George P. Austin Jr. High

A huge THANK YOU to Mayor Gwen Rogers for generously providing pizza and to Chief Richard Varner for making sure our students stayed refreshed with beverages yesterday! We appreciate our community leaders showing up for our students in such a meaningful (and delicious) way! #GPACommunity #ACAPStrong #WeAreGrateful #PartnersInEducation

GPA Community, We Need You A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has already sent in letters and cards filled with encouraging words for our students as they prepare to take the ACAP tests next week. Your support means the world to us! I know not everyone follows our page, so please help spread the word! If you’d like to send a message of encouragement, you can email Principal Starks at tstarks@lindencity.org or drop it off at the school. Every word of support helps lift our students up! State testing begins Monday, April 14th, and we’re inviting our GPA family, stakeholders, local businesses, and alumni to join us that morning at 7:45 a.m. As Principal Starks leads our usual Monday Morning Kickoff with the students, we'd love to have YOU lining the hallways to cheer them on as they head to their classrooms. Let’s send them off with the energy and confidence they need to do their very best! Let’s show our students just how much we believe in them! #GPACommunity #ACAPStrong #WeBelieveInYou #CheerThemOn

📣 Calling All Community Members! Our amazing students at George P. Austin Junior High School are getting ready to take the ACAP on Monday, April 14th, and we need YOUR help to encourage and uplift them! ✨ We’re asking community members to write short, positive, and encouraging letters to our students to help boost their confidence before the big test. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, church member, business owner, or proud alumni—we’d love for you to share a kind word! 📬 You may: Write to an individual student or to an entire class! Email your letter to Principal Tonya Starks at tstarks@lindencity.org, or drop it off at the school by Friday, April 11, 2025. These letters will be given to students to read on Monday morning, April 14th, just before testing begins. Let’s unite and show our students that their whole community is cheering them on! 🐾💪 #GPAFamily #WeBelieveInYou #ACAPStrong #CommunitySupportMatters

Happy National School Librarian Day! Today, we celebrate our amazing librarian, Ms. Witherington, for her dedication, passion, and the countless ways she fosters a love of reading and learning in our students. From helping students find the perfect book to supporting teachers with valuable resources, she is truly an asset to our school! Join us in thanking Ms. Witherington for all she does to make our library a wonderful place! #NationalSchoolLibrarianDay #ThankYouMsWitherington #WeLoveOurLibrarian

Happy Paraprofessional Day! Today, we celebrate and appreciate the incredible dedication of Ms. Bruno and Coach Sewell! Their hard work, support, and commitment to our students make a difference every single day. From assisting in the classroom to providing encouragement and guidance, they help create a positive and successful learning environment at George P. Austin Junior High. Thank you, Ms. Bruno and Coach Sewell, for all that you do! #ParaprofessionalDay #ThankYou #TeamGPA 💙

Happy Spring Break, GPA Family! Wishing all our students, parents, and staff a fun, relaxing, and safe Spring Break! Enjoy your time off, make great memories, and recharge for April and May! We can’t wait to see everyone back in class on March 31st! #GPAStrong #SpringBreakVibes #SeeYouSoon

Important Transportation Update for GPA Students from Superintendent Thurman Effective March 31, 2025 Due to construction at Linden High School and an overflow of traffic in the area, George P. Austin students will not be permitted to ride the bus to the high school. Parents must pick up their children directly from GPA. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure the safety of all students. If you have any questions, please contact the school office. Thank you for your support.

3rd 9 Weeks Honor Roll 8th Grade

3rd 9 Weeks Honor Roll 7th Grade

3rd 9 Weeks Honor Roll 6th Grade

📢 Celebrating Our 3rd 9 Weeks Honor Roll Students! 🎉📚 Congratulations to our amazing students who have demonstrated hard work, dedication, and academic excellence this grading period! 🌟 Your commitment to learning and perseverance continue to inspire us all. Let's give a big round of applause to these outstanding achievers! 👏👏👏 Keep striving for success—your efforts do not go unnoticed! 💪✨ #HonorRoll #AcademicExcellence #GPAProud

