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George McGovern Middle School
6221 W. Maple St., Sioux Falls, SD 57107
Where attitude is everything, and the attitude is one of respect.
September 2018 Principal Mr. Tim Koehler Assistant Principal Mr. Richie Hutchinson Intern Asst. Principal Ms. Beckie VanDrongelen
Important Phone Numbers
Main Office 367-4440 Office Hours 7:45-5:00 Attendance 367-4438 and Health 24 hr voicemail Counseling 367-4435 and Registration Kitchen Manager 367-4492 Fax 367-4434 IEP Facilitator 367-4481
Facebook Page: George McGovern Middle
School PTA
Publ ished Monthly
Issue No.0037
Important Dates
Aug 31: No Classes-Labor Day break Sept. 3: No Classes-Labor Day Break Sept 5: School pictures for those that did not attend Eagle Launch (GMMS Open House) GMMS Annuals for Sale $15.00 each Order forms at room H606 Or Pro-time Teacher
Principal Koehler’s News
Dear GMMS Families,
The 2018-2019 school year is off to a great start at George McGovern Middle School. Thank you
to all for helping our students and staff get off to such a fantastic start. We are looking forward to
working together as a team to provide your child the very best educational experience. Our
newsletter is one way we maintain communication between school and home. It contains a variety
of information from the district and the school. Thank you for taking the time to read it.
GMMS is committed to providing a positive learning environment for all our students. This
commitment comes with a focus on learning, consistent attendance, and adherence to the school
rules. Consistency in these three areas will allow our students the opportunity to develop the
positive habits that will make them successful young adults. Here are a few ideas for helping your
student build these positive habits. Learning - Let your child know you think school is important.
Talk to him/her about what they’re learning. - Encourage persistence: Children learn persistence
when they are successful at a challenging task. Let them know that not everything comes easy.
This will help them gain confidence and successfully negotiate difficult situations when they are
older. - Talk to them about their future: School success is one of the keys to a successful future.
Talk with them about their dreams/goals and make the connection to how school fits within this
vision. Attendance - Encourage your child to get enough sleep to ensure that he/she can get up in
the morning. - Leave home with plenty of time to get to school. - Try to schedule appointments
before or after school hours. School Rules - Familiarize yourself with the school rules, guidelines,
and expectations in our handbook. - Reinforce that school is currently their “job” and just like any
job, there are expectations. This will help them prepare for high school and beyond. - Talk to your
kids about the rules at your job. For example, what is the dress code at your job? This helps
students understand the purpose of school rules. Finally, encourage your child to develop a great
work ethic. A good work ethic will help develop personal pride and ensure that your student feels
in control.
I would like to remind you that Annual Student Information updates need to be completed each
year for your students. If you have not yet done so, please complete this as soon as possible. If
you are having difficulties with completing this, contact the GMMS Office staff at 605-367-4440,
they will be happy to assist you with Parent Portal and the annual update.
Sincerely,
Tim Koehler
GMMS Principal
Strong School-Parent Partnerships
by Dr. Brian Maher, Superintendent
Some of you may know prior to becoming a superintendent I was a high school
math and physics teacher. While I won’t challenge you with a confusing story problem, I
do want to use numbers to demonstrate the benefits of a strong school-parent
partnership.
Sioux Falls Public School students spend approximately 176 days or 1,232 hours
at school each year. A typical school day spans 7 hours. That means the other 17 hours
of a student’s life is spent in the care of another adult. Certainly, we hope students are getting adequate
rest for a good chunk of that time. If so, then, it is what happens in the remaining hours that parents and
guardians have the ability to define.
Through their actions and attitudes, parents and guardians set the tone for children about the
importance of education. Do you ask your student specific questions about their school day? What was
the best part? The most difficult? With whom did they sit at lunch? In which subject(s) do they have
homework?
Do you model the importance of reading by picking up a newspaper, magazine, or shared
reading book with your youngest learner? Do you take time to explain national news stories and how
they impact your family – things like weather patterns, stock markets, government decisions? Do you
attend school open houses and teacher conferences? Do you make every attempt to attend special
school events?
Your child’s teacher is cheering them on and offering encouragement throughout the school
day. While these interactions are powerful, there is no greater ally in helping students succeed
academically, socially, and emotionally than their parent or guardian. No one’s approval matters more
than yours.
The time spent with a child talking about education or pursuing it through homework and
projects is a significant multiplier for student success. First, as a father of three grown children, second
as a former math teacher, principal and now superintendent, I can assure you there is no greater
investment than the time you spend with your child establishing an appreciation for education. Thank
you for the important role you play in our continued partnership.
