GMS FAMILY NEWSLETTER

Dear GMS Families,

What an incredible first week of school we’ve had! The energy in our hallways has been nothing short of contagious, with lively chatter, enthusiastic smiles, and a genuine eagerness to learn from our students. It has been heartwarming to witness the excitement as our students reconnect with friends, meet their teachers, and dive into their classes. We are off to a strong start, and I am confident that this momentum will carry us through a fantastic year ahead.

I want to take a moment to inform you about an important change to our morning schedule, specifically around our Devil Time period, which has been thoughtfully broken into two segments: Devil Time Homeroom and Devil Time. Devil Time Homeroom is a new, 10-minute period designed to kick-start the day for our students. This brief session, which takes place at the beginning of the 40-minute Devil Time block, serves as an essential part of our school’s routine. During this time, small groups of students gather, morning attendance is taken, and students engage in a discussion centered around the Leader in Me curriculum through a daily question, fostering leadership and personal growth. Additionally, this period allows students to review their schedules and determine their designated locations for the subsequent Devil Time (Intervention & Extension) period. Parents and students can expect this homeroom to provide a structured, positive start to the day, ensuring students are prepared and informed for their upcoming activities.

Beginning August 19th, we will officially launch Devil Time (Intervention and Extension). This 30-minute session, held each morning, is dedicated to providing personalized academic support and enrichment for all students. Our highly responsive plan places flexible grouping at the cornerstone of the program, ensuring that students are placed in small groups that best meet their current academic, social, or emotional needs. After homeroom, students will head to their daily assigned Devil Time locations, where they will receive leveled instruction, work closely with teachers on re-teaching, close academic gaps, and engage in targeted intervention. Additionally, this period offers enrichment and extension opportunities to challenge advanced learners and explore new areas of interest, fulfilling program requirements such as computer science or physical education as needed. Teachers are collaborating with their grade-level teams and GMS content areas to create customized learning opportunities that address the diverse needs of every student. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the chance to thrive, whether they need extra support or are ready to push their learning to new heights.

Thank you for your continued support as we implement these exciting changes. We are confident that Devil Time will be a game-changer for our students, providing them with the structure, support, and enrichment they need to succeed.

Here’s to an amazing school year ahead!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Philbeck

#RiseAsOne

Congratulations to our GMS Girls Soccer Team who celebrated their first WIN in program history!

Our morning drop-off was one of the smoothest and best in recent history during this first week of school! Students arrived in time to be in their classrooms before the 7:38 announcements. We sincerely thank our parents for arriving early and helping to ensure a seamless start to each day!

FULL WEEK- STUDENTS ATTEND ALL 5 DAYS THIS WEEK.

August 12- First Day of Cross Country Tryouts

Dear Greeneville Middle School Parents and Guardians,

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and the services offered to GMS students and families. I am pleased to announce that the mental health services of Frontier Health will continue to provide for the students at GMS. I will be transitioning into my new role as the School-Based Therapist and am available to work with your students to help fulfill their mental health needs at no cost to the family.

I am a Master’s Level Clinician with a Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from Walden University. I will be available to offer evidence-based services in individual and/or group interventions and psychoeducation to students to develop positive coping and de-escalation strategies, individual, family, and group counseling, social and personal competency, group activities, and classroom supports, presentations, and activities. I can help students with coping skills, stress and anxiety, behavior issues, depression, grief, self-esteem, negative thinking, relationship issues, social issues, self-harm, trauma, and substance use prevention and intervention.

Being a part to the School-Based Behavioral Health Liaisons program, I am here to assist schools in implementing trauma-informed practices; training and education to school personnel in behavioral health tropics (including mental health issues and substance abuse prevention), mental health/behavioral health screenings and assessments; referrals for services and supports; and liaison services to foster positive relationships between the school and families.

Students may be referred to behavioral health supports by the GMS faculty or parents may contact me directly. If you have any questions regarding this program, don’t hesitate to reach out via email at ParadiseB@gcschools.net or at (423) 639-7841, ext. 1253.

Monday August 12th at 5:30pm in the Behan Arena Theatre will be Day one of the Tusculum Young Actors Studio. There will be some paperwork for parents to sign and lots of information to take home.

ALL STUDENTS ages 8-18 are welcome to attend FREE OF CHARGE!

• Please check that your student knows what Bus number they ride TO and FROM school each day.
• If there are any bus changes, those must be communicated through the GCS Transportation Office at 4235254793
• If your student needs to ride the bus with someone else, a handwritted note with BOTH student names, drop off address, PARENT SIGNATURE and contact # must be brought to the office before 8am. Bus notes brought after 8am will not be honored that day.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STUDENT HANDBOOK: https://tinyurl.com/2s6jtty3

CLICK HERE FOR THE GMS DISCIPLINE POLICY: https://tinyurl.com/3t7fvzzu

CLICK HERE FOR THE GMS ATTENDANCE POLICY: https://tinyurl.com/3c52r2b2

Specific dress code guidelines for students are as follows:

1. Shoes must be always worn because of health and safety reasons. Footwear should be subject matter appropriate.

2. Apparel that causes a disruption including clothing that includes pictures, drawings, words or implied references to illegal substances, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, vulgar or profane language, sexual connotations, violence or questionable slogans may not be worn at school or school functions.

