Thank you for continuing to think of others in all that you do. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?” As we return, help us celebrate our GMSD neighbors who are going above and beyond.

Last week, each school has named their building level Teachers of the Year. Congratulations to the eleven recipients–and I wish good luck to each of you as you advance to the next round. GMSD will announce its District-Level Teachers of the Year this week with more surprise visits.

Also upcoming, the GMC PTO's S.T.A.R. Awards, in which each school has the opportunity to celebrate parent and staff volunteers. Submit your nominations today by contacting your individual school PTO.

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

The school community was thrilled to hear the surprise announcements of Shamira Davis being named Principal of the Year and Karen Dodd of Student Services being named Supervisor of the Year.

Shamira Davis, who has been serving as the principal of Houston Middle School for the past two years, has been recognized for her exceptional leadership and dedication to the students and staff. She has been instrumental in creating a positive and inclusive school culture, and her efforts have led to significant improvements in student opportunities and engagement.

“Mrs. Davis has navigated changes to her school facility with grace and creativity in her second year as Principal. Her innovative approach to scheduling puts students first and has expanded both course offerings and opportunities for students. She’s also invested in her parent community by hosting conversational coffee chats , attending sporting events, and student performances,” said Superintendent Jason Manuel.

Karen Dodd of Student Services has been recognized for her outstanding work in supporting the needs of students and families. Her dedication to providing comprehensive and compassionate services has been an asset to the school community, and she has been instrumental in creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all students. New this year, Mrs. Dodd has also begun leading our veteran assistant principals in professional development that includes shadowing experiences with principals in neighboring districts.

“Mrs. Dodd continues to think of new ways to support our students and staff. I am extremely proud of the work she did on making student attendance magnets for each school and for creating our inaugural Empower Cohort of Assistant Principals,” said Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Chauncey Bland.

Both Shamira Davis and Karen Dodd have made significant contributions to the school community and their recognition is well-deserved. The school community is grateful for their leadership and looks forward to their continued contributions in the future.

The school board, faculty and staff members of Germantown Municipal School District would like to extend their congratulations and gratitude to both Shamira Davis and Karen Dodd for their outstanding service and leadership. This is an excellent example of how hard work, dedication and compassion can make a real difference in the lives of students and their families.

The process of selecting the GMSD Teacher of the Year is a collaborative effort involving a committee made up of past Teachers of the Year. The committee is responsible for selecting one teacher from each of the three categories: PreK-4, 5-8, and 9-12 to represent the district at the state level.

The selection process begins with each school in the district selecting their own Teachers of the Year for each category. These eleven finalists, Hilary McIntyre, Kayla Whitsett, Lori Pettit, Charla Miller, Jon House, Peter Simons, Mio Namba, Melissa Cychowski, Alicia Breen, Sarah Condra and Valerie McKinney, are then evaluated by the committee based on criteria such as teaching philosophy, classroom management, and impact on student learning.

The committee conducts personal observations, interviews, and reviews of the finalists' teaching portfolios, lesson plans, and student work samples. They also gather feedback from parents, colleagues, and administrators to gain a comprehensive understanding of the finalists' teaching practices and their impact on student learning. Congratulations!!

After careful consideration and evaluation, the committee selects one teacher from each category to represent the district at the state level. These three teachers are recognized as GMSD Teachers of the Year and are honored for their outstanding contributions to the field of education.

Before GMSD announces its three teachers of the year, we'd like to celebrate ALL of the building level teachers of the year!

The subject of this year's contest is "Germantown is..." For more details, follow this link https://gmcptowritingartcontest.my.canva.site/ All entries must be submitted by January 19, 2023. See website for submission guidelines and drop off locations. All submissions must have a completed Contest Entry Form attached to it. Please email Valerie Shimko if you have any further questions: vfshimko@gmail.com

Did you know that next week (January 22-28) is School Board Appreciation Week? Join us in celebrating five incredible people who volunteer much of their time in your child’s education. These volunteer leaders are responsible for defining school district policy, and adhering to state and federal education laws. Legal concerns and the complexities of school finance, including budgeting and taxation, require them to spend many hours in board training programs and personal study to enhance their understanding of these issues. The Board will also be meeting for their regularly scheduled work session on January 25th.

On January 9, Riverdale eighth graders were partnered up with their new best buddy. After introducing themselves to their new friend, the games began.

On the tennis courts, even the teachers were excited to get to play with the rainbow parachute, and soon after, laughs could be heard all the way from the playground over. From duck, duck, goose, to trips down the slide, everyone was just excited to be together.

Riverdale students Amelia Reyna, Ruthie Schmit, and Jenna Ward shared that they were all so happy to get to spend time playing games with their best buddies, and now if they see them in the halls at school, they can say hello to their new friends.

Best Buddies is an organization that works to create friendships for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The partnership between Riverdale and Best Buddies is long standing, but the event yesterday was organized by Neyle Coppedge. She arranged for middle schoolers to have training to be able to learn about their best buddies like some of their favorite activities, snacks, books, and songs, and this helped them to build unique, individual connections.

Congratulations go to the Houston Mustang Wrestling team, who defeated Collierville this past week with a score of 42-38. We had seven wrestlers who helped lead to the win with their seven pins. Congratulations go to Daniel Guerrero, Micah Commons, Jacob Geyser, Topher Green, Barrett McMillian, Henry Tate, and Alex Shedkman. View photos from the match here.

An astounding 98 students from our GMSD music programs secured spots as either performers or alternates for the 2023 WTSBOA Convention. The auditions took place over the long weekend. Congratulations to our young artists and their music teachers.

In December, the girls varsity basketball team competed in tournament play and saw several victories. December 29, was a game that junior Anna Lee Avery will always remember. The lady mustangs were facing off against Memphis Central, and Anna Lee had a career high of 41 points. Not only that, but she also had a double-double with ten rebounds.

During the game Anna Lee said that she knew she was having a high scoring game, but she didn’t realize quite how good of a game she had played until afterwards. She said, “I believe I scored the first eighteen points of the game.” At the end of the game, she was told how many points she had scored. She said, “I didn’t know it would be 41 points, but I knew it was a lot.”

Anna Lee also shared that basketball has taught her so much more than just how to play a game. While she does recognize how competitive she is, she shared that through this sport she has learned that, “Hard work really does pay off.” This career high was the perfect example of that. Anna Lee began playing basketball at around the age of five years old, and she still works hard alongside her teammates today.

The girls varsity basketball team has an overall record of 13-6.

The eighth graders at Riverdale Junior Honors Academy recently had the opportunity to learn about the importance of volunteering at the Mid-South Food Bank. The field trip, organized by RES Teacher Dr. Perry Pennington and Assistant Principal Shannon Ward, allowed students to see firsthand the impact of their efforts on the community.

Upon arriving at the food bank, the students were given a tour of the facility and learned about the various ways in which the organization helps to fight hunger in the local area. They also had the opportunity to participate in a volunteer project, such as sorting and packaging food donations.

The experience was an eye-opening one for many of the students, as they were able to understand the significance of their actions and the impact they can have on their community. Not only did they learn about the importance of volunteering, but they also gained a sense of empathy and compassion towards those in need.

The field trip was not only educational but also fun, and the students returned to school with a greater understanding of the importance of community service and the impact it can have. The school is proud of the students for their engagement and effort, and the school community is looking forward to future volunteer opportunities.

Overall, the field trip to the Mid-South Food Bank was a valuable learning experience for the eighth graders at Riverdale Junior Honors Academy. It provided them with an understanding of the importance of volunteering and the positive impact it can have on the community, and it was organized by Dr. Perry Pennington and Shannon Ward, who are passionate about helping students to become active and engaged citizens.

Our 8th graders from Riverdale and Houston Middle School need your help! For the first time, both schools are combining forces to host a larger-scale career fair. Do you or someone you know have a unique or amazing career?

The fair will take place on Wednesday, February 8th:

Setup from 8:15-9:00 am

Career Fair Expo: 9:00-11:45 am

Please email our CTE Supervisor, Ethan Constant, to reserve a space or make additional inquiries.

Speaking of 8th graders, please mark your calendars for 8th grade preview night at Houston High School. On January 19th, we’ll be opening the school to rising 9th graders and their families.

Last week, a prospective family night was hosted by the Germantown Online Academy for Learning. Find out what Germantown’s premiere online academy could offer for your child by catching the recorded session here: