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Caught being good this week … Wesley Kwong .. stop by the office to pick up your prize!
A Note from the SRVUSD Health Educators
Concerns about the flu this season may be heightened due to the influenza virus identified as H1N1. This strain of the influenza virus was first identified in people in April of this year. The flu, whether identified as H1N1 or not, is an illness we can take measures to prevent spreading. The H1N1 virus is spread the same way seasonal flu is spread. Viruses are spread mainly from person to person by coughing or sneezing by people who are sick. Sometimes people can be infected by touching something, such as a surface or object with flu virus on it, then touching their mouth or nose.
Your student may have another illness with symptoms such as a low-grade fever, complaints of sore throat, congestion or cough, or stomach symptoms. These may be viral in nature, but are still contagious. Sending your child to school when ill increases the risk of spreading the infection to other students and staff. If your child becomes ill at school, we will check his/her temperature. A child with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher orally will be sent home.
If your child has been out ill with a fever, please adhere to the following guidelines when deciding if your child is well enough to return to school:
- A fever is defined as an oral temperature of 100 degrees or an auxiliary (armpit) temperature of 99 degrees. A fever is lowest in the morning hours, begins to increase in the afternoon, and is at its highest in the evening. When a child begins to recover, the temperature could be normal in the morning, but may still be present in the afternoon.
- The presence of other symptoms warrants keeping your child home an additional day. These include: coughing, nasal congestion, low energy level, vomiting, diarrhea or stomachache.
Preventative measures we can take to minimize the transmission of germs are:
- Hand washing- Use soap and water and wash for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissues (or into the crook of your elbow) when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Avoid sharing drinks, water bottles, silverware, and pencils.
- If you are sick, stay home!
If you become sick, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone. This means you should be fever-free without the use of fever reducing medicines such as Tylenol or Advil/Motrin/ Ibuprofen for 24 hours before you return to school.
If you see your doctor for flu symptoms, an antiviral medication may be prescribed (TAMIFLU); however this must be taken within the first 24-48 of the onset of illness. Another preventative measure against the flu is getting a flu vaccine. Maintain good hygiene practices as noted above. Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
In our busy and sometimes stressful lives, remember the benefits of a good night’s sleep and healthy meals!
Keep washing your hands and stay well.
Information retrieved form http://www.cdc.gov./H1N1FLU
PE Sweat Clothes and Spirit Wear Orders: All pre-ordered PE Sweats and Spirit wear have been delivered, with the exception of the Long Sleeve T-Shirt, which is currently on back order. If interest is great enough to warrant another order, we could place an order following the Thanksgiving Break. Please either respond to this with your desires or sign up on the clipboard in the front office.
PE Clothes (shirts and shorts): Additional clothes are available for sale. If you would like to purchase additional shirts and/or shorts, they will be available. The prices are the same: $10 shirt $15 shorts, $25 for the set. Please have your student pay in the office. Clothing items are distributed by the PE department to your students.
Pig Races and Hamster Rumble Tuesday, October 27th – Advisory Class
The Competition is heating up. Who will win the Pig Race? Will it be Mr. Faidley’s, Ms Haws’, or Ms Murphy’s advisory class?? The Pig Race will be televised LIVE on our own Gryphon Network. Root for your favorite Hambone!.
Who will take home the money prize in the Hamster Rumble? 62 Students have qualified for this event. Be sure to bring your Hamster ready to Roll with Batteries included. Bring your hamster into the front office on Tuesday, October 27th to register him/her for the rumble. Date of the rumble to be announced soon! Listen for the announcement during lunch and in the morning announcements!
Afterschool Activities
GIA Volunteer Opportunity
Math Counts Club – Cancelled next Wednesday, October 28th
Due to the large number of students attending the instrumental music field trip we have cancelled this week’s math counts club meeting. We will resume on the following Wednesday, November 4th. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Bergen bbergen@srvusd.net
8th Grade News
Health Challenge Exam
What is the Health Challenge Test? The Health Challenge Exam is a test which is available to 8th grade students only. The exam consists of 106 questions. The exam questions come directly from the New Glencoe Health textbook. Those students who pass the Exam will automatically have their passing grade entered on their official high school transcript. The students can then choose another elective in lieu of “Health”, a mandatory class for freshmen. This exam is offered only once. The 8th grade students, who are interested in taking the Health Challenge Exam, can pick up the Petition in the Counseling office from Mrs. Cliff - October 15th through Dec 4th. Exam will be Wednesday, December 9, 3:00 PM., at Dougherty Valley High School.
8th Grade Yearbook Ads - Deadline has been extended to November 6th.
Attention 8th grade parents!!!!
