IMPORTANT INFORMATION
2023-2024 Online Course Request Directions
March 2, 3 and 4
Spring Play- Wendy’s Tale 7 p.m.
March 7 & 8
8th grade Writing SOL
March 1-17
Registration for Rising 7th & 8th graders
March 23
Rising 6th grade Parent Info Night 5:30 p.m.
March 29
8th grade SOL Field Test
23-24 MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE CHANGES
IMPORTANT-6th & 7th grade parents- PLEASE READ THE LETTER
The attached letter has important information regarding changes to the middle school instructional schedule for the 23-24 school year.
We will host a PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT for 6th and 7th grade families regarding the changes on Wednesday, March 1 from 6:30 p.m-7:30 p.m.
2023 ALL-VIRGINIA HONOR CHOIR
Gayle had six students selected for the 2023 All-Virginia Honor Choir and one alternate. Congratulations to our Chorus director, Ms. Rushmore, and the following students:
Pamela Alonso Montes de Oca (7th) - Treble Choir, Soprano 1, Malena Hopkins (6th) - Treble Choir, Alto 1, Emmeline Mautz (7th) - Treble Choir, Soprano 1, Ava Tilmann (7th) - Treble Choir, Alto 2, Freddi Chambers (8th) - Mixed Choir, Alto 2, Isabella Luman (8th) - Mixed Choir, Alto, and Ella Phillips (7th) - 2nd alternate, Treble Choir, Alto 1.
Panther PRIDE!
TRACK & SOFTBALL
Softball tryouts will be March 1-3. Girls and Boys Track tryouts will be March 20-22.
Track & Field student information meeting will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 21 during FLEX.
In order to try out, your student must have a current Virginia High School League sports physical VHSL Physical Form (this physical is different from the school physical) dated May 1, 2022, or later. The coach must have this form prior to tryouts in order to allow your student to participate in tryouts.
SCPS MIDDLE SCHOOL THEATER- IMPROVATHON
SCPS Middle School Theater will present an Improvathon-A Showcase of Middle School Humor on Friday, Feb. 24 at H.H. Poole M.S. at 7 p.m.
Tickets are by donation. See attached flyer for details.
SCPS SOCIAL STUDIES SHOWCASE
Stafford County Public Schools will host its third Social Studies Showcase on February 25 at Drew Middle School from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Awards will be given for the top three school projects and the top three National History Day projects at each level. The Stafford Museum and Cultural Center will also give a prize for the best project with a local history connection.
14 Gayle students have an exhibit which will include notable historical figures of Stafford County who broke barriers during their lifetimes, as well as other historical figures who helped to change the course of history. Gayle students created children's books to describe the impact each figure had on our world today. Students will donate a copy of their books to their elementary schools and the GMS Library.
The following students will be presenting the named historical figure: Aahana Joon (7)-Tinesha Allen, Anna Maxfield (7)-John Lee Pratt, Brianna Reifsteck (7) & Cadence Neal (6)-Margaret Brent, Gabriel Marsh (8)-Jeff Rouse, Leonardo Aguilar Lobo (6) & Tristan Uncle (6)-Jackie Robinson, Liam Jugi-Patel (6)- Wanita & Khan from victim witness, Logan Findeis (7)-Torrey Smith, Lyza Gambrah (6)-Barbara Johns, Megan Thompson (8)-Maggie L. Walker, Patrick Wilt (7)-Gari Melcher, Robert Pauley (8)-Jane Conners, and Sarah Halepaska (7)-Anthony Burns.
Other participants who will have an exhibit include:
Sophia Cook (8), Isra Zib (8) and Antonella Howells (8): Profile of Thailand
Elysabeth Tucker (7): Anthony Burns
Garrie Jenkins (7): Separation of North and South Korea
Jayda Warren (6): History of Hip Hop Dance
Jason Hostetter: History of Civics Education at the National, State & Local levels
“WENDY’S TALE”- SCHOOL PLAY MARCH 2-4
Please join us for the performance of “Wendy’s Tale” on March 2, 3 and/or 4 at 7 p.m. The price for admission is $3 for students and $5 for adults.
