The school year has kicked off with incredible energy, from fresh faces in our classrooms to a fantastic Meet the Mustangs event that showcased our district’s talent and spirit. As we look forward to our first Mustang Football Home Game on Friday, August 23, I invite everyone to join us in celebrating our district and cheering on the Mustangs.

I’m also thrilled to announce the completion of several important safety projects over the summer including the addition of 3M safety glass and new secure vestibules to ensure our students’ well-being. In this week's newsletter, read about great things that happened, like these improvements, over the break.

The Skyward portal for grades opens to families on Wednesday, August 21 at 9:00 a.m.

Let’s continue to build on our legacy of excellence and innovation—together, we are GMSD: A World of Our Own.

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

Photos by Student InternsT errance Wright Jr. and Charlotte Freeman

The Board recently held its August meeting where they recognized our Student Leadership Team. Superintendent Manuel's presentation featured an update on GMSD Facilities.

Follow this link to watch the August Board meeting:

https://www.youtube.com/live/DGX_uNLM214?feature=shared

September Board Meetings:

Work Session: Tuesday, Sept. 10 @ 5:30 pm

Business Meeting: Thursday, Sept. 19 @ 6:00 pm

Join us in person at the District Office Board Meeting Room or online here.

Superintendent Jason Manuel has shared our early enrollment numbers for the 2024-2025 school year, signaling a strong and stable community at GMSD. With around 5,800 students, our budget and staffing are carefully aligned to maintain high-quality programs like AP offerings and Dual Enrollment.

Funding for GMSD is primarily supported by state and county taxes. New this year, students who are not residents of Germantown must pay tuition costs. State law determines the exact amount that a district can charge based on the relative amounts of support from the different funding bodies.

For more detailed insights and to see the full enrollment breakdown, visit our website.

This summer, Germantown Municipal School District (GMSD) focused on enhancing school facilities to ensure a safe, inclusive and aesthetically pleasing environment for students and staff. At Riverdale Elementary, the new addition was repainted to maintain its fresh appearance. Farmington Elementary School worked with a parent-designer team to update their school’s paint to reflect their unique brand. The district's Strategic Master Facilities Plan includes a repainting schedule for each building every seven years, with Houston High School set for updates in 2025 and Dogwood Elementary School in 2026.

The ESE (Exceptional Student Education) Programming at Houston High School also received a classroom makeover over the summer. The home of the Transition Academy and work space for our students with disabilities installed new kitchen fixtures, furnitures and collaborative work spaces.

Safety upgrades were also a priority. 3M Safety Glass was installed to reinforce windows and doors, making them more resistant to impacts and break-ins. Additionally, Houston High School's lobby received a new safety and security vestibule to better control visitor access, ensuring a secure learning environment.

We’ve got some exciting news! Germantown Municipal School District was awarded a $50,000 Perkins Reserve Grant, and it’s all about bringing hands-on learning to Houston High School. Our Agriculture and Nutrition programs are teaming up to give students a true Farm-to-Table experience. From planting and harvesting crops to cooking up delicious dishes, students will get their hands dirty in the garden and then whip up fresh meals in the kitchen—talk about learning in action!

The grant also means new equipment for our Agriculture and Nutrition labs, and students will have the chance to earn valuable industry certifications. Want to learn more about this tasty initiative? Read more about the grant here.

This summer, our dedicated Germantown Municipal School District educators took part in an intense seven-day inservice training designed to sharpen their skills and enhance student learning. From mastering new teaching techniques to collaborating across grade levels, our teachers are now better equipped than ever to provide top-notch education.

Safety was also front and center, with our staff undergoing critical training on school security, including active shooter drills and legal updates. At GMSD, we’re committed to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for every student.

Want to learn more about how our staff prepared for the school year? Click here to read the full story!

This summer, Germantown Municipal School District’s Camp Candyland made learning a blast for nearly 350 students—and even caught the attention of the Tennessee Department of Education! Imagine a summer camp where math and reading are as fun as a candy-themed adventure. That’s exactly what our K-8 students experienced at Camp Candyland, part of our Summer Success Camp.

With 225 elementary students at Forest Hill Elementary and 89 middle schoolers at Houston Middle School, kids enjoyed special treats like cotton candy, snow cones, STEM activities and more—all while staying sharp for the upcoming school year. And let’s not forget our Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program which provided an inclusive summer learning environment for students in special education.

Thinking about summer 2025? If you believe your child would benefit from these sweet learning opportunities, start the conversation with their teacher now. For more details and to stay in the loop, read more here.

At last week’s board meeting, we proudly celebrated our outstanding GMSD interns, Houston High School interns and the Ambassador Executive Council members! These students were recognized for their incredible community service, impressive skills, stellar resumes and top-notch interview performances. From storytellers and content creators to student leaders, each was chosen for their unique contributions and potential. Want to know why these exceptional students were selected? Read more about their achievements here:

GMSD Interns

HHS Interns

GMSD Ambassador Executive Council Members

We'd like to share a message from our outgoing student school board representative, Eva Fischer. Eva, who recently graduated, reflects on her rewarding experience working with the Germantown Municipal School District and the gratitude she has for the opportunity to represent the student body. As we bid farewell to Eva, we also extend a warm welcome to our new student representative, Jack Boccher, who will be stepping into this important role.

