A Note from Tanner Stansbury,
Guest Administrator
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Hello Spokane Garry Middle School families and students. My name is Tanner Stansbury and I am an Administrative Intern and Behavior Interventionist here at Spokane Garry. It is already February and we are half way through the school year! With the end of the year closing in, I wanted to connect with you about registration for the 2023-2024 school year. Within the next couple of weeks, we will show students different elective options along with other courses that they will be able to take. As your student makes their way through their middle school experience, they will have several different options available to them.
We have an array of accelerated courses that push our students to be college ready and focuses on grit and perseverance while emphasizing students' potential to be successful beyond the walls of Spokane Garry. We also offer different electives for all interests, including AVID, band, orchestra, choir, year-long art, leadership, yearbook, and a variety of different technology courses as well. We want students to be able to explore and pursue their interests alongside of their general classes.
Looking through February, there are a few dates for families and students to be aware of:
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February 9, 2023 at 6 PM: Incoming Freshman Parent Night at Rogers High School
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February 15, 2023: 9th Grade Registration at Spokane Garry for High School in Science Classes
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February 23, 2023 at 6 PM: Incoming 6th Grade Family Night at Spokane Garry
If you have any questions related to registration for any grade level, please feel free to reach out to me, or Mr. Hibbard and we will help answer your questions.
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Important Dates and Events | |
February 20 - President's Day
February 21 - Teacher's Learning Day
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February is Black History Month and it is an important part of the year for our Spokane Garry Middle School community. Black History Month began in 1915 when Harvard historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). Now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the association dedicated a week in February to recognizing and celebrating black history in our country. During the 1960s, the week that was celebrated became Black History Month and was first recognized by U.S. President Gerald Ford in 1976. As time went on, each U.S. President designated February as Black History Month with an endorsed theme.
This year, our students in our Spokane Garry Community will create a quilt using photos and descriptions of famous African American people to display in our school including Martin Luther King Jr., Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, and Mohammad Ali to name a few. Throughout Spokane Garry Middle School, we also have banners honoring influential African Americans, like Louis Armstrong and others. It is an honor and a privilege to celebrate and acknowledge our nation’s history and to encourage all students in our school to achieve their Big Beautiful Futures.
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This week during Advisory 7th graders reviewed expectations here at Spokane Garry Middle School. Our PBIS, Positive Behavior Interventions, and Support, team along with Edgar the Raven went around and rewarded the highest-scoring students in each Advisory.
Winners names:
Itzel Hernandez and Eunice Solano-Castaneda
Eliza Dragomir and Emily Jacob
Monica Cing and Alondra Garcia
Amira Smith
Trenten Kurle
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Eunice Solano-Castaneda and
Itzel Hernandez
(Kelton and Caballero's Advisory)
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Eliza Dragomir
(Gellerson and West's Advisory)
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Emily Jacob
(Gellerson and West's Advisory)
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Monica Cing and Alondra Garcia
(Triplet and O'Riley's Advisory)
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Amirah Smith
(Tramp and Stansbury's Advisory)
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Trenten Kurle
(Perez's Advisory)
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College Success Foundation Inspires 6th Graders! | |
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Miss Dulce Rivera, a College and Career Coach with College Success Foundation, has met with small groups of 6th graders for the last few weeks in the GCC – Garry Community Center. They have been planning for a big, beautiful future! Miss Dulce has introduced them to the Washington Career Bridge program where students take a personality and interest survey where their results get linked to careers matching their personality. Students are visioning and dreaming about a wonderful future ahead. Each 6th grader has a chance to meet with Miss Dulce this quarter and next semester they’ll have another follow-up meeting. Before long, the 7th graders will participate in the same opportunity. And what about the 8th graders? They get that opportunity in the CCLR class: College and Career Life Readiness.
Check out the link for yourself: www.careerbridge.wa.gov
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Family and School Connections | |
Hello Garry Families! Does anyone else start feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin this time of year, or is it just me? Having 3 children in 3 different schools while trying to stay informed AND working feels like an impossible task some days. At Spokane Garry, we know that families want to stay engaged and informed while understanding that sometimes you don’t have the time or energy to dedicate to coming to the school. | |
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That is why we created “The Garry 5.” Each week we release a video on YouTube that is 5 minutes or less about timely and relevant topics around Spokane Garry. A lot of families have been watching with us, but I wanted to take another opportunity to let families know what we are doing, why, and how you can engage with us. So, keep your eye out each week for a new video link in your email or text messages! There might be some fun guests coming up. 😊
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Devony Audet
Family Engagement Coordinator
devonya@spokaneschools.org
509-354-5170
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Garry Gear Giveaway
Starting February 7, 2023, Miss Miranda will be visiting advisory classes to hand out some of our amazing Garry Gear shirts. Be on the lookout for the lucky students who are chosen!
