September 2023 Message

September 7th is almost upon us and we are beyond excited to welcome (back) our Glen Meadow Middle School students. The sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade years are some of the most exciting times in the life of a child! We hope that your child(ren) will find this school year one that is full of enriching activities and rewarding experiences. The 2023-2024 school year promises to be a positive, productive, and memorable one!

Many exciting events await us during the month of September! Students arrive on September 7th and will have the opportunity to meet their teachers, counselors, case managers, and the administrative team. School pictures are scheduled for Thursday, September 14th, (Photo Packages, Photo Prices, and Order Form), and Back to School Night for parents/guardians is on Tuesday, September 19th. For a full list of all Glen Meadow happenings, please visit the GMMS/VTSD Calendar HERE.

As always, we are here to work alongside you and your child(ren) throughout the school year. If you should ever have any questions or concerns about your child's education, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we are stronger! When the school and home collaborate and communicate, we are all working towards one common goal - a successful school year for your child. Thank you for partnering with us throughout the 2023-2024 school year.

Jacquelyn M. Van Orden, Principal

Eric W. Kosek, Assistant Principal

• September 4: District Closed for Labor Day
• September 7: First Day of School - Early Dismissal for Students
• September 8: Early Dismissal for Students
• September 9: GMMS Band Pancake Breakfast
• September 11: 6th, 7th, & 8th-Grade Class Meetings
• September 11: Patriot Day
• September 14: BOE Work Session at Lounsberry Hollow School (7:00 pm)
• September 14: School Pictures (Retakes/Make-Ups on Oct. 27th)
• September 19: Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians at 6:00 pm - SCHEDULE

• September 20: SCA Meeting in the Faculty Room (9:30 am)

• September 21: BOE Public Meeting at Lounsberry Hollow School (7:00 pm)

• September 25: District Closed - Yom Kippur

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) is an after-school program that provides students with academic enrichment opportunities that will offer support beyond the classroom curriculum. Students will receive academic support/enrichment and a nutritional snack each day. The 21st CCLC allows students to explore STEM, Physical Fitness, and Visual and Performing Arts activities, including but not limited to Theatre, Robotics, Engineering, and Culinary Arts. Students will also have the opportunity to attend field trips within the community to work with key stakeholders of this initiative, including The Painted Grape, which has partnered with Glen Meadow Middle School’s 21st CCLC. In addition, there is a Parent University component which will provide workshops for parents/guardians and will also allow students to showcase their learning activities.

During the school year, the program runs Monday through Friday, immediately after school from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with parent/guardian pick-up. The 21st Century Community Learning Center is available to all 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students residing in Vernon Township and is at no cost to families. Please note that all clubs/activities will run through the 21st CCLC, thus all students must register for the 21st CCLC should they plan to join a club or activity. Click HERE for more information.

Should you have any questions about the program, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Kait Ramirez, Program Director, at Glen Meadow Middle School at (973) 764-4534. We are excited to provide this engaging and enriching learning experience for your child and are looking forward to all of the incredible adventures that await!

Please consider nominating:

• (1) Glen Meadow Middle School teacher for the annual NJDOE's Governor’s Teacher of the Year (GEOY); and

• (1) Glen Meadow Middle School Educational Services Professional for the Governor’s Educational Services Professional (ESP) of the Year.

Last year’s well-deserving recipients were Dr. Christopher Jensen, 8th Grade Science Teacher, and Mrs. Carol Gonzalez, School Counselor.

Each nominee should be someone who:

• inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn;

• serves as an exceptionally skilled and dedicated educator;

• expresses themselves in an engaging and articulate way;

• plays an active role in the community as well as the school;

• demonstrates leadership and innovation in and outside the school; and

• has the respect and admiration of students, parents/guardians, and colleagues.

Please submit the GEOY/ESP form to nominate a Glen Meadow Middle School Educator and/or Educational Services Professional for the 2023-2024 Governor’s Educator of the Year Recognition Program. Nomination letters are due to Mrs. Van Orden (either in hard copy or digital form) no later than Friday, October 20, 2023.

