Longhorn Loop

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Dear Lanier Families and Community,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fall Break and had the opportunity to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. It was great to welcome our students and staff back this week and jump right back into the many great things happening at Lanier.

One of the highlights of my week was recognizing our October Students of the Month. During each celebration, I have the opportunity to sit with students during lunch and learn more about their experiences at Lanier. I always ask two questions: What is your favorite thing about Lanier? and What is one idea you have to make our school even better? I was especially encouraged by the number of students who shared that they feel welcomed, accepted, and like they belong here, including several who joined Lanier after attending other schools. Hearing students talk about the relationships they have built and the sense of community they feel is incredibly meaningful. They also had some creative ideas for helping students connect, have fun, and continue building friendships across grade levels.

Please join me in congratulating our October honorees (we will be adding to the website once we take their pictures:

6th Grade: Angelina Palenzuela, Chris Bonilla Cruz, Robert Vinokurov, Sarai Dominguez, Allison Ramirez-Avendano, Damon E. Smith (Elijah)

7th Grade: Lincoln Kolbusz, Valentin Gonzalez Huerta, Naysa Kujar, Logan Castillo

8th Grade: Elizabeth Castro, Will Wilmot, Aria Menhorn, Andrew Dial

As we look ahead to next week, please remember that Wednesday and Thursday will be Early Release Days to allow time for parent-teacher conferences. We appreciate the partnership between home and school and look forward to connecting with families about student progress and success. Next Friday, we will also celebrate Costume for a Cause and our October birthday cupcake celebration. Be sure to review the information later in The Loop for details about participating in Costume for a Cause.

On a personal note, I was out of the building today battling a case of bronchitis. While I would certainly rather have been at Lanier, it served as a good reminder that we are entering cold and flu season. Please continue encouraging healthy habits, including getting plenty of rest, washing hands frequently, and taking care of yourselves and your families. I am looking forward to being back next week and seeing everyone with a little more energy than I had today!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Have a wonderful weekend!

Hook 'em Horns!

Megan Hathaway
Principal, Lanier Middle School

There will be no tutoring during the week of Oct 26th due to Early Release.

Come join all the fun at Lanier High School Commons Parking Lot on Thursday, Oct 29th from 5:30-7:30. There will be food, games and of course, CANDY! The entire Lanier Cluster is invited to participate. See you there!

The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology is a unique high school that focuses on advanced and challenging studies in the fields of engineering, biosciences, and emerging technologies. Enrollment for the 9thgrade class is open to all 8th grade students who are residents of the Gwinnett County school district attendance zone; who are successfully promoted to 9th grade by the end of spring semester, 2027; and who successfully complete an 8th grade math curriculum that is a full unit of Carnegie-eligible Enhanced Algebra: Concepts & Connections or higher. Additional eligibility requirements can be found on the GSMST website.

https://gsmst.gcpsk12.org/ Click on Admissions

Informational Meetings will be held at GSMST at 7:00 PM on:

• Wednesday, December 8, 2026 for the: Berkmar Cluster, Central Gwinnett Cluster,

Collins Hill Cluster, Discovery Cluster, Duluth Cluster, Lanier Cluster, Meadowcreek

Cluster, Norcross Cluster, North Gwinnett Cluster, Peachtree Ridge Cluster,

Seckinger Cluster

• Thursday, January 7, 2027 will be a make-up meeting date.
  
  

• https://gsmst.gcpsk12.org/ Click on Admissions

We celebrated all of our bus drivers on 10/19, Bus Driver Appreciation Day! LMS Bus drivers safely transport our students and encourage them to do their very best every day. A big thanks to all of our hardworking bus drivers.

Why do students take the PSAT?

• PSAT helps students prepare for taking the SAT, a test that is required for admission to many colleges and universities and merit scholarship opportunities.

• PSAT also helps schools with making instructional decisions.

• The test provides students and schools with AP Potential and gives students and families information and resources for College and Career.

• 10/27 PSAT Administration begins at 9:20 am

Visit:

• www.collegeboard.org
• GCPS Assessments

Calling All Young Scientists!

Are you curious, creative, and ready to investigate something amazing? It’s time for the Science Fair!

Please fill in the science fair interest google form for the meeting.

Lanier Middle School will be competing in The Gwinnett Readers Rally for the first time this year. The Readers Rally is a quiz bowl-style competition for students in grades 4 through 12. Students read books from a selected list and compete by answering questions based on those titles. Any student interested can come to the Media Center to pick up an interest form for a chance to be on the competition team.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday nights this season for Longhorn football! Please note that all elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult to attend. Students arriving without an adult will not be admitted. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Soccer Clinic

The soccer clinic will be held 11/2, 11/9, & 11/16 from 4:30-5:30. The cost is $45 and registration is on My Payments Plus. The clinic is limited to the first 50 students signed up. The clinic is NOT mandatory in order to tryout.

Soccer Tryouts

Girls' tryouts will be held December 1st, 2nd, & 3rd from 4:30-5:30.

Boys' tryouts will be held Dec. 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, and 16th (if necessary) from 4:15-6:00.

All paperwork, including a physical, must be uploaded to Rank One prior to tryouts. Students are expected to be at tryouts each day. Students not at tryouts prior to first cuts being made will not be allowed to tryout.

The team rosters have been finalized, congratulations to the following athletes:

Using the link below, please mark your calendars for all the GCPS middle school assessment dates.

2026-2027 GCPS Assessment dates:

https://www.gcpsk12.org/families/accountability-and-assessment/test-dates

Yearbooks go on sale Monday, August 3rd.
How to Order:

Visit YearbookOrderCenter.com

Use School Code: #953

Personalization available until Dec. 31st.

8th Grade Ads

Celebrate your grad!

Purchase & design your ad online at the Order Center by October 31!.

Purchase Platforms::

Echeck, credit card, and installment plans available Via Varsity as well as Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal and more.

Pricing:

August: $45

September 1 to January 31: $50

February: $55

March: $60

April: $65

May: $70

Name Plate: $10

ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to receive and send information, such as:

• Weather-related closings & delays
• School and class information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Upcoming class activities

Set up and preference information here

Parents now have the option to be notified in the ParentVUE mobile app if their student’s grade falls below a preset threshold. Follow this link for more information.

During the 2024–2025 school year (effective July 1), GCPS implemented fines for any lost or damaged Chromebooks and power cords.

Please take a moment to talk with your student about the importance of properly caring for the school-issued equipment. Keeping devices in good condition helps avoid unnecessary charges and ensures they’re ready for learning every day.

*A device could have multiple damaged components such as broken hinges as well as a cracked screen, this would result in a fine of $50. $25 for each damaged component.

Keep up to date with all the great things happening at Lanier Middle School by joining our social media platforms. See the Bottom Banner of this newsletter for Links to our Twitter, Facebook pages OR see the "Let's Be Social" section of the Lanier MS Homepage for links to all our social platforms including Instagram and our YouTube Channel. It is here you will see many more pictures and videos of all the activities and events happening here at LMS!