GMS Family Newsletter

We are proud of the successful first full week our students and staff had at Greeneville Middle School! It has been great to see our hallways and classrooms full of energy as we continue building momentum for the 2026-2027 school year.

As we move into another week, we encourage our students to reflect on the standards, procedures, and expectations that were discussed and practiced throughout the first week. Middle school is a time when students begin taking greater ownership of their choices, and we want each student to think about how their actions contribute to their own success and the positive environment we strive to create at GMS.

Families can help by encouraging students to establish good daily routines. Getting plenty of rest, eating breakfast, arriving with a charged computer, and bringing a positive attitude each morning are simple habits that can make a big difference throughout the school day.

Every day at GMS is an opportunity to build the habits, character, and confidence that will prepare our students for what comes next.

#BuiltInTheMiddle!,

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

The Greeneville Police Department has notified us that keeping East Vann Road clear and traffic moving is essential for safety. Please keep the following in mind when arriving for afternoon pick-up:

• Vehicles may not stop or wait in the roadway along East Vann Road while attempting to turn right onto campus. The Greeneville Police Department has advised that vehicles stopping in the traffic lane and impeding the flow of traffic may be ticketed.

• If the car line is backed up to East Vann Road, please do not stop in the roadway. Instead, drive past the school and enter the turn lane from the Hal Henard direction, or drive around and return a few moments later once the line has moved.

• When entering campus, please consider alternating turns with vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Allowing one car at a time from each direction to enter keeps the pace even and helps traffic continue to flow. Allowing three or four vehicles to turn across at once can quickly back up traffic on East Vann Road and can also block vehicles trying to exit our car line.

• The CarRiderPro tag reader turns on at 2:00 p.m. Vehicles may not line up or wait at the sensor before 2:00 p.m. This allows us to maintain access to the back parking lot for as long as possible.

Pro Tip: If your schedule allows, consider arriving around 2:55 p.m. The car line is typically much shorter and moves quickly by that time.

Thank you for helping us keep East Vann Road clear, maintain safe traffic flow, and keep our campus entrances accessible.

Monday, August 17

Tuesday, August 18

• STAR Reading

Wednesday, August 19

• STAR Math
• GMS Summer Reading Logs Due

Thursday, August 20

Friday, August 21

• Friday Night Lights: GHS vs Morristown West - 7:30pm

Student safety is always our first priority. When the outside lane stops, students should exit their vehicles right away and move to the center zone. From there, they should stop, watch, and wait for an adult to signal that it is safe to cross.

We ask cars in the inside lane to continue moving forward and stack up rather than stopping individually to let students cross. Middle school students can be quick to move and may assume a car will see them and stop. We want to teach the opposite habit: stop, watch, and wait until all cars are stopped and an adult tells you it is safe to cross.

Once the cars have pulled forward and stopped together, our staff can clearly see the students waiting in the center zone and cross the entire group at one time. This keeps students from crossing between moving vehicles and creates a safer, more predictable process for everyone.

Thank you for helping us reinforce this important safety routine each morning.

Morning car drop-off begins at 7:00 a.m., when staff members come outside to begin welcoming students. A few reminders will help us keep morning arrival safe and efficient:

• Please use both lanes of the car line.
• We use the entire drop-off lane, from the green sign below the awning to the trees at the back of the lot. Pull all the way forward and stay close to the car in front of you. Please do not wait to stop/drop off at the end of the awning.
• Once you have passed the trees and traffic comes to a stop, please have your student exit the vehicle. Using the full drop-off area allows more students to exit at the same time, helping us keep traffic moving while maintaining a safe and orderly arrival.
• Students exiting from vehicles in the outside lane should wait for an adult to signal that it is safe before crossing the inside lane.
• Pro-Tip: Plan to drop-off between 7:06-7:16.

Thank you for a fantastic start! When everyone pulls forward, uses both lanes, and is ready to load or unload, it makes a tremendous difference in keeping traffic moving while getting our students in and out of school safely.

We've had another GREAT week on afternoon car line! Friday we broke another record, dismissing 249 cars in under 25 minutes! Thank you for helping us get students safely and efficiently on their way home!

A few things make a big difference in keeping our afternoon line moving:

• Have your car tag with you. If you do not have a car tag, you will need to park in the front lot, come inside, show your ID, and sign-out your student.
• The CarRiderPro tag reader turns on at 2:00 p.m. Vehicles may not line up or wait at the sensor before 2:00.
• Use both lanes of the car line. This helps us move more vehicles through the loading area at one time.
• Pull up close to the car in front of you. Maximizing the number of cars in the loading zone allows us to dismiss more students with each group.
• Keep driving until traffic stops or you reach the beginning of the loading zone. Please do not stop when you see your child. We use the entire loading area, from the green sign below the walkway all the way to the trees at the back of the lot.
• Remind your student to watch for your car and be ready to load quickly when dismissed from the sidewalk.
• If your student is not outside and ready to load, you will be directed to pull into the parking row at the bottom of the lot. We will check to make sure your tag scanned correctly, replace a tag if it is no longer working, and call your student outside.
• Pro tip: Car rider traffic is significantly reduced by approximately 2:55 p.m. We highly recommend waiting until that time to arrive when possible. Your overall wait will be much shorter as you cruise straight through our line!

