GMS Falcon Update
9/17/24
September Hero of the Month Winners
Congratulations to our September Hero of the Month Winners.
6th Grade - Ayla Lensman & Piper Jacobs
7th Grade - Carly Birchfield & Kasche Burroughs
8th Grade - Audrey Krieger & Fynn Putnam
Staff Member - Ms. Buell
GMS Conference Nights
Graham Middle School will offer the following Conference Nights this year:
Thursday, September 26 - GMS P/T Conferences #1 3:00-6:30
Thursday, October 17 - GMS P/T Conferences #2 4:00-7:30
Thursday, January 9 - GMS P/T Conferences #3 3:00-6:30
Thursday, February 13 - GMS P/T Conferences #4 4:00-7:30
Conferences can be scheduled by contacting a teacher or the office.
Picture Day at GMS Coming Soon! (10/3)
Pictures will be taken in the morning on Thursday, October 3
For your convenience, we are offering this online ordering option.
Pre-Order Online and receive a FREE 10x8 Photo Collage with purchase!!!
To order your photos online, click the following the link:
https://orders.langephotographics.com/ordering/with?key=VD233UBW
** Paper order forms will be coming home within the week.
Notification of Rights under FERPA for Elementary and Secondary Schools
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day Graham Middle School receives a request for access.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
Parents or eligible students who wish to ask Graham Middle School to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Graham Middle School to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
See the list below of the disclosures that elementary and secondary schools may make without consent.
FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the parent or eligible student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in §99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the parent or eligible student, §99.32 of the FERPA regulations requires the school to record the disclosure. Parents and eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A school may disclose PII from the education records of a student without obtaining prior written consent of the parents or the eligible student –
· To other school officials, including teachers, within the educational agency or institution whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in §99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) - (a)(1)(i)(B)(2) are met. (§99.31(a)(1))
· To officials of another school, school system, or institution of postsecondary education where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of §99.34. (§99.31(a)(2))
· To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as the State educational agency in the parent or eligible student’s State (SEA). Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
· In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§99.31(a)(4))
· To State and local officials or authorities to whom information is specifically allowed to be reported or disclosed by a State statute that concerns the juvenile justice system and the system’s ability to effectively serve, prior to adjudication, the student whose records were released, subject to §99.38. (§99.31(a)(5))
· To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§99.31(a)(6))
· To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§99.31(a)(7))
· To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§99.31(a)(8))
· To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§99.31(a)(9))
· To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to §99.36. (§99.31(a)(10)
· Information the school has designated as “directory information” under §99.37. (§99.31(a)(11))
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - Notice for Directory Information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that Graham Local Schools, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, Graham Local Schools may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow Graham Local Schools to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:
· A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production;
· The annual yearbook;
· Honor roll or other recognition lists;
· Graduation programs; and
· Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.
Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the following information – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent. [1]
If you do not want Graham Local Schools to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing. Graham Local Schools has designated the following information as directory information:
-Student’s name -Grade level
-Address -Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
-Telephone listing -Weight and height of members of athletic teams
-Electronic mail address -Degrees, honors, and awards received
-Photograph -The most recent educational agency or institution attended
-Student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used to communicate in electronic systems that cannot be used to access education records without a PIN, password, etc. (A student’s SSN, in whole or in part, cannot be used for this purpose.)
-Major field of study -Dates of attendance
[1] These laws are: Section 9528 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 7908) and 10 U.S.C. § 503(c).
Meal Account Information
Be sure to put money into student accounts either online or through secure drobox outside the cafeteria.
Teachers are not able to accept money for student accounts. Cafeteria staff is not able to process cash or checks in the lunch line. Account funds must either be added through the student PaySchools Account, or placed into the marked envelopes and into the secure drop box in the cafeteria.
Stay up-to-date on Student Grades with Progress Book
Students all have access to Progress Book via their Clever logins. Parents can access through the same login they would have used last year. Any new families should have received an access key on Friday via email from Mr. Guidera.
