GMS Family Newsletter

There is something special about the start of a new school year. It is a fresh beginning filled with opportunities to learn, lead, and grow. As we prepare to welcome our students back to Greeneville Middle School, our faculty and staff are excited to begin another year of learning, relationships, and unforgettable experiences.

This year, our school theme is Built in the Middle. We believe the middle school years are some of the most important in a student's educational journey. It is here that confidence is built, leadership is discovered, friendships are strengthened, and the foundation for future success is established. Every experience, every challenge, and every accomplishment helps shape who our students are becoming.

Our Built in the Middle theme perfectly complements our commitment to Learning, Leading, and Lifting and reminds us that we continue to RISE as ONE. Together, we are building a culture where every student is challenged, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential while preparing them for success both inside and outside the classroom.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we begin the 2026-2027 school year. We look forward to seeing our students this week and can't wait to see all that we will build together at GMS!

Please note our school office hours will be 11:45am-6:45pm on Tuesday, August 4th due to Open House in the evening.

Learning, Leading, Lifting... #RISEasONE,

Dr. Rachel Adams, Principal
Mr. Bryan Everhart, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Nancy Philbeck, Assistant Principal

Monday, August 3

• GMS Professional Learning Day

Tuesday, August 4

• GMS Office Hours 11:45am-6:45pm
• GMS Open House, 5:00-6:30pm

Wednesday, August 5

• 6th Grade Orientation, 7:00am-2:00pm

Thursday, August 6

• GMS Commons closed for voting

Friday, August 7

• First day of school for all students

We are so proud of Greeneville Middle School 8th graders, Zachary Hawk and Maelynn Hux, for representing GMS at the GCS Opening Inservice! They did an outstanding job sharing their “Because of GMS, I can…” stories with faculty and staff from across the district. Zachary and Maelynn represented our school with confidence and made GMS proud! #BuiltInTheMiddle

A big thank you to Roger, Jimmy, and Matt from our GCS Grounds & Maintenance team for the beautiful landscaping update at GMS! Their hard work and attention to detail have our campus looking its very best as we welcome students and staff back for a new school year! #BuiltInTheMiddle

Our GMS staff officially kicked off the new school year with our annual staff retreat! It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, prepare for the year ahead, and celebrate this year's theme, Built in the Middle. We are excited to continue building meaningful relationships, strong learning experiences, and a school community where every student can grow and thrive. We can't wait to welcome our students back and make this an incredible year together! #BuiltInTheMiddle

This form is for NEW CarRiderPro tag requests only, including:

• Incoming 6th grade students
• New students enrolling at Greeneville Middle School
• Replacement tags for current 7th and 8th grade students (7th & 8th grade students' car tags from previous years will still work)
  
  

Car Tag Information
Each family receives one (1) complimentary CarRiderPro tag during their time at Greeneville Middle School.

• Additional tags: $5 each
• Replacement tags: $5 each
  
  

Payment Options

• Preferred: Pay online through the Greeneville Middle School Online School Store on the school website.
• School Office: Cash only, please bring exact change.
  
  

Sibling Information
If you have an incoming 6th grade student with a sibling in 7th, 8th, or 9th grade, we can link them to the same CarRiderPro account. Please provide the sibling's information on this form.

Car Tag Pickup
For the safety and security of our students, CarRiderPro tags must be picked up by a parent or legal guardian in the GMS School Office. Students may not pick up car tags.
Early Pickup Dates & Times (GMS School Office)

• July 27–29: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. daily
• August 3: 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
• August 4 : 12:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
  
  

Important Reminder
All students who are picked up through the car rider line must have a CarRiderPro tag.
Please plan to pick up your tag in the GMS School Office before your student's first day of attendance.

• 6th Grade First Day: Wednesday, August 5
• 7th & 8th Grade First Day: Friday, August 7
  
  

Thank you for helping us keep our dismissal process safe, secure, and efficient for all students and families!

Request your tags here: Greeneville Middle School CarRiderPro Car Tag Request – Fill out form

Student schedules are scheduled to be released by Monday at 5 pm. Students can view their schedule by logging into their PowerSchool account on their launchpad and selecting “Bell Schedule” on the left side of the page. Parents should also be able to view student schedules via the Powerschool Parent Portal. Students who do not have a GCS device will receive their schedule on their first day of school.

If your student is missing a required class, including ELA, math, science, social studies, related arts, or homeroom, please contact the guidance office so we can assist.

Please note, schedules are carefully built using a variety of student data and individual needs to create balanced classes and provide appropriate academic support for all students. Because of the many factors involved in building student schedules, we are unable to accommodate schedule changes based on teacher, class period, or other personal preferences.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to a great school year!

Open House is a drop in event, so feel free to drop in any time between 5:00-6:30. Enter through the front or back entrances. We look forward to seeing you there!

For the safety of all students and to ensure a smooth dismissal, student checkouts are not permitted between 2:00–3:00 p.m. During this time, students are engaged in their final classes of the day, and our office staff is focused on preparing for afternoon dismissal. Please plan all afterschool appointments at a time that allows for checkout before 2:00 or after 3:00. This helps us maintain a safe and efficient process so that all students get home safely.

No outside food is allowed any time at GMS. Your student is welcome to pack their lunch but we do not allow outside food to be dropped-off for lunch at GMS. We also understand stopping for breakfast, but please have your child finish any food or drinks before they come into the building. Our cafeteria is open at 6:55am every morning and ready to serve a hot, nutritious and tasty meal while helping us ensure a safe environment by avoiding any food allergies at the tables.

Students are only permitted to have plain water in their water bottles at school. We ask that water bottles not disrupt instruction. Thank you for your cooperation!

