Glasgow Community Gazette - March 3

Glasgow Community:

We celebrated the final week in February by hosting a number of events that showcased the many talents of our students. On Monday, students who earned all A’s and B’s during 2nd quarter received a certificate recognizing their accomplishment. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Glasgow Orchestra and Band programs highlighted the musical talents of our students at their “Pre-Assessment” concerts.

The annual Glasgow Spelling Bee was held on Wednesday after school. Congratulations to Will Hemmens, who won a $50 Amazon gift card and will represent our school at the Fairfax County Bee in later this month. Shout out to our second- and third-place finishers Safa Touri and Sofi Hemmens, both received $25 Amazon gift cards. On Thursday evening, amazing student art work was on full display at the Justice Pyramid Art Show. Finally, on Saturday afternoon, a number of Glasgow students participated in the Real Food for Kids Challenge at Hayfield High School.  This event provided Glasgow students enrolled in Family and Consumer Sciences an opportunity to learn about and promote healthy eating.

Thank you for everything you do to support Glasgow Middle School. 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 Next Year

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.

Important Dates

March 5 - Beginning Chorus Ensemble Concert

March 8 - Panther Store

March 11 - 3 Hour Early Release

March 12 - PTA Meeting

March 12, 13  - Writing SOL Testing

March 13 - Pre-Assessment Chorus Concert

March 21 - 6th Grade Dance, 2:30-4:30

March 25-29 - SGA Spirit Week

March 29 - Hoop It Up Night

8th Grade Writing SOL: March 12 and 13 - The Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Grade 8 Writing Test on March 12 and 13. It is important that your student attend school on these days. If possible, please avoid scheduling trips or appointments that would take your child out of school during this time period. It is also important that your child have a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast before testing. If you become aware of an unavoidable conflict that could result in your child missing a testing day, please notify your student’s counselor as soon as possible.

The English Writing Standards of Learning (SOL) test has two components: multiple choice response and a short paper response. In order to obtain a score, your child must complete both components.

The purpose of SOL testing is to provide information about student achievement to the parent, school, school division, and state. In most cases, test scores are available for parents by the end of the school year. More information about how and when you will receive your student’s scores will be shared closer to these dates. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah N’Guessan at senguessan@fcps.edu.

Glasgow PTA Meeting: March 12 - Glasgow’s International Baccalaureate, or IB, program will be highlighted at 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! All are welcome. PTA membership not required for attendance. Spanish and Arabic interpreters will be present.

Glasgow Goodies

Glasgow Students Win Lions Club Peace Contest! - On February 21, the Bailey’s Crossroads Lions Club honored two Glasgow students who won first place in their annual Peace Contest. Rosa Carranza (6th grade) was the winner of the Peace Poster contest and 7th grade student, Isabella Gacono, won first place for her Peace Essay.

The topic of the essay was Kindness Matters and Isabella wrote about an act of kindness she did for a friend that resulted in her friend returning the act of kindness to her. Three of Glasgow’s teachers were in attendance to support Rosa and Isabella. When Isabella accepted her award she thanked her family, teachers and the Lions Club and went on to say that “November 13th is National Kindness Day, but kindness day should not be just one day, it should be every day!”

Virginia STAR Club Donates Computers to Students in Need! - The Glasgow VA Star after school club donated refurbished computers to students in need of technology at home. Special thanks to Marc Perella and Aaron Cannon for their leadership and support of this program and to Delegate Kaye Kory for attending this year's event.

Thank You Spelling Bee Volunteers! - Special thanks to Ben Hemmens and Claire White for organizing and leading the Glasgow Spelling Bee. Shout out to our pronouncer Mary Johnson and judges Dezzarae Crosler, Meredith Bowen, and Katie Madigan.

Performing Arts Pre-Assessment Concerts - Shout out to our Glasgow Orchestra and Band who did an amazing job this past week at their “Pre-Assessment Concert.”  The purpose of the concerts is to prepare for the upcoming District Band, Chorus and Orchestra Assessment season.

Opportunities

Yearbook Class Needs Photos of Your Child Outside of School! - The yearbook staff wants to see our students and staff engaged in an activity outside of school.  If you traveled to an exciting location (includes vacation destinations) or play sports outside of school, we want a picture! You can also include pictures of helping the community or attending a play, movie, evening school event, etc. Be creative and send those pictures to the yearbook staff!

To submit pictures, you can give them to a yearbook staff member or drop them off to Mr. Perella in room F226.  In order to make sure we return the picture to you, please put your picture in an envelope with the following information:

* First and last name

* Panther Time teacher

* Brief description of when and where the picture was taken.

The deadline is March 13, 2019. Pictures can be submitted to this Google form:  https://goo.gl/forms/dfeFzVKQdMkjkGkN2 or emailed to Mr. Perella.:  maperella@fcps.edu or maperella@fcpsschools.net.  

8th Grade Baby or Toddler Pictures Needed! - It's that time again! The yearbook staff would like 8th graders to bring in pictures when you were a baby or toddler.  To submit pictures, you can give them to a yearbook staff member or drop them off to Mr. Perella in room F226. In order to make sure we return the picture to you, please put your picture in an envelope with the following information:

* First and last name

* Panther Time teacher

The deadline is March 13, 2019. Pictures can be submitted to this Google form:  https://goo.gl/forms/q3HuBUwOKlq9aWxd2 or emailed to Mr. Perella: maperella@fcps.edu or maperella@fcpsschools.net.  

Get Involved, Volunteer Today! - The Glasgow PTA needs YOU! We can use your help in supporting March Madness, our annual basketball extravaganza, on March 29. 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. 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.

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.

Celebrating Kindness at Glasgow - As a school we are celebrating Kindness Month in the upcoming weeks for the rest of the month of February and March. Teachers and staff are encouraged to pass out as many Kindness panther cards as possible to our deserving KIND students. As per usual, students will be able to trade in their panther cards to our Panther Stores for a prize but in addition they will also be entered into a raffle to win a special kindness prize. Only Panther Cards with the ‘Kindness’ Panther quality circled will be entered into this raffle.

Join the Fun!

International Night at Justice High School: March 7 - Join the Justice Pyramid for performances, food, fashion and fun on March 7 at 5pm at Justice High School.

Justice HS Volleyball Weekend Camps: March 23 & 30 - Justice High School volleyball program is excited to be offering Volleyball Clinics for boys and girls in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade on March 23 and 30. 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.