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8:00 AM to 8:55 AM Tuesday through Friday
and
Monday through Thursday from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Registration Packets are available outside of Room 117
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Ashley Bartels
21st CCLC Site Coordinator
509-354-5133
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Character Trait of the Month:
Forgiveness
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February's trait of the month is Forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of pain or resentment towards ourselves or others. Trying to understand what makes us all imperfect and working to accept those imperfections. | |
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"Forgiveness isn't approving what happened.
It's choosing to rise above it”
— Robin Sharma,
Canadian Writer, Author, and Speaker
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March's Trait of the Month
Selflessness
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Girls Basketball
The 7th grade JV basketball team has had an amazing season so far. They are undefeated! Lilley Blomquist led the team in scoring, putting up 48 points in 4 games, including a buzzer-beating game-winner against Chase Middle School. Taelynn Foye has contributed double-digit rebounds in every game, along with averaging 11 points a game. Zaya Brown's defense has proved invaluable as she shuts down the opposing teams' scorers leading a strong defensive attack by the Lady Ravens. Anna Glatzmaier, Lillionna Shaw, Abbie Epps, and Ahlia Lattergrass continuously shut down opposing players, helping to lead to victory after victory. Congrats to Garry for an exceptional season and come cheer them on as they pursue an undefeated season!
The 7th grade Varsity basketball team is off to a great start with playing Flett, Chase, and Glover. They were close games with Eva Krebs leading the way in scoring with 35 points so far this season. Gracie Butters is a close second in scoring 17 points so far this season. Liz Brumback and Audrina Mendoza are leading the defense with various steals and rebound for the 2023 season. Come and support the Ravens as they end their final week of the season!
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7th Grade Girls Basketball Team | |
Edgar helps Coach Ferris and Coach Postlewait keep the 7th-grade girls' basketball team focused. | |
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Starting Tuesday, February 7th from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm
Hi Garry Ravens! The Multi-Cultural Club started this week and will meet every Tuesday in the library. We will hold our multi-cultural sessions after school where we will build our community by teaching all individuals about the diversity in our school and community through a variety of activities. Join our club and be the you, you want to be!
Remember, we can’t grow as a society if we don’t know how to work together. As a society, we must support one another.
Our multi-cultural club is open to all, no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, background, etc. We accept all and want you to accept yourselves for the unique students you are. - Ms. Conklin
Are you interested? If so, sign up via “final forms” or,
email Ms. Conklin at KiaraC@spokaneschools.org
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Describe what you do at Spokane Garry Middle School and how long you’ve worked here.
I’m still a new teacher in the grand scheme of things. I’m in my first year at Spokane Garry as a 6th-grade science teacher and my 2nd year as a teacher.
What do you love about your job?
I love the connections that I can make with my students and colleagues. These students come from a huge variety of cultures and I’m able to learn new things about the world just by interacting with them.
Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?
“A learning experience is one of those things that says, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” -Douglas Adams
What are your “trapped on a desert island” books or movies?
The Wheel of Time – Robert Jordan
The Sword of Truth – Terry Goodkind
Just those two series of books would keep me going for a very long time. I’d also suggest them to any person who loves fantasy fiction.
What is one question you wish people would ask you more? Why?
As a science teacher and a teacher in general, we put out a plethora of information to our students every day. A lot of the time we aren’t able to do a really deep dive into the subject due to time restraints. But if we take a little bit of time to really get into the WHY of our subject, and the WHY of ourselves, it could really do wonders for our understanding of our subjects, ourselves, and our peers.
Is there one thing you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time?
Going back to Europe and taking a road trip to some of the places that I visited in my youth. I was stationed in Germany during my military days and I was able to travel around Europe. There are still many places that I would love to visit.
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What's happening next month: | |
- Spring Break - April 3 thru 7
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