Welcome back to the GMSD Neighborhood. It's been a busy week here at Germantown Municipal School District with our elementary schools hosting several successful fine arts nights events. Congratulations to all the talented student performers and visual artists who participated.

In addition, the Houston High Choir performed at their Handel Masterworks Concert. Both Houston Middle and Houston High School Band programs traveled by bus to perform in St. Louis (HMS) and Orlando (HHS). No doubt they made memories as well as beautiful music. This week, students selected for All-State Honors Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Treble Choir will perform in Nashville.

The fine arts nights are bookended by the visual art students' Spring Exhibition at Houston High School on Thursday from 5:30-7:00 this week. Teachers Amanda Schulter and Bobby Spillman invite the community in to view the best in show works by their top artists along with the senior showcase in which students display their portfolios.

Concerts coming up in May:

• 1st @ Germantown Performing Arts Center - 7:00 PM - The Houston Middle School Band Concert
• 2nd @ Auto Zone Park - Forest Hill Elementary Choir sings at Redbirds Game
• 4th @ Houston Middle School - TBA - Houston Middle School Choir Concert
• 4th @ Riverdale Gym A - 5:00 PM - Riverdale Band Concert
• 9th @ Germantown Performing Arts Center - TBA - The Houston High Band Concert
• 10th @ Germantown Performing Arts Center - 5:00 PM - Riverdale 5th-8th and Farmington String Orchestras Concert
• 10th @ Germantown Performing Arts Center - 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 - TBA - Riverdale Band Concert

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

Join us Sunday, April 23, for the annual Germantown Education Foundation (GEF) Run for Education 5k & Family Fun Color Run! Proceeds from the event are given back to each school in two ways – directly to the school based on their registered participation, and through school and classroom grants administered by the Germantown Education Foundation. Last year, the GEF granted $162,000 to GMSD schools and teachers. Your support of this event matters!

Which teachers are currently in the lead for the $300, $200, and $100 gifts?

Dogwood

Andrea Adair – 34

Madison Lessley – 24

Susan Berry - 22

FHES

Susan Brooke - 42

Courtney Berggren – 35

Kate Greer – 27

Houston Middle

Juliet Ammons – 20

Brian Haynes – 20

Julia Hosea – 10

Farmington

Nicole Barnett – 18

Stephanie Betts – 18

Jennifer Rivers – 18

Riverdale

Kelsey Woolfolk – 13

Crista Ponder – 11

Vicki Gabriel – 10

Bonnie Lee – 10

Houston High/GOAL

Courtney Brookshire – 3

Gerry Wartenberg – 3

Five Teachers - 2

GOAL - 14

More than just a run, the day kicks off at 12:30 with a festival featuring inflatables, fun, food trucks, vendors, and bands.

Register for the 5k or 1-Mile color run event, or a combination of both. to register, visit https://gefrun2023.raceroster.com/

The first ever GMSD Envision Exposition was an amazing opportunity for 3rd-5th grade students in the district to showcase their research projects. This event gave them a chance to take ownership of their work, apply their research and presentation skills, and develop social skills as they shared their findings with parents and community members.

It's TCAP/EOC testing season. Pay careful attention to communications coming from the schools about your child's testing schedule. Send them to school having eaten a healthy breakfast, a good night's sleep and lots of love.

There is always a chance that scores will be returned on time by the Tennessee Department of Education, and that these assessments will be counted towards grades this year. We'd like to remind all families about state law and GMSD policy 4.700 Testing Programs:

• TCAP scores are NOT used for a grade in grades K-5.

• TCAP and EOC scores in assessed areas will count for 10% of the final grade average for the school year for all middle school students.

• EOC scores in assessed areas will count for 15% of the final grade average for the school year for high school students (enrolled in courses which have an EOC assessment).

GMSD has adopted the lowest percentages as allowed by state law. We are confident our teachers have prepared all students to demonstrate their abilities at the highest level and appreciate your support.

Speaking of the Germantown Education Foundation--The Forest Hill Farmers are at it again. They met this week to get their hands dirty and plant vegetables and flowers in the garden.

Tiffany Howlett from Sanitation and Public Works in Germantown came to speak to the club about recycling and students created recycling posters. Portions of the gardening project were funded by a grant from the Germantown Education Foundation. Support our teachers with passion projects like this learning garden by registering for the race this weekend.

Last week, district leadership staff and school principals welcomed area faith-based leaders to discuss potential partnerships and how we can work together to support families and the community. Thank you to the 18 churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues that sent representatives to participate and contribute to this productive conversation. We look forward to meeting again.

