Embedded Files
WELCOME! ⚙️
WELCOME! ⚙️
What is GEAR UP?
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
🎃 Reminder: Spooktacular Event This Month! 👻
Just a quick reminder that our Spooktacular Event is happening this month! Please remember:
Attending this event does count as a "parent meeting attendance." 🎉. To receive credit, make sure to sign in with me at the GEAR UP booth that will be set up at the event.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.
Respectfully,
Ms. Garza
Homecoming Parade 10/23/25: SLC Representing GEAR UP @ B. Garza Middle School
Homecoming Parade 10/23/25: SLC Representing GEAR UP @ B. Garza Middle School
💬COMMUNICATION IS KEY! 💬
A BIG thank-you to the UTRGV Centralized Staff for joining us at B. Garza Middle School for this semester’s Executive Alliance Meeting!
Our district and campus leadership teams came together to review GEAR UP goals and objectives as we move through our 8th-grade year and begin the transition into high school.🎓
A special SHOUT-OUT to Mrs. Melissa Mora-Rodriguez, Mrs. Lissbeth Sustaita, and our amazing District Leadership Champions for always supporting our initiatives and our students’ success! ⚙️💜🖤🩶🤍
V’s Up!✌🏻
– Ms. Garza
#GEARUP #CollegeBound #CareerLinked #VsUp #WISD
GEAR UP Spotlight! 🔦✨
GEAR UP Spotlight! 🔦✨
GEAR UP lessons continue, and this month we focused on building student portfolios! Students explored their dream jobs, researched possible higher education institutions, and learned about salaries and work schedules.
Our 8th graders also participated in a workshop practicing cursive writing and signing their names — all important skills as they prepare for future postsecondary decisions and the transition to high school!
#GEARUP #CollegeBound #CareerLinked #FutureFocused
September Workshop is Postponed
September Workshop is Postponed
El taller de septiembre esta pospuesto
El taller de septiembre esta pospuesto
National GEAR UP Week! Day # 4
National GEAR UP Week! Day # 4
📸Photo Booth...
📸Photo Booth...
National GEAR UP Week!
National GEAR UP Week!
Day # 3
Day # 3
"Wish Upon a Star!" ✨🍭
"Wish Upon a Star!" ✨🍭
National GEAR UP Week!
National GEAR UP Week!
Day # 2
Day # 2
GEAR-ED UP
GEAR-ED UP
for College!📿⚙️
for College!📿⚙️
National GEAR UP Week! Day # 1📣When I Grow Up ...
National GEAR UP Week! Day # 1📣When I Grow Up ...
National GEAR UP Week! 📣
National GEAR UP Week! 📣
8th GRADE BGMS Students! 🎉
Get ready! Next week we’re celebrating National GEAR UP Week! ⚙️🩶🧡✨
Check out the flyer below for all the fun activities happening each day. Don’t miss out as we celebrate this amazing program, its mission, and the opportunities it brings! 🎓
📍All activities will take place during 8th grade lunch in the hallway by the windows outside the cafeteria.
Got questions? Reach out to Ms. Garza, our GEAR UP Coordinator! 📩
#NationalGEARUPWeek #8thGrade #BGMS
GEAR UP Lessons continue... 9/12/25
GEAR UP Lessons continue... 9/12/25
"The Importance of Education"
UTRGV GEAR UP | Gratitude Post for Parents ⚙️🧡
Thank you to my amazing 8th grade parents for your continued support at every workshop and event hosted by UTRGV GEAR UP.
At last night’s meeting, we covered everything from social media platforms, upcoming events, tutoring opportunities, to college trip procedures.
Parents in attendance received a "Coordinator’s Promise" — a symbolic nail that will one day hold up your child’s cohort diploma after graduation. ✨🔨🎓
Building relationships with each of you and getting to know your families has been a true pleasure, especially as we begin our final year of middle school together.
Thank you for joining me at the 8th Grade Kick-Off! Your involvement sets the tone for a strong and successful school year ahead.
Here’s to a great 8th grade journey — together!
Respectfully,
Ms. Arcelia Garza
Our First day of 8th Grade!
Our First day of 8th Grade!
Parents,
Welcome to the new school year! 🎒 I hope you’ve had a restful and enjoyable summer.
I would like to formally invite you to our first GEAR UP meeting of the year, where we will go over important plans and expectations for the school year. This is our final year of middle school, and there is so much to accomplish together!
As always, please remember that I’m just a phone call or email away if you ever have any questions.
