GMS Newsletter Sponsored by PTA

Click here to see the complete GMS website calendar for more events and details

MONDAY, February 24

AISD Food Service and Warehouse Worker's Appreciation Week Begins

🏀Boys Basketball A-TEAM Playoff Games:

7th Grade A-Team 6:00pm @ O'Henry

8th Grade A-Team 7:00pm @ Kealing

Basketball Schedule is here

⚽ Lady Tiger Soccer Playoff - A Team Only TBD

Soccer Schedule is here.

TUESDAY, February 25

Theatre Musical Rehearsal 4:00-6:00pm @ GMS Cafeteria & Rm 327

Wednesday, February 26

Theatre Musical Rehearsal 4:00-6:00pm @ GMS Cafeteria & Rm 327

GMS Yearbook Workshop 8:00am-4:00pm @ GMS Rm. 508

Pre UIL Choir Concert 6:30-8:00pm @ Bowie HS

THURSDAY, February 27

🏀 Boys Basketball Game Finals - A Team Only TBD

Basketball Schedule is here

⚽ ❗Lady Tiger Soccer Playoff - A Team Only has been moved to March 6th❗

Soccer Schedule is here.

Disney Dance Practice 3:55-5:00pm @ GMS Commons

Theatre Musical Rehearsal 4:00-6:00pm @ GMS Cafeteria & Rm 327

FRIDAY, February 28

Dance Team & Competition Practice 4:00-6:00 @ GMS Big Gym

SATURDAY, March 1

Women's History Month Begins

TCQT Quiz Bowl Tournament - 7:30am-6:00pm @ GMS 700 & 800 Hallway Classrooms & Cafeteria

SUNDAY, March 2

MONDAY, March 3

AISD Parent Support Specialist Appreciation Week Begins

AISD School Social Worker Appreciation Week Begins

Theatre Musical Dress/Tech Rehearsal 4:00-6:30pm @ GMS Rm. 327 & Cafeteria

TUESDAY, March 4

Theatre Musical Dress/Tech Rehearsal 4:00-6:30pm @ GMS Rm. 327 & Cafeteria

Disney Dance Practice 3:55-5:00pm @ Commons

School Site

School Calendar

Daily Announcements

Bell Schedule 24-25

GMS PTA LInk

AISD Links

Parent Portal

AISD Calendar 24-25

Bus Stop Finder

School Cafe

Tiger Day Wristband

• Wristbands will be $30.00 per student. Please be on the lookout for the link to purchase.

• Tiger Day is a carnival for ALL GMS students celebrated each year right before spring break. One hundred percent of all proceeds from wristband sales go directly to our school.

Volunteering / Item Donations:

• Teachers, members of the PTA, and parent volunteers organize and run carnival booths, games, inflatables, and a snack area throughout the afternoon.

• We need your help! Sign up to volunteer and donate items for snack areas and activities. Please check out the signup below. You may also donate money for scholarships when you purchase your wristband for your student.

• https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C49ABAD2DA31-54819073-tiger#/
  

• This is a GMS student-only activity. No Siblings or visitors.

A wristband purchase includes:

• Popcorn, candy, other snacks
• A drink (soda or gatorade and a water)
• Access to UNLIMITED games (with prizes!), booths, and interactive obstacles
• Quiet spaces for students who prefer that
• The most FUN way to raise money for student programs and classroom needs

Time is running out! Order your yearbook today, prices go up March 15th. Scan the QR code below.

GMS PTA is excited to feature our Partner in Education

Bluebonnet Animal Hospital

Bluebonnet Animal Hospital Circle C is dedicated to providing heart-felt care and keeping you informed and in-touch with your best friend’s needs. Our team is committed to offering compassionate and personalized services for pets, fostering trust with pet owners through open communication and clear pricing. We combine advanced medical techniques with genuine care to ensure pets live happy, healthy lives. Our mission is to be a trusted partner in pet healthcare, reflecting our values of integrity, compassion, and excellence in everything we do.

https://bluebonnetah.com/contact/circle-c/

Boys and Girls track tryouts will be held the week of March 3rd. Any upcoming 7th or 8th grade student interested in trying out will need to sign up in the coach's office. All Boys should see coach Neary and all Girls should see Coach Pena. Anyone trying out must have all current year paperwork (physical and online forms) turned in by Friday, February 28th. Specific tryout details will be sent to everyone who signs up.

Contact Coach Neary or Coach Pena with any questions.

