Paw Prints GRANDVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL 3535 WILSON AVE SW GRANDVILLE, MI 49418 CONTACT US MS Phone Numbers Attendance: 254-6708 Office: 254-6610 Guidance: 254-6616 Athletics: 254-6622 Visit gpsbulldogs.org to learn more about Grandville Middle School. Theresa Waterbury Principal twaterbury @gpsbulldogs.org Don Atkinson Assistant Principal datkinson @gpsbulldogs.org October 2014 Cyber News You may know where your children are, but do you know what they are doing while on their phones or computers? Students are spending a tremendous amount of time on line each day. The average teen sends 3,339 text mess ages per month. We sometimes see the end result (especially each Monday) when we follow up on issues that make their way into the building/classroom. We realize that students tend to say things on line that they might not otherwise say to someone in person. The number of texts is on the rise among teens 13 to 17. Many female teens send over 4,000 texts a month. In addition, students are using video sites or chat rooms to “meet” other students, or those they think are students. In many cases, students have more than one account they are using. When viewing your child’s account, do not assume that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. are the only accounts they are using. We appreciate the conversations you have at home with your child regarding their conversations and appropriate use of technology. (Reminder: Students at the Middle School are expected to turn their electronic devices off and put them away as soon as they enter the building until after school hours at 2:39.) Orchestra Athletics Orchestra is off to a great start! Our first 8 th grade Concert occurs on Tuesday, October 21 at 8 pm at the High School auditorium. Orchestra Uniform Requirements: Girls Boys School provides Student provides Black Shirt Black dress shoes and socks Black pants Recommended: Black tank or camisole Black Vest Black dress pants Black tie Long sleeve white dress shirt Black dress shoes and socks NPR recently published a great story about the many benefits of musical training. http://goo.gl/ YHKQ3y Please contact Sara Good at any time with questions or concerns @254-6787, or email @ [email protected]. In addition, check the Orchestra website for helpful information and resources: www.grandvilleorchestra.com. Thank you for supporting your child’s involvement in orchestra! Athletic Schedules can now be found on our new and improved GPS website @ www.gpsbulldogs.org under the MS Athletics tab. Or by going to schedulestar.com and search Grandville Middle School Band Financial Support Some of you are familiar with the free and reduced lunch application that is sent out each year in opening day packets. Many of you don’t realize how these funds can benefit your child in ways other than through their school lunch accounts. For instance, we have a breakfast program here at the MS that your child might also qualify for if your family income is within the guidelines. In addition, these funds can help pay for pay to play sports (school sponsored athletic programs – not club sports), summer school, camps and some school trips. Total Family Size Twice Every Annual Monthly Per Two Weekly Month Weeks 1 $21,590 $1,800 $900 $831 $416 2 $29,101 $2,426 $1,213 $1,120 $560 3 $36,612 $3,051 $1,526 $1,409 $705 4 $44,123 $3,677 $1,839 $1,698 $849 5 $51,634 $4,303 $2,152 $1,986 $993 6 $59,145 $4,929 $2,465 $2,275 $1,138 7 $66,656 $5,555 $2,778 $2,564 $1,282 8 * Each additional household member add: $74,167 $6,181 $3,091 $2,853 $1,427 $7,511 $626 $313 $289 $145 If you think you may qualify for services, please complete the free and reduced lunch form at any time during the school year. Please also remember that you need to complete a new form each school year. You only need complete one form for all students attending Grandville Public Schools. Please let us know if you need a copy of the form or need help completing the paperwork. You may also call the food service office if you have additional questions at 254-6404 – Mrs. Klaver. BAND DEPARTMENT NEWS Fall is proving to be a busy time for the Grandville Middle School band students. The Eighth Grade Bands will be performing on October 10 at the varsity football game. The combined eighth grade bands will perform with the GHS band students at pregame. The Seventh Grade Band students are working on playing as a full band and we are excited with the progress students are making! We would like to remind parents that their child should practice at least 4 days a week so we can continue to improve on the skills learned in class each day and to be ready for newer and more exciting music. We are completing our first chair placement quiz at the end of September. Both jazz bands are doing a great job so far! Jazz 8 is working on newer songs and improvisation, and Jazz 7 is doing a good job swinging! All bands – Concert bands and Jazz band - will be performing at our Holiday Concert on December 8. 7th grade bands – 6:30 PM 8th grade bands – 8:00 PM Choir It was so nice to see such a great turnout at our Back-to-School night last month. In case you were not able to make it, there were a few changes to some of the choral performances. First is that the concert in February is scheduled for the 24th, not the 25th. The choir handbook had a typing mistake and the concert should be on a Tuesday, just like the others. Second, the 7th grade concert times are switching from 7 pm to 6:30 pm. This is to allow for more time to transition comfortably between the 7th and 8th grade concerts. Our first choir fundraiser will start October 1st. Please ask your child about the information sent home with them that day to see how your participation can help our program. And for Musical Theater, we are looking for any parents and families interested in volunteering to help with this year's Spring Musical Production. We are looking to organize volunteers on committees to help with specific aspects of the musical. If you are interested in volunteering for one or more of the following committees, please let Mr. Vecchio know. Your support is greatly appreciated! Team 73 Information Team Website: Team73website.Weebly.com *Links to Teacher Web Pages and Syllabus Info are on the team website. Kooiker Remind 101Texts: (248)817-4573 Math 7: text @mrskooik Algebra: text @mrskooiker Mulder Remind 101Texts: (248)731-5929 Language Arts: text @mrskmulder Teacher Emails: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] STUDENT ABSENCE -Fundraising -Set Building -Costume Design/ Making -Advertising/Community Outreach -End of the year party Planning -Saturday rehearsal meals If your child is sick please call the attendance line @ 254-6708 before 9AM. If your child is out two days or more, you can also request homework when calling the attendance line the second day. You should also call in if your child will be late in the morning Thank you for all of your support and for making the performing arts such an important part of your student's lives! -Steve Vecchio [email protected] If your child has an appointment and will be leaving school early, please call the attendance line @ 254-6708 and let us know what time you will be picking your child up and we will request the teacher to have them come to the office at that time. Thank you!