Don’t forget about the GMS Summer Reading Challenge! If your student read this summer, there is still time to turn in their Summer Reading Log and earn rewards. Completed logs should be submitted to the GMS Library by Wednesday, August 19. Extra copies are available in the library, and a copy of the log is also attached for families to print at home.

Students who complete the challenge will have the opportunity to participate in special rewards, including an ice cream party and lunch in the library. We are excited to celebrate our students and their summer reading!

Want to see more of what’s happening day to day inside GMS?

Follow Greeneville Middle School on Facebook! We share photos, classroom activities, student highlights, special events, and a closer look at learning and life at GMS. See what makes GMS #BuiltInTheMiddle!

We are proud of the dedicated educators who work together each day to help every student learn, grow, and succeed. Greatness is #BuiltInTheMiddle!

We are hiring a part-time Instructional Assistant at Greeneville Middle School!

https://gcschools.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5837081

Learning is off to a great start at GMS! Throughout the building, students are learning what it means to be an active member of their classroom and school community. From taking ownership through classroom jobs, to staying actively engaged in structured activities in the gym, to Mrs. Philbeck guiding students through important expectations found in the Student Handbook, our students are building the routines, responsibilities, and habits that will help them be successful throughout the year.

Our Greene Devils are leading the way in classrooms and beyond! Students are building a strong foundation by reviewing school expectations in Career class, hitting the ground running with math concepts, and representing GMS through teamwork and determination on the soccer field. Whether in the classroom or in competition, our students are stepping up, working together, and setting the tone for a great year!

Lifting is about the moments that make GMS feel like a community. A smile, a conversation, or simply taking time to connect can make a difference in a student’s day. SRO Ethan Parton is one of the many familiar faces throughout our building who takes time to build positive relationships with students and help make GMS a place where students feel welcomed, encouraged, and supported.

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. This helps us maintain a safe and efficient process so that all students get home safely.

No outside food is allowed any time at GMS. Your student is welcome to pack their lunch but we do not allow outside food to be dropped-off for lunch at GMS. We also understand stopping for breakfast, but please have your child finish any food or drinks before they come into the building. Our cafeteria is open at 6:55am every morning and ready to serve a hot, nutritious and tasty meal while helping us ensure a safe environment by avoiding any food allergies at the tables.

Students are only permitted to have plain water in their water bottles at school. We ask that water bottles not disrupt instruction. Thank you for your cooperation!

Tardy & Early Check-Out Reminder:

Being at school for the full day and arriving on time helps students stay engaged in learning. In alignment with our Student Handbook (viewable on the GMS website & link at the bottom of this newsletter), the accumulation of three or more unexcused tardies and/or unexcused early check-outs during a semester will result in consequences through our progressive discipline policy, beginning with lunch detention.

Thank you for helping your student arrive on time and remain at school through the end of the day.

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.

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.

Visit the GMS Athletics page on our school website for the most up-to-date athletic information. You'll find team contacts, required athletic forms, schedules, physical information, and other important announcements. We encourage families to check the page regularly throughout the school year for updates.

GMS Athletics: https://gms.gcschools.net/o/gms/page/athletics

1 ADULT – GENERAL ADMISSION TO ALL HOME GMS SPORTING EVENTS. THE PASS DOES NOT INCLUDE OFF-SITE SPORTING EVENTS OR TOURNAMENTS.

All purchased passes may be picked up from the GMS Main Office.

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. Apply now!

The Free & Reduced-Price Lunch Application for the 2026–2027 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

Please note: If your student qualified for free or reduced-price meals last school year, you must complete a new application for the 2026–2027 school year. Eligibility does not roll over from year to year — a current application must be submitted and processed for benefits to continue.

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!

Bus Transportation- If your student will be riding the bus, please verify transportation questions with our transportation department (423-525-4793). Additional information on the My Ride k-12 app can be found here: https://www4.gcschools.net/page/transportation

The online transportation change form should be the primary method used to submit any transportation changes for your student. All online requests must be submitted by noon on the day of the requested change to ensure we have time to make the necessary arrangements.

Mr. Knight, Putting First Things First, Mr. Knight took the time to explain why he loves teaching and Social Studies to his students. This meant a lot to my child and made her feel valued in his classroom! Thanks for sharing why you love what you do so it can inspire your students to love Social Studies too!

Mrs. Moore, Being Proactive, Mrs. Moore is doing a great job establishing routines and setting clear expectations for students as they walk to and from the library, reinforcing our schoolwide standards for appropriate hallway behavior.

Chris Reid, Thinking Win-Win, Chris does not have “no” in his vocabulary and is always willing to step in, find a solution, and do whatever it takes to set our students up for success.

Daniel Knight, Putting First Things First, Every day he stands at the door and greets each and every kid with a fist pump and a positive message. Makes me thankful he taught my own child and that I get to witness it every day.

Avery Davis, Synergizing, Avery has been amazing to plan with. He consistently brings new ideas and classroom management strategies to our planning sessions that have been helpful for me and have strengthened my own teaching practices.

Mrs. Smelcer, Thinking Win-Win, She goes above and beyond during lunch to make sure every student feels welcomed, included, and connected. Her caring presence helps make our cafeteria a place where students know they belong and no one feels left out.