September is in full swing, and what a week it’s been! From the excitement of the Germantown High vs. Houston High game on Friday to thrilling wins by our Mustangs in volleyball last week, the energy has been electric.

We celebrated Mrs. Kendra Pickens' return as the new principal at Forest Hill Elementary, while Houston Middle students enjoyed their annual house reveal event. Our GMSD Ambassadors held their first meeting, gearing up to represent our district in the community.

Special visitors from the governor’s office toured our preschool program as we advocate for state funding for students with disabilities. See you at the HHS Homecoming Football Game this Friday night!

Let’s make this another fantastic week in #GMSDaWorldofOurOwn.

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

Last Friday, Houston Middle School welcomed more than 350 students into their new houses in an epic House Sorting ceremony—their largest group ever! The excitement was through the roof, and for the first time, they used smoke as the reveal method, creating one of the coolest effects we've ever seen. As each student's house—Lipizzan, Andalusian, Dartmoor, or Percheron—was revealed, cheers erupted from the crowd.

In a not-so-scientific poll conducted during Mustangs Move (recess), most students were crossing their fingers to be sorted into Lipizzan, but all houses welcomed their new members with pride and excitement. The ceremony was full of Mustang spirit and set the stage for a year of fun competition, teamwork, and community building.

Students in Ms. Cristy Boggan’s Human and Social Sciences class had some very special visitors recently—adorable baby goats! Courtesy of 901 Goats, these furry friends made an appearance as students wrapped up their unit on positive mental health habits. The goats provided a fun, relaxing way to reinforce the importance of mental well-being.

Other classes, including our Transition Academy, joined in on the cuddles. The event brought joy and smiles to students and staff alike, creating a memorable experience for all involved. A huge thanks to 901 Goats and GMSD Coordinated School Health for making it possible.

The GMSD Ambassadors held their first general meeting of the school year, preparing to impress community members this fall. These dedicated students are excited to share what makes GMSD special at several upcoming events, including the Leadership Germantown Alumni meeting on September 24 and the Germantown Neighborhood Summit that same evening.

Don't miss their debut! If you'd like to book the GMSD Ambassadors for your next community event, please reach out to us.

Congratulations to the GMC PTO for hosting an outstanding Lunch and Learn for parent-teacher organization leaders! The event featured an elaborate theme, GMSD: A World of Our Own, complete with Willy Wonka flair and a chocolate fountain. PTO volunteers had the chance to network at job-alike tables while enjoying a delicious lunch.

Superintendent Jason Manuel delivered a special State of the District address, and participants competed in GMSD by the Numbers, a fun game show about the district. Congratulations to the top five winners, and thank you to the GMC PTO for organizing such a fantastic event!

This week, Germantown school leaders, alongside leaders from Lakeland, welcomed special guests from the governor's office, including Rep. Mark White and John DeBerry, for a tour of our special education preschool program. During their visit, School Board Member Brian Curry and Superintendent Jason Manuel highlighted a critical issue impacting our district—state funding for preschool students with disabilities.

When the new student funding formula was released last year, it unfortunately left out some of our most vulnerable students. GMSD is proud to advocate for these students with representatives from the House Education Committee and Governor Bill Lee’s office, working to ensure they receive the support they deserve.

Our 6th graders at Riverdale School are getting hands-on with science, exploring how ramp height and object mass impact energy! In their first lab, students used ramps, marbles, and other objects to test potential and kinetic energy, discovering how changes in height and mass affect speed. These experiments are helping students build a strong foundation in energy principles. Stay tuned for more exciting science adventures.

What a week at Dogwood Elementary! The PTO treated top classes to a Waffle House breakfast, rewarding the students for their high PTO membership rates. The waffle bar, complete with fun toppings and smiling Waffle House employees, made for a sweet celebration. Meanwhile, Dogwood's Cross Country team kicked off their season with a huge win in Knoxville, with both boys' and girls' teams placing first in their races. Congratulations to all our students for a fantastic week!

It was a huge week for Houston High! The Mustangs had an incredible Saturday, starting with a record-breaking turnout for their first-ever Saturday ACT Bootcamp. More than 150 students attended the four-hour workshop, sharpening their test-taking skills before gearing up for the highly anticipated Homecoming dance. The night ended with an unforgettable HOCO celebration, filled with fun, friends, and Mustang pride. That’s life as a Mustang—always moving and shaking!

In this exclusive spotlight, we take you behind the scenes of The Houston Band's 2024 field show, "Pale Blue Dot." Inspired by Carl Sagan's famous reflection on Earth's small place in the universe, this performance is a journey through sound, movement, and meaning. Join us as we dive into the creative process that brought this show to life — from the initial spark of inspiration, to the technology used to build a field show.

This summer, four Houston High School seniors—Roari Lopez, Francis Anyanwu, Shirley Kong, and Lucy Uh—participated in the prestigious St. Jude High School Research Immersion Program. Tackling projects in Hematology, Proteomics, Host-Microbe Interactions, and Structural Biology, they deepened their scientific knowledge while honing skills like persistence, adaptability, and teamwork. As they enter their senior year, these students are excited to bring their experiences and insights from St. Jude into their future endeavors. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next. Read more about their summer experiences by clicking here.

GMSD is thrilled to announce Kendra Pickens as the new Principal of Forest Hill Elementary. Mrs. Pickens, a former Assistant Principal at Forest Hill and current HR Supervisor, has more than 15 years of experience in education and administration. Known for her impactful leadership and dedication to building school culture, she is eager to return and continue fostering a strong community.

Read more about Mrs. Pickens' journey and her plans for the future of Forest Hill Elementary.

