Wow! What a weekend for our district, from an exciting win against Collierville on Friday night to another grand championship for our Houston Band, and everything in between!

Please take a moment to read about the wonderful things happening across the district below. And, just a friendly reminder that tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5, is Election Day, and students are not in school. Our teachers, however, will participate in a District Learning Day. Next week, GMSD will be in session for both students and staff on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, so that our students can help the community celebrate the occasion through educational and celebratory programs.

Have questions about the school calendar? Find a PDF copy of the days off here.

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

Last week's board meeting included approvals across all agenda items and special recognition of the first-ever GMSD Star Behind the Scenes Award winners, honoring non-teaching staff from each school who make invaluable contributions. Key approvals included the TISA Accountability Report, the 2024 Local Education Agency Compliance Report, the FY 25 ESSER 3.0 application, and a resolution to freeze the Corebridge 457 Plan, alongside several budget amendments and club fee requests. The Superintendent also presented the 2024-25 Master Facilities Plan, outlining upcoming capital improvements over the next five years. For more details, check out the video recap above.

All our schools are wrapping up Red Ribbon Week, highlighting the important message of staying drug-free. Counselors and gym/health teachers have led a variety of age-appropriate mini-lessons, and in our elementary schools, students celebrated with fun dress-up days to reinforce this important theme.

We are also continuing to encourage parent participation in the upcoming parent academy session. Mark your calendars for an upcoming event on Wednesday, Dec. 11—our GMSD Parent Academy: Vaping Me Crazy! Join us for an evening session designed to equip parents and guardians with actionable solutions to one of today's most pressing issues facing our youth: vaping.

>>Just click the link below to let us know you're coming. We’re asking parents to RSVP so we can plan accordingly for seating and materials. Your response will help us ensure we have everything ready for a successful and informative event!

Houston High School’s new ACT initiative has delivered amazing outcomes this semester, with nearly 250 students participating in specialized tutoring sessions and more than 580 individual appointments. These efforts are showing clear results: 83% of students in the September and October workshops improved their composite or section scores, and in-school workshops for seniors aiming for a score of 21 have helped 92% improve section scores, with 38 students reaching the goal to qualify for Hope Scholarships and “Ready Grad” status.

The initiative’s success is supported not only by expert tutors, but also by comprehensive teacher training, ACT integration in classroom lessons, and new resources on the way with the new Mastery Prep platform. This platform offers practice tests and instructional tools district-wide. With more workshops planned in the coming months and teachers embedding ACT skills into daily lessons, Houston High is helping each student reach their fullest potential!

Houston High had an action-packed week beyond the big game. Celebrations kicked off with recognition of cross country achievements and impressive ACT scores, while Hype Week brought a fun costume contest, featuring favorites like “Anything but a Backpack” day. Our state champion girls' soccer team took center stage at a lively pep rally, and students are gearing up for the Mustang Theatre’s upcoming performance of Alice in Wonderland. Adding to the excitement, a new crosswalk—designed by an HHS student—was installed on Wolf River Boulevard. Students also hosted Trunk or Treat and StangFest, bringing the community together, and Mr. Uhiren’s classroom welcomed a special guest speaker to wrap up the week.

At Riverdale, 4th graders dressed up for their annual Vocabulary Parade, and their gym teachers launched a "Spooky Pumpkin Patch" activity, inspired by a state convention for health and PE. For Red Ribbon Week, students dressed up to show their commitment to a healthy lifestyle. We also caught up with the Riverdale Middle School Choir, who performed their annual Monster Mash for fellow students. Their fourth annual Monster Mash, they performed popular Halloween hits like “Monster Mash,” “Thriller” and “This is Halloween”.

Farmington’s Red Ribbon Week brought out some legendary outfits as students and staff dressed up each day. Be sure to check their social media for highlights. Dogwood Elementary celebrated Halloween with “Spider Day” for first graders and a fun “Ghost Hunt” in PE. Kindergarteners enjoyed a field trip to Cedar Hill Farm, where they picked pumpkins and visited friendly animals. And, as in solid Dogwood tradition, its fifth graders participated in the much lauded Mad Scientist Day!

At Houston Middle, students and staff went all out for Halloween with some impressive costumes. Ms. Whitsett’s animation class also celebrated International Animation Day, and their choir students put on an impressive concert. Check out the animation video by clicking the image.

Forest Hill kicked off Native American Heritage Month with 5th graders reading Thunder Rolling in the Mountains. They also launched their first Chess Club meeting of the year. The foxes also met up at "Percoski Pond" for their annual Father-Son Fishing Rodeo!

Catch all the excitement from Houston High's unforgettable Senior Night. The evening included a big football win over Collierville, honoring our amazing seniors from the football team, cheerleading squad, pom squad, and band, and we celebrated the Girls' Soccer Team's incredible achievement as State Champions! Watch the highlights and relive the moments that made this night one for the books!

We were thrilled to celebrate the winners of the GMSD Star Behind the Scenes Award at last week’s board meeting. Jennie Ewing, ESE Clerical at Riverdale, was honored for her work managing special education meetings and ensuring compliance. Known for her positive spirit, she enjoys working with her ESE team and recently traveled to Germany and Scotland. Kisha Anderson, a day porter, was recognized for her dedication to maintaining a safe, clean environment and her knack for making both students and colleagues smile. Pete “Mr. G” Giovannini, a general education assistant at FHES, was celebrated for his unique role in engaging students, from playing music in the lunchroom to sharing his love of biking and chess. Other honorees included Leronda London, a paraprofessional who extended her support beyond academics to build students’ confidence, and Hillarie Kerr, the financial secretary at HMS, who kept the school’s finances in check while fostering a supportive team environment along with a love of Squishmallows. Rounding out the winners, Maria Comas, another financial secretary keeping things in order at Houston High, and Jodi Carnathan, our GOAL school secretary, who both excel in managing complex roles that kept their schools running smoothly. We’re grateful for each of these winners!

