I am going to talk a little bit about data, but please keep reading. I promise to make it short and interesting.

Every year our students participate in the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, CMAS, assessments in the spring. After the testing in the spring of 2023, GVMS was scored in a range called "Turnaround." Our scores were really low for both Literacy and Math, receiving only 31.9/100 points. There were many reasons for this, but the good news is that last spring, 2024, our kids showed incredible improvements in both Literacy and Math. We have moved up two levels to the "Improvement Plan," scoring 50.5/100. Most of our score improvements are coming from amazing growth by students. This growth will turn into higher achievement. Our goal for this coming spring will be to earn at least 53/100 points and move to the "Performance" level. Thank you for all of your support for learning by ensuring that your children are in school everyday and giving their best efforts.

The second assessment that all kids participate in is call the Northwestern Evaluation Assessment, NWEA. We take this three times a year: fall, winter and spring. This test is super helpful for kids and teachers as they can monitor their progress and growth over time. Our big celebration this fall is that and average of all students, in all three grade levels exceeded the expected growth in both reading and math. Way to go Cardinals!

If our learners continue to demonstrate this kind of work and growth, they will be prepared for high school and beyond.

At the end of each month, we are celebrating students who demonstrate our CRISP habits. CRISP stands for Collaboration, Responsibility, Inquiry, Service, and Perseverance. As your young teens grow to adults, these habits will help them become the best people they can be. Congratulations to:

• 6th Grade: Kaedence Cose - She extends help to a partner, submits assignments and homework on time, meets all the behavior expectations inside and outside the classroom.
• 7th Grade: Michelle Gallardo-Loya - Always prepared, always polite, listens and follows directions, excellent student!!!!!
• 8th Grade: Vivian Arthur - Vivian is an outstanding student. She always goes above and beyond with her efforts toward her academic achievement. She is kind, focused, organized, and she is an agent of her own learning. Thanks for demonstrating the qualities of a GVMS Cardinal.
• Electives: Cordiella Rangel - Perseverance- Cordiellia is a persistent artist that strive for the best in her work. She consistently inquisitive in her practice. She demonstrates an amazing ability, but knows she can still learn more. Cordiellia is an artist but most of all she is an amazing student.

GVMS students and staff will get to help the community celebrate homecoming with the high school and community. We will mirror the high school spirit week with our own.

Tuesday October 8th: "City Lights" by wearing fun colors

• 6th grade wear green
• 7th grade wear red
• 8th grade wear purple
• staff wear orange

Wednesday October 9th: "Streets of New York"

• Wear grunge, gray and baggy clothes
• Walk with a purpose as if you are in the hustle of the city

• School-appropriate party attire

• Grand Valley Colors: wear red, black and your Cardinal Gear

We will also be releasing students at 12:30 to attend community events. They will have an altered schedule and be served breakfast and lunch before dismissal. Regular bus routes will run at 12:30.

Coming to school everyday and giving your best effort is the first step in becoming successful citizens. Most of our students are attending school everyday! We do have some, however, who are having a hard time getting to class. After collecting data, we see that students who are often tardy, are making a choice to wander the halls, visit with friends and make choices that get in the way of their learning. If you are tardy to a class, you usually miss about 10 minutes of learning time. After three tardies, you have missed a half of a class and after six tardies, you have missed an entire class.

In an effort to make up for missed learning time related to tardies and absences, we will once again run our TAR, Tardy Attendance Recovery, Program. The idea is to support students in making up missed learning time by assigning them times to make it up with a teacher right there to help them.

The support will work as follows.

• 3 unexcused tardies = 1 lunch detention
• 6 unexcused tardies = 2 lunch detentions, letter mailed home.
• 9 unexcused tardies = 3 lunch detentions, second letter mailed home.
• 12 unexcused tardies = 1 assigned TAR. TAR is held after school on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:15-6:15 and parents are responsible to pick up their child at the end.

The Student Council will host a costume contest on Halloween to raise money for student celebrations. The contest will be held during our Advisory class from 3:25-4:00. Students will pay a small entry fee and be judged by a jury of their peers. In addition, all costumes must be school appropriate with no full face masks, weapons, blood, etc.

There will NOT be any general Halloween costume dress during the day. All students should come to school in their regular school attire. Students in costume before the contest will be asked to change and/or call home for another set of clothing.

Canvas is the platform that teachers use to post assignments, resources, and grades. This is also where students can access these things, and sometimes even turn in assignments. Canvas support for parents can be found here. Follow the links for informational videos below.