The Panther Post
The Panther Post
News & Updates from
Gum Springs Elementary
April 8-12, 2024
News and Updates
LAST CALL for Kindergarten Registration! Please help us spread the word that Kindergarten Round-Up appointments end on April 12th. If you have a student or know someone who has a student who is not currently enrolled in a Pre-K program inside the Jackson County School System, please visit www.jacksonschoolsga.org/register to enroll them in Kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year. Families with Pre-K students who currently attend a JCSS elementary school are not required to enroll their student in Kindergarten. (See graphic below with details.)
The Great North American Eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8th. While our location is not in the path of totality like we were in 2017 when you may remember all the previous eclipse excitement, weather permitting, we will see up to an 81% coverage of the Sun, which is still very cool to witness. The peak of hte eclipse in our area will happen shortly after school is dismissed. As you and your children experience this rare natural occurrence together, please remember that it is NEVER safe to look directly at the Sun, unless you are wearing special protective glasses (not sunglasses). You can expect your surroundings to begin to darken slowly, as if the Sun were setting in the middle of the day. The temperature will drop, and birds will roost and get quiet, thinking night is coming. From our view, the Sun will take on the shape of a narrow crescent, like we sometimes see the Moon look. The image below is the estimated timeline and what you can expect to see at our location. As a reminder, JCSS will operate on a normal school schedule, with no delays nor early release.
Spring and Class Picture Day will be April 17th. All students will have their pictures taken in their class group picture, but individual portraits will only be taken of students who pre-pay. Click HERE to order online. See flier your child brought home or visit the website for package details.
If your business would like to advertise on our new full-color LED sign located at the school's front entrance, please complete THIS FORM. All money raised through advertisements will be used to support GSES students and staff.
Want to make your child feel extra-special on his/her birthday?! You can purchase a Birthday Shout-Out on our LED entrance sign for $5. Simply complete THIS FORM at least one week prior to your child's birthday, make your payment on School Pay, and submit a picture of your child. Details are included on the form link. If you have additional questions, please contact Mrs. Freyre at hannah.freyre@jcss.us.
This Week's
After-School Clubs
Monday: Science Olympiad Optional Bonus Practice (pick up at 4:00 P.M.)
Tuesday: Annie Rehearsal--all students (pick up at 4:00 P.M.)
Thursday: Science Olympiad Required Practice (pick up at 4:00 P.M.)
Thursday: Annie Rehearsal--all students (pick up at 4:00 P.M.)
Thursday: Annie Crew (pick up at 4:00 P.M.)
Upcoming Events
Apr. 15: Half of 1st grade on Field Trip
Apr. 16: Half of 1st grade on Field Trip
Apr. 17: Spring and Class Picture Day
Apr. 19: International Festival at 5:00-8:00 P.M. (JCSS Westside community event at Empower)
Apr. 26-May 3: 5th Grade GMAS assessment
April 29-May 3: 3rd and 4th grade GMAS assessment
May 1-3: 2nd Grade MAP assessment
May 2: WNB Spirit Night
May 6-7: Kdg and 1st grade MAP assessment
May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHTS
Sheridan Recognized as State Finalist
Our very own Mrs. Kasey Sheridan has been named a finalist for the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching! Ms. Sheridan will move on to the national competition! Only a few teachers in the whole state of Georgia receive this honor. We are so proud of Mrs. Sheridan and thankful for all she does to support our students and staff!
School Librarian Day
April 4th was School Librarian Day. We are honored to celebrate our hard-working media specialist Mrs. Monica Gassman. She picks out great new books to grow our library collection, manages media circulation, teaches classes, provides technology support, manages school communications, and more. We are thankful for the many hats she wears and how dedicated she is in all of them! We appreciate you, Mrs. Gassman!
Celebrating "Music in Our Schools" Month
The month of March is designated as "Music in our Schools" Month, but we are thankful to have a wonderful music program supporting our GSES students all year long! We are fortunate to have the talented and experienced Ms. Jackie Cooper leading our school music program. She provides in-class and extracurricular opportunities that help our students develop a love and appreciation for music, as well as grow their musical talents. In addition to her classroom lessons, Ms. Cooper directs our annual 2nd grade Christmas musical and spring musical. We are looking forward to her production of Annie in just a few weeks. In celebration of "Music in Our Schools" Month want to highlight some of Ms. Cooper's recent lessons:
Kdg-2nd grade students have been learning about orchestral instruments using the story of Peter and Wolf by Serge Prokofieff. Each character in the story is portrayed by a different instrument, helping students associate the characters with the different sounds made by each instrument.
3rd grade has been studying about music and movement. They have used scarves and ribbons to move to different classical pieces of music. Ms. Robinson's class used a parachute and specific movements while listening to Rossini's Finale to the William Tell Overture. They really loved hiding under the parachute at the end!
4th and 5th grade students have been learning to read music and play the recorder. They are enjoying the "Recorder Karate," curriculum, where they have the opportunity to earn different "belts" as they tackle recorder challenges. Congratulations to 5th grader Josh Roberts, who was the first student this year play "Ode to Joy" for his black belt, and he mastered it on his first try!
4th Grade 4-Hers Recognized with District Honors
Congratulations to the following GSES students who were recognized at the recent Northeast District 4-H Project Achievement competition. The students were selected from among nine elementary schools in Jackson County to represent Jackson County 4-H at the competition. Students researched a topic, wrote a speech, prepared a presentation including visual aids about the topic of their choice, and presented before a panel of judges. We are proud of our Panthers for doing such an amazing job!
