2018 Summer Bulletin

J u l y 2 0 1 8
GMA
SUMMER
BULLETIN
S u m m e r B u l l e t i n
G r e e n v i l e M i d d l e A c a d e m y
I n s i d e t h e I s s u e
WELCOME TO
OUR FAMILY
Please join me in welcoming the
newest members of our staff to
our school family!
WORKDAY
SCHEDULE
A tentative schedule is being
shared to help you plan for the
first week back.
MEET THE
TEACHER
Meet the Teacher events are
being planned and shared by the
district. Get our schedule here!
FROM NICKY
It's been a fast and busy summer! We're still in the process
of filling positions for next school year. Lots of work and
cleaning going on in the building. Our custodial staff
continues to do a phenomenal job!
I enjoyed a family vacation to the Gulf Coast with my boys!
Jack took his first plane ride and did great! In fact, better
than me and Mark.
The rest of the summer will be spent in classes or trainings;
in fact, some of you will be with me. Thank you for taking
time to grow professionally!
Enjoy the rest of your summer! Doesn't it seem to fly by?

NEW
CURRICULUM
SITE
The district's brand new GCS
Curriculum Site launched on
July 2!
Rubicon Atlas will go dark this
month with the launch of our
new platform. The links to the
GCS Curriculum can be found
on the Greenville County
Portal.
GET YOUR STUDENTS WHAT
THEY NEED - DONORS CHOOSE
Get Your Students What They Need
DonorsChoose.org makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need.
Public school teachers from every corner of America create classroom
project requests, and you can give any amount to the project that inspires
you.
3,202,791 1,184,589 28,329,564
SUPPORTERS PROJECTS FUNDED STUDENTS REACHED
The steps are relatively easy:
1. Post a Project: Request the books, technology, field trips—anything
you’ve been dreaming of for your students.
2. Get Funded: Tap into the Donors Choose network and reach out to your
own. Over 75% of teachers reach their funding goal.
3. Receive the Goods: Donors Choose orders everything you requested,
and they ship it straight to your school. Hello, packages!
Visit https://www.donorschoose.org/ to get started!
While some updates and
resources are still being added,
the new site houses all the
curriculum that was previously
housed in Rubicon Atlas. The
district has created a brief
introductory video to highlight
the new system and how to
navigate it. In addition, district
staff will be available at
Summer Academy to answer
any questions that teachers
may have about the new
system.
Kids don't
gravitate to
subjects. They
gravitate to
teachers.

TEACHER
SUPPLY MONEY
Qualifying teachers will receive a
check for $275 for classroom
purchases.
Checks will be distributed to
eligible teachers on our first day
back.
Please keep all original receipts
that identify purchases made for
your classroom. Please do not
include personal items on any of
the receipts. Keep personal items
separate!
WELCOME TO GMA!
Please join me in welcoming new staff members:
Amanda Long, Self-contained Special Education
amanda.h.long@gmail.com
Debbie Cannada, Self-contained Special Education
debbiecannada143@gmail.com
Sonia Serrata, Spanish
soniaserrata@gmail.com
Stephan Hergatt, Science
hergatt4799@yahoo.com
Lisa Foley, Art
lisafoleys@gmail.com
EJ Bonenberger, ELA
ejbonenberger@gmail.com
Original receipts will be turned in
by the deadline to the principal.
Include your name on the outside
of an unsealed envelope.
NEW
EMPLOYEE
ORIENTATION
Thursday, August 9
New Employee Orientation,
Media Center
9:00-3:00 PM
School Procedures & Handbook
Everything You Need to Know
Lunch with mentors
School Tour
Megan Giordani, School Counselor
mgiordani@greenville.k12.sc.us
Kyle Wetzel, Science
kyle.wentzel@gmail.com
Courtney Lamb, Math
guycm@dukes.jmu.edu
We have two recommendations to Human Resources that should be
approved soon.
The most important qualities of any educator are not adequately captured on a resume. It is
hard to quantify passion, energy, dedication, patience, perseverance, and love... but in the
classroom... those qualities make all the difference in the world.
-@SteeleThoughts

OPENING WEEK SCHEDULE
I can't wait to welcome you all back from summer break on Monday,
August 13!
We have a lot planned, so please mark your calendars!
Schedule can be visible by clicking here. Make sure you are logged in
with your greenvilleschools.us account.
Teacher Workdays Expectations
We have many things planned for our staff to welcome the 2018-19 school
year. Of the five days provided by the district, three days should be
centered around professional growth. Time will be provided to work in
your classroom and to meet with your teams. I’m looking forward to a
fantastic school year!
Teacher Workdays Attire
Teachers are welcome to be casual and comfortable, yet professional
during the workdays. Jeans and shorts (mid-thigh to knee-length, or city
shorts) are appropriate, unless you have a district meeting you are required
to attend.
SAFETY VIDEOS
The deadline to view and complete the assessments is Friday,
September 14. If you have trouble accessing videos, please let Brad Dill,
assistant principal, know.
Remember, you can access the videos by going to the Portal, and
clicking on the Safety Training link. You will access the videos by
typing in your Employee ID number, verifying who you are, and then
clicking on the titles displayed on your computer screen:
1. Greenville County Schools Code of Ethics & Social Media - 8m
2. Sexual Harassment: Staff to Staff - 27m
3. Sexual Misconduct: Staff to Student - 35m
4. Greenville Energy Conservation - 10m
5. Hazard Communication: Right to Understand - 26m
6. Greenville County Schools Safety Training - 11m
7. Health Emergencies: Overview - 20m
8. FERPA: Confidentiality of Records - 14 m
9. Safe Schools Climate Act 2017 - 9m
10. Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Prevention - 22m
11. Religion & Public Schools 2017 - 12m
12. Medication Administration: Epinephrine Auto Injectors - 19m
13. Greenville County Schools Mandated Reporter 2017 - 15m
During the year, should additional videos
be needed for individual staff members, we
will utilize them as a means of training and/or
re-training.
MEET THE
TEACHER
Wednesday, August 15
Workday is from 8:15-3:45;
building closes at 4:00 PM in
preparation for MTT (doors
will open at 6:45)
Meet the Teacher – 7th & 8th
7:00-8:30 PM
Friday, August 17
Workday is from 8:15-3:45;
building will close at 5:00 PM
6th Grade Orientation
8:30-12:00 PM
Meet the Teacher – 6th
6:30-7:30
For the Meet the Teacher
events, attendance is required
for grade specific core
teachers, grade specific special
education teachers, related arts,
and guidance/administration.
Dress attire is business-casual
(no jeans/shorts).
2018
CAMPAIGN
We will participate in the
Pacesetter Campaign for United
Way this year. Susan Moree,
assistant principal, will serve as
campaign coordinator.
Your support of this year’s
campaign is greatly appreciated!
More information will be shared
during the first week back.