C O U G A R S
V I K I N G S
Science Terry Helget and Tim Josephson
During the month of August the students learned about classroom procedures and lab safety. The metric system was next and had the students measuring mass, volume and length. The students did especially well in the volume lab where they had to do precise measuring to get liquid to turn into the colors of the rainbow. We also learned the steps of the scientific method. Next up is a focus on Ecology and the Environment where the students will learn about populations and communities, biomes, and the Earth's resources.
Math Pam Hieronimus and Ms. Wenzel
In math, the seventh graders will begin the year working with positive and negative numbers (integers). We will use number lines and positive/negative chips to develop algorithms for solving operations that use integers. We will continue to practice this skill into the second week of October. We will also spend two days this first quarter taking our first (of three) MAP assessments to help us guide students learning. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Geography Mr. Flock and Mr. Moulton All 7th Grade students will be enhancing their knowledge of map skills. Students will learn how to use a global positioning system device more commonly called a GPS. All students will get hands on experience with a GPS. There will be two field trips around the school property to do geocaching. We will continue to add vocabulary words to better communicate like a geographer. Students are also getting the opportunity to Journal about current events after watching a 10 minute news broadcast. We will be using TCI Geography Alive. Students can access learning and review
materials through Classlink. We have taught all students how to do this and they do have access to review vocabulary games at home with internet access.
Language Arts (ELA) Mrs. Dossett, Mrs. Huwe and Ms. DeRoos ELA is back in full swing and we are enjoying having your child in school at George McGovern! We encourage you to ask them about their FREE CHOICE reading book that they have chosen to read in different classes right now. GOOD READERS MAKE GOOD WRITERS and GOOD WRITERS MAKE GOOD READERS! It is so im-portant to foster that love of reading at home and in School as it will only help them in every class they take in Middle school and High school and life beyond. The week they return from Labor Day break, we will be taking the Map Assessment tests for Reading Comprehension, Language Skills and Math. If at all possible, please make sure your child is here at school those days and has had a good night’s rest. After test-ing, we will be jumping into reading The Outsiders...a teacher and student favorite and we know your child will love it! Make sure and ask them all about it :) We will be having a dress-up day at the end of the Unit so they can start preparing now. ENJOY LIFE & SHARE A SMILE :)
Greetings from the staff of the eighth grade teams of McGovern Middle School, extend a warm welcome to you, our incoming eighth grade students and parents. It is going to be a fantastic year! We love the fresh start of a new school year, and want you to know that as a staff we are enthusiastic and dedicated to making this an exciting and enriching year for you. Students, after a fun and relaxing summer, we are eager to get back to what we do best, teaching and guiding you to new levels of learning and independence. We hope that you are eager to get back to school, too. We will give you our best, but your motivation and attitude toward learning will determine how much you grow and how positive your last year of middle school will be. We need to work as a team-students, parents and staff-to live up to all the potential and opportunities this special year has to offer. We are ready; are you? Let’s work together to make this our best year ever!
Here is the news from the core courses:
English Language Arts— Mrs. Freese & Ms. VanMaanen — The 8th grade ELA classes
are starting with Unit 1 called "Rites of Passage". We will spend some time reading
short stories and writing about different hurdles, obstacles, and rites of passage that
we've been through. We also started our read aloud. We are reading "The Girl Who
was Supposed to Die" by April Henry. Ask your child how April Henry got interested in
writing about murders. MAP testing will be the week after Labor Day weekend. This
assessment will be given 3 times a year, and it's a great chance for students to show
what they have learned.
Science— Mrs Krueger & Mrs. Schroeder -- We will begin the year learning about lab
safety and the scientific method. Then we will jump right into our first book on
Chemistry! Students will learn about matter, physical and chemical propeties, and the
stucture of atoms. Students will also get the opportunity to build and create their own
atom using the knowledge they aquired throughout this chapter.
Math-- Ms Schrier & Mr.Knapp -- We are spending our week doing a review of essential
material learned in 7th grade that students will need in 8th like linear/proportional
relationships, integer operations, and order of operations. We will start our first unit after
MAP testing and it will cover the concept of slope.
Social Studies— Mrs. Case & Mr. McIntyre --We will be spending the first few weeks
learning about the Colonial Period of American history. We will learn about the
differences between the Southern, Middle and New England colonies. We will also begin
to learn about issues that developed that led to colonial dissastifaction with British
control.
