Hawk Highlights

Welcome to Gainesville Middle School, home of the High Flying Hawks! We are excited to welcome your student for the 2025-2026 school year! The end of the school year is just around the corner and your student will soon be entering sixth grade at GVMS. The transition from elementary school to middle school is an exciting time in the lives of your student. We recognize the wonders and questions that accompany such a transition and want to provide some activities and information prior to the start of the school year to help them feel safe and prepared for their new adventure.

Beginning the week of March 17th, the GVMS Counseling team will travel to our feeder elementary schools to meet with students and share information about the schedule and the scheduling process. An informational document will be provided to students with more information during those visits. We will also be providing a recorded Webinar (accessible at anytime and provided within this Hawk Highlight) with additional GVMS program information.

Additionally, on May 1, parents and students are invited into the building for the Rising 6th-Grade Open House. At this event, parents and their students are welcomed into the building to check out the school, learn more about clubs and activities, and get a feel for what middle school life is like. The event will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and the format is Open House - no need to arrive right on time!

As you are making your plans for summer, we will be holding an Open House event the week of August 11, where students will receive their schedules, have a chance to open their lockers, and walk the school to find their classes. The date and time for this event will be communicated to parents before the end of the 24-25 school year. This is the only opportunity students will have to come into the building and receive their schedule during August, before the start of the school year. I will share out and additional recorded webinar in July and August to go over more of the detailed information for the first day of school (schedules, lunches, and general logistics).

Below, you'll find some basic information about life at GVMS. If you want to come to check out a GVMS event this spring, you'll find a list of dates for athletics, music concerts, and drama productions. We love to show off the incredible things our Hawks do! If you have any questions about the transition to Gainesville Middle School, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team (contact information is included below). We look forward to meeting you and your student and are so excited to welcome you to the GVMS community!

With a Champion Mindset, Together We RISE!

In Partnership,

Ed Schultz

Principal

schultej@pwcs.edu

Hawk Highlights is my weekly newsletter to families. I will send Hawk Highlights out weekly, typically on Sunday evening. You will receive a text link and an email each week to the newsletter.

This is the best source of receiving updated information weekly from the school. I do provide quite an abundance of information in these newsletters but have received supportive feedback from families with this approach. I will remove information in which the deadline has past, pertaining to the information provided. Hawk Highlights is archived on our school website and you can access prior editions from there.

• Basic overview of the GVMS Schedule
• Core Course Offerings
• Performing Arts
• Gifted
• Activities and Athletics
• Special Education/504/Student Support Plan Transition

Want to know more about middle school or life at GVMS? Is your student especially anxious/nervous about something regarding next year? We would love to be able to prepare for your questions or ease some nerves during my summer Webinar, at the in-person event, and through newsletter communication. Fill out the link below with any questions/wonderings or things that we can assist with.

Special Education Meetings: If your student has an IEP, their elementary school will reach out to you to schedule a transition meeting. Transition meetings will take place from now until the end of the school year. GVMS will have a representative at those meetings to answer any of your questions.

504 Meetings: If your student has a 504 plan, GVMS will reach out to you to schedule that meeting. We traditionally schedule those meetings before school begins at the end of July and August.

Student Support Plans: If your student has a current Student Support Plan, our MTSS coordinator will reach out to you over the summer to review current plans in place for your child.

Each week, I send out a new update with all of the information parents, students, and staff need to know. This weekly newsletter is called "Hawk Highlights". All past Hawk Highlights issues can be found on the Gainesville Middle School website. Check them out below to get a feel for how we communicate at GVMS!

At GVMS, we have a fabulous PTO and an Advisory Council that meets monthly. The schedule for those meetings will be shared in August 2025.

We are excited to share this journey with you and your child as they begin their transition to middle school. The 6th grade year marks an important milestone, and we’re here to support both students and parents every step of the way.

We invite you to join our vibrant PTO community, where you’ll find opportunities to get involved, connect with other families, and support our amazing teachers and staff. Whether it’s through volunteering, attending events, or simply staying informed, your involvement plays a key role in making this year a success for all students.

We look forward to working together to make this a memorable and enriching year for your child. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!

Three ways to stay informed:

1. Join our list to get monthly email updates. To join fill out this google form:

https://forms.gle/F9Bpw1HZVycCMtqG9

2. Join our facebook page: Gainesville (VA) Middle School PTO

3. Be a PTO Supporter:

https://gainesville-middle-school-pto.square.site/product/pto-supporters/2?cs=true&cst=custom

Pre-Sale Spirit Wear for Rising 6th Graders!
Get ready for the new school year with our exclusive spirit wear pre-sale! Show your school spirit and grab your gear early.

Pre-sales can be picked up May 1st at Rising 6th Grade Night

PTO will also be selling on site May 1st and in August at Open House.

Available Items:

• T-shirts
• Hoodies
• Jibbitz

The spring is a busy time at GVMS, full of athletic events, drama performances, concerts, etc. I will update this portion, as we roll into our spring season, which occurs at the end of March.

Come see our incredible Hawks in action to get a feel for the GVMS community.

Monday, March 10, 2025

• 5:15 p.m., Athletics - Girls Basketball @ Reagan MS

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

• 7-8:30 p.m., Performing Arts – Choir Concert

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

• 5:15 p.m., Athletics - Girls Basketball @ Metz, Wrestling @ Home

Thursday, March 13, 2025

• 5:15 p.m., Athletics – Girl’s Basketball @ Home

Principal

schultej@pscs.edu

Ms. Chanel Graham

Administrative Assistant

grahamcm@pwcs.edu

Mrs. Christine Richmond, Instructional Technology Coach: richmocm@pwcs.edu

• Canvas
• Parent Vue/Student Vue

Mr. Brian James, Technology Specialist: jamesbw@pwcs.edu

• Device Information and support