One of the SEL activities this week was for students to share who they received Empathy, Flexibility, and Grace from this semester.  Here are just a few samples. 

Even the staff got in on the exercise...

This week was spirit week on campus.  

Hat day was Monday...

PJ Day on Tuesday...

Socks and Sparkles on Wednesday....

Plaid Day was Thursday....

And crazy sweater day on Friday.  Ok, maybe Coach Houser took it to another level...

And just a little bit of cheer for the staff...Hot chocolate, Coffee, breakfast delivered by some wonderful helpers (Counselors and Front Office)...

                                                

GMS wasn't able to host our traditional Service week, but a few of our student organizations were able to provide support.

NJHS created hundreds of greeting cards and delivered them to:

The Central Austin Food Bank

Brookdale Beckett Meadows Assisted Living Facility

Legacy Oaks South Austin Assisted Living Facility

Silverado Barton Springs Memory Care Facility

The GMS Student Council raised...

Super proud of our Tigers supporting these organizations this year.  

Another thank you to our parents, this time the Band parents.  We appreciated ending the semester with our traditional Fine Arts luncheon, even if the students couldn't be our waiters.  

Make sure that you have your contacts updated over the break.  There is talk that the first week back in January might not be in person.  

Have a great winter break and see you in January.  

Proud of the GMS Tigerettes.  Considering they learned this dance through remote learning and then had a few practices to learn formations, they did an excellent job.  

It is with sadness that I announce our 7th Grade Assistant Principal, Mrs. Ortiz, will be leaving GMS.  She has accepted a position at Ann Richards High School.  Friday will be her last day at GMS.  To replace Mrs. Ortiz, GMS has hired Kaylin Brett as our new 7th Grade AP.  Mrs. Brett comes to us as a US History Teacher and Student Council Sponsor from Bowie High School.  I know you will help me say good-bye to Mrs. Ortiz and welcome Mrs. Brett.  

Tonight on Facebook is the Middle School Fair, Part 3 and Gorzycki will be featured.  It starts at 6:30.  Hope to see you there. 

All assignments are due Monday!  Assignments submitted after Monday will not be reflected on this report card. 

Adding some holiday excitement next week...

Monday - Holiday Headwear

Tuesday - Holiday PJs

Wednesday - Socks and Sparkle

Thursday - Plaid and Scarves

Friday - Ugly Sweater 

One more week, have a great weekend.

With January 5th added as a DOI PD day, the schedule for that week will be ABB.

GMS is so appreciative of our PTA.  Not only did they step up and help provide our Thanksgiving lunch from Circle C Cafe, but they also provided gift cards.  Having the support of our families makes these strange times more manageable.  

It was such a beautiful day that the 8th-grade team had their Thanksgiving lunch outside.  

We all had concerns about how Woodshop would happen remotely, but I think it has allowed for more creativity from students.  

 Hopefully, you received the email from our Superintendent stating that there is a possibility that AISD will move to remote learning the week after Thanksgiving.  A decision is supposed to be made by the 25th of November.  If this happens, GMS will send word as well.  

Thank you all for your support, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Each year for Veteran's Day, Mr. Heckler has one of his choir students sing during the morning announcement.  Please listen to Medha A. sing the Star-Spangled Banner.  If you would like to hear more, the Fall Virtual Concert was great.

I know I say this each week, but it is great to have some normalcy back at GMS.  Below are the Tigerettes practicing after school. 

    

There is even some art work being posted around the building.  

 One week left before Thanksgiving break, enjoy your weekend. 

GMS loves Popcorn Fridays.  Thank you, PTA!!!!!

Having some fun at lunch.  Students are able to select songs to be played.  Every time a student would get up and dance I didn't have my camera out fast enough.

Teachers are finding creative ways for students to complete verbal projects.  This student was in the hallway alone, using the partitions, so he could remove his mask.  

There will be a Principal's Coffee next Thursday.  Hope to you see then.

The GMS Spanish classes have created their Dia de Muertos altar.  If you don't know what this is, I encourage you to ask a Spanish class student. 

Halloween Dress Up day is one of my favorites at GMS.

Even the Admin team gets involved in the fun.

Mr. Martin's No Place for Hate Student Coalition met with Mayor Adler this morning.  So proud of the questions the students asked, very thought-provoking. 

And to end the week, we appreciate the GMS PTA with our luncheon.  

 Don't forget to set your clocks back Sunday morning.  

 Typically this bulletin board is created with name tags from Tiger Camp.  This year it is being updated as students return.  Hopefully next week we will have a few more names.

Transportation Appreciation Week.  GMS loves our bus drivers!  Ms. Huerta hand-delivered GMS treats to each bus driver.

