
TFHS/GFMS Community Newsletter
November 20, 2020 Created by Principal Joanne Menard
In This Newsletter
-Upcoming Half Days and Days Off
-Sports Update from Athletic Director Adam Graves
-Reminder About Excused Absences
-Food Drive
-News from Assistant Principal Tom Gaffigan
-News from TFHS Guidance Counselor Beth Fortin
-PSATs
-8th Grade Math From Ms. Helgerson
-Monte's March
-Community Recognition for Paige Sulda
-GMRSD School Calendar 2020-2021
-Interested in Serving on Student Council?
-Student Emails
-GMRSD Family Technology Resource Page
-Disclosure Statement Read Prior to Each Class
-Acceptable Use Policy
-Letter from Nurses
-TFHS/GFMS Student Handbooks
-Academic Calendar 2020-2021
-TFHS Bell Schedule
-Whole School Meetings
-Procedures if Need to Come to School Office
-GMRSD Face Mask Policy
-Masks Need to Be Worn on All Buses
-Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Half Days and Days Off
-Thursday, November 26th: Thanksgiving - NO SCHOOL
-Friday, November 27th: Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
WISHING OUR TFHS/GFMS COMMUNITY A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!
Sports Update from Athletic Director Adam Graves
Reminder about Excused Absences
Food Drive
News from Assistant Principal Tom Gaffigan
Attendance: Should be taken everyday and submitted to the office as if students were actually here. If there are attendance issues in classes you should contact the grade level Deans; Mike Duprey mike.duprey@gmrsd.org (grades 7,9 and 11,) and Rebel McKinley rebel.mckinley@gmrsd.org (grades 6,8,10, and 12) Please cc myself thomas.gaffigan@gmrsd.org on all attendance issues as both Mike and Rebel are also teaching an RA. We want to engage any student that is missing classes as soon as possible. I believe each teacher would benefit from reaching out first to the family but to eliminate numerous calls after a couple tries please email us and we will take it from there. Mr. Gaffigan and the Deans have started doing community outreach for any students who may need help during remote learning, this can be for attendance issues, behavior issues, emotional issues and technology aid. To eliminate students leaving class after signing in we would like teachers to take attendance at the end of class as well as the beginning to make sure students are still in attendance. Instead of saying students names we suggest that they have an exit question or a check in so students do not realize we are actually taking attendance as well. Eliminating students from just showing back up at the end of class.
Discipline
All school rules apply during remote learning as if we are physically here. We are adding additional rules for remote learning as well.
- Students have the option to not show themselves but should if possible show their face or work at all times.
- If a student is constantly disrupting class, making gestures, showing inappropriate things, not using mute when asked, constantly talking out of turn, you may take away their visual and audio if needed and they can use the comment section to speak in class. If this happens regularly please let the appropriate Dean know and we will have a conversation with home.
- Suspensions can still happen if the offense is warranted. Suspension hearings would be scheduled through the office and held either personally in the conference room or remotely.
- If a parent or outside resource needs to schedule a meeting with any school personnelle, that too will be in the conference room or held remotely.
-Students should not be showing their class code to anyone outside of a particular class. This will keep your classes confidential and with no disturbances from outside influences.
CRA’s
I am continually working with the courts on monitoring our high risk students and that includes students who had a CRA filed on them last school year. When we meet it is now over the phone or in Zoom. This has worked well thus far over the last few weeks.
Hybrid Safety Plan/Full Return Safety Plan
Mr. Gaffigan has started to work on a safety plan for the school such as access to building, dismissal from buildings, one way hallways, mask protocols, hallway monitors etc. There will be no after school responsibilities while in Hybrid since there will be no late bus. Remote after school help can continue however.
Students who could not pick up Chromebooks
For those students still in need of a Chromebook, and are unable to come to school to pick-up, Dean of Students Mike Duprey and Mr. Gaffigan will distribute the Chromebooks to their homes. Please contact the office if in need. We will contact the families the day before arriving.
