Welcome to the GMSD Neighborhood
4.24.23
Our school volunteers deserve a red carpet celebration
Last week, the GMC PTO Council hosted this year's S.T.A.R. Awards to honor the school volunteers who have made a significant contribution to our schools. The event was a red carpet celebration that brought together hundreds of people to recognize the helpers in our schools. Here are the recipients:
Farmington Elementary School
Jen McPhaul
Scott McNeil
Bethany Furse
Lynne Finch
Forest Hill Elementary School
Joni Hester
Sarah Ulrich
Mike Maggipinto
Jordyn Potter
Dogwood Elementary School
Cory and Amy Carter
Melinda Henson
Joye Phipps
Riverdale School
Elizabeth Richardson
Valerie Shimko
Michael Bennett Sr.
Ron Buse
Houston Middle School
Julieann DeMatteo
Amy Shackelford
Brian Fisher
Spencer Nesvick
Houston High School
Aynsley Clark
Sherri Sands
Timeka Craig
Ashley Kreitz
The last award of the night is the Kristen Melton Legacy of Excellence Award. This award is in honor of Kristen Melton who tragically passed away in 2016. The person who is awarded this recognition must embody the qualities of kindness, selflessness, and tremendous work ethic that made Kristen so special. This year’s winner was Mandy Vezina who devotes her time to both Houston Middle and Houston High School. In nominating her, HMS PTO President Erin Avery shared, “She is passionate about our school district…she is highly deserving of this honor.”
We are so grateful for the hard work, dedication, and generous spirits of these recipients. To read more about these incredible recipients, click here. To see pictures from this red carpet event, click here.
Jason Manuel,
Superintendent
Germantown Board of Education April Business Meeting
The Board will hold a work session this Tuesday, April 25th, to discuss the budget for the upcoming year. This is an important meeting, and we encourage anyone interested in this topic to attend.
All of our Germantown Board of Education Meetings are held in person in our GMSD Board/Community Room. Meetings are also live-streamed on our GMSD Youtube Channel.
Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023, 06:00 PM
3350 Forest Hill Irene Road, Germantown, TN, USA
Germantown Board of Education to vote on next year's budget
On Tuesday, the board will meet to vote on next year’s budget. The proposed budget includes some important items, like a 3% increase in teacher salaries!
Watch the video of the discussion below, or preview the Agenda here.
Who's being recognized at the April Germantown Board of Education Meeting?
TSBA Volunteer Recognition Award Nomination: Nabiha Huda
Nabiha Huda is an exceptional individual who deserves to be recognized for her outstanding volunteer work as the PTO president of Dogwood Elementary School. Her leadership positions on several PTOs, including GMC PTO, Houston Middle School, and Houston High School, are a testament to her dedication to her community. Nabiha is an unwavering volunteer who is always ready to take on any task that needs to be done.
Her presence in the schools that her children attend is a constant source of support and inspiration to all those around her. Nabiha also serves on the Dolphins Belong Committee, where she works tirelessly to make DES an inclusive and welcoming environment for all of its diverse students. She collaborates with the principal to ensure that the Muslim families in the school feel valued and seen. Nabiha's volunteerism has been recognized several times in GMSD, and we are excited to nominate her for the TSBA Volunteer Award so that her good works can be celebrated and shared with a wider audience.
TSBA Student Recognition Award Nomination: Sarah Hochman
Sarah Hochman is an 11th-grade student who has been nominated for a student excellence award. She has a strong leadership background, having held various positions in the BBYO organization, including Chapter Mazkirah and Chapter Aym Ha'Chaverot. She has also held Regional Leadership positions, including serving as the Regional S'ganit, and International Leadership positions, having attended the International Leadership Seminar in Israel (ILSI) and serving as BBYO Embassy Captain, IC Leadership, IC Press Corps, and Limmud Host at the International Convention (IC) 2023.
Sarah has also been actively involved in school-related activities, such as Key Club and Jewish Student Association (JSA), which she co-founded and co-presided over. In addition to her leadership roles, Sarah has participated in various community service projects, including Riverdale Raider Theater, Houston SGA Trunk-or-Treat, and Hagal Sheli.
She has also received numerous academic awards and honors, including being a member of the Honors Academy and having an unweighted GPA of 4.000 and a weighted GPA of 4.548. Sarah has excelled academically, receiving a perfect score on her ACT and high scores on her PSAT and AP exams.
She also spent a year studying abroad in France and was awarded the Certified French Level C1 and the highest honors from the Class Council. Sarah is a remarkable student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, academic excellence, and commitment to her community, making her a worthy candidate for a student excellence award.
