Gator News – Your Trusted Source

In this season of light, may we all find warmth in community, joy in learning, and inspiration in one another.

To help maintain a smooth and focused school day, we’ve continued our hall sweeps as a gentle reminder for students to get to class promptly and keep our hallways clear during instructional time. These sweeps are simply one of the tools we use to reinforce our shared expectations and support students in building strong, consistent routines. By creating calmer hallways and fewer interruptions, we help ensure that learning can stay at the center of the school day. We appreciate students who are making the effort to transition on time and those who are improving each week.

We also conducted our recent fire drill. It highlighted what’s working and where we can fine-tune our communication and movement throughout the building. These drills are an important part of keeping our community safe, and we’re committed to making each one more efficient than the last. Thank you to our staff and students for your patience, flexibility, and willingness to grow alongside us.

Supporting Students During Finals

As we continue final exams, we kindly encourage parents and guardians to help their students come to school well-rested, on time, and prepared to do their best. A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a few words of encouragement can make a meaningful difference in helping students feel confident and ready to succeed.

If you have suggestions or questions, feel free to email me at jhibbler@gsastl.org. Please allow 24–48 hours for a response.

With Gator Gratitude,
Mrs. Hibbler

Assistant Principal of School Culture

As we close out finals week, we want to recognize the hard work, focus, and perseverance our students have shown. Whether this week brought challenges, growth, or accomplishments, it marks an important milestone in the semester. We encourage everyone to take pride in the effort they’ve put in, finish strong, and take time to rest and recharge. Congratulations on making it through finals — your dedication does not go unnoticed!

Annual Health Form

We still are missing the annual student health form for many students. This form provides essential health information for the school nurse, including parent/guardian permission for medication at school and emergency transport in case of a significant medical event. If you have not filled out the form for your student this year, please complete it and return it to school or email to nursefyler@gsastl.org

Covid Policy

If a person tests positive for Covid, they must stay home from school if they have a fever of 100.4 (38 degrees C) or higher, frequent cough, and/or don't feel well. A person may return to school when fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and he/she feels strong enough to be at school for the entire school day. Students are also encouraged to wear masks for 10 days after they first develop symptoms to reduce spread. Masks are available from the front desk and in the nurse office.

Winter Nosebleeds: Why Are Nosebleeds More Common in Cold Weather?

Cold weather creates the perfect conditions for nosebleeds. Here’s why:

1. Dry Air: Winter air is typically drier, especially indoors where heating systems remove moisture from the air. This dryness can irritate and crack the delicate lining inside your nose, making it more likely to bleed.
2. Temperature Changes: Moving between cold outdoor air and warm indoor air can cause your nasal tissues to dry out and become inflamed, increasing the risk of bleeding.
3. Frequent Nose Blowing: Winter is also the season for colds and flu. When you blow your nose often, it can irritate your nasal passages and lead to nosebleeds.
4. Irritants: Exposure to smoke, dust, or strong fragrances can irritate the nasal lining, making it more prone to bleeding.

How to Prevent Nosebleeds in Winter

While you can’t change the weather, you can take steps to protect your nose from the effects of cold, dry air.

1. Use a Humidifier Adding moisture to the air in your home can help keep your nasal passages hydrated. Place a humidifier in your bedroom or main living area to reduce dryness.
2. Stay Hydrated Drinking plenty of water is one of the simplest ways to keep your body and nasal passages hydrated. Aim for at least eight glasses of water a day.
3. Apply Nasal Moisturizers Use a saline nasal spray or a dab of petroleum jelly inside your nostrils to keep the lining moist. Saline sprays are especially helpful because they’re easy to use and free of harsh chemicals.
4. Avoid Nose Picking While it may seem obvious, avoiding picking your nose is key to preventing irritation and injury to the nasal lining.
5. Be Gentle When Blowing Your Nose If you have a cold, blow your nose gently to avoid damaging the sensitive tissues inside.
6. Protect Your Nose Outdoors Wear a scarf or mask over your nose when you’re outside in cold, windy weather. This helps warm and humidify the air before it enters your nasal passages.
7. Avoid Irritants Stay away from cigarette smoke, strong fragrances, and other irritants that can dry out or inflame your nasal lining.

Food Drive Update

National Honor Society Updates

Our National Honor Society students are still taking their finals. Once they have time to calculate and finalize scores, results will be shared with the school community. Thank you for your patience as this process is completed.

In addition, our upperclass Life Skills students recently delivered the NHS Food and Personal Needs Drive donations to St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry in Dutchtown. The students did an outstanding job loading, separating, and sorting over 600 donated items collected by the National Honor Society. We are thrilled to have made this community connection and are proud of our students for their teamwork and service. A special thank you to NHS members, Mrs. Erdogan, and Mr. Morrow for helping make this opportunity possible.

Support Our YMCA—Support Our Students and Community

At GSA, we are proud to call the YMCA our partners in expanding opportunities for students and families. The Y plays an essential role in strengthening our schools—from sponsoring underwater robotics programs in our elementary and middle schools to collaborating with us to secure the Mobile Y for the Gateway Region, which our students and families now enjoy through a variety of after-school activities.

