September 30, 2020
GMS Parents, Guardians, & Students:
This week our students have started the second cycle of their UA classes, our staff have been creating presentations to share with families in lieu of the traditional Open House and our GMS Administrators have been working on ensuring a smooth transition from remote to hybrid learning.
As you are aware by now, GMS will transition to a hybrid model of learning on Monday, October 26th. Students in Cohort A will attend in person learning on Mondays and Tuesdays, and will be learning remotely from home on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Those in Cohort B will learn remotely from home on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will be in person learning on Thursdays and Fridays.
In order to effectively plan for this transition we are asking that all families fill out the Return to School survey. Thank you to those of you who have already completed this task. We have received your responses.
The survey can be found here
Please use the link here to view some fantastic presentations from the GMS staff.
Attendance: Teachers are taking attendance in each class, every day. It is now a state requirement for all schools that are using a remote learning model to code students as “Remote Present” or “Remote Absent.”
After the first academic block, a One Call will be sent out for any students who did not log in for that class.
If your child is sick, and is unable to participate in remote learning on a particular day, you should call into the GMS Main Office at (978)632-1603 and leave a message alerting us to the fact that your child is sick for the day.
If your child has an appointment during the school day and will be absent from class, please call the Main Office to let us know this so we can document the absence appropriately.
Quarter 1 Progress reports will be available in Plusportals on Friday, October 16, 2020. Parents will receive an email with directions for accessing these reports.
Grading- This year we are moving to a Standards-based grading system which will be consistent across all grade levels and classes. This system will give parents and students a clear picture of where a student is in relation to grade level standards in each academic area. The score chart below shows the grades students will be receiving on formative and summative assessment.
Formative assessments are those that are frequent and ongoing and are completed en route to mastery. These assessments should be considered as “checkpoints” on students’ progress and the foundation for feedback that is given. While feedback is given on these assessments and entered as grades, these grades are not given any weight in the final grade.
Summative assessments are completed after the learning experiences and usually require students to demonstrate mastery of all the essential understandings, though they can be explored over several different tasks. Summative assessments account for 100% of the final grade.
The system that will be used to grade these assessments is described below.
SCORE | SCORE DESCRIPTION |
4.0 | The student shows an in-depth understanding of the material by independently and consistently demonstrating extensions of their knowledge of the standards. |
3.5 | In addition to a 3.0 score, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications within the standards with partial success. |
3.0 | This level represents students who are independently able to meet the standards assessed. |
2.5 | In addition to a 2.0 score, the student can correctly identify some concepts and/or vocabulary, and/or use some skills of the standards independently. |
2.0 | Students at this level understand foundational material, but cannot make connections among ideas or demonstrate their learning without support. |
1.5 | The student demonstrates understanding of all 2.0 elements with help and has an independent understanding of some 2.0 elements. |
1.0 | The student is able to demonstrate an understanding of all of the foundational material with support. |
0.5 | The student demonstrates understanding of some 1.0 elements with support. |
0.0 | Even with assistance from the teacher, the student shows no understanding of the material. |
MW | Missing Work |
Progress Reports and Report cards will be using the categories listed below to communicate a student’s performance in relation to the grade level standards.
Level | Description |
Exceeding Expectations | This level represents students who can independently and consistently demonstrate extensions of their knowledge of the standards. Students can create analogies and/or find connections, integrating areas of study.
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Meeting Expectations | This level represents students who are independently able to meet the course’s core standards. Students who are performing at this level understand and use concepts and/or vocabulary and/or skills independently. These students understand not just the “what,” but can correctly explain and/or demonstrate the “how” and “why.”
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Partially Meeting Expectations | The difference between a “Not meeting expectations” and a “Partially meeting expectations” student is the ability to demonstrate some understanding. At this level, a student can correctly identify some concepts and/or vocabulary, and/or use some skills of the standards. Students at this level cannot make connections among ideas or demonstrate their learning without support.
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Not Meeting Expectations | Students are beginning to identify concepts, develop vocabulary, and/or use skills. They are unable to make connections among ideas or extend the information within the standards. While instructors may expect all students to perform at this level at the beginning of instruction, subsequent practice should lead to increased levels of performance.
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Food services
Curbside To Go Breakfast & Lunch Meals for All Virtual Learners (M-F):
Rear of GHS 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Front of Waterford 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
The Wildcat Wagon Neighborhood Delivery for All Virtual Learners (M-F):
10:30 a.m. Manca Dr. Cul-de-sac
10:50 a.m. Corner of W. Broadway & Prospect st.
11:10 a.m. Corner of Cross St. & Pine st.
11:30 a.m. Monument Park
The Wildcat Wagon School Delivery for On Campus Learners (M,T,Th,F):
Morning Session Students will receive meals delivered to their classrooms, with Breakfast to eat on-site and a Lunch to take home:
GHS 9:00 a.m.
GMS 9:30 a.m.
Elm 9:50 a.m.
Waterford 10:10 a.m.
Afternoon Session Students will receive meals delivered to their classrooms, with Lunch to eat on-site and a Breakfast to take home:
GHS 12:15 p.m.
GMS 12:55 p.m.
Elm 1:15 p.m.
Waterford 1:35 p.m.
Curbside to Go Dinner for All Gardner Students (Virtual & On Campus) (M-F):
Rear of GHS 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Farmers to Families Produce Boxes (M-F):
GMS 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Some Side Notes....
Breakfast & Lunch is Free for All students until, at least, Jan. 1, 2021 (Due to a waiver from USDA announced on Mon. 8/31). However, families should still continue to complete and submit their annual Free & Reduced Lunch Benefit Form (to Jenn Vickrey).
All Menus for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, can be found at: https://www.fdmealplanner.com/#Gardner
Keep Smiling and Go Wildcats!
Arthur Murphy, Principal
Gardner Middle Scho