JANUARY 2016

Tiger O N E L E AR N I N G L AN E — F R E D E RI C K S B U R G, V I R G IN A 2 2 4 0 1

P H O N E: 5 4 0 - 3 7 2 - 1 1 4 5 F AX 5 4 0 - 8 9 1 - 5 4 4 9

Principal’s Letter

Dear Tiger Families, I hope that you have enjoyed a jubilant and restful winter break. It is my wish that during the holiday season your middle school child enjoyed some well-deserved time away from school! Winter vacation tends to serve as a half-way point for the school year, so students have the oppor-tunity to return to school refreshed and ready to focus their efforts on learning. It’s the perfect time for administration, parents, and teachers to take time to review student progress from the first part of the year and set academic goals for the remainder - it may help to focus their efforts and help them be more successful. We had a fantastic end to 2015 at Walker-Grant Middle School, and we are preparing to wrap up the first semester. When we return to school there will be just a few weeks remaining in the mark-ing period. As 2015 was ending I walked through the halls, observed classrooms, and interacted with students and faculty, and I felt privileged to be a part of such an excellent school and community. I have seen first-hand the caring and compassion of our students and staff as they collected food and clothing items for those in need. I am very proud of the positive difference we are making in the Fredericksburg community. At WGMS we are always focused on academic achievement and meet-ing the social and emotional needs of each student. Towards that end, we stress the importance of the pillars ROAR: Respect, Order, Achievement, and Responsibility. During this beginning of the New Year, I hope that you surround yourself with close friends and family. Please continue to inspire your children to make a positive impact in our schools, commu-nity, and world. The WGMS administrative team would like to thank each student, family, and staff member who has made each day a success! At Walker-Grant Middle School, we feel very fortunate to serve you and your children as we guide the students toward their goals. We ended 2015 on a very high note and look forward to the oppor-tunities that await us in the new year. Best Wishes and continued success in 2016. Melanie R. Kay-Wyatt, Ed.D, Principal

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504 ACCOMODATIONS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION If your child has any type of learning or physical problem, he/she may qualify for accommodations under 504 or special education services. Please call the Walker-Grant Counseling Office at 372-1145 if you have any questions or would like to refer your child for screening and possible assessment. No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of his/her handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits, of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: The Rights of Individuals with Handicaps Under Federal Law.

IN THE MATTER OF NONRESIDENT STUDENT ENROLLMENT The Fredericksburg City Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability in admission or treatment of employment in its programs or activities. Any questions should be referred to Pam Steinkoenig, 200 Gunnery Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 or by calling (540) 371-1127.

SEX OFFENDER STATEMENT The Fredericksburg City Public School Division recognizes the danger sex offenders pose to student safety. Therefore, to protect students while they travel to and from school, attend school or at school-related activities, the Fredericksburg City School Division shall request automatic electronic notification of registered sex offenders in the same or contiguous zip codes as any school within the division. Such request and notification shall be made according to the procedures established by the Virginia Department of State Police (State Police). The Superintendent shall serve as the contact person with the State Police for receipt of the registered sex offender information.

Congratulations to:

TEACHER OF THE QUARTER Ms. Danielle Dulick

Paraprofessional of the quarter

Mrs. donna karlovicH

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Grade Level Spelling Bees

Winners of the Grade-Level Spelling Bees were: 6th Grade— Kathryn Fidler (winner) Ryland Holland (runner-up) 7th Grade— Zoey Young (winner) Adia Hein (runner-up) 8th Grade— Christian Taylor (winner) Shelby Munford (runner-up) These students will compete at the Divison Bee on January 20 at Lafayette Upper Elementary School.

INCLEMENT WEATHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Information concerning school closings or delays for Fredericksburg City Public Schools may be found by checking one of the following: Fredericksburg City Public Schools website: www.cityschools.com www.fredericksburg.com

FCPS TV (Local Educational Access) - Channel 83 WFLS Radio (FM 93.3)

WVBX Radio – The Vibe (FM 99.3) WWUZ Radio – Classic Rock (FM 96.9)

WFVA/B101.5 Radio (FM 101.5) (AM 1230) WGRQ Radio (FM 95.9) WGRX Radio (Thunder 104.5) WTOP Radio (FM 107.7) WTVR Television – Channel 6 (Richmond) WRIC Television – Channel 8 (Richmond)

WRC Television – Channel 4 (DC) WUSA Television – Channel 9 (DC)

WJLA Television - Channel 7 (DC) We encourage parents to visit our website or listen to one of the radio or television stations listed above. Announcements are posted as quickly as possible.

