Gaiser Middle School
Home of the Grizzlies
May/June 2015
3000 NE 99th Street
Vancouver, Wash 98665
(360)313-3400
http://gaiser.vansd.org
Dear Gaiser Families:
I want to extend a thank you to all of our wonderful PTSA Officers who put in so much time and effort this year to help Gaiser staff and
students. We owe these officers, and all of our PTSA members, and huge dose of gratitude. Thank you for your support!
Danelle Schaff – President
Madonna Underland Vice President
Ginger Barnwel, Secretary
Tori Bryson, Treasurer
As the school year draws to a close, here are some end-of-the-year details. On Tuesday, June 16th, the 8th grade awards assembly will be
from 10:30 – 11:30 AM and parents are welcome to attend. The PTSA 8th Grade Party will then take place from 11:30 – 1:30. In order to
attend the party, 8th grade students must meet the following requirements:
 Academic:
 No failing grades
 Full effort on assessments
 Behavior
 No excessive tardiness
 No suspensions
 Citizenship
 All fines paid
All library books and iPad returned
We are on a two-hour early release schedule on June 15th & 16th. One final note, backpacks are not allowed on the final day of school.
As the weather continues to warm, please help us ensure an appropriate learning environment by monitoring your student’s clothing.
Thank you in advance!
Messages: Education is very important and class time is valuable. In
order to protect valuable instruction time we will only interrupt classes to
deliver messages in an emergency. If you have an appointment or other
issue, please make arrangements with your student before or after school.
Deliveries: We want families to know that the office is unable to accept
deliveries for students during the school day. This includes: flowers,
balloons and food. In keeping classroom learning our #1 priority, the
office does not interrupt the classroom unless it is an urgent situation.
Closed Campus
Once students have arrived on campus, they are not to leave without a
dismissal from the attendance office. Positive identification is required
when enrolling and picking up your child.
Thank you for your cooperation.
School Information
Administrative Staff:
Principal: Michael Lane
Associate Principal: Sheri Backous
Associate Principal: Casey Greco
Secretary: Charlyne Clark
Gaiser Middle School
313-3400
Gaiser’s Fax number
313-3401
24-hour Attendance line
313-1452
Want to e-mail a teacher?
[email protected]
Upcoming Date
Checks not Accepted in June, District Wide
Per Vancouver School District Business Office directive, checks will
not be accepted for any payment of fees, fines or other school purchases beginning May 29, 2015 and ending when we open Gaiser's
office August 11, 2015.
We will accept cash or money orders and credit cards at our business
office or on-line payments at https://fines.vansd.org/
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions
you may call 313-3404 and ask for Mrs. Luce, our business office clerk.
Please remember that free/reduced lunch forms
Need to be filled out each new school year!
May 27
June 5
June 09
June 11
June 12
June 15
June 16
June 22
Aug. 11
Aug. 24
Sept. 1
Sept. 2
Sept. 24
5th Grade Parent Night 6:00-7:00
5th Grade Visitation 9:00—10:30
6/7/8 Grade Choir Concert
Orchestra /Band Concert
Talent Show
2-hour Early Release Days
Last Day of School 2 Hour Early Release
Report Cards sent home
Gaiser Office Opens
Sport Practices Begin
Ice Cream Social
First Day of School
Open House
Attendance
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Parents, please remember to bring your picture ID to the Attendance
window when picking up your student during the school day. Also,
remind those on your Emergency Pick-up List about bringing their picture ID. Finally, those Robo-Calls! We know they can be irritating,
but please understand that they are centrally sent from the District and
are for the protection and safety of your students. Attendance Clerk's
Email address: Stacy.Bundt@vansd/org
Pertussis is cyclical and peaks every 3 to 5 years. This year Pertussis is
on the rise. You can reduce the risk of getting Pertussis by keeping immunizations up to date. Pertussis is part of the DTP for children and the
Tdap for children 10 years or older and adults.
Infants < 1 year old and pregnant women (particularly in their third trimester) are considered "High RisK". It is recommended that anyone who
may expose infants or pregnant women to Pertussis be vaccinated.
Gaiser Middle School 2014-15 Yearbook
Sales
Ask your doctor if you need a booster for Pertussis.
You should consult your doctor if:
1) Your infant has a persistent or worsening cough with no fever or low
grade fever.
2) Cough illness >7 days that is accompanied by gagging, vomiting after
coughing, or a whooping sound when breathing in, for people of all
ages.
