Principal – Terrie ReQua
Assistant Principal – Hal Templeton
Assistant Principal—Mick Zanski
Assistant to Administration – Gwen Sandidge
UNIFIED IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR 2012-2013:
At the beginning of each school year, the Colorado Department of Education and Mesa County Valley School District 51, require each school to develop a Unified Improvement Plan to enable schools to review the data and trends from the previous school year’s standardized tests. District administration, school administration, teachers, and community members review the data in small sub groups. The data is then used to create school wide targets in Mathematics, Reading and/or Writing for the school year. The process allows the school to address what methods and instructional techniques are working well, and continue to implement them in the classroom. It also enables the school to look at the data to examine the areas in which MGMS was deficient and to create targets for improvement. The targets that are created must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound. They are based on proficiency (achievement on the TCAP as related to other schools in the state) and overall growth (based on the student’s improvement from one year to the next) in specific areas. The targets relate to the TCAP Test that will be administered in the spring of 2013 and the outcomes will be released during the summer of 2013. The school wide targets for this year are:
- By the end of the 2012-13 school year, 35% of our students will score proficient or advanced overall on the Math TCAP.
- By the end of the 2012-13 school year, 40% of our student will score proficient or advanced overall on the writing TCAP.
- By the end of the 2012-13 school year, the median student growth in reading will be a score of 48.
- By the end of the 2012-13 school year, the median student growth in math will be a score of 50.
The methods of attaining these goals are reviewed continuously throughout the school year in grade level meetings, faculty meetings, professional learning communities, and the instructional leadership team. Results of common assessments are displayed on a graph in the conference room to help teachers monitor students’ growth.
Students of the Month for November:
Congratulations
Kessa Valdoca & Zaccre Kenward
DECEMBER-JANUARY AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
Below is the schedule of activities that will be going on after school. Please remind your student that if they are going to participate in one of the offerings that they need to report to the activity site and sign in. If your child should need a GVT pass in order to attend a club/intervention help, we do have them available for them to use. If you have any questions, please contact us at 254-4720.
Activity / Day(s) / TimeSoar-to-Success / Mon.-Thurs. / 3:00-4:00
6th Grade Reading/Writing / Mon.-Thurs. / 3:00-4:00
Science Support / Mon. & Tues. / 2:45-3:00
Math Intervention-8 / Mon.-Tues. &
Saturdays / 2:50-3:50
9:00-noon
M.E.S.A. Club / Monday / 2:45-4:00
Yoga / Wednesday / 3:00-4:00
The Practice Room (Music) / Tues. & Thurs. / 3:00-5:00
Gator Girl Power-6th grade / Tuesday / 3:00-4:00
Performing Arts Club / Tuesday / 2:50-4:00
Cupcake Club / Mon. & Wed. / 2:50-4:00
General Tutoring / Mon.-Thurs. / 3:00-6:00
Open library / Mon.-Thurs. & Saturdays / 3:00-6:00
9:00- noon
**Zentangle Art Symposium / Thursday / 2:50-4:00
STUDENT ATTENDANCE:
We realize that illnesses and other events can interfere with a student’s attendance, and we will do everything possible to provide the academic services they need. Missing class time cannot be made up completely. A teacher can send work sheets or reading assignments home with the student however the best way for a student to learn is to receive instruction in a classroom setting. The administration will be meeting with students who have had five or more absences, to get their input on why they have missed class, and what we can do to help with their attendance. There may be a time when we ask your student to stay after school or attend Saturday School to make up lost time or assignments. We have teachers who will provide tutoring with missing assignments in the library afterschool and on Saturday mornings. Your help in working with us on attendance gives MGMS the opportunity to keep students up to date with the learning that is going on in their subjects. Thanks for your cooperation.
THE MESA DANCE IS COMING SOON!
Friday, December 7, 2012 is the celebrated MESA Dance. This is a formal dance (best dress) that will take place from 6:00-8:00 pm. The cost of admission is $4.00 if paid in advance. If students pay at the door the cost will be $5.00. There will be a chance for pictures, snacks, beverages, and of course an opportunity to show off your fancy formal side and school appropriate dance moves. All of the dance proceeds will benefit the MGMS MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) club. As always the MESA dance is for Mt. Garfield students only. Clothing needs to align with the school dress code. We look forward to seeing you there!
