confidentially. Please talk to your child about Rachel's Closet and encourage them to see Mrs. Durant, Mrs. Lauinger, Ms. von Keltz, Mr. Salter or Ms. Batterbee if they need anything.

Exceptional Education, Extraordinary People – We Are Goodrich!

Proud to be a Systems Accredited District.

The mission of Goodrich Area Schools is:

“Achievement for Every Learner”

Email: mdurant@goodrichschools.org
Website: http://www.goodrichschools.org/GMS/
Location: 7480 Gale Road, Goodrich, MI 48438, United States
Phone: 810-591-4210
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Goodrich-Area-Schools-750600228283708/?fref=ts
Twitter: @GMSMartians