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Dear Galloway Families,

As we approach the close of another calendar year, this season offers us a meaningful opportunity to reflect on endings and new beginnings. The end of the year is a time to pause, celebrate how far we have come, and look ahead with excitement and purpose as we enter 2026. At GTMS, we are incredibly proud of the growth, accomplishments, and memories already created this school year—and we are just as energized about all that is still to come.

Our students and staff continue to demonstrate dedication, resilience, and pride in our school community. From academic growth and leadership opportunities to school events and community connections, these accomplishments are the result of a shared commitment between our students, staff, and families.

A wonderful example of growth and achievement within our GTMS community is Ms. Hollisha Bridgers. Ms. Bridgers recently defended her dissertation and achieved an incredible milestone—earning her doctorate. I had the honor of witnessing her dissertation defense, and it was truly inspiring. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Hollisha Bridgers on this remarkable accomplishment. We are so proud of her and incredibly fortunate to have her as part of the GTMS leadership team. Her dedication is a powerful reminder of the impact of perseverance, goal-setting, and lifelong learning.

As we look ahead to 2026, I encourage each of you—students, families, and staff alike—to think about your own goals. What will the new year bring for you? What hopes or aspirations would you like to set in motion? At GTMS, we remain committed to supporting our students as they grow academically, socially, and emotionally, while continuing to strengthen our school culture rooted in Respect the Paw.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. I wish you and your families a joyful, healthy, and successful start to 2026. We look forward to all that the new year will bring.

Warm regards,
Paula Junker
Principal, Galloway Township Middle School

Respect the Paw 🐾

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Coupons were sent home with your child - be sure to check with them!

December 23-January 4th: Winter Break

January 9th: Stockton Tween Tech Field Trip

January 19th: School Closed: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 26th: Student of the Month Luncheon

January 28th: End of MP 2

January 30th: Role Model of the Month Luncheon

Sports Physical Packet 2025-26

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GTMS Activities & Clubs

Michelle Leathers

Luke Barrett

Raelyn Young

Quinton Bennett

Aarya Bhatt

Jordan Williams

Stephen Donovan

Michelle Oseguera Villegas

Aarush Shah

Daniela Marley Avila

Mah'zi Purnell

Dylan Riess

Rairc Oliveira Ramos

Ella McClain

Tirtha Patel

Stella Myrtetus

Jeffrey Wakefield-Ward

Taiyyaba Ali

Eric Forbey

Nina Byers

Gabriel Negley

Bryce Jerue

Zachary Schroeder

Jayden Lassey

Willow Baake

Here at GTMS, we recognize students aligning with our character trait of the month. This month for November the trait was Kindness . Students names who displayed this character trait, were put on the wheel for a chance to win a prize.

PAWsome Students

Melani Burnside, Isabella Castellano, & Bryce Miller

Respect The Bus

Students are recognized by their bus drivers each week who are doing the right things on the bus as well as being a student leader. At the end of the month students names go on the wheel for a chance to win a limited edition GTMS T-shirt and all the blue post cards are mailed home to the parents. For November we like to recognize Arianna Ferringo, Aman Khan, and Nina Byers for winning the T-shirts

Dixie Howell Tournament Champs!

Congratulations to our basketball team for winning the Dixie Howell Tournament for the second year in a row! 🏀 Special shout-outs to Ryder Chiappisi, Tournament MVP, and Abdul “Woogie” Carrington, named to the All-Tournament Team. Thanks to Coach Tatur for his leadership—what a way to represent GTMS!

🎟️🐾 The Attendance Ballot Box is OPEN! 🐾🎟️

🎉 GTMS Attendance Shout-Out! 🎉
We’re proud to celebrate the 401 students who completed our 17-Day December Attendance Streak! Your commitment to showing up, learning, and doing your best each day is what makes GTMS shine. Keep it up, Grizzlies—your next streak starts now! 🐾✨

January Attendance Streak Challenge
January is the perfect time to start fresh and build strong habits for 2026! With 19 days of school, we encourage students to challenge themselves to maintain a full attendance streak all month—every day matters for learning and growth. Don’t let the cold weather slow you down—bundle up, show up, and start the new year strong! ❄️📚

📅 Stay on Track — Schedule Smart!