Wishing all of my students the best school year yet! #Our8thGradeYear ✨
UPCOMING PARENT WORKSHOP! 8.26
UPCOMING PARENT WORKSHOP! 8.26
Video_20250819_142505_082.mp4
Meet Your GEAR UP Coordinator👋🏻: 8/13/25
Meet Your GEAR UP Coordinator👋🏻: 8/13/25
Thank you to all the parents that stopped by for "Meet the Teacher" night at BGMS.
Below you can the flyers to our upcoming parent events this semester.
Please make sure to reach out if you have any questions! ☺️
Respectfully,
Ms. Garza
A message from Ms. Garza....
A message from Ms. Garza....
My 8th Graders! 🎉
Don't forget to take a picture with the backdrop outside of my office! 📸🚌
August 18th is your Last First Day of Middle School — make it count! Wishing you all the best as you kick off this new school year. I’m looking forward to seeing all the great things you'll accomplish! ✨
GEAR UP kicked off the school year with an inspiring Seeds Leadership Conference this week! 🌱
Huge thank you to all of my amazing Student Leaders who showed up and brought their energy, ideas, and enthusiasm. It was two fun-filled days of learning, sharing, and growing together, all in pursuit of becoming the best student leaders we can be! Here’s to an incredible school year ahead! 💪
#GEARUP #StudentLeaders #SeedsLeadership #GreatThingsHappening@BGMS ✨
As back-to-school season approaches, I want to give a huge shout out to the amazing educators who spent part of their summer attending UTRGV GEAR UP professional development! ️
Thank you, Mrs. Jenna Grado and Mr. Vasquez, for representing our 7th and 8th grade teams with pride. Your dedication, even during the off-season, truly makes a difference here at B. Garza Middle School. Your commitment to our students doesn’t go unnoticed!
#SecondToNone #KATZ #GEARUP #BackToSchoolReady
District Science 1st Camp: Drones and Rovers:
June 11th 2025
Math Acceleration Summer Program
Our Math Acceleration Summer Program is in full force!
Some of our GEAR UP students are making the most of their summer by sharpening math skills, tackling new challenges, and building a strong foundation for the school year ahead.
From interactive lessons to collaborative problem-solving, it’s all about growth, grit, and getting ahead! Let’s keep the momentum going! #GEARUP
#MathAcceleration #SummerSuccess #FutureReady
Students don't forget about the two summer programs GEAR UP is hosting this summer!
1. District Science 1st Camp: Drones and Rovers: (only 15 slots) If you went to the camp on May 9th you cannot attend this one as it is on the same topic. To sign up, ask you Science teacher to recommend you.
Date: June 11th (one day event)
Time: 9:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: District PLC
2. Math Acceleration Summer Program: June 2nd - 26th. Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM- 12:30 PM. Ask your math teacher if you qualify.
Reach out to Ms. Garza if you have any questions!
Have a GREAT SUMMER!
All Aboard College Trip:
All Aboard College Trip:
UTSA & Texas A & M San Antonio
5.21.25
May Parent Workshop: 5.19
May Parent Workshop: 5.19
Presentation Link:
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK:
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK:
7th Grade GEAR UP Teachers
Friday, May 9th , 2025
And that’s a wrap for Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎💫
On behalf of our GEAR UP coordinator, Ms. Garza, a huge thank you to all of our amazing 7th grade GEAR UP teachers and staff for their hard work and dedication. 7th grade has truly been a blast because of YOU! We hope you enjoyed your cosmic fruit bowls — you’re out of this world! And that’s a wrap for Teacher Appreciation Week! 🚀🍓🍇🛸
Student Conference: Next Gen Leaders: Money, Mindset
Student Conference: Next Gen Leaders: Money, Mindset
& Leadership 5.6
& Leadership 5.6
This Tuesday, some of our GEAR UP students had the opportunity to participate in a transformative event designed to inspire them as future leaders. With a focus on leadership, financial literacy, and personal growth, the event provided our students with the tools to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and enhance their financial knowledge—all within an engaging and motivational environment. Our students had a fantastic time! A special thank you to our 7th-grade teacher for recommending our students to be a part of this incredible experience!
ALL About the Katz : 4/24
ALL About the Katz : 4/24
So proud of my GEAR UP students! 🎉 At this month’s All About the Katz event, our GEAR UP booth was a hit—sharing goodies, resources, and lots of great information. Even more impressive, our Student Leadership Council led school tours with confidence and enthusiasm. Huge shoutout to all our students for doing such an amazing job representing the program! #GEARUP #StudentLeaders #AllAboutTheKatz
APRIL: PARENT WORKSHOP
APRIL: PARENT WORKSHOP
🌎💚Thank you to all the amazing parents and students who joined us for our April GEAR UP Parent Workshop! It was a fantastic way to celebrate Earth Day while nurturing the future of our 2030 cohort students. 🎓
A BIG shoutout to our wonderful presenters — Ms. Cari Salinas, College Readiness Specialist, and Mrs. Eunice Leija-Rico, CCMR Advisor — for teaming up with B. Garza MS as we guide our 7th graders toward a bright future. 🎈☁️
🚀📚 B. Garza Middle School is proud to be CCMR connected! #GEARUP #CCMRConnected #FutureReady #BGarzaPride
7th Grade Parents!
