GMS Falcon Update

Congratulations to our September HERO of the Month Winners.

6th Grade - Ava Terrell & Parker Wilt

7th Grade - Ayla Lensman & Grady Thomas

8th Grade - Alice Rogers & Tayte Stratton

Staff Member - Ms. Buell

* Students are nominated by staff, and staff are nominated by students each month. Nominations focus on the pillars of our PBIS Matrix here at GMS:

H - helpful

E - engaged

R - respectful

O - show ownership

With recent legislation on House Bill 8, commonly known as the "Parents Bill of Rights" there was an additional form added to Final Forms. Even if you signed forms prior to school, we do need you to go back in and complete this portion as soon as possible. Please let us know if you have any questions about this particular piece.

http://www.finalforms.com

Graham Middle School will offer the following Conference Nights this year:

Tuesday, September 30 - GMS P/T Conferences #1 3:00-6:30

Thursday, October 16 - GMS P/T Conferences #2 4:00-7:30

Tuesday, January 13 - GMS P/T Conferences #3 3:00-6:30

Thursday, March 19 - GMS P/T Conferences #4 4:00-7:30

Conferences can be scheduled by contacting a teacher or the office.

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).

Be sure you update Final Forms with any changes in address or phone numbers.

Check our Graham Middle School Website. Call- (937) 663-5339

Follow us: Facebook- @gmsfalcons Twitter- @GrahamMidSchool

September

16- STEAM Club 2:20- 3:30

17 - Volleyball @ Indian Lake MS

18 - Football vs. Northwestern Home

20 - Band Festival @ GHS 7pm start

20 - Cross Country @ Ohio Caverns Invite

22 - Volleyball @ Benjamin Logan MS

22 - Soccer vs Fairlawn

24 - Volleyball @ Northwestern MS

25 - Quarter 1 Interims sent home in HR

25 - Football vs. Indian Lake Home

27 - Cross Country @ Indian Lake

29 - Volleyball @ Shawnee MS

29 - Soccer @ West Liberty

30 - GMS Parent Teacher Conferences #1 (3:00-6:30)

October

1 - Volleyball vs. North Union GMS

1 - Soccer @ Indian Lake Red

2 - Football @ Shawnee

4 - Volleyball CBC Tournament Game 1 - TBD

4 - Cross Country Graham Invitational

6 - Volleyball CBC Tournament Game 2 - TBD

7- STEAM Club 2:20- 3:30

8 - Volleyball CBC Tournament Game 3 - TBD

9 - GMS Picture Day (7:45 start)

9 - Football @ Benjamin Logan

11 - Cross Country @ CBC Championships

15 - PBIS Assembly 1:30

16 - KONA Ice

16 - End Quarter 1

16 - GMS Parent Teacher Conferences #2 (3:30-7:00)

16 - Football vs. North Union Home

17 - No School (COEA Day)

20 - Start Quarter 2

21- STEAM Club 2:20- 3:30

22 - Football vs. Greenon Home

23 - Quarter 1 Reports Cards sent home in HR

24 - Elec Simon “Motivational Music Assembly” (partially sponsored by the Champaign County Arts Council)

24 - MS Musical (Matilda)

25 - MS Musical (Matilda)

Vicki Packard-Cooper - Assistant Principal

Keara Kettler - Pupil Services Coordinator

Holly Rice - Secretary

Graham Middle School

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