Glasgow Community Gazette - September 15

Glasgow Community:

Thank you to all of you who attended our first PTA meeting of the year last Tuesday. We had a great turnout! Greg Williams, Glasgow’s After School Specialist presented on Glasgow’s After School Program which will begin on September 23. Our next PTA meeting is on October 15.

This week, Glasgow will host a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Admissions Representative for a student & parent presentation on the application process followed by a question & answer session in our Lecture Hall on Wednesday September 18 at 6:00pm. If you are unable to attend the presentation at Glasgow, the TJHSST Admissions website has a list of all middle schools that are holding presentations: www.tjadmissions.org.

Finally, if you and/or your student is looking for something to do this weekend, there are a number of fun events at Justice High School. On Friday, September 20, Justice is hosting their annual “Youth Night” at the Varsity Football game beginning at 7:00pm. All staff, families, and students from the Justice pyramid schools are invited. On Saturday, the Justice Volleyball team will be hosting a free clinic for boys and girls in 5th through 8th grade from 11:30-1:00pm. Click here for more information.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great week.

Sincerely, 
Shawn DeRose
Principal

Contact Information
Twitter: @ShawnDeRose
Email: spderose@fcps.edu
Website: http://www.fcps.edu/GlasgowMS/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlasgowMS.FCPS/

Important Information

First Day Packet Forms - Past Due: Please return first day packet forms listed below to your student's Panther Time teacher as soon as possible.

• Emergency Care Card
• Health Information Form
• After-School Form
• SOL Retake Form 

For the emergency care card, please take time to look over the card, make any necessary changes, sign the card and return it with your student to school. If there are no changes that need to be made, the card still needs to be signed and returned to school. Thank you for taking time to review and update this important information.

Free and Reduced Price Meals Application: Did you know that free and reduced price meal application forms need to be completed EVERY year? We encourage you to apply online using this link. Applications are also available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Tagalog, French, and Vietnamese. To change the language of the application click on the Language link in the top right of the screen. For more information, please click here.

September Safety Drills: Glasgow conducted a lockdown drill on Monday and a fire drill on Thursday. This week, we will conduct our 2nd lockdown drill of the year on Monday morning and our weekly fire drill on Thursday afternoon. Teachers will continue to help teach students our expectations and procedures to support school-wide safety. If you have any questions about required safety drills, please email Kristy Ritchie at klritchie@fcps.edu.

FCPS Cares

Do you know a Glasgow Middle School staff member who went beyond what is expected this first week of school? If so, then click here to submit a brief description so we can all acknowledge the good work of Glasgow faculty and staff members.

Breakfast and Lunch 

Parents may access the MySchoolBucks app to add money to student breakfast and lunch accounts, see menu options, check ingredients and allergen information, and much more. The official FCPS mobile app is available for iOS and Android at no cost. Lunch menus can be viewed online at https://fcps.nutrislice.com/menu/glasgow-middle-school.

Volunteer at Glasgow!

Volunteers Needed - 8th Grade Field Trip to Finance Park: The 8th grade Civics teachers are planning a field trip to Finance Park in October, and we need volunteers!  Finance Park, located on the grounds of Frost Middle School, is a budget simulation 8th grade students to participate in to get firsthand experience in the financial responsibilities of citizenship – making and keeping to a budget.  

The weeks prior to the field trip students will receive basic instruction in personal finance, credit/debit cards, and economics 101. Glasgow students will go on one of four days: October 21, 22, 23 or 24. If you are interested in chaperoning the field trip, please email Civics teacher Tina Takach by September 20 at cptakach@fcps.edu.

Volunteers Needed - Panther Store, September 27: Join us for a rare glimpse into the secret life of middle schoolers! What in the world am I referring to? It's Glasgow's PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) Panther Store! This year’s first store will be Friday, September 27th.

Students earn Panther Cards from Glasgow staff when they commit acts of Kindness, Commitment or Safety - these are the Panther Principles! Once a month, students have the opportunity to redeem their Panther cards at the Panther Store, which is open during lunch. Parents staff the Panther Store, and it's one of the few volunteer opportunities at Glasgow during the school day that puts you in direct contact with students. 

So come visit our school and work the PBIS Store during Glasgow lunches. We need at least 2 volunteers per session (minimum of 4 per day). If you know your child's lunch session - you can sign up to volunteer at that time. It is an easy and fun volunteer opportunity. Training will be provided at the beginning of your session (minimal instruction is needed!) Contact Jen Hitchcock at jenjim24@gmail.com with any questions! Click here to volunteer.

Article of the Week

In addition to keeping you updated on important information related to Glasgow Middle School, the Gazette will also provide information about what parents can do at home to help their student improve academically and help parents build the social and emotional skills that students need to be successful.

This week's article titled, "15 Questions to Replace ‘How Was School Today?" outlines questions will help you draw out important information from your kids. Click here to read the article.

