Gladewater Middle School

a

TEA ‘Recognized’ School

2010 / 2011

The Middle Years – A GMS Parent Newsletter

STAAR to replace TAKS

Commissioner of Education Robert Scott has announced that the next generation of student tests will be called the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness or STAAR.

STAAR will replace the Texas Assessment of

Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), which is the

criterion-reference assessment program that has

been in place since 2003.

The STAAR name, pronounced the same as star,

will be used for the 12 end-of-course assessments

mandated by SB 1031 in 2007 and the new grade

3-8 assessments mandated by HB 3 in the 2009

legislative session.

The new tests will be used beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. Students in the

graduating Class of 2015, who are currently in seventh grade, will be the first students

who must meet the end-of-course testing requirements, as well as pass their classes, in

order to earn a diploma.

The new tests will be significantly more rigorous than previous tests and will measure a

child’s performance, as well as academic growth.

The grade 3-8 STAAR tests in reading and mathematics, by law, must be linked from

grade to grade to performance expectations for the English III and Algebra II end-of-

course assessments.

During a speech at the Texas Association of School Administrators’ Midwinter

Conference in Austin, Scott also said the last TAKS-based school accountability ratings

will be issued in 2011. Ratings will be suspended in 2012 while a new accountability

system is developed.

The new state rating system will debut in 2013.

It Must Be the Water

Did you know that GMS has the distinct honor of having nine (9) sets of twins on its campus, who would have believed it?

Leadership in the Making

Pictured above are the newest members of the GMS student council. We are very proud of these students who have chosen to be of service to both their peers and school. The student council has chosen as a service project the preparation of ‘care packages’ to be sent out all over the world to our militarily men and women. Way to go GMS student leaders!

GMS Holds 5th Grade Parent Orientation Meeting

On Thursday, April 07, 2011 Gladewater Middle School held a 5th grade parent

orientation meeting. Parents had the opportunity to learn about the school and meet the

teachers, as well as, strategies for helping their student(s) make a successful transition

to middle school.

Principal James Griffin welcomed parents and shared how GMS strives to serve

the needs of its students and their families. “GMS is committed to excellence.

Consequently, our student’s academic progress remains a source of pride for the

Gladewater Community,” stated Mr. Griffin.

The counselor, Ms. Odette Alexander, presented a PowerPoint presentation on

“12 Tips for Middle School,” outlining ways that parents can help their student transition

to middle school.

The evening culminated with a tour of the school by the GMS student council and

National Jr. Honor Society members. Refreshments were served.

Burning the Midnight Oil

6th Grade

A Honor Roll

Marissa Alderson, Jace Armstrong, Kayla Baird, Justin Basa, Christian Bell, Sean

Canaguier, Lexandra Cerda, Dakota Cowley, Ashleigh Criss, Dulce Espinoza, Dakota

Foster, Samuel Frake, Hailey Goss, Rebecca Henkle, Kaitlynn Herndon, Wayne Hester,

Alexa Higginbotham, Laura Lara, Kiara Manning-Shaw, Brittany Monnin, Daisy Phillips,

Tiffany Richter, Justin Simmons, Dakota Smith, Ashlea Spano.

A/B Honor Roll

Monica Arreguin, Kristina Baird, Niki Bargsley, Lakelyn Barton, Michael Batchelor,

Adam Bowman, Destyn Bryant, Dakota Cargil, Daniel Cartwright, Chantry Cheshire,

Jamiya Choice, Morgan Clark, Shakira Coleman, Marvin Cook, Sarah Fortenberry,

Ja’myia Garrett, Lance Gerard, Jordan Gibson, Kianna Hamilton, Christina Hancock,

Emmie Hester, Joden Jackson, John Jackson, April Jackson, Makaidi Jones, Kyle King,

Haley, Krause, Andrew Martin, Darius Merricks, Lance Mitchell, Lauren Mitchell,

Hannah Moore, Randell Palazzola, Stevi Parker, Lena Pellegalle, Bailey Rode, Makayla

Rodriquez, Carlos Ruiz, Yesenia Serrano, Marissa Smith, Clintarius Starling, Michiel

Timmons, Hannah Tredway, Ernst Vanderlaan, Emma Wallace, Cylie Wragg, Juliana

Zapata.

7th

Grade

A Honor Roll

Anna Carter, Caden Clifford, Ugonna Duru, Hannah Eubanks, Micah Gilley, Jaryd

Gipson, Blake Guthrie, Keshawn Lawler, Summer Martin, Jadeann Martinez, Jonathan

Masih, Jeri McCrary, Charynn McCurdy, Katherine McEvoy, Jaci Moore, Allyson

Phillips, Taylor Radford, Kinsley Skiles, Anastacia Vaughn, Caleb Williams, Mya

Williams, Courtnie Williamson, Kimberly Wilson.

A/B Honor Roll

Jessica Ainsworth, William Allen, Kayli Anglin, Maleisha Baird, Kaylee Bernard, Jozee

Bigbey, Jonah Blackmon, William Blackmon, Alexandra Blanchard, Elisha Breland,

Morgan Brooks, Whitney Carroll, Allyssa Enox, Hannah Farthing, David Foster, Victor

Garnica, Alanna Gates, Brooke George, Raymond Gonzales, Anya Goss, Sarah Hicks,

Colton Hitt, Bradly Holland-Hedge, Kourtlin Hunter, Gabrielle Ironw-Gillaspy, Skylar

Johnson, Christopher Jones, Odyssey Jones, Tiffany Jones, Anthony Joplin, Lanxter

Keys, Macy Lewis, David Longmire, Gabrielle Maulini, Isabella McAvoy, Kamryn

Murphy, Tyler Myers, Angelica Owens, Mykey Parker, Taylor Poncelet Murphy, Brittany

Reynoso, Alex Shirley, Laci Stillie, Jaylia Stuart, Bailey Turlington, Quanterius Turner,

Marissa Vasquez, Bryar Wade, Patricia White.

8th Grade

A Honor Roll

Melissa Barron, Nicholas Canaguier, Micah Carmona, Albert Cassar, De Arius Cobbin,

David Crawford, Jacob Davidson, Christopher Dickerson, Isaac Espinoza, James Frake,

Bailey Glenn, Nicholas Hall, Jerry Jones, Jessica Kennedy, Randi Parker, Bri-Andrea

Price, Zachary Rea, Taylor Rode, Rebecca Rowe, Kasha Shaw, Melanie Stephens,

Christopher Stokely, Kaytlin Tant, Shane Townsoner, Arielle Williams, Keith Wolcott.

A/B Honor Roll

Kenneth Ainsworth, Payton Almanza, Mark Atkinson, Johnathan Berry, Marcy Bible,

Brianna Brackeen, Cody Brackeen, Sierra Broussard, Casey Bryant, Jacob Cartwright,

Shawnee Corbin, Brandon Curtis, Hayden Dees, Mark Deishler-DeLeon, Adrianna

Eudy, Kelsey Evans, Geoffrey Freeman, Brittany Gage, Osheiona Gipson, Daylon

Gordon, Joel Hadley, Brayden Hicks, Molly Hudspeth, Joshua Huffman, Celesterielle

LaCoste, Christopher Lee, Daylon Mack, Brady Mask, Shianne Masterson, Makenzie

Neill, Gabriel Norman, Omar Polanco, Miranda Reid, Jasmine Rodriquez, Lucero Rojas,

Keanna Sustaire, Kendall Welch, Daelon Welling, Chasity Wynn, Donavan York, Malik

Yulee.

Final thought:

Teams win championships not individuals