Middle School Newsletter

Congratulations to our Middle School girls’ volleyball team, the Rocky River Middle School Conference regular season and tournament champions! All season long, these young women represented the Gray Stone Knight with dedication, heart, and a whole lot of joy.

Every point was a team effort. They served with confidence, passed with precision, and set each other up for big swings at the net. They covered the court, picked each other up after every tough rally, and celebrated every dig, block, and ace together. Strong serves, smart communication, and a “we’ve got you” attitude made them a force to be reckoned with.

The Knights capped off an undefeated 12-0 regular season by winning the tournament championship, defeating West Stanly Middle 3-1 for the title.

They finished the season a perfect 14-0!

Girls, we are SO proud of you, and so grateful to your coaches, families, and fans who cheered you on every step of the way. Way to go, Knights! 💙

Here is our championship team! Aubrey A., Everlee A., Harper D., Reagan D., Adalynn H, Mary-Parks L., Addie P., Finleigh S., Trinity S., Allie T., Bryn T., Zoe C., Ivy E., Savanna F., Rowen M., Marlie S., Hallie T.!

So PROUD of you all!

Today was one of those days that reminds us why we love this community so much. Our Knights wore pink to honor and show respect for everyone who is facing a breast cancer diagnosis, and the sea of pink in our hallways said so much without a single word.

Our students are truly the best in the world. They showed up with kindness, compassion, and an understanding that small gestures can mean a great deal to the people who are walking a hard road. We are so grateful for them.

And thank you, GSDS families, for your support and for helping make today possible. It is a joy to do this work alongside you. Together, we’re raising young people who care about others, and that is something to be proud of.

Our 8th graders were absolutely amazing today at our annual paper mache hat fashion show! Students paired up or worked in small groups to create a hat that met a specific rubric, all made out of paper mache. They worked diligently to plan, design, and bring their creations to life.

Then came the best part. The models were happy and excited to show off these one-of-a-kind designs as they walked the long hallway, with an announcer introducing each hat and project while students lined up along the way, cheering and clapping. It was a great day for our whole school!

SUPER SHOUT OUT to Mrs. Amy Morgan, one of the best art teachers around! Somehow she brings out huge talent in our students, and I have never seen anything like it. She is a top-notch teacher and art mentor, and we are so grateful for her.

What happens when you turn a pumpkin into a lost civilization? Our 6th graders found out!

While studying prehistory, the time before written history, students became archaeologists and anthropologists. Each of seven teams was given a scenario for its own civilization, shown by a different color. Then came the challenge: create images on the outside of a pumpkin and hide artifacts on the inside that tell that civilization’s story. No writing allowed! Just like real prehistoric people, they had to let their artifacts do the talking.

Then the pumpkins were swapped. Students carefully excavated a mystery pumpkin from another team and became anthropologists, using what they know about the 8 features of civilization to figure out who these people were. What did they believe? How were they governed? What mattered most to them?

Students backed up their ideas with evidence from the artifacts and thought about the big question every anthropologist asks: What would I need to know to truly understand this society?

They also learned that when you’re studying prehistory, it’s okay to be wrong. What matters is using your best judgment and your evidence. Many students even compared the society they excavated to the one they created and noticed how different traditions, governments, and beliefs can be.

Ask your sixth grader what they dug up. You might hear about a very mysterious pumpkin! 🔍

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in our school family, it’s a good moment to pause and think about the people behind the ribbon.

Nearly all of us know someone whose life has been touched by breast cancer. It might be a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, friend, colleague, or neighbor. Some of our families are walking that road right now. Some have walked it and come out the other side, and some are carrying the memory of someone they love and lost. Wherever you are on that journey, please know that you are seen, you are held in our thoughts, and you are never walking alone in this community.

To the survivors: your strength is an inspiration. To those in treatment: we’re cheering you on every step. To the families and caregivers: your love and quiet resilience matter more than you know. And to those we remember with heavy but grateful hearts: your light continues in the people who loved you.

Awareness matters because it leads to early detection, support, and hope, and every conversation, every act of kindness, and every pink ribbon brings us a little closer to a cure.

Join us on October 26 for our Breast Cancer Awareness Soccer Match!

Come out and support our Men’s Soccer Team at their final home match of the season. We’re asking everyone to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a simple way to show up for our team and for everyone in our community who has been affected by this disease. Let’s fill the stands with pink and cheer on our players together.

Thank you for being the kind of community that shows up for one another, in the stands and in life. I’m grateful to walk alongside you.

On Wednesday, our Knights came together to show that kindness matters and that everyone belongs here. Students and staff across our school wore orange as a visible sign that we stand together against bullying.

Unity Day is celebrated across the country as part of National Bullying Prevention Month. Orange is the color of safety, visibility, and hope, and when a school community wears it together, the message is clear: no one at GSDS Middle School has to face unkindness alone. It’s a reminder that each of us has the power to include someone, speak up for someone, or simply offer a kind word when it’s needed most.

Bullying prevention doesn’t happen in a single day, though. It’s built through the small choices we make every day in our hallways, classrooms, lunchrooms, and group chats. If you see something, say something. If you notice someone sitting alone, invite them in. Be the reason someone feels welcome here.

Take a look at the photos below of our Knights showing their orange pride. Thank you for helping us build a school community where everyone is seen, valued, and supported!

This is the last week for fall sports in middle school. We start the winter season on 10/26.

