Gator News – Your Trusted Source

Uniform Donations Needed

Please donate gently used school pants and uniform shirts that your student has outgrown to help other students! We especially need sweatshirts and adult mens pants at this time. Thank you.

THREE of our very own SENIOR Gators got into some pretty awesome schools!!!

Angela Koenig - Accepted to SCAD (Savannah School of Art & Design) with $12,000+/year scholarship

Kierra Keightley - Accepted to SAIC (The School of the Art Institute of Chicago) with $20,000+/year scholarship

Ruth Krownapple - Accepted to Belmont University in Nashville to major in Music

When you see them, wish them a very big congratulations!!

Congratulations are in order for our very own gator, Ali Alwafi (Wafi) Khumaini , who has been accepted to New York University (NYU) through Early Decision!

What an incredible milestone, Wafi! We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see all that you will accomplish next.

Just a little something to show our counselors they are truly loved & valued here at GSA 💙🐊

We are so excited to finally have a school library space for our students! This long-awaited addition creates a welcoming environment for learning, creativity, and exploration. Thanks Mr. Morrow!!!

Our library is more than just a place to check out books. It’s a space where students can read, research, study, collaborate on projects, or simply enjoy a quiet moment during the school day. With a growing collection of fiction, nonfiction, and academic resources, the library supports both classroom learning and a love of reading.

We’re also proud to share that Mrs. McCann has created a library app, making it even easier for students to explore books and access resources right from their devices.

A special thank you to Mrs. Bland for helping decorate the space and bring it to life. Her thoughtful touches have helped make the library warm and inviting for all.

We can’t wait to see our students take full advantage of this exciting new space!

Our Annual Awards Breakfast was a wonderful celebration of achievement and excellence! We proudly recognized students who met high standards during first semester, including earning a 3.0 GPA or higher, maintaining at least 90% attendance, and demonstrating positive behavior with no ISS, OSS, or detentions.

This event highlights the dedication, discipline, and perseverance our students bring to school each day. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the example they set for our school community.

Take a look at the photos below as we celebrate this special morning of recognition and success!

This Thursday, 2/19, our seniors will be taking the spring Accuplacer, a placement test used by many colleges to determine readiness for college-level math and English courses.

Tips for Students:

• Get a good night’s sleep before testing.

• Eat a balanced breakfast.

• Review basic math concepts (fractions, algebra, word problems) and grammar rules.

• Take your time to read each question carefully.

• Use scratch paper wisely and double-check your answers if time allows.

Tips for Parents/Guardians:

• Encourage your student to prepare and take the test seriously.

• Help create a quiet study space leading up to testing.

• Remind them that this test helps set them up for college success — it’s an opportunity.

🏆💙🐊

Freshman Olympics 2026 is officially underway! Students have already kicked things off with Olympic Trials, creative flag and country design, and an exciting 7th Period Talent Show that showcased some incredible freshman talent.

Our Opening Ceremony takes place tomorrow, where teams will officially be introduced and the competition spirit will be in full swing. The celebration will continue at our Winter Assembly on 2/25, where we’ll highlight participants and build even more school spirit.

Be sure to check out the full schedule of events below!!!

Ms. Neudorf's anatomy class dissected sheep brains during our unit on the nervous system.

Ms. Bromberg's science class learned fiber identification by burning various fabrics.

10 of our GSA musicians attended the E. Des Lee Honors Music Festival at UMSL. They participated in workshops with esteemed conductors, Twinda Murray and Dr. David Wacyk.

The event culminated with amazing performances in the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Our musicians were:

Collin Heller, Assistant Concertmaster

Jared Bender, 3rd chair, 1st violin

Rukiye Gungor, principal 2nd violin

Kusum Basnet, 2nd violin

Garrett McElroy, viola

Mahima Ghalay, viola

Afra Karatas, principal cello with solos

Dylan Tucker, trumpet

Trevor Hurd, with bongo solos

Sydney Kuhnert with crash cymbol solos

Check them out below!

