Middle School Back to School Information
- Summer WORK
- Supply List
- Summer Drop In Session
- Health Forms/Magnus
- Forms (Non-Health)
- Orientation
- Ordering Textbooks
Summer WORK
Supply List
Summer Drop In Session
Summer Drop-In Session:
The Middle School will host an optional drop in session in the Middle School lobby at 9:00 am on Thursday, July 21st. Please join Shannon Schmidt (Head of the Middle School) & Lauren Anderson (Middle School Dean of Students) for lemonade and conversation and an opportunity to tour the Middle School.
Health Forms/Magnus
Health forms are due no later than Monday, July 25.
We continue to use Magnus Health, an online student medical record system (SMR), to store and access all of your child's medical health records and important vital health information. Due to privacy issues, Garrison Forest cannot upload your child's health forms onto Magnus. Every student enrolled for 2022-23 school year is required to have updated health records in Magnus. Please submit all necessary health forms for your student by July 25. Students who do not have updated, complete health forms by the first day of school will not be able to participate in classes. In addition, any Middle School or Upper School athlete will not be able to participate in Preseason or athletics until this information is completed.
Returning families: Magnus has begun sending emails to parents with information on what forms are required for the new school year. You may log directly into Magnus via those emails or the GFS Parent Portal. (To log in via the GFS Parent Portal, go to gfs.org/parent, enter your username and password, and then click the link to enter Magnus Health. Once in Magnus, click on your student's name and you will be taken to a "to do" list of items that need to be completed.)
New families: You will receive access to the parent portal, and Magnus Health, in mid-July; however, the forms you will need to upload are available below. You should make an appointment now for your child’s annual physical in order to meet the deadline for form submission, and then you can upload your completed forms once you have access to Magnus.
Forms: Please find blank copies of the forms you will need to upload to your child's Magnus Health account below. You may print these and take them to your child's physician. Please contact the GFS Health Center if you have any questions about which forms will be required for your child.
Required for all students:
GFS Annual Physical Form
Health Care Power of Attorney
Immunization Record
May be required for your student:
Asthma Action Plan
Boarder Health Insurance
COVID-19 Cardiac Clearance
Diabetic Management Plan
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Action Plan
Prescription Medication
Seizure Action Plan
Forms (Non-Health)
Transportation Form
Applied Music Contract: Check back soon for 2022-23 form
2022-23 Middle School Permission Form
Uniform Requirements
Boarding Forms
Please send all Boarding Student forms to the Director of Residential Life, JodiBlackburn@gfs.org.
Boarding Student Permission Form
Boarding Student Guardian Form (Required for international students only; Boarding students must have a guardian in order to be on campus. If you are having trouble securing a guardian, we recommend working with Student Health Advocates (SHA), a concierge service that helps link international boarding families with guardians in the US. Please visit this page for more details about Boarding Student Guardians)
Orientation
MIDDLE SCHOOL ORIENTATION
Middle School Orientation will take place in person on Monday, August 29. This event is mandatory for all middle school students and parents. Students do not need to be in uniform.
- Optional Locker Move-In, 8:00-9:00 AM: It is recommended that students take advantage of the optional locker move-in time before the Orientation program begins. The popular locker shelves may be purchased at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target, Walmart, or Home Depot; here is a link to the shelving unit on Amazon <https://www.amazon.com/ClosetMaid-8987-Stackable-3-Shelf-Organizer/dp/B002IT6E5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471017186&sr=8-1&keywords=3+cube+shelf>. To make the process easier, please build your shelf at home prior to Orientation. Please pay careful attention to the dimensions (11.7x12.2x31.5) and note that our lockers are not magnetic.
- Orientation for all Students and Parents, 9:00 AM-10:30 AM: Orientation for all new and returning students and parents is Monday, August 29. During this time, students and families will have a chance to meet advisors, teachers, administrators and classmates. Students and parents will meet with the student’s advisor, receive class schedules and discuss class events for the year. Students are not in uniform on this day. Having at least one parent/guardian attend the Orientation is mandatory.
- Special Program for All 6th Grade and New 7th & 8th Grade Students, 10:30AM-12:15 PM: A special program for all 6th Grade students and new 7th and 8th Grade students will provide the chance to meet more teachers, learn additional routines and expectations of the Middle School, tour the building, participate in a question/answer session and begin to bond with fellow classmates and receive their computers. Any 7th and 8th Grade student who already received their laptop should bring it to Orientation.
- All families are invited to join us for refreshments on the Dining Hall patio immediately following Orientation and can take advantage of optional campus tours.
- Dismissal for Returning 7th & 8th Graders, 10:30AM
- Dismissal for All 6th Grade and New 7th & 8th Grade, 12:15 PM
Ordering Textbooks
ORDERING TEXTBOOKS
The Garrison Forest Virtual Bookstore is open for business beginning July 18. Free shipping is provided for orders of $99.00 or more which are placed between August 1 and August 14.
- Please click here to order books. This will take you directly to the Garrison Forest online store where you will login or create an account. Select the Middle School tab and select your courses.
- Once you have selected the materials you wish to purchase, you will be asked for your payment method and shipping information. You will receive an order and shipping confirmation via email after completing your order.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to call 800-325-3252 or email us at directinfo@mbsdirect.net (please forward all previous correspondence when replying). If you have shipped books for a boarding student to school, the Director of Residential Life, Jodi Blackburn, will hold the books until your daughter arrives on campus.
Important Textbook Notes (please read before purchasing):
- If no books are listed on the Supply List, it is not necessary to purchase books.
- In English class, students will read approximately 3-4 books throughout the year in addition to the listed books on MBS, which can be purchased or borrowed from the GFS or public library.
- Foreign language:
- 7th: Returning students to Spanish 7 and French 7 do not need to purchase a new book, as they will continue to use the one from last year. New students should purchase a book.
- 8th: For Latin 8, all returning students should only purchase the Unit 2 book and use their Unit 1 book from 7th Grade; all new students should purchase both Unit 1 and Unit 2 books. Please purchase the Cambridge Latin text with 1-Year Elevate access. Our required textbook, available through MBS, includes this website access code. If you choose to purchase elsewhere, be sure that the 1-Year Elevate access is included. If a student's book is without an access code, the student/family will be responsible for purchasing the access code independently.
- 8th: Returning students to Spanish 8 and French 8 do not need to purchase a new book, as they will continue to use the one from last year. New students should purchase a book.
- All students will be charged $14 in the fall for a customized GFS Planner.
- If you have questions about ordering books, please reach out to Stephanie Boteler in the MS Office. (stephanieboteler@gfs.org)
Middle School Summer Checklist!