GJHS Newsletter 10-03-2025
- GJHS
- Oct 3
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 4
Week at a Glance:
Monday 10/6:
Tuesday 10/7:
Staff committee meetings after school
Pickleball Club
GIRLS: 4:00pm
BOYS: 5:15pm
Wednesday 10/8:
Fine Arts Fundraiser Mario Kart party in the library
Thursday 10/9:
GIRLS: 4:00pm
BOYS: 5:15pm
Friday 10/10:
End of 1st Quarter
Principal’s Message:
At Greenspun, we are committed to helping every student grow as a thinker and learner.
If you’ve ever asked your middle schooler how their day went and heard the classic, “I don’t know,” you are not alone. Or maybe, you’ve tried to reason with them about a decision, only to get a blank statement like, “I just have to go on the trip—everyone else is going!”
These quick responses may sound familiar, but they also highlight an important skill that our kids need to develop: the ability to clearly explain their thinking.
At Greenspun, we are committed to helping every student grow as a thinker and learner. This year, one of our schoolwide goals is to strengthen students’ use of Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER)— a powerful strategy that helps them support their ideas with evidence and state their reasoning to show understanding.
When students consistently practice CER, they become stronger writers, better problem-solvers, and more effective communicators. These skills cross every subject—whether analyzing a text in English, solving equations in math, conducting an experiment in science, or debating history in social studies.
We know that success is greatest when students see the same expectations reinforced at home. So parents, we are asking for your assistance.
We encourage you to practice CER with your children at home by asking them to explain their claims, share evidence for their ideas, or provide reasons for their decisions. Working together will assist our students in developing habits of thoughtful thinking that leads to improved performance and success well beyond middle school.
And while “I don’t know” may never disappear from the teenage vocabulary, with practice, it just might be followed by a thoughtful claim, solid evidence, and clear reasoning—which makes those everyday conversations with our children a whole lot more meaningful!
Events & Honors:
SOT: Congratulations to our newly elected and re-elected members of the Greenspun JHS School Organizational Team! Please visit https://www.greenspunjhs.com/sot
Amber Whiting, parent
Stephen Silberkraus, parent
Angie Lee, parent
Emily Smith, parent
Sonia Medrano, parent
Andrew Slocum, teacher
Allie McIlroy, teacher
Page Zuniga, teacher
Liza Chadwick Neilson, support staff
Jacqueline Carducci, principal
Student Council representative TBD
Colorguard: Congratulations to the following members of the 2025-2026 Greenspun JHS Color Guard:
Lillian Boyd Kelssy Carr-Malpass Bentli Clements Lilianna Crist Lillie De Leon Charlotte Henderson Taylor Johnson Adilynn King Natalia Klestinec Lillian Kolman | Ella Lease Allie Miller-Garcia Paris Peterson Avery Raymond Clarissa Rivera Samantha Roehrs Zeljhay Schilling Kerwyn Straczek Alexis Wade |
Student Recognition: The week of October 13 through October 17 will be our week of student recognition for Quarter 1. On Monday, we will begin by issuing your Straight "O" stickers throughout the week during lunch. With this sticker you will have the option to be released 10 minutes early for activities in the outside courtyard along with being allowed to attend sporting events without your parents. Congratulations to all who have earned this privilege!
Kindness Week: Kindness week is here! we have several activities that our students can participate in this week. Take advantage of photo ops in the hallways, or words of affirmation. You can even send a note to a friend during your lunch period and receive an entry for a $20.00 Amazon gift card. We are Greenspun! We are Kind; We are Respectful; We are Responsible; We are Safe!
8th Grade Disneyland Field Trip: Only 34 spots available for the 8th grade trip to Disneyland on 5/11/26. The trip packets can be picked up in the back office. The field trip forms and the deposit of $85 must be turned in to our School Banker to secure your spot. Any student who signs up after the initial 100 will be placed on a waiting list. CLICK HERE for more information!
Yearbook: Get your 2025-2026 YEARBOOK today before the price increases. Also, 8th grade parents get your recognition ads NOW! Spaces are limited and will run out. https://www.jostens.com/
SECTA field trip: We are excited to announce a special opportunity for our female students in grades 6–8! On Thursday, December 4, 2025, selected students will attend the Girls in TECH event at Southeast Career and Technical Academy (SECTA). This free event will allow students to participate in hands-on technology activities designed to spark interest in STEM and IT careers. CLICK HERE for more information and to register!
