Didn’t get tickets to graduation? Join us to celebrate the Class of 2023 via livestream. Both ceremonies (GOAL and Houston High) will be broadcast. Parents of the Class of 2023 are still seeking adult volunteers for Project Graduation. Sign up here.

Houston High School Graduation: Friday, May 12 at 7pm: Livestream Link

Germantown Online Academy of Learning, Thursday, May 18 at 6:30pm: Livestream Link

As begin to close out the school year, There are several end of year music concerts happening this week. Please check the schedule and make time for these wonderful, culminating performances.

9th @ Germantown Performing Arts Center - 7:00 PM - The Houston High Band Concert ($10)

10th @ Germantown Performing Arts Center - 5:00 PM - Riverdale 5th-8th and Farmington String Orchestras Concert

10th @ Germantown Performing Arts Center - 5:00 & 7:00 PM - Forest Hill, Dogwood, Houston Middle and Houston High String Orchestras Concert

11th @ Houston High Auditorium - 6:30 PM - The Riverdale Choir Concert

11th @ Forest Hill Elementary School - Year End Pops Concert

16th @ Germantown Performing Arts Center - 5:30 PM - Riverdale Band Concert

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

The 2023 Marjorie Riepe Memorial Teacher of the Year award was presented to Ellen Moak, a kindergarten teacher at Dogwood Elementary School. Parents and peers describe Mrs. Moak as passionate, nurturing, knowledgeable, attentive and determined. Most importantly, she is committed to helping her students learn at their own paces and makes sure they reach their full potential. In her classroom, she wants each of her students to build confidence, fall in love with learning and always work towards their goals. One parent writes "She consistently displays the desire to clearly inspire each of her students to learn, and her positivity makes a visit to her classroom energizing.”

A parent writes "My son comes home from school with stories about how she teaches him new concepts in a fun way, and that speaks values about her capacity to make learning fun." Along these lines, many parents wrote nomination letters about how Mrs. Moak goes the extra mile to keep them in the loop on their children's progress and offer encouragement and advice in areas where their kids might need some extra help.

Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Moak keeps up with her students and their accomplishments and stays involved in their lives. She has spent countless hours volunteering for countless PTO events. She has helped plan many school functions and also has given multiple tours to new parents. She also serves as a Mentor Teacher for the University of Memphis.

When asked about the future of education, Mrs. Moak said “Education is ever changing, yet at its heart is still about connecting with students and finding ways to support their learning.”

The Education Celebration is the culmination of the Education Commission’s work which includes selecting monthly teacher and student award winners and the Battle of the Brains competition.

As a culminating capstone to their journey, the Year Five Blue Chip Teachers undertook a research of passion project, which they presented to a panel of cabinet members, principals, and school board representatives. The panel was impressed by the innovative ideas that each teacher brought to the table, and they saw the passion and dedication.

Each teacher's project was unique and tailored to their individual interests and strengths. Some teachers focused on helping students discover their ability to take AP courses, while others focused on developing calm-down spaces to support student wellbeing. Still, others focused on developing innovative teaching methods that cater to diverse learning styles.

They showcased their research, shared their experiences, and discussed the impact their projects had on their students, colleagues, and the wider school community. The teachers also discussed the challenges they faced during the project and how they overcame them, demonstrating resilience and determination.

Congratulations to the following Blue Chips:

Andrea Adair, Dogwood Elementary School, Physical Activity in the Elementary Classroom

Kimber Howard, Forest Hill Elementary School, Elementary Co-Teaching

Diana Lang, Houston Middle School, You Need to Calm Down: An Emotional Regulation Program for Middle School

Amanda Lewis, Forest Hill Elementary School, Bringing History to Life: A Living History Museum

Karen Teel, Dogwood Elementary School, Parent Clarity Resources for Gifted Processes & Programming

Nicole Chrestman, Houston High School, Explore your "AP Potential"

Memory Schwartz, District Office, Grading to Services

Ginny Coltharp, Houston High School, Outdoor Seating for All

Jessa Gillaspie, District Offce, RTIb at HMS

Brian Haynes, Houston Middle School, HMS Leads

Nelson Shirley, Houston High School, The Effects of Students Taking High School Math in Middle School

As we continue to get closer to graduation we are happy to share more scholarship success with you this week. Congratulations to Anna Wright for being awarded the 2023 Traverse Scholarship. John Traverse was an exceptional and innovative teacher who was instrumental in bringing the AP Capstone program and other AP courses to Houston High School. Mr. Traverse challenged and motivated his students in AP Seminar, AP Literature, and AP Language. He was well respected and loved by his students and colleagues. John passed away in December of 2020, and his widow, Kathy, established a scholarship in his name to recognize outstanding students who have excelled in the Capstone program and in the AP English courses that were so dear to his heart.

