Welcome to Student Life
Students at Gulf Shores Middle School are offered a variety of enrichment opportunities. We use a wide variety of online educational resources and technology devices to facilitate daily instructional goals. This page include links and resources for the school year!
- GSMS
- Band
- Bell Schedule
- Clubs and Organizations
- Dolphin News Network
- Dress Code
- Summer Reading
- Technology Tools Resources
- Yearbook
GSMS
Band
Gulf Shores Middle School offers band to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. Beginning Band is open to students in ALL grade levels (it is never too late to join band!). Eighth graders are also invited to participate in marching band with Gulf Shores High School.
Band Director: CJ Ellis (cellis@gsboe.org)
Bell Schedule
Clubs and Organizations
- Clubs and Organizations
- Book Club
- Builders Club
- Christian Club
- Cross Trainers
- FCA
- FCCLA
- Greenhouse Power
- National Junior Honor Society
- Peer Helpers
- Scholars' Bowl
- Student Government Association
Clubs and Organizations
Book Club
Builders Club
Builders Club is sponsored by Mrs. Forrest, and they meet at 7:30AM on Tuesdays in her room. Applications are available early Fall.
WHO WE ARE
Builders Club is the largest service organization for middle school and junior high students, with more than 45,000 members worldwide.
Members learn to work together and develop servant-leaders skills as they serve their school and community. In partnership with UNICEF and March of Dimes, the clubs are able to expand their outreach to babies and children of the world.
The first Builders Club was chartered in 1975. Today, there are more than 1,600 clubs in Aruba, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Philippines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.
Builders Club is a student-led community service organization that operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body. Community-based Builders Clubs can also be established at churches, libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, lodges or similar facilities. A Kiwanis club, composed of like-minded, service-oriented people from the community, serves as the club’s sponsor.
Builders Club is structured on the local club level but is supported by the Kiwanis International Office in Indianapolis, Indiana, which provides guidelines, programs, and opportunities to relate to teenagers from countries worldwide.
Club Sponsor: Anita Forrest (aforrest@gsboe.org)
Christian Club
Christian Club is sponsored by Mrs. Butler, and they meet at 7:30AM on Thursdays in the library. Anyone is welcome to join at any point!
Christian Club is a student organization which meets each Thursday morning before school in the library. The programs are typically student led and planned to encourage one another to good works and right living. All students are invited to share as the year progresses. Everyone is welcome.
Club sponsors: Mrs. Butler
Email: sabutler@gsboe.org
Time: 7:25 A.M. Thursday mornings
Place: GSMS Library
Cross Trainers
GSMS Cross Trainers Club is a running club that meets every Monday and Thursday in Mr. Reetz's room (Room 108) right after school and runs through various trails in the State Park and the City of Gulf Shores. The club starts the week after Cross Country ends and continues to the end of the year or when we run out of students :). It is sponsored by Mrs. Holmes and Mr. Reetz. Anyone is welcome to join at any point!
FCA
The GSMS FCA meets every Tuesday in Coach Brewer's room at 7:30.We have a time of student led devotion and prayer.
Each year we do a community service project. Last year we helped with Shoe Box Project that were sent to children in foreign countries. We also helped with Project Angel Tree to reach children in our very on community.
We welcome all those involved in athletics to come be apart of our Tuesday morning meeting.
FCCLA
FCCLA is sponsored by Ms. Carpenter, and they meet at 7:30AM on Wednesdays in her room starting after Labor Day. Anyone is welcome to join at any point, but students run for offices at the start of the year.
FCCLA is a national, state, county and local organization. We are a group of friends who come together to help people in our community.
We meet on most Wednesday mornings at 7:30am in Ms. Carpenter's room. We promote a positive, respectful, caring and helpful attitude among all our members towards others in and out of school.
Some of our community projects are:
Donating turkeys at Thanksgiving for the families through the Christian Center, helping Sunny 105.7 radio station with their annual Christmas toy drive by collecting toys at GSMS (these toys are distributed to children locally), making neck pillows for the patients and the Baldwin County Cancer Center, and making homemade dog biscuits for the local animal shelters.
We also sponsor the local cook-offs at our school. In September we have the sweet potato cook-off. The first place winner of the local cook-off will take their winning dish to the county fair in Robertsdale where all the schools in Baldwin County compete. In February we have the local chocolate cook-off.
The week of Halloween we have our annual Halloween Bake Sale. The members work very hard to make all of our projects very successful!!!
We will be having our first meeting the 2nd or 3rd week after school starts. I will update this post and have an announcement made at school when exactly that will be. Students do not have to sign up ahead of time. To join they just need to come to the first meeting and be willing to participate in our projects with an enthusiastic and caring attitude!!