Tennis Tryouts will begin on February 26th and 27th after school. In order to try out, your child/student must have the following:
Current physical on file
All online forms completed through Rank One (attached)
Emergency card (attached)

Tennis Sign-up

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYLJ08Z4wwp5_khJhibnhS8O0DGjMvPYGj8G2yf5Da5lG_dQ/viewform?usp=sharing

AISD Physical Form to be signed by Doctor: Don't forget pages 3 & 4 (Emergency Contact )

https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/athletics/docs/2024-2025%20Physical%20Form%20English.pdf

Rank One forms:

https://austinisd.rankone.com/New/NewInstructionsPage.aspx

Tennis Tryouts will begin on February 26th and 27th after school. In order to try out, your child/student must have the following:
Current physical on file
All online forms completed through Rank One (attached)
Emergency card (attached)

Tennis Sign-Up

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdu0WJkIYGvBMcTdYzeFKRBhxDROAYPNONkRuxUSMV1Cu2DLw/viewform?usp=sharing

AISD Physical Form to be signed by Doctor: Don't forget pages 3 & 4 (Emergency Contact )

https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/athletics/docs/2024-2025%20Physical%20Form%20English.pdf

Rank One forms:

https://austinisd.rankone.com/New/NewInstructionsPage.aspx

Hey Dawgs - anyone missing those Friday Night Lights? Mark your calendars - it's coming!

Registration for Weight & Conditioning and Freshmen Football Camp will be available soon on www.bowiefootball.org

Calling All girls — hoping to get more interest so the South League forms for All Girl Flag Football this Spring. (April &May). Spread the world. Try a new sport.

Making plans for next school year? Or the next? The 2025-26 and 2026-27 school year calendars have been officially approved by the Austin ISD Board of Trustees. https://www.austinisd.org/calendar

Hi GMS families We Need your Help!

We are looking for parent volunteers to help at our school’s Biggest Fundraiser of the year!

There will be lots of fun event stations to choose from-games, face paint, snacks/drinks, etc. If you are unable to join the event in person, there are many other ways to Support. Check out the link below for Volunteer opportunites and ways to Donate!

https://www.signupgenius.com/.../60B0C49ABAD2DA31...

Thank You for Your Support!!

Do you like animals? Can you level pavers or have a general can do/know how attitude? If yes is the answer to either of those questions please review the flyer below and help the new herd with a new home. We've got to feed our hungry Tigers - just kidding we've got to keep our sheep safe.

Congratulations to Gorzycki Middle School in becoming a Green School Park! This means you meet the criteria, which include:

• outdoor classroom

• active habitat and/or vegetable garden(s)

• rainwater collection

• 4 other green features such as nature play, nature trail, pond, solar, chickens, orchard, etc.

• open, accessible and used by the public outside of school time

Green School Parks is a partnership between Austin ISD and Austin City Parks. It aims to create a network of school parks that provide schools and their community the opportunity to learn from, steward, and play in nature.

Austin ISD currently has 16 green school parks, and GMS just earned our designation.

Gorzycki received an official Green School Park Designation sign honoring the commitment to the green infrastructure at your campus. The official designation comes with the honor of being part of a network of school parks that provide schools, and the surrounding community, the opportunity to learn from, steward, and play in nature, and supports the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights.

Photo Credit - Westyn Owen (Yearbook Staff Photographer)

Congratulations to our latest round of Gorzycki Middle School Band Principal Players of the Week!

Put your hands together for the following GMS Band Members:

Drumroll please….

Olivia R. from Honors Band!

Josie K. from Symphonic Band!

Naya R. from Concert Band!

Noah R. from beginner saxophone class!

Sully R. from beginner trumpet class!

The above mentioned students were chosen as Principal Players because they always follow our GMS acronym:

Give 100%

Manage Yourself

Show Respect

Join us in congratulating our Principal Players for this week!!

Thank you for being outstanding members of the Gorzycki Band!! Kudos!!!

Rules and Reminders for the Health Room

1. Resting in the health room is for 15 minutes only unless you are going home due to illness or injury. After 15 minutes, students must either go back to class or contact their parent to go home.

2. No cellphones/electronics allowed in the health room unless you have been given permission to call/text a parent.

3. The health room staff will not provide notes for students to not participate in PE/athletics. Notes must come from a parent or doctor.

4. The health room staff cannot provide ANY medications to students unless they have been provided by the parent and have a doctor's order. (This includes cough drops.) We do not have any medications in the health room except emergency medications.

5. Students are not allowed to self carry and self administer medication. Do not call your parent and ask them to "drop off" medicine for you in the front office. If your parent is bringing medication, they will need to hand it directly to you.

6. The health room staff does not provide snacks, bottled water, or ice to eat. Please bring your own snacks and water bottles.

