Happy New Year to our Parents and Guardians!

Enjoy the Builder’s Club Holiday Card the students of the club created…

 

 

 

As you are aware, our district will continue full virtual instruction when we return to school on Monday, January 4, 2020, through Friday, January 15, 2021 (school is closed for Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 18, 2021).  We will continue to follow the district-wide 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Virtual Learning Schedule listed below. Information will soon follow regarding what school will look like on January 19th and beyond.

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

LinkIt! Benchmark B Testing Information:

In the Fall, Winter, and Spring, our students typically take Language Arts and math benchmarks. Given the current virtual schedule, as stated above, students will participate in the Language Arts and math benchmarks on January 6th (ELA) and Jan. 13 (Math).   Additional information and directions for accessing the benchmarks will be provided to your child via Schoology.

Please note: If your child has OT, PT, or Speech/Language therapy on these days, your child will not be receiving his or her service on January 6th or 13th.

The results from the benchmark assessment are for instructional purposes only and will provide important information to your child’s teacher about strengths and weaknesses for upcoming lessons. Please note, this assessment is only one of the multiple measures we use to make instructional decisions.

We appreciate your assistance in helping to create a secure and comfortable testing environment by:

  • Providing a quiet, comfortable space with limited interruptions where your child can work independently for about 60 minutes (typical testing time is between 45-55 minutes). Once your child starts the benchmark, it will remain available for 90 minutes. This allows for additional time and breaks as needed, although the session cannot be paused once started.
  • Reminding your child that he/she is not permitted to search the internet or use other offline resources to help answer questions. Additionally, refrain from coaching and providing assistance of any kind.
  • Preventing access to a calculator for math, except on the math assessments, or as indicated in a student’s IEP/504.
  • Charging the school Chromebook the evening prior to the benchmark and having the cord readily available.

Logistical information related to your child’s taking the LinkIt Benchmark Assessment:

  • Students will start their day at 9 am to take the benchmark assessment. The rest of the day’s regularly scheduled activities have been suspended for January 6 and 13th so students can focus on showing their best effort during the benchmark assessments.
  • Instructions and links will be posted on the language arts class pages in Schoology for 1/6 and the Math class Schoology pages for 1/13. Remember, this is simply one measure from which student growth can be celebrated, so students should simply give their best effort without worrying about achieving a specific score. The goal is for students to simply show what they know so we can help guide our instruction.

 

 

Virtual Choir and Orchestra Concerts: Our music directors had to be exceptionally creative this year to produce their winter concerts. While the band is working on a true “winter” concert that will be seen in  January 2021, the orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. Berls and Ms. Krott, and the choir, under the direction of Ms. Petrucci, are below and were produced using different online platforms to “orchestrate” their performances. We hope that you enjoy these modified concerts and can appreciate how hard the students worked under extraordinary conditions to do their very best. Click on the link below to hear the choir. There are three songs played by the orchestra below the choir link. 

GMMS CHOIR CONCERT

 

GMMS ORCHESTRA CONCERT

 

 

Wreaths Across America: Two Vernon Township Boy Scout Troops participated in Vernon’s 7th annual Wreaths Across America wreath-laying ceremony at the Glenwood Cemetery on December 20, 2020. Glen Meadow students Thomas Kimball, Adam Miraglia, Matthew McCann, and Sawyer Lukasik from Troop 283 and Phillip Pritchard from Troop 912 participated in this year’s program. These boys volunteered their time on a very cold, 10 degree day, to be a part of this annual national memorial ceremony for our veterans with the lesson being “Remember, Honor, Teach”. Each Boy Scout represented a different branch of the military. Thomas stood in for a veteran that was not able to attend, he helped represent the Air Force ceremonial wreath, Adam escorted an Army veteran, Sawyer escorted a veteran for the Merchant Marine wreath, Matthew escorted a Navy veteran, and Phillip escorted a veteran Marine.  The Glen Meadow boys helped set out 200 wreaths on every interred veteran’s grave at the end of the ceremony. We are very proud of Thomas, Adam, Matthew, Sawyer, and Phillip for their special service to our community. To learn more about Wreaths Across America, click this link that will take you to the national Wreaths Across America site.

 

Book Talks in 6th Grade Language Arts: Mrs. Grimaldi, along with her co-teachers Mrs. Brady and Mrs. Ramirez are having their students read a book of their choice and then giving a book talk to their classmates. Students have been given different choices of how they will give their book talk. Below is James S.’s book talk on the book Jurassic Park.

 

Crystal Springs Offers School Discount on their Ice Skating Program: The Crystal Springs Ice Rink is excited to offer fun and affordable skating lessons this season as part of an Olympic-based skating program. Crystal Springs has coaches available to beginning skaters of all ages! The Crystal Springs “Learn to Skate” program is taking all precautionary measures for the Coronavirus to make it a fun and safe environment during the winter season.

If you are interested in having your child participate in this program, use the code “SKATINGLESSONS” to receive a discounted price on their skating program. This can be used when skaters purchase a 5-pack. Stakers will get a second 5-pack for half price. 

There are group lessons offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 am, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 am and 10:30 am.

Here is the informational flyer with specific details of times and pricing.

Here is the Crystal Springs link to read more about this skating program.

 

 

A few reminders:

If your 7th or 8th-grade child received a score of “Exceeding” on the 18-19 NJ state testing (there was no testing in 19-20), you will be receiving a letter from Ms. Regan, School Counselor, to explain Johns Hopkins program. There will be an informational webinar on this program coming in January, date TBD. Students who participate in the Johns Hopkins program are also eligible to take the SATs on March 13, 2021. Glen Meadow is an SAT testing site.

 

The Vernon Board of Education will hold its Reorganization Meeting and Work Session on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 7:00 pm, at Walnut Ridge School (snow date January 7th).

 

School will be closed on Monday, January 18, 2021

 

Glen Meadow will hold its Blood Drive at St. Francis de Sales Church on Route 517 on Thursday, January 21, 2021, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

 

Marking Period 2 ends on Thursday, January 28, 2021, grades will open for viewing in early February

 

Sincerely,

Rosemary Gebhardt                 Eric Kosek, Ed. D

Principal                                      Assistant Principal