MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

Welcome back! We hope everyone had a wonderful start to the school year. September is already a busy month at GCMS, with Picture Days, Back to School Night, Spirit Week, Homecoming, and our first Middle School PTA meeting ahead. A special welcome to our new sixth-grade families and to everyone joining GCMS for the first time.

School Communication

ParentSquare is the Middle School’s primary communication tool for school and teacher announcements, reminders, schedule updates, and event information. Please make sure your account is registered and notifications are turned on.

• ParentSquare — school and teacher announcements, reminders, and updates
• SchoolTool — student schedules, grades, and New York State assessment results
• Garden City District and Middle School websites — district information and the regularly updated Day 1 / Day 2 calendar
• GCMS Athletics website — schedules, registration information, and team updates

Important September Dates

• Monday, September 7 — Schools Closed (Labor Day)
• Wednesday, September 9 & Thursday, September 10 — GCMS Picture Days (during assigned gym periods)
• Thursday, September 10, 6:30–8:30 p.m. — GCMS Back to School Night
• Monday, September 14–Friday, September 18 — Spirit Week
• Tuesday, September 15, 7:30 p.m. — Board of Education Regular Session
• Wednesday, September 16, 9:30 a.m. — Middle School PTA Meeting
• Friday, September 18 — Districtwide Spirit Day
• Saturday, September 19 — Homecoming (Parade 1:00 p.m.; Game 3:00 p.m.)
• Monday, September 21 — Schools Closed (Yom Kippur)
• Tuesday, September 29 — SEPTA General Membership Meeting

Spirit Week & Homecoming

GCMS students will celebrate Spirit Week September 14–18 ahead of Homecoming on Saturday, September 19.

• Monday — Pajama Day
• Tuesday — Twin Day
• Wednesday — America Day
• Thursday — Color Wars
• Friday — Maroon & Gray / Spirit Day T-shirts

Spirit Day T-shirt orders are due Tuesday, September 8. Visit team.macwear.com and use password GCspirit2026.

Picture Days — September 9 & 10

Irvin Simon will be at the Middle School on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10. Photos are taken during each student’s assigned gym period, so please check your child’s Day 1 / Day 2 schedule to confirm the applicable day. Please watch for the Photo Day flyer with information about proofs and online ordering. School photos are also an important PTA fundraiser.

Free Breakfast & Lunch — No Pre-Order Required

Garden City’s free meal program provides every student with one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. Middle School students do not need to pre-order lunch to receive their free meal. Students may pick up a meal they pre-ordered or choose a meal in person from any cafeteria serving station. If a student takes both a pre-ordered meal and an additional meal, the second meal will be charged to the student’s account. À la carte items and additional meals are not included in the free meal program.

Helpful reminder: Please make sure your child knows their six-digit Student ID number. Students enter this number at the cafeteria register, and knowing it helps keep the breakfast and lunch lines moving.

Food service questions may be directed to Food Service Director Diana Intintoli at (516) 478-2780.

Sixth Grade iPads

Incoming sixth graders will receive a district-issued iPad in the coming weeks. Before receiving the device, students and parents must review the District’s Responsible Use Policy and Grade 6 Device Agreement and return the signed agreement by Friday, September 11.

Join Us

Your annual Garden City PTA membership supports students across Garden City Public Schools and covers all of the schools your children attend. Membership and PTA fundraisers help support enrichment programs, student and parent speakers, student recognition, grants, and other programs throughout the district.

Join Garden City PTA: www.gardencitypta.org

We also encourage all families to join Garden City SEPTA. SEPTA supports a quality education for all students and promotes awareness and understanding of the different ways children learn.

Join Garden City SEPTA: www.gcsepta.org

Ways to Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved at the Middle School, and most opportunities are short-term or event-based. Whether you have an hour, a morning, or would like to join a committee, we would love to have you.

Volunteer interest form: https://form.typeform.com/to/HuLc6EQc

Looking Ahead — Reflections

The 2026–27 National PTA Reflections theme is “What My Culture Means to Me.” Entries are due Wednesday, November 4. Additional information on the PTA website at gardencitypta.org/reflections.

Stay Connected

• Garden City PTA website — www.gardencitypta.org
• Facebook & Instagram — @GardenCityPTA
• Middle School PTA — middleschool@gardencitypta.org

We are looking forward to a wonderful year at GCMS. Please never hesitate to reach out with questions, ideas, or concerns.

Warmly,

Lamina Bowen

Middle School PTA Director