Staff Recognition: Organizers of the Envisions Expo Event
Elizabeth Stuart
Karen Teel
Megan Dwyer
Mary Whitsitt
Jennifer Brenneman
Dr. Pam Curry
Jessica Woody
Ami Cochran
Rob LeGault
April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. Sponsored by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy, the Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices and the challenges they overcome.
GEF Race For Education brings in large crowds and funds for teacher grants
With about 2,200 race participants and $9,000 generated in donations, the GEF was able to raise money for our schools. Check out this link to view the winners.
GMSD is thankful for the 130 volunteers, most of them Houston High School students, who contributed almost 100 hours to making the day a success. We enjoyed the musical stylings of Cable Collisions, a band made up of Houston High School students and several students from the Music Box Music School right here in Germantown. Our first-ever student MC, Adam Saleh, kept the party going throughout the day. A social media team made up of students provided coverage, and that is well worth viewing on our Instagram page.
We'd also like to thank the food trucks vendors, the community supporting booths and bounce houses, and our race day sponsors:
Gold Level: The City of Germantown, The Germantown Fire Department, Germantown Parks and Recreation
Silver Level: Campbell Clinic and Millienium Search
Bronze Level: A2H Engineers, Architects, and Planners, Fleet Feet Memphis, SFE, Tower Ventures, and United Rentals
Crystal Level: Allen & Hoshall, Music Box, Bluff City Waster Services, USA Karate, Bearden Integrated Services, India Association of Memphis, Insight Risk Management, Maroda & Hopkins Oral and Implant Surgery, MyTown Movers, Redeemers Group, Rosie's Pest Control, Pugh's Residential Spray, Renaissance Group, Alderman Ueleke and Family, and Ninety West Racing
Lastly, GMSD is thankful for the Germantown Education Foundation and its board of directors who were out in full force and putting on the race. It was a beautiful day in the GMSD neighborhood!
One of our seniors, Claire Decent, is the recipient of Mississippi State's top scholarship. Below is some information about the scholarship is below.
- Presidential Scholarships are the most prestigious scholarships awarded at Mississippi State. These are awarded to, on average, 40 of the most outstanding entering freshmen on a competitive basis per year.
- This scholarship is worth approximately $75,000, which covers tuition and **housing for four years of undergraduate study, as well as $6,000 for study abroad and $4,000 for undergraduate research.
- Non-resident students also receive a scholarship to cover up to 100% of the out-of-state portion of tuition.
Claire Decent is extremely disciplined and understands the meaning of hard work. Claire maintains a 4.6 while taking a rigorous course of study. She has learned how to find a healthy balance between playing a competitive sport, completing her schoolwork, and finding time for fun.
Claire is a competitive baton twirler. She twirls for a team based out of Tallahassee, Florida. Recently, she was named the Tennessee State Junior Grand Champion and qualified to represent the United States as part of Team USA in Liverpool, England. Baton twirling has been a part of her life since she was in the second grade. It has taught her many life skills. Several days a week, Claire will wake up at 4:00 am to practice before going to school. She also has a part-time job, so waking up early is the only way to ensure that she gets the practice in each week. Claire travels to Florida two times a month to visit family as well as practice with her team.
Volunteering has taught Claire a lot about herself and made her realize how much she enjoys helping others. Whether it is helping pick up debris with her church after a storm in Memphis or volunteering to help teach baton twirling classes, she sees the importance of community and being there for each other. She is thankful for the experiences and relationships that she has made through volunteering. It has helped her develop social skills, responsibility, and empathy.
Claire is also involved in the halls of Houston High School. She is in the Beta Club, National Honors Society, and Honors Academy. She serves as a public relations officer for the Houston Hearts Club, where she manages social media and communications. She is also a member of the SGA and Environmental Club.
Fine Arts, the Week in Review
Congrats to our visual artists from the HHS Spring Art Exhibition, the lobby was packed with onlookers as students celebrated a year’s worth of work and creativity. The work, including all of the big winners of the exhibition, will remain on display in the lobby through next week.
We’d also like to congratulate our All-state band, orchestra, and choir musicians who performed in Nashville over the weekend. According to assistant band director Kevin Carpenter, "Across our fine arts programs, Houston High School has 30 student participants this year, one of the largest groups in the state! We have at least one student in every ensemble in every grade range. What a thriving community of young artists".
Also making news this week--Germantown Municipal School District is one of the 2023 Best Communities for Music Education! This is the fifth year in a row that GMSD has earned this distinction. This year, GMSD is one of only 12 school districts in Tennessee to win this recognition. The NAMM Foundation recognized our community for the outstanding efforts of teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who are making music part of a well-rounded education for every child in our community.
Meanwhile, at GPAC some GMSD students who are talented young songwriters and musicians were selected for the Acoustic Music Project and were creating incredible new music.
