Gruening News: 26/27 Beginnings!
August 21st 2026
In This Edition:
- GREETINGS
- THANK YOU PARENTS!!!
- UPCOMING EVENTS
- SCHEDULE PICK UP NIGHT PSA
- GMS DAILY BELL SCHEDULE
- FALL EXTRACURRICULAR SPORTS
- REGISTRATION INFORMATION
- AFTER SCHOOL PICKUP TRAFFIC GUIDELINES
- SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS
- IMMUNIZATION EVENTS
- INITIATIVE AND CONTACT INFO
✨We love our Students!✨
The Office at Gruening Middle School extends a warm welcome to every student and their families! It is Gruening's privilege to educate the Eagle River and JBER communities for the past 42 years and counting.
Please review our upcoming events:
Upcoming Events − Mark your calendars! 🗓️
- 8/14 -- 3pm-7pm -- Immunization Clinic (LOCATED AT ASD EDUCATION CENTER)
- 8/18 -- 4:30pm-6pm -- Class Schedule Pick-Up and Walkthrough
- 8/19 -- 6th Grade First Day of School
- 8/20 -- 7th & 8th Grade First Day of School
- 8/24 -- First Practice for Baseball, Cross Country Running, and Boy's Basketball
- 8/25 -- Instrument Fitting Night
- 8/25 -- 1pm-7pm -- Immunization Clinic (LOCATED AT ASD EDUCATION CENTER)
- 8/27 -- 6:30pm-8pm -- Back to School Night
- 8/28 -- Deadline to receive Fall Sports forms
- 9/7 -- Labor Day (No School)
- 9/15 -- School Picture Day
❗️Instrument Fitting Night Date Change PSA❗️
Instrument Fitting night's date has changed to August 25th from the previous scheduled date.
🩺 From the Nurse:
AK State Law requires the School Nurses to do vision and hearing screenings (and color vision for some) for specific grades every year. In Middle School, we do them for all 7th graders and any 6th and 8th graders coming into ASD from a different school district.
I work on these gradually throughout first semester, so that it gives me a chance to meet every student personally. I do not send home results unless they require a referral for more in-depth assessment by a physician. In that case I will try to call you, and I will email you if I don't reach you by phone. I will also send home a paper referral form.
If you wish to exempt your student from these screenings, please call or email me at 907-742-3614 or luna_tana@asdk12.org.
Thank you,
Nurse Luna
Interested in joining Student Government? 😁
Student Government is looking for committed, motivated, and creative students who are passionate about making Gruening an even more awesome school. We need students who are ready to take action. Are you a good leader? Do you enjoy helping with school spirit? Can you listen to concerns and ideas from your peers, and bring them forward for solutions? If so, we are looking for you! See your social studies teacher for an application, complete and return it to the Student Government bulletin board folder outside Room 212.
Applications are due Friday, August 28th.
ATTENTION PARENTS! NEED TO PICK YOUR STUDENT UP EARLY FROM SCHOOL?
Did you know, there are 4 different easy ways you can notify the office that you need your student removed from class!
ParentConnect Reporting:
- Log into your ParentConnect account and select from the upper menu “Report Absence”
- Select the name of the student you will be picking up early
- Detail the timeframe that you would like your student pulled from class
- It is optional, but appreciated to write a small note in your submission
- Be sure to submit your report using the “Submit” button
- The Office monitors all ParentConnect reports throughout the day.
o If using this option, please give us an hour notice. You may submit these requests as early as the day before they are needed.
o Feel free to reference This Website for more In-Depth tutorials on accessing ParentConnect
Email:
- Compose an email to GrueningAttendance@asdk12.org
- Please detail your name and your child’s name, and the time you’d like your student removed from class for pick up
o Please give us an hour notice using this option. You may submit these requests as early as the day before they are needed as well
Attendance Line:
- Call the GMS phone line, 907-742-3600 and select Option 1
- This leads you to a voicemail box that is managed constantly throughout the day
- Please detail your name and your child’s name, and the time you’d like your student removed from class for pick up
o Please give us an hour notice using this option. You may submit these requests as early as the day before they are needed as well
Short Notice:
- Emergencies happen! If you need to pick up your child early short notice, please give the office a call at 907-742-3600 as soon as you know you’ll need them.
- It is important to note that without time to prepare, a wait time of 10-15 minutes may occur upon the office being notified
o We appreciate your patience and understanding as the staff of GMS do their best to assist you
Helpful Tips:
- All of these options can be used to excuse your student’s tardy, unexcused absence, or planned extended absences
- Save Gruening’s phone number as a contact in your phone
⚾️Upcoming Fall Sports 🏃
Boy's Baseball
Boy's Baseball is available for sign up!
First practice is on August 24th
For more information, visit Alaska Legion Baseball's website.
⬇️Apply to play HERE! ⬇️
Cross Country Running & Boy's Basketball
Bring in your student's Sports Physical and pick up an Activities Form from the school during our Office Hours or posted events to sign up for Cross Country running!
-First practice for both sports is on August 24th
-Cross Country practice is from 4:10-5:45 till end of season
-Baseball practices will take place every Tues - Fri
-Coaches will reach out with more information for families who signed up soon
-Registration for fall sports runs through Friday 8/28/26
-There is a 150$ Sports fee for students, payable on your ParentConnect Portal
Your student will get a golden ticket on Monday if they have all the required components turned in (participation form, valid physical, payment made online in Parent Connect or in person.
Assistant Boy's Basketball Coach Needed
If you are a parent passionate about basketball and are looking for a paid opportunity to participate in your student's school community, please email Burningham_Todd@asdk12.org for more information!
🚨❗After-school Student pick-up traffic flow❗🚨
Our driveway and parking lot will be very busy after school. This process will be enforced by staff in the parking lot. In order for everyone to pick up their child safely and efficiently, follow these guidelines:
🚙 Only stop and pick up students from the designated parking lot pick-up area.
🚗 At the beginning of Lee Street, there is a very narrow spot in the road. Do not stop at that narrow point. Buses must get around and cannot fit if cars are stopped there.
🚙 While waiting in line on Lee Street, pull as far as possible to the left to afford our buses ample space to drive past the traffic line on the right. If there is no room for buses to arrive to the school, you will be ordered by staff to move.
🚗 The parking lot is separated into three pick-up areas. See the blue area on map for the 3 lines.
🚙 Parents MUST keep the main entrance to the parking lot/pick up area clear. Do not line up in the parking lot's entrance intersection.
🚗 Please fill in all three pick-up line rows.
🚙 Make sure you pull as far forward as possible.
🚗 Be hyper alert to the crosswalk sections in the pick-up areas. Do not block the crosswalks.
Elk's Lodge Back to School Supply Give Away
Event Information
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
🐴 6th Grade:
🐴 7th Grade:
🐴 8th Grade:
Back to School Vaccine Clinic
Event Information
Gruening Middle School
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/gruening
Location: Gruening Middle School, 9601 Lee Street, Eagle River, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-3600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GrueningMS