Grizzly eNews 5-2-25
Principal’s Message:
Our GMS Chorus was movin’ and groovin’ on Tuesday night as they sang and danced to some great movie tunes. Thanks Mrs. V for a great concert! I hope that our 5th graders who are moving on will keep showing off their talents and explore the musical options offered at RMS and beyond.
May is a busy time of year at Grace Mcwayne. Be sure to keep an eye and ear out for announcements from your classroom teachers, the PTO and our office. Next week includes tons of events including Staff Appreciation Week, PTO Meeting, Portillo’s Restaurant Night, School Nurse’s Day, Bike, Walk and Roll to School Day and Spring NWEA MAP Testing. The following week will include field trips, the 5th Grade Track Meet and Outdoor Education Day. Keep that calendar close and take some time to volunteer if you can!
Nobody likes to take a test in school, but assessments help our students, staff and families to learn about each child’s growth and determine what goals and supports can be put in place during each trimester. Please help your child to do his/her best on our upcoming Spring NWEA MAP assessment by eating a healthy breakfast and getting a good night’s rest the evening before testing. Thanks, as always, for your partnership!
~Principal Jeff Modaff
PTO News:
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK – NEXT WEEK!
THANK YOU for your contributions!! We can’t wait to spoil our amazing faculty and staff!
Don’t forget – if you graciously volunteered to donate any items for next week, please drop them off in the bin in the vestibule Monday, May 5th by 9 am.
WALK, BIKE & ROLL TO SCHOOL – FRIDAY, MAY 9
Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day invites families to celebrate the joy of active commuting while building a sense of community and school spirit.
We need a few volunteers to ensure safe transit for the increased sidewalk traffic:
2 – Crossing Guards
2 – Bike Rack Helpers
2 – Sidewalk Supervisors
If you can help from 8:30-9 am, Friday, May 9, please sign up by clicking here!
OUTDOOR EDUCATION DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – MAY 16, 2025
Outdoor Education Day is Friday, May 16, and we are still in need of volunteers, Sign up today! Volunteers will contribute beverages, take pictures, and lead/help with this year’s science activities, including:
- Kindergarten: Chromatography (color science)
- 1st Grade: Spring bloom (chemical reaction)
- 2nd Grade: Ooblek (states of matter)
- 3rd Grade: Elephant Toothpaste (chemical reaction)
- 4th Grade: Bottle Rockets (laws of motion)
- 5th Grade: Egg Drop (physics, engineering, problem-solving)
Questions? Email Deanna Sukolowsky at dmrv23@gmail.com
GMS SHOE DRIVE
Are you doing your spring cleaning and locating things that no longer fit, but others could use them? The running club would gladly take all shoes that are gently used for a shoe drive to help those in poverty around the world. The shoe drive begins on May 5th and will run through the 16th. All shoes and sizes can be donated. For more information please see the link below. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Gamlin or Mr. Clarey. Thank you.
GMS WATCH DOGS
Calling all Dads! The GMS Watch DOGS need you! There are still a number of unfilled slots for dads to come and have the best Friday of their life helping out students at school. For more information contact Sam Walker at srjwalkerusa@gmail.com and to sign up, go to this link!
School / District News:
LRC NEWS:
Thanks to all for supporting our spring book fair! Because of your generosity, GMS will receive 25% of sales! We hope to see you at the Cougars Game on May 18th. Click here for more LRC News and events!
PARKING LOT SAFETY
As Spring weather arrives, so do more bikes, scooters and walkers. We love seeing all of this activity around our school. Please be on the look-out for all of our pedestrian travelers in the crosswalks at our school and on the streets. Thanks for taking an extra moment to look and listen to keep all of our students safe.
DISC GOLF EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT GMS
The course is open for all to enjoy! If your family would like to borrow a backpack w/8 discs, please fill out this form!
