Rocketeer Newsletter
Goddard Middle School - Home of the Titans
Invitations to students were mailed home last week. Due to the limited seating in the gym, we kindly ask that only immediate family (parents/guardians) attend. Students being recognized should plan on being in the gym by 5:50pm to take their seats.
Happy Retirement - Ms. Purington
Please join me in congratulating Ms. Laura Purington–she will be retiring from teaching after this school year.
Beginning her career in 1990 as a substitute teacher in Lake Perris, Ms. Purington quickly established herself as a dedicated and innovative educator. Her passion for teaching led her to Arcadia, where she taught for five years before making a significant move to Glendora to join Sellers in 1995. At Sellers, she excelled as a 5th-grade teacher, later taking on the challenge of teaching 3rd grade and earning the PTA Child Advocate Award. Her journey didn't stop there; she brought her expertise and enthusiasm for technology to Goddard Middle School, where she transformed the computer science program.
At Goddard, Ms. Purington faced the task of updating an outdated Macintosh lab. She rose to the occasion, converting the space into a state-of-the-art computer science classroom equipped with new computer workstations. Her dedication to enhancing the educational experience did not go unnoticed. She successfully wrote and received over 34 grants for the Glendora Unified School District, securing more than $35,000 in funding. This financial support was pivotal in upgrading her classroom with cutting-edge technology, including the first-ever Smartboard and LCD projector on the Goddard campus.
Ms. Purington’s impact on the curriculum was profound. She implemented a comprehensive middle school computer science curriculum, teaching students essential skills such as keyboarding, computer programming, video editing, news broadcasting, animation, video game creation, and website development. Her commitment to student engagement and learning extended beyond the classroom. As the Yearbook Advisor from 2009 to 2021, she guided her students to create award-winning yearbooks, showcasing their creativity and hard work.
Throughout her career at Glendora, Ms. Purington also taught 6th grade English Language Arts, 6th grade Social Science, and various elective classes, demonstrating her versatility and dedication to education. Ms. Purington was also our ELD teacher and did a fantastic job helping our English Learners read, write, and eventually reclassify.
Outside the classroom, Ms. Purington has a passion for travel. She has explored Europe, India, and Japan, and is looking forward to visiting Amsterdam in August for her son's wedding. In retirement, she plans to continue her adventurous spirit by traveling, teaching yoga, and spending quality time with her two grandchildren.
Ms. Purington’s career is a testament to her commitment to education and her ability to inspire and innovate. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on her students, colleagues, and the Glendora Unified School District.
Congratulations Ms. Purington! Happy retirement!
35 Years of Service to Students and Families
Color Run
PROMOTION ACTIVITY POLICY - Grade 8
At the conclusion of the 8th grade year, promotion activities will be held. However, 8th grade students MAY NOT participate in promotion activities if they have had a suspendable offense in the last 10 days or their poor academic performance results in:
Two (2) or more “F” grades on their first semester report card AND two (2) or more “F” grades on their second semester report card. OR
Three (3) or more “F” grades on their second semester grade check before promotion.
Any “U” OR (2) or more “N” in citizenship during 4th quarter.
A final decision regarding participation in the promotion activities will be made one week prior to the promotion activity date.
Parents and students should regularly monitor grades and citizenship on Aeries.
Referenced in the Student-Parent Handbook on Page 4
8th Grade Promotion Party Donations
Important Dates for 2024-25 School Year
Please review this important information, including dates for the next school year. Many of our Goddard families are on vacation over the summer, so I wanted to provide these details early to help you plan accordingly.
READ MORE! Have you done your 10+ pages today?
Titans: Be sure to do your 10+ pages of reading daily. Remember, if you read 10+ pages a day, that’s over 70+ pages a week, which adds up to 280+ pages a month. THAT MEANS you’re reading one novel a month, which is pretty amazing if you think about it.
Remember, great things and big things all have small and humble beginnings. Big achievements always start with small steps. Keep on reading your 10 plus pages a day!
Parents: Consider buying 2-3 copies of the same book and read as a family and then come together during dinner time to discuss the book. It's a great way to encourage reading and to spend some quality time with the family. Read, read, and read some more!
Tdap and 2 Varicella Immunizations for Current Grade 6 students - URGENT
RE: Immunizations for Current Grade 6 students. Please see email and important links below from our District Nurse. Connect with our Goddard Health Clerk, Mrs. Jeckell, if you have additional questions by emailing her at pjeckell@glendora.k12.ca.us
Dear Goddard Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
As you may be aware, the State of California requires all incoming 7th graders to show proof of Tdap and 2 Varicella vaccines (or valid medical exemption through CAIR-ME) prior to attending 7th grade. See below for detailed information regarding Tdap and Varicella, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. If your student has not yet received these immunizations, please contact your child’s medical provider right away.