3) Any cough illness >2 weeks with no alternative diagnosis for people
of all ages
Gaiser Middle School will now be selling a hard cover, full color
yearbook through out the school year. Please purchase your yearbook
as early as possible as we pre-order a set amount. Once we are sold
out there are no more available to purchase.
Yearbooks cost $20 if you have NOT purchased an ASB card and they
will cost $20.00 for everyone if purchased after May 8th.
Please bring cash, or check, made out to Gaiser Middle School, to the
Business office window to order your yearbook. Credit and debit
cards are now accepted in the business office.
Yearbooks cannot be ordered without a payment. Your payment will
hold the yearbook.
Yearbooks are distributed the day before the last day of school.
Warm Weather Dress Code
Orchestra
Shorts and skirts: A general guideline for shorts and skirts is that
the hemline is no shorter than the fingertips when the student stands
upright with good posture and the arms are extended downward.
Shirts and Tops: No skin should show on the back, belly or midriff
areas. Sleeveless shirts should cover most of the shoulder area.
No undergarments should be visible.
On Tuesday, April 21st the Gaiser Beginning and Advanced Orchestras
performed at the All-District Orchestra Concert at Hudson's Bay High
School. All of the orchestras from the Vancouver School District joined
together to form 3 super orchestras in one amazing, gigantic musical
event.
The Gaiser Beginning and Advanced Orchestras will be performing in
our last concert of the year on Monday, June 9th at 7:00pm at Gaiser
Middle School.
News from the Nurse:
Parents please note the following items:
If your student has medication at school, make plans to retrieve it on the last day of school – June 16, 2015. Medication that is not picked up will
be discarded immediately (exceptions may apply – contact the nurse with questions).
All medication authorization forms (for any and all medications) must be updated each school year – there are no exceptions. This applies even if
your student had a new authorization the last few months of school. Medication forms for next year are available on the district website, or in
the school office.
For students with serious health conditions, look for the updated individualized health plans (IHPs) in the mail. These IHPs - plus medication
forms and medication, if necessary- need to be submitted to the school office prior to the first day of school in the fall.
Current 7th graders – must have a second varicella vaccination, or physician verification of disease/immunity for fall attendance. Letters have
already been sent out. As soon as the student has the shot, submit forms to the school office. Students who do not have proper vaccinations or
verification will be excluded from school per Washington State and VPS guidelines.
Current 8th graders – Will need a second varicella vaccination, or physician verification of disease/immunity for fall of 2016. Letters were sent out
to give plenty of notice for that new requirement. As soon as the student acquires the vaccination, submit forms to the school office where
you attend.
Grizzly Boot Camp prepares 8th graders for the increased rigor and responsibility of high
school. Camp runs from May 11st to June 16th and culminates with the 8th Grade Party. Students must meet the following criteria to attend the party:
Gaiser MESA
This year Gaiser boasts eight MESA teams of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who
participated in the regional Youth Apps Competition in March at WSUVancouver. MESA (Math, Science, Engineering Achievement) is an after
school program whose mission is to provide a pathway to college and
careers in the STEM fields for traditionally underrepresented students.
One of Gaiser's MESA teams, Team Stress Relievers, took first place for
their app at the regional competition and will be attending the State Championships this May with the club advisors Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Luna. The
app that Team Stress Relievers built was designed to help relieve stress by
providing the user with jokes, pictures, or inspirational quotes when
needed.
Team Stress Relievers (Alan Gama-7, Eliza Martorano-8, Joshua Mundo-8,
Eloy Lopez Morales-8) receiving the first place trophy from Mayor Tim
Leavitt.
Please try looking for your overdue book in the following places.
You never know, it might actually be there!
In your desk or backpack
In your friend's desk
Behind the bookshelf
In all of your classrooms
Under your car seats
Near or under the TV
On your kitchen counter
At your friend's house
On your teacher’s desk
Packed with Christmas decorations
In every closet in the house
In the school's lost and found
In one of your home’s bathrooms
On the back porch
In the dog house
In the baby’s stroller
In a toy chest
Behind the bed
table
Under the bed
At your after-school program
On top of your dresser
Under every bed in your house
At Grandma's house or the baby-sitter's
Wedged down inside the recliner
In the garage or in the family car
In a magazine rack or on the coffee
At your parent's place of work
On the teacher’s bookshelves
Behind your chest of drawers
Under the dirty clothes
seen it
In the dresser drawers
In the refrigerator or freezer
On top of the refrigerator
Under the couch or a chair
Behind the refrigerator
Ask your school bus driver if they have
In the gymnasium or wrestling room
On the floor of your closet
In the trunk of your family car
In the P.E. locker room
Summer Swim
Swim Lessons
Tuesday/ Thursday evenings
Next sessions starts May 12-June 4th
8- 30 minute lessons $56.00
Saturday Lessons
Next session starts May 30-June 20th
4- 30 minute lessons $28.00
Adult Lessons
Fridays @Propstra Aquatic Center
Stroke Improvement 6:00 pm.-6:45 pm.
