Assistant Principal Brig Leane

ALTRUSA FOOD DRIVE:

Altrusa International, Inc. of Palisade is again orchestrating the Community Christmas Project for Palisade. The project is in conjunction with the Salvation Army. Si usted desea una explicacíon en Español de este We collect and distribute food items (for a holiday meal) and articulo por favor llame a la oficina: pantry items for each family, in addition to soliciting funds and ELPA/ESL254-5339. Estamos para servirle. purchasing gift items for all of the children. Last year we helped over 40 families, including over 100 children, all here in Palisade.

Principal – Terrie ReQua Betsy Winfrey, Janelle Hart, and Mt. Garfield Student Council Assistant Principal – Brig Leane sponsors have graciously agreed to help us with the food drive Assistant Principal—Mick Zanski for Christmas 2008. Student Council is holding the food drive through December 16th, allowing time for sorting and Assistant to Administration – Gwen Sandidge transporting prior to distribution of food and gifts on December 22nd. We have boxes at Mount Garfield and look forward to FROM THE ADMINISTRATION: working with the staff and students of Mount Garfield Middle “Growing for Greatness” School to once again "Make a Difference" in our wonderful community. Thank you so much for your help--It makes us feel Dear Parents: As the holiday season is upon us, good to help those in need in the true spirit of the holiday season. this presents a great opportunity to focus on our outstanding music programs at MGMS. Our music students and their teachers Please call me if you have any questions, Sharron Steele 464- are hard at work putting in practice time to prepare for their 5021. respective winter concerts. These concerts are a great way for st families and the community to celebrate the season and the 21 CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER GRANT: musical achievements of our students. We are happy to announce that we were able to receive the 21st Allison Fuller and her choir students will hold the first winter Century Community Learning Center grant. We submitted our concerts. This concert will be held at MGMS on December 14th proposal in October in partnership with Clifton Elementary and at 7:00 p.m. Rocky Mountain Elementary Schools.

The MGMS bands will be presenting their annual winter concert We are excited because this grant will enable to us to offer at Palisade High School auditorium on Wednesday, December afterschool and weekend activities to both our students and parents. 16th at 7:00 pm. All concert bands will be performing, as well as We will be sharing the various opportunities with you in the coming the 8th grade jazz band. The jazz band will include six members months for we hope to have them up and running by the end of Jan. selected for the 2009 CBA honor jazz band; Devon Lucero, Some of the offerings will include: reading and math intervention Francisco Aquinada, Logan Harrison, Dylan Reinhardt, Jaqi classes, tutoring, open library and computers, clubs, community Monger and Alex Wilmore. offerings (i.e. Red Cross training for babysitting, Hospice with grief counseling, Partners for spring break and summer offerings, etc.), The orchestras will be presenting their program Thursday, Food for Thoughts nights, Saturday School, and Parent classes. December 17th at Palisade High School starting at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium.

Please come support these outstanding young musicians as they ALPINE BANK STUDENTS OF THE MONTH FOR present a varied program of holiday and classical selections of the season. DECEMBER Congratulations to: STUDENT SUPPLIES: Currey Ventiling & Drake Giese

Now that we’re nearing the half-way point of the school year, some of the supplies your student came with in August may have been used up or may have been ART CONTEST: lost. Please check with your student to see if any of their supplies are in need of replacement; (glue sticks, paper, pencils, color Several of our Mount Garfield Middle School students entered the markers, scissors, rulers, & etc.). Growing for Greatness requires annual Colorado Bank Calendar Contest this past month. Ashlyn a constant effort, but is easier when students are prepared for Brown (6th grade) and Adrian Littleton (7th grade) placed first for their studies. Thank you for your attention to this matter and their grade level and each received a $500 savings bond. Isabel th nd your continued partnership in your student’s success! Davis (6 grade) placed 2 in her grade level and received a $300 saving bond. In addition to the savings bonds, Ashlyn and Adrian’s art work will be part of the Colorado Bank’s calendar. Calendars are available at the Bank of Colorado on second and Grand Street. Mesa County Valley School District 51 Non-Profit Organization Mount Garfield Middle School U.S. Postage Paid 2115 Grand Avenue Permit No. 207 Grand Junction, CO 81501 Grand Junction, CO

