Greenville Middle
Principal Update: Week of December 5
Connecting * Informing * Supporting
From Principal Andrews
Here are the updates for the week:
Please join me in congratulating, Sonya Sullivan, on her promotion to school secretary at Wade Hampton High School. Ms. Sullivan will begin her new role on Wednesday, December 7.
Help us thank the GMA teachers and staff this holiday season with gifts for a white elephant swap! Sign up to donate a gift of appreciation, valued around $10, to be used in a white elephant swap among the teachers and staff this holiday season. This is a fun and creative way to say thank you for all they do for our children. Please be sure the gift is WRAPPED, but don’t include any names on it, and drop it off in carline on Tuesday, December 13. Sign up here to donate.
The Reflections Contest, “Show Your Voice,” has a new deadline. All students now have until January 6 to submit their entry form, along with their submission. Please see the link on our website, and get encouragement from your teachers about entering. Students who enter, along with their teacher, will have their names placed in a special drawing for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Good Luck creating!
Help support the Special Education Department and purchase Holiday Candy Cane Grams for $1. Sales begin Tuesday through Thursday in the cafeteria in the mornings.
Frosty Friday Parent volunteers are needed to help with Frosty Fridays in the New Year. Frosty Fridays consist of selling $1 ice cream to students during lunch times. Sign up for a shift(s) here.
GMA is in need of restocking our clothing closet with new or gently used clothing, especially with winter items. Sweatshirts (no hoodies), sweaters, long sleeve shirts, and long pants are needed, particularly in adult small, medium, and large sizes.
There will be a Fine Arts Center Visitation Day on Friday, December 9 at 9:30 AM. Parents are responsible for transporting their student to the FAC for a tour (Note: this is different from the program coming to GMA on November 30). Pick up a pre-arranged absence form from Mrs. Cao, 8th grade school counselor.
We are still in need of Career Day speakers for our event on February 1. If you would like to volunteer to be a part of our career fair, please complete this form.
Consider becoming a Friend of the Ram! With your generous support, your donation is used to support our school in numerous ways. Learn more and consider a donation (in any amount) by visiting our MemberHub Store.
We are looking for parents who would be interested in serving as a teacher substitute. The Substitute Teacher position serves to fill in regularly for teacher and aide absences. Application instructions and the application process can be found here.
School Calendar:
- Dec 5 - Release Time
- Dec 5 - GMS Basketball vs. Mauldin
- Dec 6 - Academic Enrichment
- Dec 8 - RAMbassadors Meeting
- Dec 8 - Intramurals
- Dec 8 - Academic Enrichment
- Dec 8 - GMA Basketball @ Rudolph Gordon
- Dec 8 - Chorus Holiday Concert
- Dec 9 - SIC Meeting
- Dec 12 - GMS Basketball @ Woodmont
- Dec 13 - Baseball Interest Meeting (8:00 AM, Forrester's Rm)
- Dec 13 - Strings Holiday Concert
- Dec 15 - GMA Basketball vs. Beck
- Dec 16 - Half Day of School (Dismiss at 12:45 PM)
Don't forget to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
As always, thank you for your support of Greenville Middle Academy. Let's have a great week!
THANK YOU - Friends of the Ram
Upcoming Events
Fine Arts Center Visitation Day
There will be a Fine Arts Center Visitation Day on Friday, December 9 at 9:30 AM. Parents are responsible for transporting their student to the FAC for a tour. Pick up a pre-arranged absence form from Mrs. Cao, 8th grade school counselor.
Career Day Speakers Needed
SC PTA Reflections Contest
Students are encouraged to participate in the SC PTA Reflections program. This year's theme is Show Your Voice! Submissions can be made in Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. Reflections Contest Details
Deadline for entry is January 6, 2023. USE THIS LINK to enter and submit your art. We’re also looking for parents to volunteer to help with Reflections. Please contact Reflections Chair, Graham Reese, at grhmsmyth@gmail.com if interested.
GCS Sick Policy & COVID Requirements
If your student has fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, please keep them home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours, without the use of medication, before returning to school.
Greenville County Schools is still following DHEC requirements in regard to COVID. Please keep your student home if they are experiencing one of the following symptoms:
- New or worsening cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- New loss of taste or smell
Your student will need to provide either doctor’s note clearing your student from COVID to return to school and requiring no further exclusion OR documentation of a negative viral COVID-19 test from a doctor or a home test with a written parent attestation form. Any questions, please contact the school nurse.
