GSA Middle School

July 24, 2025

Dear GSA Middle School Families,

We hope you have had an enjoyable and relaxing summer so far! We are officially gearing up for the 25-26 school year! While we’re sure the students wish it wasn't happening, our staff is gearing up for the start of school. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! It has been an incredibly busy summer, as Mr. Blackstone’s announcement from July 21 stated. Teams have been working very hard to update and prepare the former Our Lady of Sorrows school campus for us. Main construction is starting to wrap up and as much as we enjoyed sharing our learning spaces with the high school, we are so excited to start our middle school adventure in our own building! Our new address is: 5028 Rhodes Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63109.

The first day of school is August 13, 2025 and we are looking forward to welcoming our students into our new space!

• The first day of school is a Wednesday so please note that dismissal is at 1:30.

• Please note that our bell times have changed just by a few minutes.

• Classes start at 7:50 and dismiss at 2:40.

• Wednesdays start at 7:50 and dismiss at 1:30.

Please join us for our Open House on August 11, 2025. We are excited to host Open House a little differently this year. We will be providing two time frames for all GSA Middle School families to visit school: from 8:00 - 11:00 and 12:00 to 6:30. You will be able to pick up your child’s schedules, turn in complete required paperwork, find lockers, meet and greet teachers, and tour the building. There is no set schedule and you are welcome to come and go as you please. While mostly self-guided, we will have guided tours leaving the main lobby every 20 minutes with the last tour starting at 6:00. This is a time to meet and greet teachers and become acclimated with your child’s schedule and our new building.

We would like to take this time to announce some staffing changes.

New staff:

• Allyson Miller - 8th Grade Reading

• Aaron Dennis - Art

• Kevin Lurten - Student Services

Staff changing roles:

• Haley Peetz - 6th grade Reading & 6th grade co-chair

• Elizabeth Brooks - Drama & Study Skills

• Ashleigh Moffit-Brunngraber - Band

• Junko Oba - World Languages & Business

Please join us in welcoming our new faces to our GSA family!

We are doing Transition Day a bit differently this year. We will NOT have a specific Sixth Grade Transition Day this year as the building is new to all grade levels. Therefore, August 11 is designated only for our Open House. The first day of school, August 13, will be a day of transition for all grade levels. That day will be designed for students to meet teachers, get to know their classmates, learn the building, get an introduction to middle school routines, follow their schedules, work their lockers, and learn many of the procedures that take place at GSA Middle.

We anticipate that you might have some questions and want some information to plan accordingly. Below, you can find some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we often get about at the start of the year. If any questions remain, please feel free to reach out to us. We are looking forward to an amazing return to school!

Sincerely,

Dr. Sukru Kaya, Principal

Ms. Kelly Barber, Assistant Principal of School Culture

Ms. Christie Doyle, Assistant Principal of Academics

Mr. Anthony McCaa, Dean of Students

Mrs. Amanda Taylor, Counselor

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Q. What are some key dates to kick-off the new year?

August 11 - Open House 8 - 11 and 12 - 6:30

This is a self-guided event, there is no set schedule and you are welcome to come and go as you please. It is a time to meet and greet teachers and become acclimated with your child’s schedule. There will be guided building tours every 20 minutes starting in the main lobby. The last tour will start at 6:00.

• Parents and students are invited

• New Student Chromebook Pick Up

• IT Support for 7th/8th Grade returning students

• Building Tours - every 20 minutes with the last tour starting at 6:00

• Uniform Information

• Schedule Pick Up

• Locker Assignments

• Meet and Greet Teachers

• General Grade Level Information

• Forms

• Nurse: Health Info/Medication Drop-off

• Main Office: demographic information updates, Free/Reduced Lunch form drop off, other school business, general questions

1. August 13 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

• Start time = 7:50

• Dismissal = 1:30

All grade levels will have an opportunity to tour the building, follow their schedules, work their lockers and truly transition into Middle School life in our new building.

Q. What is the Academic Calendar for the year? Click link below

1. 25-26 Academic Calendar

Q. How does my student make schedule change requests?

1. There is an Add/Drop period for the first week of each semester for students to request or change their elective. Students may submit schedule change requests through a link that Mrs. Taylor provides. Requests will be reviewed and if approved, changes will be made in PowerSchool and the student will be notified. Not all requests may be granted due to class size or other limitations. Any schedule changes requested after the Add/Drop period may not be granted. The Add/Drop period will end on August 22, 2025 for the first semester and January 14, 2026 for the second semester.

Q. What are the uniform expectations for GSA Middle School?

1. Uniform shirts include: maroon GSA polo shirt, maroon GSA long sleeve polo shirt, GSA crew neck sweatshirt, GSA quarter-zip sweatshirt, GSA hooded sweatshirt, and the GSA zip fleece. All approved GSA uniform shirts can be purchased through the link on the school website. If the shirt is not on the school website under approved uniforms, it may not be worn. Uniforms

Students may wear GSA/Concept t-shirts or sweatshirts on Spirit Wear Fridays.

Uniform bottoms must be khaki, navy or black pants/slacks, bermuda shorts, skorts, or appropriate length uniform skirt (we would encourage parents to check skirt length as students begin to grow at this age and clothing fits differently than it used to. Many young ladies wear their uniform skirts with leggings). No athletic pants, sweatpants, shorts (including bike shorts), or leggings (athletic or not) may be worn, unless the leggings are underneath a skirt.

Shoes must be closed toe and backs such as athletic shoes, loafers, or dress shoes. Crocs, slides, slippers, and sandals are not acceptable shoes.