Due to the overwhelming response we have been able to negotiate the addition of pages to our yearbook to accommodate the yearbook dedications. The addition of the pages also gave us a reprieve on the deadline to submit to our publisher. So you still have time to honor your 8 th grader with a dedication in the first yearbook to include a promoting class. Each ad will be 1/8 of a page and includes a photo of your child with a special message by you. This will be a special memory for your student as they are part of the very first promoting class from Gale Ranch Middle School! The cost is $40 cash or check (payable to Gale Ranch Middle School Yearbook) and can be dropped off to the box in the main office. The photo and message can be submitted online at www.hjeshare.com using the school’s code 2009786. The deadline to submit has been extended to Friday, November 6th. Make a special memory for your 8 th grade student by creating a dedication for them in the yearbook! If you have any questions, please email Amy Hill at ahill@srvusd.net
Promotion Activities
Watch your email and information to be sent home with your 8th grader the week of November 2nd. We will be sending home information about promotion activities, party, end of year trip and our need to plan for these activities now. Your prompt attention and RSVP’s to the events will help all the wonderful volunteers determine how great these activities will be!
Event Information for Promotion Party 2010 – 6th, 7th & 8th grade parent welcome!
· Friday, June 4th
· 7-9:30pm
· Gale Ranch Quad
Next Meeting Date:
· Nov 18, Wednesday at 7:00pm in room B105
To volunteer or find out more information, please contact Renata Price at winekid@yahoo.com or 997-9056.
Leadership News
Red Ribbon Week has been loads of fun with so many participating in the daily activities.
· Student Store/Balloons The student store is open before school (8:00am) Tuesdays through Fridays. Balloons, pencils and other Gryphon items are available for sale each day. The only balloons allowed on campus must come from the student store. A maximum of 6 balloons per student may be transported on campus. Any balloons brought from off campus, or more than 6 balloons per person will be held in the office until the end of school.
GRMS Website
Our website contains loads of information that we hope will be informative and relevant to you. Please check it often. It contains, among other things, upcoming event, school, district and sports calendars, PTSA and Ed Fund information, links to pertinent sites and so much more. www.grms.srvusd.net
Other Event Opportunities
Our front office has a literature rack containing informational flyers about school and outside activities. These could include sports, support groups, scholastic and other school groups. Please stop by periodically to peruse the rack. Your students should be checking it often too! Currently there is information about Lacrosse, Softball, CJSF, GIA, PTSA, ED Fund, La Asia, Office Depot and more!
In an effort to keep the Gazette to a reasonable and readable length, we will post a link in this area to community offerings you might be interested in viewing. Click here to see the latest.
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GRMS ED Fund News and Happenings
Your Ed Fund is working hard to support the students at Gale Ranch Middle School. Here’s some easy and fun ways for you to participate and help!
Gale Ranch Dine Out – Chili’s Restaurant – Wednesday, November 4th, 11:00am – 10:30pm. Chili’s will donate 10% of all sales on this day to GRMS Ed Fund. Each guest will receive a raffle ticket for each $10 spent during this event. Two (2) Chili’s Gift Certificates will be raffled off. Bring your tickets to the box in the school’s front office for a chance to win! Free chips and salsa for every table!! You have to eat .. let’s have great food, fun and help GRMS at the same time! See you on the 4th!!
E-scrip – This is the simplest thing to do. We would love to see 100% participation in this program. It is quick and painless and as a result each time you shop you know you are supporting our school. The link is www.escrip.com and I promise it only takes a few minutes but yields thousands of dollars for us. You can link to your Safeway Card as well as several different credit cards. Take your pick .. all will help out our school.
Matching Funds – Such an easy way to double your contribution! Many employers have a matching funds program. If yours does, the school needs your help to expedite this very much needed support. Generally, companies have a matching gift form that you will need to fill out in order to process. Please check with your human resource department.
You may need the following information:
1) Gale Ranch Tax ID: 26-2286399
2) Gale Ranch Middle School
6400 Main Branch Rd
San Ramon, CA 94582-5978
(925) 479-1500
For more information or assistance in this process, please contact, IChien Wu-Magidi, iwmagidi@gmail.com, 925-325-0007. We greatly appreciate your support. Thank you.
STREET SMARTS "BE REEL!" VIDEO CONTEST
The contest kicks off this week with this fall's topic of "Bike Safety: Dangerous Distractions." Sponsored in part by the District, the contest encourages middle school students to create 60-second public service announcement (PSA) videos about a traffic safety topic. Students can look at the Street Smarts web site for contest rules, information and an entry form. http://streetsmarts-srv.com/programs/video_contest.htm Entries are due November 2nd. Please contact Nat Rojanasathira, Street Smarts Coordinator at streetsmarts@ci.danville.ca.us if you have any questions. |
