Gallman Elementary School

🐊Attention Parents and Families🐊 In case you missed tonight’s phone call, here’s all the information.   🐊No school on Monday, January 17th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 🐊 The School District of Newberry County is currently experiencing a high number of students and staff impacted by Covid-19. As a result, all schools will shift from in-person instruction to eLearning virtual instruction from Tuesday, January 18 through Friday, January 21. There will be no school-related extracurricular or after school activities from January 18- January 21.  Breakfast and lunch for January 18-21 can be picked up at Newberry Middle School, Mid-Carolina High School, or Whitmire Community School between the hours of 10:30 am – 1:00 pm each day. We recognize that a shift of this nature impacts families and child-care, and of course, classroom instruction. However, it has become necessary as we struggle to maintain regular operations due to the high number of student and staff absences as a result of Covid-19.  It is our goal to resume in-person learning on Monday, January 24. However, we will monitor the numbers and staff availability and notify parents and staff no later than Friday, January 21, if an extension is warranted.  If your student is currently quarantined or isolated, this shift will not impact the length of the quarantine as told to them by the school nurse. 🐊 Please continue to update the school if your child has COVID-19 symptoms, has tested positive, was a close contact or household contact. Please report this by completing this form: but.ly/COVID19_GES 🐊 We were super excited by the number of students who joined their teachers virtually last Thursday. If your child does not have internet access, please notify your child’s teacher as soon as possible so that work can be prepared for them to be picked up. For students who do not have internet access, work will be able to be picked up on Tuesday from 2:00-4:00 and Wednesday from 8:00-10:00. 🐊 Thank you for all you have done so far this year to support your children and our school. I know times are difficult, but we will get through this together. Please let us know how we can assist you through this. We hope you all have a chomp, chomp, chomp Gatoriffic week!

Beginning Thursday, January 13, Gallman Elementary School will temporarily shift all students from in-person learning to eLearning. There will be no school-related extracurricular or after school activities from January 13 through January 17. However, virtual parent-teacher conferences will continue as scheduled on January 13 and 14. Please understand that this decision was not taken lightly. We recognize that a shift of this nature impacts families and child care, and of course, classroom instruction. However, it has become necessary as we struggle to maintain regular operations due to the percentage of staff who are positive, symptomatic, and/or quarantined for Covid-19. There is also a growing number of student absences due to Covid-19. Students should log into Schoology to complete assignments. Teachers who are not isolated or quarantined will use Google Meet to teach remotely on Thursday, January 13. These links for instruction, as well as class schedules, will be listed on the teacher’s page in Schoology. Breakfast and lunch pick up will occur between 10 am to noon at Newberry Middle School. Please pull around the back of the school for meal pick up. It is our goal to resume in-person learning on Tuesday, January 18. However, we will monitor the numbers and staff availability over the weekend and notify parents and staff no later than Sunday, January 16, if an extension is warranted. If your student is currently quarantined or isolated, this shift will not impact the length of the quarantine as told to them by the school nurse. The school will follow up with additional information as necessary. You can also follow the most recent updates on the district website and Facebook page. Again, eLearning for Gallman Elementary will begin on Thursday, January 13 and will continue through January 17. We genuinely appreciate your patience and understanding as we strive to provide a safe learning environment for students and staff.

Gator 3 will have a substitute driver therefore drop-off will be about 45 minutes to an hour behind today (Monday, January 10). Thank you for your patience and understanding.