FAMILY CONNECTIONS
Register Now for the Free Family Connections Program to Spring into Family Fun! Join Family Connections for joyful laughter during weekly family nights that strengthen parent-child bonds, build a community with fellow parents/families, and provide a night off from meal preparation and screen time. Family Connections gathers your whole family for playful activities that spark conversations and connections among family members. Enjoy getting to know other parents during the Parent Discussion Group while children have fun playing under the supervision of the Family Connections Team. This evidence-informed program brought to you by TriCity Family Services is based on research about strengthening families and building communities.
What is Family Connections? “A great way to unwind and enjoy quality time with your family.” – Comment from a Parent After Last School Year’s Family Connections Program. Read more details in the flyer. Register Here!
BPS101 ATTENDANCE AWARENESS
As spring blooms, so do opportunities for student growth—especially during the assessment season! Regular attendance is crucial in helping students stay on track and thrive both academically and socially. As educators, we know that each missed day means missed learning, which can impact student performance, assessment results, and long-term success.
Your role in encouraging consistent attendance is crucial—by supporting healthy attendance habits, you’re helping ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed!
Please share our BPS101 Attendance webpage with families and encourage students to keep showing up– every day counts!
GLENBARD PARENT SERIES: NAVIGATING HEALTHY FAMILIES
Free online presentations for families! Are you a parent of a student in early childhood? Check out The Way of Play: Little Moments–Big Connections from best-selling author and psychotherapist Dr. Tina Payne Bryson and Georgie Wisen-Vincent. Are you a parent of a teen? Check out The Breakthrough Years: A New Scientific Framework for Raising Thriving Teens hosted by award-winning author Ellen Galinsky. Please see the 24.25 brochure for additional offerings, information, and links to join. All events are free and open to the public, and participation is possible in person or online.
VARSITY TUTORS: FREE 24/7 CHAT TUTORING SERVICE!!!
BPS101 is now partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide a free tutoring service. Varsity Tutors is an online tutoring service students can access for free through Classlink. They have various options, from live chat to test prep and classes. How do you access it? From your student’s Chromebook: Open Classlink, then Click on Varsity Tutors. In the Learning Lab, type in your student’s question or upload the whole assignment and get connected to personalized tutoring within 5 minutes. Sessions are recorded so students can reference them again if needed.
STAY CONNECTED
Please check the Directory to be sure YOUR FAMILY information is correct! Parents use this for play dates and birthday invites!
Visit the PTO website to search the student directory, view the school activity calendar, sign up to volunteer, or purchase tickets to the next PTO event. Download the Membership Toolkit app for easy access!
Trouble with the website: website@gmspto.org
Suggestions/Feedback: info@gmspto.org
ONGOING FUNDRAISING
Box Tops
Collecting extra support for GMS is now super easy. Download the Box Top App and scan your receipt!
Casey’s Rewards Points
Our school is participating in Cash for Classrooms, part of Casey’s Rewards. The best part? Donations don’t come out of your own pocket. When you buy from Casey’s and use their rewards program you can simply turn your points into a donation to our school. Help Grace McWayne School make the most of this program and learn more HERE!
IMPORTANT DATES
TUESDAY, MAY 6 – PTO MEETING at 7pm in the Teacher’s Lounge – All are welcome!
TUESDAY, MAY 6 – PORTILLO’S RESTAURANT NIGHT 5-8PM
FRIDAY, MAY 9 – BIKE AND WALK TO SCHOOL DAY – 8:45AM
FRIDAY, MAY 9 – OUTDOOR ED DAY
SUNDAY, MAY 18 – GMS KANE COUNTY COUGARS
MONDAY, MAY 19 – 5TH GRADE CELEBRATION
TUESDAY, MAY 20 – BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 22 – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
UPCOMING CLUB DATES
MONDAY, MAY 5 – 4TH AND 5TH GRADE CHORUS
TUESDAY, MAY 6 – 5TH GRADE BAND & ORCHESTRA
FRIDAY, MAY 9 – STUDENT COUNCIL
IMPORTANT LINKS
