Gotha Update - Week of 1/11/2021
Hello Gotha Families -
I hope everyone enjoyed the chilly weekend. Here is your update for the week of January 11, 2021.
Our basketball intramurals begin tomorrow, January 11th. Students who were cleared to participate received a separate call from me this afternoon. Only those students should plan to stay according to the dates included in that message. Track begins in February. If your student is interested in participating in that intramural program, physical packets are due February 3rd. That packet can be found here. Track will be followed by soccer and then volleyball.
At OCPS, Student social and emotional well-being is a pillar of the district-wide 2025 Strategic Plan. To support this objective, OCPS has partnered with Character Lab since 2017, a nonprofit co-founded and led by Dr. Angela Duckworth, scientist, author, and professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Character Lab connects schools to leading researchers with shared interests to generate insights about developing the character strengths (like gratitude, curiosity, and growth mindset) that help all children thrive.
On Friday January 15th, our school will participate in 30 minutes of research activities. Students complete these online, interactive activities individually on their school laptops, with a teacher available to support them. We will then use data, which is not student specific, from these activities to identify and support the social, emotional, academic, and physical needs of our students. Again, students engage in these activities anonymously. Participation in Character Lab activities is voluntary, and families may choose to opt their child out of participating. To learn more, visit ocps.net/clab.
With so many students back on campus face to face, please make note of these safety reminders:
- Please do not send food to your student using Uber Eats or any other delivery service. Students should bring their own lunch to school or they may get school lunch. All students are eligible to receive free breakfast, lunch and supper.
- Please make sure your student has a refillable water bottle. The water fountains are being used as refilling stations only. We do not have cups or bottles for them at school.
- For our car riders, please be aware that there are TWO drop off and pick up locations for you to utilize. You may use the main car loop on the parking lot side of the school. However you may also use the back entrance of the school on Morton Jones Rd. There is a crossing guard at the gate and a sidewalk that leads kids from the gate to the main campus.
Schedule
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Monday 1/11
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SAC Meeting 5:30 - Media Center
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Tuesday 1/12
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Wednesday 1/13
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Gotha Spirit Day
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Thursday 1/14
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Friday 1/15
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College and Kindness Day
Character Lab Activity (through Science classes)
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Remember if your student is not feeling well, please keep them home. If you or someone in your household has tested positive for COVID 19, please let us know. Your student will need to stay at home and follow the FDOH quarantine guidelines, even if they’ve tested negative.
Enjoy your week, everyone, and remember - It’s a GREAT day to be a grizzly!
Monica Emery
Principal
REMINDERS:
8th Grade Behavior Contract - 8th Grade parents, students reviewed and signed off on the behavior contract before the break. We need parents to sign off as well. If you haven’t already, please read and complete the PARENT SURVEY. Students will not be able to attend 8th grade activities, including Gradventure, without parent and student acknowledgement of the behavior contract.
Please remember that we have set up daily Learning Labs from 4:30 - 6:00pm through the YMCA After School Zone. The YMCA ASZ is a free program for families. We are inviting our face to face and [email protected] students to participate in this face to face tutoring time on campus. Students would need to wear a mask and be signed up for the YMCA program. YMCA Middle School Programs
Please complete this survey if you are interested:
The 2020-21 Gotha Yearbooks are for sale and are currently $30. Go to our school website and click on the link to purchase a yearbook or ad under the “Important Links” section of the page. Ads are available for any 8th grade student this year, so families and friends can purchase an ad to celebrate their 8th graders’ achievements. If you do not want your student featured in this year’s yearbook, please send an email to Mrs. Miller at [email protected].