GCMS Families,
I know the speculation has kicked up already about having school tomorrow due to cold weather. We WILL be in session tomorrow. Projections are for wind chills well below zero so bundle up and exercise caution as you transition to school. The buildings are warm and we look forward to wrapping up a great first week of second semester. As always, if your children will not be present at school please call your respective school offices to report their absence.
Stay healthy, safe, and warm!
Sincerely,
Mr. Darnell
Wednesday January 5th is a full day of attendance and and not a 1/2 day like most of our first Wednesdays of the month.
Starting this semester, all Illinois students may take up to 5 mental or behavioral health days for which the child need not provide a medical note. The student will be given the opportunity to make up any school work missed during that absence. The mental and emotional health of our students is of the utmost importance to the GCMS District. We strive to teach our students that recognizing when you are struggling mentally, and knowing where to go for help, is as important as knowing how to handle physical illness. If a student takes more than one mental or behavioral health day, a social worker from the schools will contact the student to follow-up.
For more information about mental health days and signs to look out for in your child, see this article from SIU School of Medicine: https://www.siumed.org/node/162776.
See the attached flyer for local COVID-19 testing options from Ford County Public Health
GCMS Families,
Today we came back with 12 adults and 132 students absent from school. These absences are NOT all Covid related, but we wanted to make everyone aware of our current circumstance. 132 students represents 13% of our population which means 87% are present for in person learning. Historically this time of year we have between 8-15% absence rates due to winter illnesses so we are not far from the norm.
It is essential that students and families, when health appropriate, stay actively engaged with their teachers and keep up with their school work both at school and when absent as much as possible. We understand that circumstances vary from home to home and with the age and ability differences, but keeping up is always better than catching up when possible.
Our efforts will continue to maximize our resources to stay open as we all try to navigate the challenges before us! Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Mr. Darnell
GCMS Families,
We are all very excited to get students back to school tomorrow! As we enter 2022 we want everyone to continue to partner with us to meet our primary goal which is in person learning for our kids.
Covid has certainly ramped up and we are experiencing larger case numbers in both students and staff. We will remain open for in person learning as long as we can do so with proper staffing, transportation, food service, and safety. We recognize the burdens and inconveniences that Covid has placed on everyone and are trying to minimize those burdens by serving our healthy kids and managing each circumstance to the best of our ability.
We will continue to follow IDPH and FCPH guidance as we anxiously await updated information from both entities in response to recent CDC changes. Please be patient as we navigate these changes and continue to advocate for clarity, consistency, and application of expectations in our schools and for our kids. We have all faced frustration and adversity throughout the past two years and we will continue to navigate all of these frustrations to do the best we can to serve the kids and community of GCMS. Please stay tuned for updates and understand that the circumstances we face right now are very fluid.
Falcon Proud-
Mr. Darnell
GCMS Families,
GCMS is planning to return to full in person classes on January 4th as planned. January 3rd is a teacher in service day and all offices will be open for communications on absences for January 4th.
At this time we will return under the same practices for Covid exposures and quarantine timelines. We are aware that on Monday the CDC issued new guidance and have communicated with Ford County Public Health to determine if we can reduce quarantine timelines as we enter the new year. Our goal has always been to keep students in school and activity as much as possible and we will adjust our practice should IDPH and FCPH adopt the adjustments.
We appreciate your attention. Have a safe, happy, and healthy New Year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Darnell
Middle School students donated candy and student made lap blankets to residents at GAH Annex today. Our kids are awesome!
Congratulations to our Middle School December Students of the Month!
6th Grade - Brecke Barnard
7th Grade - Payton Alley
8th Grade - Lizzy Goodin
The lunch menu lists, "Cooks Choice" for tomorrow (Dec. 22) @ the elementary school. Here is what that will be:
Oven Roasted Chicken
Buttered Carrots
Dinner Roll
and Fruit cup
Also, a reminder that tomorrow is a 2:20 dismissal.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
Mr. Kean
GCMS Boys Basketball will be hosting their Falcon Youth league for grades 2-5 beginning 1/8/2022. You can find the registration form at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sy7mI2vmAZMla4YNitfklOOtb3zh6w7_/view?usp=sharing
Congratulations to our Middle School Basketball Award Winners!
7th Grade Team
Most Improved - Brecke Barnard and Bailey Bunting
All Out - Kate McCall
8th Grade Team
Most Improved - Lily Sizemore
Ms. Practice - Bailey Grider
Falcon Pride - Hadley Doman
A quick reminder that the MS will be having dress up days next week. Enjoy our last few days before break!
GCMS High School is looking for an outstanding Special Education Teacher. Apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/roe9/onlineapp/JobPostings/view.asp?FromAdmin=true&AppliTrackJobId=18106
Due to facility issues at Pontiac, Monday's Middle School Wrestling meet at Pontiac has been cancelled. The GCMS Middle School Wrestling team will now open their season Tuesday, Dec. 14 with a home meet at the Elementary School vs. Champaign. The match will start at 5:30PM.
Join us this Sunday for our 2021 Winter Concert! Featured groups include Middle School Choir, High School Concert and Chamber Choir, 5th Grade Band, Middle School Band and High School Jazz and Symphonic Band.
GCMS High School is pleased to announce that five students from the graduating class of 2022 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission presents this important recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year’s GCMS HS Illinois State Scholars are Sadie Christensen, Emily Hood, Braylen Kean, Lucy Keigher, and Aiden Phillips. We are very proud of you!
GCMS Middle School will be having dress up days Dec 20-22. Get into the holiday spirit for our last few days before break!
Families,
It is amazing that we have just 12 days left before winter break and the end of the semester. I want to thank you all for your partnership in serving our students. As winter weather approaches we wanted to share our Remote School Day plans with you again should a weather or health related school closure occur. We will engage in Remote learning if either of these events occur. Please know that we understand and respect individual family challenges when it comes to remote engagement and will work with students to ensure no educational opportunities are lost.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1724500/GCMS_Remote_Learning_Schedules_2021-2022.pdf
Falcon Proud,
Mr. Darnell
Congratulations to our November Middle School Students of the Month!
6th grade - Genne Kincaid
7th grade - Kolbie Eichelberger
8th grade - Alyssa Morgan