Middle school cheer tryouts will be Thursday, 10/29 and Friday 10/30 from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm.

Anyone trying out for cheer must have their DragonFly account up to date with all required documents. If you have any questions about DragonFly, please use the "How to Use DragonFly" instructional video. This link will take you to our athletic website and the athlete login page. You can see the video link at the bottom of that page as well.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Have an excellent day,

Jake

Please see the information below regarding upcoming middle school basketball tryouts.

All students trying out for a winter sport must have their DragonFly account updated with current documents. If you need assistance, please use the link below to view the instructional video titled How To Use DragonFly. That link can always be found on our athletics website, just click Athletics Login and you'll see the video towards the bottom of the page.

Monday - 10/26 3pm - 5pm

Tuesday - 10/27 3pm - 5pm

Wednesday - 10/28 3pm - 5pm

Coach - Ham

Assistant Coach - Noe

Volunteer Coach - Eudy

Monday - 10/26 3pm - 4:30pm

Tuesday - 10/27 3pm - 4:30pm

Coach - Banish

Coach - Steele

Our 11-day Japan adventure is coming together! Our travelers will explore five destinations, from the temples and tea ceremonies of Osaka and Kyoto, to the mountain village of Shirakawa-go, to the neon streets of Tokyo, with a ride on the Shinkansen bullet train along the way. It’s a trip that blends ancient traditions with modern culture, and it’s going to be unforgettable.

For those already making payments, every payment brings you one step closer to JAPAN! There will be plenty more information as we prepare for our journey, but for now, START GETTING EXCITED! Start thinking about what you want to see, what foods you want to try, what souvenirs you’ll bring home, and how much storage you’ll need on your phone for all those pictures!

Our 11-day Japan adventure is going to be one for the books!

Hello Knight Families!

We are honored to invite family members of our students who have served or are currently serving in the military to Gray Stone Day School’s Annual Veterans Pancake Breakfast on Monday, November 9, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in the Commons.

This special tradition is an opportunity to recognize and honor the men and women who have served our country while enjoying a delicious breakfast graciously provided by The Lance.

Please click here to register attendance no later than October 30, 2026. Guest parking will be available in both lots in front of the high school building.

We look forward to welcoming our special guests to campus as we express our gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Costumes must still follow GSDS Dress Code standards.

Nothing that covers the face (NO paint, NO masks)

No WEAPONS - real or fake

NO inflatable costumes

Costumes cannot impede safe hallway movement or prevent a student from normal daily activities (getting to lockers easily, sitting, carrying their own belongings, etc.)

Use common sense, and if in doubt, DON'T WEAR IT

If your costume does not meet the criteria listed above, you will be asked to change!

Gray Stone will be participating in the Albemarle Downtown Fall Festival on Thursday, October 29th. Several administration along with leadership students will be passing out candy and popcorn along with GSDS merch. Please feel free to join us. We will have tables set up at 224 West Main Street, Albemarle from 5:30-7:30. If you plan to bring your families, stop by to see us!

Frequently check the website for any updates about schedules and events.

🧡OCTOBER- NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH🧡

💗BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH💗

October 23- High School Soccer Game- WEAR PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

October 26- MS Virtual Quiz Bowl vs. Hanes Magnet- 3:40 – 5:10pm

October 27⋅MS Virtual Quiz Bowl vs. Martin -2:50 – 4:20pm

October 27- Picture Make Up day

October 29 - Albemarle Downtown Festival

October 30- Character Dress Up Day- See expectations above in the newsletter

Monday Pasta (Meat or Alfredo Sauce), Garlic Bread, Salad Bar

Wednesday Beef or Chicken Tacos, Salad Bar

Thursday Chicken Fried Rice, Mandarin Oranges, Salad Bar

Friday Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza

Buying lunch is as easy as 1-2-3! Habeeb's Catering serves our Knights Monday through Thursday, and getting your student set up is simple.

Choose your card:

🎟️ 10-Punch Card – $70 ($7/meal)

🎟️ 20-Punch Card – $140 ($7/meal)

Pay your way:

💵 Cash

📝 Check

📱 Venmo — please include your student's name in the subject line so we know whose lunch card to send home!

Note for Venmo payments: when your student comes to the counter, have them let the Habeeb's know they have a card paid for on Venmo. The Habeeb's will check for the parent's name and the amount paid, then hand over the appropriate card and write your student's name on it at that time.

That's it — easy, quick, and one less thing on your to-do list!

Just a quick reminder — we have a Lost and Found, and it’s already filling up fast! You’ll find it in the square by the windows, marked with a sign that says “LOST AND FOUND!” We already have a big pile of belongings waiting to be claimed. Please stop by and check for anything that might be yours — and remember to keep track of your things going forward!

https://ncdrivingschool.com/county/stanly-county/

Gray Stone Day School is a regional school that provides a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum for students in grades 6 - 12. While developing strong character, students engage in highly challenging courses that will require them to work diligently in and out of the classroom. A high caliber teaching staff prepares a rigorous curriculum to prepare students for post-secondary opportunities.

GSDS students continue to balance rigorous academics, community service, leadership, and integrity with grace and determination.

MS Office Manager Email: tholt@graystoneday.org
Website: graystoneday.org
Location: 49464 Merner Terrace, Misenheimer, NC, USA
Phone: 704-463-0567
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrayStoneDay/
Twitter: @graystoneday