GCMS HS will offer food to HS students on 10/27, 10/29, 11/2 and 11/5 from 11am-1pm. Use the west Commons doors for pick-up. Each student will receive 2 days worth of breakfast and lunch at each pickup. Questions or sign up, email allen.mike@gcmsk12.org or call the HS, 784-4292.
Covid claims another... we'll keep trying!
Teachers at GCMS High School are spending the day hard at work turning all of their instructional plans into lessons which can be delivered remotely!
For example, if I am a Geometry teacher I left school last week prepared to teach the next lesson in my curricular sequence on Monday on the topic of Rotations as part of a Transformation unit. My lesson plan included manipulatives and measurement tools necessary for calculating rotation. At 5:00 last night, I found out that lesson would never be taught because instead I would be delivering instruction digitally. Today, I am using this prep time to find a virtual tool and resources which can be used to teach the same math standard, within the same scope/sequence of my curriculum.
If I am the teacher of an Industrial Tech class that was supposed to start repairing lawn mowers Monday then today I am looking for ways in which to teach small engine repairs remotely that will still allow students to apply the skills on their own.
The building is currently full of examples of teachers working hard to ensure our two-week transition to remote is as curricularly seamless as possible. Thank you GCMS High School teachers for making it happen!
There will be a community Drive-through test site Thursday, Oct 29 from 9am-4pm at the Roberts Village Gym.
GCMS Families, if you missed the all call from Mr. Darnell this evening, the script of his call is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ywulwqoZp4uSaoxgDwqo9SlwFY9bV8Mtgc04YQsrtjI/edit?usp=sharing
GCMS HIGH SCHOOL MOVES TO REMOTE LEARNING - OCTOBER 26, 2020 – NOVEMBER 6, 2020
https://www.gcmsk12.org/article/333480?org=gcms
Remote Learning Schedule for High School Students ONLY. GCMS High School will follow this remote learning schedule from tomorrow through November 6.
Just a reminder that today is a 2:20 dismissal due to Parent/Teacher conferences and that we do not have school in Friday. Have a great day!!!
Mr. Kean
Parents
We will be calling you tonight and tomorrow through Remind and Google Voice. This means that the number that comes on your phone may either say "No Caller ID", "Unknown", "Possible Spam", or a number that you do not recognize. If you receive a call around the time of your scheduled P/T Conference, please answer as it is most likely one of our staff members attempting to reach you.
Thank you and we look forward to speaking with you over the next two nights.
Mr. Bielfeldt
October 26-30 is Red Ribbon Week! We will be having dressup days in all our buildings. Get your outfits ready!
Veterans Day 2020 is approaching. Over the years we have collected photos and information on veterans from our community into a slideshow. If you have any updates or additions you would like to have included please contact willis.walker@gcmsk12.org https://bit.ly/31wqxeO
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL INTRAMURALS
NEW SCHEDULE STARTING OCT. 26
6TH GRADE DATES
TUE. 10/27 5:15-6:45PM
THU. 10/29 3:30-5:00PM
MON. 11/2 3:30-5:00PM
THU. 11/5 3:30-5:00PM
MON. 11/9 3:30-5:00PM
TUE. 11/10 3:30-5:00PM
MON. 11/16 3:30-5:00PM
TUE. 11/17 3:30-5:00PM
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL INTRAMURALS
NEW SCHEDULE STARTING OCT. 26
7TH GRADE DATES
MON. 10/26 5:15-6:45PM
TUE. 10/27 5:15-6:45PM
FRI. 10/30 3:30-5:00PM
MON. 11/2 3:30-5:00PM
FRI. 11/6 3:30-5:00PM
MON. 11/9 3:30-5:00PM
THU. 11/12 3:30-5:00PM
MON. 11/16 3:30-5:00PM
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL INTRAMURALS
NEW SCHEDULE STARTING OCT. 26
8TH GRADE DATES
MON. 10/26 5:15-6:45PM
THU. 10/29 3:30-5:00PM
FRI. 10/30 3:30-5:00PM
THU. 11/5 3:30-5:00PM
FRI. 11/6 3:30-5:00PM
TUE. 11/10 3:30-5:00PM
THU. 11/12 3:30-5:00PM
TUE. 11/17 3:30-5:00PM
Get online and order some books! All proceeds go to support our Middle School Library. Any questions contact Ms. Ferguson - ferguson.torri@gcmsk12.org
Reminder About Remote Wednesdays
Wednesday is a school day and there are curricular expectations that students need to complete prior to returning to school on Thursday.
If a student has a question or needs clarification on an assignment, the student needs to email his/her teacher(s).
To the best of your circumstance, students should have a workspace that is free of distractions, such as cellphones, to complete assignments.
We appreciate all of our parents’ support of their students during Remote Wednesdays. This is a partnership between the school and our parents that is helping all of our students achieve academic success.
Mr. Bielfeldt
Reminder that middle school report cards are going out today. Students will be bringing them home after school. We also sent home our FastBridge scores as well so be on the look out for those as well.
Mr. Bielfeldt
The Red Army is excited to share that GCMS HS students will have a night at the Harvest Moon Drive In next week. A tailgate at the HS followed by games with prizes and Hocus Pocus on the big screen are on the agenda. Let's get this party started!
Congratulations to our 8th Grade Top Readers!
From Left:
Kaleb Lockhart- 7,941 pages
Addy Kerchenfaut-3,842 pages
Lizzie Giroux- 4,154 pages
Esther Zook-3,338 pages
Spencer Kleist- 8,597 pages
GCMS High School will be participating in Red Ribbon Week with these Dress Up days.
Red Ribbon Week October 26-30!!! "Let's TACO 'Bout Being Drug Free!!!"
High school students and staff donned their pink for breast cancer awareness today.
You can sign up to be a member of the GCMS PTA for the 2020-2021 school year at https://gcmspta.new.memberhub.store/store. It only takes 5 minutes and is only $5!
This year's Middle School Book Fair is open now! Check it out at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/gcmsmiddleschool
PTA meets this Monday night at 6:30 at Moyer Library. Its not too late to join if you are interested! https://gcmspta.new.memberhub.store/store
Friday, October 16, the end of first quarter for GCMS Schools!
