
G-A Superintendent Newsletter
March EDITION
Check out this Newsletter for...
- RISING RAMS: Our High School leaders welcomed our 8th Graders for a visit!
- G-A Stadium Track is Open to Community!
- Superintendent Excellence Awards
- Fundraisers and School Events
- Primary, Middle and High School News Sections
- High School Students register for classes for next school year!
- G-A Community Section
THE READ-A-THON RESULTS ARE IN!
8th Grade Rising Ram Orientation
We have heard from our parents that sometimes the transition from one building to another can be rough and have a lot of unknowns. So, we are implementing Rising Rams Days!! There will be opportunities for our students and parents to acclimate to their new Ram Fam Buildings.
Check out our Middle School Newsletter Section to see more information about our Rising Ram Parent Info Night!
Superintendent Excellence Awards
Way to go!
Respect
Achievement
Management
Success
Christian Overgard
Audrey Beimers 2nd Grade
Audrey is an exceptionally intelligent student, working two grade levels ahead in both reading and math. She is always eager to try new things and enjoys a challenge, currently reading the first Harry Potter book and solving two-digit multiplication problems independently. Beyond academics, Audrey is compassionate, kind, and respectful. She ensures that no one is left out, helps classmates in need, and leads by example. She loves learning, playing basketball, building Legos, and creating beautiful art projects.
Weston Baker
Weston is a dedicated student who has maintained a 4.0 GPA while actively participating in wrestling and assisting with science experiments in class. He is a natural leader, encouraging students to work together and helping peers improve their academic performance. Outside of school, Weston works to help support his family, demonstrating responsibility and independence. He is focused on his future, planning to pursue a trade and gaining valuable work experience now to prepare himself for success.
Robert Cain
Robert is a hardworking student who takes responsibility for his learning by asking questions and utilizing resources to understand new concepts. He is always the first to volunteer to help and has been named the honorary peer mentor for his first-hour class. He anticipates the needs of both his teacher and classmates, offering help to students who may not ask for it themselves. Robert stays busy with student council, wrestling, and yearbook, all while maintaining strong connections with his family. His kindness and inclusivity go beyond expectations, making him a valued member of the school community.
Primary School News
Good Parenting Tips Regarding Video Games and Phones
Key points about negative impacts of video games and phones on children:
Video games and phones can lead to addiction to gaming, poor sleep habits, decreased attention span, poor academic performance, increased aggression, social isolation, irritability when not playing, neglecting other activities, potential for developing mental health issues, impacting other important aspects of life like school, and physical issues like eye strain and repetitive stress injuries from excessive play.
Please be mindful at home. School life and home life work in tandem in order to be successful.
Thank you for helping to support the wellbeing of our kiddos.
Reading happens everywhere…. Does it happen at your house too 🙂
- Benefits of Reading at Home:
- Improves vocabulary and language skills.
- Enhances comprehension and critical thinking abilities.
- Develops a love for reading and lifelong learning habits.
- Fosters bonding and connection between parent and child.
- How to Create a Positive Reading Environment:
- Designate a quiet reading space: Set aside a cozy corner with comfortable seating and easy access to books.
- Make reading a routine: Establish a regular time each day for reading together.
- Choose books based on your child's interests: Let them select books on topics they enjoy.
- Model reading behavior: Read books yourself in front of your child to demonstrate the importance of reading.
- Reading Strategies for Different Ages:
- Early Readers:
- Read aloud with expressive voices, pointing to words.
- Ask questions about the story to check comprehension.
- Focus on simple picture books with repetitive text.
- Developing Readers:
- Encourage independent reading with age-appropriate books.
- Discuss new vocabulary words and their meanings.
- Ask open-ended questions about the story to promote deeper thinking.
- Fluent Readers:
- Discuss different genres and authors.
- Encourage reading logs or book reports.
- Have conversations about the themes and characters in books.
- Involving the School Library:
- Visit the school library regularly to explore new books and get recommendations from the librarian.
- Utilize online library resources for access to e-books and audiobooks.
Call to Action:
- Set a goal for reading time at home each day.
- Talk to your child about what they are reading and ask questions about the story.
- Visit the school library to discover new books and authors.
- Share your favorite childhood books with your child.
March is Reading Month/ Read Across America
Theme: Reading is a Passport to Countless Adventures!
During the month of March we have lots of activities planned to get students excited about reading. Teachers will get a calendar of all the events planned. Students will get an event calendar to take home. There will be DEAR time once a week, dress up days, Student Reading Passports, Bring a Stuffy for $1, Book Prizes for Rams Winners, Book Swap for students and staff, and Hardings bags decoration (thank you to Mrs. Westerhouse and Jeff Russell!)
