Good Afternoon Panthers, We hope everyone had enjoyed a beautiful long weekend & was able to make memories with family & friends.
Upcoming events:
Tomorrow, 4/21/24 is an A day for exploratory & MTSS classes.
DeSSA This Week:
Testing this week on Wednesday 4/17, is in Math. We start testing at 8:30. Please encourage your student to be at school on time and to show their learning growth this year on the assessment. Thank you for your support. We will be testing on Wednesday mornings for the next 4 weeks.
DeSSA Spirit Days this week:
Spirit Days this week: Monday 4/22: Students as Teachers (and vice versa): Students show off their professional dress. Teachers, show off the latest student fashions.4/23: Mismatch Day: Wear clothes that do not match! This could be a different patterned top/pants or two different socks.
Spring sports:
Spring Sports continue this week. Away games on Monday @ George Read MS for baseball & softball. Track is away @ William Penn High School on Tuesday against George Read & McCullough. Home baseball & softball vs Newark Charter on Wednesday. Home track & field on Wednesday against Red Lion. Schedules: Baseball Softball Track & Field
District Calendar: The school district calendar for the 23-24 school year is linked here:
2024-2025 School Calendars: July 2024-December 2024 January 2025-June 2025
New Updates:
Upcoming Variety Show Information:
“Calling all Gunning Bedford Stars! Do you have a talent that’s ready to shine? Are you ready to dazzle the audience with your skills? Then get ready because it’s time for the Gunning Bedford Middle School Variety Show Auditions! Whether you’re a solo act or part of a group, we want to see what you’ve got! Singers, dancers, musicians, actors, comedians, magicians, jugglers, and any other talented individuals or groups are invited to audition. The Audition sign up link is now open and will close on April 23rd. Auditions will be held on Thursday 4/25. To audition, all performances must fill out an audition form which is located in schoology. Come prepared to showcase your talent and impress the judges! To sign up for auditions please visit schoology or for more information, please contact Ms. B in room 201.See you at auditions!” Audition link
Friday, April 26, 2024; 5 – 7PM & Saturday, April 27, 2024; 10AM – Noon
Colonial Summer Programming 2024:
Please please see link for programs offered this summer and the locations. https://www.
Updates from Grade Level:
Please see updates from our grade level administrators and staff here from before break: 6th Grade: 7th Grade: 8th Grade: ILC:
Rolling Updates
Early Dismissal Procedure: Students will no longer be able to wait in the Main Office for a family member to pick up early. As increased security measures we must check the ID of the persons picking up before releasing the child. Thank you for your understanding and your partnership in keeping our students safe.
After-School Activities Pick-Up Details: As we move into our next season of after school sports and activities, we want to clarify procedures for parents who pick up their students from after school activities. Student safety is our biggest concern. Please do not park in the first 5 bus slots or along the sidewalk outside of the auditorium. Both areas are noted in the map below by a blue ‘X.’ This ensures that our students can safely cross the bus court to get on their assigned buses.
2023-2024 Yearbook Order Form: Linked here if interested in pre-ordering. 2024 Yearbook QR Code Order Link.pdf
Back to Basics Tutoring: Please see flier here: 23-24 SY Back to Basics Learning Dynamics Colonial Revise Flyer.png
Morning Car Rider drop-off & Afternoon pick-up: Parents dropping off students in the morning need to create a single line on the right side of the cones. Students should exit their cars to the sidewalk. Cars are not to travel on the left side of the cones. Student safety is our top priority. As a reminder, please review the images linked before on where drop-off and pick-up is located. amand pm. AM is in the front of the building, PM is on the side of the building. Staff will be present to support in building the routine with students and families. Our doors open at 7:55AM each day. Please be mindful of dropping off students before then as staff are not outside. In the afternoon, car rider dismissal begins at 2:37PM on the side of the building. Families will pull into the parking lot on the side of the building and form a line that goes up and around the lot. Please follow the directions of staff supporting the dismissal to ensure a safe dismissal for all.
Library Information from Ms. Hewes: Please visit HERE to get more details.
Student Lockers, Coats, Cellphones, & Expectations for Dress: All students have access to a locker. Students are to use their lockers to store their coats and bags each day. Students have access to their lockers multiple times during the school day to pick-up/dropoff items. Students are to not wear backpacks or coats during the school day. Link for Code of Conduct & Colonial Expectations for Dress: Please see link for a reminder for our district expectations for dress and this year’s code of conduct. Students are to not wear hats, hoods, or sunglasses inside the building. Please remind students about our cellphone expectations of devices being away while at school. Students are able to use YONDR pouches and/or have phones remain in their bags. A brief presentation about our cellphone expectations is linked here: Also, student horseplay is not appropriate at school. Students are to keep hands/feet to themselves.
GB Gear: Please see link here to order GB clothing & apparel.
Health Office Information: Our school nurse is Ms. Taylor & her email is: olivia.taylor@colonial.k12.de.
Breakfast & Lunch for students: All students at Gunning Bedford get free breakfast & lunch each day. Students can pack their breakfast or lunch as well. Students are not able to have any outside delivery food for lunch time; For example no Door-Dash or UberEats delivery. The lunch times for students is:
11:05-11:35 |
8 lunch |
11:47-12:17 |
6 lunch |
12:27-12:57 |
7 lunch |
Support Links for Families: –Please use this link for more information & FAQ about Home Access Center –To update the contact information you have on file please fill out the form linked here:
Grade level Administrators & Counselors:
Administration School Counselors
6th Grade AP: Dr. Thomas-Brown |
6th Grade: Ms. Sheppard |
7th Grade Administrator: Mr. Sopkanich |
7th Grade: Mr. Arent |
8th Grade AP: Mrs. Nowell |
8th Grade: Ms. Pine |
ILC Administrator: Mrs. Eger |
|
Principal: Mr. Johnston |
Have a great rest of the day and remember, you can’t hide that Panther Pride!
Sincerely,
Mr. Johnston, Principal, Gunning Bedford Middle School