If you would like to get in touch with your child’s core teachers, you can find our email addresses on the eighth grade home page. To access the page go to the link below https://sites.google.com/k12.sd.us/gmms8thgrade/home
“FLASHING RED means KIDS AHEAD” Help us keep buses safe by following the law and do not pass a school bus with red lights flashing. Pre-warning “amber” lights are activated at least 300 to 500 feet be-fore stopping. When the “amber” lights flash, you should immediate-ly prepare to stop your vehicle. Remember these rules for the “type of road” you meet a bus on: 1. Any 3 lane or less road, drivers from all directions “must STOP” when the
bus has the red lights flashing. 2. Any 4 lane or more road, drivers traveling in the SAME direction as the bus NEED TO STOP behind the bus, when you see the red lights flashing. 3. Any 4 lane or more road, drivers traveling in the OPPOSITE direction as the bus do not need to stop when you see the red lights flashing.
We need your help to keep students safe when they cross streets. Leave plenty
GMMS MUSIC
Music Staff
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Band – Rick Jensen
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Band – Marian Beck
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Chorus - Barb Myers
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Chorus – Erin McFarland
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Orchestra – Andrew Travers
MUSIC DEPT WEBSITE
(CLICK BELOW!)
https://sites.google.com/site/mcgovmus
Get involved in Band, Chorus, and Orchestra! Welcome back the new school year! We are excited to get back to another wonderful year of music making! Concert and event dates are on our website: https://sites.google.com/site/mcgovmus The GMMS Music Department offers a variety of performance based classes to further develop student understanding and performance abilities in their chosen areas. In each grade (6th, 7th, and 8th) there are classes in band, chorus, and orchestra. All music groups at GMMS are known for their dedication and hard work. Students have developed a reputation of being great performers who have a great attitude about music. It is not too late to sign up for chorus, band, or orchestra. See a music teacher or your counselor if you want to add one of these fun classes! Each area also offers an auditioned performance group that meets before school twice a week: Expressions meets on Monday and Thursday mornings at 7:45 am Gryphon Ensemble meets on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7:45am Jazz Band meets on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 7:45 am Auditions for these groups will be coming soon this fall! If you have an instrument check out form, please turn it in as soon as possible!
Calling all students who like to sing, dance, and act! The choral department will be performing a musical in January. We are still deciding between a few options of musicals. We are looking for students who want to be on stage and those who want to help backstage. Students in the musical MUST be enrolled in Chorus. Auditions for the musical will be in October before and after school.
COUNSELORS’ CORNER
The George McGovern counseling department would like to welcome everyone to the 2018-2019 school
year! George McGovern’s two professional school counselors are here to assist students and their
families with academic, social, emotional and career issues. To contact the counseling office, please call
367-4435.
Counseling Assignments:
Steve Fisher
6th Grade
7th Grade A - I
Tina Hawkins
8th Grade
7th Grade J – Z
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
Our school cares about the safety and well-being of our students. We want to make sure our school is a
good place for students to learn. To do this we use a program called the Olweus Bullying Prevention
Program. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) is one of the best-known bullying prevention
programs. OBPP has been proven to prevent or reduce bullying.
The goals of OBPP are to reduce bullying problems and prevent new bullying problems from happening.
The program also works to make relationship better among students. The program is for all students,
not just those who are being bullied or who are bullying others.
Parents and guardians play a key role in this program. Your child will be asked to tell an adult at school
and at home if he or she is being bullied or sees bullying happening at school. It will be very important
that you take any bullying seriously and tell our school staff. Our school staff members have been
trained to deal with bullying situations when we are told about them. Bullying should not be seen as
“kids being kids” or something that students just need to deal with. Having a safe school experience is
something that all student should be able to enjoy.
These are the anti-bullying rules at George McGovern. Please review them with your child………
We will not bully others.
We will try to help student who are bullied.
We will try to include students who are left out.
If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.
2018-2019 IEP INFORMATION SESSIONS
Session 1
Transition Between Levels
When your child is ready to transition to another level, you may
feel like you need more information. Come to this session to ask
questions and get some reassurance to ease your mind.
Early Childhood to Kindergarten
5th grade to 6th grade
8th grade to 9th grade
Session 2
Guardianship for Youth Preparing to turn 18 years old
You’ve heard about it at IEP meetings and just when you thought
you had it all figured out, you start to try to make sense of what
guardianship really means as your child moves forward.
Session 3
Determining Eligibility for Special Education
It can be difficult to understand all the evaluation documents and
the “jargon” that goes with them. This session will answer your
questions and will help define what happens when there is a
dismissal or a change in related services your child receives.
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Session 1
October 16, 2018
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
At the Instructional
Planning Center
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Session 2
January 15, 2019
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
At the Instructional
Planning Center
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Session 3
April 16, 2019
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
At the Instructional
Planning Center
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INSTRUCTIONAL
PLANNING CENTER
201 East 38th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
605.367.7689
Make sure that your student has a change of clothes for class *t-shirt *shorts or sweatpants *tennis shoes Send a note to school if your child needs to be “excused” from class due to an injury. After sitting out for 2 class periods, a doctors note will be re-quired to excuse the child for a 3rd class period. FitnessGram pre-testing will be administered in the first few weeks of school. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email your child’s teach-er: Mr. Nugteren - [email protected] Mr. Sannes - [email protected] Mrs. Smith - [email protected]
The fall sports season is now underway. Our 7th and 8th grade boys and girls have been practicing before and after school to prepare themselves for the season. If you would still like to participate in Football, Volleyball, or Cross Country please see Mr. Flock. The Deadline for Fall sports is September 5th unless you are a new student. Below is two ways you can find out about any sports at GMMS for your 7/8 graders that might be interested. Practice and Game sched-ules along with General Info is ALL available ONLINE. 1. School District Website http://www.sf.k12.us/ (Select Schools>Middle School>George McGovern) Then find the Eagle Athletics Logo 2. GMMS Blogspot http://sfgmms.blogspot.com/ Select Athletics Information
Please be sure transportation home is arranged and planned ahead of time. Volleyball Practice: Pick up from George McGovern at 5:30 PM
Volleyball Game: Pick up from the location of the game at 6:00 PM Football Practice: Pick up from George McGovern at 5:45 PM
Football Game: Pick up from George McGovern at 7:00 PM Cross Country Practice: Pick up from George McGovern at 5:30 Cross Country Meet: Pick up from location of meet at 5:30
The ASP Bus will be available for transportation home only after practices. Games and meets end too late so parents will need to pick your child up. (see above)
Reminder that ALL Middle School sporting events are FREE to attend.
G Y M
C L A S S E S
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*We are so excited to start the school year with our new kind, helpful, and caring WEB leaders! Mandatory WEB
training will be on Wednesday, August 15th from 8:30am to 3:00pm.
The list of WEB leaders for this school year are listed below.
Pizza will be provided for lunch and Students are encouraged to bring snacks to share and their own drink.
Fundraising for WEB: We are selling BIG SOO coupon books this year for $42. WEB will make $10 for each
coupon book sold! BIG SOO coupon books will be available during training and open house.
If you know that your family will be out of town during our mandatory WEB training please contact us via email:
Shayla Seiler [email protected]
Erin Mcfarland [email protected]
Megan Schroeder [email protected]
Jamie Cota [email protected]
2018 - 2019 WEB Leaders: Jayme Allen
Rahel Bekele
Tayvian Benson
Sarah Berhane
Mapenzi Bukuru
Aimee Burgess
Finah Davies
Yahir Diaz
Anoah DogSoldier
Josh Erdman
Joshua Feiock
Jesse FrancisoAndres
Arrionna Gamrak
Aidan Greenland
Grace Jepson
Chloe Juranek
James Kruid
Maya Madson
Zouhera Mahamed
Elizabeth Marks
Jackie Mateo
Caitlyn McKee
Karl Meinberg
Madison Morgan
Naima Musa
Nurisha Mustafa
Shalumith Navarro
Odeil Oman
Fathia Omar
Daisy Pascual
Lily Perry
Jasmine Quineaez
Victoria Quiroz
Lea Rivera
Alex Rodriquez
Angelina Salinas
Michael Schuette
Alyssah Scott
Bailey Scott
Ashirvad Sharma
Catie Simmons
Trista Snapper
Joselyn SortoBenitez
Cole Terry
Sarah Thorstenson
Kaitlyn VanLenning
Joe Webber
Alexis White
Daysha Wyant
Jesslyna YellowEagle
We take clothing orders at all times by emailing order to: [email protected]
PTA MEETING WILL BE September 11, 2018, 6:30 pm
JOIN GEORGE MCGOVERN FACEBOOK PAGE:
George McGovern Middle School
Sweatpants
PTA Board 2018-19
President: Randi Baker
Vice President: tbd
Secretary: Lisa Teas
Treasurer: Nichole Schlueter
Order from Schwan’s and want to help the PTA help your student? Any orders placed via: https://www.schwans-cares.com/c/41343 from August 22 - October 2 will help with that. Proceeds from these orders, via Schwan’s Cares ,will go into the PTA so that we can further help the stu-dents with needs that arise.
Anyone can order from that link. Let all of your family and friends know!
Ordene desde Schwan's y quiera ayudar a la PTA a ayudar a su estudiante? Cualquier pedido realizado a través de: https://www.schwans-cares.com/c/41343 del 22 de agosto al 2 de octubre ayudará con eso. Las ganancias de estas órdenes, a través de Schwan's Cares , ingresarán a la PTA para que podamos ayudar a los estudiantes con las necesidades que surjan.
Cualquiera puede ordenar desde ese enlace. ¡Hágales saber a todos sus familiares y amigos!
FUNDRAISER FOR GMMS
