GMS Family Newsletter

Dear Greene Devil Family,

Preparation continues to be a strong focus at Greeneville Middle School as we move through the semester. We are encouraging students to plan ahead, stay organized, and take ownership of their learning each day. From completing assignments on time to studying intentionally and asking thoughtful questions in class, preparation builds both confidence and consistency. When students walk into the classroom ready to learn, it allows teachers to maximize instructional time and creates an environment where everyone can grow.

We also want to highlight how proud we are of our students following last week’s Winter Dance. Our kids were incredible. They represented GMS with respect, responsibility, and positive energy throughout the evening. Events like these are opportunities for students to demonstrate character outside the classroom, and they truly rose to the occasion. Thank you to our families for your continued support in reinforcing the expectations and values that make our school community so strong.

Learning, Leading, Lifting... #RISEasONE,

Dr. Rachel Adams, Principal
Mr. Bryan Everhart, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Nancy Philbeck, Assistant Principal

Monday, 3/2

Tuesday, 3/3

Wednesday, 3/4

Thursday, 3/5

• Ballad Health - Devil Med Informational Zoom Meeting at 6:00pm
• CASE Science / Testing Schedule
• Spring Sports Photos

Friday, 3/6

• CASE Math / Testing Schedule

We are required by state law to do a gun safety informational session with all students. GCS collaborated with Greeneville Police Department to create a video that covers all required content. We will be facilitating this required training during Devil Time March 2-4 (see schedule below). Please reach out to Dr. Adams with any questions.

Devil Time Sessions

Monday, 3/2: 6th Grade

Tuesday, 3/3: 7th Grade

Wednesday, 3/4: 8th Grade

As part of our ongoing commitment to student safety and in accordance with a new Tennessee state law, all GCS students will receive age-appropriate instruction in gun safety each year. Students will watch a short video featuring members of the Greeneville Police Department sharing important gun safety messages. Schools will share when gun safety is scheduled.

State law requires that all students participate in this instruction and does not allow families to opt out. Our School Resource Officers (SROs) will be present during the video to help ensure a supportive environment and to answer any questions students may have.

Instructional Outcomes:

Grades K-2

At the end of instruction, students should be able to:

1. Define the terms firearm, safety, and responsible.

2. Identify the difference between toy guns and real firearms.

3. List, in order, the firearm safety rules for children.

4. Demonstrate a responsible attitude regarding firearms.

Grades 3-5

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define the terms firearm, safety, and responsible.

2. Describe the differences and similarities between toy guns, air guns, BB guns, and modern firearms.

3. List, in order, the firearm safety rules for children.

4. Demonstrate a mature attitude regarding firearms.

Grades 6-12

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define the terms firearm, safety, and responsible.

2. Demonstrate a mature attitude regarding firearms.

3. Know the proper storage of firearms and ammunition in the home.

Each week, we will shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals who make Greeneville Middle School such a special place. Our "GMS Staff Highlight" section will feature staff members who go above and beyond in supporting our students, school community, and each other. Stay tuned to learn more about the passionate and dedicated team that helps make GMS thrive!

During Devil Time, our 8th grade students recently participated in a hands on learning activity that allowed them to explore new concepts in an engaging way. Activities like this encourage students to think critically, collaborate with peers, and apply what they are learning in meaningful ways. Experiences that involve creativity and problem solving help deepen understanding and make learning more memorable.

Across Greeneville Middle School, students are engaged in a variety of opportunities that support both academic growth and personal development. From celebrating progress in reading, to participating in health focused lessons with community partners, to hands on enrichment experiences during RISE, our students are learning important skills each day. We are proud of the growth we are seeing in both confidence and responsibility as our students continue to learn, lead, and grow together.

This week’s leading section celebrates the energy and leadership our staff brings to Greeneville Middle School each day. During Book Fair week, our teachers participated in themed dress up days, helping create excitement and a fun, welcoming atmosphere throughout the building. Their willingness to join in and make the experience memorable for students reflects the positive culture we are proud of at GMS. When adults model enthusiasm and school spirit, it strengthens relationships and builds a strong sense of community.