Adult Beginner 6:50 pm-7:35 pm.
Next session starts in June
4- 45 minute lessons $40.00
Private Lessons Available For All Levels.
Contact [email protected]
For more information visit us at jpcc.vansd.org !
SUMMER CAMPS
2015JPCC SUMMER CAMPS
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Snack, Activities, Lunch,
Rock Wall Climbing
&Afternoon Swim Included!
Sessions begin July 6
Ages 6 - 11 and 11 - 13
Green Thumbs
S.O.S. Kitchen (Save Our Summer!)
Fitness Fun
Super Sleuths
Junior Lifeguard and Babysitters’ Bootcamp offered for students
ages 11+
$120 per week/per child
Discount for additional children in family
Registration forms available on-line!
Jim Parsley Community Center
4100 Plomondon, Vancouver, WA
(360) 313.1060 jpcc.vansd.org
Gaiser Middle School Athletics 2015
The 2015 Fall Sports Season kicks off on Monday, August 24, 2015. Cut-off is September 4. Fall sports
include: 7th Grade Flag Football, 8th Grade Tackle Football, 7th/8th Grade Girls Volleyball and 7th/8th Grade
Cross Country. Practices will be 3:30 – 5:00 pm starting August 24.
Student-athletes must turn in a completed full clearance packet, including a physical (within the last two
years), and have health insurance (or sports insurance, please contact the Business Office for information). Returning athlete forms will not be accepted for Fall sports. Clearance packets can be found on the VPS
website at: http://vansd.org/athletics-activities/ and can be turned in any time after June 2. Free sports physicals are available to those without health insurance or a primary care provider. See attached flyer.
Athletic fees are $20 per sport and athletes are required to purchase an ASB card for $10. Fees can be paid at
the Business Office starting August 10, 2015.
Families are required to provide transportation to and from practices before school starts. Players need to be picked up no
later than 5:20 (or 20 minutes after the scheduled end of practices). If your child will be riding home with another player’s
parent after practices, please write a note.
Attendance at practices is a contributing factor to participation. Athletes must have 10 practices completed
(12 for tackle football) in order to be eligible for competition. Additionally, student-athletes must have no
more than one failing grade from their third Trimester grades to be immediately eligible to participate.
Student-athletes must also maintain a minimum of 6 passing grades to remain eligible to participate.
Each sport will have a parent information night where the coaches will review their sport-specific rules and
regulations. Please be sure to mark those dates on your calendars.
We hope that your child will take advantage of the opportunity to participate in athletics here at Gaiser
Middle School!
Sports Offered at Gaiser
7 and 8th graders only, except Track
th
Fall (August 24 – October 21): Tackle Football (8th grade), Flag Football (7th Grade), Girls Volleyball,
Cross Country
Early Winter (October 26 – December 18): Wrestling, Girls Basketball
Late Winter (January 11 – March 12): Boys Basketball
(February 9 – March 29): Girls Bowling
Spring (April 11 – May 26): Track
Sports Physicals 2015
Sponsored by Vancouver Public Schools,
Family Medicine of Southwest Washington,
and The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington
Available to Vancouver Public School students entering 6th through 12Th grades
These physicals are provided by volunteers and are meant to target those athletes with
difficulty accessing care or who do not have health insurance. These exams are not meant to replace regular health visits with your primary care provider. If you have access to primary care,
please have your sports physical performed there.
August 20, 2015 at Hudson’s Bay HS
1:00 to 4:45 pm
August 24, 2015 at Fort Vancouver HS
1:00 to 4:45 pm
1:00 to 2:45 pm Last name starting with A-K
3:00 to 4:45 pm Last name starting with L-Z
at all school locations
No Appointment Necessary
For uninsured students:
August 29, 2015
at Free Clinic of SW Washington 9:00 to 1:00
Please call 313-1390 for an appointment ONLY for the Free Clinic location
**STUDENTS, PLEASE BRING WIAA SPORTS PHYSICAL FORM WITH YOU WITH MEDICAL HISTORY PORTION ALREADY COMPLETED, AND WEAR LOOSE FITTING SHORTS AND T-SHIRT**
A STUDENT WHO IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY PARENT OR GUARDIAN MUST BRING A
SIGNED PERMISSION SLIP.