Chess Club: An informational chess club meeting will be held WEDNESDAY, October 8, in room 207 from 2:15 until 2:45 pm for all interested students. ALL students are welcome! You just need a desire to learn how to plan or improve your current skillset! See you there...
Pickleball Club: Pickleball Club meets this Tuesday right after school. All students participating should meet and sign-in near the stairs above the tennis courts. Pickleball Club will end at 3:30pm.
History Club: History Club will be meeting on Thursdays in Mrs. Reed’s room with Ms. Arredondo! Come join us to dive into special topics and your own special interests. It will be every Thursday from 2:15pm - 3:00 pm. We will be doing games, research, discussions, crafts, plays, and more! It will be open to all grades.
Trunk-or-Treat Candy Competition: Sweeten the Season! Donate Candy for Our Upcoming Trunk or Treat! It’s almost that time of year again—costumes, pumpkins, and lots of sweet treats! As we prepare for our annual Trunk or Treat event, we’re asking for your help to make it extra special. Our goal is to provide a safe, fun, and family-friendly Halloween celebration for children of all ages. To make it happen, we need plenty of candy to fill the decorated trunks and keep the excitement going all evening long. That’s where you come in!
How You Can Help:
Donate bags of individually wrapped candy with your student. Each first period class will have a competition to see who can gather the most candy. The winning class will celebrate with free carnival game tickets to the trunk or treat.
Drop off donations at Greenspun JR High from September 29 to October 3, 2025
Consider spreading the word—every little bit helps!
Your generosity ensures that every child who attends leaves with a smile, a bucket full of treats, and unforgettable memories. Together, we can make this year’s Trunk or Treat the sweetest one yet. Thank you for supporting our community and making this event a success!
Popcorn Fundraiser: Ms. De Chavez’s class will be selling freshly popped popcorn to raise funds for classroom activities!
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday
Cost: $2 for students | $3 for staff
Where: 1st lunch-Third lunch inside the cafeteria
All proceeds will go directly toward supporting classroom projects and activities for our students. Thank you for your support!
Personal Property: The school is not responsible for any personal property of students or their families. Students should not bring valuable items to school. If students bring personal items to school, they do so at their own risk. The school is not obligated to investigate lost or stolen items. The school is not responsible for reimbursement of any kind to students or their families. https://www.greenspunjhs.com/student-handbook
Webstore: The online webstore is now available! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to add items for payment. Parents and guardians must create an account and add their child with a student ID number before they can make payments on the webstore. CLICK HERE to visit the new online webstore!
Absence notes: Parents, please submit absence notes within three days, by clicking on the Attendance icon on our homepage at greenspunjhs.com.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: Do you want an easy and fun way to celebrate your child's birthday at school? For $15, we will display a short message on the outdoor digital marquee to help celebrate the day. Additionally, a bag of treats and a personalized birthday card will be delivered to your child during the school day. All funds raised help support Greenspun clubs and activities. CLICK HERE to submit a birthday greeting for your child!
Infinite Campus Parent portal/Student portal: Parents, please continue to monitor your child’s grades in Infinite Campus Parent Portal. If you need an activation code, please contact the office for assistance.
SafeVoice: SafeVoice is an anonymous tip report system with live response 24/7/365. Safevoice (SV) includes and goes beyond bullying to create an anonymous way to also report threats of school violence and friends at risk of suicide, self-harm, drugs and more. CLICK HERE to submit a report
Rave Reviews: Do you know of any CCSD employees who make a difference and are exemplary models of the District’s core values? Recognize one of our many outstanding employees for their commitment to education by submitting a RAVE (Recognize a Valued Employee) Review. CLICK HERE to submit a Rave Review!
School Organizational Team: The next Greenspun JHS SOT meeting will be held Wednesday, October 22 in the library at 2:30pm. Click here for GJHS SOT information.
Check the GJHS calendar for more events & information.
View daily announcements on our Youtube channel!
Greenspun Gallery:
Photos courtesy of the GJHS Yearbook Publications class under the instruction of Ms. Juliano