It was great to see cheerleaders at the football this week.  GMS has one more week of football games. Go Tigers!

As many of you know, GMS begins rotating classes next week.  We are super excited to have more students back on campus.  If you are interested in having your child return to school, please complete the district survey that was sent out last Wednesday evening.  Re-entry tickets will be sent to families next week with the date to return.  

GMS will be using a new schedule next week because we needed to create additional lunch periods.  Please check our website for the calendar and lunch periods.  

Seems like the weather is changing so have a warm weekend!

 With each day back at GMS and more students coming each day, the campus is able to review current safety procedures.  We have changed practices daily to ensure better safety habits for example how students enter and leave the cafeteria has been changed so that students don't cross paths.  I am grateful that AISD has a phased-in approach so that all the kinks can get worked out before we have everyone back on campus.  It is much easier to fix a procedure with 100 students than it would be with 100s.  In doing this, we can also tell which procedures won't work with 100s of students on campus and are therefore updating those as well. 

The district's next phase is to rotate class.  As with current procedures, this will probably begin with the current students on campus.  This will allow us to make sure GMS maintains the safety guidelines of social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks.  As before, anytime you are ready for your child to return to GMS, send me an email and arrangements will be made to have your child return to school. 

Mrs. Young's Green Ag class taking soil samples outside in the garden.  Students learning at home went outside to their own yards and collected soil samples.  

Students have some super cute masks.  Here are a few of my favorites.  

If you feel like it is time for your child to be back on campus, just send me an email.  

Have a great weekend.

 It has been an awesome first week back with students.  The safety protocols in place and the amazing GMS teachers have allowed students to feel welcomed, safe, and normal.  Every student I have asked loved being back at school.  

We have also started football and volleyball.  

Love having students back in the building and welcome 7th and 8th graders next week.  To celebrate students back on campus, each student went home with a weekend meal.  Remember if you would like to receive weekly meals, please visit www.austinisd.org for more details. 

PTA is in its final push for our annual Tiger Drive.  Please check out their website to view videos.  https://www.tigerpta.org/tiger-drive

Have a great weekend.  

(Pictures from last week's blog were from the Girl's Locker Room, 8th-grade hallway, and the chicken coop.)

Well, Tigers we did it!  If someone would have asked if I thought everyone could move to an online learning platform in two weeks, the answer would have been NO!  But we did.  It wasn't smooth and not even our best work but learning occurred for every GMS Tiger.  I am super proud of the GMS Staff for the incredible amount of learning it took to pull this off in two weeks and to keep it going.  I am equally proud of our GMS students who had to learn how to use the online tools, learn from them, and submit assignments!  Of course, none of this would have happened without the support of our amazing GMS families.   The amount of pride I have for this community is overwhelming.  During this time, not only did many of you forgo the district laptops allowing for needier students to receive theirs first.  Families also supported the GMS faculty financially in multiple ways.  I have even heard of GMS Tigers continuing their volunteerism by creating earpieces for masks, delivering food, and placing positive thoughts around the neighborhood.  Really, I can't be more proud to be their principal.

As we move into summer, the plan for returning in August isn't clear.  It will look different.  As I learn what this will look like, I will communicate with you.  Please continue to check the different communication formats for GMS.

I leave you with a link of highlights for 2019-2020. 
https://www.facebook.com/GMSTigers/

Have a great summer.

Hard to believe that this is the last week of VLOs for students.  

Do you know where these pictures were taken?

The pictures from last week's blog were from the GMS Library and Mr. Branham's US History classroom. It's one of my favorite classrooms at GMS.  

Next week brings the last week of school and end of year celebrations.   There is something different planned for each grade level.  Sixth graders will participate in a virtual Ice Cream Social.  7th graders will have a virtual celebration. For our 8th graders, the campus is hosting a parade next Thursday.  Please check out our website for more details.  

Just a reminder that all VLOs are over and grades will be finalized next Tuesday.

Monday is Memorial Day so GMS will back on Tuesday.  Have a great weekend. 

8th graders, we need your help with submitting pictures for the 8th Grade Panoramic photo.  The deadline has been extended to next Friday the 22nd. 

https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/jv5d7fNYJ0rRw

 Last Friday I posted pictures of different places at GMS and asked if you knew where they were.  Here are the answers:  The Commons, over Tiger Mart, and the gym.  Those were easier.  Do you know where these pictures were taken?

Just a reminder that items in the PE lockers are able to be picked up.  An email was sent earlier this week with a link.  The link must be completed prior to you coming to school.  

Thank you all so much for your patience as GMS has worked through this unprecedented situation.  Stay safe and hope to see you soon.