Mrs. Hunter wrote a heartfelt poem expressing her feelings during this very different and uncertain time. We hope that you will share this poem with your children and talk to them about expressing their feelings during this time in whatever way is comfortable for them. For Mrs. Hunter it is through writing, but it may be a different way for you and your family. We love our students, families and staff and we truly miss them!
We Got This!
by Nikki Hunter
Becoming an administrator is never an easy choice to make.
There are so many things that are always at stake.
Emotions of children, instructional strategies, and test scores,
Parents, community, school culture, and so much more.
When tragedies hit, administrators are looked at to take the lead.
Sometimes our hearts are hurting too. We need space to breathe.
In the wake of Spring 2020, COVID-19 hit causing our world to change.
Not going to school for weeks seemed very strange.
Homeschooling jokes on social media made many of us laugh.
Me coming to school every day, I was missing my staff.
I missed the emails or texts saying I’m going to be out today.
I missed the IEP meetings, referrals, funny stories, or telling someone it’s going to be okay.
Walking down dark halls and empty classrooms makes me sad to my core.
All of my students I miss daily, more and more.
The ones who are good; the ones who are funny;
The challenging ones who I’d never get rid of for any amount of money.
I got into this, thinking I can make a difference and change the world.
I work in a great school with awesome boys and girls.
The Coronavirus will not deter us from the goal of success.
Leading my school through this time is definitely a test.
I’m blessed with Mr. Dukes, one of the best APs.
He can organize, direct, and simplify—putting others at ease.
With the great teachers, staff, parents, and community,
We will come through this together in unity.
No virus can destroy the love for what we do.
The love we have for our students is sincere and true.
We are strong. We are relentless. We are tenacious Gallman Gators.
We got this! That’s a promise from your GES Administrators!
Updated meal pickup information. In an effort to make it easier on parents who are working, please note that meal pick up will be on MONDAY ONLY! Students will get all of the meals for the week.
The next set of instructional packets is to be picked up on Monday and Tuesday, March 30 and 31 from 9 am – 1 pm. The first set of packets are asked to be returned at this time. Please make sure your child’s name is on the work that is returned. If your child has not completed all of packet 1, please have them continue to work on that packet in addition to packet 2, which provides all assignments through May 1. The set up at each school will be a drive thru where you will not need to leave the car. If you have a high school student who takes courses from the career center, please make sure you also go to the career center to pick up student work. Our teachers are working to respond to parents via email. Please continue to reach out to your child’s teachers for assistance.
Report cards will be available via parent portal beginning March 30. Parents are encouraged to view student grades in Parent Portal. If you do not have a Parent Portal login, the request for access can be found on our district’s website – click on the COVID-19 link on the main page. The request form must be completed and sent via email to your child’s school to receive the access code. If you do not have a way to access to Parent Portal and would like to receive your child’s Report Card, please contact your child’s school and it will be mailed to you. Pre-K – Grade 2 and Montessori report cards will be distributed with the new instructional packets on March 30 and 31.
Beginning Monday, March 30, we will begin distributing 5 days’ worth of meals to children. At the pick up and delivery sites, students will receive 5 breakfast meals and 5 lunch meals for the week. This will reduce the number of times that parents are going to the pick up and delivery sites. Again, we will only be distributing meals on Mondays for the duration of the school closure. Our school and community sites and times remain the same. Please only select one site to serve all of your children. When approaching the line, indicate the number of meals needed by holding up a hand count. We will put the meals in the trunk or through a window. You will not need to exit the vehicle to receive these meals.
We truly appreciate all of your support through this time. We continue to encourage you to wash your hands and maintain social distancing. Thank you.
Updated free meal service information. Please note that pickup will only be on Monday and Thursday of each week where students will receive meals for multiple days. Thank you to our extremely hard working Child Nutrition staff for their amazing dedication to keeping our students fed!
Free Meal Service will begin tomorrow, March 18 at Mid-Carolina High School, Newberry High School, Newberry Middle School, Pomaria-Garmany Elementary School, and Whitmire Community School. Pick up times are from 10 am - 12 pm.
Parents: if you work at Samsung, we will be collecting your children’s work packets and delivering them on Wednesday to Samsung. Please let us know your child’s name in the comments (first and last) and we will get them to you.
For other parents: let us know if it is not possible for someone to come to the school to pick up work packets. We want to help you if we can! Our phenomenal staff (teachers, assistants, office personnel, custodians...everyone!) have volunteered to do whatever we can to help you through the next couple of weeks.
You can call the school at 321-2655 if you need any assistance!
Student work packets are ready to be picked up from the main office. Packets can be picked up on Tuesday or Wednesday from 8:00-4:00. These packets will be turned in once students return to school. Please do not come to the school if you are sick!!
IMPORTANT for PARENTS!
Please complete the survey ONCE for each student you have at GES as soon as possible. Please SHARE!
http://bit.ly/33lmv8M
Do you have a 3, 4 or 5 year old? See the flyer attached to find out more about our upcoming PK and K registration for the 2020-2021 school year. Registration will be held March 2-March 13 at Gallman Elementary!
Due to the threat of winter weather and hazardous road conditions, all after school activities for the Newberry County School District have been canceled for Thursday, February 20. Canceled activities include all athletic games and practices, Boys and Girls Club after school care, meetings, programs, adult education classes, and all other activities and events.
The District will also operate on a two-hour delayed schedule for Friday, February 21. Buses will run two hours later than the regular route time with schools and offices beginning two hours later than usual.
Due to the possibility of hazardous road conditions, all Newberry County Schools and Offices will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule for Friday, February 7. Buses will run two hours later than the regular route time with schools and offices beginning two hours later than usual.
REMINDER: If you picking up a student for early dismissal, it must be before 2:00 pm. This is for student safety. Thank you!
Due to the threat of severe weather, all after school activities for the Newberry County School District have been cancelled for Thursday, February 6. Cancelled activities include all athletic games and practices, Boys and Girls Club after school care, meetings, programs, adult education classes, and all other activities and events.
Today is World Read Aloud Day! GES is excited to welcome guest readers from our community to read to all of our classes today! #WorldReadAloudDay
If your child has been diagnosed with Flu or Strep Throat, please let the school know by calling 321-2655.
We need your help to reduce the spread of germs!
Please be reminded of the following:
Stay home when feeling sick, and obtain consultation from your health care provider.
Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have vomiting or diarrhea
Ill children should stay home until 24 hours after they are fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Thank you for your help in trying to minimize the impact of any illness that can be spread to others.
Girls in Pearls and Boys in Bowties!
Our 2nd Grade has been talking about taking pride in their dress and learning about dressing for success. On Wednesday our 2nd Grade students were encouraged to dress in pearls and bow ties. These gators looked awesome and we are proud of them and their teachers! We are looking forward to more "Girls in Pearls and Boys in Bowties" days coming up!
Important information for next school year!
Our Winter Festival sponsored by our PTO is this Friday night from 6:00-8:00! This will be a night of fun for the whole family! Parents can play Bingo for .50 cents per card per game while the children play (parents/guardians must stay at the Festival)! Don't forget that if you are pre-ordering a Chick-Fil-A dinner, that money is due by tomorrow (Wednesday).
See the following information for a new Cub Scout Pack.
Welcome Back!! We have missed all of our Gators, and we are super excited to see everyone tomorrow (Tuesday). Don't forget...the tardy bell rings at 7:45 in the morning! Good luck going to bed early and getting up early!!!