3. No headgear such as hats, toboggans, bandanas (anywhere on body), hoods, etc. are to be worn by students while in the common areas unless approved medical or religious coverings. Nonprescription sunglasses and tinted prescription glasses are prohibited.

4. Muscle shirts, tank tops, midriff shirts, halter-tops, tube tops, and spaghetti strap tops are not appropriate in the school environment. Tops may be sleeveless; however, they must have a minimum 2” shoulder seams. (They may be measured by the width of a credit card or student ID.) The material must be at or near the base of the neck to modestly cover the chest area.

5. The length of shorts, dresses, and skirts must be moderate and appropriate for an academic setting. No undergarments may be visible at any point in the school day. Fabric covering breasts, belly, genitals, and buttocks must be opaque.

6. Clothing which allows undergarments to be visible is not allowed. Pants must be worn at or near the waist. Clothing must not expose the stomach, chest, ribcage, midriff, back area or buttock while standing, sitting, walking, or participating in school activities.

7. The wearing of personal adornments or embellishments that may be disruptive, cause health/safety problems, or may be related to gang attire is not acceptable. (Ex. Chains, dog collars, studded bands, trench coats etc.)

8. Students will not roll, fold, or do anything else to alter the appropriate length of pants or shorts.

9. Please refrain from anything that disrupts our learning environment that might not be listed here (example: related to a current TikTok trend).

10. All shorts must have an inseam of at least 2 inches. No Bike/Spandex type shorts allowed.

*All lower body coverings must be visible at all times below the top being worn at that time

Including AirPods and Smart Watches

GMS being a 1:1 school with technology, cell phones are not necessary during the school day. Students will keep all cell phones powered OFF during school hours.

Students will keep phones off and in backpacks upon entering the school building, and at the beginning of each class period place their cell phones in the designated area by each classroom teacher. Students will pick up their phones at the end of the class period and repeat the same procedure for each class during the day.

Phones are not permitted in common areas, hallways, or bathrooms at any time.

Therefore, students do not need to wear AirPods (or the like) or any service-connected Smart Watches during the day unless it is an approved medical device. A smart watch receiving messages or notifications is considered the same as a cell phone. Students may choose to place those in cell phone areas with their phone or not wear them to school.

Students may bring plug in earbuds or headphones to use with their school issued device. If AirPods are the student’s choice, they are to be used for classroom purposes only.

If a student’s personal devices are brought to the attention of administration, a parent/guardian will be contacted to retrieve the device and proper consequences (Level I, failure to comply) will be administered. Repeat violations could result in additional consequences.

Thank you to all our parents for your patience during the first week of afternoon car rider pick-up. We’ve been working diligently to ensure that all tags are functioning correctly. As a reminder, when your car tag passes the blue box at the side of the school, your student’s name is automatically populated on a list displayed in each classroom. Once their name appears, they are allowed to head outside to the car line. Please remind your students to be attentive and watch for their name to appear on the list. The CarRiderPro system also timestamps and records the pick-up time for each tag, ensuring vital pick-up documentation. For parents who do not have a car tag, please remember that you must park in front of the school and sign out your student from the office at 2:55 . If you need a new car tag, please see the graphic below for instructions on how to order one. Thank you for your continued cooperation!

We are excited to introduce the new LEAD class as part of our related arts rotation this year! LEAD stands for Learn, Empower, Achieve, Develop, and this class offers students a unique opportunity to take a deep dive into the Leader in Me lessons. These lessons are designed to foster essential leadership skills, encourage personal responsibility, and build a strong sense of self-confidence. In addition to exploring these valuable lessons, students will engage in service learning and peer learning opportunities throughout the school, reinforcing the principles of leadership and collaboration. The LEAD class not only equips students with the tools they need to succeed academically but also empowers them to make a positive impact in their school and community. We are thrilled to see the growth and development that will come from this enriching experience!

Greeneville City Schools

Visitor Code of Conduct

Parents, community members, and any other visitors to school property or during school programs/activities MUSTNOT:

1. Act in a threatening manner toward another or others.

2. Injure or threaten another or others.

3. Damage school property, or the personal property of another or others.

4. Disrupt classes, school programs, or other school activities in any way.

5. Communicate with another or others in an abusive, harassing, or threatening manner.

6. Audio or video record where there is an expectation of privacy (i.e., classroom instruction, locker rooms,

etc.).

