Glasgow Community Gazette - February 3

Glasgow Community:

This past week has been full of surprises! From weather delays to Region announcements, it’s been a roller-coaster of a week.

Thank you so much for your incredible support and encouragement this week. I am honored to be named FCPS Region 2 Outstanding Principal. I am incredibly grateful to work with such an outstanding staff and supportive community and believe this recognition is ultimately a reflection of the hard work our staff and members of the PTA have shown in support of Glasgow’s vision.

At Glasgow, we are a staff that works together to learn, grow and get better. We have difficult conversations and we assume positive. We push ourselves and each other in support of student learning, and we believe that all students can achieve at high levels. I look forward to the opportunities this nomination will provide to share Glasgow’s story.

Speaking of telling Glasgow’s story... Last month, Sarah Beck, Glasow's Director of Student Services, was interviewed on the EdFix podcast, talking about our work at Glasgow and the way we try to be flexible and responsive to students’ needs. Check it out! Link: https://gsehd.gwu.edu/edfix-podcast

Finally, as a reminder, there is no school for students on Monday as it is Staff Development Day for teachers. Due to the recent snow delays and school cancellations, Tuesday will be an Odd Day (Periods 1, 3, 5, 7) and grade cards will be distributed to students to take home at the end of the day.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Shawn DeRose, Principal

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

Getting Ready For High School

2019-2020 Course Registration for Rising 8th Graders - Counselors are continuing to meet one-on-one with each student to review course options and complete the course selection form. Your student should have brought home a copy of their selections for you to sign and return within three days. Here is a link to the course descriptions at Glasgow: https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/#/frontPanel/360/nocourselist/1/1/

As always, please let us know what questions you may have as we move through the academic advising season!

Fairfax Academy Open House: February 5 - Families of rising 9th graders, the Fairfax Academy open house is on February 5th from 6:30-8:00pm with a snow date of Monday, February 11 from 6:30-8:00pm. This is an opportunity to meet the teachers, visit the classrooms, speak with current students and learn more about the courses available such as musical theater, dance, and TV and media production.

Rising 9th Grade Night at Neighboring High Schools:

Edison High School - February 26 at 7PM. For more information on these events, please contact Laine O'Donnell at lodonnell@fcps.edu.

Important Dates

February 4 - Staff Development Day (No School for Students)

February 5 - Grade Cards Distributed to Students

February 5, 6 - Lollipop Sales (All Lunches)

February 6 - Glasgow Rising 6th Grade Night, 6PM

February 6, 7 - School Play Auditions (Wizard of Oz)

February 11 - Lollipop Distribution During Panther Time

February 12 - PTA Meeting 7pm

February 12, 13, 14 - Q2 Open Campus

February 16 - Broadway Desserts @ Justice HS

February 20 - Spelling Bee

February 21 - Band Concert @ Justice HS

February 22 - Panther Store

February 22 - Orchestra Concert I @ Justice HS

February 26 - Group Picture Day

February 26 - Orchestra Concert II @ Justice HS

Grade Card Distribution: February 5 - Thursday, January 24 marked the final day of the 2nd quarter. I encourage you to monitor your student’s grades in SIS (through StudentView or your ParentView accounts) and touch base with their teachers if you have any questions. Please keep in mind that report cards will be distributed to students on Tuesday, February 5.

Lollipop Sales: February 5 and 6 - The SGA will be selling lollipops for Valentine’s Day and are again giving parents a chance to buy lollipops for their child by having order forms and notes in the office from now until February 6.  Parents can stop in at the office during regular school hours.

The school-wide sales days for students will be Tuesday, February 5 and Wednesday, February 6 during lunches.  Please let your child know that once the lollipops are gone, sales will cease. Students will be limited to purchasing 10 lollipops per day.  Lollipops will be distributed to students during Panther Time on Monday, February 11.

Rising 6th Grade Open House: February 6 - Parents of rising 6th graders, come join us on February 6 from 6-8pm for an Open House to learn more about what middle school at Glasgow is all about! We will offer short (optional) sessions on our various Glasgow programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses for 6th Graders.

We hope you leave this event excited about all the opportunities you will have as a Glasgow Panther and prepared to complete your course request form! Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening:

• Welcome to Glasgow! (6:10PM, 7:10PM - Cafeteria)
• Course Request 101 (6:40PM, 7:40PM - Library)
• Level IV Advanced Academic Program (7:10PM - Library)
• Spanish Immersion Program (6:40PM - D206)
• English for Speakers of Other Languages Program (7:40 - D206)
• Special Education Office (6:10PM, 7:40PM - D201)
• Math Course Placement and Selection Q&A (6:40PM, 7:10PM - E221)

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Beck at sjbeck@fcps.edu. We can’t wait to meet you!

Auditions for The Wizard Of Oz (Musical): February 6, 7 - Students will have the opportunity to audition for the Wizard of Oz (Musical) on February 6 and 7 after school from 2:30-4:30 in the Black Box Theater (B126). Students who wish to audition should to get an audition form on Tuesday from Ms. Smits-Beasley.

Lollipop Distribution: February 11 - Lollipops will be distributed during Panther Time on Monday, February 11. If your child is sending lollipops, it is important to make sure they know the name of the Panther Time teacher of the student receiving the lollipop.

