Gettys Middle School May Newsletter

Our students and teachers have prepared very well for the upcoming state assessments of SC Ready, SC Pass and End-of-Course Examinations in Algebra I that will be administered over the next three weeks of May. PCVA students will report on their grade level date and PCVA students will take the test in the media center each time. Families can help us by making sure students are well rested, start the day with a nutritious breakfast and have their devices fully charged and ready for online testing. If you have any questions or need assistance you may contact us at the main office at 397-3900. May 2-4 will be SC Ready Writing. May 5 will be Algebra I EOC Exam. May 9-11 will be SC Ready Reading. May 16-18 will be SC Ready Math. May 19 will be SC Pass Science for 6th grade only. See the calendar below for specific dates for your child's grade level. Thank you for all of your support this year in your child's learning and academic pursuits!

A Gettys Middle team of 3 students earned the State Championship in Columbia. This qualified them to head to Dallas, Texas this past week to compete in the largest robotics competition in the world, The VEX Robotics World Championship. The team of 8th graders qualified for the tournament by winning the 2023 State Championship in Columbia. Advancing to the world competition is GMS Team 77240G which consists of: Calder Adams, Kathrin Patterson, and Wyatt Reeves. The team is coached by Mr. Jeff Tharpe, STEM instructor. Congratulations to Team 77240G! Read the feature on the team published online HERE

Our Gettys Middle Band, Strings and Chorus concerts were a highlight this Spring with great community support of our students. Our Fine Arts has been a tradition of excellence at GMS for decades. We believe in teaching the whole child both in academics and in areas like the Arts. Our Band was led by Mr. Garrett Young and Mrs. Betsy Myers. Our Strings is conducted by Ms. Diane Atkins and our Chorus is led by Mr. Griffin Lewis. We appreciate everyone's support of the Arts and we hope you enjoyed all of the student performances!

Congratulations!!! Gettys Middle School had several Art winners at the Pickens County Youth Arts Month Exhibit! Award winning students were: Haylie Bruner won first place in the Drawing category, Sophiah Castillo won third place in 2D Design and AJ Smith won honorable mention in 2D Design. Congratulations to these amazing artists for their accomplishments. In addition, we had many families come out to EHS for the Art Exhibit that also featured many GMS artists. Eleven GMS students were selected to participate in the SDPC Juried Student Art Exhibit at the Pickens County Art and History Museum. This is a great honor because these artworks are considered to be the best in the district. Congratulations to the following students:

2D Design: Sophiah Castillo

AJ Smith

Kylie Krantz

3D Design: Cullen Spence

Ridgley Powell

Kendall Califf

Drawing: Haylie Bruner

Ella Newman

Joselyn Salinas Morales

Painting: Katie Jones

Addi Parker

Great job by all of these students with their award-winning artwork and for their teacher, Dr. Sargent!

GMS band members from 8th grade traveled to Batesburg-Leesville HS to participate in the SC Concert Band Performance Assessment. Our students played three songs and sight-read another piece beautifully! They received the highest score possible from every single adjudicator and had special remarks from the sight-reading judges on the quality of their demonstration.

Overall, we received the score of "Superior with Distinction!" This is the highest rating given by the State Band Director's Association and signifies a perfect score for the assessment! Thank you all for your support of these students and their musical endeavors. Congratulations to our award-winning band students, Mr. Young and Mrs. Myers!

Our Jazz Band went down to Newberry College to perform at the SC Jazz Ensemble Performance Assessment and received a rating of Superior Rating which is the highest rating from every judge! Also, Santiago Lozada was selected as Outstanding Soloist for Gettys Middle School. Congratulations to our outstanding Jazz Band!

Exploratory teacher Mrs. Esuary is the Pizza Inn Teacher of the Month! Mrs. Esuary teaches in our Business Education department and teachers are students important computer programming, coding and computer fundamentals. The Computer Fundamentals class is for high school credit and allows students an early start to achieving high school credits in a class that is one of the required computer science classes for a SC High School Diploma. Students from across all three grade levels chose Mrs. Esuary because of her kindness and approachability. Every student who nominated Mrs. E. also pointed out that she goes above and beyond to support to students in their work, in and out of class. Congratulations, Mrs. Esuary!

Each year, our Strings Program travels to the Concert Performance Assessment competition. Our orchestra students had the opportunity to be evaluated by judges. They earned an "Excellent" rating and received a trophy for the school. Great job students and Ms. Atkins!

Congratulations to all of the young ladies who participated in the 2023 Miss GMS pageant. All of the contestants performed beautifully and we are so proud of them. The following students received award recognition:

The class winners: Miss 6th Grade is Campbell Brockington, Miss 7th Grade is Avery Sears, Miss 8th Grade is Chloe Sutherland. Congratulations to all of our contestants, who represented Gettys very well.

May 8-12th our PTO will be showing appreciation for our teachers and staff for all of their outstanding work this year. If families want to donate gift cards for our random daily drawings you may drop them off at the main office in the PTO box.

Gettys Middle School will return to having two football teams, one in each grade of 7th and 8th grade. Spring practice for rising 7th through 9th grade will be held on Brice Field at GMS and coached by EHS Coach Durrah and his staff as well as GMS Coach Austin and his staff. All students must have physical form dated after April 1, 2023. Times are 3:45 to 5:00 pm.