Greenhouse Power
To advance education in the subjects of sustainable engineering and technology to young people. Greenpower runs engineering challenges for schools based around designing and building a single seat electric powered race car.
As the parent of a middle schooler, you may question whether your child should spend time in extracurricular activities. Consider the benefits your child will experience as referenced below, and encourage your student to get involved! Gulf Shores Middle School offers an array of sports, band, and many clubs to engage our students and connect them with our school.
The Benefits of Participating in Middle School Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities, such as clubs, sports, band and other non-academic pursuits can be a big part of middle school for a child. Although there is the argument that extracurricular activities distract from academic study, there is more and more evidence that extracurricular activities actually enhance academic learning. There are numerous benefits to participating in extracurricular activities, not the least of which is developing good teamwork skills and discovering a personal passion.
Social Development
One of the major benefits of participating in extracurricular activities is how it helps middle school-age children develop socially. Engaging in non-academic pursuits helps encourage teamwork, leadership skills, cooperation and social development that students don't get to the same degree from working in the classroom. Middle school is the time for students to start developing these valuable life skills, and participating in extracurricular activities is an excellent way to foster an appreciation for them.
Help Transitioning and Staying in School
The transition from elementary school to middle school can be a stressful one, and one of the ways to mitigate this major change in a child's life is with extracurricular activities. In schools with high drop-out rates that serve at-risk students, for example, extra- curricular activities can have a positive effect on keeping students in school during this tough transition and throughout middle school. Extracurricular activities can give students a purpose for attending school and provide them with an incentive for good academic performance.
Enhance Academic Performance
Although one of the classic arguments against extracurricular activities is that they distract from academic studies, there is an increasing amount of evidence that shows that extracurricular activities actually enhance academic study. Extracurricular activities help develop areas of the brain that may not be fully utilized by strictly academic work, as well as developing important skills that can transfer into academic performance, such as creative problem solving and teamwork. The way children choose to spend their free time can have a huge impact on their academics, and extracurricular activities are a good way to encourage positive use of free time.
Develop Non-Academic Interests
Another major benefit for middle schoolers participating in extracurricular activities is how they can foster a life-long passion. Middle school is a time for students to start discovering their personal interests and passions that they may want to develop later in life. By giving students the opportunity to experiment with various extracurricular activities outside of their academic life, you open the door for a potential future in arts, music, sports or theater that may not have been sparked by strictly academic work.
(Excerpt by Marysia Walcertz)
National Junior Honor Society
Attention rising 7th and 8th graders! To qualify, you must not have any major discipline issues and have an average of 90% in your core classes. Complete the online application AND fill out the Grade Verification sheet located in the door of room #103. Both must be completed to consider the application complete. The application and grade sheet MUST be submitted by 3:00 on March 26th.
- NJHS is sponsored by Mrs. Hinyub. Students are invited to apply and inducted if accepted at the end of their 8th grade year. Meeting dates/times vary throughout the year.
Peer Helpers
Scholars' Bowl
Student Government Association
As the parent of a middle schooler, you may question whether your child should spend time in extracurricular activities. Consider the benefits your child will experience as referenced below, and encourage your student to get involved! Gulf Shores Middle School offers an array of sports, band, and many clubs to engage our students and connect them with our school.
The Benefits of Participating in Middle School Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities, such as clubs, sports, band and other non-academic pursuits can be a big part of middle school for a child. Although there is the argument that extracurricular activities distract from academic study, there is more and more evidence that extracurricular activities actually enhance academic learning. There are numerous benefits to participating in extracurricular activities, not the least of which is developing good teamwork skills and discovering a personal passion.
Social Development
One of the major benefits of participating in extracurricular activities is how it helps middle school-age children develop socially. Engaging in non-academic pursuits helps encourage teamwork, leadership skills, cooperation and social development that students don't get to the same degree from working in the classroom. Middle school is the time for students to start developing these valuable life skills, and participating in extracurricular activities is an excellent way to foster an appreciation for them.
Help Transitioning and Staying in School
The transition from elementary school to middle school can be a stressful one, and one of the ways to mitigate this major change in a child's life is with extracurricular activities. In schools with high drop-out rates that serve at-risk students, for example, extra- curricular activities can have a positive effect on keeping students in school during this tough transition and throughout middle school. Extracurricular activities can give students a purpose for attending school and provide them with an incentive for good academic performance.
