Good Evening Panther Families, We hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend and are looking forward to a great week at Gunning Bedford.
Upcoming Dates/Events:
Panther Sports this week: Field Hockey & Soccer have away games at MOT Charter tomorrow, 10/21, and are home vs. George Read for their final home game of the season on Wednesday 10/23 .Sports Website: Our website for games and matches for the year is here: https://www.panthers-sports.com
Upcoming Student Council Spirit Week: Get ready for a hauntingly fun week of thrills and chills as we kick off Spooky Spirit Week starting on Monday, October 28th! Each day will bring a new theme, so get your costumes, creativity, and spooky spirit ready. Here’s what’s in store:
Professional Development Day for Staff, Friday 11/1, school closed for students.
Picture Day Date Change: Picture Day has been rescheduled and will be held during school on Monday, November 4th.
Parent Teacher Conferences 11/25 & 11/26: Sign-ups and schedules will be shared in the coming weeks.
District Calendar: The school district calendar for the 24-25 school year is linked here:
New Updates
Student Kudos: Thank you to our Cheer & Field Hockey Teams for their participation in WP Homecoming Parade. Please see the pictures linked above.
Family Connections: Parents/guardians are invited to our next Family Connections meeting that will be held on October 29, 2024 from 5:30-6:30. We will focus on the upcoming November book fair. The meeting will take place at Gunning Bedford in the Learning Den.
Scholastic Book Fair: The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! SAVE THE DATE, November 18 – 26, 2024 and get ready to empower your reader with book choice. Start exploring together: http://bit.ly/47Kh30l #ScholasticBookFairs We will be looking for parent volunteers to assist with the book fair. A sign-up genius will be sent out next week for parents to choose blocks of time that are convenient for their schedule. All parent volunteers will be required to complete the district volunteer clearance application found HERE.
Enrichment Update: ST Math is a supplemental math program for ALL students at GB that builds deep mathematical conceptual understanding. Last year, students who used ST Math consistently at GB had higher achievement levels on SBAC and i-Ready diagnostics. The end of year goal is that all students will meet 100% of their puzzle goal which is 2,200 puzzles. Here is a visual to track your student’s progress towards that goal. Check in with them and see where they are. Students may access the program at home as well. It only takes a few minutes to solve several puzzles. At this point in the year, the goal is that all students should have completed 12% of their average puzzle progress so far.
Updates from 6th grade teachers: Please see weekly update here for 6th grade families: document will be updated each week by 6th grade staff:
Update from Grade Level Administrators:
Update from 6th grade assistant principal, Dr. Thomas-Brown:
Update from 7th grade administrator, Mr. Sopkanich:
Update from 8th grade assistant principal, Mrs. Nowell
Rolling Updates
Panther Library is open: he Panther Learning Den, is open for students to check out books! Please visit HERE to get more details from our building literacy coach, Mrs. Hewes.
Choir Sign Ups: Please see information about our Choir and if you would like your student to join choir, please complete the sign-up. Choir is an exploratory class that meets every other day for the whole school year. Questions about choir can be shared with Ms. Jessalyn Lierenz All About Choir Chorus Sign Up
IXL Math Club: IXL Math is a great way to sharpen your math skills through engaging, interactive lessons that help you improve at your own pace. By joining the IXL Math Club, you’ll not only boost your math abilities but also have the chance to participate in fun field trips and earn Hayden Bucks, which can be redeemed for rewards. Participation takes place in-person on Thursdays after school, with after school buses available, or virtually for added flexibility. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn, have fun, and earn prizes—join the IXL Math Club today!For more information and/or to sign-up, please see linked fliers IXL Club Flier 24-25 SY.pdf IXLMathClubRegistration.pdf or contact Crystal.braxton@colonial.k12.de.us Lozetta.hayden@colonial.k12.de.us
2024-2025 Yearbook Order Information: Get the BEST deal of the year! ORDER TODAY Order a yearbook for your student by Friday, October 4, 2024 and you’ll get it at the lowest price of the year! Link to order is here:
YMCA Partnership:WOW After School Program at the Bear-Glasgow YMCA (Working on Wellness) Visit Link here for info: YMCA Program 2024-2025.pdf Link here to sign up: https://ymcade.formstack.com/forms/bear_2024_parent_guardian_agreement_ Contact Ebony Tessein: etessein@ymcade.org or 302- 257- 5854 with any questions.
Health Office Information: Please view a letter from our school nurse, Mrs. Taylor: GB 2024-2025 Greetings from Nurse Taylor.docx Please coordinate any medication drop-offs with Nurse Taylor, do not send students to school with their own medication, it must be brought to school by a parent/guardian.
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:
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. Please ensure early dismissals are completed prior to 2:00 PM.
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:
| 8 lunch: 11:05-11:35 | 6 Lunch: 11:47-12:17 | 7 Lunch: 12:27-12:57 |
Student cellphone expectations: Please review the letter and research linked here on our cellphone expectations for students. We have an expectation for a cell phone use free experience for students during the school day. When students arrive at school, their phones are to be out of sight and not in use.
Car Rider Drop-off and Pickup Details: If your student is being driven to school, please review the images linked before on where drop-off and pick-up is located. am and 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. Please be patient with students, staff and our fellow families as we learn together. 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.
School Activities Pick-Up Details: As we move into our fall 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.
Student Lockers, Coats, Cellphones, & Expectations for Dress: 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. Students are to use their own lock on their lockers. Please see the 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. Link for Code of Conduct & Colonial Expectations for Dress:. Also, student horseplay is not appropriate at school. Students are to keep hands/feet to themselves.
Change of Address/information Documents: Link in Spanish: Link in English:
Please use the link above, to complete the form so that the office is aware of the change, and we can update your student’s file. Please note that in order to update or change your address you need to provide proof of residency and below is the list of acceptable documents for this: Utility Bill: Electric, Water, Sewer, Lease/Deed/Mortgage *Please note these bills need to be in the parent or guardian’s name.
Grade level Administrators & Counselors: The names and contact emails for our grade administrators and school counselors are listed below. They are your go-to contacts for supporting your student.
Administration School Counselors
| 6th Grade AP: Dr. Thomas-Brown | 6th Grade: Ms. Sheppard |
| 7th Grade Student Advisor: Mr. Sopkanich | 7th Grade: Mr. Arent |
| 8th Grade AP: Mrs. Nowell | 8th Grade: Ms. Pine |
| ILC Administrator: Mrs. Melissa Eger | |
| Principal: Mr. Johnston |
Upcoming Events around the Colonial School District
Have a great rest of the day and remember, you can’t hide that Panther Pride!
Sincerely,
Bill Johnston
Principal
Gunning Bedford Middle School