Welcome back to the GMSD neighborhood! AND welcome back from Fall Break. There’s a chill in the air and GMSD is starting to feel a little spooky! Make plans to visit Haunted Houston this weekend. The event is one of Houston Middle School’s premiere fundraisers and provides entertainment for all ages! Over at Dogwood, the librarian and music teacher have collaborated to make a ‘spooky’ albeit family-friendly storybook trail. Houston High School SGA will also be hosting its Trunk or Treat event!

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

THE ONLINE AUCTION
​IS UP & RUNNING!

The online auction has started and will remain open until one hour before the conclusion of Haunted Houston (5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 22). Winning items may be collected at the event, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., or you may email hauntedhms@gmail.com to schedule a pick-up time.

In other Halloween related news–GPAC hosted the Germantown Symphony Orchestra’s Concerto Competition Winners with Trick & Treat–Music to spook your spirits. GMSD student and talented flutist Cindy Liu was the headlining act and one of two winners.

About Cindy Liu, Flutist

Cindy Liu, a rising high school Junior in Germantown, Tennessee, has studied with Ms. Myung E. Kim for seven years.

Cindy plays flute in the Germantown Youth Symphony and won the Note Award for the 2022 Lagrange Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. She was the winner of the 2022 TMTA (Tennessee Music Teachers Association) solo woodwind competition, first-place winner of the 2018 Beethoven Club Young Artist Competition, and represented Tennessee for the 2018 MTNA (Music Teachers’ National Association) division audition. Cindy has achieved the first chair of the All West Tennessee Band since 2019 and is a 2022 National YoungArts Award Winner. Cindy completed the 2021 Tennessee Governor’sSchool for the Arts and won the Solo Competition, performing Concerto for Flute and Orchestra by Otar Gordeli.

Along with music, Cindy is a competitive swimmer, recently placing 1st in the 200 Backstroke at the 2022 LSU Tristan Vessel Invitational, and a swim instructor at theGermantown Athletic Club.

SGA is going to host the GMSD Trunk of Treat at Houston High School parking lot on Monday, October 31, from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. This is a free, community-service offering to all GMSD families! Engage in games and grab some candy before you hit the streets on Oct. 31.

In October, families are usually looking for family-friendly fall activities. Dogwood librarian Mrs. McIntyre, music teacher Mr. Brookshire, and technology coach Mrs. Dodge worked together to provide a fun experience for the community.

They created an interactive Storybook Trail that follows the story of Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-Lisa.“I wanted to do a collaborative project with the arts specialists,” Mrs. McIntyre said. “I thought this was something the community could enjoy. Many community libraries create storybook trails, and Mrs. McIntyre decided that it would be a good school and community service at the Dogwood park. Some classes have already experienced the trail. “It is a great experience because children are engaged in a literature activity in nature,” McIntyre said. It breaks up the monotony of class.”

The trail has 10 parts. Participants scan a QR code to hear part of the story and listen to the accompanying music. Mrs. Adair’s classes walked the trail last week, and the class had so much fun. “My favorite part was when my friends and I danced to the music,” said third grader Emerson Rivard.

The trail was a unique English Language Arts experience. “I liked being outside in nature hearing a story, and I liked the dancing,” said third grader Bramlett McGonagill. “At the end they have bones that sound like they are shaking!”

Mrs. McIntyre read the book, Mr. Brookshire played the accompanying music, and Ms. Dodge helped coordinate the technical aspects from recording to printing the signs. The collaborative effort has given the community a fun, not-so-spooky literary experience in nature.

Last week, GMSD was extremely proud to open the GMSD Health and Wellness Center. Our staff and their dependents who utilize GMSD medical insurance will be able to both attend quick appointments and receive some commonly used prescriptions at NO cost and with little wait time. This need was identified by our staff during our strategic plan townhall meetings. We are delighted to open the center and celebrated with a fun and festive ribbon cutting ceremony for our staff and their families.

Junior Sophie Christopher won the AAA Individual State Tournament; Our 5th State Title in Girls' Golf; The Girls' Golf Team (Sophie Christopher, Elizabeth Kellum, Erin McDonald, Sophia Tsai) finished 3rd overall.

Regular Season and District Tournament Champion; We play Germantown TONIGHT at home at 7pm in the Region Semi-Finals

Beat Clarksville to earn a trip to the state tournament; 12th year in a row, and 16 of last 17 years in the state tournament; TSSAA AAA VOLLEYBALL BRACKET

On the football field, our Mustangs executed an exciting win against Collierville just before the Fall Break. This Friday they’ll face off with the Tigers in Arlington. And, next week, will play their final, regular season, home game against Whitestation. They are currently tied for first place in the region. Stang Gang or Die and see you at the last game!

Congratulations to the GMSD combined Houston Middle & Riverdale Middle Tennis Team who won big at the 2022 USTA Southern TMSAA Middle School State Championship!

The Girls Silver and Bronze Teams both came in SECOND place in their divisions. The Boys Bronze got SECOND place in their division and the Boys Silver won FIRST place in their division & are the STATE CHAMPS!

It has been fun watching this program grow over the last three years due to dedication and passion from Kristi Nord McDonald and Jeremy C. Park along with the support of so many at Germantown Municipal School District.

Finished 4th as a team at Frank Horton Classic; Hays Adams finished 3rd overall, Thomas Dickenson 20th, Trevor Hodgson 21st

Won their last meet: Frank Horton Classic...Zoe Marsh finished 5th overall, Gracey Owens 7th, Lindsey Barnes 11th and Ava Stockdale 16th...all four girls ran under 20 minutes.

This past weekend our Farmington Falcons participated in the West TN Cross Country Regional. The boys brought home 1st place and the girls placed 4th overall and both teams qualified for the State race in Knoxville next weekend! We are so proud of all our runners! Way to go Falcons!

And…calling all businesses and individuals who’d like to sponsor the Houston Mustangs varsity baseball team!

The Mustang Baseball Team are coming off an amazing 2022 season as Class 4A state runners up, and we are looking forward to great things in the year ahead.

Our annual golf tourney is a key funding source. We are looking for teams - and we are offering sponsorships for the tourney plus the spring season ahead.

19th Annual Houston Mustangs Baseball Golf Tournament

Monday, Oct. 24, 2022

Links at Galloway

11:00 am registration

12:00 noon shotgun start

More info and to register: https://www.mustangsbaseball.com/

(select golf tournament tab)

Our Staff Profile this week also took us to Houston Middle School to learn more about School Counselor Carla Christian. This month, GMSD will be highlighting the extraordinary work of our school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists.