Respectfully,

Ty Robuck-Principal

Dawn Musgrove-Assistant Principal

School Board Recognition Month is a time to celebrate and honor the dedicated individuals who tirelessly work behind the scenes to shape the future of our education system. These community members devote countless hours to ensure that every student has access to quality education, making crucial decisions that impact our schools' direction and success. Their leadership, commitment, and passion for education help create a nurturing and inspiring environment for both students and teachers. This month, let's take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for their invaluable contributions and unwavering dedication to the well-being and growth of our educational community.

As winter break ends, we want to remind all PSD families that going to school every day is very important for students to succeed. Each day at school gives students a chance to learn and grow.

From the first day of kindergarten to the last day of senior year, every day at school matters. Going to school regularly is not just about getting good grades. It is about making sure students get the most out of their education and take important steps toward their goals.

Remember, missing school adds up. If students miss just a few days, they might miss out on learning and making friends. Every day at school helps students succeed.

We look forward to welcoming all of our students back on Monday, January 6. Until then, we hope you enjoy the rest of your winter break. Stay safe, stay warm, and have fun!

It’s chilly outside! Time to cozy up with a good book! Did you know that new award-winning and best-selling titles arrive in the GMS library every month? Come check them out!

And don’t forget to warm up those Chromebooks! Please remember to charge your Chromebooks before returning from break.

And finally, return any items used over break–books and devices!

Happy reading, Roadrunners!

This January, Goodman students will have the opportunity to partner with PIerce County Library System and the Greater Gig Harbor American Legion - Post 236 to create and deliver valentines cards to honor local veterans. Look for a pop-up table during lunch and supplies in the GMS library.

At Goodman, we take the issue of bullying and harassment very seriously. As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all students, we are actively working to prevent bullying in our middle school community. We understand that bullying can have a lasting impact on students' well-being, and we are committed to providing a school climate where every student feels valued, respected, and safe.

All students participated in a MAP activity in their WIN class identifying SAFE and UNSAFE areas around the school. The student feedback helped to identify key areas for increased supervision. The research supports that one of the most effective ways to prevent bullying is having adults visible and present throughout the school day. We’ve increased adult presence in areas where bullying is more likely to occur, such as hallways, the commons, and locker bays to create a deterrent and address potential issues before they escalate.

A core part of our prevention work involves educating students about what bullying is and what it is not. During our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons we are teaching students a clear definition of bullying that they can use to identify harmful behavior. Bullying is defined as intentional, hurtful behavior that is repeated over time, and involves an imbalance of power. Here at GMS we are using the words Pain, Power, Pattern. Bullying is also always on purpose. 

Intentional teaching on ways to report bullying was given at the beginning of school year and again during our bullying prevention lessons. Students have an option to report on a paper Incident Report Form or through the district’s new online system HearMeWA by text or phone call. HearMeWA is a reporting system where all students can get help for anything that is making life hard, including reporting bullying and/or harassment. Students can also speak

We are collecting individually wrapped candy to support the PBIS rewards program. The students earn points and can redeem them for prizes and small candies. This is a new program that replaces the PRIDE tickets but still recognizing students' good behavior according to the P.R.I.D.E. character traits. The students can trade their points for prizes like candy. The school is in need of candy donations for this purpose. You are welcome to drop off candy in the office at any time and your donations are very welcome and appreciated!

Our Interact Club, in partnership with GHHS's Interact Club, has started a plastic film drive. Soon a video will come out for you to show your students during WIN to encourage students to participate.  We need A LOT of plastic film for this project. The goal is to be able to make a community bench with the plastic we recycle, and that takes 1.000 pounds of plastic film. 

Please bring your own plastic film in too!! There is a collection bin in my portable, one at the front of the school and we are working to get another for the staff room. You are also welcome to let me know when you have some, and I can send an Interact rep to you to collect it.

Here is a list of what plastic film includes.  

Thank you!

If you need resources, please reach out to Annie Schuster, 253-530-1661, schustera@psd401.net

Do you have a student that you would like to be evaluated for our Highly Capable Program? Complete our online referral form HERE. Students from all grade levels can be referred for testing now. If the student qualifies, they can begin receiving Highly Capable services in the 2025-26 school year.

The referral window is Now-January 10th. 

Congrats! 2 students' submissions have been selected as finalists for our Design-a-Fish contest! 

We reviewed over 1,000 entries and narrowed it down to 16 finalists, although we wish that we could have picked them all. We just announced those finalists on our social media channels, and the next step will be a public bracket-style vote starting next Monday, January 13th. From then until January 31st, visitors to our Instagram page will be able to vote on a daily showdown within the 'Stories' feature on Instagram. The most popular fish from each match will move on to the next round of voting until only one remains, and that final fish will have the honor of joining the 2025 Survive the Sound migration! As a reminder, the student art will serve as inspiration for our illustrator, who will ensure that the final design stays true to the student's vision while maintaining the iconic 'Survive the Sound' style that the rest of our fish characters share.

We invite parents to vote for your students' fish (or whichever ones they like the most). Be sure to follow @longlive.kings on Instagram so you don't miss the chance to vote, and good luck to your students!

🌟 Stay Connected with Us on Social Media! 🌟

Want to see all the amazing things happening at our school? 📸 From art projects and student achievements to event updates, we’re sharing it all! Get an inside look at our school community. Don't miss out on the fun – join us today and be part of the journey! 🎉 #StayConnected

Follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/GoodmanMiddleSchool

Follow us on Instagram! @gmsroadrunnersofficial

Report an Absence on our 24-hour line at (253) 530-1607 or by emailing rockstromd@psd401.net.