Students are halfway through the fourth six weeks. Progress reports went home Tuesday.

The Cubs and Lady Cubs are getting ready for their first track and field meet here Thursday.

The Goliad Middle School Student Council hosted a Valentine dance on Feb. 9. The yearbook staff took Valentine photos. Students voted for seventh-grade prince and princess and eighth-grade king and queen. Students had to be present to vote and win.

Spring pictures were taken Tuesday. A picture proof was sent home with each student along with an order form.

Goliad Middle School will have cheerleader tryouts on March 8. Tryout practice will be held the week of March 4-8 at 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. There will be a mandatory parent meeting for all cheerleading candidates on March 4 at 5:45 p.m.

Seventh-grade

The seventh-grade reading students have been studying persuasive techniques. They have reviewed newspaper clippings and video clips to discover how writers use the techniques to manipulate readers.

They have also studied how sound effects, lighting, and special effects are used to enhance the message in advertising. Students reviewed television commercials to analyze what the writer’s purpose was, who the target audience was, and access if the media message was effective. This week, students will formulate connections across literary media.

Many students participated in the UIL meets on Jan. 25-26.

Following are GMS students who placed:

Calculator (eighth grade) - 1. Michala Janssen, 2. Bryanna Mendoza, 3. Ricky Waer

Science I - 1. Marlena Poldreck

Science II - 2. Robert O’Neil, 4. Rhett Davis

Listening skills (seventh grade) - 2. Madison Henicke, 3. Madyson Hughling.

Listening skills (eighth grade) - 3. Casey Tislow, 4. Trakevian Williams

Oral reading (seventh grade) - 5. Madison Henicke, 6. Sarah Helmer

Oral reading (eighth grade) - 1. Megan Albrecht, 3. Kendall Muehlstein, 4. Caitlin Cope

Modern oratory (seventh grade) - 2. Shavohn Lott, 3. Marlena Poldreck, 4. Emily VonDohlen

Modern oratory (eighth grade) - 1. Sarah Koehne, 2. Rhett Davis, 4. Mariah Roberts

Impromptu speaking (seventh grade) - 5. Rayegan Hernandez

Impromptu speaking (eighth grade) - 1. Tallis Butler, 4. Ashley Gonzales, 5. Mollie Albrecht

Editorial writing (eighth grade) - 1. Megan Albrecht

Ready writing (seventh grade) - 2. Kylie Neuvar, 6. Tino Reyes

Spelling (seventh grade) - 1. Hunter Troell, 4. Kylie Neuvar

Spelling (eighth grade) - 3. Sarah Koehne, 5. Trakevian Williams

Art smart (seventh grade) - 1. Audrey Corey, 3. Caitlin Walsh

Art smart (eighth grade) - 3. Ashley Gonzales, 5. Nicole Fielding – 5th

Mathematics (seventh grade) - 1. Dalton Dornburg, 4. Joshua Garcia

Mathematics (eighth grade) - 1. Kayla Stock, 3. Aubry Williams, 5. Sarah Koehne

Maps, charts and graphs (seventh grade) - 3. Brady Scott, 5. John Howard

Maps, charts and graphs (eighth grade) - 1. Kayla Stock, 2. Tallis Butler, 3. Ricky Waer

Dictionary skills (seventh grade) - 2. Rayegan Hernandez, 4. Madyson Hughling

Dictionary skills (eighth grade) - 1. Carly Shockley

Number sense (seventh grade) - 1. Marlena Poldreck, 2. Joshua Garcia, 5. Dalton Dornburg

Number sense (eighth grade) - 1. Cameron Reyes

Social studies (seventh grade) - 1. Rayegan Hernandez, 2. Jaky Mendoza, 4. Brady Scott

Spelling bee

Seven students signed up for the middle school spelling bee, which was held Thursday in the library.

Jared Martin, an eighth-grader, won the contest. He qualified to advance to the regional spelling bee in Victoria in March.

Upcoming events

Feb. 14 - GMS practice track and field meet, Tiger Field

Feb. 16-23 - National FFA Week

Feb. 19 - Benchmark testing (seventh-grade writing/eighth-grade reading)

Feb. 20 - Benchmark testing (eighth-grade math)

Feb. 23 - GMS track and field team at Edna meet