Weekly Update - Middle School South
September 22, 2025
On Tuesday, 9/23, all of our students will have the opportunity to hear an inspiring message from Mr. Brad Hurtig.
About Brad Hurtig
Brad Hurtig was a student-athlete in a small town in Northwest Ohio. Just days after finishing his sophomore year of high school, a devastating accident resulted in the amputation of both of Brad’s hands.
Through hard work and determination, Brad soon rejoined his high school football team, participating in practices with his teammates to learn a new way to play the game. Brad’s tenacity and determination to overcome led to success. During his senior year, Brad led his team’s defense, recording 111 tackles and received all-state honors, all while playing with no hands.
Brad’s inspirational story of triumph quickly captured national headlines. And now, Brad is taking his life-changing message to students across the nation as a high school motivational speaker. His determination to overcome challenges has allowed for an extraordinary life shaped by his personal motto, “find a way.”
About Brad's Message
Brad’s school assembly theme is “Find A Way.®" It's all about handling adversity and focusing on solutions instead of problems. Brad’s message challenges audiences to consider the variety of ways to approach challenges and helps them recognize the power in their determination.
Brad's life-changing and unforgettable school assembly addresses themes like attitude, character, choices, and leadership.
Brad's powerful message applies to all students as they face the inevitable challenges of life. With witty and entertaining storytelling, his Find A Way® school assembly is the blueprint your students need to face fears, move forward, and overcome whatever challenges they face.
Throughout the year, we love to take our South students off campus to engage in learning experiences beyond the classroom.
This week for starters, our entire 6th Grade Class will be heading to Hannah Park for its annual Adventure Day!
These experiences cannot happen for students, however, if we do not have an Emergency Medical Authorization Form ("EMA Form") on file for your student.
If you have not completed your EMA for this year, please prioritize doing so!
Any 6th Grade student that does not have an EMA completed by next week will NOT be able to participate in Adventure Day on 9/25.
To access & complete this form, please go to your Parent Infinite Campus portal. Then, at the bottom of the menu on the left, click on "More," and from there, click on "Online Registration." That is where you'll find this form.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter!
Check Out our Weekly Career Spotlight!
Each week, we will highlight a different career each week on your child's Google Classroom. Students will also have the chance to request a career for us to post via google form, so our hope is to share all different kinds of careers.
We should all have a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C for our futures. We will be talking to you about some ideas. Don't forget... it is ok to grow and change your mind as new things interest you.
Big thanks to the student who suggested this week's career(s): Florists/Botanists
Click here to find more information on Florists! Florists design and arrange live, dried, or artificial flowers and foliage. They provide their work for weddings and other special occasions. The average yearly salary is $36,120. It is not required to go to college for this career, instead florists will take on training that can take up to a year to earn a certification. It is important to have knowledge of sales and marketing so some florists will get additional training, while some go to college for business degrees to assist them in opening their own stores.
If you like plants AND science, then botany is for you! Botanists study plant life and can work anywhere from laboratories to botanical gardens where they research plant health and develop new plant varieties. Click here and here to learn more!
Between these times, although the bus loop might appear clear of bus traffic, our buses are regularly arriving in waves (this includes late buses and shuttle buses bringing our South students back from programs in other buildings). Any vehicles parked in the loop, even if only briefly, can become disruptive to the effective flow of bus traffic.
Between 8:35AM and 9:35AM, please always respect the traffic pattern prescribed in the map below.
Thank you for your assistance in this!
It's hard to believe, but Basketball Season (and tryouts!) are right around the corner!
If your students are interested in trying out for Basketball, please make sure they're prepared by being sure they're signed up in FINAL FORMS and that they're keeping an eye on the Roar Report, my newsletters, and further in-house communication regarding Open Gyms, tryouts, and practices!
Through our partnership with GRIN (Gahanna Residents in Need), we are happy to be able to offer supplemental food for families need over the weekends.
Click on the link below if your student and your family could benefit from some supplemental provisions, and we'll be in touch soon with what we're able to offer and how we can get these provisions to you!
