PANTHER PROWL

Dear Panther Families,

The countdown is almost over—our first day of school is this Thursday, August 14! We are so excited to welcome all of our students back to campus and to officially kick off the 2024–2025 school year.

Campus will open at 8:00 AM, and we invite students to enter through our Welcome Tunnel—a special Panther tradition where our staff and leadership team line up to cheer, clap, and celebrate each student as they arrive. We can’t think of a better way to start the year than with big smiles, warm greetings, and Panther pride!

The energy on campus is already buzzing, and our staff has been working hard to make sure classrooms are ready for a year of learning and growth. Whether your child is returning or joining GEMS for the first time, they will be stepping into a community that cares deeply about their success.

We can’t wait to see the hallways filled with our amazing Panthers once again. Let’s make this first day—and the year ahead—one to remember!

Go Panthers!
Jessica Fernandez
Principal
Glen Edwards Middle School

Hello Everyone and welcome to the new school year!

My name is Steve Roman and I am the new Assistant Principal at GEMS. Prior to coming to GEMS I spent one year as a VP at Mira Loma HS and prior to that I worked as a teacher/ activities director/ wrestling coach at TBHS. In the VP Corner you will typically see updates about what events have been happening on campus as well as info on events that will be coming up. I will also share updates on how our Panthers are being Positive, Productive, and Professional on our campus.

As we kick things off this year your students will spend a lot of time building relationships with their teachers and other students. In addition they will be learning about "The Panther Way" (Our behavior expectations on campus). On Tuesday August 19, 2025 each student will receive the Panther Way presentation in their PE classes. After which, I will share the presentation so that families can see and review the presentation with their students.

I am looking forward to sharing all of the great things that our Panther family will be doing and working with all of you and your students this school year.

ALL STUDENTS can view (print at home-if they choose) their schedules from the PowerSchool Parent Portal beginning 8/13/25 at 9am. If unable to print from home students are encouraged to write it down in their binders.

PRINTED schedules will be in the students PAW class. Students should know who their PAW teacher is and what room they are in in order to receive a printed schedule .

PAW classes will be posted by grade and student name the first day of school in front of the MAIN GATE on L Street. Gates open for students needing breakfast ONLY at 7:45am which is served in the Spirit Center. Students not eating breakfast can gain entry to campus beginning at 8:00am with classes starting promptly at 8:15am. Please ensure your student will know their PAW teacher and room where their class schedules will be awaiting them.

PLEASE NOTE: As we navigate the first few days of school, there may be a need to level and balance classes based on enrollment. Please be aware of the potential need to modify schedules therefore we appreciate your patience as we get the school year started!!

Our Back To School Night is scheduled for Thursday, August 28th. Please SAVE THE DATE to your calendars and be on the lookout for a detailed itinerary of the evening. We are excited and look forward to seeing you at GEMS!!

Hello Parents,

Fall Picture Day is Wednesday, August 27th, 2025.

VIEWING/ORDERING WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER PICTURE DAY:

-Parents will receive a link via email and text once images are available online.

-There will be a 72-hour window of free shipping starting once the images are available online.

FOR ORDERS PURCHASED:

-We will mail orders directly to the address input when ordering.

-Order Questions? Call (916) 749-1026 and select Option 1 or email services@billsmithphoto.com

Make ups are scheduled for 9/29/25 during PE. These are the ONLY two dates to have student pictures taken and these images will be used for the yearbook.

Upon completion of 6th grade, student chromebooks were collected and over the summer and our technology department performed the necessary updates on these devices. 7th grade students will obtain their school issued chromebook once school has started.

CHROMEBOOK Distribution:

• Thursday, August 14th: students will go to the library with their ELA teacher to checkout and be issued a chromebook.

PE clothes will be distributed through PE Classes once school begins. For convenience prices are listed below:

• $10 shirts

• $10 shorts

• $20 set (shirt and shorts)

• 
  

If you want to pre-purchase visit our ONLINE PE Omella Store or utilize this QR code.

Any students interested in trying out for Girls Volleyball, Boys Flag Football or Cross Country, make sure to upload your physical and have all forms signed on Final Forms before the first day of tryouts (specific information and link to final forms can be found under "Items of Interest for Panthers"). Fall team pictures are scheduled for September 5th.

Tuesday Aug. 12 at 3:15PM in the GYM
Please have physical uploaded to Final Forms and all signatures submitted to be eligible to tryout.

Questions? Email achichizola@wpusd.org

Informational meeting for all those interested in Cross Country on Monday 8/18/25 at 2pm in the spirit center. We will go over season schedule, & team expectations. First official practice will be 8/20/25 from 3:00-4:15 and we will meet on the track.

