GKMS Food Drive - now through November 12th

GKMS will be collecting canned and packaged foods until November 12th.  While geared towards working with our students and community service, all members of our community are also welcome to donate items to our front office.

All items will be donated to the Genoa Food Pantry.  This is just one of the ways our students excel and contribute to their community.

Special thanks go out to student council for coordinating our efforts.

I want you to SAY it if you SEE it!

Many times, people misinterpret actions for bullying when they absolutely are not.  Unfortunately, sometimes actual bullying does occur - even in a great school like GKMS.  Our PBIS team, PTO and Community Impact Club are teaming up to help further establish GKMS as a place where bullying is simply not accepted.

PBIS and PTO are sponsoring a See it, Say it Halloween Dance to kick off a two month campaign including our anti-bullying message through the use of weekly "cool tool" activities.  The dance will take place during the school day - study hall times.

Community Impact Club has used student artwork to design a shirt we will be giving students across the district an opportunity to purchase,  "I want you to say it if you see it" along with artwork across the front of the shirt with "Only you can make a difference against bullying" on the back.

We thank all students for their ideas and submissions.  We look forward to everyone working together to make GKMS an even better place.

Leadership and Community Service - Special Guest

As part of Mrs. Hencken's Leadership and Community Service class (LCS), members of our community that serve and lead regularly come speak to our students.  Today, we were fortunate to have State Representative Bob Pritchard come speak to 7th and 8th grade students.  He also fielded questions ranging from $600,000 doors, the gold standard, "stand your ground" laws, what it takes to pass a bill, and more.  We greatly appreciate his time. 

ISAT and MAP results coming home

Families, in your students' Progress Report envelope, you will find MAP and ISAT reports.

ISAT testing was done last Spring.  This is a snapshot view of your student's performance at that time based on State Standards and the new Common Core standards.  All cut scores were changed this year for all students.  As a result, a direct comparison to previous years achievement is no longer valid.  Students will likely see a lower score than previous years.  This decision was made by the State of Illinois.

MAP testing has been in place in our district since 2008.  You will see a graph of your student's performance in an "apples to apples" comparison from year to year.  My opinion is that reading this graph is best done viewing general growth as a whole rather than focusing on one specific data point (test day).

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

MAP Testing

MAP testing is just wrapping up at GKMS.  Ask your student about it.  In MAP testing, all students take the computer based assessment in Math and Reading.  The test continuously monitors correct and incorrect responses and shapes the assessment to accurately assess your students' level of performance.  The results give teachers a clear understanding of each students' strengths and areas of weakness so we can better meet individual needs. 

Copies of results will be sent home with progress reports.  Thanks.

A New Year at GKMS

Welcome back everyone!  We are looking forward to a great year here at GKMS.

Classes are in full swing as we use best practice instructional strategies to deliver standards based curriculum.  Our students also have the opportunity to participate in extra curricular sports, clubs, and volunteer activities.  Feel free to contact me for additional information.

An excellent student and parent tool is Assignment Connection.  Log in to Powerschool, and you will have access to what your student experienced in all their classes each day.  Powerschool is generally up to date by 1:00PM each day.

We look forward to a great year helping students excel and contribute to our community!

Have a safe and happy Summer

Wishing all our GK families a great Summer! 

A few changes coming for next year: KES welcomes Ms. Hill as school principal.  I will be principal at GKMS, as Mr. McPherson moves to GKHS.   

We all look forward to a great 2013-2014 school year.