In order for your child to receive a schedule for the 2024/2025 school year and start 7th grade, you will need to do one of the following before school begins:
Provide documentation showing that your child has all required immunizations.
Submit a medical exemption from CAIR-ME for any missing immunizations See Shots For Schools for more information.
What is a medical exemption? A medical exemption is statement from a physician (M.D. or D.O.) licensed in California which:
Is filed through the CAIR-ME online system.
Names the specific nature of the physical condition or medical circumstances of the child for which a licensed physician does not recommend immunization.
Each specific required vaccine that is being exempted.
If the medical exemption is permanent or temporary.
If the exemption is temporary, an expiration date no more than 12 calendar months from the date of signing.
If you do not have a medical provider or do not have insurance, please contact Jackie Rojas, jackierojas@glendora.k12.ca.us, for a list of community based clinics.
This is also a good time to discuss any other immunization needs. Although Tdap and 2 Varicella are required for school entry, it is recommended that your child also obtain Meningococcal and HPV vaccines in this age group. If you have any questions regarding these vaccines please contact your child’s medical provider.
Students entering 7th grade who do not meet the immunization requirements will NOT be able to attend school and Parent/Student will NOT be able to pick up schedules/books during the summer schedule pick-up days.
Please upload your child’s immunization record(s) or valid CAIR-ME exemption to this GOOGLE FORM - CLICK HERE. If the school site or district needs further information you will be contacted.
Please complete this by May 31, 2024
Thank you for helping us keep your child, our school, and our community safe and healthy.
Sincerely, Sonia Dell’Aquila,
District Nurse
Important Notice Regarding Student Pickup Times
Dear Goddard Parents,
We have observed an increasing number of students being picked up later than 4:00 PM, extending to 4:30 PM and even 5:00 PM. Our school dismissal times are 2:37 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 12:32 PM on Thursdays. We kindly request your support in picking up your students promptly every day. If your child is walking or biking back home, it’s important they do so right away. Please keep in mind that we do NOT have supervision after school. Glendora Unified also offers Extended Day Care. Please CLICK HERE to learn more about that.
Quick Links
Emergency Contact Information/Student Release Authorization
Goddard Parents/Guardians:
Please make sure that you have all of your emergency contact information and student release authorizations updated on Aeries. This information is very important in the event of an emergency when we have to release students to parents/guardians and/or emergency contacts/authorized contacts for student release. Individuals listed under the emergency contacts should be at least 18 years of age. Regularly update this information to include the most updated names and contact information. Please also try and include multiple people on this list.
EDITING CONTACTS IN YOUR PARENT PORTAL
Click on Student Info
Click on Contacts
Click on the +ADD button to add a new contact OR Click on the pencil to edit a contact
You will be able to edit all fields within the contact
ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY
NO CELL PHONE POLICY FROM 8:00AM TO 2:37PM DAILY.
Students are permitted to have a cell phone or smart watch in their possession on campus during the school day while attending school-sponsored activities or while under the supervision and control of a school district employee. Such devices shall be in a backpack, deactivated (turned off - vibrate/silence is not considered off) and their use is strictly prohibited on campus. Any device that is on, activated, in use, or openly displayed, will be confiscated and held in the office. Guardians are urged not to telephone or send text messages to students and students are not to use the phone during the school day for any reason. Cell phones are not to be used for video/photo purposes on school grounds at any time.
1st offense: Confiscation, parent notification by phone call and warning referral; student may pick up device after school.
2nd offense: Confiscation, parent notification by phone call and referral; student serves 1 hour office detention; student may pick up device after school.
3rd offense: Confiscation, parent notification by phone call and referral; student serves 2 hour office detention; device will be held in school office during school hours for 2 weeks.
4th offense: Confiscation, parent notification by phone call and referral; student serves morning detention; device will be held in school office during school hours for 1 month.
Goddard Middle School is not liable for lost, damaged or stolen cell phones. Students will be held responsible for their own cell phones.
Homework Club
Homework Club is Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 2:45-3:45pm in the Goddard Library. There is NO Homework Club on Thursdays, on Fridays, or on any minimum days. Please arrange for timely pickup with your student on the days that they decide to stay for Homework Club. Very few students stay for the entire hour and most students actually spend between 25-35 minutes at Homework Club so please make sure you are checking in with your student each time they decide to stay. Our amazing Goddard teachers, Mr. Summers and Mrs. Sullivan, will be the two lead teachers running Homework Club. Students can also log into Paper online tutoring during this time and get support from Paper tutors.
