8th Grade newsletter
Week of 4/29 - 5/3
Embedded Files
Our Mission
Grace Snell Middle School provides a culture of excellence that prepares all students to reach their maximum potential today, tomorrow and beyond.
Our Week at a Glance
Important Notes from your 8th Grade Team
Revised Georgia Milestones End of Grade and End of Course Testing Schedule
May 10 - May 17: 8th Grade Week Activities
What's Happening in our Classrooms
What's Happening in our Classrooms
8TH GRADE MATH
Scholars will take the Mathematics Georgia Milestones Assessment on 4/29 - 4/30.
ENHANCED MATH / ALGEBRA CONNECTIONS
Scholars will take the Mathematics Georgia Milestones Assessment on 4/29 - 4/30.
Scholars enrolled in the Enhanced Math Algebra Concepts & Connections class, will take the Algebra End of Course Assessment on Monday May 6th - Tuesday, May 7th.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Scholars will venture into the Diary of Anne Frank in preparation for their end of the year projects.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Scholars are to complete any missing assignments that have been graded recently and begin to review any previous material and study independently for the Georgia Milestones assessment.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In social studies this week, scholars will be engaged in several review activities in an effort to prepare them for the upcoming Georgia Milestones Assessment. Please encourage your scholar to study and share with you what they know.
CONNECTIONS
Monday: B
Tuesday: A
Wednesday: B
Thursday: A
Friday: B
important dates
important dates
April 23 - May 7 - Georgia Milestones Testing
May 8 - May 10 - Georgia Milestones Make-up Testing
May 8 - Last Day for 8th Grade Students to Submit Outstanding Work in order to be eligible to participate in 8th Grade Activities
Now thru May 10 - Summer Learning Registration for Students who Do NOT Meet Promotion Requirements
Now thru May 10 - Last Day for Parents to Request Transportation for Summer Learning
May 10 - 8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance (Sneaker Ball)
May 13 - 8th Grade Connections Showcase @ 2:45 PM
May 14 - 8th Grade Faculty Student Game @ 2:45 PM in Gym
May 15 - 8th Grade Breakfast @ 9-10 in Cafeteria
May 16 - 8th Grade Awards Night @ 6:00 PM at Snellville Community Church (Invitation Only - Parents will be notified by May 8th)
May (TBA) - 8th Grade Final Exams
May 17 - 8th Grade Cookout & Day of Fun
May 22 - Last Day of School for Students
June 10 - 28 - Summer Learning SEA Program for Students who Did NOT meet Promotion Requirement from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM @ GSMS
(No Summer Learning on June 19th)
School Calendars Approved for 2024-25 and 2025-26
Parents, as you make various personal plans for your family for the next two years, we wanted to make you aware that Gwinnett County Schools has released approved calendars for the next two academic school years. You may access the links to each calendar below:
your 8th grade team
your 8th grade team
From the desk of our assistant principal
From the desk of our assistant principal
Dr. Brown
Dr. Brown
Dr. Brown
Dr. Brown
Greetings, Comet Families!
Our students successfully completed the first week of GMAS testing last week, by taking the English Language Arts Assessment.
This week, all 8th grade students will take the GMAS Math, Physical Science and Social Studies, End of Grade Assessments respectively, beginning on Monday, April 29th to Thursday May 2nd.
Students enrolled in the Enhanced Math Algebra Concepts & Connections class will take the Algebra End of Course (EOC) assessment, in addition to taking the regular 8th grade math test. The Algebra test will be administered next week, May 6th - 7th.
Thank you for your support so far. Please continue to ensure that your students are present and on time to school each day, so as not to miss pertinent learning they need to be successful on the upcoming assessments.
Students will NOT be permitted to have any electronic devices of any kind on them during the testing period. ALL electronic devices such as cell phones, Smartwatches, I-Pods, headphones, earbuds, etc., are STRICTLY prohibited in the testing environment. If students bring those items to school during testing, they will be requested to store them away in their bags, which will be placed in a location AWAY from students.