🐊Attention Parents and Families🐊 In case you missed tonight’s phone call, here’s all the information.   🐊 Monday, Report Cards will be going home.  🐊Parents, on January 4, DHEC updated guidelines for students testing positive for Covid-19 and students who are household and close contacts. If you have questions regarding a student’s return date, please contact Nurse Fran for the new return date by calling 803-321-2655.   🐊Parent-Teacher Conferences will be virtual or by telephone due to the rise in Covid cases in our community. There will be no conferences held in person. Please be sure to be available to talk with your child’s teacher as they have a schedule when to make calls or to do virtual meetings. Meetings will begin Thursday from 3:15-7:00 and Friday from 7:45-11:15.  🐊There will be no school for students on Friday due to Parent-Teacher Conferences.  🐊There will be no school for students on Monday, January 17th due to observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.  🐊Parents, if you choose to have your child wear a mask, please provide a mask for them. Students who request a mask will be given one mask per day. Students who ride the school bus are required to wear a mask. If your child is wearing a cloth mask, please be sure to wash it regularly.     🐊Parents, please make sure your child brings their device with them to school every day charged.              🐊 We have seen the numbers of Covid cases increasing. If your child has tested positive, was a close contact or household contact, please report this by completing this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXGUjhlPqIvCFD3VHqy6rnbgNkOtByFF8GsC0TZELzC5CJkg/viewform 🐊Students need to have notes written or doctors excuses if they are absent. This will prevent you from receiving truancy letters. 🐊 Thank you for all that you do on a daily basis to support your children and our school. We cannot do this alone and you are appreciated as our Gallman Gator Family continue to learn and grow together.  We hope you have a chomp, chomp, chomp Gatoriffic week! 

Come teach with us! We'd love to have you join us at the @SchoolDistrictofNewberryCounty and at the Gallman Gator Swamp! The district-wide Recruitment Fair will be on Saturday, February 12 from 9-11am at Newberry High School.

🐊Attention Parents and Families🐊 In case you missed tonight’s phone call, here’s all the information.   🐊No school for students on Monday, January 3rd. It is a Teacher Work Day.   🐊Students return to school on Tuesday, January 4.  🐊 We have seen the numbers of Covid cases increasing. If your child has tested positive, was a close contact or household contact, please report this by completing this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXGUjhlPqIvCFD3VHqy6rnbgNkOtByFF8GsC0TZELzC5CJkg/viewform 🐊Parents, if you choose to have your child wear a mask, please provide a mask for them. Students who request a mask will be given one mask per day. Students who ride the school bus are required to wear a mask. If your child is wearing a cloth mask, please be sure to wash it regularly.     🐊Parents, please make sure your child brings their device with them to school every day charged.              🐊Please review your expectations with students. This is important since many have been out of their normal routines. Reminders are always helpful. 🐊Students need to have notes written or doctors excuses if they are absent. This will prevent you from receiving truancy letters. 🐊Thank you for all you have done so far this year to support your children and our school. We hope you have a Chomp, Chomp, Chomp Gatorrific Week!

Twas' the Night Before Winter Break Tomorrow (Friday) is Pajama Day! Wear your favorite school appropriate pajamas. Remember to follow the dresscode (no slippers).

Tomorrow, December 17th, is a Half Day for students. Dismissal will begin at 11 am and lunch will not be served. We hope you all have a wonderful Winter Break and we will see all of our Gators again on Tuesday, January 4, 2022!

Thursday, December 16- You choose- Santa vs the Grinch! For Santa, wear red, and for the Grinch, wear green!

Wednesday, December 15- Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Wear something white or something with a snowman on it!

Tuesday, December 14, we are Walking in a Winter Wonderland! Wear your favorite warm and cozy clothes to school- flannel, scarves, hats, gloves, you decide!)

The Countdown to Winter Break is on! We will be dressing up to celebrate our last few days in school in 2021! Tomorrow, Monday (Dec. 13) is Jingle Bells day- wear your favorite holiday bling (headands, necklaces, jingle bells, etc.)

🐊Attention Parents and Families🐊 In case you missed tonight’s phone call, here’s all the information. 🐊 We will have Holiday Spirit Week.  🔔 Monday, wear jingle bells, a holiday necklace, headband, or stocking cap.  🧤Tuesday, wear something warm and cozy like flannel, a scarf, hat, gloves, etc.  ⛄️Wednesday, wear something white or with a snow man on it.  🌲 Thursday, wear something green or red.  💤 Friday, wear school appropriate pajamas. No slides, no slippers, and no house shoes.    🐊Friday is early dismissal. Students will be dismissed at 11:00 am. Lunch will not be served on Friday.    🐊Students return to school on Tuesday, January 4.  🐊Parents, if you choose to have your child wear a mask, please provide a mask for them. Students who request a mask will be given one mask per day. Students who ride the school bus are required to wear a mask. If your child is wearing a cloth mask, please be sure to wash it regularly.     🐊Parents, please make sure your child brings their device with them to school every day charged.                  🐊Thank you for your continued support and willingness to do what is necessary to ensure your child’s success. We hope our entire Gator Family have a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year. 