"Best night ever," shared HHS Key Club Co-President Zora Cunningham on Instagram. On Friday night, she along with about two dozen other key club members gathered at The Villages at Germantown. They set up an event space in the retirement village to resemble a high school prom. The "Senior" Prom brought senior citizens back to their high school prom days. Students came in their recently worn prom dresses and suits. Together, they danced the night away to a live band.

The event was inspired, oddly enough by the school district's strategic plan. "I work at the school district as a communications intern," said Zora. "I knew that we were looking for new ways to connect with senior citizens and I wanted to think of a new approach that brought our students together with them. I wanted to host the senior prom because of my grandmother. She never had a prom when she was my age, and it inspired me to create that magical moment for those “seniors” to enjoy again or for the first time.”

The event was a huge success, and the students had a great time dancing and socializing with our elderly population. “I had an amazing time. It felt so rewarding to spread joy to those people, and it is an experience I will never forget," said Zora.

Students at Houston Middle are showcasing their talents with the new TV Studio. Ms. Martin’s drama class was the first to film in the new studio, and they worked on their project Murder in Oz. Students wrote and rehearsed this semester, and next they were able to act in their production. They were also running all of the equipment by themselves - two cameras, a switchboard, a teleprompter, microphones, green screens, and more. They were even able to create a blooper reel, so their entire project ended up being around 20 minutes long. On April 13, these students invited faculty members from all across the district to come to the debut of their film.

As for what projects are next for the tv studio, the Mustangs have plenty on the books. In the 2023-2024 school year, students will be able to work on a weekly news program created by students, and Mr. Timmerman will also be teaching his TV Production elective before and after school. Students will be able to learn important skills behind the scenes and on camera. Melissa Deskin, the technology coach, said, “It's going to be a great introduction for these students who can then go on to deepen their knowledge in our high school production program. We are so lucky to have such a supportive district and school that helped bring this all to life. We also owe so much to Mr. Rob Manuel who set up our studio and whose guidance will make this program a huge success.”

Do yourself a favor and enjoy this student film!

We also caught up with some Farmington Falcons who were getting ready to move up to first grade. It's an annual tradition that our kindergarteners across the district take these cap and gown photos. Make sure to mark your calendar for promotion and graduation ceremonies as those are fast approaching:

April 13- Dogwood Kindergarten Celebration

May 7 - Houston High Baccalaureate

May 12 - Houston High Graduation

May 15 - Farmington Kindergarten Celebration

May 17 - Farmington Fifth Grade Celebration

May 17 - Forest Hill Kindergarten Celebration

May 18 - GOAL Graduation

May 19 - Riverdale Kindergarten End of the Year Program

May 22 - Forest Hill Fifth Grade Celebration

May 23 - Riverdale Eighth Grade Graduation

May 23 - Houston Middle Eighth Grade Promotion

May 23 - Dogwood Fifth Grade Celebration

GMSD is excited to announce the recipients of the Ned McWherter Scholarship; Patrick Flaherty, Sarah Folz, Kairavi Garde, Trevor Hodgson, Cindy Liu, Anna Wright, and Sydney Kong!

Seven students from Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee have received the prestigious Ned McWherter Scholarship. Patrick Flaherty, Sarah Folz, Kairavi Garde, Trevor Hodgson, Cindy Liu, Anna Wright, and Sydney Kong were among the 82 students selected from a pool of 1,627 applicants.

The $6,000 per academic year scholarship was established in 1984 to provide outstanding Tennessee students with financial assistance to attend college. The scholarship is named after former Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter, who was a strong advocate for education and the arts.

Houston High School had the highest number of scholarship recipients this year, with seven students receiving the award. The Ned McWherter Scholarship is highly competitive, and receiving it is a significant achievement. The scholarship is a testament to the academic ability, leadership, and character of the recipients. It provides them with financial support that will help them pursue their dreams and achieve their goals.

The seven students who received the scholarship are poised for success in college and beyond. Their achievement is a source of pride for our district, community, and the state of Tennessee. Congratulations to Patrick Flaherty, Sarah Folz, Kairavi Garde, Trevor Hodgson, Cindy Liu, Anna Wright, and Sydney Kong on this well-deserved honor.

Claire Decent- Presidential Scholarship from Mississippi State University

Sarah Thrasher- Distinguished Tennessean Award, awarded to only ONE student per county

At Farmington, the third grade team shares with the community about their PLC process. These teachers meet regularly in professional learning communities to move our students forward. Learn more about the process that Ms. Benzing, Ms. Cantu, and Ms. Pierce have used to increase their students' writing abilities. Is your PLC team interested in bringing in an Instructional Coach? They are ready for your questions!