The boys & Girls Club is offering both classroom instruction for the permit test as well as 3 behind the wheel driving lessons for kids who already have their permits.

students are required to be registered with the Boys & Girls Club ($25 fee) but for students already a part of the club it is free.

Looking for a fun, flexible part-time job? The local soccer stadium is now hiring for Guest Services positions! This is a great opportunity to earn extra income while gaining customer service experience in an exciting, fast-paced environment. Ideal for students and community members who enjoy working with people and being part of live sporting events.

Click Here to Apply ⚽

St. Louis Public Library (SLPL) has several volunteer opportunities coming up for teens. Here is the link to the current opportunities. If you know any students interested they can register to attend through this google form.

📝Quick Note

St.Louis has seen an increasing number of cases of flu and respiratory illness in the past month. This is a challenging time of year, and I appreciate your help to keep our students and staff healthy! Please refer to the guidelines below if your child is not feeling well.

Students who exhibit symptoms such as fever greater than 100.4F, persistent cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, or general illness should remain at home until they are well enough to participate fully in school activities.

COVID-19 Considerations
Students who test positive for COVID-19 should remain home while they are acutely ill. They may return to school once:

- They have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and
- Their symptoms have significantly improved, allowing them to participate in normal school activities.

Upon return, it is strongly recommended that students wear a well-fitting mask for several days (at least 5 days) to reduce the risk of transmission, particularly if coughing or nasal congestion persists. Masks are available in the front office and nurse office.

Other Respiratory Illnesses (Flu, RSV, etc.)
The same return-to-school principles apply to other respiratory illnesses. Students should remain home until fever-free for 24 hours without medication and symptoms are improving.

Vision Screening coming to GSA!

Kids Vision for Life is coming to GSA in late January to conduct vision screenings. All students in grades 9 and 11 will have their vision screened. If you do NOT want your child screened, call or email the school nurse at nursefyler@gsastl.org.

If your child is in 10th or 12th grades and you would also like their vision screened, or they need new glasses because they have lost or broken theirs, then please call or email the school nurse.

If your child does not pass his/her vision screening, they qualify to receive an eye exam from a Kids Vision for Life St. Louis licensed optometrist and a pair of prescription glasses at no cost. You will be notified if your child does not pass their vision screening to complete a consent form for the eye exam.

At GSA, we are proud to call the YMCA our partners in expanding opportunities for students and families. The Y plays an essential role in strengthening our schools—from sponsoring underwater robotics programs in our elementary and middle schools to collaborating with us to secure the Mobile Y for the Gateway Region, which our students and families now enjoy through a variety of after-school activities.

Many of our students rely on the Y as a safe, welcoming place to go after school, and this partnership continues to open doors for incredible experiences. A GSA High School student represented both our school and our local YMCA at the International Leadership Conference in Colombia, showcasing the leadership potential within our district.

The YMCA also invests in our educators—providing professional development opportunities—and works alongside us to co-host family events that bring our community together.

By contributing to the YMCA’s annual fundraising campaign, you are investing directly in our students, our families, and the strength of our community. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful difference.

Thank you for supporting a partnership that helps our students thrive. We are proud to call the YMCA our partners! You can donate easily at the following link-

Here

Dear GSA High School Students and Families,

Spring Sports Registration is now open, and we’re excited for another season of growth, competition, and Gator pride.

High School Spring Sports Offered:

• Baseball

• Boys Volleyball (JV & Varsity)

• Girls Soccer

• Track & Field

All students must register through FinalForms at:
https://gateway-mo.finalforms.com/

Once registered on FinalForms, sport-specific communication (tryouts, schedules, and team updates) will be sent directly from coaches through FinalForms. Please make sure your contact information is accurate and that you regularly check emails connected to FinalForms.

***Please note that registering does not guarantee a spot on a team. Each sport will hold tryouts to determine final rosters.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in spring sports tryouts, students must:

• Have a current sports physical on file and all forms completed in FinalForms prior to tryouts.