ALL FORMS MAY BE DOWNLOADED FROM OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.VANSD.ORG
Students with known cardiac, asthma, diabetes and/or seizure related issues or other
conditions of concern cannot be served. If an abnormality is found, you will be referred
to your primary care provider before being cleared for your sport.
Your child may be eligible for free or low-cost medical, dental and vision coverage through Washington Apple Health for Kids. You can find out more information or apply at the sports physicals. If you would like to
apply please bring proof of all your household income, birth certificates for your children, and picture ID for
your children 16 years and older.
May, 2015
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We hope this letter finds your student enjoying the school year and highly engaged in learning the
content of his/her grade level. The purposes of this letter are several. First, I want to notify you that
your school, Gaiser Middle School, will continue as a Focus school based on an analysis of student
achievement as compared with other schools in our state. This analysis specifically identified that our
special education subgroup have not met our goals or expectations over the past three years on
state assessments in reading and mathematics. We are proud to announce that our English Language Learners (ELL) improved in the areas of math and reading over the past three years and are
no longer identified as a subgroup meeting Focus status. An equally important purpose of this letter
is to reaffirm our commitment to the success of ALL students and to inform you that we are still working to improve.
To increase learning outcomes for all of our students, we are taking the following action steps over
the next few months:
 Participate in a Needs Assessment to identify strengths and challenges in our school; the assessment will also include recommendations for improvement.  Identify next steps we will take to improve learning outcomes for our students, by completing our
“Student and School Success Action Plan”; the plan must be submitted to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for review and approval in the fall of 2015. Engage parents/guardians and our school community in our improvement efforts. During the 2015-16 school year, we will continue to implement our plan and examine a variety of data
to ensure we are making progress.
More details about the movement of our state, district, and school in pursuit of ongoing improvement
for all our students can be found at: http://www.k12.wa.us/ESEA/default.aspx.
We are committed to continued growth as we work together to support our most valuable resource,
our children.
Thank you for your continued partnership with us in improving our school system to support your
child’s learning. We are committed to continued growth as we work together to prepare all of our students for college, careers, and life. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mike Lane
Principal
Back to School Readiness Festival Tri Language
Save the date!
The Family-Community Resource Centers of Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) will host a back-to-school readiness festival this
summer. “Go Ready!” will be held Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at at Hudson’s Bay High School, 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd.
Students and families will find food, entertainment, and get help with haircuts, immunizations, clothing and access to resources
Go Ready! is free and open to VPS families and students of all ages. For more information call 313-4733 or go to
www.vansd.org/goready.
Russian
Не пропустите!
Этим летом Центры ресурсов для семей Ванкуверского школьного района (VPS) будут проводить праздник по подготовке к
новому учебному году. Фестиваль «На старт!» состоится 19 августа с 10:00 утра до 2:30 дня в старшей школе Hudson’s Bay по
адресу: 1601 E McLoughlin Blvd. Учащимся и их семьям будет предложена еда и развлекательные мероприятия, а также будет
оказана следующая помощь: услуги парикмахера, прививки, одежда и информация о доступе к необходимым ресурсам.
Это мероприятие проводится бесплатно. Приглашаются все семьи нашего школьного района с учащимися всех возрастов. За
дополнительной информацией обращайтесь по телефону 313-4733 или на сайт www.vansd.org/goready .
Spanish
¡Marquen la fecha!
Los Centros de Recursos para las Familias del Distrito de las Escuelas Públicas de Vancouver (VPS) estarán ofreciendo este verano
un festival de preparación para el regreso a la escuela. El festival ¡Prepárate YA! o GO Ready! se celebrará el miércoles, 19 de
agosto de 10:00 de la mañana a 2:30 de la tarde en la escuela Hudson’s Bay High School, localizada en 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd.
Los estudiantes y sus familias encontrarán comida y entretenimiento así como ayuda con cortes de cabello, vacunas, ropa y acceso a
recursos.
¡Go Ready! es un evento gratuito para las familias y estudiantes de todas las edades del Distrito de las Escuelas Públicas de
Vancouver (VPS). Para más información, favor de llamar al 313-4733 o visite www.vansd.org/goready.