January 27, 2021
GMS Parents, Guardians, & Students:
All Gardner Public Schools will be returning to the hybrid model and in-person learning starting tomorrow, Thursday, January 28th. Those students in Cohorts B and C will be in-person on Thursday and Friday while those in Cohort A will resume their in-person learning days on Monday, February 1st. We are looking forward to having our students and staff back in our building again.
During the winter break security cameras have been installed in all of the common areas at GMS. Having cameras will enhance the security measures already in place.
Quarter 2 grades will close on Friday, January 29th and Report cards will be available in Plusportals on Friday, February 5th. Please be sure that you are reviewing Plusportals grades with your child in order to see the progress that is being made towards grade level standards. If you need access to Plusportals please call Mrs. Cooper in the GMS Office and if you have questions or concerns about the progress your student is making, please reach out to our teaching staff.
Linked below is the grade scale being used at GMS this year. The grade you see on the report card is a mean of the Summative assessment data collected by the teacher. Please use the gradebook in Plusportals to access more detailed information about the progress your student is making towards reaching grade level standards. In Plusportals select the class you wish to view and then select “Performance.” This will allow you to see the scores given to individual assessments.
GMS Grading Scale
On another note, students should be actively engaged in learning everyday until 2:45 pm. Once a student’s live classes are finished for the day. It is expected that students will continue to work on academics. This continuation of learning may include: finishing assigned class work, further independent learning on previously taught skills and concepts and extension activities. Each student should have approximately one hour of work to complete each afternoon. Academic Assistance is also available every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. This is time for students to receive extra help from staff, attend groups and other meetings. Any student who is not meeting expectations in a particular class should be attending these sessions.
Upcoming dates to be aware of:
Thursday, January 28th- Hybrid learning resumes
Friday, January 29th- Term 2 ends
Monday, February 15th-Friday, February 19th- No School
The GMS Online Apparel Store is now up and running!
Link: https://stores.inksoft.com/Gardner_Middle_School/shop/home
Order Deadline: February 12th, 2021
(All orders must be in by this date!)
Pick up orders at GMS: March 1st- March 5th, 2021
NOTE: Items will NOT be shipped to your house. All items ordered must be picked up at GMS between March 1st - March 5th.
Questions: Email Kristy Nieman at niemank@gardnerk12.org or
Brian LaRoche at sharp_image@verizon.net
Wildcat Wellness Newsletter
Please use the link below to access the latest edition of the Wildcat Wellness Newsletter compiled by our School Nurse Leader, Becky McCaffrey. There is information here on the new rapid antigen testing we have at school for staff and students that present with COVID 19 symptoms and have parental consent. There is also information on the city's vaccination plan from Lauren Saunders, Director of Gardner Board of Health, athletic information from Dan Forte, GPS Athletic Director and more.
https://www.smore.com/ax7tb-wildcat-wellness-newsletter
Please note that there were some new security measures added to Zoom last week. All students will now be asked to login to access their Zoom accounts. This allows the teacher to ensure that only GMS students are being allowed into the virtual classroom as the students’ gardnerstudents.org email address will be used to access the platform. Directions for logging in have been shared with all students and are linked HERE
Missing a sweatshirt, sneakers, books or other belongings?
Last year’s unexpected closure left us to clean out student lockers and return belongings to students. After scheduling times for families to retrieve belongings those that have yet to be claimed have been placed in individual bags in the school’s cafeteria. If you did not have a chance to pick up the belongings in your student’s locker, and wish to, please call the GMS Main Office to make arrangements to do so. At the end of this month, the bags remaining in the cafeteria will be disposed of.
Food Services
Curbside to Go Breakfast and Lunch (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday): * Rear of GHS 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. |
The Wildcat Wagon Neighborhood Delivery for All Virtual Learners (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday): * 1:10 - 1:20 pm Corner of Cross St. & Pine St. * 1:50 - 2 pm Manca Dr. Cul-de-Sac * 1:25 - 1:35 pm Monument Park * 2:05 - 2:15 pm South Gardner |
Keep Smiling and Go Wildcats!
Arthur Murphy, Principal
Gardner Middle School