Text/E-mail notice of school delays or closings are also communicated through the Fredericksburg Alerts system to those who have

signed up for FCPS closing notices. A link to the alert system is located on our webpage: www.cityschools.com/walkergrantmiddleschool.

MAP Testing

As you know, Fredericksburg City Public Schools has instituted the use of NWEA’s Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) in order to determine individual student learning levels, progress, and growth. These norm-referenced assessments are given three to four times a year, in order to provide indicators of how our students will perform on the Virginia Standards of Learning Assess-ments. Currently, each school is developing strategies for remediation- for those students that are performing below expectations, enrichment-for those students that are progressing at grade level, and acceleration-for those students who are performing above grade level and need a more challenging curriculum. After our testing window in January, progress reports will be sent home to parents detailing your student’s academic progress as compared to other students, and a description of academic plans such as remediation, enrichment, or acceleration. Further details on understanding the progress report will be distributed in the coming months. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school at your earliest convenience.

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Contact Us: Courtney McWhirt –Counseling Secretary

EXT. 2230 cmcwhirt@cityschools.com DeNae Overton M.Ed. –School Counselor for students 6th grade students with last names A —> J and all 8th grade

EXT. 2002 doverton@cityschools.com Andrew West M.Ed. –School Counselor School Counselor for 6th grade students with last names K —> Z and all 7th grade

EXT. 2219 awest@cityschools.com School Phone: (540)-372-1145

CAREER DAY We need your help! WGMS is currently planning to hold a Career Day program this school year for our 7th grade students and wish to know if you or someone you know has/had a career that may peak our stu-dents’ interests. We are looking for individuals or groups who could spare about an hour of their time to teach groups of students about what they do/did and what schooling & skills were needed to get there. Those who can bring hands-on materials, props, displays or other visuals and manipulatives are preferred.

For more information, contact Mr. West at 540-372-1145 or awest@cityschools.com

Jan. 6th Wednesday

Buford Away: 4:30 p.m.

Depart: 2:15 p.m.

Jan 8th & 9th Friday & Saturday

King George Bball Tournament

Away: TBD

Depart: TBD

Jan. 11th Monday

King George Away: 4:30 p.m.

Depart: 2:50 p.m.

Jan. 12th Tuesday

Culpeper Home: 5:00 p.m.

Depart: N/A

Jan. 14th Thursday

Caroline Home: 4:30 p.m.

Depart: N/A

Jan. 21st Thursday

Buford Home: 5:30 p.m.

Depart: N/A

Jan. 26th Tuesday

Floyd T Binns Away: 4:30 p.m.

Depart: 2:45 p.m.

Jan. 28-30 Thursday - Saturday

Culpeper Invitational Away: TBD

Depart: TB

Tiger Calendar for January 2016

Monday, January 4 Classes resume from Winter Break Deadline for Reflections entries Wednesday, January 6 Boys’ Basketball Game at Buford, 4:30 PM Friday, January 8 King George Basketball Tournament Saturday, January 9 Saturday School, 8:00-11:00 AM King George Basketball Tournament Monday, January 11 Boys’ Basketball Game at King George, 4:30 PM School Board Meeting at JMHS, 7:30 PM Tuesday, January 12 oys’ Basketball Home Game vs. Culpeper, 5:00 PM Family Life Parent Night, 5:00 PM Thursday, January 14 Boys’ Basketball Home Game vs. Caroline, 4:30 PM NJHS Induction Ceremony, 7:00 PM Monday, January 18 Martin Luther King Holiday / NO SCHOOL Wednesday, January 20 FCPS Spelling Bee at LUES, 9:00 AM Thursday, January 21 Boys’ Basketball Home Game vs. Buford, 5:30 PM Saturday, January 23 Saturday School, 8:00-11:00 AM Monday, January 25 Foreign Language Exams Tuesday, January 26 Boys’ Basketball Game at Floyd T. Binns, 4:30 PM Wednesday, January 27 Foreign Language Exams Thursday, January 28 Principal’s Roundtables Club Pictures Culpeper Invitational Basketball Tournament Friday, January 29 Foreign Language Exams Pastries with the Principal, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM Culpeper Invitational Basketball Tournament Saturday, January 30 Culpeper Invitational Basketball Tournament