Enhance Academic Performance
Although one of the classic arguments against extracurricular activities is that they distract from academic studies, there is an increasing amount of evidence that shows that extracurricular activities actually enhance academic study. Extracurricular activities help develop areas of the brain that may not be fully utilized by strictly academic work, as well as developing important skills that can transfer into academic performance, such as creative problem solving and teamwork. The way children choose to spend their free time can have a huge impact on their academics, and extracurricular activities are a good way to encourage positive use of free time.
Develop Non-Academic Interests
Another major benefit for middle schoolers participating in extracurricular activities is how they can foster a life-long passion. Middle school is a time for students to start discovering their personal interests and passions that they may want to develop later in life. By giving students the opportunity to experiment with various extracurricular activities outside of their academic life, you open the door for a potential future in arts, music, sports or theater that may not have been sparked by strictly academic work.
Dolphin News Network
Dress Code
GSCS Expected Dress for All Students
Gulf Shores City Schools in collaboration with the Gulf Shores parents, students, and employees have created the following dress code for Gulf Shores Elementary, Gulf Shores Middle, and Gulf Shores High Schools. The process was thoughtful, intentional, and focused on ensuring an updated dress code.
Gulf Shores City Schools recognize the importance of student appearance, including the need to partner with parents/guardians in maintaining a positive learning environment that is free of distraction due to clothing and/or accessories. Students are expected to dress with respect toward self, family, school, and community using reasonable standards of cleanliness and decency throughout various situations. All students must follow the dress code while attending school, riding buses to and from school, and participating in school functions, unless otherwise indicated by the principal. Final dress code interpretation is at the discretion of the administration.
GSCS requires that students follow the following clothing and/or accessories guidelines:
Tops:
● No pictures, emblems or writings on clothing that are lewd, offensive, vulgar or obscene. Attire or accessories that directly, by innuendo, or look-alike promote alcohol, drugs, sex, profanity, violence, gangs, may not be worn.
● Spaghetti straps and strapless tops are not permitted. No garments that are see-through or show midriff, lower back or cleavage. Fabric should cover your front, back, sides, and under the arms.
● No oversized or overly tight tops.
● Tank tops or undershirts are not permitted to be worn as tops.
● Tops and bottoms must overlap at all times, including when arms are raised. Pants:
● No sagging or baggy fit and must be worn at the waist.
● No see-through pants/leggings may be worn.
● Leggings may be worn only under shirts or dresses that come to the top of the thigh.
● No oversized or tight pants.
● No holes in jeans in inappropriate areas.
● Sweat pants and warm-up suits are permitted.
● Pajama pants are not permitted.
Shorts:
● Must be visible under shirts.
● Spandex, biker, or see-through shorts are prohibited.
● Shorts must have a minimum of a four inch inseam - including athletic shorts (i.e. - Nike shorts).
Dresses & Skirts:
● Spaghetti straps and strapless dresses are not permitted.
● Bottom of skirt and/or slit cannot go above mid-thigh.
● Elementary Students: Shorts/Leggings must be worn under all dress/skirts. Shoes:
● Must be worn at all times and fastened properly.
● No bedroom slippers.
● Classes may require certain shoes. Example: P.E., Chemistry.
● Elementary Students: Tennis shoes or totally enclosed shoes are required for the school day.
Accessories:
● Hats, caps, sweatbands or other head covering will not be worn in the school building (religious and themed dress-up day are exceptions). Headbands are allowed but not as head covering. Students may have specific attire required for certain field trips, classes or labs.
Students are expected to adhere to these requirements as directed by the teacher.
Progressive Disciplinary Action for Dress Code Violations:
1st Offense. Warning and student changes clothes using available clothes at school or calls parent/guardian to bring a change of clothes. If neither of these options is available, student spends the day in OCS. Parents must be notified that dress code policy has been violated.
2nd - 3rd Offenses. Break detention and student changes clothes using available clothes at school or calls parent/guardian to bring a change of clothes. If neither of these options are available, student spends the day in OCS. Parent must be notified of break detention placement.
4th Offense. Meeting with a counselor to discuss violations, appropriate clothing, and needs. Student changes clothes using available clothes at school or calls parent/guardian to bring a change of clothes. Parent must be notified of meeting with counselor and invited to attend the meeting.
5th Offense. 1 Day OCS and student changes clothes using available clothes at school or calls parent/guardian to bring a change of clothes. Parent must be notified of OCS placement.
6th Offense. 2 Days OCS and student changes clothes using available clothes at school or calls parent/guardian to bring a change of clothes. Parent must be notified of OCS placement.
7th+ Offenses. 1 Day suspension. Parent must be notified of suspension.
