Summer Newsletter

It is hard to believe that another summer vacation is ending! The GAMS family has been working hard to prepare for the coming school year. We are excited to welcome our new 6th grade students to the family and catch up with those returning to 7th and 8th grade.

Included in this letter is important information for all families of GAMS students. If you have any questions, please call the office.

Enjoy the rest of the summer vacation! Relax, refresh, and get ready for another exciting year at GAMS!

# WarriorPride

Dr. Nancy Herb
Principal

STUDENT SCHEDULES
Though student schedules will be visible on August 13, 2024 for those who have updated student information, please understand that not all schedules are finalized until close to the start of school.
-Counselors will continue adjusting schedules and fixing scheduling issues in August, prior to the
start of school.
-Please be patient, but feel free to send questions/concerns to your counselor at ANY point via
email. When counselors return to the building, they will attend to these questions/concerns.

If you are a parent/guardian who does not have Family Access, you may complete the Family Access Consent Form. Email the form to jguntert@gasd-pa.org or FAX it to 717-334-6999. Once verified you will be granted access.

Important forms/guides as well as the student handbook can be found on our website at Gettysburg Area Middle School under Forms.

YEARLY OBLIGATIONS

Please check your Skyward account to view current fees. Payment can be made by cash or check, payable to GASD. Payments may be dropped off at the Gettysburg Middle School main office, or sent to school with your student.

The building will be open for self-guided tours for new students and families on Wednesday, August 14th from 6:00-7:00 PM. This is a time when students can walk around the building to find their classrooms and other important areas. There are no formal presentations and teachers will not be in their classrooms.

• Doors open at 7:05 a.m.
  Please make sure that your child is here on time and prepared.
• The school day begins at 7:20 a.m.
  Students MUST be seated in their homeroom by this time.
• Dismissal is at 2:15 p.m.

Breakfast is available to students from 7:05 a.m.-7:20 a.m.

every school day.

The Free/Reduced Lunch Application can be completed online

at www.compass.state.pa.us. You may apply funds to your

child’s account using a credit card or ACH payment or just to

view your child’s transactions. Visit our website for more

information and instructions.

For more information, visit: GASD's Food Services Department

Safety is always our number one priority at Gettysburg Area Middle School. Below is a description of these procedures.

Student Entrance to the Building:

When students arrive at GAMS each morning, they should enter the building at the following locations:

Bus riders: Enter through the main doors in front of the building

Parent dropoff: Enter through the doors by the stadium parking lot

Walkers: Enter through the music wing door in the front of the building

Students should report directly to their homeroom unless they choose to eat breakfast in the cafeteria.

Morning Drop-off:

All vehicles are to enter the stadium parking lot and form a single line along the outside perimeter. Please continue to move up single file in your vehicle until your student can be safely dropped off. If

each vehicle can pull up as far as they can along the side of the school, then the backlog should be less and your student will be safe to exit.

Alternate drop-off site:

A second drop-off area is designated at Lincoln Elementary School. The procedure for dropping off at this location: Please enter through the Lincoln Elementary bus loop and pull all the way around towards the Lincoln Elementary School sign. Once again, please pull all the way forward to maximize space. Students should get out on the median sidewalk side. When choosing this option, students will be responsible and expected to walk on the sidewalk to the crossing guard and then over to the middle school.

Afternoon Pick-up:

All vehicles are to enter the stadium parking lot and form a single line along the outside perimeter. Please continue to move up single file in your vehicle until your student can be safely picked up.

Students will wait on the sidewalk. No students are permitted to cross over to the parking lot area. We thank you in advance for your support in providing the safest possible procedure for student pick-up!

Join us at the Gettysburg Area Middle School on Thursday, September 5th from 4:30 - 6 p.m. for some picnic food in the cafeteria, served by our wonderful GAMS staff! There will be time to visit your student's teachers to learn more about 6th grade! At 6 p.m. please join Dr. Herb and Mr. Lobb for a brief introduction to the school year before heading out for the evening. Our picnic and visitation time with 6th-grade teachers will take the place of the traditional Back to School Night ONLY for 6th grade. To RSVP, click here.

• Notebook paper
  
• Pencils
  
• Pens
• Cap erasers
• Highlighter
• Colored pencils
  
• Glue stick
  
• Clipboard 9 x 12
  
• Calculator TI-30XIIS ONLY - Do NOT buy an alternative. Wait until in stock to purchase.
  
• 4 - 1” binders (preferable) & dividers or a trapper keeper
  
• 3 Ring Pencil case large enough to fit a calculator
  
• Earbuds, wired preferred
• Dry Erase Markers & Eraser

• Notebook paper – 3-hole punched
• Pencils
  
• Cap erasers
  
• Pens
  
• Highlighter
  
• Calculator TI-30XIIS ONLY - Do NOT buy an alternative. Wait until in stock to purchase.
  
• Pencil case large enough to fit a calculator
  
• Earbuds, wired preferred
  
• Dry Erase Markers for math class
• 4 folders (one for each core class) or one binder with dividers
  
• Some teachers may also recommend a few extra items

All GAMS students are issued a GASD Chromebook and charger the first week of school. Students are responsible for the care of these electronic devices. Charged Chromebooks and chargers should be brought to school every day.

Please review the GASD School Board Policy #237 - Electronic Devices with your child. Their Chromebook should ONLY be used for academic tasks related to schoolwork and homework. It is not to be used for personal communication, gaming shopping, or other non-school related tasks.

An agenda book will be provided to ALL 6th grade students and will include pages for daily assignments and schedules. 7th and 8th grade students will be provided an agenda book upon request. Please remember that oversized backpacks with wheels are too large for middle school lockers.

Gettysburg Area Middle School

37 Lefever Street

Gettysburg, PA 17325

Phone: 717-334-6254, Option 3 - Fax: 717-334-6999