INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Notes from the Office …... 3

Health News……………….. 4

Counselors’ Corner……….. 5

IMPORTANT DATES

Jan 1 NO SCHOOL

Jan 6‐15 Keystone Testing

Jan 16 End of Term 2

Jan 17 NO SCHOOL Snow Make‐Up Day

Jan 20 NO SCHOOL

Gettysburg Area Middle School

GAMS Office Hours

7:00 a.m.— 3:30 p.m.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Happy New Year! From everyone here at GAMS we hope that you had a wonderful holiday with family and friends! Even though we look towards spring and warmer weather, there is still plenty of winter left! Middle school sports are in full swing, musical groups continue to practice and prepare for spring performances, the many clubs at GAMS meet regularly after school, and classrooms are alive with learning! Our winter social is scheduled for January 10th from 3:00-4:30 pm. January 16th is the end of the second marking period. Be sure to check Skyward regularly and communicate with your child's teachers about schoolwork and grades. Winter can be a tough time for students to stay motivated, so it is important that we all work together to support their academic success. As always, we appreciate your support. If you need anything, please reach out to a teacher, counselor, or principal. Be safe and enjoy the winter season. Mrs. Nancy Herb Principal, Gettysburg Area Middle School

You can send a group email to all board members at board@gasd-pa.org

January is School Board Recognition Month. Board members have responsibilities extending well beyond the regularly scheduled meetings, which are a minimum of twice a month. Each member is part of at least one committee, which also meets regularly. Board members are; Kenneth Hassinger, President; Alan Moyer, Vice President; Kathleen Pratt, Treasurer; Michael Dickerson; Timon Linn; Tim Seigman; Carrie Soliday; AmyBeth Hodges; and one vacancy. Please take time to thank these individuals. Through their tireless efforts, GASD continues to be a great place to learn.

SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH

GASD SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY Gettysburg Area School District will accept Letters of Interest, Statements of Financial Interest forms, and Resume/Curriculum Vitae from interested, eligible citizens within the Gettysburg Area School District to fill an existing vacancy on the Board of School Directors. The term of the position is through November, 2021. Please submit letters and forms to:

Administration Building Attention: Board Secretary

900 Biglerville Road Gettysburg, PA 17325

through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 3, 2020

You can find the Statement of Financial Interests form online at www.ethics.pa.gov, and on the District website at https://www.gettysburg.k12.pa.us, where you can also read the board vacancy applicant letter, and/or print the form for completion.

Contact Brad Hunt at 334-6254 ext. 1226 for additional information.

Congratulations to our students in band,

orchestra, and chorus who showcased their talents in the

holiday concerts.

Thank you for sharing the

We are at that time of year when inclement weather may occur. An automated call will be placed to your

child’s primary phone number on file in the event of a school closing or delay. This information may also be found by listening to radio WGET AM 1320 or WGTY FM 108, or watching television station WGAL.

On days that school is closed, ALL school activities are automatically canceled.

Closures are posted to the website. If school is closed due to weather, the make-up day(s) are added following the school calendar adopted by the GASD School Board. The first make-up day, if needed, is January 17th.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS/DELAYS

GASD Concussion Management Teams In order to deal with the rising number of diagnosed concussions and develop a better understanding of the symptoms and potential impact, the Pennsylvania Department of Education established a Return to School Concussion Protocol in 2013. This protocol utilizes school-based Concussion Management Teams (CMTs). In partnership with the BrainSTEPS program, CMTs are active in all GASD buildings. The team consists of the school nurse, to oversee the medical aspect, and a teacher/counselor to oversee the academic plan. Concussions may occur in or out of school. Once a school suspects that a student may have a concussion, or is notified by a parent or physician, the student is referred to the CMT. Returning to the full demands of school too soon following a concussion can significantly increase and potentially prolong symptoms. Therefore, the workload must be managed to allow for healing and recovery. The goal of the concussion protocol is to return the student to a normal physical and academic state by giving the brain adequate time to rest and heal. If you have any questions about the school concussion management teams or the concussion protocol, please contact me.

Jeanette Slimmer, School Nurse extension 35141

NOTES FROM THE NURSE

ATTENTION PARENTS OF 8TH GRADE STUDENTS 8th Grade Parent Night and Schedule Fest will be held February 19th at Gettysburg Area High School. This is an evening event for 8th grade students and parents where information will be presented about choosing high school classes for next year. Your child will receive scheduling materials for 9th grade at the Schedule Fest event. Representatives from the various departments will be there with displays and will answer questions about specific classes. Questions about 9th grade courses should be directed to the high school counseling center at ext. 6248. Prior to Schedule Fest, 8th grade students will attend a field trip to the high school (during school hours) on February 12th (Team 6) and February 13th (Team 7) to learn more about class options. More information about Schedule Fest and the field trip will be coming soon.

RESOURCES If your child is struggling with issues such as anger management, anxiety, or negative social interactions, consider buying a workbook that you and your child can explore together. There are a lot of great resources available for adolescents that are looking to improve their coping skills or strategies. Below are a few good titles to consider. As always, feel free to reach out to your child's counselor at any time to discuss additional resources or strategies for your child. ANGER "Hot Stuff to Help Kids Chill Out: The Anger Management Book" By Jerry Wilde, Ph.D ANXIETY "Mindfulness for Teen Worry: Quick Strategies to Let Go of Anxiety, Worry, & Stress" By Jeffrey Bernstein SOCIAL SKILLS "Social Rules for Kids: The Top 100 Social Rules Kids Need to Succeed" By Susan Diamond

COPING SKILLS "Coping Skills for Kids Workbook" By Janine Halloran

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 New Year’s Day

NO SCHOOL

2 3 4

5 6 JAN 6-15

KEYTONE TESTING

7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16

TERM 2 ENDS

17 NO SCHOOL /

SNOW MAKE-UP

18

19 20 MLK, Jr. Day

NO SCHOOL

21

TERM 3 STARTS

22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

January 2020

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 NO SCHOOL /

SNOW MAKE-UP

15

16 17 Presidents Day

NO SCHOOL

18 19 8th Grade

Parent Night and Schedule Fest

20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

February 2020