Hawk Highlights

We are so excited to welcome your student to Gainesville Middle School, home of the High Flying Hawks! While your child has not yet walked our halls as a GVMS student, that moment is quickly approaching, and we cannot wait to greet them.

On Thursday, May 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, you and your student are invited to join us for Rising 6th Grade Night. This special evening is designed to give families their first real experience inside GVMS. You will walk through the doors together, explore our building, meet our dedicated teachers, and get a true feel for what middle school life is all about. There will be opportunities to learn about clubs, programs, and the people who will be part of your child’s journey for the next 3 years.

We know the transition to middle school can bring a mix of excitement and nervous energy. That is exactly why we create experiences like this. We want students to feel confident, supported, and connected before the first day of school arrives. This night is the first step in what we hope will be an incredible and empowering middle school experience.

Below, you'll find some basic information about life at GVMS. If you want to come to check out a GVMS event this spring, you'll find a list of dates for athletics, music concerts, and drama productions. We love to show off the incredible things our Hawks do! If you have any questions about the transition to Gainesville Middle School, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team (contact information is included below). We look forward to meeting you and your student and are so excited to welcome you to the GVMS community!

With a Champion Mindset, Together We RISE!

In Partnership,

Ed Schultz

Principal

schultej@pwcs.edu

Format: Open house

Arrival Time: Families may arrive anytime between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM

Doors Close: 7:30 PM for any new arrivals

We encourage families to arrive prior to 7:30 to receive the full experience and avoid feeling rushed

Event Ends: 8:00 PM

Parking Information:

The main parking lot may become crowded

Overflow parking is available in the bus loop and at Holy Trinity Church (located next to GVMS)

Additional Info:

A food truck will be on site for families to enjoy during the event

Hawk Highlights is my weekly newsletter to families. I will send Hawk Highlights out weekly, typically on Sunday evening. You will receive a text link and an email each week to the newsletter.

This is the best source of receiving updated information weekly from the school. I do provide quite an abundance of information in these newsletters but have received supportive feedback from families with this approach. I will remove information in which the deadline has past, pertaining to the information provided. Hawk Highlights is archived on our school website and you can access prior editions from there.

• Basic overview of the GVMS Schedule
• Core Course Offerings
• Performing Arts
• Gifted
• Activities and Athletics
• Special Education/504/Student Support Plan Transition

Format: Open house

Arrival Time: Families may arrive anytime between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM

Doors Close: 7:30 PM for any new arrivals

We encourage families to arrive prior to 7:30 to receive the full experience and avoid feeling rushed

Event Ends: 8:00 PM

Parking Information:

The main parking lot may become crowded

Overflow parking is available in the bus loop and at Holy Trinity Church (located next to GVMS)

Additional Info:

A food truck will be on site for families to enjoy during the event

Want to know more about middle school or life at GVMS? Is your student especially anxious/nervous about something regarding next year? We would love to be able to prepare for your questions or ease some nerves during my summer Webinar, at the in-person event, and through newsletter communication. Fill out the link below with any questions/wonderings or things that we can assist with.

Hallway transitions?

Are there grade level hallways or are all classrooms spread out?

• We do have 6th grade hallways where core academic classes occur. Students will travel outside of these hallways for Encore classes. You will be able to see the school layout on May 1 as well.

Are students automatically being enrolled in the gifted program. My child is in gifted education as a 5th grader but was wondering about not continuing on so they do not miss out on the electives that are offered. Is this allowed, and if so, is it recommended?

• Students are automatically enrolled in the gifted program. Students receive two quarters of gifted education per year and select their other two electives for the remaining quarters. Parents are always allowed to opt their student out of receiving gifted services for the year, however they will need to opt out each year. Gifted services provide opportunities for students to expand their learning, explore enrichment opportunities, and gain leadership skills by working in a group setting with like peers.

How do I get my child registered for Chorus/ music classes if he did not complete the request through Student View?

