Panther Post: September 20

Posted Date: 09/20/26 (03:00 PM)

September 20, 2026

Celebrating Georgia Reads Week

We’re celebrating Georgia Reads Week September 21-25 at GSES by encouraging our Panthers to make time for reading—at school and at home! 📖🐾

We’d love for our families to join the celebration by sharing the joy of reading at home! 📸 Send us photos of your family reading together, your child reading in their favorite cozy spot, or your Panther showing off a favorite book. Families can send reading photos to Mrs. Gassman through ParentSquare to be featured on our GSES social media!

Let’s showcase the many ways our Panthers are reading, growing, and Leaving a Legacy! ❤️🖤

Happy Reading, Panthers! 🐾📖

News & Updates

Next Week at GSES

Monday 9/21:

PJ Day!
Odyssey of the Mind until 4:00pm (Bates' room)
Gizmos until 4:30pm (Cofer's room)

Tuesday 9/22:

2nd-5th Art Club, STEM Club, Science Olympiad, Sole Sisters, 4th-5th Tech Club until 4:00pm
JCHS Volleyball Youth Night 5:00pm

Wednesday 9/23:

Thursday 9/24:

GS Singers & Stock Market Club until 4:00pm

Friday 9/25:

2026 Panther Prowl

Less Screens, More Dreams!

Our Panthers had an incredible time at the Panther Prowl on Friday, September 18! Students ran, danced, hula hooped, and celebrated their hard work with a well-deserved popsicle! 🍧❤️🖤

And the fundraising excitement isn't over yet! Our students have collected more than $58,000 so far! 🎉 We have ONE MORE WEEK to collect donations, putting us within reach of our $65,000 school goal!

We're so close...but now we're wondering: Can our Panthers SURPASS the goal and earn a special reward?! 👀🐾🔥

Families can continue to donate, share the fundraiser with friends and family, and help us push past $65,000! Every donation brings us one step closer to supporting our Media Center update and Teacher Grant requests. Let's finish strong, Panthers! How far can we go? ❤️🖤🐾

Fundraising ends September 27.

Please see the full Panther Prowl flyer linked below for prize details and additional information. Families can continue to register online as well.

Panther Prowl Information

Panther Prowl Registration Link

All Pro Dads is back!

We will host our first event on Wednesday, October 21st from 6:15-6:45AM.

All Pro Dads is a national organization where fathers and/or father figures and their kids gather at school to engage in meaningful conversations and activities that strengthens their relationship. During their time together, they will share breakfast, have discussions, and participate in character-building activities.

This event will be for GSES students and their father/father figure or guardian.

Please help us plan by registering for this event. The last day to register will be Monday, October 19th at 12PM.

Registration Link

All Pro Dad Registration Link

2026-27 Tech Competition- Contact Mrs. Gassman

2026-27 Technology Competition

We are excited about this year's GSES Student Technology Competition for 3rd-5th grade students. If your child is planning to participate, please make sure that you have completed the competition interest form by Friday, September 25th so that we can directly communicate information to participating families. Students will present their projects and speeches at our GSES school competition on November 10th & 11th during school. Fall Break is a great time to get a jump on creating! Students have the opportunity to compete in 14 various categories by submitting an individual or partner project. The website linked below provides detailed information on each of the 14 categories with examples of some previously completed projects of state placers. The project can be something your child starts fresh this year or improves on from a previous year. We will even be working on some projects in our classes at school. Please contact Mrs. Gassman (monica.gassman@jcss.us) if you have any questions.

Tech Competition Interest Form

26-27 GSES Yearbook Flyer

Celebrating Those Who Leave a Legacy

At GSES, we believe every staff member has the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in the lives of our students and families. 💙

Has a teacher, staff member, or school employee gone above and beyond? Has someone made your child feel seen, supported, or special? Maybe a simple act of kindness or encouragement made a big difference for your family.

We want to hear about it! 🌟

Use the Staff Shout Out Form linked below to share a special message of appreciation. Families can also upload a photo to go along with their shout out, if they have one to share.

Staff Shout Outs will be shared directly with the staff member and spotlighted on our GSES social media throughout the year.

Let's take a moment to recognize the people who make a difference every day and celebrate the incredible legacy they are creating at Gum Springs! 🐾❤️

Staff Shout Outs

Partners in Ed

Birthday Shout Out Form

Birthday Shout Out Payment

GSES LED Sign Sponsorship

Gum Springs Elementary is looking to partner with businesses to build our Partners in Education program. One way we offer this is through our GSES LED Sign Sponsorship. Attached is the form to complete. If you have any questions, please reach out to Hannah Freyre at Hannah.freyre@jcss.us

LED Sign Sponsorship Form