TFHS/GFMS Community Newsletter

• Looking for School Community Council Members
• Great Falls Festival - Pumpkin Festival
• Auditions for the play Matilda
• 7th Grade Fundraiser Dance
• TFHS/GFMS Picture Retakes
• First TFHS/GFMS Pep Rally
• Booster Week Dress Up Days
• Hallway Wars
• Homecoming Dance 2019
• Principal Chats
• Facility Spotless
• Field Trip to Pumpkin Patch
• Deans' Grade Assignments
• 2019-2020 School Calendar
• Remaining October Half Days and No School Days
• TFHS Student Working
• Vaping Information
• Epi-Pen Training for Staff
• Student Display
• GFMS Yearbook 2020
• Middle School Dinosaur Raffle
• TFHS/GFMS Sports' Schedule
• Field Prep
• Sports - HS Football/Cheerleading
• Sports - MS Football
• Sports - Golf
• Sports - Volleyball
• Academic Calendar
• Secondary School Improvement Plan (SIP)
• TFHS Therapeutic Classroom Presents at Morning Meeting
• MakerLab
• Community Health Care Center of Franklin County Mobile Dental Service
• GFMS' Students of the Week
• TFHS Bell Schedule
• MS Student Council
• MS Computer Club
• Skeleton Crew
• Upcoming Dates at TFHS/GFMS

A warm invite to all to volunteer for a possible spot on our TFHS/GFMS School Council.

This School Community Council (SCC) will meet regularly (monthly) at such times as scheduled by Principal Menard. The SCC will generally serve in an advisory and consultative capacity to the building Principal. The SCC will consider such matters as are submitted to them by the Principal and other such matters affecting the school and program as may be of interest and importance to school and program improvement. The School Community Council will review and consider school improvement requirements and otherwise assist the Principal in the development of the annual School Development Plan and annual budget under the provisions of the Education Reform Law.

The SCC will consist of the school principal, who shall co-chair the council; parents/guardians of students attending the school who shall be selected by the parents/guardians of students attending such school who will be chosen in elections through a representative process approved by the School Committee.

If you are interested in potentially serving on this committee, please email your interest no later than Friday, October 18th. My email address is: joanne.menard@gmrsd.org

The Great Falls Festival - Pumpkin Festival will be held on Saturday, October 19th from 2-9 p.m. on Avenue A. Some staff and students will be working there!

Auditions for the play Matilda will be held on October 24th. Auditions sign ups are on the Music Bulletin Board.

Picture Retakes will be held on Wednesday, October 30th. Mrs. Bailey will call down anyone who is interested when the photographer arrives.

The first EVER TFHS/GFMS Pep Rally, that included all grade 6-12 students, took place on the Friday of Booster Week. Student Council EBoard members created the ideas for the engaging rally and then carried them out! The Pep Rally was packed with many events: recognizing our amazing custodians for all of their incredible work, class scream offs, fall sports' captains speaking about their season so far, class competitions, class sing offs, recognizing Mr. Carter for his school spirit.

Some pictures of various students and staff that showed some school spirit!

During Booster Week each year, grades 9-12 each decorate a hall way with a theme of their choosing. Their whole class is involved in the decorating (sometimes staying late and sometimes coming in bright and early!) Judges (students and staff) view each one and use a rubric to grade individual hallways. This year was the first year that the middle school students were able to view these and also judge them. Classes did a wonderful job carrying out their theme. This year's top class winner was the Junior class; followed by the Sophomore class, then the Freshman class, and finally our Senior class. Congratulations to our Junior class!!!!

On Saturday, October 5th, the TFHS Homecoming Dance was held at Thomas' Golf Course Clubhouse. Over 85 students attended this fun event!

As Principal, I will be holding two Principal Chats a month to communicate with the community at large. These Chats are to share what positive changes we are making, what events have been happening, and to share examples of student learning opportunities.