The Germantown Education Commission celebrated Ashley Rotenberry as the October 2024 Teacher of the Month last week at the Board of Mayor and Alderman Meeting!

Send a shoutout 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!

Over the weekend, the Houston Band wrapped up their marching season by winning the AAA Division Championship at the University of Memphis Bandmasters, marking a triumphant conclusion to months of hard work. Competing in the large classification, the band also earned first place in ensemble music performance, individual scale music, individual visual performance, and individual percussion, leading to an overall victory. Band Director Kevin Carpenter was very proud, focused on the work that went in above the title itself. "Congratulations on a fantastic season, everyone. I cannot overstate how proud I am of each and every one of you. Our marching show this year delicately explored the juxtaposition of our cosmic smallness with humanity’s togetherness. Your individual and communal work led to us reaching our ultimate goal: bringing something genuinely beautiful into the world,” he wrote in a Facebook post to band members and their families.

Throughout the season, Houston’s band consistently achieved superior ratings at each contest, culminating in both a grand championship at NEMCC and a division championship at the University of Memphis. With the marching season behind them, the band is now shifting its focus to individual and ensemble musicianship, offering extended practice hours for chair placements, All-West auditions, and college prep. As the seniors take their final bow on the marching field, students and staff are looking forward to celebrating all members at their wrap party on Thursday. Congratulations, on a fabulous season!!

Two Dogwood Elementary students were awarded with Honorable Mentions at this year's Briarcrest Regional Art Contest and Exhibition (BRACE). Mary Margaret Tutor, now in 3rd grade, was recognized for her 2nd-grade artwork, and Tatum Barnett, now in 5th grade, was acknowledged for her piece created in 4th grade. This is a high competitive art competition and we're incredibly proud of Mary Margaret and Tatum for their creativity and talents.

The Houston High Theater Department is gearing up for an enchanting fall production of Alice in Wonderland, and they are excited to invite both students and the general public to experience this whimsical adventure. Directed by Kell Christie, the production features fantastic masks, puppets and lively music, making it a perfect show for audiences of all ages—from kindergarteners to adults.

Performances for the general public and for elementary schools are set for Friday, November 8 through Monday, November 11. Bring your family and friends and get ready to follow Alice down the rabbit hole for an unforgettable performance. For tickets, click here.

Attention GMSD students! The Germantown Municipal Council (GMC) PTO is excited to announce that this year's Art and Writing Contest is now officially live! This year’s theme, “What Are Your Big Dreams?”, invites students from all grade levels to showcase their creativity and share their dreams through art and writing.

The contest offers two main categories: Art and Writing. Students can choose to participate in either category, or both, but can only submit one entry per category. Each submission requires a completed entry form attached to the back of the artwork or included with the writing piece. Digital art files must also be emailed to GMCPTOContest@gmail.com. For specific submission locations at each school, refer to the contest flyer or check with your school's designated drop-off area.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONTEST HERE.

What a great senior night for football, cheer, pom, Stang Gang and band! Friday night in front of a crowd of thousands, the Mustangs celebrated the class of 2025, recognized the State Champs varsity girls soccer team, got a HUGE win over ❌ollierville, and won the first ever Mayor’s Trophy. It was a team effort, and the crowd and incredible atmosphere was a big part of that - thank you Mustang Mob! With that win over the dragons, the Mustangs of varsity football enter the playoffs as the #1 seed in the region, and this Friday, November 8, we are back at home to kick things off. Friday at Landers Ford Stadium, the playoff run begins at 7:00pm vs. Dickson County. Be there!! In other news, Cross Country is having a great close to the season. Varsity boys xc won the region title over Collierville, winning by 4 points, and varsity girls xc received runner-up! Up next for these Mustangs is State this Friday, November 8.

Winter sports are approaching, and for our middle school athletes, it starts this week! Tonight both Houston Middle School and Riverdale kick off their basketball seasons! HHS varsity wrestling is gearing up for their preseason tournament this Saturday - “King of the Mat,” and in the next few weeks, Mustang varsity basketball will be back!

Congratulations to October Athletes of the Month John Gavin of HHS and William Pressler of HMS.

John Gavin - Senior, Golf

“John has had a great senior season, and he has qualified for the State Championship.” - Coach Kevin Gaylord, HHS Varsity Golf

William Pressler - 8th Grade, Cross Country

“William has led a powerful HMS boys cross country squad with four straight individual victories to start the 2024 campaign. His blistering 10:38 two mile time at the Tupelo Invitational ranks among the fastest across the region. Under William's leadership the HMS boys cross country team is poised to compete for a State Championship.” - Coach Scott McNeil, Houston Middle School Cross Country

HHS Baseball is hosting their 21st annual golf tournament! This event is THIS Friday, November 8 with an 11:00 a.m. start time, and there are multiple ways to get involved. To register for this event and for any questions, contact mustangbullpenclub@gmail.com. Pay for your team or company's entrance here.

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

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, 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.