GMSD’s Summer Reading Backpacks initiative was a huge success, thanks to the creativity and dedication of Instructional Coach Gina Whitsell, Instructional Supervisor Dianne Stovall and GMSD camp program director Megan Gaschler. These three staff members executed an idea to furnish book bags with for summer success students with exciting, high-interest books.

Gina and Dianne personally selected books tailored to each student’s age and interests, aiming to prevent the dreaded “summer slide.” Their efforts paid off, with students diving into their new reads as soon as they received them. “Providing books they love and want to read is one of the best ways we can keep them on track,” Gina said. The initiative, supported by a portion of the camp materials budget, was more than just a summer project—it was an investment in our students’ literacy and success. Read more about the program here.

Do you know a school employee who goes above and beyond? Nominations for the 2024-2025 Tennessee RISE (Recognizing Inspirational School Employees) Award are now open, and it’s your chance to recognize those unsung heroes! The RISE Award celebrates classified school employees—like paraprofessionals, day porters, clerical and administrative professionals, bus drivers and cafeteria workers—who make a big difference in our schools.

Anyone can nominate, whether you’re a director, principal, teacher, parent or student. Nominations are open until September 16, so don’t wait! The top two finalists from Tennessee will go on to compete for the national award, with the winner being announced by the U.S. Secretary of Education in spring 2024.

Know someone who deserves a shoutout? Nominate them today, and let’s celebrate the amazing work happening in our schools! For more details, check out the RISE Award website.

Our GMSD Gratitude Grams are now live! We've made it 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. You can choose to leave your name or remain anonymous. Once your Gratitude Gram is approved, the recipient will receive an email with your message and an attached, easily printable graphic they can proudly display on a bulletin board or wall. Take a moment to spread some appreciation today!

The Houston High School Band is marching into the new school year with a fresh look and plenty of energy! After spending countless hours perfecting their routines at band camp this summer, the band proudly premiered their new logo and kicked off their season with performances at the Meet the Mustangs event and last week’s football jamboree. And they’re just getting started...

This year’s halftime show, titled “Pale Blue Dot,” promises to be an epic spectacle that you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re there for the football or (let’s be honest) just for the band, you’ll be in for a treat. Keep an eye out for parents proudly sporting their “I’m here for the band” shirts—it’s clear where their loyalties lie.

As the band gears up for an unforgettable season, they’re also crowd-sourcing funds to support their marching endeavors. If you’re a community member or local business looking to contribute to a fantastic group of student musicians, now’s the time to show your support. The band’s Fall Kickoff Campaign is underway, but they’ve only reached 20% of their goal. Every donation counts, whether it’s $5, $20 or $100. Let’s rally behind these talented students and help them reach the finish line!

You can find a link to donate to our awesome band students here: 💲Fall Kickoff Campaign

Please share this campaign with friends, family and anyone who believes in the power of music.

Houston is already collecting Ws for the 24-25 athletic year. Girls varsity soccer has started the season off 4-0 with big wins over USJ, Ravenwood, Bearden and Signal Mountain. They are ready to continue their win streak today at 7:00 p.m. at St. George's, and Thursday, they face Jackson Academy at home! Come out to show your support! Golf has also had a good start to the season with a big win over Collierville, and JV and varsity teams are both competing again this week. Tomorrow, varsity golf will play Arlington at 3:30 p.m. at Glen Eagle, and JV takes on Briarcrest. Thursday, it's Mustangs vs. Panthers as they take on Bartlett. Cross Country has been preparing for this season all summer long, and their kickoff is less than two weeks away. They will participate in the Twilight Invitational Memphis on August 31.

This is a big week for the Mustangs as two teams are officially starting their regular season. Varsity volleyball has their first game of the season tomorrow away at Munford with JV at 5:00 p.m., and varsity at 6:00 p.m., but this Thursday they are at Home! F, JV and varsity will play Lausanne with games starting at 4:30 p.m., JV at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 6:30 p.m. Be there to cheer them on for their first home game! And Friday, Houston’s Friday Night Lights will be back on! Varsity football is at home this Friday at 7:00 p.m. as they take on the Briarcrest Saints. We have special events lined up to celebrate our Mustangs, and this is one event you don’t want to miss! We can’t wait to see you all there, and as Coach Thomas says, “Come out, be loud, be proud and go Mustangs!”

Athlete of the Month is back for the 24-25 school year, and we can’t wait to celebrate our amazing student athletes. Hear from the coaches about our August nominees, and be sure to cast your vote! Voting is set to close on Thursday, August 29 at 12:00 p.m.

August High School nominees:

Addison Causey - Senior, Cheer

John Gavin - Senior, Golf

Ben Killebrew - Senior, Football

Chase Manning - Senior, Football

Erin McDonald - Senior, Golf

Ella Watkins - Senior, Cheer

August Middle School nominees:

Kaylee Faught - 8th Grade, Riverdale, Cheer

Elli Hinton - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Cheer

Kelsey Hughes - 8th Grade, Riverdale, Volleyball

Chloe McKinley - 7th Grade, Riverdale, Cross Country

Presley Swiggart - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Volleyball

Harrison Thweatt - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Cross Country

Check out this incredible recap of Meet the Mustangs 2024 above!

Video work by KDP (Kelly Day) Sports

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!

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.