• Provide a copy of first-semester grades.

• Students with any failing grade from first semester are NOT eligible to try out for spring sports during second semester.

Athletic Fee

The High School Athletic Fee is $75 for the spring season. Payment details will be shared after team placement.

We’re proud to share that GSA now has a workout room on campus serving our student-athletes. This and many other athletic improvements are possible because of your continued support.

Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to purchase essential tools for our programs, including:

• Dr. Dish Basketball Shooting Machine

• Volleyball Spike Machine

• Additional weights and equipment for the weight room

• We were able to host clinics

• And more resources that directly support student-athlete development

Families can support GSA Athletics in multiple ways:

• Donate directly: https://omella.com/flrgc

• Shop the GSA Merch Store, including retired jerseys, with proceeds supporting the athletic department:
  https://omella.com/7gxza

Thank you for investing in our student-athletes and helping us continue to build a strong, sustainable athletic program.

We look forward to another great spring season as we continue building a culture of accountability, effort, and excellence—on and off the field.

Go Gators
GSA Athletics Department

Important Links

Athletics Website | Access/ Register on FinalForms | GSA FanStore | Download Sports Physical

Follow us on Social Media

GSA Athletics on Twitter | GSA Athletics on Instagram | GSA Gator Athletics on Facebook

Love gaming? Ready to compete and connect? The upcoming Spring Season of Esports is your chance to team up, level up your skills, and represent your school in organized competitive gaming. Build teamwork, strategy, and bragging rights — all while having fun. All skill levels welcome!

Click the controller below for more information.

🐊💙 Welcome to the GSA Athletics Merch Store!

We’re adding retired Gators jerseys to the shop—your chance to own a piece of GSA history. These authentic jerseys have been worn in competition and are now available for fans, alumni, and families to take home.

Every purchase supports new jerseys, warmups, and equipment for our current athletes, helping us keep GSA teams strong and game-ready.

🛒 Shop now or make a direct donation to back our Gators: GSA Merch Store

2025-2026 PTO Meeting Schedule

December 16: Board meeting @ Middle School

January 27: General meeting @ Middle School

February 24: Board meeting @ High School

March 24: Board meeting @ High School

April 28: General meeting & Elections @ Middle School

May 14: Board meeting @ High School

PTO Website

hs.gsastl.org/pto

Please join the PTO Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/GSAMiddleSchoolPTO

Hello GSA Families,

We’re excited to begin preparations for the 2026 GSA PTO Mouse Races, our largest PTO fundraising event of the year, supporting both GSA Middle and High School students.

Each grade level has a grade-specific fundraising letter with details on:

• The Mouse Races event

• Class basket donations

• How families can help secure business sponsors

Click below to open the documents and see detailed information for each class and representatives.

Mouse Race Sponsor Letter

Mouse Race Flyer

Business Sponsorship Spreadsheet: (If you speak with a business representative, please note it on the spreadsheet.)

Class of 2026 : STL Home Town Basket

Class of 2027: Spa Day Basket

Class of 2028: BBQ and Outdoors Basket

Class of 2029: Pet Lovers Basket

Class of 2030: Gift Card Tree

Class of 2031: Game Night Basket

Class of 2032: Movie Night Basket

Looking for ways to connect, give back, and help shape the future of our community? Join one of our local neighborhood associations!

• Southwest Gardens Neighborhood Association – Build friendships and support neighborhood projects.

• Northampton Neighborhood Association – Share your voice and stay informed about community updates.

• The Hill Neighborhood Association – Celebrate culture and help plan fun neighborhood events.

• South Hampton Neighborhood Association – Work together to keep South Hampton vibrant and welcoming.

Whether you attend a meeting, volunteer at an event, or simply stay informed, your participation strengthens the GSA community and the neighborhoods we call home.

The next SWGNA General Membership Meeting is

Monday, January 26, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Matt Devoti: devotim@stlouis-mo.gov

Thora Pearson: pearsontho@stlouis-mo.gov