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September 9, 2020
GMS Parents & Students:
We are in the final stretch of preparing for the virtual return to school for our students and are looking forward to a great year. As a reminder, all Gardner Public Schools will be starting remote learning on September 15, 2020. Below please find some tips and suggestions to help students to prepare for the first day of school and virtual learning as well as reduce the anxiety some of you may be feeling about coming into a new school and starting off school in a non-traditional way.
How can I best prepare for the first day of school?
Log into your Plusportals account and review your schedule. **We are running on a 3 day schedule during remote learning- You will see one column for Monday/Wednesday classes, another column for Tuesday/Thursday classes and a third column for Friday classes. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS A TUESDAY!
Take a look at the order of your classes and the times when they are scheduled (Use the grade levels linked below to help you with this. As mentioned last week, the UA classes (Gym, Art, Music, Stem, Robotics and Health) will be changing every two weeks. **Due to constraints with our scheduling program, students may not have the two UA classes noted on their schedules for the first cycle, although they will have them in the first quarter.
Grade 5 Remote learning Schedule
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FepLF_WSHO95jc8sw_DiXb1mJ65Cgl8SnulKMjQmNw8/edit?usp=sharing
Grade 6 Remote learning Schedule
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RAKyP29pr7CKQhh2UOyby8l8kV0sGwnyedwal28I7gM/edit?usp=sharing
Grade 7 Remote learning Schedule
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MeRIMtJjBm-IdW7ls5PugGJSStD84IAXWR7SQe_S7BI/edit?usp=sharing
Check your school email account. Teachers have been reaching out to students this week to welcome them and invite them to join their Google classrooms
Set-up a quiet work space with your computer, some paper, pencils
On Tuesday, September 15th:
Wake up between 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Have breakfast and get prepared for the day
Between 8:15-8:25 a.m. start up your computer and access the Google classroom for your “C Block” class for grades 5 & 7, and the first Unified Arts class for grade 6 students.
**If you are difficulty getting into Google classroom:
First, check your school email for the Google classroom code
If you can’t find this email, try logging into Plusportals, click on the class you are scheduled to be in and scroll down to find the Google classroom code.
If neither of these hints help to resolve your issue, please call your School Counselor
Grade 5- Mrs. Tierney (978)632-1603, ext. 2504
Grade 6- Ms. Leone (978)632-1603, ext 2501
Grade 7- Ms. Strus (978)632-1603, ext. 2503
Other information:
Grade 5 Meet & Greet- Our 5th grade staff is having a Meet and greet at GMS on Wednesday, September 9th from 5-6 pm. Incoming 5th grade students are welcome to come to GMS, meet their teachers and pick up some materials to be used on the first day of school.
Grading- This year we are moving to a Standards-based grading system which will be consistent across all grade levels and classes. This system will give parents and students a clear picture of where a student is in relation to grade level standards in each academic area.
Enrollment & Health forms- These forms will be available online. Look for more information to be sent out in the next few days
Plusportals- If you did not receive this newsletter via an email from Plusportals, we do not have a valid email for you. Please call the Main Office at GMS to rectify this ASAP. (978)632-1603
Food services
Curbside To Go Breakfast & Lunch Meals for All Virtual Learners (M-F):
Rear of GHS 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Front of Waterford 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Wildcat Wagon Neighborhood Delivery for All Virtual Learners (M-F):
10:30 a.m. Manca Dr. Cul-de-sac
10:50 a.m. Corner of W. Broadway & Prospect st.
11:10 a.m. Corner of Cross St. & Pine st.
11:30 a.m. Monument Park
The Wildcat Wagon School Delivery for On Campus Learners (M,T,Th,F):
Morning Session Students will receive meals delivered to their classrooms, with Breakfast to eat on-site and a Lunch to take home:
GHS 9:00 a.m. (7 students)
GMS 9:30 a.m. (13 students)
Elm 9:50 a.m. (8 students)
Waterford 10:10 a.m. (27 students)
Afternoon Session Students will receive meals delivered to their classrooms, with Lunch to eat on-site and a Breakfast to take home:
GHS 12:15 p.m. (8 students)
GMS 12:55 p.m. (4 students)
Elm 1:15 p.m. (3 students)
Waterford 1:35 p.m. (32 students)
Curbside to Go Dinner for All Gardner Students (Virtual & On Campus) (M-F):
Rear of GHS 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Farmers to Families Produce Boxes (M-F):
GMS 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
May Begin on Thursday 9/10
Some Side Notes....
Breakfast & Lunch is Free for All students until, at least, Jan. 1, 2021 (Due to a waiver from USDA announced on Mon. 8/31). However, families should still continue to complete and submit their annual Free & Reduced Lunch Benefit Form (to Jenn Vickrey).
All Menus for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, can be found at: https://www.fdmealplanner.com/#Gardner
Keep Smiling and Go Wildcats!
Arthur Murphy, Principal
Gardner Middle School
297 Catherine St.
Gardner, MA 01440