We are also proud to share that Mr. Jones received the Social Studies School Service Civil Rights in Education Award in Memphis this past weekend. This honor recognizes his dedication to helping students understand history, civic responsibility, and the importance of respect and equity. We are grateful for the leadership he demonstrates both inside and outside the classroom, and we congratulate him on this well deserved recognition.

This week’s Lifting section celebrates the joy and positive energy from our Winter Dance. Our students represented Greeneville Middle School in an outstanding way, demonstrating respect, responsibility, and kindness throughout the evening. It was a fun and memorable event that reflected the strong character of our student body. Moments like these remind us how powerful it is when our school community comes together to support one another and celebrate in positive ways.

Eighth Grade Parents and Students:
If your student is interested in pursuing a career in the medical field, he or she is encouraged to apply for the Devil Med program at Greeneville High School. Please note that enrollment in Devil Med is limited and based on an application process. Students accepted into the Devil Med program may have the opportunity to enroll in medical courses at GHS, attend camps and other related activities, graduate with LPN certification, and work at a Ballad Health facility while still in high school. In addition, students may be offered special opportunities to observe and volunteer at the local hospital and participate in the program as part of a cohort. The Devil Med program is funded through a grant from the Bloomberg Foundation.

A lunch meeting for interested students will be held on March 9th at Greeneville Middle School in the library. Parents are also invited to join an informational Zoom meeting on March 5th at 6:00 PM. Please use the link below to join the Zoom meeting.

Link to Zoom meeting: https://tinyurl.com/4xznssbw

Mr. Graham, Thinking Win-Win, "I would like to praise Jerry Graham because he consistently models Habit 4: Thinking Win-Win in his science classroom. He creates a collaborative environment where every student is encouraged to succeed, teaching them that we achieve more when we support one another's learning goals rather than competing against them. He is the best teacher I could ever have. Thank you for being here for me Mr. Graham.❤️"

Kim Trivette, Thinking Win-Win, Kim is a team player who always works to create exciting lessons for students. She shares with her colleagues and is willing to help in any way!

Anna Burge, Beginning with the End in Mind, Anna passed the School Leadership Licensure Assessment with flying colors. I am so proud of her hard work to improve herself while juggling the many responsibilities she has at school supporting students and teachers.

Lauren Bond, Being Proactive, She has gone above and beyond in the library and created an amazing atmosphere for this year's book fair. Before the book fair even started, she showed students book trailers that truly led to some of the books I saw them purchase. Thank you for creating a space to build lifelong readers!

Kayla Welden, Synergizing, She provided me with a resource I was searching for and not finding. She put my plans at ease by having a backup version of the resource ready to go.

Melanie Williams, Beginning with the End in Mind, She problem-solved how to get the CASE writing prompts prepared for SchoolNet, which supports the entire ELA team.

RISE gives students additional time with teachers in a positive, encouraging environment that blends academic support with creativity, movement, and real world learning. Students may participate in Morning RISE, Afternoon RISE, or both programs, depending on their needs and schedule. Each option is designed to help students grow in confidence, build skills, and experience success. Best of all, the program is completely free for families.

Morning RISE begins at 6:45 am and supports students in building daily habits that lead to academic success. Students receive help with homework, missing assignments, organization, and checking PowerSchool so they can begin the school day focused and prepared.

Students may eat breakfast while working alongside teachers, making Morning RISE a calm, productive way to start the day. Students arriving between 6:45 and 7:00 am should be dropped off at the front of the building. Students arriving after 7:00 am should use the normal car line at the back of the building. To ensure students have time to get settled and begin working, they should plan to arrive before 7:10 am.

Afternoon RISE runs Monday through Thursday until 4:30 pm and offers much more than traditional tutoring. Students receive targeted support in ELA and Math, while also participating in hands on, creative lessons that make learning meaningful and fun.

This week, students measured ingredients to make playdough while learning about fractions and equivalent measures, worked together to solve a STEM engineering challenge using spaghetti and a marshmallow, and practiced personalized ELA and Math skills based on their individual needs. Students also exercised and stayed active through structured PE time, giving them opportunities to move, reset, and build healthy habits alongside their academic learning. These activities help students strengthen academic skills while also building teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking in a relaxed and supportive setting.

Afternoon RISE is a place where students feel encouraged, supported, and proud of their learning. Students stay active, engaged, and connected while building skills that transfer directly back into the classroom. The program runs Monday through Thursday until 4:30 pm, includes a daily snack, and provides bus transportation for students living in the GCS zone.