Take a moment this morning and thank your kids, thank your kids teachers, be proud of yourself, and be proud of the work we all have put in to provide quality in person instruction for our children and community!
This past 9 weeks has been hard, but very worth it!
Thank you GCMS! Falcon Proud!
- Mr. Darnell
2004 alum Jamie (Bond) Summers coordinated the Wave of Light at the North Park with 1500 luminaries recognizing pregnancy and infant loss. Our Interact Club joined community volunteers in assisting Jamie in this project. It was an awesome sight! Our kids make us #FalconProud!
6th graders practiced Dividing fraction while playing connect four today!
Did you know that the census greatly impacts the funding GCMS schools receive? Please complete the census if you have not already---Today is your last chance! https://my2020census.gov/login
The 2019-2020 Falconer, the GCMS High School yearbooks, have been delivered! 2020 grads who ordered one may pick theirs up in the office during school hours. We have a small number of additional books; email Riley.Susan@gcmsk12.org if you’d like to purchase one.
Did you know that research shows that most tweens would like to talk more to their parents about schoolwork. Ask your middle school student to share what they are learning in their classes, but be specific. "What did you work on in science class today?" or "What book are you discussing in English?" Start the conversation and have it daily!
Congratulations to Haven Hathaway for being named October Student of the Month. Haven is an active presence for us, serving as her class president for the 3rd year in a row. She's also President of our Interact Club and volunteers extensively for her church and community. She's been the Dance Team captain and has been its MVP for both football and basketball season. She is a member of NHS, Project Ignition, ACT, FBLA, Impact and the yearbook. Haven also participates in Chamber Choir and our musicals. She is still looking at universities but has her sights set on majoring in Fashion Merchandising and Journalism. Haven is the daughter of Parker and Sandy Hathaway. She was nominated by Mr. Stone.
GCMS is looking for a First Shift Custodial/Maintenance worker. Starting pay will be $20/hr or more depending on experience. You can now fill out an application digitally and email it to kristensen.lori@gcmsk12.org or apply in person at the Unit Office https://bit.ly/3iESnLF
GCMS is looking for a First Shift Custodial/Maintenance worker. Starting pay will be $20/hr or more depending on experience. Apply at the Unit Office or contact Rich Doman or Jeremy Darnell for more information. https://www.gcmsk12.org/o/gcms/page/job-opportunities--118
Our GCMS Middle School Book Fair is going online this year! From October 16th thru October 29th, discover new books with your kids. Bonus: Every purchase supports our school. https://www.scholastic.com/bf/gcmsmiddleschool
With cooler temperatures arriving, we ask that all middle school students bring sweatshirts, sweatpants, jackets, stocking caps, etc. for PE. We will continue to get our students outside as much as possible so they can continue to take off masks and social distance safely.
Happy FAFSA day, seniors! The FAFSA is officially open. Make sure you have your FSA ID and Apply online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
The state has made FAFSA completion a graduation requirement for this year. Contact Mr. Carter with any questions.
Congratulations to 6th Grader Lilyan Sizemore, 7th Grader Chloe Tjarks, and 8th Grader Anna Warren on being named our September Middle School Students of the Month!
Common Sense Media is hosting a family movie night virtual discussion on the movie The Social Dilemma, a documentary examining social media use and technology addiction. Visit the event website to learn more: https://bit.ly/30CQl8X
The September issue of the GCMS Middle School's Falcon Flash newspaper is now online! https://drive.google.com/file/d/173Rn9Oie1q7kOuJFRnRrkphtiOnrvbms/view?usp=sharing
https://mix945.com/showdown/
We can't play them on the field but we sure can beat them in the School Spirit Showdown. Follow the link to scroll through the match ups and vote for GCMS as we take on Fisher! Vote until Thursday 11:59pm. Help us advance to the next round!
Today GCMS donned orange in support of Ryder Luparell as he battles cancer. Thank you for all the support from our community we are #RyderStrong! https://youtu.be/EbNkkC14BKw
If you missed us this morning, we’ll be out up town all day and our cheerleaders will be around the buildings again this afternoon! Thank you for supporting #RyderStrong!
Reminder that tomorrow is #RyderStong day and every should wear orange in support of leukemia research.
Please click the link below for information about Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences. Conferences are 10/21, 10/22. We hope to hear from all of our parents!
Mr. Bielfeldt
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sebS725C-SzPXKRv9qJxAzwBxYxJC-3rn61mIg7oMs0/edit?usp=sharing
Just a reminder to wear orange tomorrow in support of #RyderStrong. Thanks!
Just a reminder to wear orange tomorrow in support of #RyderStrong. Thanks!
GCMS Families, we have had a student at GCMS High School test positive for COVID-19. Please read this letter from Mr. Darnell for more details. https://www.gcmsk12.org/article/316005?org=gcms&fbclid=IwAR3XIQmJxJFP2FRgx71LLKKXOL5NtJ-KzBVwqv1fBu9uf0sYNUELH7WIDlQ
Throughout the day tomorrow, GCMS Students and Staff will be collecting coins around the schools and in town to support our friend Ryder who was diagnosed with Leukemia in April. Ryder is currently receiving treatment through the St Jude's affiliate in Peoria. Everything collected from our coin drive will go to Ryder's family. Please keep an eye out for cheerleaders and staff in their orange shirts around town!
Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up soon! This year conferences will be conducted digitally, teachers will be reaching out to families to set up appointments. You can find contacts for all of our staff members on our app and at https://www.gcmsk12.org/o/gcms/staff
Middle School rocking their baseball attire, along with celebrating the birthday girl, Mrs Warren!
We would like to recognize one of our students for going above and beyond for our community. Chloe Tjarks organized a fundraiser for the Gibson Area Food Pantry and was able to raise over $6000 through her efforts. Chloe makes us all Falcon Proud!
Please take a moment to read this announcement concerning school lunches
Just a reminder to students and parents, please have your student charge their Chromebook every night. An overnight charge will get your student through the day!
The latest MS celebrities to shimmer at the MS Life Skills class were Ms. Ferguson and Mrs. Doman! They provided an opportunity for the students to make their own tie dye face masks with personalized vinyl appliqués. Now the students have additional masks to wear to school.
