Greetings GMS Families,

I hope you were able to enjoy some of the lovely winter weather that February bestowed upon us. It had been a while since we experienced a truly "wintery" winter. Enjoying physical activity of various kinds, indoors and out was the principal theme of our Winter Wellness Days which wrapped up this week. So, let's start there.

Winter Wellness Days 2025 - It's a wrap!

What's in a name? A name can communicate a lot. We gave considerable thought to finding a name that would capture the what and why of our special activity days in February. When "Winter Wellness" was proposed, we knew instantly that we had a name that conveyed the principle purposes for those activities - personal physical and mental wellness, learning, outdoor skills development and physical activity. The joy visible on the faces of students and staff members told us all we needed to know about the impact of the experiences. Nevertheless, we will assess what went really well and what we might want to tweak or change for next year.

Pink Shirt Day

Every year, Pink Shirt Day falls on the last Wednesday of February, which coincidentally was the last  of our Winter Wellness Days.  It serves as a reminder to renew our pledge to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness and continuing the work to prevent all forms of bullying, hate, discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and transmisogyny. This year's theme centred on cultivating a community of kindness. 

Our everyday actions taken to tackle bullying and hate are imperative to the creation of an affirming and inclusive school community and society. These efforts are ongoing. An example of this is the theme of the relationship between rights and responsibilities that emerged in a class discussion on Thursday and also frequently in discussions I have had with students this school year.

Here are a couple of examples of that relationship: 

Right: We all have a right to feel and be safe at school. Responsibility: I have a responsibility to move and play safely.

Right: We all have a right to learn at school. Responsibility: I must act in ways that support my learning and do not interfere with the learning of others. 

Our role as adults is to help students develop the social skills and emotional self-awareness that will enable them to recognize this relationship and make appropriate decisions. Sounds simple. It isn't. We have to create an environment in which students feel confident that their voices can be heard by adults and their peers. We have to nurture caring relationships. We have to be relentless in our commitment to that task. The growth of many students that I have witnessed even in my short time at GMS is evidence of that commitment.

Farewell

I began my tenure as acting principal quite abruptly on Monday, December 16 the week before the Christmas break. Though I had filled in at GMS for previous principals and vice principals, and had some sense of the school community, I knew that every school year is unique. I really did not know what to expect in the wake of the changes to the school following the transfer of students and staff to Maplewood. What I found was a school alive with the energetic buzz of middle school students (no surprise there!) and a genuinely caring and enthusiastic staff greeting students warmly and prepared to engage with them in the learning process. I knew instantly that this would be an especially rewarding experience for me.

It probably won't surprise you to learn that none of my days at GMS went as planned. "Plan for the expected and expect the unexpected" seemed to be the rule. But I loved every minute of those days, well maybe some more than others. Over the days and weeks I became embedded in the school culture and anticipated where I needed to devote my attention. I witnessed and participated in meaningful discussions about teaching and learning with teachers, of course, but also with students. However, though all those days, the most consistent theme that emerged was one of caring that staff had for the students. Even in moments of frustration - imagine anyone working with young adolescents experiencing frustration?! - there was genuine desire to find ways to effectively support students. I told staff members and students that my goal was to see them shine. (You know it when you see it and you feel the joy.)

In closing, I want to thank the students who to a person conducted themselves respectfully - sometimes after a chat about what respectful conduct looked like:). But they challenged me to be my best. I cannot say enough about how genuinely supportive, collaborative and caring every staff member was. To you parents with whom I had discussions about the needs of your child, know that I listened to your every word. We usually shared a common goal even though we sometimes struggled to find a common path.

With profound thanks and gratitude for the opportunity to serve as principal at GMS, I also add that I am immensely reassured to be passing the responsibility on to Kim Power who assumes the principal role on Monday, March 3. She and I have met and planned to make the transition as seamless as possible. Kim brings with her a wealth of experience and boundless positive energy, and will remain in the role until Hanif Jamal returns.

Andrew Lynch

Dates to remember

• March 3 - Grad Photo Retakes

• March 10 to 14 - March Break

• March 18 - OPH Vaccination Clinic