We wish all our families a happy and safe holiday season. GKMS students are contributing to their community in many ways for the holidays.
Community Impact Club is sponsoring our Toys for Tots drive. Over 300 toys have been donated to help brighten the season for area kids.
Student Council continues its Hat, Scarf, Mitten, and Glove Drive. Hundreds of items have been collected for local families.
Student council is also helping GK families through food and gift cards.
Our students continue to show respect, positive behaviors, and contribute to their community.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
GKMS Parent Survey - Until December 4
I have posted a parent survey on Survey Monkey that will be open until December 4th. Please take a few minutes to answer the 9 questions and leave any comments you would like.
All responses can be kept confidential and will be shared with staff and our parent council to help shape school procedures and practices. Thank you for you time.
"Click Here to take survey"
.
All responses can be kept confidential and will be shared with staff and our parent council to help shape school procedures and practices. Thank you for you time.
"Click Here to take survey"
.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Contributing to our Community
GKMS is always seeking ways for students to contribute to our community.
Our annual food drive raised hundreds of food items for the Genoa Food Bank that will help our families through the Thanksgiving holiday.
Community Impact Club is beginning their Toys for Tots gift drive. Information can be found in our office. The are also ample ways for students to help if their families are not in a position to donate a gift.
Of course, we are continuing our annual Student Council Hat, Scarf, and Mitten drive this year. All donations help GK families.
Whether it is donations or time, our students and families continue to contribute to our community through giving. Please contact me for any information or opportunity. We have a wonderful community here through good times and more difficult ones.
It is a priveledge working with these great kids and families. Thank you.
Our annual food drive raised hundreds of food items for the Genoa Food Bank that will help our families through the Thanksgiving holiday.
Community Impact Club is beginning their Toys for Tots gift drive. Information can be found in our office. The are also ample ways for students to help if their families are not in a position to donate a gift.
Of course, we are continuing our annual Student Council Hat, Scarf, and Mitten drive this year. All donations help GK families.
Whether it is donations or time, our students and families continue to contribute to our community through giving. Please contact me for any information or opportunity. We have a wonderful community here through good times and more difficult ones.
It is a priveledge working with these great kids and families. Thank you.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Learning and Grades
I have been a "professional educator" for 18 years. The 16 years prior, I was on the student side of things. Besides showing that I'm just plain old, those years have caused me to view many staples of the "educational process" differently than I used to.
I have had many discussions with parents, neighbors, and kids about grades over the years. While I still don't feel I have the "right" answer, I know my views on this subject have changed. My sons are now 15, 13, and 9 years old. As they travel through the education system, I continue to change my views on grades.
As an example:
A doctor, carpenter, and teacher all work hard and rightfully expect to be compensated for their time in pay. They need it to survive, and their families count on it. But, do I want my surgeon to be in it just for the check? Or do I want someone whose life mission is to save lives and improve quality of life? Do I want the carpenter building my house to only be interested in a check or to also take pride in doing a quality, long lasting job? Do I want my son's teacher to focus solely on fulfilling requirements, or to get to know and care about my child?
Are grades necessary? They certainly do give a running record of students meeting the requirements of school. In later years, they will allow our students options for which colleges they can attend and which fields they can study -- choices.
What we need to do, though, is continue to look for ways that grades can also measure student learning besides quizzes and tests. Sure the paycheck... er grade matters, but I want my kids to also learn, understand the processes for learning, and to be participants in their education. I am confident almost all parents want the same.
At GKMS we will continue to strive towards improvement in engaging students in the learning process and measure their "grades" by using additional methods that will reflect more than simply mastering the "process" of school. Not a small task, but we are getting better. Below are the honor roll numbers for the first quarter. Many students are taking a part in their education, and it is beginning to show that we are measuring more than the simple, basic requirements of school.
Whole School High and Regular Honors - 76%
Whole School High Honors - 29%
6th Grade High and Regular Honors - 74%
6th Grade High Honors - 24%
7th Grade High and Regular Honors - 80%
7th Grade High Honors - 34%
8th Grade High and Regular Honors - 73%
8th Grade High Honors - 29%
I have had many discussions with parents, neighbors, and kids about grades over the years. While I still don't feel I have the "right" answer, I know my views on this subject have changed. My sons are now 15, 13, and 9 years old. As they travel through the education system, I continue to change my views on grades.
As an example:
A doctor, carpenter, and teacher all work hard and rightfully expect to be compensated for their time in pay. They need it to survive, and their families count on it. But, do I want my surgeon to be in it just for the check? Or do I want someone whose life mission is to save lives and improve quality of life? Do I want the carpenter building my house to only be interested in a check or to also take pride in doing a quality, long lasting job? Do I want my son's teacher to focus solely on fulfilling requirements, or to get to know and care about my child?
Are grades necessary? They certainly do give a running record of students meeting the requirements of school. In later years, they will allow our students options for which colleges they can attend and which fields they can study -- choices.
What we need to do, though, is continue to look for ways that grades can also measure student learning besides quizzes and tests. Sure the paycheck... er grade matters, but I want my kids to also learn, understand the processes for learning, and to be participants in their education. I am confident almost all parents want the same.
At GKMS we will continue to strive towards improvement in engaging students in the learning process and measure their "grades" by using additional methods that will reflect more than simply mastering the "process" of school. Not a small task, but we are getting better. Below are the honor roll numbers for the first quarter. Many students are taking a part in their education, and it is beginning to show that we are measuring more than the simple, basic requirements of school.
Whole School High and Regular Honors - 76%
Whole School High Honors - 29%
6th Grade High and Regular Honors - 74%
6th Grade High Honors - 24%
7th Grade High and Regular Honors - 80%
7th Grade High Honors - 34%
8th Grade High and Regular Honors - 73%
8th Grade High Honors - 29%
Friday, October 30, 2009
H1N1 News
Parents and community members have asked several questions about our district's plan for coping with H1N1 concerns.
The following link is to a letter from Superintendent Wakeley addressing the concerns and our district's procedures to help foster a safe environment for all students and staff.
The link for the letter is under "Health Announcement" on our district's home page.
GK Webpage
.
The following link is to a letter from Superintendent Wakeley addressing the concerns and our district's procedures to help foster a safe environment for all students and staff.
The link for the letter is under "Health Announcement" on our district's home page.
GK Webpage
.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Temporary Volunteer Crossing Guards Needed
G-K PTO walk safe program is seeking volunteer crossing guards to help provide safe passage for all GK kids. Please contact gkpto@yahoo.com with your name and phone number if you can help with the program.
CHANGE IT! Standing Up to Bullying
"CHANGE IT! Standing Up to Bullying" is an assembly presentation the Boom Troupe will be performing at GKMS on Monday, October 26th. 6th and 7th grades will be participating at 9:00 while the 8th grade presentation is at 10:00. The performance helps students recognize bullying, explains the 4 roles of bullying, empowers victims, and, most importantly, emphasizes the strength and power of the bystander in ending the cycle.
Parents are welcome to sign in at the office and join us. As usual, things like this would not be possible without the help and support of our PTO.
For more information, check out the Boom Troupe Webpage.
.
Parents are welcome to sign in at the office and join us. As usual, things like this would not be possible without the help and support of our PTO.
For more information, check out the Boom Troupe Webpage.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