Summer Learning SEA Program at GSMS
Summer Learning SEA invitations have been extended to students, who are not currently meeting promotional requirements. Students who are failing Math, ELA, Social Studies or Science are eligible to participate in this FREE Summer Learning SEA Program.
The Summer Learning SEA Program will be held from June 10 - June 28th from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, at Grace Snell MS. Transportation, breakfast and lunch are all provided at no cost; however, registration is required NO LATER THAN May 10th, for parents desiring transportation for their children.
Parents who have an active email on file in Synergy already received this information approximately a week ago, via Parent Square, with a link to register and request transportation as applicable, for the Summer Learning SEA Program. If your child is currently failing one or more classes and you did NOT receive the Summer Learning information, please reach out to your child's teacher to confirm eligibility participation. For more information about the 2024 Free Summer Learning SEA Program, click the link below to visit the summer school website:
2024 Summer Learning SEA Program
9th Grade Promotion Requirements
Our goal is to have 100% of our 8th grade scholars matriculate to 9th grade, as a result of their successful academic achievement in 8th grade. As a reminder, 8th graders MUST pass at least 5 of 6 classes BOTH semesters, with math and reading being two of the 6 classes, in addition to other criteria, to be promoted to the 9th grade. Click the link to see GCPS' detailed criteria for promotion to 9th grade: GCPS Middle School Promotion Requirements
8th Grade Week Activities - May 10th thru May 17th
Mark your calendars and save the date for our 8th grade week of festivities, which will commence on Friday, May 10th, and adjourn on Friday, May 17th. Activities include but are not limited to: Semi-Formal Dance, Connections Showcase, Awards Night and Cookout. The fees for our 8th grade activities are $78.00. Payments should be made via MyPaymentsPlus. The deadline for payments is April 15th.
GSMS School Yearbook
We are now accepting orders for our 2023-24 GSMS Yearbook, through ybpay.com. We know that our 8th grade scholars are filled with anticipation about their final year in middle school, and are excited about capturing the various memories they have created and shared with their peers in and around school, at athletic events, and other school events, over the past several months.
portrait of a graduate
portrait of a graduate
Gearing up for
Gearing up for
Class of 2028
Class of 2028
Watch this video to get a snapshot of the competencies our scholars are developing at Grace Snell Middle School now, to prepare them to reach their maximum potential today, tomorrow and beyond!
Our 8th Grade Teams
Team G.O.A.T.
Team Blaze
Team Phoenix
Team I'So Elite
Team Trailblazers
State law requires that children between the ages of 7 - 16 attend school DAILY.
Students will be excused from school for the following legal absences:
Personal illness
Death in the immediate family
Recognized religious holidays observed by your faith
Absences mandated by governmental agencies
Service as Page in the Georgia General Assembly
Visit with parent or legal guardian prior to deployment or while parent is on leave (up to 5 days)
Instances where attendance would be hazardous
Students absent from school for legal reasons stated above, will be excused IF they bring a written excuse from a parent, guardian, or medical provider, stating the reason for the absence.
The written excuse must be given to the desk clerk in the front lobby on the day the student returns to school.
8th Grade Office
Dr. A. Brown, Assistant Principal
Ms. E. Davis, Counselor
8th Grade Counselor
VACANT
School Hours
8:55 AM - 4:00 PM
No drop-offs before 8:50 AM
Early Dismissal
Early Dismissal
Missed instructional time is detrimental to a student’s performance.
Parents are urged to make dental, medical, and other appointments before or after school hours.
If it becomes necessary for a student to check out during the day, parents must report to the desk in the front lobby to sign out the student.
Parents will be required to show picture identification in order to check out their children.
No check-outs or transportation changes shall be made after 3:30 PM.
It is the expectation that students make up missed assignments whenever they are absent from school, or check-out early.
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