7. Disrupt school transportation or confront transportation staff on a bus/vehicle, a road, a neighborhood, etc.

8. Distribute or wear materials which are vulgar, obscene, advocate illegal action, promote drugs, or are

disruptive.

9. Harass or discriminate against another or others based on protected class status (e.g., race, color, religion,

etc.).

10. Enter school property, or certain areas of school property, when otherwise restricted from entering the

same.

11. Fail to promptly leave school property upon being directed to do so by school administration or law

enforcement.

12. Possess, consume, sell, distribute, or exchange alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vaping products, or illegal

drugs.

13. Possess or use firearms or dangerous weapons, except in the case of law enforcement officers.

14. Gamble or encourage another or others to gamble.

15. Violate any applicable federal or state statute, local ordinance, or board policy.

If you have questions about this Code of Conduct, please refer to the school system’s online Policy Manual locatedat www.gcschools.net . (Policy No. 1.501), and/or contact the central office using the following telephone number: 423-787-8000

To enhance our students' learning experience and provide them with the tools they need to succeed, all students (6th - 8th grades) will be using the TI-34 MultiView calculator in math.

We encourage you to consider purchasing the TI-34 MultiView calculator for your child as they enter 6th grade. Investing in this calculator now will not only ensure that your child has the right tools from the start but also provide a good return on investment throughout their academic journey. The skills and familiarity your child gains with this calculator will be beneficial as they progress through their middle school years.

This year we will be celebrating Greeneville Middle School's 60th anniversary! Be on the lookout this year for announcements on how we plan to celebrate our Proud Past and Bright Future. If you have anything to help us add to our celebration please email Mr. McCall mccalla@gcschools.net

Any student-athlete needing to drop off items in the locker room during arrival will be allowed to do so during the last 5 minutes of morning bus duty. The doors will open at 7:30 and close at 7:35. This will be the only time student athletes are allowed in the locker room areas in the mornings.

Dropping off equipment is not an excuse for a tardy to Devil Time.

If your student requires any daily medications, As-Needed Meds, or a diagnosis that requires any medical needs please reach out to Nurse Megan as soon as possible.

Any further questions please call GMS or email Nurse Megan at venerablem@gcschools.net

Families please remember that students should not carry medication with them in their backpack. This includes prescriptions and OTC medications. Everything should go through our nurse. If you have not filled out the medication release form with our nurse and need your student to have access to those during school hours, please email the GMS nurse

We are loving our new app! Access documents, news updates, and even emergency notifications right from your pocket.

Download for Android https://bit.ly/4bnsixk�

Download for iPhone https://apple.co/49k1WdO

Holly Click

Beginning with the End in Mind

Dr. Click created a new way to label homework, quizzes, and tests that really relates to students. By using the sports analogy of practice (homework), scrimmages (quizzes), and games (tests), she helps students understand how each part impacts the other. Thanks for thinking outside the box and helping make math fun for my son!

Marty Seaton

Beginning with the End in Mind

Mrs. Seaton made a welcome call to make sure my student had all the information and everything they needed to make the transition back to school a smooth one. She was helpful and offered assistance if my family had future questions. Thank you, Mrs. Seaton!

Do You Have A GMS Shout-Out to Share?

GMS is full of amazing people and we would love to hear your stories of how a GMS staff member is making a difference for your student! Did your student talk about a cool lesson or activity? Does your student come home talking about a favorite coach or teacher? If so, click the link below to share some love and fill out the GMS Staff Shout-Out Form.

For any and all counseling information, please use this link to find out more about our AMAZING counseling office: https://www.smore.com/78b2j-counselor-corner?ref=email

The Food City School Bucks Challenge is open! Here is the link to register https://www.foodcity.com/schoolbucks/

Once you have an account you just need to select GMS as your school, please see below. (You have to sign up and select your school each year, it doesn’t roll over!

We appreciate everyone's efforts in our new cell phone policy to not only create a SAFE environment for all our students, but protect our instructional time from distractions as well.

-If your student does not follow the GMS Cell Phone policy and has their phone taken to the office, Parents and Guardians may pick those up that afternoon directly after school or the next morning during school hours.

Click below to learn how to set up MPP, which lets you add $ to accounts on the go as well as pay fees and more.

No outside food is allowed any time at GMS. We understand stopping for breakfast, but please have them finish any food or drinks before they come into the building. Our cafeteria is open at 6:55am every morning and also helps us with any food allergies at the tables.

Click HERE for pre-season updates on our GMS athletic site.

• Arrive before 2:00 for all early dismissals.

Email: Adamsr2@gcschools.net
Website: Gms.gcschools.net
Location: Greeneville Middle School, East Vann Road, Greeneville, TN, USA
Phone: (423)-639-7841
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Greeneville-Middle-School-339450069428950
Twitter: @GMS_TN