Frontline Education has released the Progress Book Parent and Student Mobile App (aka Parent Access app) to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This app is available for your parents/students to download and use now. For those that choose to download, the app takes the place of the mobile web version of Parent Access that parents and students have long used. In addition, Frontline has produced an overview video that can be shared with your users.
Upcoming Events @ GMS
September
Wednesday, September 18 - Grade 8 Farm Science Review Trip
Wednesday, September 18 - Graham White Soccer vs West Liberty Orange
Wednesday, September 18 - Volleyball vs Benjamin Logan (Home @ HS) 5:30 PM
Thursday, September 19 - Football @ Northwestern MS/HS 5:30 PM
Thursday, September 19 - Graham Black Soccer vs West Liberty
Friday, September 20 - Kona Ice @ Lunch/Recess
Saturday, September 21 - Volleyball vs Bellefontaine MS Gym 10:00 AM
Saturday, September 21 - Cross Country @ Ohio Caverns (Multiple Opponents) 8:00 AM
Saturday, September 21 - Graham Black Soccer vs Bellefontaine Black
Monday, September 23 - Volleyball @ Northwestern MS/HS 5:30 PM
Monday, September 23 - Graham Black Soccer @ Wet Liberty Orange
Tuesday, September 24 - Graham White Soccer @ Calgary Christian Green
Tuesday, September 24 - Graham Black Soccer vs Ben Logan Gold
Wednesday, September 25 - Volleyball vs Shawnee MS Gym 5:30 PM
Wednesday, September 25 - Graham Black Soccer vs Fairlawn
Thursday, September 26 - Send home Q1 Interim Reports in HR
Thursday, September 26 - GMS P/T Conferences #1 3:00-6:30
Thursday, September 26 - Football @ North Union MS 5:30 PM
Thursday, September 26 - Graham White Soccer @ Calgary Christian White
Friday, September 27 - 2 Hour Early Release for Professional Development
Saturday, September 28 - Cross Country Graham Invitational HS 8:00 AM
Monday, September 30 - Volleyball @ North Union MS 5:30 PM
Monday, September 30 - Graham White Soccer @ West Liberty Orange
Monday, September 30 - Graham Black Soccer @ Bellefontaine Red
October
Tuesday, October 1 - Qtr 1 OHP Trip for Peterson 8th Grade Careers & Leadership Classes
Wednesday, October 2 - Volleyball vs Indian Lake (Home @ HS) 5:30 PM
Thursday, October 3 - GMS Picture Day (starting at 7:45)
Thursday, October 3 - Football vs Shawnee Home 5:30 PM
Thursday, October 3 - Homecoming Parade 6:00pm
Thursday, October 3 - STEAM Club 2:20-3:30
Saturday, October 5 - Cross Country @ Anna HS 8:00 AM
Tuesday, October 8 - Final DC Trip Meeting (Chaperones only 6pm / Parent & Student 7:30pm)
Thursday, October 10 - Football @ Benjamin Logan 5:30 PM
Friday, October 11 - GMS Manufacturing and Career Day
Saturday, October 12 - Cross Country CBC Championship Graham HS 9:00 AM
Wednesday, October 16 - PBIS Assembly 1:30
Thursday, October 17 - GMS P/T Conferences #2 4:00-7:30
Thursday, October 17 - End Q1
Thursday, October 17 - Football vs Indian Lake Home 5:30
Thursday, October 17 - STEAM Club 2:20-3:30
Friday, October 18 - No School (COEA Day)
Thursday, October 24 - MS Musical (Auditeria)
Friday, October 25 - Kona Ice @ Lunch/Recess
Friday, October 25 - 2 Hour Early Release for Professional Development
Friday, October 25 - MS Musical (Auditeria)
Nick Guidera - Principal
Vicki Packard-Cooper - Assistant Principal
Megan Smith - School Counselor
Holly Neves - Secretary
Grades 6-8
Email: guideran@grahamlocalschools.org
Website: www.grahamlocalschools.org
Location: 9644 W US HWY 36 Saint Paris, Ohio 43072
Phone: 937-663-5339
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmsfalcons/
Twitter: @grahammidschool