STINGRAY NEWS
July 18, 2024
Welcome Stingrays!
St. Johns County Schools rolled over to the 2024-2025 school year last Saturday. We would like to welcome both new and returning students and their families.
This newsletter will be the primary mode of communication from the school to parents. It will be delivered via email and text message. For the most part, we avoid phone messages, though there may be times when they are appropriate. We ask that you consistently open these messages to avoid missing important information. Our school website is also a good way to stay up with GRMS happenings. At the bottom of this newsletter, you will find our phone number, website, and my email address.
Our school motto is Resilience Always Yields Success. We believe that life is joyous, but also comes with challenges. The ability to overcome adversity in a timely manner is important to success. All of us, young and old, encounter struggles that may result in anxiety, fear, inaction, or simply poor performance. We desire for students to be prepared for challenges, and ready to take them on to the best of their ability. Working with families, we hope to help each student prepare for their next steps and move towards becoming the best version of themselves. Depending on one's interests, abilities, supports, and innate desire, success looks different for each of us. We understand, appreciate, and respect these differences. That said, all students will be expected to adhere to certain rules and procedures while under our supervision. This is required to maintain an environment where all students may achieve their best. There will more on behavioral expectations in coming newsletters.
Questions that remain after reading this newsletter will hopefully be answered in coming days/weeks. If not, you can always call the school and we will do our best to help. If no one is available to answer, please leave a message. These are checked daily.
We are excited to get the school year going but in the meantime hope that everyone enjoys the remainder of the summer.
Respectfully,
Brian Wilson, Principal
Important Dates/Times and Notes
- 6th Grade Orientation is Monday, August 5th. More information below.
- Meet the Teacher is scheduled for Friday, August 9th. More information below.
- First day of school is Monday, August 12th.
- Staff is unavailable to supervise before 7:00, so please do not drop off students prior to 7.
- Doors open at 7:10 am. More info on drop-off/pick-up in an upcoming newsletter.
- We have a staggered start to the school day as 6th graders are released to class first, followed by 7th, then 8th graders.
- School dismisses at 1:50 each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
- School dismisses at 12:50 on Wednesdays.
- We stagger dismissal as well, with 6th graders being dismissed at 1:46, 7th graders at 1:48, and 8th graders at 1:50. It will speed up traffic a bit if 6th grade parents arrive a little early and 8th grade closer to 1:50, though this would be difficult to manage or mandate. Dismissal times are an hour earlier on Wednesdays.
6th Grade Orientation
Below is a flyer followed by a letter that were sent to parents recently. We hope all 6th graders will be able to attend. If you know families with incoming 6th graders, please ask them if they are aware of this event. It is designed to help all 6th graders to get their year off to a great start.
Meet the Teacher
All parents/guardians are welcome to attend the annual Meet the Teacher event on Friday, August 9th. You will have an opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the school and meet your student's teachers in their classrooms. In order to provide a more structured morning, we ask that you utilize the link below to schedule a 15-minute block. This will mitigate traffic and parking issues. Everyone should enter through the gym doors to the left of the main entrance. We will not be checking your scheduled time at the door. We simply want to plan for the best possible experience. If you happen to have issues with the link, please email Mrs. Cullipher, Assistant Principal, at daryl.cullipher@stjohns.k12.fl.us or Mrs. Lindahl, Executive Secretary/Bookkeeper, at stacey.lindahl@stjohns.k12.fl.us
Sign-ups begin at 8:30 and end at 10:45. We have a meeting scheduled for teachers to attend at 11:00 am.
Here is the link: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/new@sjschools.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/
School Supplies
Our AVID program offers a bundle of basic school supplies as a fundraiser for their program. If you prefer to purchase school supplies for core classes on your own, it may be a good idea to wait until the first day of school so as not to purchase items unnecessarily. Teachers will share with students what is needed for their class. At a minimum, please have your student come to the first days of school with a backpack, paper/notebook, folder, and writing utensil.
We appreciate you considering buying them to support AVID. Use the link to purchase one or more bundles, or individual supplies. Supplies will be available for pick-up at Meet the Teacher or will be delivered to students the first day of school.
https://schoolpay.com/pay/for/Core-Classroom-Supply-Bundles-and-Extras/MfaL
Office Hours
Summer office hours are 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday thru Thursday.
Beginning Monday, August 5th, office hours will be 7:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday thru Friday.
Joke(s) of the Week
What plastic surgery do old construction workers get? Fork-lifts
Why do angels have bad breath? Chronic halo-tosis
How did chiropractors party in the 1970s? They went herniated disc-o dancing
Contact Info
Website: https://www-grms.stjohns.k12.fl.us/
Address: 6250 US - 1 St. Augustine FL 32086
Phone: (904) 547-8700