IF the GCMS Schools go to "Full Remote Instruction" at some point in the future then these are the schedules students would follow. We share these schedules now so that families can be prepared; however, there are no immediate plans to move to fully remote learning.
We want all of our students to be at their best and a big part of that is hydration. Just a quick reminder that your student can carry a water bottle with them to class. Stay smart, stay hydrated!
Congratulations to our GCMS High School class officers for 2020-2021!
BUG Videos are back! A group of students finds someone unexpected in the Computer Lab. Can they learn to respect him as much as their old teacher? https://youtu.be/jj_baCYG828
Picture retakes are on Tuesday at the Elementary School. Here is the link to pictures from Sept. 3rd and they are supposed to be sent home on Monday. Please let your child's teacher or the office know if you would like retakes. Thanks!
https://gallery.vsi.co/gcmselementaryportraits/
There is a limited number of last year’s 2019-2020 yearbooks leftover for sale. These will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested in purchasing one please bring $15 to the middle school office. Once they are gone, they are gone.
Newest addition to the Middle School hallway- anyone who earns a Fantastic Falcon gets to sign the chalk wall! #gcmsms
Tuesday, Sept 29 is #RyderStrong Day and an "Orange Out" at GCMS. We're hoping to boost the spirits of one of our families and help them in a difficult time. Join us by sporting your orange and #KickLeukemiaToTheCurb
If you missed last night's Driver Ed Parent Meeting with Mr. Leake you can watch the recording on our YouTube Channel
https://youtu.be/ep6tcmVfS4A
Seniors and parents, if you were unable to attend the live virtual Financial Aid workshop, utilize the following video from Parkland and ISAC. Contact Mr. Carter with any questions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djSdhlk1Wrc&feature=youtu.be
GCMS families please take a moment to read this letter from Mr. Darnell concerning a student that has tested positive for COVID-19 at the Elementary School https://drive.google.com/file/d/1osQy8OY_ipcm47zPsZKXQtPxLWaKojQZ/view?usp=sharing
Mr. Carter introduces his new video series on the 5 pillars that make a GCMS graduate. https://youtu.be/PhOztrsdJfg
One of our 3rd Grade classes is joining in on making sure that they make a regular practice to Wipe it Down! https://youtu.be/cwKsUCKdjrs
Ms Rubarts was our MS Celebrity to shine on the Functional Life Skills class this week. Ms Rubarts loves to be active in her spare time. She shared that love of movement with the class by setting up an obstacle course. The students had a great time learning to be active!
Middle school students that eat breakfast or lunch provided by the school are asked to bring their student ID badges with them to school. We will use the student ID badge to scan into our Lumen system for payment from their lunch accounts.
We love being in school and that means keeping things sterilized. GCMS WFAL reminds you to wipe it down before you leave! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AdkXT0Lxy4
Congratulations to the baseball team on their 4-1 victory over PBL last night. The win gave the team their 2nd straight Twin County Conference Championship. Way to go Falcons!
Please remember to self-certify: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSep63JynTY8OwTNXLX7z6RyTWx59Y6gOUnkJTD2KNpdxwqreQ/viewform?embedded=true
Congratulations to Nathan Kallal for being named September Student of the Month for GCMS High School. Nathan is a three sport athlete and was recently named a captain of our football team. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Interact, FBLA, Spanish Club, Student Council, FCA and has served as a freshmen mentor and football reader. Over the summer, Nathan was also a steady presence at the food pantry, unloading the food bank truck. Although he is still searching for a college, he intends to study engineering. Nathan is the son of Bruce and Stephanie Kallal and was nominated by Miss Riley. Also pictured is Tracy Epps of the Bank of Gibson City who presented the award.
Middle School Parents: please see below for the updated link concerning remote learning plans: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xo7_ijfDLjX0C1gj1amU3gg-fcXUD39jUctkE4rgOSg/edit?usp=sharing
Please click the link below for the Parent Letter regarding the Middle School's full remote plan and expectations. A schedule for the stduetns will also be made available.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rGf-uAszdvz5b3skUHaTw16h9pK87iab/view?usp=sharing
Families, please take a moment to read a letter from Mr. Darnell concerning positive COVID-19 cases within our district: https://www.gcmsk12.org/article/303383?org=gcms
Families,
Thanks again for the great cooperation. Please keep up with the self certification.
Stay tuned early next week for the full Remote Learning schedule to be released should we need to use it!
Please be aware that our community does have active cases of Covid-19 and we must continue to be vigilant in our safety practices. IDPH requires 14 days of quarantine for close contact, which could occur with our students or staff.
Please use good judgement over the holiday weekend to ensure your safety and the longevity of in person learning for GCMS!
-Mr. Darnell
Mr B was our first guest for GCMS Middle School Celebrities, who will be making appearances in the life skills class to share talents, and special interests with the students to help them explore potential interests of their own in the future https://youtu.be/vLOTYmwJcow
Middle School Spirit Day on Friday, September 4. Come decked out in your best red and black!
One last reminder that today is PICTURE DAY at the elementary school. Thanks!
Just a reminder that today (and all Wednesdays) is a remote learning day. Also, we have school pictures at the elementary school on Thursday and for some Pre K students on Friday. Please send picture forms or go online to www.vsi.co/schools to order. Thanks!
The following events are cancelled or postponed:
MS Baseball - Today's game has been moved to Thurs. No practice today or tomorrow
MS Softball - Today's practice is cancelled. Practice tomorrow at 3:30
Tennis - Today's game cancelled. No Practice
The MS baseball game for today is postponed and will be made up Thursday at 4:15 at the MS field. No practice today or tomorrow. The players are reminded to have all of their necessary gear for Thursday's game ready to go when they return to school Thursday.
MS Softball practice is cancelled for today- next practice is tomorrow at 3:30.
Todays middle school baseball game has been cancelled. It will be made up on Thursday @ 4:15. There is no baseball practice today or tomorrow. Softball practice for tonight is also cancelled. There will be softball practice tomorrow at 3:30.
