Hello Warrior Families, We sure had a great time connecting with our families this week. It was a great opportunity for our teachers and families to share the work our students have been doing this first month of school, as well as the direction they are headed. The teamwork between the school and families is imperative to the success of our students at GMES.

Dear GMES Families,

Everyone is working hard at GMES! Students are learning grade level standards and staff are supporting students so that students master grade level standards by the end of the school year! It feels amazing to be a part of such hard working people!

Please remember to drop students off by the gym. We have supervision to keep students safe everywhere, but the front of the school. 

Sincerely,

Dan Aragon

On Friday, October 31st, GMES will be participating in the all school dress up day called “Have It Your Way'' Day. As part of the fun, students will be parading through the gym showing what they have chosen to wear that day. This year, the parade will begin at 1:35. If you’d like to watch the parade, you need to check in at the office before heading down to the gym to watch the parade. 

If you plan to take your child home after the parade, please remember to get an Event Pick Up pass when you check in.

Students may dress up in a costume, a team jersey, fancy clothes, or whatever they choose when they come to school in the morning. Costumes that are inappropriate for school such as skimpy, violent, blood and guts, weapons or violent items, will not be allowed. Masks should not be worn. Appropriate costume expectations will be enforced by calling a parent for a change of clothes. 

On behalf of the staff and student body, we thank you for your help and cooperation in making this a fun day for our students.

This week in the Counselor’s Corner I have chosen the topic of Bullying Prevention. In the State of Washington school districts are mandated to provide education in Bullying Prevention. Here at GMES, I am responsible for the formal lessons taught to our students. Of course ,all staff are trained to look for signs of bullying behavior and how to support kids who are being targeted by bullying behavior. We make it a priority to ensure that our kids feel safe both physically and emotionally here at school. We appreciate all the support we receive from families to help us.

We use a curriculum called Second Step that provides a research based series of lessons to teach our students what bullying is and what needs to be done about it.

Our definition of bullying is:

Bullying  is when someone keeps being mean to someone else on purpose. The person it is happening to hasn’t been able to make it stop. It is unfair and one sided.

Throughout the lessons students learn how to:

Recognize bullying, how to know the difference between an accident, a conflict and bullying. 

Refuse bullying, how to assertively tell  someone to stop a behavior. ( Stand straight, look them in the eye, strong ,respectful tone of voice)

Report bullying, how to ask for help from an adult.

Research has shown that not only does bullying have a long term impact on the targets of the behavior but also on the people who do the bullying. At GMES we also work with the kids who are displaying bullying behavior to teach them different ways to manage themselves. 

You can help us by encouraging your child to come to an adult if they are experiencing any type of bullying or seeing it happen. We work very hard to make sure that all the kids at GMES feel they belong here and are treasured members of our community.

Thanks,

Michelle Fayette

mfayette@rochester.wednet.edu

360-858-1825

Big Smiles Mobile Dentistry will be at GMES on December 1st. Use the link below to sign up if your child needs dental care. Consent forms will be coming home with your students soon

https://www.myschooldentist.com/Default.aspx

Picture retake day is Wednesday, October 22nd. The link to order photos is below. Picture Order Link GMES

Don't forget to send Christina Bailey a photo of your veteran to be honored in our 3rd grade Veterans Day Performance! Photo, Branch, and relation to GMES student sent to Christina Bailey via Rooms or email cbailey@rochester.wednet

Upcoming Dates:

• October 22nd Picture Make Up Day

• November 6- 3rd grade Performance Veteran's Day Concert

• November 7-No School-Teacher work day

• November 11- No School- Veterans Day

• November 26- Early Release @ 12:15

• November 27 & 28- No School Thanksgiving

• December 1- Big Smiles Dentistry

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.

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.eduAddress: 10140 Highway 12 SW, Rochester, WA 98579.