Gahanna Middle School South

I hope you all were able to have a restful weekend!

Not too many new items to share with you this week, but please, do take a moment to review the reminders below, and if you have any questions at all, never hesitate to reach out!

In partnership,

Kris Fuller

MSS Principal

Overall, the traffic has been flowing pretty well in the morning, and I want to sincerely thank you for your support in that!

Please be reminded, though, that the drop-off loop is NOT intended for parking and waiting. If you wish to wait with your child for the doors to open, please find a parking spot, and then enter the drop-off loop when your child is ready to exit the vehicle.

Generally speaking, "airport rules" apply to the drop-off loop --- active unloading only!

I would also ask that you pull as far up to the front of the loop as possible, just to ensure maximum capacity of vehicles at the sidewalk.

Thank you so much for your continued attention to and assistance with this matter!

Here at South, we are incredibly fortunate to benefit from a strong Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) that helps fund and support so many student-centered teacher initiatives and programs. The best part about our PTO is that there's always room for more support!

Please consider joining us for our first PTO Meeting of the Year -- this Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 6:00PM in the Middle School South Library!

Theme: Navigating & Making the Most of Middle School - We will have three guest teachers on hand to share the ins & outs of the different grade levels. After very brief remarks from each teacher, there will be the opportunity for some Q&A in order to help you best support your child on this journey!

Can't attend in person? No problem! Click on the link below to join us virtually!

1. Go to: https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards

2. Sign into your digital account (or create one & link your Kroger Plus Card!)

3. Go to My Account

4. Click and Scroll Down to Community Rewards

5. Search for Gahanna Middle School South (NPO# RN624)
6. Click Enroll or Save

Follow the QR Code or click on the website below to get yourself some exclusive South spirit gear!

Consider joining the Gahanna Middle School Robotics Team! For more information and to apply for this team, click on the link below!

Fun Fridays at GMSS

The last day of quarters 1-3 at GMSS will be Fun Fridays during Related Arts time. We bring all of the related arts classes together so students can be with their friends and choose an activity. Some of the choices have been to go outside for an extended recess, to play an organized game in the gym, to play board games or do crafts in the cafeteria, and to use art materials in the art room. Students must qualify for Fun Friday, and those who do not will have a reflection to complete instead. Attached you will see the details for each Related Arts class, along with a copy of the reflection sheet. Please contact your child's related arts teacher with questions or concerns.

Families can now view student assessment results in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. The Assessments section provides a convenient snapshot of results from national (SAT/ACT/AP), state (OST/OELPA/AASCD), and local (NWEA MAP/Acadience) assessments, helping you better understand and monitor your student’s academic progress. If you have questions about specific results, please contact your student’s teacher or building principal.

To access the Assessments section:

1. Login to the Parent Portal

2. Choose a Student

3. Select the Menu icon at the top of the page (three lines on the top, left side)

4. Select “More”

5. Select “Assessments”

Each year, it is our profound honor to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of our Veterans as we join the District in celebrating Veterans' Day.

Middle School South's Veterans' Day Ceremonies will take place on actual Veterans' Day, Wednesday, November 11th.

We will share more details as we get closer, but this event usually starts at around 9:30AM.

I wanted to get this date out to you as soon as possible so that you might join us on that special morning!

While families and staff were away on Summer Break, the work here at South did not take a break! As you know, our Middle School South community is growing, and so we've updating our facilities to match!

Completed this summer were the Phase 1 projects of:

1/ CAFETERIA EXPANSION -- making our dining space just a little bit larger to be able to accommodate an additional 50 students per lunch session!

2/ NEW GYM FLOOR -- replacing our original gymnasium floor with a new, modern floor that is smoother (and ultimately safer) and much more sleek! This new floor was accompanied with new basketball hoops and new guardrails on our bleachers.

3/ STAGING FOR PHASE 2 -- preparing our external spaces for the yearlong project of adding 4 new classrooms to Middle School South.

