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GCMS Families,
We have a lot of great things happening at GCMS right now and we want to encourage all of our people to engage when possible.
Today at 7:00 pm, at GCMS Middle School, we have a presenter exclusively for parents on how to manage the ever growing challenges of social media and technology with our children. This is a great opportunity for the grown ups to hear from an outside source on tips and tricks to help your children in this area!
Following this event, at 8:00 pm, we will have a round table discussion on all things GCMS. We have been sharing many facts about GCMS recently and this is a face to face chance to listen, ask, and learn.
So many other activities with big events coming please tune into our website and social media platforms to see more about FFA Week and Auction, Musical Performance, Regionals, Sectionals, Spring seasons starting, and summer opportunities announced.
We try to provide information in a clear and timely manner but we also have many moving parts so if you don't know, miss something, or we miss something, let us know!
It is a great day to be a Falcon!!!
- Mr. Darnell
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GCMS takes on Cornerstone Christian Academy in the Regional Semi-Finals tonight! Tip off is at 7:30pm in Lexington. The game will be broadcast live on WGCY and a livestream will be available at https://www.youtube.com/@cornerstoneathletics1520/streams/live
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Our boys basketball regional semifinal will be broadcast on Cornerstone's YouTube channel... not NFHS. Here is the FREE link:
https://www.youtube.com/@cornerstoneathletics1520/streams/live
Go Falcons; get that W!
![ball](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7136010/large_bball.jpg)
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Our Spring Musical, Catch Me If You Can is coming up soon! Tickets will go on sale this Friday, February 23 and shows are March 8-9 at 7:00PM. You will be able to purchase tickets at the High School Office or through Infinite Campus.
![GCMS High School Presents Catch Me If You Can March 8-9. Tickets on sale Friday February 23!](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7124080/large_Catch_Me_Ticket_Announce.png)
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Shout out to Mrs Funk for receiving the HOIC's Academic Legacy Award. In May, she'll retire after 33 years teaching English, the last 31 at GCMS. Congrats, Mrs Funk; you make us #FalconProud!
![af](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7099961/large_jGY81n8_fX9HrvycAMtR_Q.png)
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Tonight's dance at the Middle School has been cancelled. We will reschedule for a later date.
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GCMS Families: A friendly reminder that school dismisses early today at 11:30am, and we will have no school on Monday 2/19 in observance of Presidents' Day. Please be careful in navigating the wintry weather after school today and have a great weekend!
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The MS Wrestling meet scheduled for today (Thu. 2/15) has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled. MS Wrestling practice for today is cancelled as well.
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Many interesting statistics regarding Food Service in today's snip from the GCMS Annual Report!
![SOS Food service](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7054059/large_SOS_Food_Service.jpg)
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Sophomore and Junior Parents,
Please click the link below for information regarding accelerated placement for your student.
https://bit.ly/48hz1Gc
If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Carter or Mr. Bielfeldt.
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Thank you to Gibson City County Market! They recently donated new footballs, basketballs, and soccer balls for our Elementary recess time. Our kids are excited to play with them!
![Thank you County Market](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7030730/large_county_market.png)
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GCMS is hosting author Margaret Peterson Haddix on Tuesday March 5 at 6:00PM in the Middle School Gym. The first 100 stduents will receive a free Haddix book to be autographed!
![Margaret Peterson Haddix](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7019436/large_Author_Talk-Margaret_Peterson_Haddix.jpg)
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GCMS Elementary is looking for multiple positions for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. You can view all of our available positions and apply online at https://www.gcmsk12.org/page/job-opportunities
![Elementary School open positions.](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7019987/large_Elementary_Positions.png)
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GCMS Freshman Lily Sizemore is a finalist for this week's News Gazette Girls Athlete of the week! Cast your vote for Lilly at https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/prep-sports/ Go Falcons!
![Lilly Sizemore playing basketball](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/7014729/large_422162689_785826223579883_7492185739404347299_n.jpg)
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52nd largest district geographically in the state?! Check out this data about GCMS Transportation in today's Annual Report update!
![SOS Bus](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/6985333/large_SOS_transportation_jpeg.jpg)
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On Wednesday, February 7th administrators from Ford County Schools met with staff from the Champaign-Ford County Regional Office of Education Attendance Improvement Program to discuss and collaborate on improving attendance in all our schools. One area all our schools have been discussing is the increase of chronic absenteeism for students in Ford County Schools. Chronic absenteeism is when a student misses 10% of the school year or 17.5 days or more of school in one year.
![Ford County attendance improvement program members](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/6974638/large_Ford_County_Attendance_Initiative_Meeting.jpg)
![truancy vs chronic absence](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/6974636/large_Truancy_vs._Chronic_Absence.jpg)
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ICYMI we are featuring highlights from our District's Annual Report on Schools throughout the next couple weeks! Today we feature data on... OUR STUDENTS! We hope to see many of you at our event on February 22 at 7:00 in the Middle School.
![SOS students](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/6970094/large_SOS_students.jpg)
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GCMS Families,
Parking at large events at each of our facilities can be a challenge at times. We want to remind everyone to be respectful of school district and neighboring properties when you park. It is essential that you do not park on grass areas or obstruct drive ways, entry points, or fire lanes. Recently we have had significant issues with this around the high school campus. If areas are painted yellow or they are entry or exit points they should not be obstructed.
Thank you for your attention, compliance, and the appreciation for safety at our events.
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Hey GCMS community! Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is putting on a Krispy Kreme fundraiser!
Access the link provided below for menu and ordering options!
https://gcmsfbla.com/krispy-kreme-fundraiser
Please contact gcmsfbla@gmail.com with any questions!
![FBLA Krispy Kreme certificate](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/6954632/large_KK_Certificate_.jpg)
![FBLA Krispy Kreme Fundraiser](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/6954633/large_KK_Fundraiser_Menu___1_.jpg)
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2023-24 Middle School yearbooks are now on sale. You can fill out and return the order form or order online at https://bit.ly/3uAa3UG
All orders are due by March 1!
![GCMS Middle School yearbook order form](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/gcms_cusd_%235_ar/live_feed_image/image/6951404/large_Yearbook_Order_Form.docx.jpg)