GMS Family Newsletter

Dear Greene Devil Family,

As we pause for mid-winter break, we hope our students are enjoying the time to rest, recharge, and spend meaningful moments with family and friends. The energy across our building continues to reflect a strong commitment to learning and growth, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back ready to finish the season strong.

This week, our Greeneville City Schools Portrait of a Graduate pillar of focus is Empathetic. Empathy is the ability to recognize and understand the feelings of others and respond with care. We are encouraging students to pause, consider different perspectives, and choose words and actions that reflect compassion and respect in our classrooms, hallways, and activities.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. When school and home work together to reinforce character and accountability, our students thrive. We are proud of the culture we are building at Greeneville Middle School and look forward to another positive week ahead!

Learning, Leading, Lifting... #RISEasONE,

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

Monday, 2/16

• President's Day - No School

Tuesday, 2/17

• Professional Learning Day - No Students

Wednesday, 2/18

Thursday, 2/19

• Yearbook Pictures - Spring Sports / Clubs
• Final day of GMS Golf Tryouts - 3:15pm to 5:30pm - Link Hills CC

Friday, 2/20

Greeneville Middle School would like to inform students, staff, and families that an update has been made to our Responsible Use Policy regarding AI-enabled wearable devices.

AI-Enabled Wearable Devices

The use of AI-enabled wearable devices by students or staff, including but not limited to smart glasses (such as Ray-Ban Meta, Google Glass, or similar technologies), is prohibited during school hours on school property unless explicitly authorized by the district for instructional or documented medical purposes. These devices may not be used to record, photograph, livestream, analyze, or otherwise capture audio or video of students, staff, or school activities.

Unauthorized possession or use of such devices will be considered a violation of the Responsible Use Policy and may result in disciplinary action in accordance with district guidelines.

We are incredibly proud of our LEGO League Team, the Brick Breakers, for their outstanding performance this past weekend at the state competition. Their hard work, preparation, and teamwork were on full display as they represented Greeneville Middle School with excellence.

The team earned the Motivate Award at the FIRST LEGO League state competition. This award celebrates a team that embodies the spirit of the competition through exceptional enthusiasm, strong team spirit, and a deep commitment to collaboration and inclusivity. It recognizes teams that work remarkably well together while fostering a positive and supportive environment for all members.

Congratulations to the Brick Breakers for representing GMS so well. We are proud of the way they continue to learn, lead, and lift others through their example!

Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school!

It will be held in the library from 2/23 - 2/27, from 7:30 AM - 3 PM. We will also be open from 4-6 pm on that Friday before the dance. Parents and Guardians are welcome then!

The easiest way to let your child shop the Fair independently is by creating an eWallet. Visit our Book Fair website for more information:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/greenevillemiddleschool

Questions? Please contact Ms. Bond

We will have Spirit Days to celebrate the book fair. Anyone who participates in dress up days can enter a raffle for a grand prize! There will be a Book Fair prize for students and teachers. Visit the library each day to enter the raffle.

Each week, we will shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals who make Greeneville Middle School such a special place. Our "GMS Staff Highlight" section will feature staff members who go above and beyond in supporting our students, school community, and each other. Stay tuned to learn more about the passionate and dedicated team that helps make GMS thrive!

Our GMS Student Leadership Team has been hard at work leading a special Black History Month "Wall of Fame" project. During Devil Time this month, students across the school had the opportunity to participate by researching influential Black Americans and creating hand-made portraits and biographies to honor their impact and contributions.

This has been a meaningful way for students to learn, reflect, and celebrate the leaders who have shaped our history and continue to inspire the future. We are proud of the creativity, care, and effort our students put into this work and thankful to our Student Leadership Team for organizing and leading the project.

Rustin Jones, has been named the recipient of the 2026 TCSS Social Studies School Service Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award, presented by the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies.

Later this month, Mr. Jones will be traveling to Memphis to be honored at the TCSS State Social Studies Conference, where he will officially receive this award.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Jones on this outstanding accomplishment! We are proud to have him represent Greeneville Middle School!

We are proud to share that Harper Fox, 8th grade flute, represented the GMS Band this weekend at the ETSBOA Upper Area Junior Band Clinic. This is a wonderful accomplishment and a reflection of her dedication, talent, and hard work. We are proud of the way she represented Greeneville Middle School!

We would also like to extend a thank you to Mrs. Thomas, our GMS Band Director, for her commitment to our students and our music program. The time, encouragement, and high expectations she pours into our band students make opportunities like this possible, and we are grateful for the difference she makes each day!

Lifting is about the way our students rise to the occasion and elevate those around them. Throughout our classrooms, we are proud to see students fully engaged in their learning while setting positive examples for their peers. Whether it is staying focused, participating thoughtfully, or encouraging classmates, these students represent what we are all about at Greeneville Middle School. We also love seeing students take pride in our school by helping clean the cafeteria and other areas of the building. Their willingness to serve, lead by example, and care for our shared spaces reflects a culture of responsibility and respect. This is what it means to lift others up at GMS!

Greeneville Middle School Athletic Boosters are hosting a Semi-Formal Winter Dance on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 5:30–7:30 PM. This event is for GMS students only. The cost to attend is $5 per student, and concessions will be available for purchase throughout the evening.

We look forward to welcoming our students for an exciting night of music, fun, and school spirit while supporting our GMS Athletic Boosters!