Anna Wright is this year's John Traverse Scholarship recipient. Anna is a wonderful student who has shown academic and personal excellence in her time at Houston High. She was thrilled and honored to receive the Traverse Scholarship. Anna plans to attend Rhodes College.

Congratulations to Elijah Sanders who recently received a full ROTC scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Martin.

We also have been informed that two of our students have been named semifinalists in the Presidential Scholarship competition. Nationwide, there are only 600 students who achieve this status. Congratulations to Logan Wu and Sydney Kong. Last but not least, we’ve got another Mustang who’s been selected to the Haslam Scholars Program. Congratulations to Jack Umsted.

GMSD is excited to announce that applications are now open for its student positions for the 2023-2024 school year. We are seeking talented and motivated students to join our teams of communications interns, GMSD Ambassadors, and Germantown Board of Education Student Board Representative. These positions are open to seniors and juniors attending Houston High School or GOAL.

The Communications Internship(s) is a paid opportunity with the possibility of dual enrollment credit. We are looking for students who have an interest in business marketing, communications, social media management, broadcast/print journalism, photography, filmmaking, or graphic design.

Our GMSD Ambassador Team is a volunteer position made up of high school seniors and juniors who represent the district at social, business, and political functions. The team will meet to get to know each other, sharpen their business networking skills, and proudly wear the GMSD ambassador blazers.

Finally, we are searching for our next Germantown Board of Education Student Board Representative. This student will serve in the coming school year as the voice of the student body on the Board of Education.

Students can apply for all three positions at the same time, but must submit a resume for consideration. We encourage all interested students to apply and look forward to welcoming our new team members!

Check out these incredibly clever Teacher Appreciation posts by Houston Middle School! And, it's never too late to send a GMSD Gratitude Gram to let the teachers and staff know that you are thinking about them: GMSD Gratitude Gram.

Spring sports are winding down, but the postseason is here! Boys Varsity soccer begins their postseason tomorrow night against Collierville away at 7:00pm. Softball is celebrating two victories this past week against Southwind and Millington, both games played on their new field!

Congratulations to the Houston High School Girls Tennis, who earned the title of District Champions over the weekend.

Our Elementary and Middle school students had some special visitors this week with players from both the Houston Gamblers and the Memphis Showboats coming to their recess on Monday. Students from Riverdale, Houston Middle, Farmington, and Forest Hill were so excited to get to know these athletes. And don’t forget, GMSD Showboats game day is May 20th, so be sure to buy your discounted tickets!

Don't miss your chance to come out and see these athletes in action! Have you downloaded our Houston Athletics App? GMSD is excited to announce that middle school feeder programs are also now on the app!

Information about the listed tryouts, required paperwork, and athletic camp registrations can be found on thehoustonathletics.com. Select what sport you are interested in, and the information for tryouts and camps will be listed in the Links, Forms, and Announcements sections.

Houston Middle School Cheer is planning a celebration for Betsy Spurlock and her incredible work for this program. Mrs. Spurlock has been the HMS cheer sponsor for 25 years. Join the HMS cheer family on May 18th from 5-7pm at the Houston Middle School new gym for a reception honoring Betsy Spurlock and her devotion to the World Champion cheer team!

As summer approaches, GMSD is gearing up to host some amazing summer camps! Over at Houston Middle, volleyball camp registration is open! This camp is for grades 4th-8th is June 6-8 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Scan the QR code above or click here to register.

Houston’s boys and girls varsity basketball teams will be hosting camps June 19-22 from 9am-12pm, and they are open to 1st-8th graders. The boys camp will take place in the Houston High School gym, and the girls camp will be over at the Houston Middle School gym. Click here to register for the boys' camp. Click here to register for the girls' camp.

Soccer Camp will be held June 5-9 from 8:30am-12:00pm, and it is open to boys and girls ages 4-13. Camp will be at the Mustang Soccer Complex at Houston Middle School. Come learn from the State Champion Houston High School coaches! Scan the QR code above or click here to register.

Football Camp will be June 20-22 from 9:00am-12:00pm at the Houston High School Football Field. Camp registration is open for 1st-8th graders, and campers will need to wear a t-shirt, shorts, and cleats. Please do NOT bring a helmet, but of course, bring a water bottle! Click here to register.

Baseball is hosting two camp sessions this summer! Both camps are open to K-7th grade. The first session is June 5-8 from 9:00am-12:00pm, and the second session is June 12-15, also from 9:00am-12:00pm. Both camps are at Bill Avant Field at Houston High School. Click here to register.

Houston High School Cheer is hosting camp for grades K-5, June 14-16 from 9:00am-12:00pm. Camp will be held at the Houston High School gym, and campers will need to wear a t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes. Be sure to bring water and a snack! For a free t-shirt, register by June 5th! Scan the QR code above or click here to register.