Glasgow PTA Meeting: February 12 - Join the Glasgow PTA's sponsored presentation "Exploring Our Cultures, Building Our Community" on February 12 from 7:00 to 8:00PM. Glasgow MS is known for its diversity, with many cultures, languages, and backgrounds represented to celebrate. Presenter Kim Amenabar, from the FCPS Office of Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, will lead this highly interactive workshop using hands-on activities designed to get parents learning together and interacting with one another. She will also share some of the initiatives FCPS has put in place to support staff in working with all students, families, and colleagues. All are welcome.  PTA membership not required for attendance. Spanish and Arabic interpreters will be present.

The January PTA Meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather. However, the featured topic: Glasgow’s International Baccalaureate, or IB, program has been rescheduled to the March 12 PTA Meeting. We will hear information presented by Middle Years Program Coordinator at Glasgow and the IB Coordinator at Justice High School. Mark you calendar!

Spelling Bee: February 20 - The annual Glasgow Spelling Bee will be held on February 20 at 2:30pm in the Glasgow Lecture Hall. All Glasgow students are invited to participate! The winner of the Bee will advance to the Fairfax County Bee in March, and will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Second- and third-place finishers will receive $25 Amazon gift cards. Word study lists are available in the office; additional study materials can be found at spellingbee.com. We are also looking for three judges for the Bee. If interested, please contact Ben Hemmens (bhemmens@gmail.com).

Opportunities

PBIS Panther Store Volunteer Spots Still Available - The PBIS Panther Store has plenty of dates for volunteers to help out:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084aa4a92da0fc1-spring5

Get Involved, Volunteer Today! - The Glasgow PTA needs YOU! We can use your help in supporting March Madness, our annual basketball extravaganza, on March 29th. See this, and other volunteer opportunities at Glasgow Middle School throughout the year: https://bit.ly/2VA0orc

Join the PTA Executive Board! - Interested in serving on next year's PTA Executive Board?  Position descriptions and timeline/process are posted on the PTA website.

Join the Glasgow PTA Listserve - If you would like to join the PTA listserv to receive current announcements, send a request to glasgowms.pta@gmail.com. If you would like to join the PTA or make a donation, go to www.glasgowpta.org. Thank you for your continued support.

Important Information

2019-2020 Course Registration for Rising 7th Graders - Glasgow Student Services is excited to begin meeting with your students to register them for next year’s courses! Counselors will meet one-on-one with each student to review course options and complete the course selection form. Sometime before March 15, your student will bring home a copy of their selections for you to sign and return within three days. Here is a link to the Glasgow course descriptions: https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/#/frontPanel/360/nocourselist/1/1/1

In addition, students learned about course options in Panther Time last week. Students explored the kinds of classes they can take, the difference between general education and honors classes, and what choices they have for electives. After reviewing the information students completed a “think sheet” to practice selecting their classes.

This Thursday, February 7, 6th grade students will watch a video on the elective offerings during FIT. Our goal is to empower students to feel confident about their educational choices and continue these conversations at home.

Please note that all course request changes are due by April 12, 2019. Finalizing requests by this date allows us to invest in staffing and resources based on students’ needs and interests. We will be finalizing schedules and placements throughout the late Spring and summer months.

Yearbook On-line Store is Now Available - Families who still have not paid for their 2018-2019 yearbook can now pre-order on-line. The website is: https://www.balfour.com/virginia/alexandria/glasgow-middle-school. Students may continue to bring in money and turn in to the front office. The price of the yearbook is only $25, but will increase to $30 in early February. Extra items will be available until March: name stamping ($5), clear plastic cover ($3), autograph sheets ($2), arrow stickies ($6), jewel pack ($6) and pen signing set ($4.99).

Join the Fun!

Mason District Little League Registration Open! - Mason District Little League spring softball and baseball registration is now open with early bird discount prices until February 10th. The softball division is entering its second year and beginner players are welcome. The intermediate level baseball league is also entering its second year for 13 year old ball players. For more information visit MDLL.org.

FCAG Annual Summer Camp and Enrichment Fair: February 16 - The Fairfax County Association for the Gifted Annual Summer Camp and Enrichment Fair will be held on at McLean High School on February 16 from 3-5pm. The event is free and open to the public, featuring camps from the performing and visual arts, computer technology, STEM, and rigorous academic programs for pre-school through high school aged kids. The Fair is a community-loved annual event in Northern Virginia with over 40 summer programs participating. For more information visit their website at http://www.fcag.org/.

Broadway Desserts - Saturday, February 16 at 2pm and 7pm: Justice High School's popular Broadway Desserts is happening Saturday, February 16 at 2pm and 7pm. Special guests from Glasgow Middle School chorus will join us at both shows. This year's show is entitled "Thank You for the Music" and will feature favorites from Mamma Mia, Camelot, Hamilton, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Newsies, Footloose, Godspell, and more!

If you've never been, this event features students singing some of their favorite Broadway songs. During the intermission, guests are invited to enjoy an assortment of "fancy" desserts as well as coffee, tea and lemonade. The show is family friendly! Tickets will be available at the door: $5 for children under 5, $10 for seniors/students/teachers, and $15 for everyone else. We look forward to seeing you, and thank you for supporting the chorus boosters' biggest fundraiser of the year!

Justice HS Volleyball Weekend Camps in March: Sign Up Today! - Justice High School volleyball program is excited to be offering Volleyball Clinics for boys and girls in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade on two dates in March. New this year, parents have the option to pay online. For more information check out the following link: https://bit.ly/2wgGmWC

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.