Please click here to read our September Falcon Flyer which includes historical facts about past school closures, student pictures, and links to important COVID documents: https://www.smore.com/uy0fx
Friday's Middle School Lunch menu has changed from hot ham & cheese to hamburgers. Stay current with the latest menu changes on the Dining section of our App and Website https://www.apptegy.net/s/dining-gcms/menu_date/2020-09-04.
The recording of tonight's Return to Learn Webinar is now available on Youtube. Mr. Darnell and Ms. Nuss give the latest updates for GCMS and field questions from our community. https://youtu.be/SZNByayxXHs
This week’s Middle School Fantastic Falcons! Keep up the great work!
Join us on Monday, August 31 at 7:00pm for another Return to Learn Update Webinar. Mr. Darnell and Ms. Nuss will give the latest updates and answer questions as we proceed with the 2020-2021 school year. https://www.facebook.com/gcmsunit5/live/
And just like that the rules changed. Face coverings DO NOT have to be worn by fans if social distancing is practiced. Sorry, the rules we have to follow are constantly evolving. This is a good change. Stay safe and enjoy your kids contests.
-Mr. Darnell
Families,
According to both IESA and IHSA fan expectations, as supported by IDPH, ALL fans must maintain social distancing and wear a face covering, unless eating or drinking. In addition GCMS administration has asked that only immediate family (guardians and siblings) attend contests to ensure we are in compliance. Failure to comply with these expectations could lead to elimination of fans or cancellation of games.
Our students athletes are answering the call so that they can compete, practice, and improve. Please respect those efforts and lead by example. We realize the frustration these expectations create, but we need to adhere to them to maintain opportunities for our kids.
Your cooperation and support are appreciated.
-Mr. Darnell
Good Morning GCMS! One more quick reminder that in order to use one of our GCMS Chromebooks at home you need to be signed in to our CIPA filter. You can find it in the gcmsk12.org bookmarks or at https://portal.gcmsk12.net/
A reminder that today (Wed., Aug. 26th) and all Wednesdays are remote learning days and students are not physically in attendance at school. Assignments have been given in class or will be digitally and staff are available to answer questions online or over the phone.
Mr. Kean
Mr. Willis does a quick walk through of what your students will see when they use Google Classroom for our first Remote Learning Wednesday. https://youtu.be/JVYWjdogBoQ
Shout out to GCMS 8th Grader Brayden Elliott on his perfect game last night vs. Prairie Central. 6 innings and 12 Ks. Not to mention 2-3 from the plate including a HR, 2B, and 3 RBIs. Great job Brayden and the Falcon baseball team!
Attention GCMS Families! When using your Chromebooks at home, make sure you are signed in to our CIPA filter. You can access it at https://portal.gcmsk12.net/ and in the gcmsk12.org bookmarks. You must complete this step in order to connect to the Internet.
Happy Monday Falcon Family!
Please self certify and remember to keep your kiddos home if you have to answer yes to either question! Everyday is important, and every persons partnership in this school year helps!
Have a great week!
-Mr. Darnell
Our seniors took ownership of their parking spots today. Their creativity knows no bounds! The barricades will be down in the morning so take a Sunday drive and check out what our kids can do.
photo credit: Ryan Minion
GCMS Families,
What a great three days! Keep self certifying, keep working to keep your family healthy and safe, and get a great couple of days of rest to get back to work on Monday. Don’t forget next Wednesday is our first Remote Learning Day. We all learned a lot this week and will be better next week.
Falcon Proud!
-Mr. Darnell
These middle schoolers received Fantastic Falcons this week! Keep up the great work!
Reminder - when you self-certify your middle school student(s), please select their 1st Hour Teacher.
Also, self-certification needs to be done every day students are in attendance.
Thank you for your help and support!
Mr. Bielfeldt
We need to make a change to today's Middle School Lunch menu. The alternate choice has been switched from corn dogs to bosco sticks. The first choice is still chicken sandwich. https://www.gcmsk12.org/o/gcms/dining
GCMS Families, if your student brought home a Chromebook and is having trouble connecting to the Internet, have them visit this website and use the red Sign in with Google button at the bottom of the screen. https://portal.gcmsk12.net/
GCMS Community,
Today was an amazing success. I could not be more proud of the families for preparing your children, the staff for giving every ounce of energy to make today great, and most importantly the kids for doing all we asked and more. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
-Mr. Darnell
Tomorrow PE lockers will be distributed so all students are asked to bring their the locks to school and bring to PE. For anyone needing a lock, one can be purchased during your PE class for $6 please bring exact cash or check made to GCMS MS.
1st Day of School at the Middle School is off and running!
Amazing job Falcon Family! Kids and families answered the call this morning! Proud of everyone for their patience and grace today! We are in this together.
Just wanted you to know that your kids are doing GREAT!!! I know there was some extra anxiety because you could not walk them in this morning, but all is well! We are so happy to have them back!
Mr. Kean
1) Self certify
2) Wear a mask
3) Doors open at 8 (students only)
4) Water bottle
5) Personal sanitizer
6) 2:20 dismissal (walkers out at 2:10)
7) Positive attitude
See you soon!
Welcome to the 1st day! Please remember to self certify each of your students on our app. Elementary families, here are the teachers for each section:
K1- Mrs. Laughery
K2- Mrs. Giroux
K3- Mrs. Kallal
K4- Mrs. Nickols
1A- Mrs. Rutledge
1B- Mrs. Davis
1C- Mrs. McNary
1D- Mrs. Keigher
2A- Mrs. Paris
2B- Mrs. Willis
2C- Mrs. Denault
2D- Mrs. Rehberg
3A- Mrs. Dewey
3B- Mrs. Fredrickson
3C- Ms. Augsburger
3D- Ms. Moen
4A- Ms. Frankie
4B- Ms. Slagel
4C- Mr. Louret
4D- Mrs. Rousseau
5A- Mrs. Kirby
5B- Mrs. Ryan
5C- Mr. White
5D- Mrs. Seneca
Please self certify!!! Took 20 seconds with the help of my partner this morning.
Although you cannot see our smiles, we are super excited to see everyone tomorrow. We cannot wait to have you back in our building! #gcmsms #wearereadyforyou
It is time!!!! We are all very excited to welcome kids back to the GCMS campuses!! Don’t forget to self-certify!
Ms. Kari from the bus garage has some important information for all bus riders! https://youtu.be/IfEc1CIPPOI
With school starting tomorrow, we wanted to share some helpful tips for all of our incoming middle school students to ensure a successful school year! Can't wait to see you all tomorrow!
The 7th Grade team is masked up and ready to go! https://youtu.be/oz3HKT3H21Y
Mr. Kean delivers some important announcements for the start of school. https://youtu.be/vSiuKIVYMg4
Reminder that we are respectfully asking that only immediate family attend GCMS athletic events to minimize groups and adhere to State Mandates. Immediate family =parents and siblings.
Here is information about the Middle School's 1st Day of School. See you Wednesday!!!!
Attention Families - We are updating all Student Google passwords for the upcoming school year. Students will receive their updated information on the first day of school. Direct any questions to Mr. Willis on Remind or willis.walker@gcmsk12.org
We are #FalconProud to welcome Ms. Rachel Pacey to the GCMS School District! Ms. Pacey will be serving as a social worker in both the Elementary and Middle Schools this year. In her free time she enjoys learning new things, gardening, traveling, and reading--some of her favorite books include: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst, the Harry Potter Series, “Oh, the Places You'll Go!” by Dr. Seuss, and “Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World” by Rachel Ignotofsky. Ms. Pacey’s favorite thing to teach is Problem Solving and this summer she has enjoyed spending a lot of time outside.
Welcome to the #FalconFamily, Ms. Pacey! #IChoseGCMS
Ms. Chase brings a special guest ti figure out what kind of masks you can wear at school! https://youtu.be/b75wbJBbaVw
We have a new COVID-19 Self Certification Form available on our App and Website that we would like all families to fill out every morning before sending students to school. Mr. Willis and his special guest helper show you how it's done! https://youtu.be/fmrbDPP2q-Y
Three fun facts about our new Social Worker, Mrs. Shelly Curry: 1.) She enjoys playing board games2.) Her favorite book is "The Glass Castle" 3.) She loves to shop!
But, perhaps, the most interesting thing about Mrs. Curry is that she actually grew up in Gibson City and attended school here until her family moved to Minnesota in her freshman year of high school.
Her favorite thing about her job is "connecting with students and families while assisting them to be successful". Please help us welcome Mrs. Curry back to the Falcon Family!
We #FalconProud to share that GCMS alum and former teacher Michelle Schultz has been chosen for the St Louis Bombshells, the professional dance troupe associated with the St Louis Ambush, an indoor professional soccer team. Ms Schultz was a member of the dance team while in high school; we’re always excited to see “our kids” continue to pursue their passion! Congratulations Michelle!
Please help us welcome Dr. Amber Hays to the Falcon Family!
Dr. Hays will be serving as the school psychologist for the whole GCMS school district. This year will be her 11th year as a school psychologist; it's a job that she always wanted to do--she even shadowed a school psychologist in high school! Some of her hobbies include musical theater, cooking, taking care of her cats, and reading. Her all-time favorite childhood book is “Where the Red Fern Grows” but she also loves the Harry Potter series and has even been sorted into Slytherin house! Dr. Hays’ favorite thing to teach is using puppets to teach preschool children about emotions and friendships. When asked what she is looking forward to about GCMS, Dr. Hays reported “I am so very excited to work with students with disabilities from preschool all the way through high school! I can’t wait to start getting to know students and their families!!!”
Sounds like you will fit right in here at GCMS, Dr. Hays! Welcome to the Falcon Family team! #IChoseGCMS
We are #FalconProud to welcome back another hometown graduate to our teaching staff this fall!
Mr. Jeremiah Benison was born and raised in Gibson City and graduated in the class of 2001. His wife, Melissa, is also a graduate of GCMS and they have one son, Brady. This fall, Mr. Benison will be teaching the Computers “special” at GCMS Elementary School. His favorite video games are Fortnite and Magic Arena. Right now he is reading “Dwarves” by Markus Heitz--some of his other favorite epic fantasy novels include the “Sword of Truth” Series by Terry Goodkind, “Lord of the Rings” by JRR Tolkein, and the “Inheritance” cycle by Christopher Paolini.
When asked about what other details he thinks families would be interested in Mr. Benison stated “I am the local Cubmaster in Rantoul in addition to being a self described geek, I love to be outside camping and hiking. I love all sports but especially football. My favorite team is the New England Patriots. We have two guinea pigs named Kylo and Chewy just like the star wars characters which me and my son are big fans of!”
We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Benison back into the Falcon community! #IChoseGCMS
Take a look at some information about the Middle School's 1st Day of School!
Just a reminder that we have a school supply drop off for 1-5 grades from 4-6 pm tonight at the elem. school. You will drive up into the circle drive and we will take the supplies (do not get out of your car) . If you ordered a supply box it is already in your child's class.
Updated schedules for Middle School Baseball and Softball are now available in the Athletics section of our app and website! You can also find printable schedules in our Documents section. https://www.gcmsk12.org/o/gcms/athletics?filter=96243
School Starts Next Week:
August 19th - Kindergarten - 12th Grade 8:20-2:20
August 20th - PreK - 12th Grade 8:20 - 2:20
August 21st - Prek - 12th Grade 8:20 -2:20
Please remember to drop off after 8:00 am and be patient when driving near schools!
Can you guess which new teacher these trivia facts belong to?
A long-time 4-H member where she showed cows and rabbits.
A horseback rider and barrel racer.
A volleyball and softball player
.
.
.
If you guessed, Ms. Kelli Slagel, you were right!
Ms. Slagel will be teaching 4th grade at GCMS Elementary this fall. This will be her first year teaching and she is very excited “to get involved in a great community where I know I can grow and flourish”! Her favorite children’s book is Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Ms. Slagel’s is the oldest of three children and is originally from Fairbury where her dad is a farmer and road commissioner and her mom owns a house cleaning business. Outdoors is where you will find Ms. Slagel whenever she has free time!
Welcome the the Falcon Family, Ms. Slagel!
#IChoseGCMS
6th Grade Transition Night
Reminder to drop off and pick your students promptly at the designated times. There will be no parents allowed in and all students are required to wear masks.
