G-AMS Newsletter. Safety and Security. Middle School Counseling Programs. Upcoming Calendar Dates. January 2013:

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1 G A L E S B U R G - A U G U S T A C O M M U N I T Y S C H O O L S S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : Calendar Dates MS Sports Begin Wednesday Jan. 9th G-AMS Newsletter V O L U M E 1, I S S U E 4 Safety and Security G-AMS Sporting Schedules Enclosed. 5th Grade Auction During Winter Conferences (Follow the district website) Recent events in Connecticut have forced all communities to look at things a bit differently and prompted all to review safety protocols and procedures. Prior to break the G- AMS staff took time to discuss the safety of our students. We were also were ready to respond to students with concern the following day. A few questions/concerns were raised by the students, but over all it was fairly quiet. Those students who did have concerns were assured of their safety. The safety of our children is a top priority for all Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools. This has always been the case and includes not only physical safety but also emotional safety. Physically, we will continue to implement measures to protect the children. Emotionally, we will continue to reinforce the respectful and supportive behavior. I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Middle School Counseling Programs MS Wrestling Schedule MS Girls Basketball MS Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures 5th Grade Camp Auction All middle school students will be participating in the YWCA s health education and prevention programs to guide them in their development of skills to make wise and healthy decisions. 5th-6th graders will participate in the You Are Special Program and grades 7th-8th will participate in the Healthy Relationships/Sexual Assault Awareness Program. ( ) (Continued on Page 6) Upcoming Calendar Dates January 2013: Half day of school on January 14th PASS 3:45 on January 21st Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative Program for G-AMS 6:00 on January 17th in the G-AMS Auditorium No School on January 25th

2 P A G E 2 MS ATHLETICS - Upcoming MS Games Galesburg-Augusta 7 th & 8 th Grade Wrestling Schedule 2013 Galesburg-Augusta 7 th & 8 th Grade Boy`s Wrestling Schedule 2013 Date Location Match Time Bus Leaving 1/26 Athens Tournament 10:00am. 1/29 GA Constantine 4:30pm. 3:00 pm. 2/5 Parchment 4:30pm. 3:20 pm. 2/12 Lawton 5:00pm. 3:30 pm. 2/18 GA 4:30pm. 2/19 Olivet 4:30 pm. 3:00 pm. 2/23 Gull Lake Invitational 9:00 am. 2/26 GA 4:30 pm. 3/7 KVA TBD 7 th / 8 th Grade Coach Alex Hill Athletic Director Brent Cole

3 P A G E 3 MS ATHLETICS - Upcoming MS Games Galesburg-Augusta 7 th & 8 th Grade Girl`s Basketball Schedule 2013 Date Location Game Time Bus Leaving 1/28 (M) Pennfield 4:15 3:00 pm. 1/30 (W) GA 4:15 2/4 (M) Maple Valley 4:15 2:45 pm. 2/6 (W) Schoolcraft 4:15 3:00 pm. 2/11 (M) GA 4:15 2/13 (W) GA 4:15 2/18 (M) Olivet 4:15 3:00 pm. 2/19 (Tue) Climax 5:00 4:15pm. 2/25 (M) Maple Valley@ GA 4:15 2/27 (W) GA 4:15 3/4 (M) GA 4:15 3/5 (Tue) Comstock 4:15 3:30pm. 8 th Grade Coach Jeff Merasco 7 th Grade Coach Bob Verdusco Athletic Director Brent Cole

4 P A G E 4 MS Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures A quick update for all regarding the student drop point in the morning near the gym. It has been brought to my attention that students have found that door locked on occasion first thing in the morning. We have had new staffing and tightened up our security measures this past month,..sorry for any inconvenience. To accommodate that situation, I have reviewed our door policies with staff and will do so with the students this next week. If a student finds the door locked there is an exterior buzzer to notify staff and Mrs. Colvin is right there to help. The use of that buzzer should be a rare occurrence from now on, but could happen. We have also freed up more space out back in the morning and afternoon. All buses, including the special education bus will be picking up and dropping off students in the front of the middle school. To safely accommodate families who wish to transport their own children, all drop-offs or pick-ups are in the rear parking lot at the MS. We need everyone to follow these rules and guidelines to properly ensure safety for students. Students who are dropped off up front impede bus traffic, walk across on coming traffic, impede staff parking and are overall being placed in harms way. In short from 7:45 to 8:15 and 3:11 to 3:30 personal vehicles are to drop/pick up students in the rear of the building only. The front parking lot is a loading/unloading zone for buses only.

5 P A G E 5 Fifth Grade Auction to be Held During Winter Conferences at the Middle School There is to be a Fifth grade auction during winter conferences. All proceeds will go towards sending students to Sherman Lake YMCA camp in April. Some of the items up for bid are: -American Girl Doll, -pottery, -art work, -camp chairs, -North Face jacket, -OPI gift basket, -Detroit Tigers Fathead poster, -gift certificates to area businesses, -1 month membership to Sherman Lake YMCA, -teacher specific auctions: - Mr. Kaemming will wear a costume of the highest bidders choice for a whole school day -much more Look for more details coming on the district website and on the 5th grade Facebook page.

6 Middle School Counseling Programs Cont. The Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative (Michigan CSI) is an Internet safety education program with customized presentations for kindergarten through eighth-grade students as well as providing a community seminar for parents. Students in grades 5-8 grades will be participating in a program appropriate for their grade level. All parents, grades K-12 are invited to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, January 17 th from 6:00pm-7:00pm in the middle school auditorium. All handouts and additional information can are available on the Michigan CSI website: 8 th grade students will be participating the Prevention Work s JumpStart Program will help provide your child with the necessary skills to address key issues and make choice that will positively impact their lives. The JumpStart curriculum addresses high-risk behaviors that are critical to the social-emotional development of young people. ( ) We are continuing with our Positive Behavior Rewards Program. All students are eligible to win a $5 gift card from Meijers on a weekly basis as long as they have not received a discipline referral. Each week is a fresh start for each student. Meijers has very generously donated these gift cards in support of our efforts to guide our students in developing healthy and respectful relationships. The process to apply for an invitation to attend the Kalamazoo Math and Science Center (KAMSC) has begun for all 8 th grade students in Kalamazoo County. Mrs. Sexton will guide them through this process. Letters of invitation will be mailed out the beginning of April 9 th.