ELA: Gina.Whitsell@gmsdk12.org

Math: Karen.Barbieri@gmsdk12.org

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 Besty Spurlock and her devotion to the World Champion cheer team!

The Houston Classic was a great success! Houston Track & Field had at least two school records broken during the event. Cory Young set the new school record for long jump at 22-03. Zoe Marsh set a new school record as well, running a 10:58 for the 3200. It was a great day for these athletes to come together from all different cities to compete and celebrate their sport! The varsity baseball team picked up seven wins this past week, putting their overall record at 23-6. They play at Bartlett tonight at 7:00pm, and they face them again tomorrow at home at 7:00pm. Come out to support! Girls varsity lacrosse defeated Franklin Road Academy 15-3 this weekend, improving their overall record to 9-4. They face Briarcrest away tomorrow night at 7:00pm. Boys soccer has added two more wins to their record, defeating Munford 7-0 last week, and winning over Hendersonville 4-0 on Saturday. They next face Cordova tomorrow night away at 5:00pm for JV and 7:00pm for varsity. Softball had two incredible games last week against Southwind, winning both games 17-0. They next faceoff against St. Benedict at home tonight at 6:00pm, so be sure to be there!

The nominations for the GMSD Athlete of the Month are in! Click here cast your vote for our high school and middle school athletes of the month.

Here are the April High School nominees:

Brynley DeLancey - Senior, Softball

Eva Gautreaux - Senior, Track & Field

Trevor Hodgson - Senior, Track & Field

Manu Monserrat - Senior, Soccer

Rylee Roper - Junior, Softball

Clayton Somogyi - Junior, Soccer

Here are the April Middle School nominees:

Addyson Knowles - Riverdale, 6th Grade, Track & Field

Myles Martin - Houston Middle School, 8th Grade, Track & Field

Cohen Talley - Riverdale, 8th Grade, Soccer

Chloe Tankersley - GOAL/Houston Middle School, 6th Grade, Track & Field

Demetri Thomas - Houston Middle School, 8th Grade, Soccer

Christian White - Riverdale, 8th Grade, Track & Field

VOTE NOW!

Mark your calendars for April 27th at 5:00pm, when we'll be celebrating the grand opening of the Houston High School Softball Complex. There will be plenty of fun activities for Mustangs of all ages, along with tours of the brand-new facilities.

Tryouts for next year are gearing up! Girls Soccer has now opened their registration for the Fall 2023 Season. This registration is up on the athletics website! Houston High School and Middle school volleyball programs are also preparing for tryouts! HHS will host tryouts on May 24th. HMS will be hosting tryout clinics on June 20-21, and their actual tryouts will take place on June 22. This event is for current 5th-7th graders, and it is $30 to attend all three days and $20 just for tryouts. Riverdale volleyball tryouts for upcoming 3-5 graders will be May 3 and May 5 from 4:00pm-6:00pm, and tryouts for rising 6-8 graders will be May 24 and 25 from 5:30pm-7:30pm, and May 26 from 10:00am-12:00pm. For more information go to thehoustonathletics.com.

Houston Middle School is hosting a second open gym for rising 6th grade boys who are interested in playing basketball as a Mustang! The first open gym was a success, so come out to meet the coaches and play in the new gym. Go to thehoustonathletics.com for more information, and click here to register!

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.

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.

We've made it VERY easy for you to send shoutouts to your favorite GMSD staffers! Here's how it works:

1. Pick from one of our four ready-made templates; The MVP, You Are Appreciated, Top Notch Customer Service, or Someone Wants to Celebrate You!

2. Choose the GMSD staff member you would like to recognize. If you don't know their email, select "Don't Know" and we will be able to fill in the details.
   

3. Type in your positive feedback in the text box. Be specific about what the staff member did that impressed you or made a difference.

4. Decide if you would like to leave your name or remain anonymous. If you choose to leave your name, type it in the "Your Name" field. If you add your email, you'll receive a copy of the Gratitude Gram when we send it to the recipient!

5. Click the "Submit" button to send your message.

6. If you have multiple staff members to recognize, repeat steps 2-5 for each person.
   

7. Our staff reviews and transmits these once a week.

What does the recipient receive? Once the message is approved, the recipient receives and email with your message along with an attached easily printable graphic so that they can share their gram on a bulletin board or wall.