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GCMS School District is looking for an Instructional Coach for the 2024-25 school year. Join our team and see why we are #Falconproud!
https://www.gcmsk12.org/page/job-opportunities
![Instructional Coach job posting](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7526822/large_Instructional_Coach.png)
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Today's (Wednesday 3/20) High School Softball and Baseball games at Watseka have been cancelled.
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Congratulations to Wesley Milligan & Kaley Short for winning the GCMS High School PE Badminton tournament of Champions!
A special shout out to the other class winners/competitors: Alex Overman/Alex Pollard, Hunter Martin/Avery Morris, Addison Goodling/Trevor Benningfield and Wyatt Higgins/Dominic Panepinto.
![PE Badminton champions](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7503574/large_IMG_0214.jpg)
![PE Badminton championship game](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7503575/large_IMG_0213.jpg)
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Congratulations to our 2023-24 Varsity Girls Basketball award winners!
Mindy Brown - HOIC All Conference Honorable Mention
Kate Kristensen - The Falcon Award
Lizzy Giroux - The Hustle Award
Sophia Ray - The Rebound Award and HOIC All Conference Honorable Mention
Lily Sizemore - Offensive Player of the Year, Overall Co-MVP (team voted), HOIC 1st team All Conference
Mallory Rosendahl- Defensive Player of the Year, Overall Co-MVP (team voted), The Hustle Award and HOIC All Conference Defensive Team Honorable Mention
Hadley Doman - Most Improved Player
![Varsity Girls Basketball award winners](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7499889/large_IMG_1345.jpg)
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GCMS Senior Ty Cribbett signed his intent to play baseball with Milikin University next year. Congratulaitons Ty, you make us #falconproud!
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Congratulations to our Boys Basketball players that received team awards for the 2023-24 season!
Ryker Grauer - Rebound Award, Assists Award, Most Improved Player Award
Spencer Kleist - Defensive MVP, Honorable Mention All-HOIC Defensive Team
Matt Allen - MTSD Team Award
Austin Kasper - Core Value Player of the Year
Graydon Leonard - Most Improved Player
Ty Cribbett - FT% Team Leader Award, Honorable Mention All-HOIC
Brayden Elliott - Team MVP, 2nd Team All-HOIC
Spencer Kleist - school record for deflections in a game & season
Brayden Elliott - school record for 3pt FGs in a game & season
![basketball award winners](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7458823/large_Untitled-1.png)
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Today was Postsecondary Education Day at GCMS High School. Students were able to interact with representatives from a variety of colleges, military branches, and other career options. Thank you to our School Counselor Mr. Carter for organizing this event!
![career fair](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7458548/large_GCMS_PED_1.jpg)
![career fair](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7458547/large_GCMS_PED_2.jpg)
![career fair](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7458550/large_PXL_20240315_152729380.jpg)
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Reminder to MS Track parents that our annual parent meeting will take place at 5PM today (Fri. 3/15) in the MS Cafeteria. The coaches will discuss season expectations and answer questions. The meeting should take around 15 min. We hope to see as many as possible this evening!
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GCMS Elementary School will host our annual OPEN HOUSE on Thursday, April 25th from 5:00-6:30. Thanks!
Mr. Kean
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Our own Girls Basketball coach Ross Hardin has been nominated for IBCA coach of the year! The banquet will be held on Saturday May 4. Congratulations to coach Hardin on this well deserved honor!
![Ross Hardin](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7442359/large_426163233_793333009495871_6047689301777797091_n.jpg)
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Happy Pi Day! Mrs. Hay's Pre-Albegra class designed pie crusts that Mrs. Young's Baking Essentials class brought to life. What a delicious collaboration!
![Pi Day Pies](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7441939/large_Pi_day_2024.jpg)
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GCMS Middle School has been designated as an Illinois Horizon School to Watch by the Association of Illinois Middle Grade Schools! In June we will be honored as a National School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle School Excellence in Washington D.C. A School to Watch is one that shows excellence in the following areas; Academic Excellence, Social Equity, Developmental Responsiveness, and Organizational Structures. It's a great day to be a Falcon!