Supporting one another is just what we do!
We will hold THREE Family Conference nights between this week and next. This is a chance for your family to come in and have a more in-depth & individualized conversation about your student and their progress in class so far.
Family Conference Nights will be on September 23, September 25, and October 1, from 4:00P - 8:00P.
Only a legal parent/ guardian of a student can dismiss a student from school. Siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or other non-guardians, including step-parents who aren't designated as a "guardian" in Infinite Campus, cannot request dismissal. If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking your student up, you must include this information in your note/message/phone call.
When you arrive to pick your student up from school, please report to the main office to sign your student out. You must present an ID for verification. Then, your student will be called down to the office for dismissal.
No student will be released from the building and to a vehicle without being accompanied by the adult who is picking up the student.
Thank you for your understanding and support in the need to ensure the safety of all of our students.
Sometimes, it's necessary for a student to ride home on a different bus with another student. This could be for any number of reasons.
Please remember the three necessary components for this to happen:
(1) A signed note from a legal guardian of the student who is changing buses. This note should include the name of the student as well as the name & bus number of the student whom your child will be going home with.
(2) A signed note from a legal guardian of the family "receiving" the student. If Person A is requesting to go home on the bus with Person B, Person's B's legal guardian also has to provide a note acknowledging the request.
(3) Administrative approval & signature.
Again, this is fundamentally a question of student safety, and we appreciate your partnership in this endeavor!
The use of personal technology, including cell phones, smart watches, and headphones/earbuds is severely restricted at all middle schools.
While these items are permitted to be at school, but they must remain powered off and put away at all times during the day. This includes in class, at lunch/recess, and in the hallways.
Headphones/earbuds may not be worn in the hallway. If a teacher has instructed a student in 6th or 7th Grade to bring headphones to class for an activity, students must CARRY their headphones to the class. 8th Graders must keep their headphones/earbuds in their backpack at all times while in the hallways as well as during class unless explicitly directed by a teacher to use them for an activity.
Students are permitted to use cell phones while riding the bus.
Smart watches are also permitted, but should only be used as a clock while at school.
Students are not permitted to send or receive text messages or calls on cell phones or smart watches during the day. Additionally, photos may not be taken with cell phones or smart watches at school. On state testing days, smart watches are not permitted to be worn.
Infractions may result in a student’s device being taken by building staff and kept in the office until the end of the day. Multiple infractions of these policies will result in the parent/guardian of the student having to come retrieve the device in the main office as well as progressive discipline for the student.
If a parent/guardian needs to reach their student during the school day, they should call the school office.
The school is not responsible for cell phones or smart watches that are lost, stolen, or damaged.
The Fall is a huge time for Lions Athletics! Here's what our athletes are up to this week... Come cheer them on with us!
GIRLS' GOLF
9/23 - Away v. New Albany MS (played at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course) - 4:00PM
9/25 - Home v. Granville MS (played at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course) - 5:30PM
GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL
9/22 - Home v. Newark Wilson MS - 5:30PM (7th); 6:45PM (8th)
9/23 - Away @ Gahanna Middle School West - 5:30PM (7th); 6:45PM (8th)
9/25 - Home v. Gahanna Middle School East - 5:30PM (7th); 6:45PM (8th)
GIRLS' TENNIS
9/25 -- Away @ Hilliard Heritage MS - 5:30PM
9/26 -- Home v. Reynoldsburg (played at Blacklick Athletic Complex) -- 5:30PM
CROSS COUNTRY
9/23 -- Away @ Big Walnut MS Tri-Meet -- 5:30PM
8th GRADE FOOTBALL
9/25 -- Home v. Newark Liberty MS (played at GMSW) -- 5:30PM
7th GRADE FOOTBALL
9/24-- Away @ Newark Liberty MS -- 5:30PM
Mark your calendar for the following dates...
Tuesday, September 23: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)
Thursday, September 25: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)
Wednesday, October 1: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)
Thursday, October 2: Teacher Professional Development Day -- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Friday, October 3: Conference Compensation Day -- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS OR STAFF