As per NJDOE, Educational Service Professionals include: Associate School Library Media Specialist • Behavior Specialist • Bullying Specialist • Cooperative Education Coordinator • Cooperative Education Coordinator / Hazardous Occupations • Director of School Counseling Services / Child Study Team • Educational Interpreter • Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant • Mathematics Specialist / Mathematics Coach • Paraprofessional (Instructional) • Reading Specialist / Reading Coach • School Athletic Trainer • School Counselor • School Library Media Specialist • School Nurse • School Occupational Therapist • School Physical Therapist • School Psychologist • School Social Worker • Speech-Language Specialist • Student Assistance Coordinator

Self-care isn't selfish, it's essential. This month we're encouraging everyone to be kinder to themselves (as well as others), especially when things don't go as we plan. Self-care increases our resilience and helps us get more out of life. It also helps us accept others as they are too. Please take a moment to peruse the calendar below and see how many actions you are able to take part in this month!

~obtained from: https://actionforhappiness.org/

Students at GMMS will arrive at Glen Meadow at approximately 8:05 am daily and buses will depart the school at the end of the day at approximately 3:00 pm. Daily parent/guardian drop-off time will be at 8:05 am and pick-up time will be at 2:50 pm if your child does not take the bus. Please click HERE for Glen Meadow’s daily schedules, as it has changed to accommodate an 8-period day.

On the first day of school, students will receive their GMMS student IDs in homeroom. Student IDs will be attached to a lanyard and must be with the student at all times. Students will use their ID to scan into school each day at attendance kiosks, which will be staffed by GMMS faculty in the entryways. Student IDs will be updated after school pictures are taken for the 2023-2024 school year. Please remind your child to bring their student ID each day. Thank you for your assistance and support.

Counselors at Glen Meadow Middle School are assigned according to each student's grade level. The counselor assignments for the 2023-2024 school year are as follows:

6th Grade:

• COUNSELOR: Mrs. Carol Gonzalez - cgonzalez@vtsd.com
• CST: Mrs. Kate Harnish-Panfile - kharnishpanfile@vtsd.com

7th Grade:

• COUNSELOR: Mrs. Cynthia Moser - cmoser@vtsd.com

• CST: Dr. Bethany Konopinski - bkonopinski@vtsd.com

8th Grade:

• COUNSELOR: Mrs. Lindsay McAloney - lmcaloney@vtsd.com

• CST: Mrs. Amanda Saxton - asaxton@vtsd.com

• Volunteer to be a Peer Tutor at Glen Meadow. Click HERE for more information.
• Request a Peer Tutor. Click HERE for more information.
• Volunteer at Sussex County Libraries. Click HERE for more information.

Restorative Practices in Education encourage supportive and respectful behaviors and promote self-regulation. Day-to-day encounters impact a school’s climate and culture and ultimately play a large role in a student's social and academic outcomes.

Students thrive in learning environments where they feel supported and heard. A restorative approach focuses on building and maintaining positive relationships across the entire school community. At Glen Meadow Middle School, all faculty and staff aim to create an atmosphere of respect, inclusion, cooperation, accountability, and responsibility.

At Glen Meadow Middle School, we:

• value relationships
• model empathy and respect
• value student voice and utilize collaborative problem solving
• recognize the importance of learning from experience
• use active listening and positive language and tone
• foster self-awareness in our middle school students
• remain future-focused.

Restorative Practices strengthen relationships between individuals as well as one's connections within their learning community.

What are some examples of Restorative Practices?

• Using Affective Statements - Affective statements, referred to as “I” statements tell the listener how the person feels and why it makes them feel that way. They are an effective way to teach students how to express their emotions appropriately.
• Community Circles - A Community Circle is a discussion space in which students and the teacher sit in a circle so that everyone is visible. What distinguishes a Community Circle from an everyday group discussion is that Community Circles are used as an opportunity for students to build community.
• Small Impromptu Conferencing - Bringing students together to resolve a problem/disagreement by discussing the situation and how to resolve it.
• Setting Classroom Agreements/Norms - Some examples of general class norms are: Come prepared to class, respect others and yourself, and be kind.