GMS SEAPERCH SPIRIT NIGHT @ FREDDY’S
GMS Seaperch will be holding a Spirit Night at Freddy's on Wednesday, 3/8 from 5 PM - 9 PM.
For in-person ordering please present the attached flyer or say “I’m here for the fundraiser” and for online or mobile app ordering, use the promo code “GIVEBACK” .
YEARBOOK SALES
Be sure to purchase your Gayle 22-23 full color yearbook before it is too late! Sales end soon!
Cash or check payments can be sent into the library with your student for the month of February (credit card payments are made through the website).
Checks can be made payable to GMS for $40. Please put checks or cash in an envelope with your student's name and Mrs. Wallace's name on it. Credit card payments can be made at yearbookorder.com using code 4858. Thank you for your continued support!
I’M DETERMINED
I'm Determined is a state-directed project that facilitates youth, especially those with disabilities, to undertake a measure of control in their lives, helping to set and steer their course rather than remaining the silent passenger. Join Stafford Schools for a day of I'm Determined activities including a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and community stakeholders to provide you with valuable information and resources. This event, on March 4 from 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m., is open to all students with disabilities who reside in Stafford County and their parents, guardians, caregivers, and families. Please reference the attached flyer to register for this event!
2023 - 2024 ONLINE COURSE REGISTRATION
Rising 7th and 8th grade course registration will take place March 1 - March 31, 2023.
Rising 6th grade registration will take place March 23 - April 7, 2023.
Parents will receive a letter, registration form, and directions to assist their students with online registration. After registering online, students should return a completed copy of their course registration form to their first block teacher.
SPRING BREAK MEAL KITS
The Stafford Schools Nutrition Department and Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank are partnering to provide Spring Break Meal Kits to families in need.
Distribution to families will be held on Friday, March 10 at Colonial Forge High School from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Families should use the traffic signal to enter the school. Distribution will be set up as a drive-thru located in the student parking lot. Volunteers will assist families to load their vehicles. More than 500 kits are available.
COMMON SENSE MEDIA FAMILY TIPS
Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Common sense media offers tips for starting the conversation regarding expectations for student behavior online. The attached tips will help your child become critical thinkers when it comes to understanding news media. Please consider reviewing the tips with your child.
Help Kids Spot Fake News and Decode Media Messages (English)
Help Kids Spot Fake News and Decode Media Messages (Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Russian, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese)
KIDS HEART CHALLENGE
Our Assistant Principal Mr. McElwee is challenging our students to join our school’s online Kids Heart Challenge team and take the online health challenge to Be Kind. An important part of the Kids Heart Challenge program focuses on a student’s mental and body well-being and encourages them to develop a lifetime of healthy habits now.
If Gayle mets Mr. McElwee’s challenge, the students will get to “SLIME” him! Last year Gayle was the top middle school raising $3,500!
The Challenge runs for the entire month of February, also American Heart Month.
Students will receive a wristband just for registering. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
SCPS ARTS FESTIVAL
SCPS will hold is annual Arts Festival on March 25 & 26 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Brooke Point High School. Gayle’s Jazz Ensemble will be performing on March 25 at 12:30 (Hawk’s Nest). See the flyer for more information.
GMS MURAL COMPETITION
Gayle is having a Mural competition using Interactive Mural Design Composition. The themes are “Optical Illusion” and “Panther Pride”. Submit your design to the Front Office no later than March 31. Please see the attached flyer for more specific information.
The winning design will go up on the wall!
BREAKFAST & LUNCH MENUS FOR FEBRUARY
PTA NEWS
The next PTA meeting will be *NEW DATE*: Thursday, February 23 at 7 p.m. in the Library.
If you would like to reach out to the PTA with questions, you may contact them directly at gmpta@staffordschools.net.
We would like to invite you to join Gayle’s 22-23 PTA. Please click on the following link to become a member - JOIN GAYLE'S PTA The cost to join is $3.75.
