It's "E" Week in Tigerland! EFCDAB  It's National Library Week!

Parents, please encourage your child to take advantage of the seven weeks
of educational opportunity that is ahead of us! Make every minute count as
we don't have any time to waste when it comes to providing the best in
education each day at Griffin Middle School!

Report Card News
Report Cards went home with all Tigers on Wednesday, April 6, 2005! Hats
off to those Tigers who are on track for promotion. Remember, students
must earn at least 4 quality points in each class to earn promotion in
addition to earning a good score on the FCAT (Level 3 or higher is best).
Potential Failure letters will be mailed home starting next week. These
letters are mailed each nine weeks and alert parents and students that
steps must be taken to avoid failing a course. Guidnace Counselors,
teachers and administrators are also meeting with students on an
individual basis to alert students of grade concerns and develop/check
their progress towards earning promotion. Our Homework Center remains open
5 days a week to help your child complete homework. Our Homework Center is
staffed with caring volunteers and certified Griffin Middle School
teachers. We are here to help your child achieve their highest potential
in education. Your help is needed and expected as a partner in this
process. Please call the office at 488.8436 if you did not receive your
child's report card.

Think About the Messages You Send When Your Child Does Homework
What messages do you give your child when she does homework? Your actions
say many things about your attitudes toward your child and toward
learning. Some parents don't look at their children's homework or agenda
book. They may not even ask whether it's finished. They give the message
that "Your work doesn't interest me." Some parents look only for errors.
They are saying, "Smart people never make mistakes." Some parents do their
children's work for them. They are really saying, "You can't learn."

Those aren't the messages parents want to send. Instead, let your child
know she can learn if she works hard. Everyone makes mistakes, but smart
people learn from their mistakes and try not to make the same mistakes
again. Also let your child know that you do care what she's learning at
school.

If you give these messages, you will not only help your child with this
week's math assignment, you'll also help your child become a strong and
self-reliant adult. And that is the most important "homework" assignment
you and your child can ever complete.


Our Annual Silent Auction a HUGE Success
Our 5th Annual Silent Action took place on Tuesday, April 5, 2005! It was
so much fun and another huge success. Shonda Knight, WTXL Morning Anchor,
was our announcer and emcee and she was wonderful as usual! Our Silent
Auction committee was chaired by Mrs. Sharon Berrian. She worked countless
hours with committee members to ensure that our auction was successful!
Hats off to Mrs. Berrian and the members of our auction committee (Connie
Apgar, Debbie Clark, Eileen Prince, Frances Garner, Dorthy Taylor,
Dearline Thomas-Brown, and Marcie Winner). Knowing our committee members,
they are already planning for another successful auction next year! Way to
go, Tigers!

Sporting News and Updates
Our Lady Tiger GSB Team is having a great season thus far! Our record
stands at 3 wins and 2 losses. We are second in our division at this date
(04.10.05). Catch Coach Rich and the Lady Tiger GSB Team in action this
week at the following games:
04.11.05   GMS v Ft. Braden   6:30 PM @ Ft. Braden
04.13.05   GMS v Raa          7:30 PM @ Lincoln High

Our Track and Field Team is off to a great start! Coach Gilmore has done
another great job of getting the team ready to compete with true Tiger
pride and spirit. At last week's track meet, we placed 2nd in the girl's
division and 6th in the boy's division. Remember that the district track
meets encompass all nine middle school teams. Join us for the next track
meet that takes place on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at 5:30 PM/Leon High
School.

Take Our Sons & Daughters to Work Day
April 28th is the designated date for "Take Our Sons and Daughters to
Work".  The guidelines(aligned with MS Foundation's recommended age group)
for Leon County Schools will allow participation in grades 3-8.  Schools
must receive a pre-approved letter from the parent and/or guardian
indicating the student's participation.  The employee must provide the
school with a written statement on company letterhead verifying the
student's attendance.  Please note these are two separate letters.  The
first letter must be sent before April 28th and the second letter will need
to be brought in on April 29th.

Tigers Stay Healthy and Strong!
Nutrition Tip of the Week: Snack on fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are low calorie and full of vitamins and minerals.
These vitamins and minerals help keep you strong and healthy so that you
can do all the things you want to do. Keeping your calorie intake balanced
with your activity level will help you stay at a healthy body
weight.

Physical Activity Tip of the Week:
Make it FUN:  Choose activities that are fun, not exhausting.  Add
variety.  Develop a repertoire of several activities that you can enjoy.
That way, exercise will never seem boring or routine.  Use music to keep
you entertained while being active.

Are You Helping Your Child Stay Safe?
Every two hours, a child dies of a gunshot wound. What can you do to keep
your child safe? Here's a quiz to help you find out.
Give yourself five points for something you usually do, zero points for
something you never do—or any score in between you think you deserve.

___1. I know where my child is and who his friends are.
___2. I have a curfew for my child.
___3. If we have a gun in our house, we always keep it unloaded and in a
locked cabinet.
___4. Each day, I let my child know that he is loved and appreciated.
___5. Whenever possible, I encourage my child and his friends to spend
time at our house where I can supervise them.

How did you score?
More than 20 points means you're doing a good job of keeping your child
safe. A score of 15 to 19 is average. Below 15? Take some of the steps
mentioned in the quiz to safeguard your child.

Make this a positive and highly productive week, Tigers!