Families can use circles as a tool to talk further about an array of topics. Circle topics at home might include talking about expectations for behaviors at events/gatherings, developing family values/norms, holding family meetings, goal-setting for the week, and school-related conversations, to name a few. After reading the suggestions, you may be thinking to yourself, "Oh, we already do those things!" So with or without knowing it, you probably are already "doing" restorative practices at your house.

Circles typically involve asking thoughtful questions to hear from everyone. If you are the one asking questions, you can answer them as well. Circles don’t require a lot of time, especially proactive ones that are meant to maintain connection and open communication. They can be short conversations at breakfast, during car rides, or embedded in your nighttime routine. Here are examples of restorative circle questions that can be asked of children and their family members:

1. What is one goal you want to accomplish this week/weekend? Do you need support in accomplishing this goal?

2. What would you like to do for fun this weekend, within reason?

3. After school/work check-in: On a scale of one to five, (1) being low and (5) being high, how was your day? Why did you rate it that way?

4. What was one thing that made you happy, pleased, or proud this week?

5. What can you do in school/at work to show kindness?

Obtained from Boulder Valley School District, Boulder, CO.

#TheGlenMeadowWay is built on three core principles:

• Respect Yourself and Others
• Take Responsibility for Your Actions
• Reach Your 100%

Students have been assigned hall lockers and will be given time on the first two days of school to learn how to use their lockers. Students must store their backpacks/bookbags in their lockers but are free to use a string bag (carrying only the necessities for AM and PM classes), should they so choose. Students will be encouraged to utilize their lockers during AM homeroom, before lunch, after lunch, and at the end of the day. Gym lockers and locker rooms will be utilized during the 2023-2024 school year, as students change for Physical Education. More information will follow from your child's PE teachers.

Please note that Glen Meadow Middle School implements "stay-to-the-right" hallway procedures. As students take time to acclimate to navigating the building, tardies to class (within reason) will be forgiven during the first two weeks of school.

Cell phones must be kept in lockers during the school day. Should your child need to call home, or should you need to reach your child, please contact the main office at (973) 764-8981. Please refer to the Parent/Guardian/Student Handbook for additional information regarding cell phones, earbuds, etc. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Although water fountains are available, students are encouraged to bring a labeled refillable water bottle to school daily. GMMS water bottle fillings stations are available on both the first and second floors.

New to Vernon Township School District this year, Maschio's Food Services will be serving our students and staff breakfast and lunch daily. Breakfast will be served upon student arrival and during homeroom from 8:05 am - 8:15 am. Lunch will be served during your child's scheduled lunch period. For information about Maschio's breakfast and lunch pricing, please click HERE.

A very special thank you to the GMMS SCA for all that they do for the students, faculty, and staff at Glen Meadow Middle School!

Please consider joining us at the first SCA meeting of the year, on Wednesday, September 20th at 9:30 am, in the GMMS Faculty Room. To view the SCA Welcome Letter, please click HERE. In addition, please click HERE for all of the wonderful happenings and fundraisers on behalf of the GMMS SCA!

We eagerly await the start of the 2023-2024 school year! We are honored and grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside you and your child(ren) this year. If there is anything we can do to assist in making this year a successful one, please do not hesitate to contact us. #TheGlenMeadowWay #GMMSinspirekindness

All our best,

The Faculty and Staff of Glen Meadow Middle School

Email: jvanorden@vtsd.com
Website: vtsd.com
Location: Glen Meadow Middle School, Sammis Road, Vernon Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-764-4532
Twitter: @PrincipalJVO

Email: ekosek@vtsd.com
Website: vtsd.com
Location: Glen Meadow Middle School, Sammis Road, Vernon Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-764-4697