PANTHER PROWL

Dear Panther Families,

Welcome to November! As the crisp autumn weather settles in, we enter a wonderful time of year focused on gratitude and community. November is truly our "season of giving" at Glen Edwards Middle School, and it is always inspiring to see our Panthers come together to support one another and those in need.

To kick off our spirit of generosity, we are excited to launch our annual Canned Food Drive this month. This is a meaningful opportunity for our students to practice empathy and civic responsibility by collecting non-perishable items to support local families. We encourage everyone to participate and help make a positive impact in our community!

As we navigate the busy weeks ahead, please take note of several important calendar adjustments for this month:

• Wednesday, November 11th: No School in observance of Veterans Day. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the veterans and active service members within our Panther community.

• Week of November 16th–20th: Minimum Day Schedule.

  • Students will be dismissed early at 12:45 PM each day this week.

  • Please note that there will be no after-school tutoring during this week.

• November 23rd–27th: No School — Thanksgiving Break. Campus will be closed all week so our students, staff, and families can enjoy well-deserved time together.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I hope you and your loved ones have a peaceful and restful Thanksgiving season!

Go Panthers!

With Panther Pride,
Jessica Fernandez

Principal-Glen Edwards Middle School

Thanksgiving break is in sight! As we head into November, we’re encouraging students to finish this stretch strong by practicing the Panther Way: being positive, productive, and professional. Please reinforce these reminders at home.

First Period Matters... Every Day:

• Please make sure your student arrives before the 8:15 a.m. bell and is in their first-period classroom, ready to learn, when it rings. Arriving on campus at 8:15 means they are already running late to class.
• Even two minutes late can mean missing a teacher’s welcome, directions, or an opportunity to connect with classmates. Repeated late arrivals add up and can leave students starting their day feeling behind. First period deserves the same commitment as every other class.
• Please build in time for drop-off, walking to class, and getting settled. Your help establishing a consistent morning routine makes a difference.

Keeping Phones Put Away:

We’re pleased to see minimal cell phone use on campus. Thank you for supporting this expectation! Please continue encouraging your student to keep their phone out of sight and out of mind during the school day so they can focus on learning and connecting with others.

Caring for Our Campus:

We’ve seen an increase in students using mechanical pencils to spray water. Please remind your student to use school supplies appropriately. Gum should also remain at home, and all trash belongs in a trash can, especially during lunch. A special shout-out to our sixth graders, who have been doing an awesome job keeping their lunch area clean! These everyday choices keep our campus clean and welcoming.

Taking Responsibility for Detentions:

If your student is assigned a lunch or after-school detention in MiNGA, they do not need to wait for a paper slip from Mr. Roman or Ms. Estes. Students are encouraged to attend their assigned detention(s). Staff can add them to the attendance spreadsheet so they receive credit for serving.

Technology Reminder:

We are seeing a new trend where students are factory resetting school chromebooks. This is creating a large issue where district programs and services are wiped from the computer making it unusable until tech can reinstall the drivers on the computer. Please speak with students regarding their technology use and ask them to refrain from participating in this trend. Students who take part in resetting a chromebook will receive disciplinary consequences(i.e. detention and possible suspension)

Thank you for partnering with us to reinforce the Panther Way and help students head into Thanksgiving break on a positive note!

Mr. Roman and Ms. Estes

As we welcome the month of November, we want to take a moment to reflect on the fun and excitement of October! We wrapped up the month with our annual Harvest Fair, and we would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all the families who donated and everyone who attended. It was wonderful to see our school community come together, make memories, and enjoy such a fun event!

🥫 Annual Canned Food & Sock Drive

From November 2–13, we will be hosting our annual canned food and sock drive to support The Salt Mine. We encourage all students and families to participate and help us make a difference in our community. As an added incentive, the first-period class that collects the most canned food will win a donut party! More details will be shared later this week, so stay tuned.

💛 National Kindness Week

We will celebrate National Kindness Week, November 9–13! Our student leadership team will be spreading kindness throughout the school with fun activities and opportunities to make a positive impact. We look forward to seeing our students show kindness, compassion, and respect to one another.