Camp NPAC Kids is a summer theatrical day camp for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Throughout the week, participants will sing, act, dance, design costumes, and help create set and prop pieces for a full week of fun!

GMS Families,

We want to keep our dismissal process safe and efficient for everyone. Local law enforcement has asked us to remind families that blocking the roadway during afternoon pickup is not permitted.

Officers have issued and will continue to issue tickets to motorists who stop in the road, especially before carline begins moving.

To help us keep dismissal running smoothly, please keep these reminders in mind:

• CarRider Pro will not start reading until 2:00 PM, and parents/guardians cannot begin lining up until 2:00 PM.

• Dismissal begins at 2:40 PM. Arriving too early causes traffic backups.

• Always have your car tag visible.

• Follow staff directions at all times during dismissal.

• Pull all the way forward when directed.

• If your student is delayed, please use the designated waiting area so traffic can continue to flow.

• Carline remains open until 3:10 PM, and there is often little to no wait toward the end of carline.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making dismissal safe and efficient for everyone.

For the safety of all students and to ensure a smooth dismissal, student checkouts are not permitted between 2:00–3:00 p.m. During this time, students are engaged in their final classes of the day, and our office staff is focused on preparing for afternoon dismissal. Please plan all afterschool appointments at a time that allows for checkout before 2:00 or after 3:00. If you do not have a car rider tag, please park and come into the office after 3pm to sign-out your student. Thank you for you help as this helps us maintain a safe and efficient process so that all students get home safely.

Bus Transportation- Want to know exactly when the bus will pick-up or drop-off your child? It's easy using the My Ride k-12 App! Additional information on the My Ride k-12 app can be found here: https://www4.gcschools.net/page/transportation . If your student will be riding the bus please verify transportation questions with our transportation department (423-525-4793).

Please note, unexcused morning tardies count toward GCS truancy and GMS discipline and are cumulative for the entire school year. As outlined in the student handbook each combination of 3 unexcused morning tardies = 1 infraction on the progressive discipline policy (beginning at level 1). In addition, any combination of 5 unexcused morning tardies/early check-outs will result in one-full day unexcused absence toward truancy.

Please remember to notify the school anytime your student is absent. Parents may submit a parent note to excuse up to three days per semester. The easiest way to submit notes, whether parent or doctor, is through the online absentee reporting form found on our school website or the email/text link you receive when an absence is recorded as unexcused. Students may also turn in physical notes to the office; however, they often forget and fail to do so within the required two-day window (resulting in unexcused absence toward truancy).

All notes, parent or physician, must be submitted within two days of returning to school.

There has been a lot of discussion on social media regarding school attendance and notes. Good school attendance is essential for student success, as missing more than eight days in a semester, including illness or doctor-excused absences, is considered chronic absenteeism. Regular attendance helps students stay on track with their learning and is directly linked to higher achievement and an increased likelihood of graduation. Please reach out to GMS admin if you have any questions or need support.

Greeneville City Schools only offers free breakfast and lunch for elementary school students. Greeneville Middle School and Greeneville High School students are charged for breakfast and lunch daily. Many families are eligible for Free & Reduced meals by competing the Free & Reduced Lunch Application. Also, families must submit an application yearly. Apply now!

The Free & Reduced-Price Lunch Application for the 2025–2026 school year is now open!

We encourage all families to apply — even if you believe you may not qualify. Completing the application helps ensure access to important funding and opportunities for:

✅ Student Education
✅ Technology & Internet Access
✅ College Application Fee Discounts
✅ Scholarships

You can apply quickly and easily by scanning the QR code below or clicking this link:
🔗 https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/GREC01

If you have questions, please email Brianna Holt at holtb@gcschools.net.

Thank you for taking a moment to complete this important application and helping us better support all students!

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Technology is incorporated into the curriculum and is for student use under teacher supervision. Any destruction of the technology equipment or misuse of software or internet capabilities will result in strict disciplinary action. All families must sign and agree to the Responsible Use Policy before students will be permitted access to the internet at school. This policy is updated every year and includes detailed information about proper internet use and the care of student computers. This document is posted on the GMS website.