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Much like last year, Gaithersburg Middle School's annual parent-versus-staff basketball game ended in referee-related controversy as the staff held on for a win after time ran out despite an apparent foul of a parent shooting a three-pointer.
The staff scrappy 32-28 triumph Friday night came as sweet revenge of the parents' victory last year under disputed circumstances. But the ninth edition of the 700-student school's most hyped outing brought more than sore knees and wounded-or-inflated egos. There was a silent auction, a food drive, a bevy of raffled-off prizes and a live band, but the larger victory belonged to the 200-plus parents, students and staff bringing life to the school's resurgent spirit and sense of community.
As the Gaithersburg Middle School marks its 50th anniversary, its teachers, students and parents have found a sort of renaissance by embracing the school's diversity and fostering a sense of inclusion, said PTA president Twyla Taylor.
"We're determined to bring back the old glory, when a few years ago we were all the rage," Taylor said Friday night between the crowd's outbursts of cheers and moans. "If we've been handed lemons, we're going to make lemonade."
The efforts start by raising expectations across the school community, said Principal Carol Goddard. So far this year, her fifth as GMS's principal, "respect" has emerged as a special theme.
"We play Aretha every morning; that starts our day off right," Goddard said.
Students are recognized for improving their grades, in addition to the usual accolades for academic excellence. And the school is crowning "Kids of the Month" for especially respectful deeds.
For parents, the school is boosting its use of in-school programs such as Linkages to Learning, an in-school program with county and private sector health and human services agencies, and the school system's "Parent Academy" program, a running series of workshops. The school is actively reaching out to immigrant families, Goddard said. PTA meetings are regularly drawing 75 parents, Taylor said.
"The PTA has never been more involved than it is now," she said.
The upshot? Test scores and teacher morale are up, Goddard said, and their efforts have helped yield one of a school's most elusive of dividends: balanced academic performance among white, Asian, black and Hispanic students.
"We're probably one of the few middle schools that's actually closing the achievement gap," Goddard said.
The school hopes to reinvigorate that vibe with International Night in January while the parents-versus-teachers rivalry shifts to the softball diamond in the spring, followed by a 50th anniversary alumni dinner in May.
And as for next year's tip-off?
"I'm definitely getting refs," Goddard said.