LOST & FOUND: which students met all the criteria for a National Junior Honor Society student: character, citizenship, service, scholarship, and This time of year we seem to gather a large selection of lost and leadership. Students who were selected met all 5 criteria. The found items. The items are located in the entry way by the students inducted were: cafeteria. We encourage you or your student to check out the collection before we close school for the winter break. Any items Brooke Barber Amber Crigger left after the 18th of Dec. will be donated to local charities. Rikeisha Cunningham-Byrd Trenton Duc Megan Elliott LEAVING EARLY & ATTENDANCE: Alejandro Gutierrez A. Haydon Harrell Logan Harrison Nichole Hoppe Jacob Judis If a student must leave during school hours, he or she must check Michelle Kuczkowski Jonathan Leonard out through the office and check back in the office when Kendra Lopez Elizabeth Luna returning to school. Noah Martinez Bridger Mikolai Tyler Meyer Trenna Morgan Taking your child out of school prior to regularly scheduled Katy Mueller Natosha Munfrada dismissal time at the end of the day or before the weekends and Dena Rinderle Jessika Sowle holidays is discouraged. We must keep a record of all early Kyle Slagle Hayley Stockdale dismissals, and treat them as we do a tardy. Jolie Surber Gabriella Thompson Annette Tom Conner Travis When students are picked up early it disrupts the class. We Currey Ventling Alex Wilmore would appreciate your help in making sure our students get the Celia Egghart most out of their school day.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION: END OF THE DAY MESSAGES: Mary Beuchel’s class is collecting box Please cover all “after school plans” with your tops for education. There is a box in the office if you would like to child before he or she leaves for the day. It is busy in the contribute to this fundraiser. The proceeds will be used for afternoons and is sometimes difficult to get messages to students students in the centralized program to purchase supplies for at the end of the day. We do realize emergencies arise and students and outings in our community. changes of plans occur, so we ask that after school messages are reserved for these instances only.

Buy your yearbooks today at DATES TO REMEMBER jostensyearbooks.com Time's running out on your chance to hold on to every memory from Dec. 11 – Winter Dance @ MGMS , 6:00 – 8:00 pm your son or daughter's school experience with a permanent keepsake - (Best dress and only MGMS students) your school's one and only yearbook. The book is $22.00 until January 15. After Jan 15, the cost is $24.00 each. Dec. 14 – Choir concert @ MGMS, 7 pm Get your pictures in the yearbook! The Yearbook Staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook. If you've got great photos of school and community events or you and your friends Dec. 16 – Band concert @ PHS, 7 pm just having fun, we'd like to see them. Our photographers can't be everywhere. Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific Dec. 17 – Orchestra concert @ PHS, 7 pm book everyone will want to have.

Here is how you can submit photos online: Dec. 18 – 3rd grading period ends • Go to: https://images.jostens.com • If it does not automatically log you into the site, enter username:1177637 and password: mgms Dec. 18 – School Assembly, 7:45 am (parents are • Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload. welcome) • Enter information about the photo and provide contact information in case the staff needs additional information. • Click "Save Details". Dec. 21 –Jan. 3 – No School, Winter Break

It's that easy! Submit your photos today! The last day to submit photos Jan. 4 – No School, Teacher workday is 3/1/2009.

Jan 5 – School Resumes

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY: Jan. 20-21 – Science Fair (parent night is Jan. 20 5- 8 pm ) On Tuesday December 1st, 31 8th graders were inducted into the Mt. Garfield Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. At the Jan. 21 – School Advisory Council Meeting, 6-7 pm end of the 1st quarter, students who had a cumulative GPA of above a 3.0 were given an application. The application asks students what types of leadership activities, service activities, Jan. 18 – No School, Martin Luther King Day and school and community involvement they had. Students applications were then evaluated by the faculty council to see *Check our MGMS web page for the girl’s basketball schedule. Mesa County Valley School District 51 Non-Profit Organization Mount Garfield Middle School U.S. Postage Paid 2115 Grand Avenue Permit No. 207 Grand Junction, CO 81501 Grand Junction, CO