Parents and Guardians:

• Parents and students, this will be the last week to purchase yearbooks at the  early bird special of $55. Please go to yearbookforever.com to purchase before January 14.

• Attention Senior Parents, we have ten Senior Ad spots left for this year's yearbook.  The date to purchase an ad has been extended until Friday, February 4th.  Go to yearbookforever.com to customize and create your child’s senior ad. Please contact Mrs. Easton with any questions at beaston@wcpss.net 

• Parents and Guardians, you will soon be receiving a “Talking Points” message with a link for a parent survey. Please take the time to complete the survey this week. We will use your input to develop our new action plan for school improvement. Your voice is critical to this process. Thank you in advance for your feedback and time. Our school improvement chair is Ms. Amy Bennet.

• As the new variant of the Covid virus spreads rapidly, it is critical that we all mask properly.  Thanks to the covering of mouth and nose at all times while indoors.

• Students and parents, please note that Midterm Exams are scheduled for this week of January 10th through the 13th.  

• There is no school on Monday, January 17th due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.  School will not be open on that day.

• Tuesday, January 18th is a teacher workday.  Students will not report on this day.

• Wednesday, January 19th is the first day of the second semester.

Dear GMHS Parents and Guardians:

My parents had a vision for their family when they were young: move from the family farm in eastern North Carolina to a great community south of the state capital, Garner, which they thought was the ideal place to raise a family - a community full of opportunity. They loved the town for its faith organizations, its good educational institutions, its civic-mindedness, and its potential for growth.  It was a small town but destined for greatness.

 

Every day I feel gratitude for their decision.  Growing up in Garner was a wonderful life.

 

In 1989, I was selected to serve as an assistant principal at GSHS and then later as principal.  I have served in several interim principal roles since I retired as Senior Director for High School programs in 2014.

 

It is a great joy to return to a place I love, for Garner is a great place to be.  I will serve as a transition interim principal while district administrators search for your next principal.

 

In this role, part of my work will be to identify existing norms and provide input about the needs of GMHS, along with you, to Mr. James Overman, who will lead the search.  Mr. Overman has given his heart and soul to the Garner community in many roles.  His wisdom will guide his best recommendation for our new leader to the superintendent.  He will soon announce a community engagement meeting to begin the search process.

 

How much time will be needed to select principal #11?  Long enough to find the best fit. What can you expect from me? Care for the students, knowing that their needs are the core of our work.Support for the hard work faculty and staff at GMHS. A sharp attention to a safe and orderly climate as we are experiencing some aberrant behavioral patterns throughout the nation.  A focus on the Class of ’22, as their special time to enter adulthood is near. And continued love for the Garner community.

 

Times will remain challenging as we move through the next phases of the pandemic. As long as the grip of the disease holds us, we cannot return to normal.  I ask you to continue your support for pandemic protocols. Especially important is that each student wears a mask, with mouth and noses covered at all times indoors.

You may reach me at jwilliams10@wcpss.net.

Monday Memo – Good evening Garner Nation; this is Principal Carter Hillman with a Monday Memo:

 

• All information provided in this Memo is posted on the GMHS website under the “Principal’s Message.”
• Students and Parents: This is a reminder that students should be shutting down their Chromebooks at least once a week.  This will allow for the WCPSS updates necessary to keep the device working properly.  Students are experiencing connectivity issues due to not shutting down their devices on a regular basis.
• Call to all female athletes:  Women’s Lacrosse is an exciting and fast paced sport.  The Women’s Lacrosse team will be having an interest meeting this Wednesday, December 15th at 2:30 PM in Room 2204.  If you have any questions, please contact Coach Elstun at lelstun@wcpss.net.
• There will be no school for students and staff starting Monday, December 20th and running through Friday, December 31st due to the Winter Break Holiday.  Students will return to school on Monday, January 3rd.  It will be a B-day.  During this time the building will not be open for parents or community business.  Athletes, please check with your coaches as to practices and games over break.
• Students:  Time is dwindling down for the Early Bird special to purchase the GMHS yearbook.  Buy a yearbook for $55.00 by January 14th at yearbookforever.com
• Senior Parents: You don’t want to miss an opportunity to create your child a Senior Ad.  There is limited space so purchase now!  Ads will be on sale until January 14th.  Go to yearbookforever.com to purchase and create.  If you have any further questions, please contact Mrs. Easton.
• Seniors: The $10,000 State Employees’ Credit Union, People Helping People Scholarship has been posted.  Please visit the Class of 2022 information page on the GMHS website for more information and application.
• That ends your announcements for this evening.  Please keep your students safe, enjoy your Winter Break, and have a good evening.

Monday Memo – Good evening Garner Nation; this is Principal Carter Hillman with a Monday Memo:

 

• All information provided in this Memo is posted on the GMHS website under the “Principal’s Message.”
• Students and parents: The GMHS school day begins at 7:25 AM.  Students who arrive to class after this time are to be marked tardy for their first period class.  Please be certain that your student is in the building and arriving to their first period class on time.
• Students and Parents: Students who have signed up to take the ASVAB test tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7th should report to the small gym when the first period bell rings.
• Students:  This week are auditions for the spring musical, Chicago: Teen Edition.  Applications for the Technical Crew and Applications for Auditions are available on the Drama Website or you can see Mrs. Hazelrigg in the auditorium for information.  Auditions begin tomorrow, December 7th from 2:30 to 5:30 PM in the Chorus Room and callbacks are this December 8th and 9th.  All are welcome to apply.
• The Garner Dance Department is proud to announce its first Dance Production since 2019.  This year’s Garner Nutcracker performance will be on Friday, December 10th at 7:00 PM.  Tickets are available to purchase online in advance, and on the day of the event for $8.00.  GMHS student tickets can be purchased the day of the show for $5.00 with a student ID.  The link to purchase tickets for the event are located on the GMHS website.  Masks are required for the event and seating is first come, first served.  Please contact Mrs. Comden at acomden@wcpss.net for any questions.
• The GMHS PTSA is proud to announce its annual “Deck the Halls” vendor fair this Saturday, December 11th.  Come out and support local vendors while finishing up those last-minutes gifts that remain on your holiday list.  The event begins at 9:00 AM and continues through 2:00 PM.  There will be over 70 vendors as well as food trucks on site.  For more information see the PTSA’s Facebook page or email deckthehallsgarner@gmail.com.
• Students:  Time is dwindling down for the Early Bird special to the GMHS yearbook.  Buy a yearbook for $55.00 by January 14th at yearbookforever.com
• Senior Parents: Purchase a Senior Ad for your child until January 14th.  You can buy and design your child’s ad at yearbookforever.com.  There will be limited space so buy the ad in advance.
• That ends your announcements for this evening.  Please keep your students safe, communicate with your teachers, and have a good evening.