Greenville Middle
Principal Update: Week of August 23
Connecting * Informing * Supporting
From Principal Andrews
It was a great week at GMA! Thank you for your support during the first week. We look forward to continuing the momentum as we move into week 2 of the new school year. This week, just as we did last week, will be a continued focus on connecting with our students as well as reviewing expectations and continuing to practice school procedures.
As a reminder, we have streamlined communication to promote consistency, minimize confusion, and reduce stress. All teachers' Google Classroom will follow a consistent format for posting assignments and information and all teachers' website will also follow a consistent format. No more searching for contact information or topics for the week!
Lastly, as we continue into week 2 of the school year, please remember to use the car line when dropping your student off in the morning. Do not drop students off in the parking lot. In the afternoon car line, please display the yellow car tag on the dash of your vehicle. Students should be on campus by 8:20 AM in the mornings and picked up no later than 3:45 PM in the afternoons.
Upcoming Dates:
- Aug 23 - GMA Volleyball @ Riverside MS
- Aug 24 - Summer Reading Logs Due
- Aug 25 - Picture Day
- Aug 25 - GMA Volleyball vs. Hillcrest MS
- Aug 27 - Sept 13 - PSAT Registration
- Sept 3 - PTA Board Meeting
- Sept 10 - Summer Reading Celebration
- Sept 13 - PSAT Registration by 3:30 PM (no exceptions)
- Sept 14 - PTA Fundraiser Kick-off
- Sept 20 - PTA Meeting & Parent University
- Sept 24 - SIC Meeting (12:00 PM)
As always, thank you for your support of Greenville Middle Academy!
PTA Announcements
We have numerous opportunities this year for parents to get involved at GMA. Please visit our PTA page on the GMA website (https://bit.ly/2XHtL0h) to:
- Become a PTA member. Our goal is to have 100% of parents and guardians as active PTA members this year. You can become a member for as low as $5!
- Purchase Spirit Wear. We have t-shirts, trendy socks, car decals, and stickers available.
- Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday. Your child’s birthday can be recognized by the school for only $10. Deadline for recognition of September birthdays is Aug. 25.
- Join Friends of the Rams. Numerous opportunity levels are available to support the Rams while recognizing your business or family; every dollar helps.
- Attend PTA Meetings. Save the date for our first PTA meeting on Monday, Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m., featuring Parent University.
- Volunteer! We have many activities throughout the year that need parent support. Even an hour of your time can make a difference at our many school-related events.
Volunteer at GMA!
We are looking for individuals to volunteer for activities planned for students, teachers, and parents in the upcoming school year. Even an hour of your time can make a difference at our many school-related events. If you’re interested in helping, please visit:
Step it Up! Fundraiser
Our school is thrilled to partner with STEP IT UP! for our fall fundraiser. More information will be sent home with your student in early September, but please mark the dates now:
- Tuesday, September 14 – Kick-off assemblies for each grade will be held during the school day
- Thursday, Oct. 28 – Day of Awesomeness concludes the fundraiser
The PTA needs volunteers to help with the fundraiser during lunchtimes on September 15 and September 16, along with volunteers to help with activities during the Day of Awesomeness on October 28. Please visit https://bit.ly/3k7sbfs to volunteer!
COVID-19 Reporting
Parents are asked to report any COVID-19 exposures, quarantines within the home, and positive test results to the school principal.
Parents are strongly encouraged to screen their students daily, at home, for COVID-19 symptoms (see below). If a student takes a COVID-19 test because he/she is symptomatic, the student should not be physically present in school until the test results are returned.
Keep students at home if they present with any of the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - or –
- Loss of taste or smell - or –
- New or worsening cough
In order to return to school from this exclusion, student must provide one of the following:
- Return to school note from your student's medical provider indicating a medical evaluation has determined symptoms are related to another cause other than COVID-19 OR
- Documentation of a negative COVID-19 test.
Student are also required to exclude from school with one of the following symptoms but does not require COVID-19 medical clearance:
- Fever (100.4 or greater). Must be 24 hours fever free before returning to school. (this means without the use of fever reducing medications).
- Diarrhea (3 or more episodes of loose stools in a 24 hour period). Must be 24 hours diarrhea free before returning to school (this means without the use of diarrhea suppressing medication).
- Vomiting (2 or more times in a 24 hour period). Must be 24 hours without vomit and able to have 1 to 2 meals before returning to school. (this means without the use of vomiting suppressing medications)
GCS has shared a Frequently Asked document related to COVID-19 and back to school. You may access this document in the link below. FAQs for Parents / FAQs para Padres (Español)
PSAT Registration for 8th Graders
8th graders have the opportunity to participate in the PSAT/NMSQT test. For students who scored Exceeds Expectations on the SC READY ELA and/or mathematics test, your student has been selected to participate in the South Carolina Junior Scholars Identification and Development Program. Greenville County students were identified to participate based on their exemplary performance on the SC READY English language arts and/or mathematics assessments administered during Spring 2021. There is no cost for your student to participate. Information will be sent home with PSAT Qualifiers on Wednesday, August 25.
For all others, there is an $18.00 fee for 8th grade students who wish to take the test. Parents should make payments to Greenville Middle Academy. Make sure to add your student’s first and last name and PSAT in the bottom left line of your check.
