Week of October 16

Oct 16 – The Science of Adolescent Sleep, Dr. Colby Wyatt, GHS Library 2:30 pm
Oct 19 – Showing of The Mask You Live In, GMS Auditorium 6:00 pm
Oct 25 – Early Release Day, students dismissed at 11:10 am
Oct 26 – Parent Teacher Conferences begin after dismissal until 8:00 pm
Oct 27 – Parent Teacher Conferences 8:00 am- 2:00 pm

The Science of Adolescent Sleep

Dr. Colby Wyatt, Pediatrician , and GMS Parent, will speak on the science of the sleep habits of adolescents.

As many of you are aware, the school district has been  exploring the need for managing the school day in a more appropriate manner to capitalize on the optimum sleep and learning cycles of our students. There is significant science to indicate that our students need more sleep and that their sleep cycles and circadian rhythms are more in synch with a later start time to the school day.

Dr. Wyatt will elucidate upon the facts of the adolescent and their sleep habits and how schools might best respond to these needs.

This talk is open to all.

We will continue to offer parent meet up opportunities to help us address, as a community, the manner in which our students treat each other here at school and everywhere else.

On October 19th at 6:00pm we will host a screening of the movie The Mask You Live In.  The movie is a critical look at the stereotypes that have been foist upon many of our young men and how those stereotypes are managed or how they consume their lives.

Please join Ryan Tardiff and others from Maine Boys to Men as we attempt to examine and understand these challenges.

WHAT:  The Mask You Live In

WHERE:  Gorham Middle School Auditorium

WHEN:  Thursday, October 19, 2017 @ 6:00pm

This is open to the entire GMS faculty and staff.

I would also ask each of you to remind all of our students (your children) that their behavior downtown reflects on the entire community. We would like our town to see our students as they truly are, young folks who are very mindful of our Code of Conduct and our responsibility to a safe community.

In that vein, Gorham Parks and Recreation have arranged for Maine’s number one video truck to visit GMS beginning at dismissal. The truck will be located in the parking lot at the fields across the access road to GMS. There is a cost and students need to sign up in advance.

“Our deluxe and fully customized mobile video game studio provides you and 24+ guests with comfort and ease as you enjoy 150+ of your favorite games in our spacious climate controlled 30 foot long enclosed trailer. Customized and fitted with seven 50″ High Definition Flat Screen TV’s and two 32″ High Definition Flat Screen TV’s, we bring you the latest and best in gaming consoles, featuring Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii, and now VIRTUAL REALITY!~Our state-of-the-art sound system, LED light show, and satellite system combine to bring the action LIVE to you. Experience the ‘WOW’~factor as you step inside and provide your guests with an experience they will never forget!”

Gorham Parks and Recreation is also conducting two other offerings on Friday, October 27, the day of Parent Teacher Conferences.

GPS Soccer Camp on Inservice Day, Oct 27th

Gorham Recreation and Global Premier Soccer will be teaming up on Friday, October 6th to offer  a fun and educational day of soccer activities for kids in Gorham. Players will be working on technical aspects of the game such as passing, shooting, and dribbling in a creative and competitive environment.”  

Come on over to the Multipurpose field on Friday’s Inservice day for a full day off soccer!

Location: Gorham Multipurpose Field (Rain location – Shaw Gym)

Time: 8:30am – 2:30pm

Date: October 27th (Inservice Day)

Cost: $60

Sign up by going to Gorhamrec.com

Scary Story Writing Workshop on Inservice Day, Oct 27th

Write and illustrate an original horror story just in time for Halloween. Using costumes and props students will create their own scary characters and bring them to life through writing and illustration. The workshop will culminate with a scary story hour where students will read their tales aloud. Stories will be recorded and hosted online for families and friends to listen.

Location: Gorham Rec Center

Time: 8:30am – 2:30pm

Friday, October 27th

Cost: $85

As we mentioned earlier in the year, Happy Healthy Gorham is hoping to make the town of Gorham the Happiest and Healthiest Town in Maine. We had a very successful first experience with our Moving Naturally Week. I would like to extend a HUGE Thank You to Denis Albert, Sarah Titus, Martha LaViolet and Heidi McGouldrick for the “successful beyond my wildest dreams” walking school bus!

The next theme, for a week in November is Kindling Kindness Week. I know that Kim Arena has reached out the GMS again, so if you have some ideas, we’d love to hear them.

There will be a meeting with some of the folks from HHG on Wednesday, October 18 at 3:00 pm in Martha LaViolet’s room. If you are interested in helping with Kindling Kindness, please stop by.

In keeping with the theme of Kindness, I thought I’d share this video with you all:

We are pleased to once again provide all employees with an opportunity to participate in our annual United Way campaign.  Each year, the United Way of Greater Portland and its partner agencies provide services to more than 72,000 residents in Cumberland County, and it is likely that someone you know benefited from the efforts of the United Way, making this opportunity to give back to the community even more important and meaningful.

Please know that no donation is too small.  Pledging even $1 per week is significant, meaningful, and desperately needed.   Due to a generous donation from the John T. Gorman foundation, any new or increased pledges will be matched up to $150,000, so every new dollar we give will mean $2 to the United Way and its partner agencies.

If you donate $3/week ($156/year or more) you will be entered in a raffle for $1,000 L.L. Bean gift card

If you donate $8/wee ($416/year or more) you will be entered in a raffle for a new car from PAPE

To read more about the United Way in Cumberland County, please access their 2017 Community Report.

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