Our NEXT Parent Workshop is coming up on Tuesday, April 22nd, from 5:30–7:00 PM in the school library .
Reminder: This workshop counts as one of the required meetings to attend the 'All Aboard College Trip to San Antonio, Texas on May 21st!
Stay connected with all things GEAR UP by following our GEAR UP website and B. Garza social media on Facebook and Instagram for updates!
Have a wonderful Easter Break!
— Ms. Garza, GEAR UP Coordinator
argarza@wisd.us 📩 🐣🌸🌼
Author Visit: April 30th, 2025
Author Visit: April 30th, 2025
7th Grade GEAR UP Students – Don’t Forget!
Sign up for our exciting Author Visit before the deadline: April 25th! 📚
Spots are limited, so make sure to register through the GEAR UP Google Classroom. 💻
If you have any questions, contact me at argarza@wisd.us.
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!
UTRGV IDEAL LOGIC LINK: 🔽
UTRGV IDEAL LOGIC LINK: 🔽
Presentation from Parent Workshop
Presentation from Parent Workshop
March 26, 2025 ⬇️
March 26, 2025 ⬇️
📢 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 📢
***DEADLINE FOR THE 'ALL ABOARD' SAN ANOTNIO GEAR UP TRIP IS
APRIL 4TH @ 4:00 PM ! ***
MAKE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR TEACHER RECOMMENDATION FORM TO MS. GARZA AND THAT YOUR PARENTS FILLED OUT YOUR IDEAL LOGIC PAPERWORK BY THEN.
REMEMBER Only 40 students will be selected, and the selection process will be based on several factors. Here are some of the requirements:
Parents must attend at least two Parent Workshops/meetings this semester (attendance in every workshop/meeting is documented).
Students must submit a teacher recommendation form (post on our GEAR UP Google Classroom). DUE APRIL 5TH by 4:00 PM.
Students must be passing all classes and provide an up-to-date report card.
Students must have no current referrals or behavior incidents.
Email me if you have any questions. Thank you for your cooperation, looking forward to this trip!
Respectfully,
Ms. Garza
📩argarza@wisd.us
B. Garza Presentation for 3.26.pptx.pdfGEAR UP Parents,
Thank you for the amazing turnout at our last workshop, we had over 100 guests! We are excited to announce that our next Parent Workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 22nd at 5:30 PM in the BGMS Library . We’ll have special visitors from Weslaco High School, so you won’t want to miss it!
As March comes to an end, here are a few important things to keep in mind:
Next Parent Workshop: April 22nd, 5:30 PM at BGMS Library
Author Visit (presented by GEAR UP): April 30th, 5:30 PM at BGMS Library (Flyer will be posted this week)
DEADLINE ALERT: "ALL ABOARD" SAN ANTONIO GEAR UP TRIP
Deadline: April 5th at 4:00 PM
Only 40 students will be selected for the trip
Steps for filling out the Ideal-Logic paperwork are posted above.
Our College Trip will be on May 21st, so all paperwork must be submitted ahead of time to ensure approval.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at argarza@wisd.us .Thank you for your continued support!
Looking forward to all the exciting things happening with GEAR UP at B. Garza Middle School.
Respectfully,
Ms. Garza
GEAR UP Parent Meeting Announcement!
7th grade parents, our Parent Workshop for this month is happening this Wednesday, March 26th, from 5:30 - 6:30 PM at our school library 📍. This will be a mandatory meeting as we will be filling out important paperwork for our students to attend out-of-town trips, discussing CTE pathways for our students and TSI Testing.
Documents needed:
Medical insurance information (if your child has insurance) 📋
A working email address for the parent 💻
An email address for the student (the school email is fine) 📧
Please stay informed with GEAR UP updates by following our GEAR UP website and B. Garza's social media on Facebook and Instagram.
B.Garza Instagram 📲: bgms_katz_official
We can't wait to see you this Wednesday!
