Inferno News: January 10, 2025

Inferno News: January 10, 2025

Here is our weekly update of events and information for Greystone Centennial Middle School. 

Report Cards

Parkland School Division changed their administrative procedure around report cards only requiring a year end report card. We are now fully a 'continuous reporting' site, meaning teachers update assignments and report throughout the year rather than just on a report card. Because of this, you should be aware of your child's academic standing in all their courses through PowerSchool. On January 31, we will release a brief report card with overall grades, a short general comment, and will only be adding comments for students if they are not finding success. Up to date marks and comments will always be available in PowerSchool, but we do need to shut down the parent portal for a few days to create the report cards. On January 22, PowerSchool will be inaccessible until January 31. We will send out a message when report cards are available. If you have any questions about your child's education, as always, contact your child's teacher.

Get Your Greystone Inferno Gear

FOGS has teamed up with Sportfactor to offer an online store with a variety of items to choose from including t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, toques, pants and backpacks. Here is the link https://greystone2025.itemorder.com/. It closes on Thursday January 30th with delivery to the school in early March.

Ski/Snowboard Club Starts Next Week

Ski and Snowboard Club starts Wednesday Jan 15th. Please remind club members to meet at the front of the school at the end of the day. They should dress warm and if they have their own equipment they need to make sure it is at the front of the school before we leave. Students should also have a plan for supper (bagged or money). Please be waiting for our return to the school at 9pm to pick up your child after the club. 

Swimming Lessons - 6N and 6M Next Week

Students in 6N and 6M have swimming lessons everyday next week. Please come prepared with your swimsuit and towel daily. The bus departs at 1pm and returns at 3pm. 

Pop Up Lunch next week

FOGS will be running another pop up lunch on Tuesday, January 14! They will be selling grilled cheese for $2.50, or a combo that includes a sandwich, chips, and pop for $5.00! Cash only!

Boston Pizza Fundraiser

FOGS has also started a campaign with Boston Pizza called Operation Education. All receipts from January 1st until the last day of school can be submitted to the office and the school will get a rebate of 5% from it. So all family and friends that eat at BPs can submit their receipt, it has to be the original receipt (no photocopies) and cannot include buying gift cards or alcohol.

Scholastic

Books with is the theme for Scholastic book orders Jan & Feb. 

Orders due Jan 17 or Feb 13 for free shipping to the school. 

check out the online flyers: Scholastic.ca or teens Scholastic.ca/ya 

class code RC239143

Technology

If your child got a new device and no longer needs a school one, pease hand in school chromebook if they are no longer needed as students are responsible for the device they are assigned. Please remind your child to charge and bring their device daily 

Counsellor’s Corner- Mrs. Scheidl

January 22th - Mental Health Day           

January 27th - Family Literacy Day

January 28th - CAREER FAIR (Gr 7-9) We are still looking for a few more presenters 

• 10 minutes of career sharing - please email janie.scheidl@psd.ca for more information

January is a month dedicated to new starts, goals, resolutions and organization for many of our students.  This month is a great time to focus on helping our kiddos with building executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, prioritizing and setting goals.  

1. Goal setting: Teach them the 3 step process for goal achievement:  set a SMART goal (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timely). Create an action plan of how to achieve this goal in certain time periods and finally check in and evaluate how the progress is going. Here is a link about goal setting.
2. Organization is one of the most important keys to success.  But where does a student start? Here are some tips:   
3. a) It often starts with the morning: having clothes set out for the week, keeping uniforms, sports gear and some snacks/extra water bottle separate in one spot for a quick grab before heading out the door.  
4. b) Forgotten lunch: Ask your child to keep some extra non perishable snacks in their locker at school for that one time lunch is forgotten or ruined.  (Granola bars, juice box, fruit cups and crackers will all work.  
5. c) Forgot supplies/notes at school - it helps if kiddos have a study buddy or friend to call to review some information.  Completing homework right after school can help because if your child has forgotten something -check to see if the school is still open as sports teams are practicing and staff are still around.  Check out this link about organization tips for middle schoolers.

If your child is struggling with their mental health, overwhelmed by expectations or is having a challenging time personally, communicating with their teachers may be helpful in keeping them safe, balanced and feeling supported.  Please reach out to school personnel anytime for extra support or just to inform them your kiddo is going through a rough patch.  We would love to help.

 Educational Links:

• Practice Exams: Check out http://www.exambank.com  
• Exam stress: Check out https://myhealth.alberta.ca/HealthTopics/youth-addiction-mental-health/Documents/stressed-about-exams.pdfYou’ll find practical and helpful tips to get you through the rigors of high school exams. Additional information is available on Student News.
• Tutoring:  http://sylvanlearning.com, Kumon, TutorMasters
• Grade 6 and 9 practice exams https://questaplus.alberta.ca 
• Test taking:  http://www.sophia.org/tutorials/learning-strategies-a-test-taking-survival-guide - Please access this site if you feel your child would benefit from a test taking survival guide presentation

Personal and Mental Health Support:

• Alberta Health Services: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/ - Access information regarding substance use, self-harm, or other mental health concerns through this site. Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), now part of Alberta Health Services, provides excellent information about resources, prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse.
• SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder- check with your doctor for more information 
• Quit Smoking:  AlbertaQuits.ca -: AlbertaQuits Services include helpline, online and group counselling services designed to support all Albertans who have a desire to quit smoking.
• Canadian Mental Health Association: http://www.cmha.ca/ - offers this site to raise awareness of mental health problems that can affect teen lives and to provide practical tools and suggestions to support high school students.
• FCSS - www.sprucegrovefcss.ca - Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is a family centred resource that provides support, counselling and liaison services to individuals and families whose children may be experiencing difficulties either at home or at school.
• Family Violence - Parkland Turning Points Society provides education, support and advocacy in the prevention of all forms of violence in relationships.
• Mental Health :Alberta Health Services

New Library Clubs Starting in January

Mondays - LC 6 & 8 knitting, crocheting needlework (Mrs. Marshall is looking for help with teaching these skills) 

Tuesdays - LC 789 Dungeons and Dragons continuing

Wednesdays - LC 579 Greystone news

Thursdays - LC 6 & 8 Chess club

Fridays - LC 579 Chess club

Local Attendance Stat - Repeat

We had Spruce Grove Composite in to do a short presentation with our grade 9 students about the transition of high school. As in previous messages, I have shared the importance of attendance. Over the last few years, Spruce Grove Composite High School has tracked their own attendance date and tracked 3-year completion rates of high school (the expected rate for graduating within 3 years of starting high school). The correlation is extremely strong and shows how important it is to maintain an attendance rate above 90%.

Share a Thought Survey- repeat

We want your feedback!

Use our Share a Thought Survey to let us know what is on your mind.  We work hard as a staff to consider your feedback when making decisions regarding many aspects of the school.  

Hot Lunch Update - repeat

Below you will find the schedule for hot lunch this year.  This schedule can also be found on the GCMS website.  If you do not yet have a hot lunch account please see this document for instructions on how to get set up. 

Important Dates

January 31 - PD Day - No School

January 31 - Report Cards released

February 6-7 - Teachers Convention - No School

February 14 - PD Day - No School

February 17 - Family Day - No School