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Good Afternoon Middle Families! Please be aware that all middle school students will be taking the required state IAR tests on April 8th-April 12th from 8:20-9:50 A.M. Additionally, 8th grade students will take the ISA test all day on April 19th. If possible, please try to avoid scheduling appointments during this time. We appreciate your assistance and flexibility during testing!
![GCMS Middle School IAR testing April 8th-12th.](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7425092/large_IAR_announcement__1_.jpg)
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Freshmen and Sophomore Parents,
GCMS High School will be administering the PSAT 9 and PSAT 10 to all freshmen and sophomores on Thursday, April 11. All testing will be conducted on a digital platform this year.
Please make every effort to have your student in attendance the day of testing and avoid appointments or absences if possible.
Please reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
Mr. Bielfeldt
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Junior Parents,
GCMS High School will be administering the SAT to all juniors on Thursday, April 11. Completion of the SAT is a necessary requirement for graduation. All juniors will be testing in the high school gym that day on a digital platform this year.
Upon the completion of the test by all students, juniors will be allowed to leave school for the day. We will have an Avanti’s gondola and a bag of chips for the students to take as they leave the school.
Please make every effort to have your student in attendance the day of testing and avoid appointments and absences if possible.
Please reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
Mr. Bielfeldt
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Senior Parents,
GCMS High School will be taking the PSAT/SAT tests on Thursday, April 11. Seniors are not required to be in school that day. This day can be used by seniors for college visits, job shadowing, etc.
Parkland College is offering a Senior Day for any students planning to attend Parkland after high school on April 11. During this event, from 9 am to 1 pm, students will be able complete assessment testing (if needed), learn how to access Parkland’s digital services such as email and Cobra learning platform, meet with an Academic Advisor, register for classes, and take a tour of campus. Mr. Carter has sent an email to all senior students with detailed instructions on signing up for this opportunity. If you have any questions regarding the Parkland Senior Day, please contact Mr. Carter.
Please reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
Mr. Bielfeldt
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The latest edition of the GCMS Middle School Newspaper is now available! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mJ1V0z63OjYWKqDdFvju3iRqLcl6zGii/view?usp=sharing
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There's stil time to sign up for our Family-Daughter book club for students in grades 4-7! The group will be reading Finally Heard by Kelly Yang. If you are interested in joining and would like to learn more, fill out our form at https://forms.gle/DHerYadcmWd4nNVEA Deadline for signup is March 13.
![Family/daughter book club](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7406576/large_final_final_book_club.png)
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GCMS Families and Community,
We are just one week away from the March 19th Primary Election that will include two different questions to increase the sales tax for Gibson City residents (1%), and Ford County residents (1%). Those that live in Gibson City, should both pass, would see a 2% increase in the sales tax. The current tax rate is 6.25% compared to 9% in Champaign /Urbana, 8.75% in Bloomington /Normal, and 8.55% state wide average.
The School County Facilities Sales Tax would generate over $1,000,000 for the three school districts in Ford County that can only be used for facilities, mental health professionals, or school resource officers. GCMS would see a new revenue source that would generate over $500,000 per year.
The Gibson City sales tax would generate over $600,000 and can be used for infrastructure improvements and maintenance including drainage, water systems, and the community pool.
Both of these revenues would be placed into the controls of the elected officials to prioritize needs, wants, and the effect of the new revenues on current tax rates.
The cost of doing business for schools and municipalities is ever growing and alternative revenue sources need to be considered to offset the other sources (property taxes) of revenue and ensure the quality that our community expects.
I encourage everyone to educate themselves and cast an informed vote. I will gladly answer any questions. Darnell.jeremy@gcmsk12.org or (217)784-8797. You can also post general questions on the social media outlets and I will respond when available.
Thank you for always supporting GCMS, our staff, and most importantly the children we serve!
Falcon Proud,
Mr. Darnell
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A reminder that boys basketball intramurals will meet after school on Tue. 3/12 from 3:30-5:00 at the Middle School. 5th graders who plan to attend should ride a bus from the Elem. to the MS to participate.