Middle School Newsletter

We Are an A School!

I am beyond excited to share some incredible news with our Gray Stone Day community. We officially earned an A on our 2025–26 NC School Performance Grade! This is our highest mark in at least five years, and it reflects something truly special happening in our classrooms every single day.

Our School Performance Score climbed to 85, up 8 points from last year, driven by real gains across the board — reading, math, science, and biology scores all rose, our ACT/WorkKeys results hit a five-year high, and our graduation rate reached its best mark yet at 93.9%. Just as important, our students didn't just perform well — they grew more than expected, earning the state's "Met Expected Growth" designation.

This achievement belongs to all of you. To our students, who showed up ready to learn and gave their best every day. To our incredible teachers and staff, whose dedication and hard work made this growth possible. And to our families, who partner with us every step of the way.

We've been a strong B school for years — steady, consistent, committed to our kids. This year, that consistency turned into something even greater. I could not be prouder to lead this school community.

Go Knights! 🛡️

Signing In and Out

Please schedule appointments outside school hours when possible. Early dismissals are not permitted after 2:05 (Middle School) or 2:10 (High School) due to afternoon pickup traffic.

The Main Office should be notified of any pre-arranged absence, and all dismissal requests must be verified by phone by the Receptionist. Signing out occurs in the Main Office of each building, and the Receptionist of each school will notify the classroom teacher when it is time for the student to come to the Main Office to be checked out. Please plan for this delay when picking up your student.

Parents should PARK IN THE PARKING LOT and present themselves in the Main Office to sign out their child unless the student drives themselves to school. In an effort to prevent fraudulent check-outs, students are not permitted to check out by telephone or text without proper prior notification and verification by the Receptionist. Students who feel unwell should see the School Counselor or Nurse, who will determine next steps and notify parents.

Hope W. was chosen this week as our Knight of the Week because she demonstrated outstanding honesty and integrity. When she found $10 on the floor, she chose to turn it in rather than keep it for herself. Her decision shows that doing the right thing matters, even when no one is watching, and she truly represents the Knight Way! Way to go HOPE!

A bellringer (or bellwork) is a quick, independent activity students dive into the moment they walk in the door — before the teacher even starts formal instruction. The goal is to grab those first few minutes, get brains engaged right away, and skip the slow, chatty start-up to class.

This example is a fantastic one: using only a few everyday materials, students had to figure out how to make a ping pong ball stay submerged at the bottom of a water-filled bowl — no holes, no removing water. That's real hands-on physics thinking (buoyancy and displacement) disguised as a fun puzzle, and kids were problem-solving before they even sat all the way down.

This is exactly the kind of instructional creativity that makes Gray Stone science special — turning the first two minutes of class into genuine STEM thinking instead of just "settle in and get ready." Teachers like this are a huge asset to the building. Mrs. Martin deserves a shout out for setting the tone like this from minute one.

Middle School Quiz Bowl kicks off on Friday, September 11th, and this year we're doing things a little differently. Instead of a traditional tryout, every student who wants to be part of Quiz Bowl is welcome to join us for trivia sessions during Squire/Knight Time on Fridays. We'll build our team from there — so if your Knight loves history, literature, science, fine arts, or pop culture (or just loves a good buzzer-button moment), encourage them to come give it a try!

For anyone new to the game: Quiz Bowl is a fast-paced academic competition where two teams race to buzz in and answer questions spanning nearly every subject imaginable. It's part trivia night, part sport — quick thinking, teamwork, and a love of learning all rolled into one.

Mark your calendars for our competition season:

• Virtual League: one match per week, October 12 – November 14
• Twelve: December 12
• Regionals: February 20
• States: March 13

More dates may be added as the season develops. Big thanks to Mr. Honeycutt for leading our Quiz Bowl program this year — we can't wait to see what our Knights bring to the buzzer!

September 7 - Labor Day Holiday- No School

September 14 - GSDS Picture Day

September 14 - GSDS School Board Meeting

September 16- MS Leadership Club Election Day
Frequently check the website for any updates about schedules and events.

September 7-11

Monday Labor Day - No School

Wednesday Beef or Chicken Tacos, Salad Bar

Thursday Chicken Pie, Fruit, Salad Bar

Friday Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza

Buying lunch is as easy as 1-2-3! Habeeb's Catering serves our Knights Monday through Thursday, and getting your student set up is simple.

Choose your card:

🎟️ 10-Punch Card – $70 ($7/meal)

🎟️ 20-Punch Card – $140 ($7/meal)

Pay your way:

💵 Cash

📝 Check

📱 Venmo — please include your student's name in the subject line so we know whose lunch card to send home!

Note for Venmo payments: when your student comes to the counter, have them let the Habeeb's know they have a card paid for on Venmo. The Habeeb's will check for the parent's name and the amount paid, then hand over the appropriate card and write your student's name on it at that time.

That's it — easy, quick, and one less thing on your to-do list!

Just a quick reminder — we have a Lost and Found, and it’s already filling up fast! You’ll find it in the square by the windows, marked with a sign that says “LOST AND FOUND!” We already have a big pile of belongings waiting to be claimed. Please stop by and check for anything that might be yours — and remember to keep track of your things going forward!

On September 2, "The Lance" Parent Group Met — And the Ideas Were Flowing!

We had a wonderful turnout of parents excited to get involved this year in a variety of ways. The main focus of our meeting was the budget and brainstorming fundraising priorities for 2026–27. The creativity in the room was fantastic — ideas ranged from 50/50 raffles and silent auctions to drink sales and concession stands at events.

Now we need your help to bring these ideas to life! We're looking for volunteers to help supervise and support these fundraisers and special student activities throughout the year. If you're interested in lending a hand, please reach out — we'd love to have you on board.

Save the Date: Middle School Pancakes and Pajamas Party— December 11th

This is one of our students' favorite events of the year! Students enjoy pancakes, a holiday movie, karaoke, and games — it's a wonderful time of fellowship for our Knights.

To make this event happen, we'll need lots of volunteers to help set up, cook and serve pancakes, run games, assist with technology, and supervise students. A sign-up list is coming soon — we hope you'll consider joining us to help make this a special day for our students!

The LANCE is a parent-led organization that supports and enhances the existing programs of Gray Stone Day School. We work with the school, parents, teachers, and community to support academics, athletics, and social programs for the students and staff. Here is the LANCE email address: graystonelance@gmail.com

If you are interested in joining, please visit the Lance page on the GSDS website by clicking here.

https://ncdrivingschool.com/county/stanly-county/

Gray Stone Day School is a regional school that provides a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum for students in grades 6 - 12. While developing strong character, students engage in highly challenging courses that will require them to work diligently in and out of the classroom. A high caliber teaching staff prepares a rigorous curriculum to prepare students for post-secondary opportunities.

GSDS students continue to balance rigorous academics, community service, leadership, and integrity with grace and determination.

MS Office Manager Email: tholt@graystoneday.org
Website: graystoneday.org
Location: 49464 Merner Terrace, Misenheimer, NC, USA
Phone: 704-463-0567
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrayStoneDay/
Twitter: @graystoneday