• To schedule your student and receive other important rising 6th grade information, please reach out to our Director of counseling, Jessie Castles at castlejm@pwcs.edu

Who I can contact for questions about the Iowa test results and math placement for my rising 6th grader?

• For information regarding testing results and class placement, please reach out to our Director of counseling, Jessie Castles at castlejm@pwcs.edu

When I can expect to be able to schedule in Parentvue?

• Once you receive confirmation of your schedule requests from our director of counseling, you will be able to see your student's requests and placements in Parentvue. To make any changes to your child's schedule after the initial placements, please reach out to our Director of counseling, Jessie Castles at castlejm@pwcs.edu.

Special Education Meetings: If your student has an IEP, their elementary school will reach out to you to schedule a transition meeting. Transition meetings will take place from now until the end of the school year. GVMS will have a representative at those meetings to answer any of your questions.

504 Meetings: If your student has a 504 plan, GVMS will reach out to you to schedule that meeting. We traditionally schedule those meetings before school begins at the end of July and August.

Student Support Plans: If your student has a current Student Support Plan, our MTSS coordinator will reach out to you over the summer to review current plans in place for your child.

Each week, I send out a new update with all of the information parents, students, and staff need to know. This weekly newsletter is called "Hawk Highlights". All past Hawk Highlights issues can be found on the Gainesville Middle School website. Check them out below to get a feel for how we communicate at GVMS!

At GVMS, we have a fabulous PTO and an Advisory Council that meets monthly. The schedule for those meetings will be shared in August 2025.

We are excited to share this journey with you and your child as they begin their transition to middle school. The 6th grade year marks an important milestone, and we’re here to support both students and parents every step of the way.

We invite you to join our vibrant PTO community, where you’ll find opportunities to get involved, connect with other families, and support our amazing teachers and staff. Whether it’s through volunteering, attending events, or simply staying informed, your involvement plays a key role in making this year a success for all students.

We look forward to working together to make this a memorable and enriching year for your child. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!

Three ways to stay informed:

1. Join our list to get monthly email updates. To join fill out this google form:

https://forms.gle/F9Bpw1HZVycCMtqG9

2. Join our facebook page: Gainesville (VA) Middle School PTO

3. Be a PTO Supporter:

https://gainesville-middle-school-pto.square.site/product/pto-supporters/2?cs=true&cst=custom

Pre-Sale Spirit Wear for Rising 6th Graders!
Get ready for the new school year with our exclusive spirit wear pre-sale! Show your school spirit and grab your gear early.

Pre-sales can be picked up May 1st at Rising 6th Grade Night

PTO will also be selling on site May 1st and in August at Open House.

Available Items:

• T-shirts
• Hoodies
• Jibbitz

The spring is a busy time at GVMS, full of athletic events, drama performances, concerts, etc. I will update this portion, as we roll into our spring season, which occurs at the end of March.

Come see our incredible Hawks in action to get a feel for the GVMS community.

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

• 5:15 p.m., Athletics – Softball @ Home, Girl’s Soccer @ Marsteller MS

• 5-9 p.m., PTO – Spirit Night @ Chipotle (use code 67WNJH7)

Thursday, April 24, 2025

• 5:15 p.m., Athletics – Baseball @ Home, Boy’s Track @ Bull Run MS

Monday, April 28, 2025

• 5:15 p.m., Athletics – Girls Soccer @ Home, Softball @ Home

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• 5:15 p.m., Athletics – Baseball @ Home, Boys Track @ Home

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

• 5:15 p.m., Athletics – Softball @ Home

Thursday, May 1, 2025

• 6-7:30 p.m., Rising 6th Grade Night

Principal

schultej@pscs.edu

Ms. Chanel Graham

Administrative Assistant

grahamcm@pwcs.edu

Mrs. Christine Richmond, Instructional Technology Coach: richmocm@pwcs.edu

• Canvas
• Parent Vue/Student Vue

Mr. Brian James, Technology Specialist: jamesbw@pwcs.edu

• Device Information and support