Mustang News - November 21, 2025
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Mustang News: November 21, 2025
From the Principal's Desk
What a fantastic week at GMS! A huge thank you goes out to everyone who helped make our Ski Extravaganza fundraiser such a success. From the organizers and volunteers to the staff members who bravely took a pie to the face, your spirit and support made it an unforgettable event. Our school community continues to show what teamwork and fun look like.
We also want to send a heartfelt thank you to our families for the amazing donations to the food pantry. Your generosity makes a real difference for our students and community.
Good luck to Mr. Jones and the GMS band as they head to the Western Slope Honor Band competition this weekend. We are proud of their talent and dedication.
If you have not seen it yet, GMS was featured in the Gunnison Times on the back of the Shopper. The page highlights many of the incredible opportunities our students experienced this fall. Thank you to all of our teachers, aides, organizers, and community partners who helped make these activities possible!
Go Mustangs!
Lance Betts
Principal
Gunnison Middle School
Join the GCS Team!
We're hiring! Multiple positions available. See full job descriptions here.
Mustang Moments
December 8-9: iReady Mid-Year Assessments
Schedule for November 24-28:
No School- Thanksgiving Break
Lunch (when we return) December 1st-5th
Hello Mustang families! It's hard to believe that today is the last school day in November. This month we focused on building positive relationships and your students participated in lots of fun activities that helped create and strengthen these bonds. We came together as a community this month! Together, we broke a middle school record in a mass donation to the food pantry, with over 600 pounds of food that will help local families! Students and staff came together to support the GCS ski program in a silly and unique way, and the teacher pie in the face fundraising was both fun and incredibly successful! We have a new group of Sources of Strength peer leaders who were trained to help others make connections to strengths during hard times, and they will be putting on activities throughout the year for their peers and teachers. WEB Leaders and 6th graders continue to grow closer and have fun together, making the transition to middle school easier and more inclusive. Lastly, I want you to know that I ask every student the same question this time of the year - "what are you grateful for?" Every single student has said that they are grateful for their family, so thank you so much for creating positive relationships at home as well. It takes a village to support each other and I am so incredibly grateful for each and every one of you as well. Have a safe and fun Thanksgiving break! Go, Mustangs!
Travel Opportunities for 2026
Washington DC, Spring Break, 2026
2026 is the United State's 250th Birthday!
A great way to celebrate would be to go to Washington, DC for Spring Break!
You'll see sites like the Lincoln Memorial, George Washington's home, the Air and Space Museum, the US Capitol, and the National Zoo. This will be a fun, exciting, educational, and safe experience for all interested GHS and GMS students.
All current 6th, 7th, 8th, and high school students (plus, other friends and family members!) are invited. Registration is now open! You can sign up online at worldstrides.com/register or by phone at 800-468-5899. Use the code 219547 to sign up. Please reach out to Sara Lamar if you have any questions: slamar@gunnisonschools.net. Thanks!
Dominican Republic, Summer, 2026
Mrs. Lamar and Mrs. Clements are very excited to announce that we are planning our next trip to the Dominican Republic! We’ll be participating in cultural activities, service projects, and having so much fun in the summer of 2026. All current 5-8th graders are invited. Registration is now open! Enroll now with this link: www.eftours.com/2680037BT. Please reach out to Sara Lamar with any questions: slamar@gunnisonschools.net. ¡Gracias y vamos!
Mustang Athletics for Nov. 17-21
Good luck to the Mustang 7A and 8A boys' basketball teams in
the League Tournaments tomorrow. This concludes the season.
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Girls' basketball practice begins on (or around) Dec. 8 from 3:45
to 5:30. Questions? Contact Mary Nordberg at mnordberg@gunnisonschools.net
Healthy Kids Colorado Survey
Dear Families,
At Gunnison Middle School, we are committed to supporting the health, safety, and overall well-being of every student. One of the important tools we use to better understand student needs is the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS), a voluntary and anonymous survey offered to middle and high school students across the state. Gunnison Middle School plans on administering the survey during December 1-12.
The HKCS helps schools and communities learn how students are doing in areas such as physical health, emotional well-being, school climate, safety, and healthy decision-making. Because the survey is confidential, students can share their experiences honestly, which provides us with clearer, more accurate information.
Why the survey matters:
Improves school supports: Results help us identify programs and resources students may need—such as mental health supports and bullying prevention.
Amplifies student voice: The survey allows students to tell us what is going well and what could be better at school.
Guides district and state planning: Schools, districts, and state agencies use the data to make informed decisions to positively impact students across Colorado.
Anonymity: Responses are anonymous. No names or identifying information are collected.
Participation is always voluntary. If you wish to opt your child out, please complete the Google Form linked below by November 25, 2025.
For more information, please review this email from Nicole Swaggerty, District Student Wellness Coordinator, and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document.
Thank you for your partnership in helping us create a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment for all students. When students share their experiences, they help us better understand how to meet their needs and help them thrive.
Sincerely,
Lance Betts
Principal
Gunnison Middle School
SNAP Benefits on Hold – Local Food Help for Families
Where to get help right now:
Gunnison Country Food Pantry – Extended weekday hours and new Saturday distribution with fresh produce sponsored by Mountain Roots. Info on hours (including Spanish/Cora language support) and emergency response plans:
https://gunnisoncountryfoodpantry.org/food-distributions-government-shutdown/ gunnisoncounty.org
Mountain Roots Food Project – Backyard Harvest Food Boxes – Weekly delivery of fresh, healthy food boxes for households experiencing food insecurity. We have added 50 new spots for families affected by the SNAP pause. You can apply or nominate a family, and you can also request a Holiday Meal Box for Thanksgiving or Christmas:
https://www.mountainrootsfoodproject.org/backyard-harvest
County SNAP Info & Other Help – Gunnison County Health & Human Services is updating local guidance daily, including how to check your EBT balance, how to apply for SNAP, food distribution sites, senior food programs, and mental health support. That page is here:
https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/1127/November-SNAP-Benefit-Hold-Information-R gunnisoncounty.org
Other community-based initiatives are emerging, like "Grocery Buddies" (Facebook) and "Mutual Support Mondays" (Dilly Deli).
Both the Food Pantry and Mountain Roots need donations and volunteers to ramp up services.
COLD WEATHER IS COMING!
Please be sure to check the weather in the morning and encourage your kiddos to come to school in the appropriate attire. (We know middle schoolers can be stubborn... hide the shorts if you need to. You have our permission)
ORDER YOUR 2026 YEARBOOK NOW!
If you order personalization, there are four free icons
for you to choose through the end of October!
GMS Yearbooks are still ONLY $20! They will be delivered
in May but you can order now and never worry that we'll run
out.
Click the link below to check this off your list!
GMS Yearbook
Contact Mary Nordberg with any questions.
mnordberg@gunnisonschools.net
Lost and Found
Be sure to take a look and see if you recognize anything in our lost and found collection.
Our Mission
The Gunnison Middle School community supports the growth of all learners to think critically and engage as empathetic, respectful, healthy, and responsible global citizens.