GILMER ISD NEWS Gilmer Independent School District Newsletter Spring 2017

Gilmer High School students attend the 2017 Presidential Inauguration

Five GHS students witnessed history on Friday, January

20th, 2017 when they attended the inauguration of President

Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. The group walked al-

most 12 miles the day of the inauguration and waited in long

lines to pass through security onto the mall – arriving just in

time to witness the ceremony. The trip also included visits

to the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, Washington monu-

ment, Ford’s Theater, the Museums of Natural History, Air

and Space and American History. They visited the Korean

and Vietnam War memorials as well as Arlington National

Cemetery where they witnessed the changing of the guard

and listened to a veteran from the Battle of the Bulge speak

to a group. They also traveled to the Pentagon to see the

9/11 Memorial. The last day of the trip included a tour of the

Holocaust Museum. The students that experienced the in-

auguration are Andrew Koudelka, Adam Clair, Olivia

LaGrone, Caitlin Cole and Keyora Wheeler. The students

were chaperoned by Gilmer High School teachers Carolyn Williams and James McCauley.

National Elementary Honor Society

On February 13, 2017, Gilmer Elementary inducted its first group of students into the National Elementary Honor Society.

These students must maintain an 85 average or above all year long and must be responsible students at all times. 45 fourth grad-

ers were inducted into our National Elementary Honor Society this year, and we hope to keep those numbers growing.

The beautiful, evening ceremony included speeches from Mr. Godsey and Ms. Banuelos. Students then walked across

the stage to shake the hands of the counselor, the GT teacher, and all of the fourth-grade teachers before receiving their certifi-

cates. A story on courage was shared with the parents, and the parents discussed how being courageous is important to being

responsible.

The evening concluded with lemonade and sweet treats. Thank you to the members of the National Elementary Honor Society

committee for making this event possible.

National FFA Week

The Gilmer FFA Chapter just recently celebrated National FFA Week at Gilmer High School. Several activities throughout the week provided the FFA members to par-ticipate and celebrate the accomplishments of the FFA Organization. Members started the week with a sanitation day (cleaned the teachers classrooms at the high school), teacher appreciation letters, Official Dress and Blue and Gold Day and a stew appreciation lunch for members, fac-ulty, staff and our first responders in Gilmer. Also, in the month of February, Gilmer FFA chapter traveled to San Antonio Livestock Show to compete in several activities. The chapter had a very successful show. Starting with the poultry career develop-ment event, the team placed 8th in the contest with over 100 teams competing.

Three FFA members competed in the Science Fair competition, Brianna Parker, Kaylee Fyfee and Cam-eron Gipson. Kaylee placed 3rd with her project and Cameron Gipson won Reserve Champion with his science fair project. Gilmer FFA competed in the public speaking contest with ten members, McKenzie Castro, Brianna Parker, Audrey Nolan, Kaleigh Scott, Jaici Pilcher, Mason Hurt, Gavin Lhuilier, Tyler Watkins, Jenna Troell, Kaleb Fitzgerald. The Ag Mechanics Show team competed with 8 projects that the students constructed. Rayce Meritt constructed a hanging fire ball placed first, Logan

Parish, Deer feeder placed 2nd, Jon English placed 3rd with a 24’ Gooseneck Lowboy, Ty Quinn and Jose Gomez placed 3rd with a 20’ Utility trailer. Addison Coleman and Camden Bowles received Blue ribbons for their projects. Madison Vestal and McKenzie Castro competed in the Ag Sales and Marketplace Competition with a metal frame cedar top picnic table. They won their division and then place Grand Champion of the Show. This allowed them to be first in the sale order and their table sold for $10,000.

Intermediate Model UN

Delegate of Australia-Ieft to right-Iliana Wilson, Landry Pritchett, Jon Vestal, Kaylynn Miles, Caleb Dodd (in back), Daria Frazier

World Hunger Collage by Australia won 1st Place

Delegate of Australia at Debate-Front Row-L to R-Iliana Wilson, Kaylynn Miles, Land-ry Pritchett, Back Row-Daria Frazier, Caleb Dodd, Jon Vestal

Delegate of South Africa-left to right-Lillie Dowell, Eric Nelson, Seth Jordan, Charley Flores, Samantha Wright, Kyleigh Pate

Water Pollution Collage by South Africa won 3rd Place

Delegate of South Africa-L to R-Front Row-Samantha Wright, Kyleigh Pate, Eric Nelson, Back Row-Charley Flores, Seth Jordan, Lillie Dowell

Bruce Junior High Model UN

On January 26th and 27th five Bruce Junior High GT students including 8th graders, Bre'Anna Croley serving as Head Chair for the WHO Committee, Elizabeth Haws serving as Sergent-at-Arms, Jaeden McCarter serving as Head Chair for the Security Council, Lanie Pritchett serving as Sergent-at-Arms, and 7th grader, John Pierce serving as Head Chair for the UNESCO Committee attended the Model UN Com-petition as Leadership of the Region 7 MS-3 Model UN.

On January 30th and 31st, all of our 7th and 8th grade GT students from BJHS participated in the MS- 4 Model UN Competition for Region 7. BJHS students received group awards including: 3rd Place for the Map of Brazil, 3rd Place for Impromptu Resolution Writing for France, and Honorable Mention for Brazil's Impromptu Resolution Writing. Indi-vidual awards included 1st Place for Security Council for Jaeden McCarter, Honorable Mention Security Council for Bre'Anna Croley, 2nd Place in UNEP Commit-tee for Lanie Pritch-ett, 3rd Place in UNESCO Committee for Emma Warden. Overall, our students represented BJHS very well while gaining insight into the workings of the United Nations Procedures.