7. If coming to the health room during passing periods, please check in with your next teacher first to obtain a pass.

Join the PTA

COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS

• Sign up to receive notifications for the Gorzycki Middle Campus Community Course at: https://aisdblend.instructure.com/courses/111130
• Follow the OFFICIAL GMS Facebook Page: Gorzycki Middle School
• Catch up with the latest student stories, events and news. It's everything Austin ISD, in your pocket. If you haven't already, download the app! You can find it on your phone in your app store via Google Play or Apple App.
• For Android
• For Apple

PRINCIPAL COFFEE TALKS
The first Principal Coffee Talk will be held Tuesday, September 10th at 2:15PM.

• Coffee talks will be held via Google Meets - link to be provided.
• You can find all the dates of all the Coffee Talks here.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

Download the Box Tops for Education app and start scanning your receipts! Every little bit counts and adds up quickly for GMS. How do box tops raise money for your school, click here to read more. GMS contact: fundraising@tigerpta.org

POPCORN FRIDAY DONATIONS NEEDED

GMS Popcorn Fridays needs your help. All donations go towards appreciating the GMS teachers with popcorn, drinks and snacks. Please contact Kelly Granger at popcorn@tigerpta.org if you would like to donate.

UPDATED: SCHOOL TRAFFIC PLAN

Arrival: During the morning arrival and after school pickup, vehicles approaching the front of the school will be channeled into two lanes of traffic, the inside lane closest to the school and the outside lane closest to Slaughter (the middle lane will be blocked off so that students can safely walk up to the crosswalk). Buses will drop students off at the awning in the back of the school. Afternoon dismissal for car riders will be in the front of the school. Parents arriving early for pick-up will be expected to park in one of the two lanes behind the crosswalk. Parents will queue up behind designated markers. Parents are to stay in your vehicles.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
Arrival: The building is open from 7:50 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Tardy Bell rings at 8:20. Upon arrival, 6th grade students will report to the cafeteria. 7/8th grade students will report to the Commons. Students are to sit on the floor in the Cafeteria/Commons area. Students must be supervised in the building outside of school hours.

Dismissal:. Students who stay for an activity/tutoring session should remain in their designated area with the Gorzycki staff member in charge of the after school activity. Parents should pick up their child within 10 minutes of a given activity ending time. Failure to be picked up in a timely manner may result in restrictions from after-school activities.

AFTER SCHOOL PICK UP PROCEDURES
Please follow the GMS procedures for arrival and dismissal from school. We ask that student pick-ups occur in the loop in front of the school. Stopping to pick up students on Slaughter is NEVER acceptable. To help reduce some of the congestion, we ask that if you are turning left on Slaughter after picking up your child, you enter the school using the left two lanes. If you are turning right on Slaughter, please use the right lane for student pick-up. This will help reduce the changing of lanes when leaving campus.

GMS also asks that you not use Allerton Avenue for student pick-up. GMS is trying to be good neighbors and the parking issue after school is creating very unsafe situations.

Parents and caregivers are not permitted to move the orange cones.

LOCKERS
All grade levels were issued lockers and a combination lock. Backpacks are not allowed in classrooms or in the cafeteria; students need to keep their backpacks in their lockers. Students can carry Chromebooks and notebooks to class in a Chromebook case.

MEDICATIONS ON CAMPUS
ALL MEDICATIONS ON CAMPUS REQUIRE DOCTOR'S ORDERS in addition to a parent authorization form. This means that all prescription and over-the-counter medications require a doctor's order and will not be allowed on campus at all without it. In the past, the prescription label on the bottle served as an MD order but AISD has changed the policy and now requires the MD order. Students are not allowed to self-carry ANY medication without doctor's orders and parent authorization.

1. The student must bring the note to the front office in the morning to receive a pink slip. Students who need to leave school early must be picked up before 3:15 due to traffic and parking availability.
2. The student will show the pink slip to the teacher when it is time to leave; the teacher will allow the student to go to the front office for parent pick-up. **Without a pink slip, students are not allowed to leave class**
3. Parent/guardian(s) must sign the student out in the front office before leaving campus. Please bring your photo ID.

REDUCED-PRICE MEAL SIGN UP
We encourage families who currently have reduced-price status to complete an AISD meal benefits application at www.SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD to ensure their eligibility through the entire school year.

Breakfast:

• Full Price: $2.00
• Reduced-price: FREE

Lunch:

• Full Price: $3.50
• Reduced-price: $0.40

The PTA works diligently to provide resources for our students, teachers and staff, but we can be more successful with the help of our many partners in the community! The Gorzycki Partner Program enables your business to have significant exposure and visibility in our community while providing vital funds to support our students. This opportunity is available to all businesses and families. Contact Susan Crum at partners@tigerpta.org with questions.

The PTA would like to thank the businesses that support our school!

Gorzycki Middle School

7412 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin TX 78749 Phone 512-841-8600 Fax 512-841-8601