newsletter
December 2024
Principal's Message
Dear GTMS Community,
As we transition into December, I want to take a moment to reflect on what an incredible November we shared. From the excitement of Boosterthon to the meaningful connections made during American Education Week, your involvement made all the difference in the lives of our middle school students. Your support and dedication to our school community are truly appreciated.
Looking ahead, December promises to bring more opportunities to celebrate the growth and achievements of our students. Together, we will continue to foster their success and make GTMS a place where they thrive.
Thank you for being such an essential part of our GTMS family.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Paula Junker
Principal, GTMS
#Connect with GTMS
OPT into Text Messaging this year: Text "START" to 98900
December 6 - FSA Dance 6-8pm
December 18 - Role Model of the Month Luncheon
December 16 - Student of the Month Luncheon
December 19 - Winter Concert 6pm
December 20 - Early Dismissal
December 21 - January 1 - Winter Break
Book Vending Machine Winners!
So excited to highlight several students who were nominated by their ELA teachers to receive a special coin for our Book Vending Machine! These students have shown a remarkable passion for reading. Some are always found with a book in hand, eagerly recommending titles to their teachers and peers, while others consistently demonstrate focus and enthusiasm during silent reading. From making daily trips to the library to taking books home for extra reading, these students exemplify a love of literature that we are proud to celebrate!
Sofia Torreblano
Harper Roesch
Arlo Pfeiffer-Herbert
Zuraye Arthur Harvey
Jackson Gras
Bryce Dunn
McKenzie Hartz
Vinny LaCle
Joey Krug
Claudia McDowell
Emmett Houck
Madison Uchillan-Muller
Dayana Miguel-Vicente
Role Model of the Month: October
We’re thrilled to announce our Role Models of the Month for September! These students have exemplified outstanding character, leadership, and dedication to our core values. Please join us in congratulating the following students:
Zuraye Arthur-Harvey
Priscilla Carruth
Kara Deldonna
Ryann Daloisio
Sofia Torreblanco
Omuwa Izah
Arianna Campana
Jamie Nguyen
Ava Southrey
Ella Gunnels
To celebrate their achievements, these students had the opportunity to make personalized Grizzly hats and enjoy some fun games together. We’re so proud of them for setting such a positive example for their peers. Keep up the great work, Grizzlies!
Student of the Month: October
We are proud to recognize our Students of the Month for October! These remarkable students are excelling academically at GTMS and have shown a strong commitment to their studies. Congratulations to the following students:
Emilia Adams
Ace Tajanlangit
Rasesh Bhakta
Stephanie Carrelli
Skye Hudson
Elian Tavarez De la Cruz
Tyler Bramble
Evelyn Sullivan
Rita Escajadillo
Lev Prakapovich
AJ Resmerowski
Mackenzie Alejandro
Ryder Dziedzic
Kaylani Gonzalez
Heet Brahmbhatt
Ana DeSantis
Sean Walia
Anthony Marmo
Kaylee Sarnowski
Malia Parrish
Araina Singh
These students have demonstrated impressive academic achievements and dedication to learning. Keep up the great work, and thank you for making GTMS proud!
Building our School Culture
7th Grade Assembly presented by AtlantiCare: Mr. Christian Ragland
Mr. Christian Ragland's visit to GTMS was impactful and insightful! His role as the Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at AtlantiCare makes him an excellent advocate for celebrating differences and fostering inclusion. By sharing the importance of embracing diversity, he inspired the 7th-grade students to appreciate how unique perspectives can enhance creativity, flexibility, and collaboration in their daily lives. This kind of discussion not only builds a more inclusive school culture but also equips students with essential skills for the future.
8th Grade Assembly: Ms. Turkessa Lee
Ms. Lee is a seasoned clinical social worker and psychotherapist with a wealth of experience in drug abuse counseling, mental health, therapy, and supporting individuals through challenging times. At GTMS she brought her skills to talk to students about Responding Vs. Reacting. Ms. Lee explained that reacting is often immediate and emotional, while responding involves taking a pause, being thoughtful, and choosing a course of action that aligns with one’s values. She went to further tell students that responding generally leads to more constructive outcomes, while reacting may lead to misunderstandings or unnecessary conflict. The students at GTMS had a lot of take aways from Ms. Lee and appreciated her time.
ACENDA Visits GTMS
Acenda seeks to empower individuals to thrive and explore their greatest potential. Representatives from Acenda spoke to our students about promoting values like respect and anti-bullying. This ties in beautifully with our school's motto and helps reinforce positive behavior among students. It's great to have programs that emphasize character-building alongside academic learning.
GTMS CORE VALUES
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?
Respect the Paw - Flag Football Game
Our recent Respect the Paw Incentive Flag Football Game was an unforgettable afternoon filled with school spirit and excitement! Students took to the field, showcasing teamwork and sportsmanship, while their peers cheered them on with pride from the sidelines. The energy was electric as both players and spectators enjoyed the friendly competition and the sense of community that events like this bring. To top it off, everyone had the chance to cool down and celebrate with some refreshing Kona Ice, making the day even sweeter. It was a fantastic way to honor our students' hard work and commitment to "Respecting the Paw"!
Planarian Worms with Mrs. Wigglesworth
Food Bank
The GTMS Step Team proudly volunteered their time at the local Food Bank, demonstrating the spirit of giving back to the community. Their hard work and dedication made a meaningful impact, and we are so proud of their efforts to help those in need. Thank you for representing GTMS with compassion and PRIDE!
Veteran's Day Celebration
STEAM Night
GTMS STEAM Night was a tremendous success, thanks to the incredible support of our community partners who came out to participate. Students and families had a fantastic time exploring engaging activities and interactive exhibits. A special thank you to Mrs. Mohr-Murphy for her outstanding coordination of this event—we deeply appreciate her efforts in making it such a memorable and fun evening for all!
7th Grade STEAM Night Winners
Madeline Pasquarella, Bryanna Alvarado, and Joslin Avent
8th Grade Steam Night Winners
Fox Rockelman, Callie Yin, and Riley Minissa
Boosterthon - Turkey Trot
A huge thank you to our students, families, and FSA for making the Boosterthon Glow Run a phenomenal success! The event was enjoyed by everyone, and because of your hard work, our school raised $8,000! Donations will remain open for ONE MORE WEEK, so there’s still time to earn prizes. If we reach our $10,000 goal, we can celebrate with a lawn game day! We hope everyone had a fantastic time throughout the event and look forward to hosting it again in the future!
FSA 2024-2025
- President - Katherine Mutschler Pauro
- Vice President - Erin Borrelli
- Treasurer - Anna Reyes
- Recording Secretary – Nelie Yee
- Corresponding Secretary - Susan McCarty & Alexandra Southrey
Meeting Dates
September 10, 2024: In-Person at GTMS
October 9, 2024: In-Person at GTMS
November 14, 2024: Virtual
December 9, 2024: In-Person at GTMS
Resources for Parents/Guardians
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.
Harassments, Intimidation & Bullying (HIB)
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:
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2024-2025
2023-2024