Blue background, White text August 6th 2024, Eagle Family Weekly Message, Light blue text Goochland County Middle School

Planning for the 2024.2025 School Year

S. O. A. R. ToGether

We hope your family is having an amazing summer!

This summer is SOARing by!

* For some, this is too soon to walk into a store fully stocked with supplies and to receive a Back-to-School Message. If this is you - stop here, log off and enjoy your school free ~ summertime that remains. This info will be here, as needed, when you are ready.

* For anyone ready to start thinking and planning for the upcoming school year, enjoy!


The GMS Main Office Team has been working hard throughout the summer to ensure the 24.25 school year is a S.O.A.R.ing success for EVERY EAGLE...WHATEVER IT TAKES! We know our Eagles will S. O. A. R. to their highest peak when the school, family and community work TOGETHER! We look forward to seeing familiar faces and getting to know our newest Eagle Family Members!

Goochland Middle School Main Office

📞 804.556.5320

📠 804.5556.6223

🌐 https://gms.goochlandschools.org/o/gms/

Mr. Matthew Mason, Principal

Mr. Patrick Gordon, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Helen Montgomery, Dean of Students

Mrs. Bethanne Boggs, School Nurse

Ms. Caroline Powell, School Counselor (all students)

Mrs. Tracy Matthews, Front Office Secretary + Bookkeeper

Mrs. Tracy Davis, Attendance & Counseling Secretary + Registrar

Ms. Jade Miller, Instructional Technology Coach (ITC)

Mrs. Lindsey Dewey, Library Media Specialist


Back to School Night - August 15th

At the Secondary Complex doors will open for Back to School Night @ 5PM

We hope you will be able to join us! Teachers will be at their classrooms welcoming students and families.

Your student will be able to pick up a printed copy of their schedule, discover where their classes are and see other Eagles.

We will have a Braise-n-Smoke Food Truck and Kona Ice available to purchase, if you want to skip figuring out whats for dinner that night.

Spirit-wear will be on-site. You will be able to pick from multiple options, purchase and take it home with you that night. You can pre-purchases items online via the GCPS Online Payment System (there is more information regarding the online payment system below).

Our GMS Administration Team will host 2 brief optional info sessions in the auditorium.

These sessions will cover the same information.

  • 1st optional session will begin at 5:30

  • 2nd optional session will begin at 6:30

Stop by between 5 - 8 PM to join the fun, tour the school, and learn more about GMS, sports/activities, the GMS PTSA, and more!!!


Please read this message regarding student schedules

As we approach the start of school please review and follow the below schedule request change guidelines:

  • schedule change request will be accepted through paper forms that will be available starting on 8/15 at back to school and will only be accepted through the 1st two weeks of school

  • incorrect or missing core classes (science, math, English, and history) will be addressed as a first priority

  • schedule change requests will only be considered the through the 1st two weeks of school. Requests will not be considered after August 30th

  • please remember elective preferences are not guaranteed, we do our best but comes down to what is possible in a students schedule

  • the override window has closed, changes cannot be guaranteed/are unlikely


2024-25 GMS Student/Parent Handbook

Parents and students, please review the GMS Student/Parent Handbook. This can be found on the GMS website under 'Documents.' Per school board policy, cellular devices will be stored at the beginning of the day and retrieved at the end of 4th block. The updated dress code policy will be added shortly to the GCPS policy link provided in the handbook.


PowerSchool FORMS

It is important that PowerSchool FORMS are updated every year!

Log in to your Parent PowerSchool Portal. Look over the information on each FORM. If updates are needed, please do so and press submit. If all the information is accurate and up to date, please press submit so we know you are verifying this.

If you need assistant creating an account or logging into your existing account, email Tracy Davis.


Online Payments

NOW is the perfect time to ensure you have access to these helpful Online Payment Systems to utilize throughout the school year!

*The student ID number will be needed for the initial set up. If you or your students do not know their student ID (aka: Lunch Number) email Tracy Davis or call GMS @ 804.556.5320 for assistance.


Looking Ahead...

👪

Eagle Evolution Information Session for rising 6th grade families: August 12th @ 6 PM

🦅

Eagle Evolution Event for 6th grade students: August 14th, 9 AM - 2 PM *more information below

🎒

Back to School Night: August 15th *more information below

  • Elementary Schools, 4 - 7 PM

  • Secondary Schools, 5 - 8 PM

🚌1st Day of School: August 19th

August 19 - 21: Volleyball Tryouts *see message from Coach Ferguson below

August 21 - 23: Boys Soccer Tryouts

August 22: Secondary Complex Lockdown Drill

August 23: 1st Pep Rally of the Year

August 27: Reading MAPs Testing

August 28: Math MAPs Testing

September 2: School CLOSED - Happy Labor Day!

September 3: Secondary Complex Lockdown Drill

September 9 - 13: History & Science SGA Testing

September 10: Secondary Complex Fire Drill

September 16: Secondary Complex Bus Evacuation Drill

September 30 - October 4: Homecoming Spirit-Week (more info to come)

October 8: Secondary Complex Fir Drill

October 16 & 17: School Picture Day (more info to come)

October 17: The Great ShakeOut - Statewide Earthquake Drill

October 17: Early Dismissal Day & the END of MP1

October 18: Student Holiday + GCPS Parent/Teacher Conference Day, 11 - 6 PM (more info to come)


6th Grade Information

Eagle Evolution + Family Info. Session

Attention Rising 6th Graders and Families: You are invited to an informative session designed to help prepare for the upcoming (August 14th) Eagle Evolution Event for your student(s). Join us, Monday, August 12th @ 6 PM to learn more about what to expect and get all your questions answered.

If you have not registered your student for this FUN - FREE event and would like to do so, please reach out to Mrs. Davis, ASAP. Please know due to how close we are to Eagle Evolution, you will likely need to provide transportation for your student, to and from, this event.

We would love to have all our EAGLES join us!!!


7th Grade Information

REQUIRED Immunizations for rising 7th graders

Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Memo

Nota: versión en español

To enter 7th grade in Virginia, three vaccines are required:

• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)

• MenACWY (meningococcal ACWY)

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

It is important to check in with your child’s healthcare provider to ensure your child is up to date on preventative care, including routine immunizations and annual dental cleanings. If your child does not have a healthcare provider, you can find a Vaccines for Children provider at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/immunization/vvfc/locatevvfcprovider/. These providers are also able to administer free vaccines to persons who are not able to pay.


8th Grade Information

Information for 8th graders interested in JV Sports

Fall sports are right around the corner! We wanted to remind everyone of our start times and locations. A completed VHSL physical form dated after May 1st, 2024 must be turned in before the start of tryouts or practices. Please reach out to the individual coaches with sport-specific questions. Thank you!

Cross Country: Jason Funkhouser (jfunkhouser@glnd.k12.va.us) and Stephen Ferguson (sferguson@glnd.k12.va.us)

· Practice starts on August 5th at GHS stadium at 7:00 pm

Football: Alex Fruth (afruth@glnd.k12.va.us)

· Practice starts on August 5th at the GHS backfields from 6:00-9:00 pm

We are looking forward to a successful season ahead! Go Bulldogs!