Mar. 2023

A Note from Dr. Wendy Watson, Principal

Counselor Appreciation Week

February 7th through the 11th was Counselor Appreciation Week. Let’s give a huge shout-out to Garry’s fantastic counseling team: Karyn Holt, John Schutz, Mental Health Therapist Jonathan Kawira, and Wendy Staudenraus as the MTSS Specialist. This team works tirelessly every day to support students and families and help everyone get their needs met. Not only do they meet with students on an individual basis, but they also offer small group meetings like “Lunch Bunch” which builds friendships. 



We love our Counselors!

Pictured: Wendy Staudenraus, Karyn Holt, John Schutz, and Jonathan Kawira.

Important Dates and Events

March 22 - Garry Choir at Mead High School

March 29 - Garry Orchestras at EWU

March 30 - Garry Bands at Ferris High School

April 3 thru 7 - Spring Break

Spring Break - The Final Stretch!

Hello, Spokane Garry community. We are almost at the finish line of the 2022-23 school year and the second semester is in full swing. As we look forward to the last few months of school, I wanted to share some encouragement for you and your student to finish out the year strong. The first full week of April is Spring Break, and it is a wonderful time to encourage your student to make up some missing work or even get ahead in classes. But most importantly, Spring Break is a great time to recharge and refocus to make the remainder of the year the best it can be. Finish strong, and as always, feel free to reach out if we can do anything to support you and your student.

Women's Her-story Month

Students have watched an advisory video to learn about the significant contributions that the following women have made in society: Madame Curie, Serena Williams, J.K. Rowling, Selena, Louisa May Alcott, and the three NASA mathematicians acknowledged in the movie, “Hidden Figures”: Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Katherine Johnson. We encourage our students and community to learn more about these fine women who, with grit and perseverance coupled with working hard in school, have made a significant contribution to society.

Registration Updates

Thank you to everyone who made registration for the 2023-24 school year this past month a success. Next year’s 6th, 7th, & 8th graders returned their forms so we can start the process of master schedule building.


Eighth graders had registration nights at their respective high schools and counselors from those high schools came to complete registration forms with them at Spokane Garry on February 15th. 


Parents: thank you for partnering as we prepare students for high school-ready transcripts, post-secondary education and training, and their big, beautiful futures.

SPS Middle School Art Show

Information for 2022-23 Kress Gallery Art Displays 


The Kress Gallery is located on the 3rd floor, behind the food court at River Park Square. You will need pushpins to hang your artwork and a sign indicating your school.


Opening Reception for students/family/community will take place on Friday, March 3 from 5:00-7:00.


Students who will have artwork displayed:


7th and 8th Artists


  • Landon Anderson
  • Kamielle Washington
  • Manizha Mohmand
  • Ariana Gurov
  • Jathan Quifunas
  • Naomi Kaiko
  • Haily Buckless
  • Aalyiah Caleb
  • Tayven Tosh
  • David Montesinos
  • JesLynn Redleaf
  • Minhthu Ong
  • Gabby Laessle
  • Carigan Spitzer-Beaman
  • Brooke White
  • Ayesha Sediqi
  • Furaha Chenze
  • Nevaeh Bothwell
  • Olivia Cantelme
  • Portia Sarquilla
  • Alissa Michels

6th Grade Artists


  • Somia Sediqi
  • Jacob Mueller
  • Jayden Davis
  • Avia Mendiola
  • McKinzie Batterman
  • Jervis Weikert
  • Zephyr Mercolita
  • Emma Anderson
  • Molly Kifer
  • Alice Debrunner
  • Farishta Nasir Ahmad
  • Ajani Danner
  • Elaine Parsons
  • Juleena Gomez
  • Jon O'Conner

School Concerts

It’s festival season for the Spokane Garry Music Department!