Join our Greenville Middle PTA
Join the Greenville Middle PTA for $5 to show your support of our school community. Visit our online PTA store to purchase:
- Frosty Friday Punch Cards ($10)
- New GMA Spirit Wear
- Birthday Announcements ($10)
- Friends of the Ram Sponsorships ($25)
Visit our school PTA website to learn about parent volunteer opportunities. Current needs:
- Frosty Friday - Sign up here.
If you’re interested in volunteering for other opportunities throughout the year to help support other teacher, student, and parent activities, please click here.
Complete an online Volunteer form and let us know how you're interested in helping our school. Review the GCSD Visitor & Volunteer guidelines. GCSD has added the Volunteer Portal for those volunteers that have set up accounts to be able to manage/update their accounts.
Friends of the RAM
Car Line Procedures
MORNING CAR LINE
- Student drop off begins at 7:30 AM and no earlier. Do not leave your student unattended.
- Stay in line to the far right and drop off and load at the front of the school. Students should quickly exit wherever they stop in the line and walk to the entrance of the school.
- Students cannot be dropped off in the parking lot. Please use the car line. Parking is reserved for parents who enter the building.
- Do not park on Lowndes Ave and allow students to exit your vehicle. You will be ticketed.
- Do not drop off or pick up students except in designated areas at the front of the building.
- Do not drop students off in the East North Street Academy (elementary) car line.
AFTERNOON CAR LINE
- Please be mindful that we have many students who walk to the church and walk home from school.
- All cars will line up in a single line in front of the school as far right as possible.
- Do not block roads, cross walks, intersections, or private residence driveways.
- When the lane fills up from the front porch of the school to the school entrance, traffic will begin to line up on Perrin Road in a single line.
- Pull as close to the curb on Lowndes and Perrin, as school buses will need to pass you on your left.
- We strongly encourage exiting to the right once leaving campus. This route will easily take you towards downtown and Pleasantburg.
- Student safety is our priority. We are using the Car Line System to assist us with a safe dismissal. Pay attention to staff directing cars in the line. We will utilize a double line to load cars and safely dismiss one line at a time.
- Please be courteous and take turns at the intersections.
Remember, we’re all learning procedures during the first few weeks of school, so please be patient.
PLEASE NOTE: Crossing Guards do not direct traffic. If you have a concern regarding traffic or crossing guards, please contact the Greenville County Sheriff's Department.
2022-2023 School Meals
Change from Last Year: Students who received free or reduced-price meals in the past must apply to receive them this year. The online application process for free and reduced-price meals is accessible here: http://greenville.schoollunchapp.com.
Meal Prices:
Breakfast - Available to all students at no cost.
Lunch -
- Paid Students: $2.50
- Extra Milk: $.65
Link to My School Bucks (add funds to account)
Supply Lists
Our School Supply List has been updated for the 2022-2023 school year! Please click below to access the supply list:
Parent Resources
The new cashback app for families and schools is here!
When you sign up for Givebacks, you’ll earn an average of 5% cashback on your everyday purchases and our school will receive up to 1% every time you shop. Plus, we’ll receive a $5 donation for each new active supporter, so please join!
It’s as simple as adding a browser extension to your desktop and phone, and you and our school will start earning cashback. Like magic!
Sign up here: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/detail/GreenvilleMiddleAcademyPTA
Set Up Parent Backpack - An App for Parents & Guardians
Parent Backpack is an online application that allows parents and guardians to view your student's grades, school attendance, and discipline when you are logged into the system. Parent Backpack works on any device and is mobile-friendly.
To access Parent Backpack, go to https://parents.gcsbackpack.com and create an account. Please access directions by clicking on Creating a Parent Backpack Account.
2022-2023 School Calendar
Job Opportunities at GMA
- Custodian: 12 Months Full Time (Job ID 11279) - Contact Jody Hinds, 355-5609
- Cafeteria Worker: 9 1/4 Months Full-Time (Job ID 11218), Contact Sandy Banks, 355-5608
Greenville Middle Academy
Email: gmaoffice@greenville.k12.sc.us
Website: https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/gvillem/
Location: 339 Lowndes Avenue, Greenville, South Carolina 29607, USA
Phone: (864) 355-5600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gvillerams
Twitter: @gvillerams