Dear Glen Meadow Parents and Guardians:

As you are aware, our district will begin full virtual instruction starting on Monday, November 30, 2020, and will continue through Monday, January 18, 2021.  We will follow the district-wide 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Virtual Learning Schedule that is listed below. 

 

GMMS Virtual Learning Schedule:

9:00 am- 2:00 pm

 

Student Log In 9:00
Period 1 9:00 – 9:31
Period 2 9:33-10:04
Period 3 10:06-10:37
Period 4 10:39-11:10
Period 5 11:12-11:43
Period 6 11:45-12:16
Period 7 12:18-12:49
Period 8 12:51-1:22
Period 9 1:24-2:00

 

Please be cognizant of your child’s schedule as each of your child’s teachers will be posting their synchronous (live) lessons with the link to connect to the live instruction.  Below is a review of what synchronous instruction is and what is expected of your child.

On the days where lessons are synchronous, ALL students will be learning LIVE together with their teacher.  Therefore, all students are expected to be on their Chromebook and attending the live class at the designated times learning with their peers. When your child is attending synchronous (live) lessons, you can expect the teacher to be (but not limited to):

 

  • Teaching a 10 to 15-minute mini-lesson
  • Reviewing a concept, 
  • Conducting a class conversation on a topic, 
  • Having a student explain an answer, etc.
  • Providing a demonstration (science experiment, for example)
  • Allowing time for the student to work on a skill and then calling the students back into the class to assist one-on-one or by whole group
  • There will be no official “office hours” during our district-wide virtual weeks, as students are attending school virtually five days a week and have access to their teacher every day. 

 

For our students, here are some requests and reminders from your teachers:

  • Student attendance is mandatory for all synchronous lessons at the designated times for each period as listed on the Virtual Schedule,
  • Check Schoology for correspondence and daily expectations,
  • Come to class on time while participating in a live Zoom or Schoology Conference and remain in one location; clock times vary, please login a few minutes prior to the class starting time,
  • Please dress as you would for school,
  • Participate from a quiet place in your home,
  • Please keep your camera on unless instructed otherwise by your teacher,
  • Be respectful,
  • Anything visible in the background of your video must be school appropriate. 

 

For our parents and guardians, here are some requests from Glen Meadow, please:

  • Set clear expectations and routines for your child’s remote learning days.
  • Partner with your child’s teacher and reach out should any challenges arise.
  • Refrain from joining your child’s live classes or be visible on your child’s screens during classes.
  • Encourage your child to communicate with teachers when your child has questions or concerns

 

Congratulations to Glen Meadow Middle School’s 

2020-2021 NJ Governor’s Educator of the Year

and 

Educational Services Professional of the Year

 

Governor’s Educator of the Year: Ms. Nancy Grimaldi

As a colleague, Ms. Grimaldi is always upbeat and ready to engage with her whole heart.  Ms. Grimaldi is an avid listener who exudes positivity, patience, and kindness to all.  Always willing to lend a helping hand to others in need. Ms. Grimaldi is a compassionate and dedicated person who puts her students first. Ms. Grimaldi is an exemplary educator that provides lessons that are innovative as she engages students in exciting and challenging learning opportunities that are relevant and enriching to our curriculum.  

 

Governor’s Educational Services Professional: Mrs. Kate Panfile

Ms. Panfile, our building’s Child Study Team Learning Disability Teacher-Consultant, works along with fellow counselors and teachers making sure all students’ needs are met. Ms. Panfile only began this role last school year. True to form, Ms. Panfile goes above and beyond getting to know her caseload and continues her passion from her prior years of being a special education teacher for meetings the needs of all students. Ms. Panfile is in constant communication with teachers and Ms. Reagan, her grade level counselor, always was willing to provide teachers with strategies for students with special needs. Ms. Panfile is the true definition of a team player.  

 

Congratulations to 6th Grade Matthew Celentano!

Matthew Celentano won this year’s VFW Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest writing on the theme, “What Patriotism Means to Me”. His proud teachers are Ms. Krauss and Ms. Sisco. In Matt’s essay in writes about how proud he is of his grandfather who helped with the creation of The Northern NJ Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Sparta, NJ. Matthew will be reading his essay at the December 17, 2020, BoE Public Meeting that is held at Walnut Ridge School. Congratulations, Matthew, we are all very proud of you, your patriotism shines through in your writing. 