HHS Pom is holding a mini dance camp! Camp will be held July 26-28 from 9:00am-12:00pm, and it is open for grades K-5. It will take place at the Houston High School gym, and a snack and t-shirt will be provided! Scan the QR code above or click here to register.

STEM Camp is for rising 5th graders, and there are only 40 spots open! This camp is June 10-13 from 9:00am-12:00pm at Houston Middle School. Students will get to explore the new STEM labs and learn about airplanes, catapults, solar cookers, and more! Scan the QR code above or click here to register.

Houston Middle School Band is hosting music camp! June 19-22 from 10:00am-12:00pm students will get to learn, play, and make music together in the new band room at HMS. Scan the QR code above or click here to register.

Mrs. Malone from Farmington is hosting Cursive Camp! There are three weeks available, with two sessions for each day: June 5-9, June 12-16, and July 10-14. Each day there will be a session from 10:00am-11:00am and a session from 4:00pm-5:00pm. This camp is for students age 8 and up. Message Mrs. Malone to register! elizabeth.malone@gmsdk12.org

GMSD is hosting so many amazing camps this summer! From football camp, to STEM camp, there really is something for everyone. These summer camps vary in age range, start date, and availability, so be sure to check out each one to see what is right for your student.

To submit a camp or learn more about sponsorship, contact emily.hume@gmsdk12.org. We can't wait to see you all this summer!

VISIT OUR SUMMER CAMP HUB

Next year, Houston High is expanding our Career Technical Education (CTE) offerings to include an Aviation Flight Program. Please help us spread the word that we are looking for a teacher to lead students in these classes. Prospective applicants who hold only some of the endorsements and requirements listed in the job description are strongly encouraged to apply. GMSD is committed to the success of the Aviation Flight program and supporting a strong candidate in completing course requirements.

Would you or someone you know like to hear more about this opportunity or the program vision and goals? Please contact Mark Ethan Constant, mark.constant@gmsdk12.org.

Join the Leadership Germantown Class of 2023 on May 13th for a free family event to grow your family’s experience in healthy gardening and eating. Plan for a hands-on project as a local master gardener and certified nutritionist/personal trainer plant the seeds of a healthy lifestyle for your entire family - children are welcome!

Pam Beasley is a retired Parks and Recreation Director Emeritus for the City of Germantown with decades of experience in gardening, horticulture, landscaping, agriculture, and forestry. She is an active member of the Memphis Area Master Gardeners and is passionate about sharing her gardening knowledge to inspire and encourage new and experienced gardeners alike. Pam's expertise is showcased in her home garden, which will be featured in the June 3, 2023 "Through Our Garden Gates" tour.

Christian Jefferson is a certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition and Cancer Recovery Fitness Specialist. He struggled with maintaining a healthy weight and eating habits, which led him to become certified in personal fitness training in 2015. Christian has since helped clients reach their fitness goals by educating them on proper eating habits and meal prep. He continues to improve his knowledge in health and wellness by competing in amateur bodybuilding and recertifying yearly through the National Federation of Professional Trainers.

Limited space, register at the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cultivating-family-gardening-and-meals-for-a-healthy-lifestyle-tickets-620154568007

Beginning on April 17, the City’s contractor will begin a pavement reclamation project along Dogwood Road, from Kimbrough Road to Lansingwood Drive. The process involves taking the existing asphalt and pulverizing it, tearing it up, reclaiming it and making a new base layer using a combination of the recycled pavement along with cementitious material.

Over the years, this roadway has experienced surface failures, which require frequent asphalt overlays to keep it in good shape. The full-depth reclamation of the roadway base and asphalt layers will result in a longer lasting and safer roadway. Dogwood Road from Kimbrough Road to Birchton Drive was chosen for pavement reclamation during fiscal year 2023 during the. The portion of Dogwood Road from Kimbrough Road to Lansingwood Drive, is the first of three phases of reclamation that will be completed along Dogwood Road. In fiscal year 2024, Public Works intends to ask the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to consider the second phase which would continue along Dogwood Road from Birchton Drive to Brachton Avenue. A third and final phase of the reclamation project is planned from Brachton Avenue to Forest Hill Irene Road.

The first phase of the roadway work is expected to last approximately two months, weather permitting. While one side of the road is stabilized and paved, all traffic will be diverted to the other side of the road and vice versa. Two way traffic will be maintained throughout the duration of the project. In addition, access to the private driveways and the St. George's Independent School campus will be maintained. Solid waste, recycling and yard waste collections will also continue as scheduled for residents along the project site.

Motorists are encouraged to choose an alternate route, if they are able to, throughout the extent of this project.