Amazing donation from the Thomas McCormick Tutoring Program and First Presbyterian Church of Gibson City. $10,000 to help offset the challenges of Covid-19 and this year!!
2nd Grade teachers at GCMS adapt a classic tale from Dr. Seuss. https://youtu.be/QVONbez9fOA
Check out the many masks of Mr. Kean! https://youtu.be/e0n6udlGHw0
Attention ES Families - Your students classes are now viewable on Lumen which can be found on our App and the Menu of our website. Click on course info then roll down to see your Homeroom. Email djworth@gcmsk12.org for your login information
Special Education teachers look forward to seeing everyone at the Middle School. Don't forget your masks! https://youtu.be/OYaUjoIDre4
Kindergarten Families
Info about our transition night should have already arrived. Each family has been assigned a 30 min time slot during the evening of Thurs., August 13th between 5:00-7:00. If you are a K parent and did not receive it, please call 217-784-4278. Thanks!
Pre K families
Information about our transition night should be arriving by mail (hopefully today). Each family will have a 15 min time slot scheduled on Tuesday, August 11th between 5:00-7:00 to come meet staff and see the classroom.
High School Tennis tryouts are next week! All athletes please verify you have turned in the necessary paperwork to the high school office.
Monday, Aug. 10th 3:30-5:30
Tuesday, Aug. 11th 3:30-5:30
Thursday, Aug. 13th 3:30-5:30
Friday, Aug. 14th 3:30-5:30
Our very kind librarian encourages you to be kind to others as we return to school! https://youtu.be/VkUICQpv7S0
Guess what these names all have in common: Diezel, Piper, Roxy, Nora, Sofia, and The Rock?
Answer: Those are the names of the kiddos and pets who live with our newest Falcon Family faculty member!
Mrs. Manda Paris will be joining the 2nd grade team of teachers this August. In her free time she loves to sing, dance, and spend time with her family. This summer they even went zip-lining together! Mrs. Paris owns a DIY business where some of her very first customers were a group from Gibson City. She knows it is a supportive community and looks forward to working with such wonderful staff members. Welcome the Falcon Family Diezel, Piper, Roxy, Nora, Sofia, The Rock, AND Mrs. Paris!
Please note that parents are not going to come in the building during 6th grade transition night. Students are to be dropped off and picked up at the designated times.
6th Grade Transition Night
If you registered online and have not received a response letting you know that we got it, please call and check to make sure that it went through. Thanks!
Mr. Kean
Please make sure that you register your child for school (either online or in person). We will be here until 4:00 today and are still waiting for many to let us know that they are coming, have decided to homeschool, or have moved out of district. Thanks!
Mr. Kean
Check out this guided tour of our new app! Then if you haven't done so already go to the App Store or Google Play and download it!
https://youtu.be/AG1xL_Qkbe0
GCMS High School is proud to present its new Wall of Honor. This board contains the names of GCMS HS grads (94-00) who have honorably served our country. Special thanks to Hood’s Ace Hardware for engraving the dog tags and to Mr Mackinson and Mr Garard for their tireless work on the project. We think it’s a terrific addition to our halls!
Just another reminder to come and turn in registration paperwork and/or pay registration fees. Also, please call us and let us know if you plan on homeschooling your children. We will be open until 7:00 pm today (8/5/20). Thanks!
Mr. Kean
This year's school pictures will be handles through VSI. Their order form and a link to prepay are available at https://vsi.co/schools/
Are you doing some back to school shopping? All of our supply lists can easily be accessed on the go through our app!
ES Families - If you ordered a supply box through us last spring you do not need to attend the drop-off night on August 12. Those boxes will be delivered directly to student classrooms.
GCMS Elementary will have a supply drop-off on Wednesday, August 12 from 4-6pm
And now a mask dance from your 6th Grade teachers! https://youtu.be/9hlLxkEX-1w
Please remember tomorrow is our full day registration day with buildings open from 8-12 and 3-7. Please come with completed documents, a mask, and only one person per family!
Call your respective schools if you have any questions!
It’s Registration week! Today is a beautiful day to stop by one of these tables at the Elementary to fill out your student’s Registration paperwork. Paper copies for each building are available in the bins outside every school! Please share to help us spread the word!
4th Grade teacher Ms. Frankie shares some good tips for wearing a mask at school! https://youtu.be/KWHBhByKpoM
Hometown proud! Help us welcome back one of our own to the Falcon Family. Mrs. Rachel Dewey joins our teaching force as a third grade teacher this fall. This will be her 8th year teaching. Her absolutely favorite book to read with students is "Tiger Rising" by Kate DiCamillo. In her free time, Mrs. Dewey loves spending time with her kiddos (Violet 3 and Calvin 1) swimming, taking walks, and swinging! She is SO excited to teach where she went to school and we are #FalconProud to have her teaching for her hometown! #IChoseGCMS
A recording of tonight's webinar is now available on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Az19qor68LU
Please see below for a draft of the GCMS Return-to-Learn Plan. Supt. Darnell will discuss the draft on tonight's Facebook Live at 6:00 which can be joined at https://www.facebook.com/gcmsunit5/live/
https://bit.ly/gcmsrtl
Texas Instruments has provided their TI-84 CE as a free download to schools through June, 2021. This is perfect timing to coincide with our 1:1 initiative. The link will be pushed out to students when school starts.
6th Grade Transition Night Information
When asked about what she is looking forward to at GCMS, our new second grade teacher, Mrs. Anna Denault exclaimed: "I loved student teaching at GCMS & I’m excited to plant my roots in a school that feels like home to me already!"We are so excited to welcome you to your new home, Mrs. Denault! In her free time, Mrs. Denault enjoys decorating her house, reading books, and spending time outside. Her favorite book to read to students is "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" but she personally loves to read any good thriller that is a page-turner. Mrs. Denault LOVES teaching students about history and teaching children to be good, kind people. With those priorities, Mrs. Denault is obviously going to fit right in to our Falcon Family!
2021 is getting ready!
The registration forms have been updated to fix the errors with some of the fields, thank you for your patience! https://www.gcmsk12.org/article/276709?org=gcms
We have just learned there is an error with some of the checkboxes on our digital registration forms. We are updating the errors now and will have corrected forms online soon, stay tuned!
