Welcome back to the GMSD neighborhood, the Forest Hill Takeover Edition! Watch our special edition in the video above, featuring Forest Hill Elementary Principal Zac Percoski.

About Forest Hill Elementary:

Forest Hill opened in 2019 and each year has grown to become the second largest elementary school in GMSD. One of the things that makes Forest Hill special is that students, families, and staff came from existing elementary schools who came together to make one big Forest Hill Family.

"We love that we have the opportunity to be trailblazers in creating the traditions that will be enjoyed by future foxes for years to come," shared Principal Zac Percoski.

Stay tuned for more school takeovers of the GMSD Neighborhood.

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

Becky and Blakely Dowdle along with Mr. House spent their golden hour yesterday covering our learning garden beds with sheets. The row covers didn’t come in time for last night’s freeze, so these resourceful Foxes improvised. "We’re so grateful for their servant hearts and quick thinking. Thanks, Blakely, Mrs. Dowdle, and Mr. House," said Assistant Principal Ellie Talley.

The Germantown Board of Education will meet on Wednesday, November 16th for their monthly work session. Over the weekend, your school board members traveled to Nashville to work alongside our Superintendent and leaders in education from around the state.

Congratulations to both Angela Griffith and Dr. Daniel Chatham on being elected to our school board. Their terms will begin after a special swearing in at our December Business Meeting. And, thank you to our Houston High School AP Government students who conducted exit polls on their day off that accurately predicted election outcomes!

If you are a parent of a GMSD student and would like to serve on the district math textbook committee this school year, please complete the application linked below by the end of the day Friday, November 18, 2022.

Responsibilities involve:

• Taking an oath to act honestly, faithfully, and conscientiously

• Attending training in late Nov. or early Dec. on the textbook adoption process

• Attend a full day textbook preview event on Dec. 8th

• Reviewing all textbook materials for the grade band for which you are selected throughout Jan. and Feb. 2022

• Fairly and accurately represent the voice of GMSD parents

Thank you for considering this opportunity to give parents a voice for GMSD in the 2022-2023 Math Adoption in order for our students to have access to the very best math resources. The application form can be found here.

Pictured above, students in the Houston Middle School Band play a tribute to veterans. In district news this week, many of our schools presented dynamic programming to celebrate veterans on Friday. Veterans Day is an important holiday to be celebrated each year because it allows us to honor the people who have sacrificed their lives for our country, and to also give thanks to the men and women who serve in the military right now to protect our country.

One of Riverdale's traditions, I Love America Day: Parade of the States, returned this year. Check out our Neighborhood video for some footage from the celebrations around GMSD.

After reading the text Giant Squid by Mary Cerullo and Clyde Roper, our third graders used their knowledge to dissect a squid. They had a blast putting on their gloves and getting up close and personal with a squid. Thank you to our third grade teachers Ms. Benzing, Ms. Cantu, and Mrs. Pierce for creating such a fun experience.

Our Houston Middle School faculty and staff are at it again, showing why #hmsisfamily. Several teachers showed up this weekend to watch students play in football games despite the chilly temperatures.

HMS PTO updates its Facebook followers with this post, "These sweet 6th grade teachers showed up at their students’ football and basketball games on this cold Saturday!"

Logan has been playing chess competitively since the age of 5. He is a five-time National Champion and a World Youth Chess Champion, tying for 10th place during the 2019 tournament in Mumbai, India. He has qualified nine times to represent the U.S. in the World Championship. Logan has shared these talents with other Houston High students as co-president of the Chess Club, planning tournaments and organizing events. Additionally, during the pandemic when tournaments were put on pause, Logan and his parents founded the Pawn2Queen Chess Academy, helping even more students stay connected to chess by providing free lectures for students at local libraries and parks and teaching weekly chess classes.

You have one last chance to see the Fall Play tonight (Monday) at 7 pm Tickets are $10 students/$15 adults. We take cash and cards at the door.

Kyfong Dai had performed with the 2022 All-National Symphony Orchestra this past weekend in National Harbor, Maryland. She has been playing the bass since 6th grade at the Houston Middle School Orchestra. She was selected for the All-West Orchestra in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. She was also a member of the All-State Tennessee Orchestra in 2021 and 2022. Kyfong is currently playing with the Houston High School Honors Orchestra. #gmsdfinearts

Congratulations to Houston Middle School’s Joseph Murray who is presenting at the Tennessee Assistant Principals Association today, and to GMSD’s own Kendra Pickens who presented at the Tennessee Association of School Personnel Administrators last week. We’d also like to congratulate Andy Martin for being named the President of Tennessee Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and Forest Hill’s Lanie Wood for being named the Vice President of Physical Education. GMSD staff are leading their peers in the state of Tennessee.

Have you ever thought about becoming a fireman? The Germantown Fire Department hosted Houston High School students for a hands-on field trip to learn the ins and outs of becoming a fireman. This first experience was a pilot program in partnership with our Leadership Germantown Future Leaders Cohort–be looking for information about future opportunities.

Those wishing to donate items listed in the graphic or Hollywood Feed gift cards should drop them off at Houston High School to the attention of Candace Plaisance and or email candace.plaisance@gmsdk12.org with inquiries.