As with any sport in order to participate please have your Final Forms accounts updated and complete!! Any questions contact rsmith@wpusd.org or jbanderas@wpusd.org (Ryan Smith or Jackie Banderas).

Its going to be a -FAST AND FUN- Season!!

The link is live and open for all parents of WPUSD students to update their student emergency contact information and e-sign waivers on-line. https://powerschool.wpusd.org/public/

Please take a few moments to confirm, update and submit each module of information by August 18th. There are new modules that have been added this year.

We strongly encourage parents to complete this form through their PowerSchool Parent Portal during the Annual Registration Update process.

Directions for Parents to Complete the Form
Here are the steps:

• Click HERE to access the Parent Portal
• Sign in to the portal
• Click on "Forms" on the bottom left side of the screen.
• Select the "Enrollment" tab at the top.
• Complete the Funding Formula Data Collection Form.

This form is very important to the District, as it directly impacts funding for many essential programs, including: Supplemental school and district funding, Title I funds, Food services programs, Eligibility for waiving certain testing fees, After School program scholarships (e.g., STAR).

Paper Form Option

As in past years, if a parent is unable to complete the form online, a paper version is available.

Our office staff may also complete the form on your behalf we just need you to inquire.

Thank you for helping ensure all students and schools receive the resources they need.

Please note: School supply lists will be shared by each teacher/class on their syllabi. The syllabi for each class will be handed out in the first week of school. A few general items to be sure your student is ready:

• Backpack

• Spiral & Composition Notebooks (100 pages +)

• Pencils

• Pens

• Highlighters

• glue/glue stick

• Colored folders (one for each class) or a binder with sections for each core class with binder paper

• Wired headphones to work with chromebook

OUR 24/7 GLEN EDWARDS MIDDLE SCHOOL Sideline Store is up and running. Stop reading and start shopping to score the latest fan wear and accessories.

*PLEASE NOTE: THESE CLOTH ITEMS WILL NOT MEET PE UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS. DO NOT PURCHASE FOR PE CLOTH FROM HERE.

MEET YOUR BOARD:
Meet your 25/26 Board


PLANNED CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Calendar

HOW TO SUPPORT APTS:

One way to support APTS is by attending our dine out events. You just go to the mentioned place of business and mention GEMS APTS and a percentage of all sales comes back to us. It's that easy!

Our first dine out is on the first day of school! What better way to celebrate the first day back to school then with dinner at Panda Express!!

Panda Express Flyer

MEETINGS:
We encourage All Parents, Teachers & Students (APTS) to attend our meetings. This is a great way for everyone to be a part of the GEMS community. Our meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of every month in the school's library at 5pm. We hope to see you there!

Sept 9th

Oct 14th

Nov 18th

Dec 9th

Jan 13th

NO FEB

Mar 10th

Apr 14th

May 12th

QUESTIONS:

Any questions, comments or concerns be sure to email us at GemsApts@Gmail.com

Learn more about our food service program HERE and visit the food services website HERE for daily menu options.

IF your student wants to participate in any athletic capacity be sure you have an account created in Final Forms and physical clearance by a physician.

• Parent AND Student must create their own account, fill out and submit information via FINAL FORMS
• All students must have a current PHYSICAL on file with the school (current means within the past year).

NO CHILD WILL BE ALLOWED TO PRACTICE OR PARTICIPATE WITHOUT THE PROPER FORMS. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE GRANTED.

Check out the flier below. There are several ways to report absences. We hope you find it useful!

• When you receive a message that your student was absent, you can respond easily by clicking on the link within the message to report your student's absence.
• 7th period is actually the students PAW period and the first class of the day Tuesday - Friday.
• ALSO NOTE: There will be NO TRAVEL STUDIES allowed to last two weeks of school.
  

Dear Parent or Guardian of a 7th grade student:

Before your student enters the 7th grade this Fall 2025, documentation of Tdap- 1 dose (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis – whooping cough booster usually given at ages 11and up) and Varicella – 2 doses (VZV and/or MMRV -usually given at 12 months and 4-6 years) is required. In addition, please make sure that your student is current with all other immunizations.

If your student is up to date with all the required immunizations, please bring proof to the office for our health records. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact our office as soon as possible by calling 916 - 645- 6370.

Thank you!
GEMS Health Services

The Foundry is an After School Program available for GEMS students to see friends, get homework help, eat snacks, play games and participate in some Recreational Programs coordinated by the Foundry. This is a no cost program available Monday through Thursday.

We hope to see you at the Foundry after school once it starts!! It's going to be a GREAT School Year!!!

Don't forget to follow our GEMS Facebook Page to stay on top of all the fun things we are doing around campus! Click this link or the picture below to follow!