Good Evening Panther Families, we hope everyone is enjoying the extra daylight with the clocks changing. Spring is just around the corner!
Upcoming Dates/Events:
Monday 3/10/25 is a B Day for exploratory classes
Upcoming Professional Development Day: March 21th, school closed for students
Upcoming Parent Teacher Conferences 3/27 & 3/28: Sign-ups are linked here: March 27th & 28th are our parent-teacher conferences. The tables on the link are organized by grade. The timeframes for the conferences are: Thursday 3/27: 8AM-7:00 PM and Friday 3/28: 8AM -11:00AM. Families can sign up for in-person, phone, or Zoom conferences with each teacher individually for 10 minutes for Thursday 03/27. Friday is only for virtual conferences. This provides the families with flexibility with scheduling and to be able to meet with whom, when, and how best works for them. When signing-up, please indicate in the comment section if your conference will be in person, phone, or Zoom; and if a translator is needed for the conference. Families need to sign-up in advance, no unscheduled meetings.
District Calendar: The school district calendar for the 24-25 school year is linked here:
New Updates
Panther Sports: Practices continue this week. Upcoming games/meets are here: https://www.panthers-sports.com/ First games/meets are home on Monday 3/31.
Field Trip: Monday, Adventure Club Field Trip to Grand Opera House, led by Ms. Bilinsky & Ms. Walker
MTSS Math & ELA Update: This is not just any challenge though! The winners of this challenge will have the opportunity to throw a pie at an administrator on Pi Day (March 14th, 3/14). The goal is simple. The top 10 students in each grade level who complete the most iReady lessons and ST Math puzzles between Monday, March 3rd and Friday, March 14th will have the opportunity to throw a pie at an administrator on Pi Day. Updates will be posted regularly on the announcements and in Schoology. It is time to get those lessons and puzzles in!!
One School, One Book Update:We have completed our book together as a school community. Students & staff are starting a project this week and items will be coming home to families later this week to participate as well! See details here: LINKED project slides
Upcoming Student Empowerment Summit: All students are welcomed and invited to attend. The Summit will be on April 5, 2025 at Cab Calloway School of the Arts. Doors Open at 9am and Registration events on March 14, 2025 so sign up NOW! See details here: https://form.jotform.com/250155694029055
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
STEAM Showcase: Wednesday evening, March 26 at William Penn High School
Rolling Updates
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.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
Yearbook Info: 8th grade families, if they would like to submit a baby picture for the yearbook, please see Mr. Blocker in room 105 during homeroom. He will be collecting pictures starting 2/2/25. Also, 2024-2025 Yearbook Order Information: Order a yearbook for your student Link to order is here:
YMCA Partnership: Sign-ups for new sessions has begun. WOW After School Program at the Bear-Glasgow YMCA (Working on Wellness) Visit Link here for info: YMCA WOW January – April 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.
Marching Colonials Clinics: These clinics are designed for potential and current marching band members in current grades 7th-11th to get an experience of what there is to offer in the William Penn Marching arts programs. This does not commit you to joining the Marching Colonials, but rather give some insight into what you might expect to see in the months to come leading up to the official 2025 season. More information and sign-ups on link here:
Colonial Compass: Colonial Compass continues this week on Wednesday during period 5. Colonial Compass is a Colonial designed high school and career-readiness course for middle school students. The goal of Colonial Compass is to increase career exploration at the middle school level. Colonial decided to create a course designed to be implemented for 30 minutes, once a week. The course curriculum is being used by all three middle schools for 24-25 SY. The vision for the Colonial Compass program is for middle schoolers to leave middle school prepared for high school, college, and career. We want to empower students to better understand themselves and discover their greatest potential. Our vision is that students will leave middle school with an actionable plan to help them reach their high school, college, and career goals.
Car Rider Drop-off and Pickup Details: Parents/guardians, please stay in your car during pickup. It ensures a safe experience for students, families, and staff. 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. 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.
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: 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 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 are:
| 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. After School Activities Pick-Up Details: 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.’
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. 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 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 *The 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 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,
Bill Johnston
Principal
Gunning Bedford Middle School