A quick checkup shouldn’t mean missing a whole day, Grizzlies! 🐾

Try to book your doctor, dentist, or orthodontist appointments early in the morning or later in the afternoon so you can still make it to school and keep your attendance streak strong! 💪

Appointments come and go, but your education sticks. 📘✨

Let’s keep showing up, staying involved, and respecting the paw every day! 💜🧡

Winter Concert

Our students truly shined at the Winter Concert! Their hard work and talent filled the halls with the joyful sounds of the season, spreading holiday cheer throughout GTMS. We are so proud of their outstanding performance. A special thank you to Mr. Conover, Mr. Palumbo, and Mr. Shugarts for their dedication and guidance in making this concert such a success. 🎶✨

7th Grade Assembly

Dr. Alexis Jenkins came to Galloway Twp. Middle School to present to the 7th graders, " The Future Starts Now: Healthy Decision-Making for Gen Z Leaders." In this presentation Dr. Jenkins focused on talking to students about how life choices impact them and the leader they will be become, understanding how making smart choices is an essential skill that will help them navigate through life, and discuss with the students how they can start now making smart choices.

8th Grade Assembly

Ms. Turkessa Lee addressed the 8th grade students, discussing emotional triggers and equipping them with strategies to recognize and manage them effectively as middle school learners. She introduced grounding strategies that students can use to manage and work through their triggers effectively.

Visit from Absegami Counselors

We were excited to welcome Absegami counselors as they met with our 8th-grade students to review the many programs Absegami High School has to offer and walk them through the scheduling process. These visits help students feel informed and confident as they begin planning for high school. Absegami counselors will return to GTMS in February to complete student scheduling.

Secret Staff Spirit Week!

Be sure to check out the video featuring photos from our Secret Staff Spirit Week! From secret agents to construction workers to Middle School Mayhem, our staff kept each day a surprise for students, making it a week to remember. 🎉

Exciting Adventure

The Student Council visited the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where they explored the meaning of “We the People” and gained a deeper understanding of how this foundational principle has shaped our nation and continues to influence the world we live in today.

Take a moment to enjoy the sounds of the season! 🎶 Below are links to the 2025 Christmas Chorale featuring the GTMS Chorus, where our students performed alongside choirs from schools across the area. GTMS appears in all four shows—be sure to watch for our students during their segments and enjoy the holiday music!

Show 1: https://youtu.be/iGR2tBVi3Uw?si=E9SrSZQ6aIzkgwsL

Show 2: https://youtu.be/YpDlDRY4PgU?si=hE4CWtz_Fkh1bLxi

Show 3: https://youtu.be/4syU4FXjGnE?si=UgTArS-uygP0p4kp

Show 4: https://youtu.be/XbgZ1wlD9pI?si=-fPUp51RjbZaFDJ3

Spring Home Visit

The Step Team visited Spring Home, spreading holiday cheer and bringing smiles to everyone they met.

Winter Dance

Our Winter Dance was full of spirit, fun, and fantastic music! Students danced the night away, showing off their energy and school pride while celebrating the season together.

Toys for Tots

We are so proud of our Builders Club for collecting over 50 toys to donate to Toys for Tots. Their generosity and commitment to giving back truly reflect the care they have for our school and community.

Do you know what it means to be a GTMS Grizzly?

At GTMS, being a Grizzly means more than just showing up to school—it’s about embodying our core values and “Respecting the Paw” in everything we do.

So, what does that look like?

FSA 2025-2026

President - Katherine Mutschler Pauro

Vice President - Christine Boland

Treasurer - Nelie Yee

Corresponding Secretary - Jennifer Alvardo

Recording Secretary - Jennifer Keeney

Meeting Dates

January 7, 2026 (in-person)

February 12, 2026 (virtual)

March 10, 2026 (in-person)

April 14, 2026 (virtual)

May 19, 2026 (in-person)

June 9, 2026 (virtual)

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Year at a Glance School Year Edition Poster (5).pdf

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FSA Facebook

NJ4S: Acenda

Acenda Integrated Health is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing industry-leading prevention, treatment and wellness services to ensure that every individual, family and community member, achieves their greatest potential. Acenda is at the forefront of community-based services, providing 100+ health and social service programs at 60+ locations throughout a 12-county region in New Jersey.

Available Workshops

It is imperative that we continue to teach our students the effects that bullying has on others and a community. Every student deserves a safe and supportive learning environment, free from fear and harassment. Any instance of bullying should be promptly reported to the administration or staff member, who will take immediate and appropriate action to address the situation. By fostering a culture of kindness, empathy, and respect, we can create a school community where all students feel valued and accepted.

Learn More:

GTMS Second Step Program

Antibullying Site

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