News from TFHS Guidance Counselor Beth Fortin
Attention Seniors! College Application season is well underway. Please make an appointment to meet with Ms. Fortin ASAP if you need help getting started. This can be stressful time for seniors so please practice good self-care. Eat well, try and get good sleep, regular exercise and talk to family members or friends who have already been through the college application process. You are NOT alone! We can help! J
For Current Juniors and Seniors: If you are looking for more information about GCC’s ETP spring program, they are holding a virtual Info session on Tuesday November 10th at 1:00. Please sign up on the list if you are planning on attending. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eRSQX8jTE8G-7B1-hgLhIk48h69kpo0Qy22rScss60U/edit?usp=sharing
Seniors: Virtual Information Sessions: If you are considering GCC after high school graduation, we encourage you to attend one of their virtual information sessions. During these sessions we explore the benefits of community college, what makes GCC unique, and the enrollment process. These sessions happen every Wednesday at 12pm on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/9936722427. You can find additional evening and weekend event information here: www.gcc.mass.edu/admission/events. ***Important! Please let Ms. Fortin know if you plan to attend one of the sessions so I can notify your teacher you will be attending!
Attention all students interested in working in the Trades Industry: There is a really cool website out there for students interested in learning more about careers in the Trades! There is a lot of money to be made with little to no additional schooling required after high school. Check this out! https://explorethetrades.org/resources/
Applications are now open for the YouthWorks Job Readiness program at Community Action Youth and Workforce Development Programs! The program will be 100% virtual and offers 14 weeks of stipended learning opportunities for youth, ages 16 to 21, living in Franklin & Hampshire County. Visit https://www.communityaction.us/youthworks for more information & to apply!
***ATTENTION ALL JUNIORS!!! The Class of 2022 WILL be able to take the PSAT’s this year. The PSAT will be held IN PERSON on January 26th 2021 in the gym at the Turners Falls High School to accommodate the social distancing safety protocols for everyone. The dead line to sign up to take the PSAT is December 1st. If you are interested in taking the PSAT’s please sign up on the google doc below. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pTHV8fjcf6a8sBuyYflmjmn-OZszb3Eh7LgU_By6ylM/edit?usp=sharing Here is a link to study and practice. https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/practice
****Attention ALL students who plan to attend college and are considered "First Generation" (students whose parents have not earned a Bachelor's Degree). Attending college is a life-changing opportunity. The process of finding and applying to college can be complex and confusing—especially for high schoolers who are the first in their family to do so. Add a pandemic to the mix, and the level of uncertainty increases significantly. Students and families will hear from our panel of experts, all first-generation students themselves, for a candid discussion filled with practical tips and inspiring personal stories. Plus, get answers to questions related to financial aid, choosing a major, and fighting imposter syndrome. First-Generation Students: Practical Tips for College Admissions Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00 PM ET Sign up here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7316046018473/WN_YN5XTOO-QZS6hmsGUEqQSQ?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=99147658&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ZTQhNPaCvMvRWk9KH9Duth9BNzPA1UpMZVXLUSjkusMG11waU5CLqDmy5cHui9giG1dtM8EQneBqj0NkTarGU8QVLdQ&utm_content=99147658&utm_source=hs_email
Do you need help looking for a job, writing your resume or need help learning valuable interviewing skills? Then check this out! Connecting Activities is a statewide network, organized through the sixteen MassHire Workforce Boards, connecting employers and schools to support work-based learning and other career development education activities for students. If you are a student who is interested in getting support to find a job or with career exploration, please click on the link below to fill out our School-to-Career Student Support Intake Form. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=lPFwH558MkqQhcR_-ysiUhxyYhfc4qRNpF8qBO1Isz5URElCQURQQUdWNFFTUU9XUUgzRU0xVEgwSC4u
PSATs
8th Grade Math - From Ms. Helgerson
We are doing an introduction to solving linear equations. This includes working on how to represent and communicate our thinking in an algebraic way. We were using the Google application Jamboard to draw on our pictures, do our work and show our thinking.
Monte's March
This year, it’s even MORE important to raise money for the Food Bank of Western Mass, as the pandemic has resulted in lost jobs and even more food insecurity in our community. Please consider joining our march and/or supporting this essential event. Feel free to reach out to Ms. V or Ms Luc with any questions: jvachula-curtis@gmrsd.org<mailto:jvachula-curtis@gmrsd.org> and jluciano@gmrsd.org<mailto:jluciano@gmrsd.org>
Link to sign up sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tAT34lyC-1mnYNX0wMGcD_Zl53d7W6OSa5iwiL4qf9k/edit?usp=sharing
Community Recognition for Paige Sulda
January Friends of GFMS & TFHS Meeting
We chose a meeting date for our next meeting, it will be January 6th at 6pm. We chose to skip a December meeting, with so much going on, limited, availability, and not much needing to be discussed, we felt it would be a good idea to just set a January date.
