October Update

Bearkat Families,

October is often one of the toughest months of the school year for our students. The excitement of the first few weeks has settled, routines are in place, and the demands of learning are beginning to pick up. For many kiddos, this can feel like a long stretch, and it’s not unusual to see dips in energy, motivation, or even confidence during this time.

As a district, we want to remind you that this is normal—and that together, we can help our students push through these challenges. At school, our staff is working hard to encourage, support, and celebrate small wins each day. At home, even simple things like keeping consistent routines, checking in with your child, and celebrating effort (not just grades) can make a big difference.

Most importantly, please know your children are cared for deeply by their teachers, principals, and all of us here. We are committed to walking alongside them not just in academics, but also in their social and emotional well-being.

Thank you for being such important partners in your child’s education. With your support and encouragement, I’m confident we’ll help our students finish this month stronger than they started.

Let’s continue Achieving Excellence Together!

Proud Superintendent,

Mallory Marr

Looking ahead, the 2024 Bond Projects are well underway in the planning phase. We are working closely with our partners at CADCO to bring these exciting projects to life. Click here to view the most current architectural drawings and see the vision beginning to take shape.

Project Timeline
October – Demolition drawings completed
November – Construction drawings completed
December – Site pad prepared for new building
January – Groundbreaking for new building

May – Construction begins on new tennis courts

Student Input - Superintendent Ambassadors

All seniors and six juniors attended their first Superintendent Ambassadors meeting, where they shared thoughtful ideas for improving instruction, construction, and school culture:

• Instruction – Students noted that science classes feel more rigorous this year and raised concerns about learning gaps. They will also have the opportunity to review drawings in November.

• Construction – Students expressed excitement about potential upgrades to the gym, track, and football scoreboard. They also shared valuable feedback about fencing near the Ag building and offered creative ideas for the new Ag Fab building.

• Culture – This group is helping energize the student section to boost school pride. They also discussed how they want to be remembered by younger classmates and reflected on the meaning of school culture.

Our student ambassadors have an important voice in shaping the future of our schools, and we look forward to seeing their impact grow.

What an amazing first month it’s been at daycare! Our days have been full of laughter, play, and discovery as little ones explore colors, shapes, numbers, stories, and songs. We’ve loved seeing friendships grow and confidence shine, and we can’t wait for another month of fun and learning ahead!

Mr. Bryant, our counselor, makes it a priority each week to remind staff about the importance of staying positive and “on the bus.” Recently, he shared a powerful example connected to Energy Bus Rule #2: Lift others up, even on tough days. Just weeks after the events of September 11, 2001, Ray Charles opened Game 2 of the World Series with a moving performance of America the Beautiful—a reminder of how hope and encouragement can shine even during difficult times.

Our students have been actively engaging with the Alongside app to support their learning and personal growth. Currently, there are 171 active student accounts, with 37 at Garden City Elementary and 134 at Garden City High School. Students have spent a total of 135 hours using the app, including 52 hours at the elementary school and 83 hours at the high school.

Engagement with the app has been strong, with students completing 1,867 activities overall—1,055 at Garden City Elementary and 812 at Garden City High School. Students also report the app as highly helpful, with 86% of elementary students and 91% of high school students indicating it supports them effectively.

These numbers reflect the growing impact of Alongside in helping our students build skills, track their progress, and strengthen positive habits.

Over the summer, Sydnee Gully reached out to administration with an exciting idea: to start a high school weekly newsletter that would keep students, staff, and the community informed about all the great happenings at our school. This idea was inspired by her experience during an internship at the Martin County Messenger, where she learned firsthand about the impact of thoughtful journalism and communication.

With enthusiasm and determination, Sydnee recruited a team of dedicated students and secured a sponsor to help guide the project. Together, they have successfully released four issues, covering everything from school events and achievements to student stories and important announcements.

We are incredibly proud of Sydnee’s initiative, leadership, and creativity. This newsletter has already become a valuable resource for our school community, and we are excited to see it continue to grow, evolve, and showcase the voices and talents of our students. Click here to read weekly issues.