Mustang News - May 22, 2026
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Mustang News: May 22, 2026
A Message From the Principal
It is hard to believe that we are just one week away from the end of the 2025–2026 school year. This year has flown by, and we are excited to finish strong together as a school community.
The final week of school is always a busy and memorable one as we celebrate our students and all they have accomplished this year. We are looking forward to honoring our 8th grade students at their Continuation Ceremony and 8th Grade Fun Day, along with schoolwide traditions like yearbook signing, the end of year BBQ, our recognition assembly, and the lip sync performances. These events are such a fun and meaningful way to close out the school year together.
As we wrap up the year, I also have one favor to ask of our families. We currently have more than $10,000 in unpaid student fees. The athletic and elective fees directly support enhanced student opportunities, including Life Skills recipes, Industrial Arts materials, music and theater licensing, and quality athletic equipment. We are happy to work with families to create payment plans that meet your needs. Please remember that unpaid fees will roll over into next school year and continue to accumulate as students transition to GHS. Please check your MyPaymentsPlus account (under events and activities) or contact Mrs. Keopsel in the front office if you would like to review your balance or discuss payment options before the last day of school.
Thank you for all of your continued support throughout the year. We are proud of our students, grateful for our families, and appreciative of the incredible work our staff has done to make this such a successful year at GMS.
Best,
Lance Betts
Principal
Join the GCS Team!
We're hiring! Multiple positions available. See full job descriptions here.
Mustang Moments
GMS Events:
May 25: Memorial Day, no school
May 26: 6th Grade Greek Day/ 8th grade fun day- PLEASE BRING A SACK LUNCH
May 27: 8th Grade Continuation Ceremony, GMS Gym at 8:30am
Yearbook signing and Student BBQ
May 28: Outdoor Adventure Day
May 29: 11:30 Dismissal- Please remind your student: jumping in the pond is PROHIBITED!
Community Events (click event for more details):
June 19 & 20: Speed Jigsaw Puzzling Competition, Center for the Arts CB (Sign up for the Youth Division!)
Next Weeks Bell Schedule:
Monday: A
Tuesday: A
Wednesday: E
Thursday: O
Friday: A
MUSTANG ATHLETICS
We had a great year of sports with over 300 participants in the seven sports!
Highlights include:
The MS boys’ cross country Colorado state champion team!
7A boys’ basketball Silver League Champs!
The biggest MS girls’ wrestling team in all our tourneys and a first-place trophy from the Pagosa Springs tourney!
Over 80 track and field athletes competed in eight meets, including the inaugural home meet right here at GCS! It was also the pilot program for eligible 6th-graders to compete.
Seven all-time records fell this season:
1600 m Ari Eberly
800 m David Coop
4x400 Ari, David, Houston, Brandon
110 m hurdles Evan Crean
1600 m Asher Chodorowski
4x400 Beni, Santi, Evan, Asher
4x400 Ella, Rose, Zoe, Eliza
Congratulations to all! Thank you for all your support of Mustangs athletics!
Next week for lunch...
Hey GMS family,
With summer vacation almost upon us, I wanted to share some mental and behavioral health resources with you all in case they are helpful in the next few months. The school district has purchased a subscription to ParentGuidance for all families and there are a ton of great articles, webinars, and resources available for free to anyone with a student at GWSD. I've utilized ParentGuidance this entire year and I highly recommend it. Another fabulous resource is the 988 Lifeline. Anyone can call or text 988, or go to their website for information and an online chat to be connected to a caring counselor who is there to help and support for any and all of life's challenges. Safe2Tell is available for making an anonymous report for anything that concerns or threatens you, your friends, your family, or your community and is a way to safely "see something, say something" any day at any time. I also have a list of countless therapy options, both in person and virtual, that I am happy and willing to share with anyone at any time. Please reach out if there is anything that I can do to help and support you and your family as you prepare for the summer vacation.
Go, Mustangs!
Here you'll find the new Gunni-Pack applications in both English and Spanish.
Gunni-Pack Application ENGLISH.pdf
Energy Drinks (Prohibited)
GMS is committed to supporting student health, focus, and well-being throughout the school day. In alignment with this goal, we have established the following guidelines regarding energy drinks and caffeinated beverages. High-caffeine energy drinks have been shown to negatively impact: Student focus and learning. Sleep patterns. Heart rate and overall health. Behavior and emotional regulation. Energy drinks are not allowed on GMS school grounds or at school-sponsored events. Energy drinks include beverages marketed specifically for increased energy, alertness, or performance and often contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants. If a student brings an energy drink to school: The drink will be confiscated The student may be asked to dispose of the beverage Repeated violations may result in parent/guardian contact and a referral to the district nurse We recognize that some students may consume beverages with lower levels of caffeine, such as tea, coffee, and flavored or sparkling drinks with small amounts of caffeine. These beverages are permitted in moderation under the following conditions: They must be in a reasonable size (no oversized or highly concentrated drinks). They must not disrupt learning or student behavior. Staff may restrict consumption if it is impacting a student’s focus, health, or conduct. School staff and administration reserve the right to make decisions regarding any beverage brought to school if it is deemed unsafe, excessively caffeinated, or disruptive to the learning environment.
Register here: https://thegoinitiative.org/
Junior Mountaineer Camps
Junior Mountaineers Camp (JMC) is back on the Western Colorado University campus this summer, AND we’re adding overnight adventure camps for middle and high schoolers, featuring backcountry hut trips, expedition trips, and more! JMC is a state-licensed summer day and overnight adventure camp that blends athletics, outdoor recreation, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) learning. Led by experienced staff and Western students, JMC provides a safe, active, and inclusive experience for campers. Families can register by the week, with each week offering a unique theme and outdoor recreation activities. For more details on JMC Summer 2026 offerings, please visit us online.
Our Mission
The Gunnison Middle School community supports the growth of all learners to think critically and engage as empathetic, respectful, healthy, and responsible global citizens.