G-A Superintendent Newsletter

• New Hires
• Lunch Menus
• G-A Spirit Wear!
• G-A Website App
• G-A Inspirational Award for Alumni
• District Calendar
• Public Relations Information
• Primary, Middle & High School Newsletters

Robin Phenicie, Johanna Eckert, Edward Plegue, Caleb Piersma, Bruce Lack, Kelley Kocher, Christie Boven, Marcie Dalm, Coley Church, Ailene Buchtrup

For the upcoming 2024-25 school year, Michigan has authorized free meals for all students as part of the Michigan School Meals program! This means students 4 yrs. old and above, at public schools will have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast and lunch at no cost throughout the academic year.

It is important to note that families should still complete the 2024-2025 School Meals application, which helps ensure ongoing state funding and can qualify your child’s school or community for other special programs for their education. These meals will save families $850 a year, per student, no matter the income level. Taking some financial pressure off parents and several school districts.

Parents or guardians can submit applications online HERE (Apply For Benefits), or in person at your child’s school office. Note: You will need your student's Student ID to add funds. Please use student name exactly as it is listed in PowerSchool.

Download on the App Store: https://apple.co/2wpAIpp

Download on Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Vo7YWz

Please communicate with Jessica at jessica.rausch@garams.org or Lynette at lynette.kissinger@garams.org with any questions, feedback or concerns. Please do so with a matter of resolution and seeking to understand. We are one big team and your support and communication is valued.

G-A High School won this school spirit award last school year, vote to help us be BACK-to-BACK champs!

Last year we bought the students a slushie machine! They will vote on what they want to get this year.

The G-A Inspirational Alumni Award celebrates individuals whose endeavors have brought honor to Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools and who will inspire students on their road to success.

Nominate by NOVEMBER 1, 2024. For more information visit our school HS website or go to the

G-AIAA FB page

This form serves as an opportunity for productive communication and action. Please direct any questions, concerns and thoughts on decisions, needs or anything related to G-A Community Schools here and within 24 hours you will get a response back starting the collaboration on the situation.

Thank you for being an active G-A Ram Family Member and reaching out to see how our collaboration and connecting together can grow our students, families and schools.

My Best,

Dr. Newton

G-A Superintendent

It’s more than a class, it’s more than a rule,

Welcome back to the magic of school.

New faces, places, paths to tread,

So much to learn, so far ahead.

Pencils sharpened, minds set free,

Ready for all that we can be.

On behalf of the PS School, we want to express our gratitude for all your patience with our morning drop off. As the year progresses, it will get better and faster. We promise :)

One thing that has helped out tremendously is eliminating the left turn lane coming out of the parking lot. We understand this might be a little inconvenient for some and we do apologize. If you turn right and take the second left, it will take you around the block.

We are so glad to be back! It has been an adjustment getting back into the routine, but the first few weeks at GA Primary School have been fantastic.

Open House was held on August 21st and was a huge success. Families explored the school and classrooms and received information for the upcoming year. We had a very high turnout and many organizational groups came to represent our community such as: Boy/Cub Scouts, 4H, Pre-K, Galesburg-Augusta Learning Center, Transportation, Title I, Counseling and other services, AFGAK, Sports Boosters, Bussing, and Food Service. We are going to have a great year!

Mr. Sportel

Principal

James Hemenway Wealth Management of Raymond Supports Our Families and Students:

Sixty students got the school year started off in style this year at the Primary School Open House Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Courtesy of James Hemenway Wealth Management of Raymond James, 60 students received a new backpack and school supplies for the coming year. Jim and his team outfitted 7 middle school students and 53 primary school students Pre-K to 4. This contribution, just another example of Hemenway's ongoing commitment to our community, was targeted towards families and students who needed help getting the school started on a positive note.

On hand to help the students secure their backpacks and supplies were Jim Hemenway, Samantha Phillips, Jim's Client Services Associate, Hilary Diebold, Eastern Area Services and G-A Schools, as well as Jeff Russell, Family Advocate G-A Primary School. Parents and students alike left the Primary School Media Center with a smile and the anticipation of a successful 24-25 school year.

G-A Community Schools would like to thank James Hemenway Wealth Management of Raymond James, and its staff, for their continued and generous support of the families and students in our district.

RAMS Expectations were introduced to Kindergarten - Second Grade on Aug. 27th and introduced to Third and Fourth Grade students on Aug. 28th.

RAMS stand for Respect, Achieve, Manage and Succeed. Each area of our building has a lesson that is taught and expectations for being in that school environment to help our students be successful.