🎉 Save the Date: December Dance

Mark your calendars! Our next school dance will take place on Friday, December 11. We will announce the dance theme in our December newsletter, so be sure to keep an eye out for more details!

Each year in November, we follow a Special Bell Schedule for one week only. This is the only time during the year we use this schedule, so we want to give families ample time to plan ahead. Thank you for your attention and support!

Please note:

(***zero period PE students should report to class as normal: 7:00-7:45am)

FUNDRAISERS:

• LAST CALL to book your mini sessions with Melanie Holder Photography! She is going to give our very own Panther staff & families a day devoted to ONLY Panthers! Be sure to reserve your spot here!
• Our next dine out event will be at McDonalds. See the flyer and details below!!
• THANK YOU to everyone who attended our Dine Out Event last month at Red Robin. Your support is truly appreciated.

Get ready for the tastiest fundraiser of the year! On Thursday, November 12th, your favorite GEMS teachers, staff, and admin are stepping out of the classroom and behind the counter at the McDonald’s near Lowe’s in Lincoln!

Whether it's handing out fries, working the drive-thru, or taking your order with a smile, our staff is ready to serve you to help raise funds for our school.

• When: Thursday, November 12th
• Where: McDonald’s in Lincoln (Next to Lowe’s)
• Why: A portion of all proceeds directly supports our APTS (Association of Parents and Teachers) and the wonderful programs they fund for our students!

Skip cooking dinner, bring the family, and come cheer on our amazing staff as they take on the Golden Arches! It’s going to be a fun-filled evening of school spirit, delicious food, and community connection.

Mark your calendars, pack the drive-thru, and let’s make it MC-night to remember! See you there!

EVENTOS DE RECAUDACIÓN DE FONDOS:

• ¡ÚLTIMA OPORTUNIDAD para reservar tus minisesiones con Melanie Holder Photography! ¡Les brindará a nuestro personal y familias de los Panthers un día dedicado EXCLUSIVAMENTE a los Panthers! ¡No te lo pierdas! reservar tu lugar aquí!
• Nuestro próximo evento de cena para recaudar fondos será en McDonald's. ¡Consulta el folleto y los detalles a continuación!
• GRACIAS a todos los que asistieron a nuestro evento el mes pasado en Red Robin. Valoramos mucho su apoyo.

REUNIÓN DE LA APTS: Nuestra próxima reunión será el jueves 5 de noviembre a las 4:30pm en la biblioteca de la escuela. ¡Esperamos verlos allí!
MANTENTE CONECTADO: Linktree

¡Prepárense para el evento de recaudación de fondos más sabroso del año! El jueves 12 de noviembre, sus maestros, personal y administradores favoritos de GEMS dejarán las aulas para ponerse detrás del mostrador en el McDonald’s ubicado cerca de Lowe’s, en Lincoln.

Ya sea sirviendo papas fritas, atendiendo en el autoservicio o tomando su pedido con una sonrisa, nuestro equipo está listo para atenderlos y ayudar a recaudar fondos para nuestra escuela.

• Cuándo: Jueves 12 de noviembre
• Dónde: McDonald’s en Lincoln (junto a Lowe’s)
• Por qué: ¡Una parte de todo lo recaudado apoyará directamente a nuestro APTS (Asociación de Padres y Maestros) y a los maravillosos programas que financian para nuestros estudiantes!

¡Olvídense de preparar la cena, traigan a la familia y vengan a apoyar a nuestro increíble personal mientras asumen el reto en McDonald’s! Será una velada llena de diversión, espíritu escolar, comida deliciosa y convivencia.

¡Marquen sus calendarios, vayan a la ventana de autoservicio y hagamos que esta noche en McDonald’s sea inolvidable! ¡Nos vemos allí!

This month, our Panthers are focusing on spreading kindness to their peers and staff members—be on the lookout for fun kindness activities taking place all month long!

A few quick updates:

• Student Store: Open Tuesday through Friday, both before and after school.

• Join Our PBIS Team: Members of our PBIS team recently attended a conference, and one of our biggest takeaways was the importance of building a more diverse team that includes parent and student voices. If you or your student are interested in getting involved, please reach out to Mrs. Brown or Ms. White

We know some absences cannot be avoided. When possible, families can help students miss less instructional time by:

• Scheduling appointments before or after school

• Choosing school breaks for family trips

• Bringing students to school before an appointment or returning them afterward

• Contacting the school as soon as you know your child will be absent

A little planning can help students stay connected to their learning and avoid falling behind. Thank you for partnering with Glen Edwards Middle School to make every day matter!

Mark your calendars! This year’s 8th Grade Point Break will take place on December 2nd & 3rd. Point Break is a powerful program focused on building empathy, strengthening connections, and fostering a supportive community for our 8th graders.

Look out for a detailed update to 8th grade families with specific logistics and schedules soon. We look forward to a memorable experience with our 8th-grade students!

ParentSquare is the official communication platform for GEMS and Western Placer Unified School District. We use ParentSquare to share school updates, important reminders and time-sensitive information, including communications during an emergency.

We strongly encourage all families to download the free ParentSquare app and enable notifications. The app provides the most convenient way to receive messages, view updates and stay connected with your school.

Once downloaded, sign in using the email address or phone number listed in PowerSchool. You can also select your preferred language and customize how you receive routine notifications.

Download the ParentSquare app through your Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Wrestling is starting early this year! First practice is November 2nd at 4pm in the Spirit Center. Make sure you have your updated physical uploaded to Final Forms
https://westernplacer-ca.finalforms.com/sports

Web Link

Pre Order Now

https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09891586

Our GEMS AVID SEE's Candy Fundraiser is live!

Now through December 4th, purchase holiday candy online here to ensure delivery for all your celebrations. Our GEMS AVID program will use funds raised to pay for college visits and program materials. Questions: Reach out to Andrea Flamenco (atracyflamenco@wpusd.org)

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.

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 if you have not already. There are new modules that have been added this year. If you are unsure how to navigate the system click the following link for resources: ARU Website Resources

Failure to submit current/updated information will result in exclusion from activities such as dances and delay any travel study applications until all modules are submitted.

We will continue to ask for IDs when picking up students. Please ensure you have yours with you and that your name appears on the student profile as an authorized person to pick up the student.

To ensure the safety of our students and remain in compliance with new state mandates, ALL volunteers—both new and returning—must complete a brief online safety training on Mandated Reporting through PublicSchoolWorks before volunteering on campus or attending school events/field trips.

Even if you were cleared to volunteer in previous school years, you will need to complete this training and fulfill the updated requirements before you can be cleared for this year.

For step-by-step instructions and additional details, please see the attached district communication sent out in July <<HERE>> . Thank you for your support in keeping our campus safe!

Here is the information for Minga. Keep in mind students are not to have phones at school, so everything for Minga is done from chromebooks and Chromebook kiosks during the school day.

Guides to help your family get started with the Minga platform:

Family Introduction (English)

Spanish Family Intro (Español)

We are excited to share opportunities for students to get extra academic support and connect with peers through fun activities after school!

Tutoring

• Days: Tuesday – Friday
• Time: 3:05 – 4:35 PM
• Location: Library

Looking for a fun way to explore new hobbies, build new skills, and hang out with friends after school? Session 1 of our GEMS After School Clubs is running through November 13th!

Whether you're interested in strategy games like Chess and D&D, getting hands-on in Fabric Arts or Makerspace, or staying active with Soccer Club, there is something for everyone. Clubs meet weekly from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and all GEMS students are welcome to join—check out the full schedule below and jump into the fun!

GEMS TV has started so make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel. We will have new shows every Wednesday and Friday at www.youtube.com/gemstv916

WeAre105 Podcast returning in November.....STAY TUNED!

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).

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 ZERO Period. Should you receive an absence notice the student missed 7th period it is technically their 7:00-7:45am class
• 8th period is actually the students FLEX/Intervention period Tuesday - Friday. Should you receive an absence notice the student missed 8th period it is technically their 12:35-1:03pm class.
• ALSO NOTE: There will be NO TRAVEL STUDIES allowed to last two weeks of school.
  

AFTER SCHOOL YOUTH CENTER

IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR!!

Follow along on social media for student highlights, campus photos, and event updates:

Facebook: WPUSD – Glen Edwards Middle School

Instagram: @glenedwardsmiddle_wpusd