GMS Family Newsletter

Dear Greene Devil Family,

This past week brought a great deal of excitement to GMS as our 8th grade students returned from their trip to Washington, D.C. They came back with a wealth of experiences, new knowledge, and memories that will stay with them well beyond middle school. Opportunities like this help bring learning to life in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.

As we move through these final weeks, several additional trips and activities are on the horizon, giving students meaningful ways to close out the school year. These experiences are more than just events, they are chances for students to continue growing socially, strengthening relationships, and building connections that will support them through both successes and challenges ahead.

Inside the classroom, that same positive energy continues. Our students remain engaged, and their effort has been evident in the way they approach their work each day. Their commitment not only reflects their own growth, but also continues to motivate and inspire our staff as we bring this school year to a strong and meaningful close.

Learning, Leading, Lifting... #RISEasONE,

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

Monday, 5/11

• GHS Seniors - Walk the Halls
• GMS Upcoming 6th Grade Family Night - 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Wednesday, 5/13

Thursday, 5/14

Friday, 5/15

• 6th, 7th, & LRE Field Trip to Dollywood

Tuesday, May 12

• TENTATIVE GHS Seniors Walk the Halls
• GMS Upcoming 6th Grade Family Night 5:30-7:00

Friday, May 15

• 6th, 7th, & LRE Field Trip to Dollywood

Monday, May 18

• GMS 8th Grade Awards @ NPAC @ 10:00
• GMS 8th Grade Dance @ GMS 6:30-9:30

Tuesday, May 19

• 7th Grade Awards in GMS Commons @ 8:15
• 6th Grade Awards in GMS Commons @ 9:30

Wednesday, May 20

• Last Full Day of School

Students across GMS continue participating in hands-on learning activities that encourage collaboration, creativity, communication, and problem-solving. These engaging experiences help students stay actively involved in the learning process while building skills through discussion, teamwork, and interactive classroom activities!

Our 8th grade students continue setting the standard at GMS through leadership, involvement, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. From educational experiences in Washington, D.C. to students taking steps toward future careers through Devil Med involvement, our students are representing GMS well and helping set a strong example for younger grade levels. We are proud of the way our 8th graders continue leading the way both inside and outside the classroom.

To help us better support families and ensure timely communication, a Transportation Change Request button is now available on the GMS homepage. This allows families to submit requests directly so our team can review and follow up as needed.

Please note that all transportation changes must be submitted by 12:00 PM to be processed for that day.

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Megan Wilson, Synergizing, When a technology failure kept occurring, she came into my classroom and helped troubleshoot individual student computers that were not working correctly with the assignment.

Rachel Thomas, Thinking Win-Win, Mrs. Thomas helped welcome our rising 6th graders and provided great information about our band and chorus programs. Her enthusiasm and support helped showcase the many opportunities available for our future Greene Devils.

7th Grade, Being Proactive, Our 7th grade students recently participated in Career Day, where they were introduced to a variety of professionals and career paths. This experience provided valuable insight into future opportunities and helped encourage our Greene Devils to begin thinking about their goals and future success.

6th Grade, Thinking Win-Win, Our 6th grade team reported a great turnout for Field Day this week. Students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in activities, build relationships, and create positive memories together as the school year begins to wind down.

8th Grade, Thinking Win-Win, Our 8th grade team continued building lasting relationships and memories with our students during the Washington, D.C. trip. The experience provided meaningful opportunities for students to learn, explore, and enjoy memorable moments together outside the classroom.

We are excited to share an opportunity for our 8th grade students as they prepare for high school. Rosie’s Girls Camp will take place at the end of May at GCTA and is an interactive 4-day experience that includes hands-on STEM activities and field trips to local companies and colleges. Participants will also receive a camp t-shirt.

This opportunity is open to current 8th grade girls (rising 9th and 10th graders for the 2026–2027 school year) who are interested in exploring careers in STEM. Best of all, the entire experience is free.

We encourage interested students to apply and take advantage of this great opportunity.

Camp NPAC Kids is a summer theatrical day camp for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Throughout the week, participants will sing, act, dance, design costumes, and help create set and prop pieces for a full week of fun!

GMS Families,

We want to keep our dismissal process safe and efficient for everyone. Local law enforcement has asked us to remind families that blocking the roadway during afternoon pickup is not permitted.

Officers have issued and will continue to issue tickets to motorists who stop in the road, especially before carline begins moving.

To help us keep dismissal running smoothly, please keep these reminders in mind:

• CarRider Pro will not start reading until 2:00 PM, and parents/guardians cannot begin lining up until 2:00 PM.

• Dismissal begins at 2:40 PM. Arriving too early causes traffic backups.

• Always have your car tag visible.

• Follow staff directions at all times during dismissal.

• Pull all the way forward when directed.

• If your student is delayed, please use the designated waiting area so traffic can continue to flow.

• Carline remains open until 3:10 PM, and there is often little to no wait toward the end of carline.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making dismissal safe and efficient for everyone.

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. If you do not have a car rider tag, please park and come into the office after 3pm to sign-out your student. Thank you for you help as this helps us maintain a safe and efficient process so that all students get home safely.

Bus Transportation- Want to know exactly when the bus will pick-up or drop-off your child? It's easy using the My Ride k-12 App! Additional information on the My Ride k-12 app can be found here: https://www4.gcschools.net/page/transportation . If your student will be riding the bus please verify transportation questions with our transportation department (423-525-4793).

Please note, unexcused morning tardies count toward GCS truancy and GMS discipline and are cumulative for the entire school year. As outlined in the student handbook each combination of 3 unexcused morning tardies = 1 infraction on the progressive discipline policy (beginning at level 1). In addition, any combination of 5 unexcused morning tardies/early check-outs will result in one-full day unexcused absence toward truancy.

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.

There has been a lot of discussion on social media regarding school attendance and notes. 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.

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. Also, families must submit an application yearly. Apply now!

The Free & Reduced-Price Lunch Application for the 2025–2026 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

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!

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Technology is incorporated into the curriculum and is for student use under teacher supervision. Any destruction of the technology equipment or misuse of software or internet capabilities will result in strict disciplinary action. All families must sign and agree to the Responsible Use Policy before students will be permitted access to the internet at school. This policy is updated every year and includes detailed information about proper internet use and the care of student computers. This document is posted on the GMS website.