Read more

It's easy to send shoutouts to your favorite GMSD staffers with four ready-made templates: The MVP, You Are Appreciated, Top Notch Customer Service, and Someone Wants to Celebrate You! Simply select the staff member you want to recognize, type your positive feedback in the text box, and be specific about what they did that impressed you or made a difference. Choose to leave your name or remain anonymous. Once your Gratitude Gram is approved, the recipient receives an email with your message and an attached, easily printable graphic they can proudly display. Take a moment to spread some appreciation today!

Riverdale Elementary is bursting with creativity! From the exciting productions coming out of the Raider TV studio to the innovative projects in the music classroom, students are producing amazing content. See our photos above from a recent visit to their studios.

Over at Forest Hill Elementary, students are diving into pottery under the guidance of art teachers Ms. Kougher and Ms. Ardrey. Students are honing their skills with clay, working on projects like koi ponds, birds, and coral reefs. Ms. Kougher, a Riverdale alum, shared her passion for introducing clay to students early, ensuring they get the hands-on experience of creating art from start to finish. We’re so proud of our GMSD teachers and can’t wait to see these works of art come to life! Read our full coverage.

**It’s Time to Shine, Wildcats!**

Auditions for *High School Musical Jr.* are NOW OPEN!

Whether you’re a Troy, a Gabriella or ready to bring your own unique flair, we want YOU to take the stage! Auditions are open to Farmington, Dogwood, Forest Hill and Houston Middle students.

https://sites.google.com/gmsdk12.org/falconfootlights

The Houston Mustangs have the spotlight on them. With huge victories this week from varsity football and varsity volleyball, we are so proud of our Mustangs. Varsity football defeated Germantown 36-30 in a hard fought victory, but the leadership of teammates Chandler Day, DJ Miller, and Ledeadrick James who helped closeout the victory has not gone unnoticed! This Friday it is Homecoming!! The Mustangs will take on the Cordova Wolves this Friday at 7:00pm at Home, and we will celebrate all that it means to be a part of HHS as we round out homecoming week. Varsity volleyball had two victories this week, winning 3-0 over Germantown, and winning 3-2 in the highly anticipated game vs. Briarcrest! Tonight they are away to take on Valley View, but tomorrow they are back home to face Rossville. This Thursday, it is Mustangs vs. Dragons at home! Games start at 4:00pm, with varsity taking the court at 6:00pm. Varsity girls soccer is back at home this week! Tomorrow night, they play the ECS Eagles, and we need the stands to be packed! Be there at 7:00pm. Golf has had multiple players receive individual recognitions this season, and they are hoping to continue that excellence into this week as varsity plays FCA, and both JV and varsity teams play Arlington and Collierville. This weekend will be busy for Mustangs Cross Country as they head to Huntsville, AL to compete in the Southern Showcase. Let’s go Mustangs!

Voting for GMSD's September Athlete of the Month is now open! Read what coaches had to say about these incredible student athletes, and cast your vote. Voting is set to close September 30 at noon.

Here are the September High School nominees:

Kenley Henderson - Senior, Volleyball

Garrison Hickey - Junior, Cross Country

Martha Kate Jessop - Junior, Cross Country

McKlain Jones - Senior, Soccer

Ellet Smith - Senior, Soccer

Here are the September Middle School nominees:

Eryn Beaver - 7th Grade, Houston Middle School, Soccer

Lily Brownd - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Volleyball

Ann Catherine Elrod - 6th Grade, Houston Middle School, Soccer

Charli Coleman - 8th Grade, Riverdale, Volleyball

Milly Dodson - 6th Grade, Riverdale, Cross Country

Zeke Newhouse - 7th Grade, Riverdale, Cross Country

GMSD Athletics is hosting a tune-up clinic for middle school boys ahead of basketball tryouts. Join Coach Marvis Davis at Houston Middle School gym A to gear up for the season! This camp will focus on key skills, and it will also highlight team work. Registration is now open.

Houston Varsity Pom is inviting all Mini Mustang Dancers to join them on the sideline for a home football game! On September 20, we want to celebrate all of our Future Mustang dancers, so be sure to register! Register today to be guaranteed a t-shirt.

Houston High School girls varsity basketball is hosting a two day camp over fall break! This camp is sure to prepare students that are headed into their basketball season. Registration is now open.

Germantown Education Foundation 5K & Family Fun Color Run

Saturday, September 28, 2024
Wolf River @ Kimbrough

Bounce Houses & Food Trucks

Opens at 8:00 am
Certified 5k at 9:00 am
Color Run at 10:30 am

New this year: School teams will have their own school color shirts. $10 from each school registration goes to your school in unrestricted donation. Any donation to your school team are designated for your school’s grant funds.

To guarantee your School Color Race Shirt, you must register by Midnight September 15! Registrations after that will receive a shirt, but in the color available in your size.

REGISTER TODAY!

Make sure that your senior registers with a non-GMSD email address in our Alumni Portal! Click here.

Click here to view a digital copy of our ALUMNI magazine.

The GERMANTOWN MSD app – Our school district in your pocket. Sync our calendar seamlessly across all your devices. Access student information, attendance, assignments, grades and more – all in one convenient place. Get a personalized feed tailored to your preferences. Choose your schools and news sources for a streamlined experience. Stay informed, stay connected – with the GERMANTOWN MSD app.

You can quickly download the NEW GMSD app to access all of these features. First, you'll search for 'Germantown MSD' in your preferred app store (iOS or Google). As a parent or caregiver, you'll select 'App Login' to access your child's information. The login process includes a one-time passcode that connects to the cell phone or email you have listed in Skyward--so there's no passwords to learn or memorize! If you need assistance logging in, we are standing by to help.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/germantown-msd/id6446898026

Google: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blackboard.community.gmsdk12

*If either of the two links above are not working, you can also find the app by searching Germantown MSD.