September 4th - Pre-K Open House from 5:30-6:30

September 9th - 1st Day of Pre-K

September 18th - ½ Day of School

October 2nd - Count Day

October 4th - Walk to School Event

October 7th - Picture Day

October 16th - Conference 4:00-7:00

October 17th ½ Day Conferences 1:00-3:00 and 4:00-7:00

October 18th - No School

Doors open at 7:55 for all students who are eating breakfast. Students must go directly to the cafeteria upon entering the building and they must get breakfast. Students will remain in the cafeteria until 8:05. Doors open to ALL students at 8:05.

Classes start promptly at 8:14. Please make sure all students are dropped off no later than 8:10 each morning.

We had a great first week at G-A Middle School! Students quickly learned where to find their classes and how to open their lockers! Each grade level participated in RAMS expectations assemblies to review the Middle School behavior expectations. Please find the updated Student/Parent Handbook on the G-A Middle School website. Parents, please remind your students what it means to be a G-A RAM!

Respect Achieve Manage Success

RAMS Ticket Store

This year we will be creating a RAMS Ticket Store. Students earn RAMS tickets from their teachers by following our RAMS expectations. Students will want to save their tickets so they can shop in the RAMS store at the end of each month.

We are thrilled to have our first-ever Middle School Robotics team! Our very own, Frank Couch, is coaching the team. Please reach out to the MS office if you would like more information about robotics.

We are very excited to bring back the student council this year! Stay tuned for all the exciting events and activities that our student council will be planning! The following students are currently serving on the student council. We still have a few openings! If your child is interested in joining the student council, please contact Melissa Godde at the Middle School.

Class Officers

President- Cora Hilton

Vice President- Charlotte Armock

Treasurer- Peyton Simmons

Secretary - open

Class Reps 8th

Open

Class Reps 7th

Cameron Kuhse

Aliyah Buckner

Class Reps 6th

Ny'Kia Armstead

Joshua Head

Lincoln Lovely

9/11- Picture Day

9/18- ½ day for students

See website for Sports Schedules

Monday, August 26th the Senior class of 2025 began their Senior year with a beautiful sunrise, donuts and time to marvel that Monday was the last first day of their K-12 schooling. Thank you to Senior Class Advisors, Laura Wilks-Millard and Misty Pfeiffer for their organization. The Seniors are excited to make it a great year!

The hallways were filled with laughter, smiles, and excitement as the 2024-2025 school year kicked off on Monday morning. Our half day schedule included an assembly gathering for the first time with our incoming 9th graders. The cheerleaders kicked us off, leading us through some school cheers! We reviewed our ROWDY RAMS expectations, provided staff introductions, and laid the groundwork for a great 2024-2025 school year. Lily Gilbert was our lucky winner for a new pair of SHOES! The school spirit and energy were high! Go RAMS!

Students will receive a RAMs Report Homecoming Edition at Lunch that will showcase all of the fun of Homecoming Week. Thank you Kayleen O’Donnell and Student Council for your hard work in putting this together. Floating building starts on September 27th and only happens after school and on the weekends. If your student is interested in floating building, please have them contact their class representatives, listed below. If Powderpuff is more up your alley, please contact Mr. Dolph with practice times. Juniors will take on Seniors in this once a year football game! The game will take place on October 9th at 6pm on the High School Football Field. More details to come!

Freshman Class Representatives

Jerome Bailey

Jason Belanger

Kayla Bortolussi

Claire Callender

Sophia Georgeau

Jilaya Henry-Phillips

Camryn Jackson

Sophomore Class Representatives

Patrick Armock

Ellesa Callender

Lexi Coburn

David Oliver

Junior Class Representatives

Robert Cain

Breanna Keene

Charlotte Lockner

Jonah Ranes

Senior Class Representatives

Emily Bailey

Suzanne Nichols

Lili Thompson

Jenna Whitmore

Class Officers

President: Jaidyn Klimp

Secretary: Holley Coburn

Treasurer: Lauren Gates

Chief of Spirit: Rhyann Wilson

Historian: Alexis Gibson

September 6th: All Schedule Changes due to Mrs. Stanton
September 6th: First Home Football Game & Community Night Tailgate
September 13th-18th: Homecoming Court Nominations
September 15th: 2025 Photo Fundraiser @ Stadium
September 23rd-27th: Homecoming Final Ballot, Court announced on the 27th!
September 24th: Jostens will be here. Seniors will receive cap and gown information and Freshman will receive information regarding class rings.
October 1st: Picture Day
October 7th-11th: Homecoming Week