Glasgow Community Gazette - August 25

Glasgow Community:

It was great to welcome students, parents and families into the building this past Thursday at 6th Grade Orientation and Open House. We are even more excited to welcome students into the building on Monday for the start of the 2019-20 school year. 

Glasgow is a devoted school community where we are committed to providing quality classroom instruction for all students, every period, every day. In addition, Glasgow focuses on the academic, social and emotional development of our students during Panther Time. Lessons focus on empathy, creativity, appreciation, kindness, coping skills, organization, study skills, goal setting and college exploration. We will be highlighting Panther Time lessons throughout the year via the Gazette.

This week's Gazette includes important information to prepare you for the first day of school. 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/

Important Information

Students Schedules Now Available in SIS - Student schedules are now available in SIS StudentVue and SIS ParentVue. For more information about obtaining a ParentVue account, please click here to access support on the FCPS website. Please note that an “activation key” is required to activate a ParentVue account. If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Baires at jebaires@fcps.edu.

We are continuing to update master schedule and their is a possibility that a small number of student schedules may have changed since Orientation and Open House this past Thursday. On Monday, all students will receive a new copy of their schedule printed on colored paper during their first period class. The colored copy of students' schedules will supersede all previous printed versions. If your student forgets or does not know their first period class, lists of every student's 1st period class will be posted by grade level throughout the building. In addition, all staff members will be in the hallways assisting students.

Finding Classes
As always, but especially during the first week of school, all staff members will be in the hallways helping students find their classes during each transition. We realize that a little extra time may be needed as our 6th grade students transition to Glasgow and our 7th and 8th grade students transition back to school. They will get the hang of their new routine sooner than they think and we are all here to help!

Schedule Change Requests
In an effort to streamline and prioritize schedule change requests this year, we will be asking students and parents to complete a form to request a change to their student’s schedule. These forms are available for student pick-up in Student Services.

Physical Education (PE) Uniforms - Students can purchase their PE uniform during their class this week. In addition, parents can purchase PE Uniforms via the MySchoolBucks app. If you have any questions about PE uniforms, please contact Michael Pulver at mapulver@fcps.edu.

Transportation

Bus Riders - All students are strongly encouraged to take the bus to and from school each day. FCPS Transportation consists of a team of dedicated routing, safety, and administrative specialists combined with a host of drivers and attendants that work together to maintain a high level of service for students and parents.

This week FCPS transportation contacted each parent via eNotify to inform you of your child’s bus number, and where to meet the bus. Please remember the first few weeks of school can be very hectic as morning routines are re-established, so students should allow adequate time to catch the bus. Bus drivers will often need to get their routes down and make necessary adjustments to schedules to arrive at school on time, so students are encouraged to arrive at their bus stop at least 10 minutes before their scheduled arrival time. By arriving early, it will help alleviate the stress of students missing the bus.

On the first day of school, students will watch a presentation on “How to Find Your Bus” during Panther Time. We have a large white board outside of Door 3 where students can check the bus line up order each day. There will be plenty of staff on hand to ensure that all students know which bus to take home and where their bus is located at dismissal during the first few days of school. Afternoon buses will be held longer at Glasgow this week in order for students to become familiar with catching their bus ride.

Kiss & Ride - Parents who drop off/pick up their student to school must do so at the main entrance, Door #1. Students can be dropped off beginning at 7:00am. Keep in mind that congestion and backup can be significant, causing your student to be late to their class if you drop off your student after 7:15am.  School ends at 2:15pm.

New App - "Here Comes the Bus" - Over this past school year, the Office of Transportation Services has been working to integrate multiple electronic systems, such as student information data, routing data, and GPS data from school buses into the Here Comes the Bus application. Here Comes the Bus application was piloted during summer school in anticipation of the roll out for the 2019-20 school year. Get more information about Here Comes the Bus

Bus Delay Notification System - Parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or utilize the FCPS Mobile App to receive the delayed bus report. Morning route information is available through 12 noon and afternoon route information is available from 1:00-7:00pm.

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 "Some Life Lessons from Those Awkward Middle School Years" outline how experiences at this age will teach students to become resilient, embrace change, deal with conflict, accept themselves, and learn what makes a true friend.

Important Dates

August 26 - First Day of Classes 2019

Aug 30-Sept 2 - Labor Day Break

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

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.

Reference and Reminders

Student Absences - 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. The Commonwealth of Virginia mandatory school attendance laws will be strictly enforced. Parents will be held accountable for students who do not attend school regularly and on time. Please note: extended family vacations are not excused absences.

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. 

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.