We are thrilled to welcome back Ms. Brittany Hari to the Falcon Family!
Ms. Hari student taught at GCMS High School and will be returning to teach English this year.
Three fun facts about Ms. Hari which you might find surprising:
1.) She loves listening to true crime podcasts.
2.) Her favorite text to teach is "Romeo and Juliet".
3) She has 4 cats and 1 dog!
All that AND she's a Cubs fan---how lucky are we!?!
Welcome to the Falcon Family, Ms. Hari! #IChoseGCMS
More of our Falcon family is getting in on the fun! Ms. Rousseau shows why it is important to wear your mask at school! https://youtu.be/mM4N_Jj2ffM
REMINDER- Middle School Softball practice begins tomorrow morning, Mon. July 27. Practice will be from 8-10AM at the High School Softball field.
Families,
It is with sadness that I share the announcement from the IESA director that the 2020-2021 Middle School / Junior High baseball and softball competition seasons and State series have been cancelled. You can read the full announcement at iesa.org.
GCMS will be providing opportunities for practice and skill refinement at the local level following appropriate health guidelines. Please stay tuned for further announcements from the Middle School and coaches.
There has been no decisions on IHSA high school athletics at his point.
-Sincerely
Jeremy Darnell
Superintendent
A recording of tonight's Return to Learn update webinar is now available on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/BJDJf1VVffI
Our 2nd Return to Learn Update Webinar is tonight at 6:00pm. Join us on Facebook Live to submit your questions https://www.facebook.com/gcmsunit5/live/
Ms. Riley and her friend Mr. Moose would like to remind everyone to wear your masks at school this year! https://youtu.be/W_V9U-06rPI
Our new mobile app will allow us to quickly push out important updates, make sure you update your settings to get all the GCMS news that is important to you!
Please help us welcome our new 8th grade science teacher, Ms. Carly Jurik, to the Falcon Family!
Ms. Jurik is from Heyworth and this will be her first year teaching. In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, crafting, and traveling (she has a personal goal of visiting all 50 states!). When asked about why she chose GCMS, Ms. Jurik said: "Growing up in the HOIC, I saw that GCMS was always a team that had a bunch of community support. I can’t wait to be apart of that. I’m also looking forward to coaching volleyball as well and, of course, meeting my students."
#IChoseGCMS
We are so excited to introduce you to Ms. Chelsea Augsburger!
Ms. Augsburger will be teaching 3rd grade at GCMS Elementary this year. She is from El Paso, IL and is the youngest of three. "Those Shoes" is her favorite children's book of all time but she enjoys reading mysteries in her free time. This summer she has spent her time golfing, taking walks, and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible.
Ms. Augsbuger is just as excited to be teaching in our small-town community as we are to have her! Please give her a Falcon-proud welcome!
This is what 30,000 disposable masks looks like. We want ALL of our kids both here and safe, and are trying to do all we can to make that happen!!!
We’re thrilled to announce Gibson City-Melvin-
Sibley CUSD #5’s new app! It’s everything GCMS, in your
pocket. Download the app on Android: https://bit.ly/2BXYXgP or iPhone: https://apple.co/2BRMVp9.
We ask all parents of students eligible for transportation to complete this survey if you have not already done so (even if your student will NOT take the bus).
https://forms.gle/TTsUZFbHU4gp2bNy5
In case you missed our FB Live last night, here's a quick overview of the current GCMS Return-to-Learn Plan.
A recording of tonight's Return to Learn update webinar is now available on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/RjrIyS7u79I
We invite our whole community to join us for our Return to Learn update webinar Thurs 7/15 6:00pm. Watch and comment live at https://www.facebook.com/gcmsunit5/live/. A recording of the event will also be available afterward at https://www.youtube.com/user/DigitalFalcons
Wednesday, July 15: High school football and girls’ basketball workouts are cancelled for tonight.
Join us for a Facebook Live event Thursday night at 6:00 to hear about progress on the GCMS Return-to-Learn Plan! https://www.facebook.com/gcmsunit5/live/
Class of 2020 today is the day to pick up your graduation photos and video of the ceremony. The office is open until noon today!
In a time when good news can be hard to find, you'll find a smile in this one. Congrats, Aidan! https://www.wcia.com/sports/gcms-football-standout-aidan-laughery-lands-illinois-offer/?fbclid=IwAR2lLLZIQHmU5eJ3fovS-fZONbFnG1nXflNGxzrUwOOwvJ4rSblWCm9WjEE
GCMS Parents--please complete our Return-to-School Parent Survey!
https://forms.gle/2SksRVZ9wfT8uVy58
Middle School Schedules are available in LUMEN at https://lumen.gcms.k12.il.us/ Remember that when logging in use "5" for the location. If you have trouble logging in contact willis.walker@gcmsk12.org.
FYI our website is updating to a new format with some new features coming soon! For the next few days you may see some error messages when loading the site while all the changes take place. Thank you in advance for your patience!
Families can start preparing now for wearing masks in the fall!
Are you an incoming freshman and interested in the Tennis Team this fall? If so email coach Davis at davis.cortney@gcmsk12.org for more information. Go Falcons!
Elementary School Supply lists for the 2020-2021 school year are now available! https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EmykpxSNUtmFxDhErbeqIIWaNOKrEzWg?usp=sharing
Incoming Freshmen Girls interested in playing basketball please contact Coach Dornbusch at dornbusch.keri@gcmsk12.org for information.
Also please join the team's Remind for regular updates:
text @2h6fg3 to the number 81010
or
https://www.remind.com/join/2h6fg3
Even the pandemic can’t stop the Falcon Drumline. Mr. Renchen and the Drumline had their first rehearsal of the season tonight via Google Meet (some members not shown) and will be working hard this summer to get their music performance-ready for the Fall.
GCMS Graduate Chase Pondel was officially presented with his David "Moe" Sweet Golf Scholarship. Congratulations Chase!