Don't forget! Tomorrow, December 8th is an Early Release Day! Dismissal will begin at 12:15pm!

🐊Attention Parents and Families🐊 In case you missed tonight’s phone call, here’s all the information. 🐊 Early Release is Wednesday, December 8. Students will be dismissed at 12;15. Please be sure to make pick-up arrangements if anything changes. If your child is a car rider, please be sure that they are picked up between 12:15 and 12:45.         🐊Parents, if you choose to have your child wear a mask, please provide a mask for them. Students who request a mask will be given one mask per day. Students who ride the school bus are required to wear a mask. If your child is wearing a cloth mask, please be sure to wash it regularly.           🐊Parents please make sure your child brings their device with them to school every day charged.               🐊Thank you for your continued support and willingness to do what is necessary to help your children. This a team effort. We cannot do this alone. We hope you all have a chomp, chomp, chomp Gatoriffic week!  

It's a FREEBIE Friday! Did you know there was FREE tutoring available for your student? SCDiscus is offering FREE tutoring that is available 24 hours a day every day of the week! Tutors are available to work with English and Spanish speakers with NO appointments necessary! They offer help in all subjects but you must have access to the Internet! Students should be able to access SCDiscus through Clever on their devices without the need of a username/password. If you have any difficulty accessing SCDiscus through Clever, please contact the school for alternative log-in information.

Congratulations to our most recent Teacher of the Month and Support Staff Person of the Month! Both are new to the Swamp this year and are making a big impact! Our Teacher of the Month is Mrs. Alex Simpson. Her peers said, Alex has jumped right in to be a part of the Gator family. She’s doing a wonderful job in Montessori and cares deeply about her students. She always has a smile and something positive to say." Congratulations, Mrs. Simpson! Our Support Staff Person of the Month is Mr. Javier Rodriguez. Other staff members said, "He does a great job with his students and is very friendly and pleasant to work with. He's always willing to help any way that he can. Javier has built a relationship with not just the students in his classroom but also with students around the school." Congratulations!

🐊Attention Parents and Families🐊 In case you missed tonight’s phone call, here’s all the information. 🐊 We hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving Break!   Students return to school on Monday, November 29th.    🐊 Early Release is next Wednesday, December 8th. Students will be dismissed at 12:15 pm.  🐊Parents, if you choose to have your child wear a mask, please provide a mask for them. Students who request a mask will be given one mask per day. Students who ride the school bus is required to wear a mask. If your child is wearing a cloth mask, please be sure to wash it regularly.   🐊Parents please make sure your child brings their device with them to school every day charged.     🐊Thank you for your continued support and willingness to do what is necessary to help your children. This a team effort. We cannot do this alone. We hope you all have a chomp, chomp, chomp Gatoriffic week!    

🐊Attention Parents and Families🐊 In case you missed tonight’s phone call, here’s all the information. 🐊 Monday, Interim Reports will be going home.    🐊Monday, we will have our virtual SIC meeting at 5:00 pm. Please call if you are interested in the link to participate.    🐊There will be no school Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday for observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will all return to school on Monday, November 29.  🐊 If you choose to have your child wear mask, please provide a mask for them. Students who request a mask will be given one mask per day. Students who ride the school bus are required to wear a mask. If your child is wearing a cloth mask, please be sure to wash it regularly. 🐊 Please make sure you are sending in parent excuses and doctor excuses for absences. Remember, if a child was quarantined they must complete the work in order for the absences to be excused. If there have been three absences without excuse, a warning letter is sent. Five absences without an excuse and you will receive a truancy letter. Seven or more absences without an excuse would result in having to attend truancy court with student services and DSS. Excessive absences will be reported to DSS. 🐊 Thank you for your continued support. I hope that you enjoy this much needed break with your children and your family. As I always say, we cannot do this alone. Our Gallman Gator family is continuing to learn and grow together. I hope you have a chomp, chomp, chomp Gatoriffic week! 

WOW!! We not only met our Scholastic Book Fair goal of selling 520 items, we exceeded it by 400!!! Mrs. Cobb said this was the best book fair GES has ever had! Thank you to our wonderful students, families, and teachers for supporting our book fair and getting awesome books in the hands of our students!