Please check in with your child to make sure they are following our GSA uniform guidelines and expectations each day.

Q. How does drop-off and pick-up work?

1. Specific information to come regarding drop-off and pick-up procedures. We are working to establish new routines and there will be some growing pains as we manage this process. In general, students can be dropped off on campus as early as 7:00am. They will have supervised wait time in the gym before the building officially opens. Students may be picked up at dismissal. After school activities will begin after Labor Day.
   
   

Q. Will students have lockers?

1. Yes. Each student will be assigned their own locker with a combination. Students are responsible to keep their combination to themselves. Students are not allowed to share lockers with one another. Students may decorate or personalize the inside of their lockers, but may not apply stickers or write on any surface in the locker. Other than lunch boxes, students may not store food in their lockers. Students are able to carry most of what they need in a drawstring bag, Chromebook bag, or zippered binder. Lockers are small but will hold a winter coat and a backpack and limited other items.

Q. How will Band and Orchestra students handle instrument drop off/pick up?

1. Upon arrival, music students should take their instrument to the music classroom for storage and report straight there after the last bell.

Q. What is the plan for PE and dressing out?

1. PE teachers plan fairly low impact activities for PE class, as a result, students will not need to change into a PE uniform. It is recommended, however, that students wear athletic shoes and keep deodorant (non-aerosol) in their drawstring bag or locker.

Q. Will students be allowed to carry water bottles and how will they be refilled?

1. Yes, students can carry a water bottle. It has to be a translucent or clear bottle with a screw tight lid/flap. The drinking fountains can be used to refill them. School personnel will not hand out cups or water bottles. Students need to bring their own water bottle or get a drink from the fountain during passing time.

Q. What is the personal electronic communication device policy for GSA Middle School?

1. Simple. They are to be off and secured in student lockers. Students are not to have electronic personal communication devices on them during the school day. Personal Electronic Communication Devices are defined by law and GSA policy as any portable device used to initiate, receive, store or view communication, information, images or data electronically and include but not limited to, cell phones, tables, smart watches, smart glasses, etc. These typically create unwanted and unnecessary distractions and disruptions for the owner and others during instructional time and the school day. If you need to contact your child or get a message to them, contact the main office and they will be sure to have your child contact you or relay the message. If students are caught with or using their electronic personal communication device throughout the day, one the first offense, the device will be confiscated and the parent will need to pick it up at the end of the school day. Consequences may be found in the GSA Student/Parent handbook.
   
   

Q. Are backpacks allowed in class?

1. We do not allow full backpacks in class. Students must keep all backpacks in their lockers. However, students are allowed to carry a drawstring bag and/or an accordion style file folder. Students can also carry a zippered binder which holds their notebooks and supplies they may need. Students may bring lunch boxes, store them in their lockers, and retrieve them from their lockers prior to lunch. Students may carry a small purse or handbag for personal care items if desired. Large purses, handbags, or messenger bags are not allowed.

Q. What are the school day hours?

1. School times are 7:50 AM - 2:40 PM. Students are to arrive in time to get to their locker, purchase breakfast if they wish, and then report to class by 7:50. Please make the necessary carpooling arrangements and schedule to have your student at school, on time, and ready to start their day off on the right foot. Time missed in the first period class eventually adds up as absences for state reporting. Note - Wednesdays are an early dismissal at 1:30 PM for teachers' Professional Learning Community (PLC) time. There are NO activities after school on Wednesdays due to PLC time.

Q. What is the bell schedule? Click below

1. Bell Schedule 25-26

Q. What is the school supply list for middle school? Click below

1. MS School Supply List
   
   

Q. Is there After Care/after school at Middle School?

1. One thing that is different at middle and high school is that there is not an After Care program. Parents and Guardians need to plan for their child to be picked up at dismissal time each day.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, we will have after school activities and tutoring that end at 3:30. After school activities will begin after Labor Day.

Note: Teachers leave at 3:30 PM, so parents MUST plan for pick up. Students who are not picked up promptly may not be allowed to participate in future club/activities.

Q. Will there be activities and sports and when will they start?

1. GSA Middle School will offer a variety of activities, some based on student interest/request. We also participate in a middle school athletic league for most major sports. Tutoring is also offered as arranged with teachers. Activities and Tutoring are held from 2:50-3:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Some activities, such as athletics, will have a specific schedule. Most activities will start right after Labor Day. Look for announcements regarding activities and athletics!

Note: Teachers leave at 3:30 PM, so parents MUST plan for pick up. Students who are not picked up promptly may not be allowed to participate in future club/activities.

South City Sporings Goods is proud to parter with Gateway Science Academy to provide uniform approved apparel for the 2025-2026 school year!

All items on this site have been approved by school administrators for students to wear during the school day and throughout the school year.

For order pickup, you have 2 options...

1. Pick up in-store at South City Sporting Goods @ 4916 Hampton Ave.

2. Direct Ship - have your order shipped directly to your home. Orders will begin being shipped on Monday, August 18th.

https://southcitysg.chipply.com/gsastl/

Its the first day of school, and we’re so excited to welcome the students back! We look forward to a fantastic year full of learning, growth, and great memories!

• Start time = 7:50

• Dismissal = 1:30

PTO Website

ms.gsastl.org/pto

hs.gsastl.org/pto

Please join the PTO Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/GSAMiddleSchoolPTO

We are collecting donations for our resale shop (official dates: TBD). If any student brings in a donation, they will receive a raffle ticket. We will pull names closer to the start of the 25-26 school year for a few coolers.