Just a reminder that the school supply box orders are only available until the end of the week. Please know that this is not a requirement, but is an option for those who don't want to search out all of the supplies over the summer. You can order online at www.shopttkits.com. Our school account # that you will have to use to order online is 12346. Please make sure that you are ordering for the grade that your child will be in NEXT year. These kits will be available to purchase until May 29th and will be available for pick up at registration. Thanks!
Every year, the 8th graders participate in the 8th grade Olympics. The kids dress up in team colors, have team chants, and battle for the coveted 8th grade olympics trophy. Because of remote learning, this year's 8th grade class were going to miss out on this anticipated event. So, the 8th grade teachers came up with a way for the 8th graders to do 8th grade olympics- quarantine style! Take a look at what the students came up with in this year's Quarantine Olympics! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnsSeC3bBFW2p75Kk56qNcXUFTMsKpuDC
GCMS Middle School will be live streaming our 8th grade awards! Join us Tuesday, May 19 at 6pm. https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/c3722922-ff2c-49e8-8888-aef0eb377bf2
GCMS Middle School will be live streaming our 8th grade awards! Join us Tuesday, May 19 at 6pm. https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/c3722922-ff2c-49e8-8888-aef0eb377bf2
GCMS Middle School will be live streaming our 8th grade awards! Join us Tuesday, May 19 at 6pm. https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/c3722922-ff2c-49e8-8888-aef0eb377bf2
Congratulations to our Middle School Students of the Month for May 2020! https://www.gcmsk12.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=5IPPPY&dasi=33PI
You can now see all of our Senior scholarship winners in one place at this link! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSp1uHZ0GTPlxdMp0PKTEKHQRQ2Vy3bKdCArr0steKeYtMqRlPIAr6_8WoAL5s-swnSzQJSjiiD0sLn/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=3000
We are proud to present a look back at the class of 2020! Thank you to Karson Davis for editing this together. https://youtu.be/u1RvmWVjP3A
Congratulations to the winners of the Hiram & Anne Robbins Sibley Scholarship - Taylor Dueringer and Spencer Meenen
Congratulations to winners of GCMS Ag. Department Scholarships - Taylor Dueringer, Lauren Leonard, Kelsee Cliff, Brooke Beyers, Kylee Mueller, Keegan Brucker
Congratulations to the winner of the Curriculum Coordinating Committee Scholarship - Hannah Hathaway
Please take a moment to read the attached letter from Mr. Darnell providing information on our graduation celebrations. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z0sloMBVo3KQp_i05LfAWGQkVWQHfysb/view?usp=sharing
Congratulations to the Early College and Career Academy CNA Student of the Year - Kelsee Cliff!
Congratulations to the winners of Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution Recognition - Hannah Hathaway and Payton Kean
Congratulations to the WCIA 2020 Best of the Class - Olivia Overman
Congratulations to the Bank of Gibson City Student of the Year - Hannah Hathaway!
Congratulations to the winner of the David “Moe” Sweet Golf Scholarship - Chase Pondel
Congratulations to the winners of the Gibson City Masonic Lodge Scholarship - Ethan Freehill and Emily Clinton!
Congratulations to the winner of the Phil & Eva Loy Scholarship - Keegan Kutemeier!
Congratulations to the winner of the Frieda Garber Scholarship - Karson Davis!
Congratulations to the winner of the Future Teachers of America Scholarship - Hannah Hathaway!
Congratulations to the winners of the John W. Cowell Scholarship - Payton Kean and Rylee Tompkins!
Congratulations to the winners of the Jake’s Boys Scholarships - Taylor Dueringer and Emily Clinton
Congratulations to the winner of the Rotary Reach for the Stars Scholarship - Kylee Mueller!
Congratulations to the Rotary Service Scholarship winner - Hannah Hathaway!
Congratulations to the Rotary-Interact Member of the year - Hannah Cliff!
Congratulations to our Lions Club Scholarship winners - Keegan Kutemeier and Lauren Leonard!
Congratulations to the winner of the Red Cross Award - Hannah Cliff!
Congratulations to the Heart of GCMS Scholarship winner - Emily Clinton!
Congratulations to our Illinois State Scholars from the class of 2020! Ethan Freehill, Hannah Hathaway, Daniel Jones, Rylee Tompkins, Payton Kean, Spencer Hazen, Madelyn Schutte, Summer Roesch, Olivia Overman, Keegan Kutemeier, Sierra Hileman
Locker pick-up and drop off of supplies
GCMS HS Families –All school lockers will be cleaned out and prepared for pick up by families according to the schedule below. During your scheduled pick up time, we ask that you please return ALL HS textbooks, library/classroom books, sport uniforms, school calculators, etc. Staff members will deliver items to your car so you do not have to exit your vehicle. Please follow the schedule below in order to make this process run smoothly.
May 18 - Freshmen and Sophomores 2:00-5:00
May 19 - Juniors and Seniors 2:00-5:00
Chris Garard – GCMS HS Principal
GCMS Graduation/Senior Scholarship Announcement
GCMS High School’s Graduation ceremony scheduled for May 16 has been postponed to June 27 at 7:00 in the HS Gymnasium. We are also planning on combining our Senior Scholarship Assembly with our Graduation Ceremony in order to further recognize and celebrate our seniors. We are optimistic that the social distancing guidelines will be lifted by this time. Please stay tuned for additional information regarding Graduation for the Class of 2020.
Chris Garard – GCMS HS Principal
GCMS Prom Announcement
GCMS High School’s Prom was scheduled to take place on April 25 at ISU. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is with great regret that we announce that Prom will not be rescheduled. We understand this is not a popular decision and we are deeply sorry. I would encourage everyone to dress up and post pictures to their social media accounts for all to see.
Chris Garard – GCMS HS Principal
We have a bonus read along today for Easter weekend! Ms. Laughery reads The Easter Bunny's Assistant with permission from Scholastic. https://www.facebook.com/gcmsunit5/videos/157758455544536/
We've added a few more staff members to our parade! We still miss you all and we are #inthistogether and #falconproud https://www.facebook.com/gcmsunit5/videos/3015416378522413/
Today we have another GCMS originial! Elizabeth and the 8 Fairies is written, illustrated and read by Lilly Lahr.
https://www.facebook.com/gcmsunit5/videos/261206338242709/