Weekly Updates from the Principal - February 14, 2025
Greetings, GMS Family!
Well, that was a week to remember - weatherwise, anyway.
Chess
In addition to all of the learning happening in school, GMS students continue to acquit themselves well in extracurricular events. Ms. Soni runs a very active chess club. Several members participated in a tournament involving players from fifteen area schools on Friday, February 7. Ms. Soni's report captures the essence of an event that celebrated the game of chess and the spirit of community that emerged among the participants.
It was a fabulous day.
First, I am beyond proud of every student who attended - they were beautiful ambassadors for GMS and showcased a lot of class and positive spirit today. It truly was an honour to see them experience the day.
The intermediate team missed 3rd by .25, but swept the first two rounds. Ming won a medal for placing 3rd as an individual. They may not have left with hardware, but they did get prime time on the CTV news tonight. See story below.
While the juniors did not place, I was in awe of their overall sweetness and joy to attend. These boys are amazing. We were legit up against public, Catholic, private, and chess academies. The competition was fierce. My pride for how they approached the day is abundant.
Here is the news story :)
https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/
Winter Wellness Days
Oh, the best laid plans can be undermined by forces beyond our control...snow storms, for example.
While we had to cancel our fist Winter Wellness Day on Thursday, February 13, we look forward to our next one on Wednesday, February 19. Activities will take place as scheduled for that date. There is no replacement date for the cancelled day.
Cycle 2 Hot Lunch Ordering
The ordering period for Cycle 2 Hot Lunches closed on Friday, February 14 in School Cash Online. Cycle 2 runs from March to June. Our School Council is offering Sbway, Jo Jo's Pizza and Popcorn. No late orders can be accepted. Thank you for your orders. The lunch program is a major fundraiser for our school. Every single order helps.
Upcoming Hot Lunch Day Changes
Due to our Winter Wellness Days, we have moved the following hot lunch delivery days:
- Subway delivery Feb 19 MOVED to Thursday, Feb. 20.
- Pizza delivery Feb 26 MOVED to Friday, Feb 28.
PD Day, February 14, 2025
GMS staff were engaged in a full day of professional learning that included learning via online workshops and opportunities for deep professional dialogue as we explored topics such as methods of assessment that shape language instruction and methods of mathematics instruction that reflect the diverse needs and backgrounds of our students. We capped off the day with training related to workplace violence and harrassment.
Dates to Remember
- Feb 17 - Family Day, no school for students
- Feb 19 - Winter Wellness Day #2
- Feb 20 - Subway (date moved from Feb 19)
- Feb 21 - Popcorn