Here are some optional events that you and/or your grade level can start planning for, if you would like to participate:
-Decorate door with the theme or favorite book
-Battle of the Books March Madness Book Bracket
-Buddy reading with other classrooms
-Guest Readers/ Mystery Readers (Principal/Superintendent/Dean of Students)
-Readers theaters performed for the class
-Teacher Swap to read to the class
Schedules and calendars will come out next week!
STOP - State Trooper Outreach Partnership
Tpr. Conner Mabie and the Paw Paw Chapter State Trooper Outreach Partnership (STOP) approved our grant request to buy incentives and prizes to support our students. They work to enhance the well-being of local communities through outreach, mentoring, and volunteer efforts. They connect with community members and foster positive change. We believe these incentives will promote positive behaviors and change for our students.
Lunch with the Principal
Ga’Briella Belluomin earned 75 RAMS Tickets and bought lunch with the Principal. She chose to bring her friend Brielle Weber. Mr. Sportel and the girls had a nice lunch together.
First Day Shoe Fund Pilot Spring Distribution 2025
This Spring the First Day Shoe Fund was able to provide GA students with 267 pairs of shoes. What a blessing.! A huge thank you to the organization and to Mr. Russell for helping to coordinate that here at GA.
Shoe fittings will be held on March 10th.
Upcoming dates
Feb. 28th and March 3rd - Mid Winter Break
March 4th - 3rd and 4th graders will be going to see the Kalamazoo Symphony
March 6th - 1st and 2nd Grades Kids Heart Challenge
March 7th - 3rd and 4th Grades Kids Heart Challenge
March 10th - First Day Shoe Fitting
March 15th - Boys Scouts - Pinewood Derby - 10:00-2:00 at the PS School
March 18th - 3rd Grade Music Performance at 6:00
March 19th - ½ day of school
March 27th - ½ day of school
March 28th - No School
March 31st-April 4th Spring Break
Middle School News
Shout Out!
A huge shout out to Kathy VanDyk!!! Kathy took the time to create a glow in the dark jello lab for all of our science classes! Students were tasked with reading a mini article about glow in the dark toys and were given five questions. Those questions required them to use their senses to write down what two different jello cubes looked like, smelled like, etc. At the end, students used a blacklight to see if they could determine which jello cube had tonic water in it based on which cube glowed in the dark. At the end of the lesson they were able to then eat these jello cubes. Thank you Kathy for everything you do for our students at G-A Middle School!!!!
Gold Club Celebration
We will have our next Gold Club celebration on Thursday, March 27th. This celebration is for students who pass all of their classes during the third quarter, have 2 or fewer minor behavior referrals, and have 90% attendance during the third quarter.
Student Council
Student council will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day themed dance on Wednesday, March 19th. Stay tuned for more details!
Instructional Hightlights
Training for 5K
7th grade health students started running to train for their 5K this year, and also took to the stage for yoga where different students lead parts of our practice
Socratic Circle
5th Grade students participated in a Socratic Circle, which is a structured discussion where students array themselves in two concentric circles, forming two distinct groups. Members of the ‘inner circle’ are actively involved in discussion with one another, whilst those in the ‘outer circle’ take notes, observe and notice patterns within this discussion. As discussants, students are provided with a prompt or initiating questions, closely tied to a written article they have read, and annotated closely, prior to the discussion.
Athletics
Spring Sports begin on Monday, March 24th! Students can pick up sign up forms from the table in the hallway on the way to the gym. Sign ups are available for softball, tennis, track, and girls’ soccer
Important Reminders for Parents:
Doors open at 7:55 for all students who are eating breakfast. Students must go directly to the cafeteria upon entering the building and they must get breakfast. Students will remain in the cafeteria until 8:05. Doors open to ALL students at 8:05.
Classes start promptly at 8:14. Please make sure all students are dropped off no later than 8:10 each morning.
Important Dates at the Middle School
2/28/25: No School K-12
3/3/25: No School K-12 Mid-Winter Break
3/19/25: Half Day K-12
3/27/25: Half Day K-12
3/28/25-4/4/25: Spring Break
4/7/25: School Resumes, Start of the 4th Marking Period
High School News
Staff/Student Shout-Outs
During the month of February we celebrate the following staff members.
Bethany Stanton, our Hs counselor, is integral to our school community. This month she collaboratively led many great opportunities for our students: the 10th grade reality fair, a Career Fair for all our 9th-12th graders, Mock Interviews for our Seniors with Eaton employees, the list goes on and on. We are very fortunate to have her as a part of our team supporting students.