Many of our students rely on the Y as a safe, welcoming place to go after school, and this partnership continues to open doors for incredible experiences. A GSA High School student represented both our school and our local YMCA at the International Leadership Conference in Colombia, showcasing the leadership potential within our district.

The YMCA also invests in our educators—providing professional development opportunities—and works alongside us to co-host family events that bring our community together.

By contributing to the YMCA’s annual fundraising campaign, you are investing directly in our students, our families, and the strength of our community. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference.

Thank you for supporting a partnership that helps our students thrive. We are proud to call the YMCA our partners! You can donate easily at the following link-

Here

The GSA Tri-M (National Honor Society for Musicians) served Hot Chocolate Runners last Sunday. We handed out water cups, Gatorade, and M & Ms to runners. We cheered them along the race. This race raised money for Special Olympics of Missouri. We met at GSA at 5:00 AM, and went to our station in Soulard.

Our CYSP students had an unforgettable experience during the CYSP Tent Camp held on Friday, December 5th. The event brought together students, families, and staff for an evening filled with teamwork, responsibility, and fun.

Students and parents began the evening by attending the Winter Band Concert in the gym. Pizza dinner was served in the cafeteria before and after the concert, based on student availability and arrival time. After dinner, students participated in meaningful classroom clean-up activities—including organizing the gym storage area, several classrooms, the computer lab, hallway boards, and the music room—showcasing leadership and service to our school community.

The night continued with exciting activities such as volleyball, badminton, and a team engineering challenge to build the tallest standing tower, creating a lively and positive atmosphere. Students then enjoyed a College 101 discussion featuring CYSP alumni, where college students shared their experiences and advice. High school students asked many thoughtful and valuable questions.

Later in the evening, students set up their tents—boys in the multipurpose room and girls in the music room—and spent meaningful bonding time with their tent groups. Quiet time began at 11:00 PM, allowing everyone to rest and recharge.

On Saturday morning, students woke up at 7:30 AM and began tent clean-up. Families joined us at 8:00 AM for a warm and joyful breakfast, followed by student dismissal at 9:00 AM. Parent participation played a vital role in making this event a success, and we are grateful to all who were able to join or support in other ways.

This event provided a valuable opportunity for students to build teamwork skills, demonstrate responsibility, and celebrate their CYSP progress.

See the pictures here ---> 🎪

Hey Gators!

In the spring, all rising 11th graders and older will have the opportunity to apply for a Nurse Aide Apprenticeship through Next Prep & SSM Health. At the end of the two year program, students will have earned their Certified Nursing Assistant Certification and an Associate's Degree, and they will have worked over 400 clinical hours for SSM. This opportunity is ideal for students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, whether they want to stay a nurse aide, become a Registered Nurse, switch to a different medical discipline, or go on to medical school.

Students can register to attend the info session by scanning the QR code in the flyer or by going to this link. We'll send out an email and text once the info session date and time have been finalized.

Uniform Donations Needed

Please donate gently used school pants and uniform shirts that your student has outgrown to help other students! We especially need sweatshirts and adult mens pants at this time. Thank you.

We would like to congratulate our solo representative Justin “Trickshot” Smith for placing in the Top 4! He is now a two-time Top 4 State Qualifier! It was definitely hard fought! Be sure to congratulate him whenever you see him!

🐊💙 Welcome to the GSA Athletics Merch Store!

We’re adding retired Gators jerseys to the shop—your chance to own a piece of GSA history. These authentic jerseys have been worn in competition and are now available for fans, alumni, and families to take home.

Every purchase supports new jerseys, warmups, and equipment for our current athletes, helping us keep GSA teams strong and game-ready.

🛒 Shop now or make a direct donation to back our Gators: GSA Merch Store

We are pleased to share that one of our students, Muhammed Ugur Ivgen, has been successfully matched with Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) through the QuestBridge National College Match Program.
QuestBridge is a highly selective national nonprofit organization that partners with leading colleges and universities to provide full four-year scholarships to high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. A successful match includes a comprehensive financial aid package covering tuition, room, and board.

2025-2026 PTO Meeting Schedule

December 16: Board meeting @ Middle School

January 27: General meeting @ Middle School

February 24: Board meeting @ High School

March 24: Board meeting @ High School

April 28: General meeting & Elections @ Middle School

May 14: Board meeting @ High School

PTO Website

hs.gsastl.org/pto

Please join the PTO Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/GSAMiddleSchoolPTO

Looking for ways to connect, give back, and help shape the future of our community? Join one of our local neighborhood associations!

• Southwest Gardens Neighborhood Association – Build friendships and support neighborhood projects.

• Northampton Neighborhood Association – Share your voice and stay informed about community updates.

• The Hill Neighborhood Association – Celebrate culture and help plan fun neighborhood events.

• South Hampton Neighborhood Association – Work together to keep South Hampton vibrant and welcoming.

Whether you attend a meeting, volunteer at an event, or simply stay informed, your participation strengthens the GSA community and the neighborhoods we call home.

Matt Devoti: devotim@stlouis-mo.gov

Thora Pearson: pearsontho@stlouis-mo.gov