 

Choice Board in 8th Grade Science:

 

You may have noticed that teachers are giving students choice when completing assignments. This allows students to demonstrate their knowledge in a variety of ways using different online tools. Below is an example of a science choice board that Mrs. Amato and Mrs. Unick created on the unit of changes of matter- solids-liquids-gases. Click on the link…

Phase Changes Project Choice Board

 

 

Physical Education and Health Information:

 

Our physical education teachers are getting creative in teaching their subject. Students are participating in an assignment based on the “Shoe Challenge” video! This activity is a very fun way to get away from the usual workouts and allow students to try something new. Below is a video of Mr. Healy explaining the challenge that consists of three levels

  • Level 1: Balancing your shoe on your foot for 10 seconds
  • Level 2: Completing a half-turn with your body while keeping your shoe balanced on your foot
  • Level 3: Completing a full-turn with your body while keeping your shoe balanced on your foot (BY FAR the most difficult level!)

 

For health class (held only for one marking period), some topics that each grade level will learn about include…

 

6th Grade: 

  • Health Triangle (Physical, Mental/Emotional, and Social Health)
  • Nutrition
  • Character Traits
  • Alcohol and Tobacco
  • Digital Wellness and Safety (Description from Everfi: Students can learn modern digital health concepts such as digital emotional intelligence, digital dependency, online privacy, and evaluating content for accuracy & perspective.)

7th Grade: 

  • Social and Mental/Emotional Health
  • Personal Growth and Development
  • Healthy relationships, character education, and social-emotional learning (Character Playbook course on Everfi)
  • Diseases and conditions
  • Drugs and medicines

 

8th Grade:

  • Decision making and Goal Setting
  • Medicines
  • Dependency, Addiction and Treatment
  • Sexuality
  • Pregnancy and Parenting
  • Honor Code (Anti-Bullying) through Everfi

All grade levels will be utilizing Everfi, which is an excellent online learning resource tool with up to date information relating to a variety of topics in Health class.

 

8th Grade Social Studies:

Part of the 8th grade curriculum looks at Athens and students must support or defend the question, “Was Athens really a democracy?”. Here is a link to Jake’s and Amanda’s writing with their supporting thoughts on this concept. Below are some travel brochures made by students in the class. 

Practicing for the Orchestra Winter Concert:

 

Below you will see Hana O. playing part of this year’s winter concert song. Each week, the students practice a small section and record themselves playing it, and share it with Mrs. Berls. You will also see the class in their Zoom meeting playing together. Mrs. Berls plays a recording of the song the students are working on and the students play along with Mrs. Berls. Mrs. Berls has been very creative in helping students learn their music. As a reminder, here are the dates for our Virtual Winter Concert this year; more information on how these will be streamed will be forthcoming.

 

 

Virtual Band Concert: December 8, 2020

Virtual Chorus and Orchestra: December 15, 2020

 

Outdoor Classroom:

When driving by Glen Meadow, you may have noticed some work being done in our front yard…Through a grant that art teacher, Mrs. Lisa Hirkaler, received from The NJEA Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education, Glen Meadow Middle School is creating an outdoor classroom and sensory garden. This is a multi-class project involving Mrs. Hirkaler’s art students, Mrs. Stigler’s and Mr. DeYoung’s technology classes, Mrs. Bailey’s class, and the ICR classes of Mr. Galante. In addition, VTHS Junior, James Dorsey, from Boy Scout Troop 912, will be completing his Eagle Scout project in our outdoor classroom creating a walkway. 

 

 

Complimentary Breakfast and Lunch is still available: If you would like to continue having your child(ren) receive a complimentary break and lunch, you will need to complete this form from Sodexo. This program is available for all students regardless of income. Take advantage of this program!

 

In closing, as we settle into the winter months, we would like to remind you to update your personal information in our Genesis database. It is important for you to be informed of all school matters. As was stated in the November Public Board of Education meeting, if we have inclement weather, many of these days, school will still be held online and designated as a day of school. If we have a storm that disrupts power and internet connection to the homes in Vernon, these days will be designated as an actual snow day. Three snow days have been added to our calendar. If all three snow days are used, our last day of school will be on Friday, June 18, 2021.  

 

As always, let’s keep working together to make sure your child…our students… stay focused, achieve their very best, and stay on the path of excellence!

It is an honor to work with your children…

Rosemary Gebhardt                  Eric Kosek, Ed. D.

Principal                                       Assistant Principal