Check out the photos below to see these projects take shape!

Typically, buses begin arriving at MSS at around 8:30AM.

STUDENTS WHO WISH TO EAT A SCHOOL BREAKFAST are permitted to enter the building at 8:40AM. Our rule is that you "must have a tray to stay!" Students eating breakfast must remain in the cafeteria until 8:50AM. Those eating breakfast are not allowed to invite friends into the building with them to "hang out" during breakfast; every student in the building from 8:40AM - 8:50AM must be eating breakfast.

ALL OTHER STUDENTS are permitted to enter the building at 8:50AM.

Students will be directed to make their way to their classrooms at around 8:57AM, and all students are expected to be in their WIN classroom by 9:00AM.

Only 7th & 8th Graders are able to participate in middle-school athletics. The above handbook applies specifically to those student athletes.

Please note: the is the same bell schedule as the 2025-2026 school year.

The bell schedule above reflects an exciting change for our District that began last year: all three Middle Schools -- South, East, and West -- transitioned to a common bell schedule in order to align instructional practices and student experiences across the District.

"WIN" -- "What I Need":

All students have a WIN Block build into their day. WIN is a structured period where students will work individually to enrich or reinforce current content, and staff can work with students individually or in small groups to:

• offer targeted interventions based on MAP and OST assessment data
• enrich current content
• support executive functioning skills (organization, time management, etc.)
• provide specially designed instruction for students with specific learning needs

The WIN Block ensures that all students receive the personalized academic support and enrichment they need without missing core instruction.

8TH GRADE ROTATION PERIOD:

In 6th and 7th grade, students have blocked ELA and Math classes, meaning each subject spans two class periods. However, in 8th grade, students no longer have these blocked classes due to the addition of a world-language course as a daily part of their schedule. With ELA and Math returning to a single-period format, ROTATION was created to allow for additional flexibility in the day.

Rotation gives core content teachers an opportunity to meet with students one additional time each week.

Rotation is a flexible period used to:

• reinforce or extend classroom content
• conduct lab work or small-group collaboration
• dive into problem-based or project-based learning
• adapt instruction based on student needs and interests for the specific class

At Middle School South, Rotation takes place during 7th Period each day, following this weekly schedule:

Monday -- students see their 2nd or 3rd Period academic teacher (whichever is NOT a Related Arts period)

Tuesday -- students see their 4th Period teacher

Wednesday -- students see their 5th Period teacher

Thursday -- students see their 8th Period teacher

Friday -- students see their 9th Period teacher

This change was made through a thoughtful and collaborative process that included Building Principals, Curriculum Directors, Instructional Coaches, Team Leaders, and Staff.

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.

Thursday, September 3: First PTO Meeting of the year (6:00PM, MSS Library)

Monday, September 7: NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

Wednesday, September 23: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)

Tuesday, September 29: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)

Thursday, October 1: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)

2026-2027 GAHANNA JEFFERSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CALENDAR

In addition to the "Important Dates" listed above and in addition to the GJPS District Calendar linked above, I have also created an in-house Middle School South Month(s)/Year at a Glance for easy editing and consultation by you.

This "Month(s) at a Glance" is a very fluid document. Right now, the document is rather barebones, but as the year evolves, I will regularly update this document with things like Field Trips, Spirit Weeks, sporting events, concerts, adjusted schedules, and the like. Stay tuned to this document as another organizational tool!

Kris Fuller -- Princpal (fullerk@gjps.org)

Andy Bonath -- Assistant Principal (bonatha@gjps.org)

Debbie Hensler -- Secretary (henslerd@gjps.org)

Nikki Gervais - Attendance/Records (gervaisn@gjps.org)

Ashley Artis - School Counselors, last names beginning with A - K (artisa@gjps.org)

JJ Lubinski - School Counselors, last names beginning with L-Z (lubinskij@gjps.org)