GMRSD School Calendar 2020-2021
Interested in Serving on School Council?
Student Email
The district has turned on GMail as a Google app for our MS and HS students. This means that through their @gmrsd.us Google accounts, students are able to get into GMail and receive email messages. Email messages received and sent out will be limited to only within the domain; and only with their teachers. Presently, we will not be allowing them to email each other until we determine that it is appropriate to do so.
Your child(ren) will not have to do anything different from logging into their Google accounts. They will receive emails, and can access their email messages, by going into the "waffle" and selecting GMail.
Seniors will be in a more open domain to allow them to work with their college applications. We will work with Guidance to set this up. The students' @gmrsd.org accounts will be able reach them directly from any college. Anything sent to from a college to a @gmrsd.us account is directly forwarded to the student's @gmrsd.org account.
Please note that the GMRSD Acceptable Use Policy does apply to student emails. The policy is below.
GMRSD Family Technology Resource Page
Comic Created by Kris Fulk
Disclosure Statement Read Prior to Each Class
It is important that we follow our school rules when we meet through the computer. We will be respectful of each other's words and ideas. Students and their families may not save, record, share or post this session or any photos from this session. If students or families do not agree with these requirements, please disconnect from this meeting. Families may contact me for a different learning plan.
Acceptable Use Policy
CHROMEBOOK ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY:
School issued Chromebooks should be used for educational purposes and students are to adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy at all times. Chromebook devices are enrolled under the gmrsd.us domain making it inapplicable for any other use.
GMRSD’s administrative staff and faculty retain the right to collect and/or inspect Chromebooks at any time, including via electronic remote access, and to alter, add or delete installed software or hardware.
Inappropriate media may not be used for Chromebook backgrounds or themes. No images or graphics containing people can ever be used as a background or theme. The presence of guns, weapons, pornographic materials, inappropriate language, alcohol, drug, gang-related symbols or pictures will result in disciplinary consequences.
Manufacturer and school barcode tags and name labels shall not be removed, covered or marked upon.
Teachers, school administrators, and the Technology Services staff use monitoring software that allows them to view the screens and activity on student assigned Chromebooks.
The school district uses an Internet content filter that is in compliance with the federally mandated Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). All Chromebooks, regardless of physical location (in and out of school), will have Internet activity protected and monitored by teachers, school administrators, and the technology staff. If an educationally valuable site is blocked, students should contact their teachers to request the site be unblocked. Such requests will be given consideration following administrative review.
Letter from Nurses
TFHS/GFMS Student Handbook
To view the TFHS Student Handbook, please go to the gmrsd.org page, then the high school, and then under parents.
To view the GFMS Student Handbook, please go to the gmrsd,org page, then the middle school, and then under parents.
Academic Calendar 2020-2021
TFHS Bell Schedule
Whole School Meetings
High School Whole School Meetings will be held on Tuesdays beginning at 9:15 a.m. Principal Menard or Mr. Gaffigan will be sending out the link for all high school teachers to share with students on the Monday prior to each meeting.
Procedures if Need to Come to School Office
GMRSD Face Mask Policy
Masks Need to Be Worn on All Buses
Upcoming Dates
Monday, November 23rd - GFMS Morning Meeting, 7:45-8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, November 24 - TFHS Morning Meeting, 9:15-9:38 a.m.
Wednesday, November 25th- Student Dismissal at 11:00 a.m.; Thanksgiving Break rest of day
Thursday, November 26th- NO SCHOOL - THANKSGIVING
Friday, November 27th - NO SCHOOL - THANKSGIVING BREAK
Monday, November 30th - GFMS Morning Meeting, 7:45-8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, December 1st- TFHS Morning Meeting - ONLY FOR 9TH GRADERS, 9:15-9:38 a.m.
Wednesday, December 2nd- TFHS Culture & Climate Club, 9:15-9:38 a.m.
Friday, December 4th - GFMS Morning Meeting, 7:45-8:00 a.m., Staff and Community Newsletters published
Great Falls Middle School
222 Turnpike Road
Montague, Massachusetts 01351
413-863-7200