Eighth Grade Parents and Students:
If your student is interested in pursuing a career in the medical field, he or she is encouraged to apply for the Devil Med program at Greeneville High School. Please note that enrollment in Devil Med is limited and based on an application process. Students accepted into the Devil Med program may have the opportunity to enroll in medical courses at GHS, attend camps and other related activities, graduate with LPN certification, and work at a Ballad Health facility while still in high school. In addition, students may be offered special opportunities to observe and volunteer at the local hospital and participate in the program as part of a cohort. The Devil Med program is funded through a grant from the Bloomberg Foundation.

A lunch meeting for interested students will be held on March 9th at Greeneville Middle School in the library. Parents are also invited to join an informational Zoom meeting on March 5th at 6:00 PM. Please use the link below to join the Zoom meeting.

Link to Zoom meeting: https://tinyurl.com/4xznssbw

Congratulations to Kelly Kerr for being selected as our Horace Mann Staff Member of the Month! Kelly received staff shout out for stepping in and covering classes when needed. We appreciate you, Kelly!

Anna Burge, Putting First Things First, Anna is always mindful of planning time and goes above and beyond to expedite IEP meetings when she is able to.

Tiffany Hooper, Being Proactive, Tiffany consistently takes initiative when supporting students. I truly value the daily assistance she provides in my classroom and the patience and care she shows toward each student.

Dr. Click, Seeking First to Understand Then to Be Understood, Dr. Click is always so kind and helpful. She notices when you’re having a bad day and cheers you up. She cares about every one of her students and is a great example.

RISE gives students additional time with teachers in a positive, encouraging environment that blends academic support with creativity, movement, and real world learning. Students may participate in Morning RISE, Afternoon RISE, or both programs, depending on their needs and schedule. Each option is designed to help students grow in confidence, build skills, and experience success. Best of all, the program is completely free for families.

Morning RISE begins at 6:45 am and supports students in building daily habits that lead to academic success. Students receive help with homework, missing assignments, organization, and checking PowerSchool so they can begin the school day focused and prepared.

Students may eat breakfast while working alongside teachers, making Morning RISE a calm, productive way to start the day. Students arriving between 6:45 and 7:00 am should be dropped off at the front of the building. Students arriving after 7:00 am should use the normal car line at the back of the building. To ensure students have time to get settled and begin working, they should plan to arrive before 7:10 am.

Afternoon RISE runs Monday through Thursday until 4:30 pm and offers much more than traditional tutoring. Students receive targeted support in ELA and Math, while also participating in hands on, creative lessons that make learning meaningful and fun.

This week, students measured ingredients to make playdough while learning about fractions and equivalent measures, worked together to solve a STEM engineering challenge using spaghetti and a marshmallow, and practiced personalized ELA and Math skills based on their individual needs. Students also exercised and stayed active through structured PE time, giving them opportunities to move, reset, and build healthy habits alongside their academic learning. These activities help students strengthen academic skills while also building teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking in a relaxed and supportive setting.

Afternoon RISE is a place where students feel encouraged, supported, and proud of their learning. Students stay active, engaged, and connected while building skills that transfer directly back into the classroom. The program runs Monday through Thursday until 4:30 pm, includes a daily snack, and provides bus transportation for students living in the GCS zone.

Camp NPAC Kids is a summer theatrical day camp for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Throughout the week, participants will sing, act, dance, design costumes, and help create set and prop pieces for a full week of fun!

GMS Families,

We want to keep our dismissal process safe and efficient for everyone. Local law enforcement has asked us to remind families that blocking the roadway during afternoon pickup is not permitted.

Officers have issued and will continue to issue tickets to motorists who stop in the road, especially before carline begins moving.

To help us keep dismissal running smoothly, please keep these reminders in mind:

• CarRider Pro will not start reading until 2:00 PM, and parents/guardians cannot begin lining up until 2:00 PM.

• Dismissal begins at 2:40 PM. Arriving too early causes traffic backups.

• Always have your car tag visible.

• Follow staff directions at all times during dismissal.

• Pull all the way forward when directed.

• If your student is delayed, please use the designated waiting area so traffic can continue to flow.

• Carline remains open until 3:10 PM, and there is often little to no wait toward the end of carline.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in making dismissal safe and efficient for everyone.

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. If you do not have a car rider tag, please park and come into the office after 3pm to sign-out your student. Thank you for you help as this helps us maintain a safe and efficient process so that all students get home safely.

Bus Transportation- Want to know exactly when the bus will pick-up or drop-off your child? It's easy using the My Ride k-12 App! Additional information on the My Ride k-12 app can be found here: https://www4.gcschools.net/page/transportation . If your student will be riding the bus please verify transportation questions with our transportation department (423-525-4793).

Please note, unexcused morning tardies count toward GCS truancy and GMS discipline and are cumulative for the entire school year. As outlined in the student handbook each combination of 3 unexcused morning tardies = 1 infraction on the progressive discipline policy (beginning at level 1). In addition, any combination of 5 unexcused morning tardies/early check-outs will result in one-full day unexcused absence toward truancy.

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.

There has been a lot of discussion on social media regarding school attendance and notes. 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.

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. Also, families must submit an application yearly. Apply now!

The Free & Reduced-Price Lunch Application for the 2025–2026 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

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!

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Technology is incorporated into the curriculum and is for student use under teacher supervision. Any destruction of the technology equipment or misuse of software or internet capabilities will result in strict disciplinary action. All families must sign and agree to the Responsible Use Policy before students will be permitted access to the internet at school. This policy is updated every year and includes detailed information about proper internet use and the care of student computers. This document is posted on the GMS website.