Thanks to all of our family and community support for Gettys Middle School's showing of Moana Jr over six performances! Under the direction of Mrs. Michelle Lindner and Mrs. Jennifer Ohlrogge, our musical soared to another great performance by our theater students. We would like to thank Dr. Merck and the SDPC School Board for their additional funding in the Arts that allows these performances to happen.

Don’t forget that your 7th grader must have the Tdap shot before they attend classes in August. This is a booster vaccination required by law for 7th grade students and is a protection against the whooping cough. This required documentation to be eligible to start classes in August should be dropped off in our main office for our nurses. All 6th grade families should make arrangements prior to summer to have your child's Tdap immunization prior to next school year. This state requirement should be taken care of before the start of summer. We are now accepting these in our main office and nurse's office so please take care of this before leaving for the summer. All rising 7th grade student must have this on file at our school before being allowed to start school on August 1, 2023.

• Moderation and modesty should govern student dress.
  
• Garments worn on the legs (pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, etc) must have a length that comes to within one inch of the top of the knee; with no holes or slits above this line.
• No sagging, baggy pants are permitted.
• Bare midriffs will not be permitted. The standard used will be that no midriff is visible when the student is engaged in normal movement such as walking, sitting down, standing up, etc.
• Any sleeveless garment must have width on the shoulder area of at least four (4) of the student’s fingers, and the arm opening should fit the body closely enough to cover the underarm and the side of the chest areas.
• All district dress code requirements are listed in the student agenda and link is available at the end of this newsletter for your review.

The SDPC Board approved a change to one of our feeder schools, Croswell Elementary beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Starting with the current 4th graders (not 5th graders) and grade levels below, they will be zoned for Dacusville Middle School for the middle school years. This change is to take advantage of space opportunities at DMS. Limited school choice will still be available for those interested in attending Gettys Middle School.

GMS will have the traditional back-to-school Meet the Teacher event on July 27, 2023. This event will provide all families with their child's schedule, an opportunity to receive additional information about buses, car line, nurses, cafeteria and other need to know information.

MEET THE STAFF SCHEDULE FOR Thursday, July 27 in GYM:

7th and 8th Grade Registration Drop-In from 9:00 am -12:00.

6th Grade Registration from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

• Student Last Name A-C is 1:00-1:45 pm

• Student Last Name D-H is 1:45-2:30 pm

• Student Last Name I-O is 2:30-3:15 pm

• Student Last Name P-Z is 3:15 to 4:00 pm

Additional Schedule Only Pickup for any grade 4:30-5:30 pm in gym on July 27.

Makeup Schedule Pickup Date is July 31, Monday from 12:30-2:00 pm Main Office.

• 5/1 7th grade on choices-Ken Freeman 2:00-2:40 pm
• 5/1 Spring Football Practice Begins for Rising 7th to 9th grade
• 5/2 8th grade Writing SC Ready TDA
• 5/3 7th grade Writing SC Ready TDA
• 5/4 6th grade Writing SC Ready TDA
• 5/5 EOC Algebra I Exam
• 5/6 6th grade Band to Carowinds
• 5/6 8th grade students only dance 6 pm to 8 pm
• 5/8 Makeup Testing and Start of Teacher Appreciation Week
• 5/9 8th grade Reading SC Ready
• 5/9 6th grade Academic Awards Night 6 pm
• 5/10 7th grade Reading SC Ready
• 5/11 6th grade Reading SC Ready
• 5/11 8th grade Academic Awards Night 6 pm
• 5/12 Makeup Testing and any other high school credit final exams
• May 15 Makeup Testing & Eng 1 Final Exams
• May 15 7th grade Academic Awards Night 6 pm
• May 16 6th Grade Math SC Ready
• May 17 7th Grade Math SC Ready
• May 17 7th grade device collection
• May 18 8th Grade Math SC Ready
• May 19 8th grade device collection
• May 19 6th Grade Science
• May 19 6th grade device collection
• May 22 Makeup Testing
• May 22 8th Field Day
• May 22 8th grade Drive Out 8 pm parade in car line
• May 23 Makeup Testing
• May 23 7th Field Day
• May 23 8th grade Drive Out Makeup Night if needed
• May 24 Makeup Testing
• May 24 6th Field Day
• May 24 All medications with our nurses office must be picked up by 3:00pm
• May 25 Half Day 11:45 am dismissal
• May 26 Half Day Last Day w Students and 11:45 dismissal
• May 26 Report cards for year distributed to students on this day. If a student is absent, report cards will need to be picked up by the families in the GMS Main Office starting June 5. Report cards are not mailed.
• Rising 7th grade students are required to turn in Tdap vaccination documentation prior to enrollment in 7th grade and these documents should be provided to GMS Nurses before leaving for the summer.
• July 27 Meet the Teacher Event for 2023-2024 GMS Gym
• August 1 First Day of School for Students

Our school website: gms.pickens.k12.sc.us/

Facebook: facebook.com/gettysmiddleschool/

Twitter: twitter.com/Gettys_Middle

Website: http://gms.pickens.k12.sc.us/
Location: 510 South Pendleton Street, Easley, SC, United States
Phone: 864-397-3900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gettysmiddleschool
Twitter: @Gettys_Middle