 

It’s hard to believe how far our music students have come! As we are gearing up for the festival season, we look back to where we started and appreciate the success and struggles alike. The music learned this season not only shows off the new skill set learned but also has an important space in our hearts as this music gives joy and excitement. We will present these pieces to a panel of professional musicians and other music educators for adjudication. Please join us for our Classic's Concert as we show off our music Tuesday, March 28th, at 6:30 pm in the Spokane Garry Gym.

 

Festival Schedule is as follows:

(These will be full-day events for our musicians)

 

  • Garry Choirs attend March 22nd at Mead HS
  • Garry Orchestras attend March 29th at EWU
  • Garry Bands attend March 30th at Ferris HS

Family and School Connections

8th Grade Parent Night (PSAT 8)

On Tuesday, March 14th, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Garry Community Center, we invite the parents & guardians of 8th grade students to get a copy of your student’s PSAT 8 results. Our administrative team will go over the results with you to help you understand the data and to see how ready your child is for college. 

AVID Parent Night

We are excited to host our annual AVID Family Night on March 23rd, from 6-7 pm. We will serve pizza, learn more about the Spokane Garry Middle School AVID program, and celebrate student work and accomplishments.  This event is for current 7th and 8th Grade AVID Elective students and their families. For questions, please contact our AVID Site Coordinator Mrs. Sargent. (MersiS@spokaneschools.org, 354-5178)

Supporting Students

At Spokane Garry we believe that supporting our students means helping support their families as well. Right now, we know high food prices are likely causing a hardship for many families. One of the ways we try to help with this is our BITE 2 GO program. Every Thursday students can come to the GCC and pick a food bag (we offer a spaghetti bag, a chicken and rice bag, or a chili mac bag) as well as snacks.


Unlike other schools we don’t deliver these bags to the classrooms, instead allowing students to come and get the items they want each week. If your student doesn’t receive BITE 2 GO already have them see Mrs. Audet or Mrs. Miranda in the GCC to sign up. If your student is already signed up but not bringing a food bag home, please reach out! We also have additional food resources as well as a hygiene closet you can access through Mrs. Miranda. Never hesitate to contact us! If we don’t have what you need here, we will help connect you with a community resource.

Devony Audet

Family Engagement Coordinator 

devonya@spokaneschools.org

509-354-5170

Communities in Schools

Spokane Garry Community Center


Located in Room 125W

Open Monday-Friday 8:45 am-4:00 pm

Miranda Adair

CIS Community in Schools

MirandaA1@spokaneschools.org

509-354-5132

Raven Circle

8:00 AM to 8:55 AM Tuesday through Friday

and

Monday through Thursday from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM


Registration Packets are available outside of Room 117

Ashley Bartels

21st CCLC Site Coordinator

509-354-5133

Character Trait of the Month:

Forgiveness

March's trait of the month is Selflessness. Selflessness is thinking about other people's needs and making sacrifices of time, energy, money, pride, or service to meet those needs.


“It’s when you’re acting selflessly that you are at your bravest.”


— Veronica Roth,

American Novelist

April's Trait of the Month

Patience

December Students of the Month

Steven Mummert

Jayden Sinzdak

Naomi Kaiko

Alissa Michels

Juliann Silk

Audrina Garcia

Junior Gardner Junior

Tumorraw Williams

Alissa Michels

Jeneby Muniz Torres

Baraka Dieudonne

Elijah Audet

Mia Sausedo

Monica Gutierrez

Mykenzi MacDonald


January Students of the Month

Oscar Hintta

Natalie Ha

Jondre' Washington

Aidan Falk

Nevaeh Bothwell

Olivia Madill

Anna Glatzmaier

Cristina Penaloza Serrano

Cameron Kifer

Juslene Irankunda

Kaybrial Brandt

Acelee Jones

Michael Vaughn

Lauren Widner

Elizabeth Ann Brumback


2nd Quarter SoaRRR Award Winners

Edgar Sighting

Last week Edgar the Raven and PBIS honored Mrs. Tramp and thanked her for noticing students who are Ready, Responsible, or Respectful. Over the course of the last month, Mrs. Tramp caught 88 students soaRRRing! Students are given soaRRR cards when teachers catch them being ready, responsible, or respectful, and then on Mondays, 20 students who turned cards in, get to pick rewards from the PBIS prize box. 



