October 18th Roar Report - Families
Sunday, October 18, 2026
You can't hide that Panther PRIDE!
Important Updates/Reminders
- Cutting the car rider line creates unsafe conditions for all. Please be patient in the morning as students are getting out of their vehicles.
- Doors open for students at 7:55am. As the weather begins to get cooler, please make sure that students are dressed appropriately as they may be waiting outside for approximately 10 minutes depending on when they are dropped off.
- If your student is staying after school for a club and needs transportation home, please check the Activity Bus lists below with your student. Many students do not know the name of their developments and therefore are unsure which bus to ride home.
Cell Phones and Headphones During the School Day
Each morning, students are reminded that cell phones and headphones should be off and away during the school day. We explain away as being in their bookbags. Please reiterate this expectation with your students as it is being enforced consistently throughout the building.
GB Supports Breast Cancer Awareness
Our next Spirit Day is Friday, October 23rd. We are asking all students to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
We are also collecting funds to make a donation to the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition! Each grade level is trying to raise $300. If the grade level raises $300, they will be able to tape their grade level administrator to the wall. If all three grade levels meet their goal, they will tape their grade level administrator AND Ms. Ross to the wall. Donations will be collected during lunches.
Storybook Character Day- Thursday, October 29th
We are excited to give our Panthers an opportunity to show off their creativity and Halloween costumes during Storybook Character Day on Thursday, October 29th! While we want students to have fun and participate, we must also ensure that costumes are appropriate for the school environment and adhere to school expectations.
Students are welcome to wear costumes with the following guidelines:
No masks – students' faces must remain visible at all times.
No weapons or look-alike weapons of any kind.
No inflatable costumes or costume props.
No gore, blood, or frightening special effects.
All costumes must comply with our standard school dress code.
Our goal is to create a fun, safe, and inclusive experience for all students. We appreciate families helping us ensure that costumes are school-appropriate so everyone can enjoy the day!
Picture Day is Coming!
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Arrival and Dismissal
The orange arrows on the photo show the route for car rider arrival.
Students will be asked to stay in their cars until 7:45am as there are no staff available to supervise students before this time. Doors open for students at 7:55am. Please be mindful that if students are dropped off at 7:45am, they will be standing outside, supervised, until doors open at 7:55am.
The blue arrows on the photo show the route for car rider dismissal.
Car rider dismissal begins at 2:37pm.
There are approximately 800 students in the building. For this reason, we ask that all changes in dismissal, including early dismissals, take place no later than 2:10pm. If you come in after 2:10pm or call to make changes in dismissal after this time, the chances that the messages do not get to your student in a timely manner increases significantly and disrupts the dismissal process for the building.
All changes to dismissal need to come directly through the main office. Please do not contact specific teachers with information regarding changes in dismissal as we can not guarantee that they will get this information in a timely manner.
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Gunning Bedford's Cell Phone Policy
Last week, we shared the Colonial School District's Cell Phone Policy. Below you will find how that policy will be implemented at Gunning Bedford. Please share this update with your child. We are aware that many students were allowed to wear headphones in the hallways and to have their devices out in previous years. This will not be the case this school year, and we do not want anyone to be caught off guard. In addition to you sharing this information with your children, we will also be sharing and reiterating it throughout the start of the school year.
Cell Phones, headphones, iPads, non-school-issued computers are prohibited in classrooms, bathrooms, and hallways at all times. This means they can not be visible.
If a student has a phone visible by a staff member (accidental or intentional), they will be asked to put it in a locked phone locker for the remainder of the class, and they will simply pick it up from the locker when the class is over. This process will hopefully lessen the power struggles with staff as teachers don't have to "take" devices.
If a student does not comply with the teacher’s request, an administrator will be called and the phone will be confiscated for the remainder of the day.
If a student refuses to release their device to their administrator, other consequences may be necessary.
If a student needs to contact home, they may go to any office/staff center to call their family. If a parent/guardian needs to speak to their student, it is the expectation you call the main office and we will bring your student down.
Students may use technology responsibly at lunch (no recording/photos, audible music, etc.)
Looking Ahead
October 19th- Soccer @ Conrad
October 22nd- Soccer @ George Read
October 23rd- Spirit Day- Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
October 26th- Field Hockey vs. McCullough @ Home; Soccer vs. McCullough @ Home
October 27th- Field Hockey vs. Aspira @ Home, Soccer vs. Aspira @ Home
October 29th- Tentative Trunk or Treat; Spirit Day- Storybook Character Day
October 30th- Spirit Day- Dress to Impress; Picture Day
Staff Directory
We are here to support your student to ensure their school year is the best experience possible. If questions or concerns ever arise, please don't hesitate to reach out to your students administrator, counselor, or secretary.
Principal: TeRay Ross
Main Office Phone: (302) 832-6280
6th Grade Staff
Assistant Principal: John Sopkanich
Counselor: Allison Sheppard | Secretary: Valerie White
7th Grade Staff
Assistant Principal: Kristina Lamia
Counselor: John Arent | Secretary Deanna Gilbert
8th Grade Staff
Student Advisor: Patrick Krajewski
Counselor: Shaheda Pine | Secretary: Jennifer Hayman
Click HERE for the full staff directory.
Infinite Campus
Families are encouraged to access and regularly check Infinite Campus. Here, you can stay up to date on your student's attendance, grades, and more--updated in real time!
