As we embrace the weather challenges of the winter season, it has definitely been a fun-filled couple of weeks here at GMES. It has been filled with celebrations, laughter, and working hard. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in making GMES a place where learning thrives! Enjoy the Holidays.

Dear GMES Families,

As we prepare for winter break, I want to celebrate the amazingness of our school community! I value your feedback and feedback from your students. Recently, our Student Leadership Team , Mr. Clark, Ms. Newman, and I met to discuss our successes, challenges, and next steps as a school. The students had a very convincing argument about why they should be able to share food in the cafeteria, unless they have food allergies of course. So, we now have share containers in the cafeteria where students can place their whole fruit or prepackaged food, so other students that are still hungry can eat them. Job well done raising such kind humans!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

Sincerely,

Dan Aragon

Concert Video Link

One of the activities that I do with students at Ground Mound is to speak to each one of them individually. I call these conversations Mini Meetings. It takes me months to get around to all 500+ kids but I think it is really important. We don’t talk about anything in depth, it is just a way for me to get to know kids a little bit. I also like them to come to the counselors office to check it out so they aren’t afraid to come see me if they have a problem.

One of the things I ask fifth graders is what they want to do when they graduate from high school. The other day a very curious fifth grader said,

“Well Mrs. Fayette, I don’t know, what is there to do?” That got me thinking about how kids process information. It also got me thinking about how much things have changed since my kids were in fifth grade decades ago.

It is never too early to start talking about what kids want to do after they graduate from high school. We have the graduating classes of 33-35 at Grand Mound right now. Those years will fly by before you know it. 

Some of the options after high school could be joining the military or going to a vocational or trade school. Kids could go to a 4yr university or a community college after graduation. There is also the opportunity to receive college credit in high school or to go to college in the Running Start program. Many training programs have online options, hybrid programs or in person options. Financial help is available for lots of programs and the state has a GET program where you can purchase college credit now for use when your kids need it. Some kids may choose to work right out of high school and talking about employer expectations is also valuable to start talking about now.  My hope is that all of our kids have many options and they do what makes them happy whatever that may be. Share with your kids what you do, tell them about the skills you need or the education you received. We take it for granted that they know but you would be surprised what they may think. Start talking now about the future, it will be here before you know it.

Mrs. Fayette

mfayette@rochester.wednet.edu

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Important Reminders:

• The gate to student drop off will open at 8:30

• Parents that will be doing parent drop-off/pick-up that have children at both RPS and GMES will drop-off/pick-up their RPS student first, then continue onto the GMES pick up area.

• Please be patient in the drop-off/pick-up, sometimes it goes slow. Zippering in line and being kind makes things go so much quicker. 

Rochester School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, the use of a trained guide dog or service animal, or any other basis prohibited by law. We also provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Coordinator: Jennifer Bethman (360) 273-9242, jbethman@rochester.wednet.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Kelsey Lincoln (360) 273-5534, klincoln@rochester.wednet.edu; 504/ADA Coordinator: Laura Staley (360) 273-5536, lstaley@rochester.wednet.edu. Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator: Jennifer Bethman (360) 273-9242, jbethman@rochester.wednet.edu Address: 10140 Highway 12 SW, Rochester, WA 98579.