Ms. Garza – GEAR UP Coordinator 📩argarza@wisd.us
Happening at B. Garza Middle School:
GEAR UP Lessons: March
GEAR UP Lessons: March
GEAR UP lessons continue! This past week, Ms. Garza, our GEAR UP coordinator, met with some of our 7th graders to explore different career pathways they can begin in high school and discussed key considerations for post-secondary education. Students learned about the requirements for various careers and the potential salaries for those fields. #ChooseYourPath
Yesterday, our GEAR UP students attended the first GEAR UP trip of the year! They had the incredible opportunity to visit UTRGV and participate in this year’s FESTIBA, a Festival celebrating International Books & Arts! It was an unforgettable experience—getting autographed books and immersing themselves in creativity and expression. Our students gained new insights, inspiration, and made valuable connections with fellow artists and writers. We can’t wait to see all the amazing things they bring back! #GEARUP #FESTIBA #ArtsAndLiterature #StudentSuccess #CreativeMinds #CollegeReadiness
This week, we hosted our first Parent Workshop with GEAR UP! ♥️🎉 A BIG thank you to all the parents who joined us to learn, connect, and support their students’ academic journeys. 🤝 Together, we’re building a strong partnership to help our students succeed ⚙️🧡✌🏻. Stay tuned for more workshops and opportunities to get involved! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ms. A. Garza, our GEAR UP Facilitator, at argarza@wisd.us 📩.
#ParentEngagement #CommunitySupport #StudentSuccess #Teamwork
📢 Calling All 7th Grade Parents! 📢
Our first Parent Workshop with GEAR UP is just around the corner! We invite you to join us next Tuesday, February 25 at 5:30 PM in the school library📍.
This workshop is designed to help parents navigate the school portal 💻 to check grades, attendance and to provide other useful tips for staying connected with your child's education.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our GEAR UP Facilitator, Ms. Arcelia Garza, at argarza@wisd.us 📩.
We look forward to seeing you there! 🛠️⚙️
📢¡Llamando a todos los padres de séptimo grado!📢
📢¡Llamando a todos los padres de séptimo grado!📢
¡Nuestro primer taller para padres de GEAR UP está a la vuelta de la esquina! Te invitamos a unirte a nosotros el próximo martes 25 de febrero a las 5:30 p.m. en la biblioteca de la escuela📍.
Este taller está diseñado para ayudar a los padres a navegar por el portal de la escuela 💻 para verificar calificaciones, asistencia y brindar otros consejos útiles para mantenerse conectados con la educación de su hijo.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en comunicarse con nuestra facilitadora de GEAR UP, Ms. Arcelia Garza, por argarza@wisd.us 📩. ¡Esperamos verte allí! 🛠️⚙️
'Careers' Tapple: February Lesson - Career Pathways
'Careers' Tapple: February Lesson - Career Pathways
⚙️🧡 GEAR UP lessons continue, and this Friday’s session was a FUN one! Our 7th-grade GEAR UP students went head-to-head in an exciting game of 'Careers' Tapple, navigating through a variety of career paths. Students teamed up, brainstormed, and prepped for this challenging yet enjoyable competition. A huge CONGRATS to our winners, who earned a Croc charm of their choice! 🐊🏆
GEAR UP lessons will continue each month, ensuring our cohort is more than ready for high school and their post-secondary education. Stay in touch and reach out to our GEAR UP Facilitator, Ms. A. Garza, at argarza@wisd.us 📧 if you have any questions. Go Katz! 🐾 #GEARUP #CollegeBound #CareerLinked #UTRGV ✌🏻
GEAR UP Lessons: January
GEAR UP Lessons: January
GEAR UP lessons are in full effect! This past week, Ms. Garza, our GEAR UP facilitator, met with all our 7th graders to walk them through the tools and platforms they'll be using, along with some exciting updates for the semester ahead. We're so excited for the journey and all the amazing things in store! #GEARUP #7thGrade #NewBeginnings
GEAR UP Launch! Parent Meeting 🚀✨
GEAR UP Launch! Parent Meeting 🚀✨
GEAR UP has officially been launched at B. Garza Middle School ! On Wednesday, Jan. 29th, 2025, B. Garza Middle School hosted their first parent GEAR UP meeting. Parents were introduced to the GEAR UP Program and learned about all the exciting opportunities available.
A big thanks to our event donors, Sam’s Club McAllen, HEB Weslaco on North Texas, and Dr. Rodriguez and Mrs. Rodriguez from Vision Source !
If parents have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our GEAR UP Facilitator, Ms. A. Garza, at argarza@wisd.us.
GEAR UP Goals/Objectives:
GEAR UP Goals/Objectives:
Ms. A. Garza, GEAR UP Facilitator
Ms. A. Garza, GEAR UP Facilitator
Contact: 956-969-6774 Ext. 34025
Email: argarza@wisd.us
*UPDATED* PARENT WORKSHOPS
*UPDATED* PARENT WORKSHOPS
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