Way to go Mrs. Tramp!

AVID

AVID Update:

 

Our AVID elective students have been selected for Quarter 2!

 

The following students have been recognized for their attendance, grades, perseverance, and individual determination in the classroom and around Garry MS during the first nine weeks of school. Thank you for being such positive role models throughout Spokane Garry Middle School!

 

Mrs. Tramp’s 5th-period 7th-grade class:  Furaha Chenze

Mrs. Tramp’s 5th-period 7th-grade class: Gia Damron

Mrs. Sargent’s 6th-period 8th-grade class: Ruethaithip “Bam” Worakitphanit

Mrs. Sargent’s 6th-period 8th-grade class: Andrew Gannaway


Sports Updates

Wrestling

Upcoming wrestling meets:


  • March 6 - 4:30 PM, Garry Middle School
  • March 8 - 4:30 PM, Salk Middle School
basketball_wood_floor.jpg

8th Grade Basketball



Upcoming Games

8th Grade Boys


  • Game vs. Shaw - March 2 @ 4:15 PM, Garry Middle School
  • Game vs. Chase - March 7 @ 4:15 PM, Chase Middle School
  • Game vs. Salk - March 9 @ 4:15 PM, Salk Middle School


8th Grade Girls


  • Game vs. Shaw - March 2 @ 4:15 PM, Shaw Middle School
  • Game vs. Chase - March 7 @ 4:15 PM, Garry Middle School
  • Game vs. Salk - March 9 @ 4:15 PM, Garry Middle School

Multicultural Club

Session #3 – No Sew Blankets

On February 28th, we started making no-sew blankets during our third Multicultural Club session. In this session, we discussed the importance of blankets. As a group, we learned that blankets represent something different to all of us. Some students stated that they use blankets for cultural dances, or blankets are a sign of comfort, safety, and warmth. We also discussed how our ancestors would exchange blankets for goods when trading or how blankets can have different symbols/sayings that represent something significant. What do blankets represent to you?

Each student was able to choose a pattern that meant something to them. Furaha Chezne (7th grade) chose the “Be You” pattern, Miguel De Leon Sanchez (7th grade) chose the “All Things Grow with Love” pattern, Amirah Smith (7th grade) chose the “Bold, Strong, Fabulous…” pattern and JesLynn Redleaf-Lowley (7th grade) chose the “Life Is About the Journey” pattern. Some students wanted to keep their chosen blanket and some students wanted to give their chosen blanket to a family member.





For our next Multicultural Club session, March 7th from 3:3:30 pm -5:30 pm in the library, we will finish making our blankets and we will make one blanket together to eventually give them away to a lucky winner (student or teacher).


If you are still interested in joining our Multicultural Club, we would love to have you! – Email Miss C. – KiaraC@spokaneschools.org





Pre-Order Yearbooks

Preorder online or at the Business Office


Purchase the Garry Yearbook through SPS Online School Payments 

TouchBase Signin (intouchreceipting.com)

Log in using the Student's ID and Last Name


Staff Spotlight

Ms. Sullivan

Describe what you do at Spokane Garry Middle School and how long you’ve worked here.


I work in the Student Office and do many different jobs. I’m one of the secretaries that help when you arrive late or need to leave early. I also update the school website and sports calendars and create the newsletter each month.


How do you like to spend your time when you’re not at work?

 

When I’m not at work I like to spend time with family and friends, watch movies, play video games, read, and occasionally paint.


What are your “trapped on a desert island” books or movies?


How to Build and Sail Small Boats - Canoes - Punts and Rafts by Tony Read and the movie Cast Away.


Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?

 

 “Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid…”  

- Elaine Miller, Almost Famous


Is there one thing you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time?

 

I want to take a trip to Europe and Asia. It has been a dream of mine since I was very young. I hope to make this trip someday soon.

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