MGMS Weekly Memo

What a week! This past week at The Gap has been FANTASTIC. Smiling teachers and cheerleaders greeted students in carline on Wednesday. Students received updated schedules, meet new teachers and friends, and danced as music filled the halls during transition from class to class. It feels great to have the kids back in the building!

Are you still trying to get the lay of the land at Mountain Gap. Check out the link below for some super helpful documents our PTA assembled. It includes traffic patterns, school maps, reminders about the Welcome Center, and much much more.

Now that we know all the logistics of school work, it is time to get to work. Students should have their computers and teachers have their courses set up in Canvas. Please take a moment to review the weekly memo for your child's grade-level to stay informed on what is happening in all their classes. SCROLL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM to find the grade-level memos.

Mountain Gap Middle School is streamlining our communication. No longer will you use GroupMe, Remind, Band, etc. All communication for clubs, groups, athletics and general school announcements will come through ParentSquare. Our teachers and coaches will start working to to get their groups going this week, so go ahead and download the app. Please have your child download it as well. With this app we can send students and parents the same reminders simultaneously. Check out the directions below to get started.

We will still send out this Smore newsletter with the grade-level newsletters weekly.

As you probably know, Mountain Gap Middle School operates under a house system. We use our house system throughout the year to build community and unite our students for a common purpose. We have four houses, but we are ONE GRIZZLY. Friday we had our House Sorting Extravaganza. Sixth grade students and all our new students were sorted into a houses. While all returning students to greeted their new house members with open arms and cheers! There is no better way to end he first week of school.

Check out this video from Friday. You can feel the energy!

Does your student want a locker? If so, you will need to send $5 with your student. We will sale lockers next week on Wednesday. Lockers are an excellent option to keep items, like cell phones and lunches, safe when they are not needed. Students may want to wait to bring ALL their supplies until they have been issued a locker.

Take time to practice with a combination lock before school starts. A little practice opening a combination lock will go a long way to helping ensure a smooth transition in middle school.

Everyone did a GREAT job during drop-off and pick-up. The carline was clear by 7:55 in the morning and dismissal was done by 3:25. Continue to pull all the way up and encouraging your students to get in or out of the car as soon as the car comes to a stop in the carline. Thank you for not letting students out on Mtn Gap Rd or in our parking lot. Doing so creates unsafe situations for our students.

Bus assignment information for the 2026-27 school year is available on the Powerschool Parent Portal for the primary custodial parents of students registered for bus transportation. Parents who have any questions about route placement should call the Transportation Call Center at 256-428-6911.

Check out our BSN spirit store. It is a great place to get some new MGMS gear. All gear will have the interlocking MG embroidered on it. The best part is all gear you order will be mailed to your home.

Click the flyer to be directed to the sign-up form.

All students at Mountain Gap Elementary & Middle School will receive free breakfast and lunch this year. A la cart items like chips and ice cream will be sold. You can add money to your child's lunch account on the EZ School Pay site if you would like for them to purchase a la cart items.

Are you plugged-in to what is happening in HCS? Huntsville City Schools sends out their own SMORE newsletter regularly. Next time you get the email from HCS Communications with The Progress Report, make sure and click the link. In this edition of the Progress Report you will find information about the following:

• New Calendar Survey SY2728 - NEW
• Updated Student Code of Conduct - NEW
• Bus Routes for SY2627
• HCS Calendar Dates for SY2627
• Hiring Opportunities
• District Celebrations, and much, much more

You can click the heading image in this story to be connected to the latest HCS newsletter.

We hope you will join us for Open House Tuesday, Aug 18th.

We are very fortunate to have pure teaching teams at The Gap. This means all students have the same teachers for their core subjects. For Open House the grade level team will do a group presentation for the parents. After the presentations from the core teachers, parents will then have time to visit the different elective teachers. This year we have also split our Open House with the MGES to better accommodate parents with students on both sides of the building. We hope to see you there!

There will be a general PTA meeting at 6:00. Grade-level presentations will begin right after the PTA meeting.

Have you joined PTA? - We want 100% membership for PTA. PTA membership is only $10. Below are just a few ways PTA has supported Mountain Gap.

• Welcome activities for sixth graders and kindergarten students
• Provides money to teachers for instructional and classroom purchases
• Provides money to teachers for professional development
• Funds teacher grants for special instructional projects
• Provides financial support to school clubs, groups, and extracurricular activities
• Provides much-appreciated hospitality for teachers and staff throughout the year.

PTA membership is only $10. Click here to visit the PTA Member Hub Store to pay your membership online.

Each week teachers will compile the information for their class into one grade-level memo. You will know what your child is studying, when homework is due and when they have tests and projects. Please check the grade-level memo each week. It is the best way to stay informed.

If you need to email the teacher for a class, just click their name. It is hyperlinked to their email.

Feel free to call the office at 256-428-7720 or email us your questions. We are happy to assist you.

Heather Bardwell, Principal - heather.bardwell@hsv-k12.org

Shana Folk, Assistant Principal - shana.folk@hsv-k12.org

Erica Formby, Counselor - erica.formby@hsv-k12.org

Jennifer McLaughlin, Office Manager - jennifer.mclaughlin@hsv-k12.org

Email: mtngapmiddleschool@gmail.com
Website: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/schools/mountain-gap-middle
Location: 821 Mtn Gap Rd Huntsville AL 35803
Phone: 256-428-7720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountaingapp8