Weekly Update - Middle School South
October 6, 2025
Keeping Traditions Alive
Each year, Middle School South has the joy of sponsoring a Color Splash event. This event, which has become a true South tradition, serves not only as an incredibly fun opportunity for our students to let loose for an afternoon, but it also helps our Parent-Teacher Organization raise precious funds that are ultimately funneled back right into Middle School South by way of awards, celebrations, Fun Nights, field trips, and more!
This year's Color Splash will be this Friday, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10. Students will enjoy a fun-filled "Field Day" in the afternoon (think inflatables, a DJ, obstacle courses, raffles, and challenges), which will end in the Color Splash itself (t-shirts provided by our PTO).
If you're interested in donating your time to help pull off this incredible Color Splash event, please click on the link below to volunteer!
If you'd like to volunteer, please take a moment to complete THIS SHORT BACKGROUND CHECK through the GJPS District Website.
We'll be so excited to see you there!
This TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, we will hold our monthly Parent-Teacher Organization meeting at 6:00PM in the MSS LIBRARY.
We have the privilege of being joined by 4 of our Board of Education Members: Kara Coates, Sue Horn, Dion Manley, and Megan Dimmerling, who will share with us their vision for GJPS ahead of the Board of Education elections next month.
Please, come join us for this special event!
From MSS Health Teacher, Mrs. Libby Grubb:
Current Gahanna 7th graders are invited to attend Western Field Studies annual field trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The trip will depart on June 3, 2026 and return on June 10, 2026. The link below has information about the trip and the evening parent meetings you can attend to get more specific information. This is not a school sponsored trip; however, it is chaperoned by current and retired Gahanna teachers.
On Friday, October 10 (same day as Color Splash!), students will have the opportunity to have their school pictures retaken. These retakes will take place in the Library.
Check out this message from HR Imaging, our official photography servicer:
"On this day, we will photograph any student or staff member that was absent on the first day's photography event as well as anyone requesting a retake picture.
If a student would like a retake of their photo, they simply bring back their original package and hand it to the photographer when they get their photo taken. We will reprint the same package for them using that new image.
Sometimes a student may not have a physical package to return if they ordered a digital download or if the parents have viewed the first image online and were unhappy with the photo. We will photograph any of these students that present themselves for a picture."
Students will be allowed to purchase a treat from Kona Ice during the RECESS PORTION of their Lunch Period.
Like last time, families have the opportunity to pre-order their Kona Ice following the link below, which saves time in line and eliminates the need to carry cash and other forms of payment.
Remember: a considerable portion of the proceeds get funneled right back into Middle School South so that we can continue to fund initiatives and reward programs for our students!
Through our partnership with GRIN (Gahanna Residents in Need), we are happy to be able to offer supplemental food for families need over the weekends.
Click on the link below if your student and your family could benefit from some supplemental provisions, and we'll be in touch soon with what we're able to offer and how we can get these provisions to you!
Supporting one another is just what we do!
Only a legal parent/ guardian of a student can dismiss a student from school. Siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or other non-guardians, including step-parents who aren't designated as a "guardian" in Infinite Campus, cannot request dismissal. If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking your student up, you must include this information in your note/message/phone call.
When you arrive to pick your student up from school, please report to the main office to sign your student out. You must present an ID for verification. Then, your student will be called down to the office for dismissal.
No student will be released from the building and to a vehicle without being accompanied by the adult who is picking up the student.
Thank you for your understanding and support in the need to ensure the safety of all of our students.
Sometimes, it's necessary for a student to ride home on a different bus with another student. This could be for any number of reasons.
Please remember the three necessary components for this to happen:
(1) A signed note from a legal guardian of the student who is changing buses. This note should include the name of the student as well as the name & bus number of the student whom your child will be going home with.
(2) A signed note from a legal guardian of the family "receiving" the student. If Person A is requesting to go home on the bus with Person B, Person's B's legal guardian also has to provide a note acknowledging the request.
(3) Administrative approval & signature.
Again, this is fundamentally a question of student safety, and we appreciate your partnership in this endeavor!
The Fall is a huge time for Lions Athletics! Here's what our athletes are up to this week... Come cheer them on with us!
GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL
10/6 - Tournament Play @ MSS , 5:30PM
10/7 - Tournament Play @ MSS, 5:30PM
10/8 - Tournament Play @ MSS, 5:30PM
8th GRADE FOOTBALL
10/9 -- Away @ Pickerington Lakeview MS -- 5:30PM
7th GRADE FOOTBALL
10/8 -- Home v. Pickerington Lakeview MS (played at GMSE) -- 5:30PM
Mark your calendar for the following dates...
Friday, October 17: Last Day of 1st Quarter
Monday, October 20: Teacher Work Day -- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Monday, November 10: Teacher Professional Development Day -- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28: Thanksgiving Break -- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS OR STAFF
Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2: Winter Break -- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS OR STAFF