If you were unable to attend our Upcoming 6th Grade Parent Meeting, or would simply like to review the information, we've included a copy of the "Must Know Info" presentation below. It contains important information to help your family prepare for a successful transition to Greeneville Middle School. If you have any questions after reviewing the presentation, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help!

We are excited to welcome our newest Greene Devils to 6th Grade Orientation on Wednesday, August 5, from 7:40–10:40 a.m. Car line will begin at 7:00 a.m., and bus transportation will be available. Students should bring their backpacks, as they will receive their computers. Grab-and-go breakfast will also be available.

Throughout the morning, students will meet their teachers, visit each classroom, and learn important GMS expectations and procedures. All GMS staff will be ready to welcome students and help them find their way. Dismissal will begin at 10:40 a.m. Car riders must have a GMS CarRiderPro tag for pickup. We look forward to helping every student feel confident, comfortable, and at home at GMS!

Tardy & Early Check-Out Reminder:

Being at school for the full day and arriving on time helps students stay engaged in learning. In alignment with our Student Handbook (viewable on the GMS website & link at the bottom of this newsletter), the accumulation of three or more unexcused tardies and/or unexcused early check-outs during a semester will result in consequences through our progressive discipline policy, beginning with lunch detention.

Thank you for helping your student arrive on time and remain at school through the end of the day.

Friendly reminder, our morning car-rider drop-off line is often longer (and slower) the first two weeks of school. You can help ensure your student has a stress-free morning drop-off by arriving early. We have staff outside each morning beginning at 7am to help ensure our drop-off is safe and smooth. You can help us by:

• Have your student ready to exit as soon as the car stops—shoes on, backpack in hand, and breakfast finished.
• Use both the inside and outside drop-off lanes—the outside lane is often quicker and helps keep the line moving.
• Use the entire drop-off lane by pulling all the way down to the first staff member, located past the awning. The drop-off area begins there and extends past the awning up to the tree along the sidewalk. Using the full length of the lane helps keep traffic moving smoothly and safely. Stopping early (or only dropping-off along the awning) slows the flow of traffic for everyone.
• Remind your student to stand beside your vehicle until a staff member signals that it is safe to cross.
• Encourage your student to walk where they are clearly visible to drivers. Students should avoid crossing in front of a car after walking up from behind the driver’s side, as the driver may not see them.

Attention all GMS students: It is not too late to join our band program! We still have spots available in our 6th grade band and limited spots available in our 7th and 8th grade bands. No experience or auditions required. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Thomas at thomasrl@gcschools.net with any questions you may have.

Please remember to notify the school anytime your student is absent. Parents may submit a parent note to excuse up to three days per semester. The easiest way to submit notes, whether parent or doctor, is through the online absentee reporting form found on our school website or the email/text link you receive when an absence is recorded as unexcused. Students may also turn in physical notes to the office; however, they often forget and fail to do so within the required two-day window (resulting in unexcused absence toward truancy).

All notes, parent or physician, must be submitted within two days of returning to school.

Good school attendance is essential for student success, as missing more than eight days in a semester, including illness or doctor-excused absences, is considered chronic absenteeism. Regular attendance helps students stay on track with their learning and is directly linked to higher achievement and an increased likelihood of graduation. Please reach out to GMS admin if you have any questions or need support.

Visit the GMS Athletics page on our school website for the most up-to-date athletic information. You'll find team contacts, required athletic forms, schedules, physical information, and other important announcements. We encourage families to check the page regularly throughout the school year for updates.

GMS Athletics: https://gms.gcschools.net/o/gms/page/athletics

1 ADULT - GENERAL ADMISSION TO ALL HOME GMS SPORTING EVENTS. THE PASS DOES NOT INCLUDE OFF-SITE SPORTING EVENTS OR TOURNAMENTS

Greeneville City Schools only offers free breakfast and lunch for elementary school students. Greeneville Middle School and Greeneville High School students are charged for breakfast and lunch daily. Many families are eligible for Free & Reduced meals by competing the Free & Reduced Lunch Application. Apply now!

The Free & Reduced-Price Lunch Application for the 2026–2027 school year is now open!

We encourage all families to apply — even if you believe you may not qualify. Completing the application helps ensure access to important funding and opportunities for:

✅ Student Education
✅ Technology & Internet Access
✅ College Application Fee Discounts
✅ Scholarships

Please note: If your student qualified for free or reduced-price meals last school year, you must complete a new application for the 2026–2027 school year. Eligibility does not roll over from year to year — a current application must be submitted and processed for benefits to continue.

You can apply quickly and easily by scanning the QR code below or clicking this link:
🔗 https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/GREC01

If you have questions, please email Brianna Holt at holtb@gcschools.net.

Thank you for taking a moment to complete this important application and helping us better support all students!

Bus Transportation- If your student will be riding the bus, please verify transportation questions with our transportation department (423-525-4793). Additional information on the My Ride k-12 app can be found here: https://www4.gcschools.net/page/transportation

The Sixth Annual 5k for The Jessica Colter Memorial Scholarship Fund will take place on August 8, 2026 at 8am at Tusculum College. Registration is $35/$25 students. Find more information at jessicacolterscholarship.com Benefits students entering the medical field and the Jessica Colter Center for Nursing at ETSU.

Did your child have a GMS staff member who made their first week special? We would love for you to share your appreciation by completing the FORMS link below to send them a GMS Staff Shout-Out. It only takes a minute and is a wonderful way to let our staff know the positive impact they had on your child’s first week. Your words of encouragement mean so much and help us celebrate the amazing work of our GMS team!