Special thank you to Kayleen O’Donnell in her creation of our Google Site for Conferences. She is always looking to see a need and fill a need. Way to go!
Kudos to Theresa Shepherd and Brandi Smith that have been facilitating some learning with our staff about supporting students that struggle with organizational skills and time management. We are appreciative of their expertise in differentiating and we are all benefiting from the learning.
We also celebrated the entire staff’s progress on implementing strategies into their classrooms that support academic discussion with their students. Our staff is working hard on learning from one another and trying new instructional practices to improve outcomes for students.
We also celebrated our STUDENTS this week as they helped us facilitate our first Rising Rams event. We had 72 students that helped make this event a success for our incoming Freshman.The students entered the building and were greeted with fun music, staff and our district mascot! We had a welcoming pep assembly, the entire grade participated in one of the games we usually play at pep assemblies! Students played minute-to-win-it games, took a tour, had a chance to participate in a Q&A panel with students, meet with our counselor and students that benefit from off campus opportunities, and attend a club/sports/activity fair in our Multipurpose Room. The 8th graders also got a chance to experience lunch at the high school before heading back to the Middle School for the rest of the day. It took a lot of organization and responsible students to make this day a success and they did awesome!
Career Fair
We had 20 different companies, 24 different careers, for our students to experience during the career fair.
Career Fair
Students were able to interact with the employees, ask questions, get additional information from the career paths that interested them.
Scheduling for the 2025-2026 School Year.
Students can now request classes for next year in PowerSchool. For more information, please view the PowerScheduler letter. Mrs. Stanton has also started individual scheduling meetings with students. If you have any questions about your student’s schedule for next year, please reach out to Mrs. Stanton.
Rising Rams; Parent Edition!
Rising Rams Parent Orientation Night/Student Social Night will take place on March 11th from 6-7 p.m. in the HS Cafeteria. Parents will participate in a presentation regarding academic opportunities, graduation requirements, and have an opportunity to get all of their questions answered. We will have Sports, Clubs, Activity tables available after the presentation so that parents can see all that we have to offer. Spirit Wear will be available for purchase too!
While parents are engaged in the Cafeteria, 8th grade students will participate in an ice cream social and the gym will be open for volleyball, basketball, and other fun activities. We will have high schoolers on site to be available to lead activities and answer any remaining questions for our new class of students. Our goal is for all of our Freshman to be excited, comfortable, and ready to enter our building in the Fall.
All G-A 11th Graders will participate in SAT Prep!
Important Dates
March 4: School Resumes
March 5: Quiz Bowl @ Paw Paw HS 4:30-5:30
March 5: Varsity Girls Basketball Districts Game #2 Hackett Catholic vs. Game #1 Winner
March 5: Varsity Girls Basketball Districts-Game #3 Kalamazoo Christian vs. Lawton
March 7: Sycamore Learning will be working with all HS Juniors on SAT Prep in Multipurpose Room
March 7: Varsity Girls Basketball Districts-Championship Game: Game #2 Winner vs. Game #3 Winner
March 11: Rising Rams Event 2: Parent Meeting for Incoming Freshman, 8th Graders Welcome. (6-7 p.m.)
March 12: Senior Meeting in Library with Mrs. King @ 11:30 a.m.
March 14: Progress Reports Sent Home
March 19: Half Day Students/Teacher Professional Development
March 19: Music Booster Meeting 6:30-8 p.m.
March 24: Varsity Softball vs. Plainwell DH @ Home
March 25: Girls Tennis vs. BC Central (Away)
March 26: Vision Screenings for 9th Graders Only
March 26: Track and Field vs. Delton and Constantine @ Home
March 27: Half Day for Students (End of Marking Period 3)
March 27: Varsity Softball vs. BC Central DH @ Home
March 28-April 6 Spring Break
April 7: School Resumes
G-A Community Section
Have anything that you want to share with our district's families? Send me the info at Lindsey.Newton@garams.org and I can post here in our G-A Community Section
We had a lunch with leadership event at our high school and from that, we brainstormed an opportunity to showcase our local business and events happening at those events here in our Superintendent Newsletter too.
The Venue
Check out this great rental space in Galesburg!
Looking for a space to rent for a graduation party, birthday party or any event you need space???
269-550-8500
68 E. Michigan Ave
Galesburg, MI
Email: Thevenueat68@gmail.com
Greater Galesburg Day June 21
Design Events with Romey!
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Page · Crafts
9406 E K Ave. Unit #2, Galesburg, MI, United States, Michigan
(269) 816-8448
designeventswithromey@gmail.com