The PSAT/NMSQT test will be administered during the school day on October 13, 2021. You may explore the link below to learn more about the PSAT/NMSQT test. Should you have any questions about the test, please contact your school counselor. PSAT/NMSQT Parent Information can be found by visiting this link: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10.
PARENTAL PERMISSION - PSAT/NMSQT
DEADLINE TO REGISTER: September 13, 2021 by 3:30 PM (no exceptions)
Car Line Etiquette
MORNINGS:
- Student drop off begins at 7:30 AM and no earlier. Do not leave students unattended.
- Stay in line to the far right and drop off and load at the front porch area. Students should quickly exit wherever they stop in the line at the front of the school, and walk to the entrance of the building.
- Do not park on Lowndes and allow students to exit your vehicle. You will be ticketed.
- Do not drop off or pick up students except in the designated area at the front of the school.
- Students cannot be dropped off in the school parking lot. Please use the car line.
AFTERNOONS:
- Please be mindful that we have many students who walk to the church and walk home from school.
- All cars will line up single file in the front of the school as far right as possible.
- Do not block roads, intersections, or private 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 on your left.
- We strongly encourage exiting to the right once leaving campus. This route will easily take you towards downtown and Pleasantburg Road.
- Student safety is our priority. We use the Car Line System to assist us with a safe dismissal process. Please pay attention to the staff directing cars in the line. We will utilize a double line to load cars and safely dismiss one line at a time. The double line will begin at 2:45 PM and no earlier.
- Please be courteous and take turns at the intersections.
Since we create a double line in the car line at 2:45 PM, no early dismissals will occur after 2:30 PM.
Please Note: Crossing Guards do not direct traffic. If you have a concern regarding crossing guards, please contact the Greenville County Sheriff’s Department.
Set Up Parent Backpack - An App for Parents & Guardians
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. 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. English Directions / Direcciones en español
Summer Reading
Student Attendance & Arrival
The school year contains 180 days. To earn credit, students must attend 85 days of each 90-day (semester) course and at least 170 days of each 180-day course. Any absence in excess of ten (10) days may cause the loss of credit for the year. Morning Announcements will begin at 8:20 AM. Students will need to be in their 1st class, in their seats by 8:30 AM, otherwise, they will be marked Tardy.
Perfect Attendance Criteria:
The definition of an absence at a Greenville County Middle School is missing more than one-half of any single class period for which a student is enrolled, or multiple class periods for which a student is enrolled, during a school day. Absence in any part of the school day for a minimum of more than one-half class period, even if the student was present for all other portions of that same school day, by definition excludes a student from being determined to have Perfect Attendance for the year.
Dress Code
Students are expected to dress in an appropriate manner while on school district property or representing the school. Personal appearance shall be such that it does not disrupt student work or school order, become distracting to students, or violate health and safety guidelines.
The following standards apply and will be vigorously enforced. Principals may make additions to these standards as they deem necessary.
- Hoods from sweatshirts/jackets cannot be worn inside the building.
- No skin showing through the jeans above the knee. Leggings are allowed under clothing that meets the dress code.
- Shoes must be worn at all times. All sandals must have a hard sole. Slides, bedroom slippers and shower shoes are prohibited.
- Shorts, dresses, and skirts must be mid-thigh when standing up straight. Leggings under dresses and skirts are recommended.
- All shirts/tops must be at least one ID card width at the shoulder. Low cut tops, mid-drifts, tanks, and off-the shoulder shirts are prohibited.
- No cut-off pants, yoga pants, biker shorts or pajamas.
- Undergarments are to be covered by outer clothing. No see-through garments.
- No pants or shorts hanging too far below the waistline (no “sagging”).
- No profane or vulgar language; no drawings containing alcohol, tobacco or illegal drug advertisements on any part of clothing or jewelry.
- No hats, bandanas (any color), shower or hair caps, skullies, curlers or sunglasses.
Student Technology & Cellphones
Each student will be checked-out a Chromebook provided by Greenville County Schools. Chromebooks are permitted to go home with students for educational use. However, students will be responsible for maintaining their good condition and returning the Chromebooks at the end of the school year.
- The expectation is that all students bring a charged Chromebook to school each day and practice responsible digital citizenship at all times.
- A consequence matrix addressing infractions is included in the Student Handbook.
- Cell phones should be turned off and stored in the bookbag during the school day.
- Smart watches may be worn during the day, but are only permitted to be used to keep time.
- Students are not permitted to wear wireless headphones/earbuds unless directed to by a teacher. This includes arrival, dismissal and transitions between classes.
More information about Chromebook use and expectations will be shared by teachers at the beginning of the year.
Bookbags & Student ID Badges
As part of our school district’s continuing efforts to provide a safe learning environment, all middle school students and staff will be required to wear Photo ID badges.
- Students must wear their ID badge whenever they are on campus.
- Students who do not have their ID badges will receive a temporary ID.
- Lost, stolen, or defaced ID badges must be replaced at a cost of $5.00
- Stickers, writing, or other defacing of the ID badge is not be permitted.
- ID badges will also be used to purchase lunch and check out media books & textbooks.
- After the first week of school, students not wearing their ID badge will be subject to disciplinary action.
PTA Reflections
2021-2022 Reflections Arts Program Theme: “I Will Change the World By...”
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