Congratulations to Mrs. Collie! She was voted as our 2nd Nine Weeks PRIDE Teacher by our parents and stu-dents!!! Each nine weeks we ask our parents and stu-dents to complete a survey by selecting the teacher they would like recognized for their hard work, positive attitude, great communication, helpfulness, and will-ingness to go the extra mile for our students!

Family Nights at Gilmer

Intermediate

Thank you to all of our families who

joined us for our Science Experiment

Family Night. Our next family night

will be Thursday, March 9th…Math

Night with Nachos and Numbers. We

March 13-17

Elementary UIL

On February 16th and 18th, elementary students competed in academic UIL in our region. We are so thankful for our UIL coordinator, Devon Bean, and our dedicated coaches including: Holly Moncrief, Cristie Roye, Jamie Clair, Danny Carey, Kathy McGuffin, Tabitha Lair, Shannon Britton, Nedra Henson, and Devon Bean. Our students worked hard with their coaches for months, and we are so very proud of them! Here is a listing of the students that took awards at this year's Academic UIL: 2nd grade Storytelling: Belle Murphy = 5th place 3rd grade Storytelling: Alexis Banuelos = 1st place Chrysta Mendoza = 5th place 3rd grade Ready Writing: Alivia Brown = 5th place 4th grade Ready Writing: Lacy Wilson = 4th place 4th grade Number Sense: Kenyon Lusk = 2nd place 4th grade Number Sense Team:2nd place = Brendon Webb, Ashton Sherwood, Kenyon Lusk 3rd grade Music Memory: Sarah Craven = 2nd place 3rd grade Music Memory Team: 3rd place = Sarah Craven, Briley Yazell, Taylor Fluellen 4th grade Chess: Kenyon Lusk = 4th place 4th grade Art: Kiara Fults = 2nd place 4th grade Art Team: 3rd place = Kiara Fults, Michael Harriman, Adrian Aleman, Josiah Merril All of these children did an excellent job, and their hard work paid off. We are proud of ALL of our stu-dents who competed during these two days. The photo shows every student that competed, and our amazing coaches.

GO BUCKEYES!!!

ELEMENTARY WRITER’S ASSEMBLY

WRITERS! That’s who

we are at GES. We

read, write, and go

through the writing pro-

cess to publish many

pieces throughout the

year. However, a few

special times a year

students get the oppor-

tunity to share their

published pieces of

writing with other stu-

dents, teachers, and

their families in a “Writers’ Assembly.” Each assembly has a certain theme, and the theme for our most

recent was “lost.” Students could write about real, personal experiences, or they could create a fictional

story. Some students wrote about items or pets they had lost, and others wrote about a fictional lost and

found. Each teacher choses a writer from the class to share at the assembly. The writers selected are

students who have grown as writers, worked extremely hard, and have written a special piece. Check out these pictures! The next Writers’

Assemblies will be May 22-23, 2017. More information to come! Until then, read, write, and learn!

20 WAYS TO LET CHILDREN KNOW YOU LOVE THEM

1. Notice me. It’s easy to look over my head, ignore me, or step around me. Take the time to get down on my level and look me in the eyes. I never want to feel like I’m in the way.

2. When I put my arms up toward you, hug me. Sometimes I just need to be held, even if it’s only for a moment. 3. Tell me the truth, but not all of it at once. I’m not ready to hear some things yet. Just a little bit at a time. Be patient. And don’t worry,

I’ll believe you even if I don’t understand you. 4. Snuggle with me on rainy days. 5. Be gentle with words. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may bruise my heart. 6. Protect me from the dark places, the bullies, and the monsters of the world. I can be easily frightened, intimidated, and misled. Some-

times I need you to guard me and stand up for me. 7. Smile at me. It makes me feel welcomed, loved, and important! 8. Share my excitement when something special happens. I love to celebrate life! Join me! 9. Forgive me quickly. I promise I’ll do the same for you. And tell me that God isn’t angry at me anymore, either. 10. Go ahead and tickle me, but stop when I |ask you to. 11. Let me giggle and fall over laughing sometimes. And join me when I do! Remember, it’s okay to be silly, it doesn’t mean you’re child-

ish, just childlike. 12. Teach me when it’s okay to cry. Be willing to dry my tears when they come. Comfort me when I’m scared and let me know that I’ll be

safe whenever I’m with you. 13. Admit your mistakes. Remember, I’m watching you to learn how a big person should act. 14. Pray with me. Pray for me. And teach me to pray, too. 15. Spend time with me, even if it’s not doing anything special. I want you to be my friend and I just like being with people who care

about me. I’ll bet you do too! 16. Let me wish. And dream. And pretend. These are great ways to help me to learn that the most important things in life are all invisi-

ble. 17. Discipline me when I misbehave. Sometimes I’ll disobey just to see if you notice. Even though I don’t like to be punished, I’m glad you

care enough to teach me right from wrong. 18. Remember that hugs speak louder than words. 19. Listen to me, especially when I’m sad. That’s when I really need a friend. 20. Tell me every day how much God loves me. And show me what that kind of love looks like in the real world.