ALTRUSA FOOD DRIVE:
Altrusa International, Inc. of Palisade is again orchestrating the Community Christmas Project for Palisade. The project is in conjunction with the Salvation Army. They collect and distribute food items (for a holiday meal) and pantry items for each family, in addition to soliciting funds and purchasing gift items for all of the children. Last year they helped over 75 families in Palisade.
Betsy Winfrey, Janelle Hart, and Mt. Garfield Student Council have graciously agreed to help us with the food drive for Christmas 2012. Student Council will be holding the food drive November 26 to December 19, allowing time for sorting and transporting prior to distribution of food and gifts on December 20. Boxes will be at Mount Garfield by November 18 and Altrusa looks forward to working with the staff and students of Mount Garfield Middle School to once again "Make a Difference" in our wonderful community. Thank you so much for your help--It makes us feel good to help those in need in the true spirit of the holiday season.
Please call the school at 254-4720 or Sharron Steele at 464-5021 if you have any questions.
SCIENCE FIELD TRIP CORE 8-2:
Members of Mrs. Decavitch’s 8th Grade Science classes were able to participate in a wonderful educational experience last month. The Colorado Division of Wildlife invited her classes to integrate Science and Technology and to learn more about the Desert Big Horn Sheep and how they survive in Western Colorado. The Division of Wildlife was generous enough to pay for the buses and the equipment used in the observation and documentation. An electronic transmitter had been placed on the Big Horn Sheep by the Division of Wildlife at an earlier time. The transmitter sends off a signal to a Global Positioning System so that members of the Division of Wildlife can track the animals. The students were transported to the Colorado National Monument and were divided into teams. The students were given a GPS and they would enter the number from the sheep’s electronic collar. The students could then locate the sheep based on the transmission from the sheep’s collar. The students would then document where the sheep were located and the topography (types of soil, rock formations and vegetation) that the sheep were located in at different times of the day. The students were accompanied and assisted by members of the Division of Wildlife and the students learned how the sheep would move to different areas for shelter and food. The experience was beneficial for the students as they learned about the topography of the area and how the sheep adapted to the area’s topography to survive in Western Colorado. The Colorado National Monument also donated funds to help with other costs of the field trip.
YOGA MEDITATION CLASS:
Ms. Lara Formisano, in connection with MGMS’s 21st Century Grant, will be offering a course in Yoga and Meditation. The course will begin December 12th and will continue through February as long as students are attending and showing interest. The class will be held in Room 26 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. The class will include ways to stretch, strengthen the body, develop coordination, and introduce students to relaxation techniques. Ms. Formisano has been involved with this type of activity at a local health club. Ms. Formisano who is an avid bike rider and runner uses Yoga to keep her body fit and it gives her a way to relax and be able to focus better. “It has been wonderful learning how the mind and body are inter-related,” states Ms. Formisano. This is a free class for all MGMS students. If you have any questions, feel free to email Ms. Formisano through the school website.
WINTER BREAK:
Winter break is right around the corner and many of you may be making plans. As you prepare for the break, the dates in which students will not be in school are December 24 - January 7. Staff returns to school on January 7 as a work day. School will begin as normal on Tuesday, January 8 at 7:20 a.m.
We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season.
LOST AND FOUND ITEMS:
A number of students may be missing clothing items such as coats, sweatshirts, etc. We have a Lost and Found located by the main doors in the cafeteria. Since the beginning of school, we have collected quite a number of such items. During morning announcements, we will be reminding students to check for lost articles. If you would please remind your student that they need to check for lost articles that would help immensely. Any clothing item that is not claimed will be donated to charity. We have donated clothing to Catholic Outreach and other organizations in the Grand Valley.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Dec. 6 – School Accountability Meeting, 7-8
Dec. 7 – MESA Dance only MGMS students will be allowed at the dance (sponsored by our students in MESA) 6:00-8:00 pm
Dec. 11 – Orchestra concert @ PHS, 7 pm
Dec. 12 – Band concert @ PHS, 7 pm
Dec. 19 – Choir concert @ PHS, 7 pm
Dec. 21 – End of 2nd quarter
Dec. 24 - Jan.7 – No School, Winter break
Jan. 7 – No School, teacher work day
Jan. 8 – School resumes
Jan. 21 – No School, Martin Luther King Day
Jan. 23 – Parent Teacher Conferences, 3-7
Jan. 24 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 3-7
Girl’s BB schedule is on the school website