Cozy Johnson, 1st place
Layne Rock, 1st place
Lyndon Reeves, 1st place
Olivia Greenway, 1st place
Hadley Kliesrath, 1st place
Madi Pugh, 1st place
Lily Barrette, 1st place
Baylee Purvis, 1st place
Jackson Clark, 1st place
Piper Brunen, 1st place
Merritt Cote, 1st place
Livi Landers, 1st place
Knoelle Inverso, 1st place
Abby Bertrim, 1st place
Joshua Rowe, 1st place
Harvey Baldwin, 1st place
Robert Skinner, 1st place
Alex Dalton, 2nd place
Murielle Louve, 2nd place
Peyton Moua, 2nd place
Paisley Pierce, 2nd place
Collin Coulter, 2nd place
Abby Smith, 3rd place
Colton Wilson, 3rd place
Jr. Reynolds, Hon. Mention
Gus' Spring Break Challenge!
It looks like many of our Panthers had an amazing Spring Break! We had 182 check-ins on social media for Gus's Spring Break Challenge, and our check-ins came from 20 states and 8 countries. How cool is that?! Besides Georgia, which led the pack with 56 check-ins, our most popular state stops were Florida with 32, Tennessee with 28, and Alabama with 18. You can check out all the pictures on our GSES Facebook page. We are excited to see everyone back at school all rested and relaxed!
Wonderful Worms
Mrs. Thomas enjoyed having an extended Agriculture class with 5th graders just before Spring Break. Students loved observing real-life worms to see how they move and learn about why they are so important for soil and plant growth. They also enjoyed using handheld microscopes and magnifying glasses to observe the worms' patterns of behavior.
Snacking on Soil?!
Kindergarten students in Ms. Carter's class have been studying abour rocks and soils over the past several weeks, and they enjoyed wrapping up their unit with a fun treat on Friday. They analyzed their "dirt cup" snack, made of chocolate whipped cream, crushed cookies, and gummy worms to identify the elements of nature they have been studying about in science.
Kdg. Zoo Crew Shares Research
Two kindergarten classes wrapped up an informational writing unit by hosting older students on a pre-Spring Break excursion. Mrs. Milburn and Mrs. Long's class invited their 3rd grade Book Buddies, and Mrs. Harley and Mrs. Holmer's class invited their 2nd grade friends from Ms. Rechin's class to visit their classroom for a zoo adventure!
Both Kindergarten classrooms were transformed into a zoo where each kindergarten student had the opportunity to share information about a zoo animal. There were different exhibits and even a zoo cafe! Kindergarten students researched and learned about a zoo animal, created a poster sharing that information, and presented what they had learned to the visitors. The students had a ton of fun and did a fabulous job!
Strikes, Spares, & Smiles
Our special education classes recently participated in their annual Special Olympics Bowling event. Our students competed well and each student brought home a ribbon for their achievement. Most importantly, our students had a wonderful time and everyone returned with a big smile.
Our staff members wanted to give a special shout-out to the JCHS students who assisted them and were fabulous with our students! The parents who were able to come enjoyed seeing their kids interacting with the older students as well as watching them have fun while bowling. Staff member Mrs. Lankford sai, "It always brings a smile to our hearts watching our students having fun as they participate in activities outside of the classroom!" Congraulations, Panthers!
Island Adventure!
Just before Spring Break, our 5th graders had a wonderful trip to Camp Jekyll 4-H Center for their annual overnight field trip. Students enjoyed activities like touring a coastal marsh to understand this unique ecosystem in our state, learning about beach ecology and ocean wildlife, exploring the maritime forest habitat on the island, going seining, learning about and holding critters in hepetology, enjoying a campfire with s'mores, and, of course, having lots of fun and making great memories with their friends! More photos will be shared on social media soon, but check out this sneak peek to see what a fabulous time our students, staff, and volunteers had on the trip!
Adopting Peeps
Mrs. Rock’s 1st graders kicked off their Spring Break by adopting Peeps. Students had fun showing setting up their habitats and taking care of their new friends.
Egg-cellent Easter Egg Hunt
Pre-K students got ready for East weekend by having an Egg Hunt at school with their classmates and friends!
Suggs' Scientists Share Findings
Mrs. Suggs' 4th graders enjoyed showing what they know and understand about light and sound by presenting special projects to their classmates.
PANTHER SUPPORTERS & COMMUNITY NEWS
Your Fun Run donations at work! Our students have been enjoying the new soccer goals added to our playground several weeks ago. Thanks to GSES PTO for making this student-requested project happen, and thanks to our family and community donors whose support during the GSES Fun Run "Game Changers" campaign made it possible! Thanks, also, to GSES volunteer, Mr. Joshua Cofer who assembled the goals and got them ready for our playground. These kindergartners were happy to interrupt their game of soccer to show how much they are enjoying our new playground addition!
Have a young student interested in Mountain Biking? Join this free event, the Pedal Palooza, on April 13 at Crows Lake in Jefferson. This opportunity is aimed at introducing students in grades 3-5 to the invigorating world of cross-country mountain biking. For additional event details, please visit https://www.georgiacycling.org/pedal-palooza-event-1.
Tackle football and sideline cheer registration are open through Jackson County Parks and Rec April 1-June 2. Sign up at www.jacksonrec.com. Information is also available about summer camp opportunities.
The second Thursday of every month from 4:00 P.M. until supplies last, Free Chapel Braselton is hosting a Mobile Food Pantry. This will be an opportunity for families in need to receive FREE groceries. There is no sign up; all you must do is show up and receive your groceries. We appreciate their community support.
Want to know more about how you can support our school? Click below for details. Feel free to contact Mrs. Hannah Freyre at hannah.freyre@jcss.us with questions.