Greetings GMS Families and Community,
Season’s Greetings from all of us at GMS. We thoroughly enjoyed our time leading up to the winter break celebrating the season. With our halls and classrooms decked, students and staff were well hard at work preparing for the break. In the residential program, cottages were brightly lit, and students made gingerbread houses that were entered in a friendly decorating competition. Students worked hard in the classrooms as we continued through the 2nd quarter and had our winter NWEA MAP assessments. Families can request student reports for NWEA MAP assessment by contacting me or our front office via phone or email.
As we look forward to gathering for the holidays, we are reminded that COVID 19 and the new variant remain a concern. We are thankful for the opportunity to provide on-site COVID-19 testing for students and staff. Families and staff members can sign up using the following link: https://home.color.com/covid/sign-up/start?partner=tf-gov-608-students . We highly encourage all students and staff to register as it allows us to routinely screen and/or do diagnostic testing to help keep our school community safe. Testing will only be for the students who are registered, and it will be conducted using the gentle nasal swabbing technique (not the kind that tickles the brain!). We encourage everyone to register for this free and effective program. Our safety protocols will remain in place including requiring masks, social distancing as much as possible, and frequently sanitizing hands and surface areas.
Our “Magic Under the Stars” event presented by Insightful Visionaries and the Governor Morehead Foundation was a big success. This event was a celebration of not only the season, but the blind and visual impairment community. The event was well attended and was full of fun entertainment including magic, a dance performance by Shaleigh Dance Works and GMS alumni DJ Robinson, musical performance by GMS Alumni Mr. Gilbert Thomas, and a performance by Johnny White Featuring Shirl & Allegra. Add this annual event on your must-
We give a special thanks to the many community partners within the Downtown Lions Club. They give back each year to make this special time of the year a memorable one for our GMS students at our annual Downtown Lions Club Christmas event. There was a special visit from Santa and gifts and sweet treats for all. We also wish Mrs. Laura Wooten, Residential director, and Ms. Janet Jeffries, Residential Life Trainer, a happy retirement. A special article celebrating their careers is included in this newsletter, enjoy.
We wish all you all a very special holiday season and happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Matthew Mescall