The Goddard Way
Titans:
All of us at Goddard, from our teachers, counselors, and teacher aides to our administrators and office staff, believe in you and we believe in your ability to excel academically in all of your classes and to contribute to the Goddard Way of helping your fellow classmates, showing love and compassion for everyone on campus, and to respecting and cooperating with your teachers and peers by following our school rules, exemplifying positive behaviors, and always putting your best effort in everything that you do!
We are already proud of you and we expect and even DEMAND only great things from each and every one of you. We know that you can all achieve great things if you work hard and believe in yourself! It’s the only way to do it!
Goddard is Excellence, Pride, Tradition, Community, and Family.
Make good decisions. Be kind. Learn, love, and have an amazing Goddard Day, Titans!
WeTiP
Glendora Unified School District is committed to providing a safe, secure, and healthy environment that allows every student to be learning in every classroom, in every subject, every day. We believe that our students and staff have the right to be free of bullying, threats, intimidation, and harassment while on our campuses or participating in or being associated with any school/district related activity. That is why Glendora Unified School District is committed to partnering with our families, students, staff, and community to provide an effective way to take action.
In our District, we encourage our community to “Anonymously Submit a Tip” if you have witnessed bullying, are a victim of threats or bullying or are aware of or concerned about threats or bullying incidents that might take place. Please report the information in one of the ways described below.
For emergencies, please call 911.
You may file a report using our online Incident Reporting System, by calling the school or district, or by reporting in person to any staff member.
When you make a report using the online Incident Reporting System, you can remain anonymous, or you have the option to identify yourself and communicate with the administration.
Incident reports are received by administration when they are filed and are reviewed as soon as possible. All reports are taken seriously and are acted upon in a timely manner. As each incident is different, each will warrant a different reaction and timeline for action.
By submitting this online report, you declare under the laws of the State of California that your enclosed statements are true and correct.
Bicycle Safety
All students who use the bicycle rack in front of the school need to lock up their scooters and bikes daily. We are seeing many bicycles and scooters unlocked on a daily basis.
If you have a child who is riding their bike to school, please also talk to them about bicycle safety. Refer to the DMV page to learn more about bicycle safety by clicking here.
Protect yourself. Wear a helmet. Make sure your helmet is properly fitted, and wear it according to manufacturer directions. Helmets provide protection from potentially life-threatening head injuries.
Safety Concerns Regarding Student Bicycle and Scooter Usage
Dear Goddard Families,
I am writing to address a growing concern regarding the safety of our students while riding bicycles and scooters to and from school. It has come to our attention that there is a noticeable increase in students engaging in erratic and dangerous riding behavior, which is putting their safety at risk.
Many students are not wearing helmets while riding, which is an important safety measure.
Additionally, students are not obeying basic traffic safety rules, further endangering themselves and others. This behavior has become particularly problematic with the increasing number of students opting for electric/motor scooters and bicycles.
Specifically, we have received teacher and staff reports about students riding on the streets, especially on Loraine and Sierra Madre, at high speeds and in an unsafe manner. This poses a significant risk to their safety and the safety of others on the road.
Mr. Zernickow, our assistant principal, has been actively monitoring these situations and will be speaking to individual students when specific instances are observed. He will also call parents to inform them about their specific student. However, we need the support and cooperation of all parents to address this issue effectively.
We kindly request that you talk to your children about bicycle and scooter safety. Emphasize the importance of wearing helmets (properly) at all times, following traffic rules, and practicing safe riding habits.
It is our collective responsibility to create a safe environment for our children, both within and outside the school premises.
Refer to the DMV page to learn more about bicycle safety by clicking here.
Please Drive Safely: Our Students - Your Children - Are Walking
Goddard families:
Let us please recommit to safe driving practices in and around our schools. Drop-off and pick-up at schools is never fun, can oftentimes be stressful, and traffic is usually an issue, but we really must slow it down to keep our students safe.
Safe Driving Pledge
Residents who make the “Safe Driving Pledge” are entered into a drawing, and the winner(s) will be announced by the Glendora Police Department in spring 2024. Prizes will be donated by community organizations. Residents are not eligible for a prize if they have received a traffic or parking citation in the school zones during the school year.
Goddard Middle School
Website: www.GoddardTitans.Net
Location: Goddard Middle School, Sierra Madre Avenue, Glendora, CA, USA
Phone: 626-852-4500