Last week included workshops, jam sessions, and collaborations. After a masterclass with Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn, the talented young players were hosted by Sunstudio, Southern Grooves Productions, and the Listening Room for a panel discussion with Matt Ross-Spang, Darrell Scott, and Amy LaVere. The acoustic experience culminated in a unique and inspiring concert took place at GPAC on Saturday, April 22. The students and teaching artists presented a showcase of the original works they had created during the Acoustic Music Project. Bravo!
Student Spotlight: Zoe Marsh
During the Houston Classic track meet, Zoe Marsh set the new school record in the 3200, running a 10.58.87. She runs the 3200, 1600, and 4x400 relay, and as a member of the softball team, she has also hit two homeruns this season.
Houston Middle School Librarian selected for education, island get-a-away
Emily Squires, the librarian at Houston Middle School, has been selected to attend the NEH landmark workshop in Saipan. The NEH-funded summer program, Saipan's Land and Sea: Battle Scars & Sites of Resilience, is a one-week residential program on the island of Saipan. The program is an incomparable opportunity for educators to interact with history outside of museum walls. Emily will attend the program during week 2: July 12-18, 2023. Saipan is the largest island in the Northern Mariana Islands, which is a U.S. commonwealth located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is located approximately 120 miles north of Guam.
Forest Hill Teacher featured on Wheel of Fortune last week
Check out The SPARK in case you missed it over the weekend! The theme is “Centered on Service and Education” with a special interview with Alexa Guynes, a 5th grade ELA teacher at Dogwood Elementary School with Germantown Municipal School District who was honored with the Milken Educator Award, an award hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching”.
Houston High School is hosting a Celebration of Excellence, and you're invited! Join us on Tuesday, April 26th, as the Houston High Honors Academy presents the accomplishments of the Class of 2023. This is a great opportunity to support and recognize the hard work of our students. We hope to see you there. Likewise, the City of Germantown will be hosting its Germantown Education Celebration which will be held on May 1st. Come celebrate the City’s teacher of the year, student of the year, and new teacher of the year.
Mustangs Scores and Schedules
Another great week of spring sports for the Mustangs. With only one rain day this past week, Houston was able to enjoy the beautiful weather and pick up some wins! Varsity Baseball picked up four wins this week over Bartlett, Munford, and Covington. They play Arlington tonight at the home of the Tigers, but tomorrow Houston vs. Arlington will be at home on Bill Avant Field! Boys lacrosse won over Independence this weekend, and their last game is this Wednesday, April 26, vs. CBHS. Girls lacrosse won 9-4 against SBA in their final game of the season. They finished the regular season with an overall record of 10-5. This week boys varsity soccer defeated Cordova 8-0, and they next face Arlington tomorrow at the Mustangs Soccer Complex at 7:00pm. Varsity softball plays the Saints tonight at 6:00pm at Briarcrest.
GMSD April Athlete of the Month
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! Voting closes this THURSDAY, APRIL 27, at 12:00pm!
Save the Date: Houston High Softball Complex Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Event
Houston High School is proud to announce the grand opening of their new softball field. Join us for a day of fun as we watch the Houston High Mustangs take on Tipton Rosemark in what promises to be a thrilling match. You'll have the chance to explore the new facilities and for the younger crowd, we'll have some fun surprises in store to get them excited. See you at the ballgame.
April 27th at 5:00pm, there'll be no charge to enjoy the game. Concessions will be available for sale.
Tryouts for 2023-2024
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.
HMS Boys' Basketball Open Gym
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!
Never miss a game again
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 Celebrating Betsy Spurlock
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!
Summer Camp Corner
Volleyball Camp
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.
Boys and Girls Basketball Camps
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.
Boys and Girls Soccer 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
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 Camp
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.
Cheer Camp
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.
Pom Camp
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
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.
Elementary Music Camp
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.
Cursive Camp
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
Find the PERFECT GMSD summer camp at our new Community Hub.
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!
Special Job Posting!!
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.
Send someone a GMSD Gratitude Gram
We've made it VERY easy for you to send shoutouts to your favorite GMSD staffers! Here's how it works:
Pick from one of our four ready-made templates; The MVP, You Are Appreciated, Top Notch Customer Service, or Someone Wants to Celebrate You!
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.
Type in your positive feedback in the text box. Be specific about what the staff member did that impressed you or made a difference.
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!
Click the "Submit" button to send your message.
If you have multiple staff members to recognize, repeat steps 2-5 for each person.
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.
Community News
Health & wellness are rooted in healthy eating! An event for the whole family
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:
Roadwork Along Dogwood Road
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.
If you have any questions about the contents of this newsletter--or wish to make a submission for our next newsletter, please email kathleen.crowder@gmsdk12.org or visit us at Let's Talk.