📢GPA Family📢 Report cards went home today! Please take a moment to review and sign them. If you have any questions or concerns, our teachers are available for conferences Monday–Friday from 7:30–8:00 AM and 3:00–3:30 PM. Give us a call to set up a time. Thank you for your support! Let’s keep cheering our students on! 💙💛 #GPAStrong

📢 Exciting News! 📢 We are proud to share that our very own Principal, Tonya Starks, represented George P. Austin Junior High School at the 2025 KPCEL Annual Conference in Memphis, TN! 🎉 She joined a distinguished panel of education leaders to discuss Practical Wisdom from a Research-Practice Partnership: Promoting Equity, Character & Flourishing through School Leadership Education. Her insights on character education, student success, and leadership continue to make a lasting impact on our school and beyond. We are so proud of her dedication to fostering a strong and thriving school community! 💙💛 #PrideInPatriots #CharacterMatters #LeadershipInEducation

HEY ALABAMA SCHOOLS!! ALL Kids hopes everyone's 2025-2026 school year is off to a great start! Do any students need healthcare coverage? APPLY TODAY!! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18R1qsPNb5/

To culminate Black History Month, our GPA students took a meaningful journey to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Kelly Ingram Park on February 28th. Walking through history, they experienced powerful exhibits that told the story of the Civil Rights Movement—stories of courage, resilience, and the fight for justice. At Kelly Ingram Park, they stood where young activists once marched and reflected on the sacrifices made for the freedoms we have today. It was more than a field trip; it was a lesson in history, leadership, and the responsibility we all have to continue pushing for equality. Proud of our students for embracing this experience with open hearts and open minds! #GPAOnTheMove #BlackHistoryMonth #LivingHistory #BirminghamCivilRights

George P. Austin Junior High School has been selected by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS) as a 2024 CLAS School of Distinction for its Pride in Patriots character education program. This award recognizes school programs that serve as outstanding educational models for other schools in Alabama. This year 234 schools were nominated for prestigious recognition with 222 applications submitted. George P. Austin was one of thirty-two schools selected as the 2024 CLAS Schools of Distinction. Our exemplary school will be recognized at the awards luncheon on May 5, 2025 in Prattville. Principal Starks commented that the achievement belongs to every teacher, staff member, student, and parent who gives their best every single day.

📢 GPA Family, Join Us! 📢 We invite you to our Black History Program tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in the George P. Austin gym! 🎤✨ Come celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of African Americans with us. We look forward to seeing you there! 🖤💛❤️ #BlackHistoryMonth #GPAProud #CelebrateHistory

📢 Progress Reports Went Home Today! 📢 Parents & Guardians, please check your child's backpack—progress reports were sent home today! 📄✉️ Take a moment to review your child’s grades and celebrate their hard work! 🎉 Also, please pay close attention to any notes regarding our attendance policy. Regular attendance is key to student success! ✅ If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your child's teacher. Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students! 💙 #StayInformed #StudentSuccess #AttendanceMatters

🌟 Celebrating Our Amazing Counselor, Luckie MvonoToung! 🌟 This week, we are honored to recognize and celebrate Luckie MvonoToung for National School Counseling Week! 💙✨ Mrs. MvonoToung is the heart of our school, always going above and beyond to support our students, staff, and families. Whether she’s offering guidance, lending a listening ear, or helping students navigate challenges, she does it all with kindness, dedication, and a genuine passion for student success. Thank you, Mrs. MvonoToung, for the impact you make every single day! Our school is stronger, kinder, and more connected because of you. 💛💙 #NationalSchoolCounselingWeek #ThankYouMrsMvonoToung #GPAJH #WeAppreciateYou

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 We are thrilled to share that Ms. Denetria Ruffin, our amazing Social Studies teacher, has had her classroom project, "Essential Education: Foundation for Growth," fully funded through DonorsChoose! This project will provide our students with valuable resources to enhance their learning experience and set a solid foundation for their academic growth. Ms. Ruffin’s dedication to her students is truly inspiring, and we are so proud of her commitment to making a difference! 💡📚✨ A huge thank you to the generous donors who helped bring this project to life. Your support means the world to our school community. 🥰👏 #GeorgePAustinJrHigh #DonorsChoose #TeacherSpotlight #StudentSuccess #Grateful 💙