Glasgow Community Gazette - Welcome to the 2019-20 School Year

Glasgow Community

I hope you are having a great summer! Over the 4th of July, my family and I spent time in Ohio, enjoying roller coasters, the beach and the lake. It was a wonderful way to enjoy time together. 

This past week, I traveled to Boston for the National Principals Conference with members of the Glasgow Admin Team, including Steve D’Adamo, Kristy Ritchie, Steven McFarlane, Emily Castor and Joash Chung. Along with Sarah Beck, we presented a session titled “Beyond Whack-a-Mole: Using Systems Thinking to Solve Persistent Problems”. It was rewarding to share our story and the way we intentionally work together as a school community to keep getting better in support of students. 

When reflecting on our presentation at the conference, and networking with administrators from across the country, it reinforced my belief that students learn in schools that learn. Glasgow is definitely a place where everybody in the building learns. I feel proud about the progress we have made at Glasgow and, as I have said many times, what I enjoy most is “the process.” That improvement is a lifelong journey not a destination. With that in mind, I am excited for the upcoming school year and all that we can accomplish together.

The building is open and active this summer, especially for our rising 6th grade students to prepare students for their transition to Glasgow Middle School.  The Young Scholars Program is in full swing through July 26 and we will be offering an Algebra Boot Camp July 22-25. In addition, we will host two Jump Start sessions on August 5 & 6 and August 7 & 8. Check out the “Summer at Glasgow Update” below. Thank you to Shona Person for serving as the Summer School Administrator this year.

I am looking forward to seeing your student(s) soon. Enjoy the time with your child(ren) over the summer and as always, please let me know if you have any questions.

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/

Summer at Glasgow Update

There has been a number of exciting things happening in the building over the past few weeks and we are looking forward to more students (and parents) attending one of our many programs designed to support our students this upcoming school year. On July 8, we welcomed over 50 Young Scholars’ students to our summer program taught by Michael Pulver, Shanice Roddey and Tess Roper. Special thanks to Shona Person for leading this program this year.  

We have 65 students set to attend an Algebra Boot Camp taught by Danielle Plourde, Lauren Weimken and Allison Menard, which will begin on Monday, July 22. On the following Monday, August 5, from 8:15-9:15 AM, we will be hosting a New Student Parent Coffee to assist parents with the transition to Glasgow. We will be hosting another Parent Coffee on Wednesday, August 7, from 8:15-9:15 AM.

Finally, we are looking forward to hosting over 100 6th grade students at our FREE Jump Start program on August 5-6 and 7-8. The Jump Start Program will be taught by Dezzarae Crosler, Anntoinette McIntyre, Keely Norris, and Olivia Shank. The goal of the program is to alleviate any anxiety and concerns students may have about attending a new school and get them excited about the opportunities that await them at Glasgow Middle School.  

If you have not signed up your student yet for Jump Start, visit the following link: https://forms.gle/ykgTDoCK2S2FYrFF8. If you have any questions, please contact Shona Person at sdperson@fcps.edu.

Important Dates

Now Through August 23 - Free Meals this Summer

July 27 - Great Assembly for the Justice Pyramid Resource Fair

August 5 and 7 - New Student Parent Coffee

August 8 - Justice Pyramid Resource Fair

August 12 or 13 - Run with the Pack: Rising 9th Grade Transition Program at Justice

August 20 - PTA Packet Stuffing Day 

August 22 - PTA Sponsored Welcome Back Breakfast for Teachers/Staff

August 22 - 6th Grade Orientation (12:45PM) and Open House (3:30PM)

August 26 - First Day of Classes 2019

October 3, 6:00-8:00 PM - Back to School Night 2019

Free Meals this Summer: Now through August 27 - Hunger doesn’t take a vacation and neither do we! The Office of Food and Nutrition Services will be hosting the 2019 FEEDS (Food for Every child to Eat During Summer) program at various locations across Fairfax County this summer. This USDA-funded program is FREE to all children 18 years. Adult lunches at BBQ sites are available for purchase. There is no registration involved, and everyone is welcome!  If you are in the neighborhood, please feel free to stop by and check it out. This program runs Monday through Friday from 11:30 to 1:00. See flyer for more information: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FEEDS-Flyer-2019-English.pdf 

The Great Assembly for the Justice Pyramid Resource Fair: July 27 - Join the Justice Pyramid Back to School Resource Fair organizers as we assemble 2,300 school supply kits for distribution to students in the Justice Pyramid, including Glasgow Middle School on July 27. Sign up using the following link: http://www.justicepyramidfair.org/volunteer-now.html.  