October's Principal Chats will both be held at our beautiful school. The first on-site Principal's Chat will be held on Wednesday, October 16th from 9-10 a.m. in the TFHS/GFMS Auditorium. The second on-site Principal's Chat will be held on Tuesday, October 29th from 5-6 p.m. also in the TFHS/GFMS Auditorium.

I am extending a warm invitation to all! Hope to see many of you at either of October's Chats!

A huge shout out to our custodial staff! They certainly keep our school looking so wonderful!!!

Our HS Therapeutic students took a field trip to Wentworth Farm in Amherst to pick pumpkins. These students then donated them to the class.

With the new administrative team, we have redefined roles for this year.

Dean Rebel McKinley (rebel.mckinley@gmrsd.org) is working with all grade 7, 9, and 11 students and families.

Dean Mike Duprey (mike.duprey@gmrsd.org) is working with all grade 6, 8, 10, and 12 students and families.

Please reach out to them with any attendance or disciplinary concerns.

Please remember that two remaining days in October are either half days or no school:

-Monday, October 14th is NO SCHOOL due to the observance of Columbus Day

-Wednesday, October 23rd is a half day due to Professional Development

This TFHS student was recently working in the community.

At October's Faculty Meeting, our nurses trained staff in the proper use of an Epi-Pen.

Some of our students created this visually appealing display in the hallway.

To get a raffle ticket, students need to show Ms. Martinelli their public library card. She will draw the winner October 25th during Middle School Morning Meeting.

As you can see from the pics, this is one helpful dinosaur.

Please download the MIAA app to receive the most up-to-date changes in all sports schedules.

Students helping to get fields ready for Booster Day.

We were thrilled to host the HS Football game at TFHS last Friday night!

We have been hard at work on our Secondary School Improvement Plan (SIP) at the administrative level. After it was presented, feedback was given by our Curriculum Coordinators and staff and then appropriate adjustments were made to the plan. I then presented it to the School Committee.

Here is the link to the PowerPoint presentation I made to the School Committee.

At the last TFHS Morning Meeting, our HS Therapeutic Classroom presented relaxation techniques to the rest of the school. These skills were modeled by the students.

Students working on a soldering project in the MakerLab.

At our middle school Morning Meeting, four students were recognized with the honor of Student of the Week. Congratulations to all! We are proud of your hard work and good choices!

GFMS' Student Council presented information at a Morning Meeting regarding their "Pie in the Face" fundraiser. Students and staff are able to purchase tickets towards a specific staff member getting that pie in the face! All proceeds are to benefit the Red Cross.

GFMS has created a Computer Club that meets during some lunches. These officers gave a presentation at a Morning Meeting.

TFHS students in Mr. Chappell's class envisioned, and created collaboratively, many unique characters and props for an upcoming Skeleton Crew production.

Friday, October 11th:

Community Newsletter published

7:45 a.m. - MS Morning Meeting

Monday, October 14th:

NO SCHOOL - COLUMBUS DAY OBSERVED

Tuesday, October 15th:

7:45 a.m. - MS Morning Meeting

9:10 a.m. - HS Morning Meeting

Wednesday, October 16th:

10:00 a.m. - Community Principal's Chat - Auditorium

Friday, October 18th:

7:45 a.m. - MS Morning Meeting

Saturday, October 19th:

2:00-9:00 p.m. - Great Falls Festival - Pumpkin Fest on Avenue A

Monday, October 21st:

7:45 a.m. - MS Morning Meeting

Tuesday, October 22nd:

9:10 a.m. - HS Morning Meeting

Wednesday, October 23rd:

Half Day

Thursday, October 24th:

Auditions for the play Matilda

5:00-7:00 p.m. - MS Halloween Dance

Friday, October 25th:

Community Newsletter Published

First Quarter Grades Close

7:45 a.m. - MS Morning Meeting

Turners Falls High School

Great Falls Middle School

222 Turnpike Road

Montague, Massachusetts 01351

413-863-7200