Important Dates

September 18 - TJHSST Information Session, 6pm Lecture Hall

September 21 - Bands at the Beach Fundraiser

September 23 - After School Program Begins

September 27 - Panther Store (all lunches)

October 3 - Back to School Night, 6-8pm

October 5 - Taste of Annandale

October 15 - PTA Meeting/Parent Grading Workshop, 7pm

TJHSST Info Session - September 18 at 6pm: For parents of students whose 8th graders are currently enrolled in Algebra 1 and Geometry and are interested in applying to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST),the Freshman Winter Application will be available this Monday September 2 after 4pm. Greg Frantz is the TJHSST Liaison Counselor and distributed info sheets to all Algebra 1 and Geometry classes this week. He held a student info session during Panther Time on Thursday, August 29.

Glasgow will host a TJHSST Admissions Representative for a Student & Parent presentation on the application process followed by a question & answer session in our Lecture Hall on Wednesday, September 18 at 6pm.  If you are unable to attend the presentation at Glasgow the TJHSST Admissions website has a list of all middle schools that are holding presentations www.tjadmissions.org.

The application and all information about the Freshman Winter Application Process is contained on the TJHSST Admissions Website www.tjadmissions.org. The application deadline is 4pm on September 27. Please contact Greg Frantz at gdfrantz@fcps.edu with any questions or the TJHSST Admissions Office at tjadmissions@fcps.edu. 

Bands at the Beach Fundraiser - September 21: The Justice HS Scholarship Fund will hold its third-annual Bands at the Beach fundraiser on September 21 from 4pm until 7pm. This fundraiser helps to support scholarships for Justice HS seniors. The event includes a food truck, desserts, beverages, and of course, a variety of bands. Advance tickets are available for purchase online: www.jhsscholars.org/tickets. BONUS: Special price for Justice Pyramid staff and students or just $10/ticket. Questions? Contact JHS Parent and JHS Scholars Board Member, Tara Rethore: tjreth@gmail.com

After School Program and Late Buses Begin - September 23: The after school program and late buses will officially begin on September 23. Late buses will be available for students every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday after September 23. If you have any questions, please contact Greg Williams at gwilliams2@fcps.edu.    

Glasgow Back to School Night – October 3: On Thursday, October 3, we will be hosting our annual Back to School Night (BTSN). The program officially begins at 6:00 PM, and we encourage you to arrive early as we anticipate a well-attended event. Please bring a copy (or take a photo on your phone) of your student’s schedule. Students are welcome to attend BTSN as interpreters for their parents if necessary. In addition, please keep in mind that parking will be limited. We have arranged for the buses that normally park outside door #3 to park at Justice High School that evening. We also hope to provide overflow parking on the soccer fields.

Back to School Night at the secondary level is an opportunity for you to meet your student’s teachers, see their classrooms, and hear about what each class will look like for your student. You will spend 10 minutes in each classroom, hearing from the teacher(s) of that class. Given the time constraints of the evening, we invite you to email teachers directly with any specific questions or information you would like them to know about your student. Our teachers love to hear from you, and are always available for scheduled conferences throughout the school year.

Celebrate the Taste of Annandale - October 5: Come on out and enjoy some good food and entertainment at the fifth annual Taste of Annandale, Saturday, Oct. 5, 10am-4pm, along Tom Davis Drive in the center of Annandale.

The Taste of Annandale is a free, family-friendly street festival featuring food trucks, a beer garden, live music, an aerial dance performance, a best-dressed pet contest, a full day of children’s entertainment, 5K race, the police helicopter, a chili cook-off, vendors, and more. The Taste of Annandale 5K race starts at 9:30 a.m. in the Kmart parking lot, 4251 John Marr Drive. Sign up here: http://bit.ly/2BMXVUr. For more information visit: https://tasteofannandale.com/

PTA Meeting/Parent Grading Workshop - October 15: Mark your calendar for the next Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting on Tuesday, October 15 at 7:00pm. After a brief PTA meeting and Principal's Report, the special program for the evening will be a Parent Grading Workshop. All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend. PTA membership is not required. Spanish and Arabic interpreters will be present.  

Attendance Matters!

The new school year has been off to a wonderful start. Students are adjusting to their new routines, and routines are such an important part of academic success. In order to support consistent school attendance, please read the following information:

* Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.

* Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available.

* Being in school promotes academic and social growth for students as they learn from their peers who become a strong influence for students during their middle school years. Visit FCPS’s attendance site for more information on the importance of school attendance: FCPS Attendance Policies

Report Student Absences: In order for our students to get the most out of their education, students must be in school and on time to class every day. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.

Save this phone number in your phone! Call the Attendance Line at 703-813-8787 by 8:00am when your student is absent from school.

Be Informed, Stay Involved!

• Sign up for News You Choose. 
• Visit the Glasgow Middle School website.
• Follow Glasgow on Twitter.
• Visit Glasgow Middle School on Facebook.
• Monitor your students academics with a SIS Parent Account.
• Join the Glasgow Middle School PTA and attend meetings.
• Keep your contact information up-to-date.