Be Kind    *    Be Respectful    *    Be Your Personal Best

9-29-2023

First, I want to thank all of you for your outpouring of love and support throughout this week after the passing of Mr. Carro. We are grieving as a school and community and with the care and compassion so many of you have shown, it reminds me what a special community we have. On behalf of the GMS staff and the entire district, thank you so much.

The picture day proofs went home with students TODAY. If you do not like the photo or your student was absent on picture day, picture re-takes are on Tuesday, October 24th. Please have your child bring the picture proofs with them on the re-take day if you plan to have them take a new photo. 

Awesome assembly this week connecting to our Kindness Fundraiser!  Thank you to the PTA for bringing Matt Wilhelm!  Not only was Matt amazing with his bike riding and tricks, but he also had such a great message about kindness and sticking up for others based on his experiences with bullying when he was in middle school. He was SO engaging and connected to our students!  In the hallway after the assembly, I overheard one student tell his friend, "That was actually the best thing I've ever seen."  Matt was just awesome... and for his final trick, he jumped OVER Ms. Vojack and Mr. Barkan in the 5th/6th-grade assembly and then ME and Mr. So during the 7th/8th-grade assembly while riding his bike!  Click here to see a video about Matt Wilhelm.

Safety Drills - This week we conducted two of our safety drills (bus evacuation and lockdown drills). These drills are important to practice so both students and staff know what to do if the danger ever arises. We will conduct more drills (building evacuation and severe weather) in the next couple of weeks as well as later in the school year. I encourage you to review your safety procedures at home as well, especially as some middle schoolers arrive home before their parents. It's good for them to know what to do in the event of an emergency. 

Homework Hub - The Homework Hub as a NEW LOOK! Each grade level has it's OWN TAB. This should make it easier for students and parents. 

7th grade parents - Our outdoor education trip to Camp MacLean is NEXT week... Tuesday, October 3rd and Wednesday, October 4th!  The packing list and information about the camp was sent home in the packet a couple of weeks ago. 

• • • • As a reminder, students should NOT bring cell phones with them to camp. This is an outdoor education experience and a time for students to "unplug." I assure you that they will be okay. In fact, EVERY year students tell me it actually felt good, a relief, to not have to worry about the pressures that come with a phone - streaks, texts, group chats, social media, etc. If you are worried about being connected to them, let me know. Our staff will give you their cell numbers and we'll keep in touch with you. ANY student who wants to call home, or their parent wants to talk to them before bed, we can make that happen!

      • NOTE: These are school attendance days and students not attending the trip are expected to be in school.  Teachers have several fun and educational activities planned for the students who are not going to camp.

The Kindness Craze Fundraiser has been AMAZING!  It is STILL going!  It's not too late to get involved and donate or do Acts of Kindness! 

Registration Link: my.raisecraze.com/A3QN2F5

1. Enter your student’s name 

2. Select at least 3 Acts of Kindness 

3. Enter 5-10 email addresses of potential supporters. 

REPEAT - LOTS of Opportunities for Students:

1. Niles Teen Center Dance - TOMORROW

Saturday, September 30th for middle school students in grades 6-8.  See the Niles Teen Center Dance flyer for more information!  

2.  Niles North Student Tutoring for Grades 3-6

Niles North has student tutors who work with students from the feeder schools in grades 3-6 providing tutoring, test preparation, and homework assistance in subjects such as Math, Reading, Writing, Science, etc.  

They will be meeting weekly on Mondays from 4:00 - 5:00 pm at Niles North beginning Monday, October 2nd.  Please see the Niles North Tutoring flyer for more information.

3.  The Niles North Dance Team JR. VIKETTES DANCE CLINIC - Football Jr. Clinic Flyer 2023 

This is the Ultimate Game Day Experience. Participants will spend the week learning new dance skills, a sideline, and a halftime routine. On game day, they will warm up with the team, do some pre-game sidelines, and perform at halftime!  They will get a taste of what it is like to be a Niles North Vikette!

This clinic is open to 1st - 8th graders who might be interested in dance or just love performing in front of a crowd!  The clinic dates are Oct 16, Oct 17, and Oct 19 (Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday) from 6:30pm to 8:00 pm with the halftime performance at our varsity football game on Friday, October 20th at 7:00 pm.

The cost of the clinic is $30, which includes a t-shirt.  You may pay by cash or check no later than Tuesday, October 10th. If you are mailing in the payment. please mail in enough time for it to be RECEIVED by the deadline. More payment details are on the registration form - Jr. Vikettes Dance Clinic Registration Form - Football 2023.

4.  Jr. Viking Girls Basketball team(s)  

If your daughter is interested, please check out the Niles North Girls Jr. Vikings Basketball teams flyer and complete the Interest Form Here so they can collect some baseline information and to reach out directly to you. The league that they plan on entering will run from November to March, but registration will be due in a couple of weeks. If you have any questions, please reach out to Coach Leah Czuhajewski - leaczu@d219.org or Danae Russell - danruss@d219.org.

5.  Niles North Feeder Basketball Open Gym 

The Niles North Feeder Basketball League hosts an open gym at the Niles North Field House on Sundays from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.  All junior high school students are welcome. See the flyer for more information.

Parent Flyer Folder (click here)

• • • • October Lunch Menu - NEW

      • Niles Teen Center Dance -  TOMORROW

      • Football Jr. Clinic Flyer 2023 

      • Niles North Tutoring

      • Niles North Girls Jr. Vikings Basketball teams

      • Niles North Basketball Feeder - Open Gym

      • Physical Form For Doctor (6th grade, sports, new students)

      • GoGuardian Parent Portal Letter

Important Dates Coming up…

Monday, October 2 - Letter sent to parents about how to sign-up for Parent Teacher Conferences 

Tuesday, October 3 - Seventh-grade goes to Camp MacLean!

Wednesday, October 4 - Seventh-grade returns from Camp MacLean!

Monday, October 9 - No School

Tuesday, October 10 - Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-up OPENS

Wednesday, October 11 - District 67 Foundations Meeting (GMS Media Center at 6:00 pm) 

Tuesday, October 17 - Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-up CLOSES

Wednesday, October 18 - Board Meeting (6:30 PM at Golf)

Thursday, October 19 - Early Dismissal @ 1:20 pm

Thursday, October 19 - Parent Teacher Conferences (2:20 pm - 8:00 pm)

Friday, October 19 - Parent Teacher Conferences (8:30 am - 11:30 am)

Tuesday, October 24 - GMS Picture re-takes

Friday, October 27th - End of quarter 1

Saturday, October 28th - PSAT for 8th grade students (at Niles North)

Join the PTA!

GMS needs the PTA too! The GMS musical, end-of-year parties, GMS Night Out, GMS Pool Party and many more events and activities are made possible at GMS because of the PTA!

Only $15 per family for the school year. Join here!

Check out the latest PTA newsletter from 9-18-2023!

Stay Connected

• PTA Email - ptagolf67@gmail.com

• PTA Website

• PTA Private Facebook Group