The Justice Pyramid Resource Fair is scheduled on August 8 at Justice High School and we are expecting 4,000 students and family members to attend to gather free school supplies, get free haircuts, pick up free books, and get free eye exams, as well as access numerous county related services.  This video will give you an idea of what it was like if you missed it. https://vimeo.com/142014376 or check out the website at www.justicepyramidfair.org. 

New Student Parent Coffee: August 5 and 7 - After dropping your student off at our FREE Jump Start Program, join the Glasgow Admin for coffee on August 5 or August 7 at 8:15am. We will be available to answer questions you may have about the transition to Glasgow Middle School. Email Shawn DeRose, Principal at spderose@fcps.edu if you have any questions.

Justice Pyramid Resource Fair: August 8 - The Justice Pyramid Resource Fair is scheduled on August 8 at Justice High School and we are expecting 4,000 students and family members to attend to gather free school supplies, get free haircuts, pick up free books, and get free eye exams, as well as access numerous county related services.  This video will give you an idea of what it was like if you missed it. https://vimeo.com/142014376 or check out the website at www.justicepyramidfair.org. 

PTA Packet Stuffing Day: August 20 - Every year, the PTA supports the school by helping prepare the packets which all students receive.  This year, we'll be stuffing 1900 packets, so we need your help! It's a great opportunity for middle- and high-school students to earn community service hours, as well. Give an hour or more; every bit helps. Sign-up coming soon!

PTA Staff Breakfast Event: August 22 - Help us welcome the teachers back in style! The PTA welcome-back breakfast will be on Thursday, August 24. We need donations of food and beverages, and volunteers to help that morning.  Sign up coming soon!

6th Grade Orientation: August 22 from 12:45-2:45pm - Rising 6th grade students and parents are invited to our 6th grade orientation on August 22 at 12:45pm. In addition to picking up packets, students and families will have a chance to walk through an odd and even day schedule and briefly meet their teachers. We look forward to welcoming our newest students and their families to our building!

Open House: August 22 from 3:30-4:30pm - 7th and 8th grade students and parents are invited to pick up packets and tour the building beginning at 3:30pm on August 22. Rising 6th grader students and parents are also invited if they are unable to attend 6th grade orientation early in the day. Note: Teachers are not expected to be available in their rooms during this event.

Glasgow Back to School Night: October 3 from 6:00-8:00pm - We will be hosting our annual Back to School Night (BTSN) on October 3, 2019. The Back to School Night program officially begins at 6:10pm. Students are welcome to attend BTSN as interpreters for their parents if necessary.

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 parents 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.

Important Information

Important Immunization Requirement for Incoming 7th Grade Students - Seventh grade students cannot begin school in September without documentation of having had the Tdap booster. Parents or guardians should ask their private health care provider, or the health department, to review their child’s immunization record if they are unsure if their child has received the Tdap booster. A signed and dated immunization record from the physician stating that your child has received this immunization will be required. You may send in your documentation now to your school's registrar, to ensure that he or she meets this requirement before the first day of school in the fall.

Students can receive immunizations required for school at any Fairfax County Health Department immunization clinic. Information about health department clinic locations and hours can be found at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/clinics. 

Keep Up with the PTA This Summer - The PTA greatly appreciates all the volunteers and support from this past year. We stay active in the summer as well, participating in the annual Justice Pyramid Resource Fair and planning for the new year, so look for updates on the PTA listserv (to join the listserv, send a request to us at www.glasgowms.pta@gmail.com). You can get your 2019-20 membership in place on our website, http://www.glasgowpta.org. The back-to-school packet will contain lots of information about new opportunities next year, and we will send out a signup for people to help stuff the packets for the whole school community! 

Get Ready for High School!

Run with the Pack: Rising 9th Grade Transition Program: August 12 or 13 - Justice High School will be offering a Rising 9th Grade Transition Program on both August 12 and August 13 from 8:00am-12:00pm. Students will select only one of the two dates to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Vandawalker (Assistant Principal at Justice HS) at kmvandawalke@fcps.edu or (703) 824-3900.

The program is FREE and all attendees will receive a new Justice Wolves t-shirt. To register, please fill out and submit the Google Form: https://forms.gle/M3Q2dosFMLYxN9Jc8. 

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.