Welcome to Gowanda Middle School!

2026–2027 School Year

We are off to a great start at Gowanda Middle School! It’s been wonderful to see our students and staff settle into routines, build relationships, and embrace all the opportunities a new school year brings. I look forward to continuing this momentum throughout the year!

We will continue with last year’s motto, “You Can Do Hard Things.” We want every student to believe in themselves, embrace challenges, persevere through setbacks, and understand that growth happens when we step outside of our comfort zones.

At GMS, we will continue to hold ourselves to high expectations. As Panthers, we strive to be Productive, Safe, Responsible, and Respectful in our classrooms, hallways, on the bus, and throughout our school community. These expectations form the foundation of a positive learning environment where everyone feels supported, valued, and successful.

Our partnership with families is essential to student success. We encourage families to stay connected and informed throughout the year. ParentSquare will be our primary platform for schoolwide communication, updates, and important announcements. Schoology will also be an important resource for accessing classroom information, assignments, and updates from teachers. Please make sure you are checking both platforms regularly to stay informed and connected.

I am excited for all that lies ahead and look forward to working together to make this another great year at GMS!

Remember, challenges help us grow, and together we can accomplish great things. You Can Do Hard Things!

With Panther Pride,

Mrs. Silleman

DID YOU KNOW?

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student’s academic success.

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Resources:

Attendance Works Newsletter

To print a list, click the link below and press Ctrl + P.

Middle School Supply Lists (Printable Link)

To Parents/Guardians of 5th grade, 9th grade, and new students:

The Gowanda Central School District, like many schools and communities across the nation, is engaged in a constant effort to keep its students healthy, safe, and free of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs.  Surveys show that kids who stay drug-free cite parental disapproval as the main reason they abstain.  Unfortunately, too few kids report having had meaningful discussions with their parents about alcohol and other drugs.

To educate parents about the growing concerns of students using and experimenting with drugs and alcohol, our strategy is to require that one parent or guardian attend our District’s Drug & Alcohol Parent Forum.  The Drug & Alcohol Parent Forum is a 90 minute program that addresses recognition of drugs and drug paraphernalia, signs and symptoms of abuse, health risks associated with abuse and your liability as a parent for hosting and/or purchasing alcohol and other drugs. The Drug and Alcohol Forum notice date is mailed home annually in the summer and occurs in August of each year.

Attendance is mandatory for all parents/guardians of students entering grade 5 and grade 9, as well as for parents/guardians of students new or re-enrolling at Gowanda Middle School and Gowanda High School.  You must attend the forum to allow your child to participate in any MS/HS special events.  Special events include, but are not limited to: athletic teams, musicals/plays, school clubs and organizations, school dances (for middle school and high school), field trips (related to music, athletics, and classroom activities), and the Junior/Senior Prom.

One adult per household is required to attend one session.  Once met, this requirement is valid for the remainder of your child’s career in each school.

For an appointment and if there are questions, please contact the high school at (716) 532-3325 (x6002) or the middle school at (716) 532-3325 (x5002).

Digital Drug & Alcohol Parent Forum

Click Here to open the Student Family Handbook in a new page.