Glasgow Community Gazette - September 22

Glasgow Community:

I hope you were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend. I spent early Saturday coaching my daughter's softball team, who played against many Glasgow students at Mason District Park. Later in the evening, I headed to "Bands at the Beach" at Lake Barcroft to benefit the Justice HS Scholarship Fund. If you were not able to make it, you can still donate by clicking here.  

At Glasgow, we take great pride in ensuring quality instruction in every classroom. Teachers develop lesson plans collaboratively, ensuring the following is incorporated into every lesson: Learning Targets, Academic Task, Scaffolds and Evidence of Student Learning. Our goal is to know each student by name and need and use data to drive our instruction.  

This week I spent a great deal of time in classrooms and got to see the fruits of our labor in action. Watching your students engage, think and grapple with high quality tasks was the highlight of my week. For example, I saw students flash drafting a theory about character change in Language Arts 6, and students determine equivalencies among fractions, mixed numbers, decimals, and percents in small groups in Math 6. Getting to spend my days with such talented teachers and students is what makes me proud to be the principal of Glasgow.

During Panther Time this past week, all students took time to celebrate our diversity and engage in conversations and reflections in class. They also worked on active listening skills, what it means to be present and engaged and balancing their present and future selves. Each of these lessons is setting them up to work one on one with their Panther Time teacher next week to set goals for the upcoming year.

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

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.

Locker Request Forms - Available October 1 in Student Services: If you would like to request a locker for your student, locker request forms will be available in Student Services beginning Tuesday, October 1. In addition, if you have concerns specific to your student, we will work with you to ensure your student has what they need to be successful at Glasgow this year. Please visit the Student Services website at https://glasgowms.fcps.edu/student-services and email your student’s counselor.

Form Collection through Panther Time: Please have your student return the following forms to your student’s their Panther Time teacher as soon as possible:
* Emergency Care Care
* Health Information Form
* After-School Form
* SOL Retake Form

September Safety Drills: Glasgow conducted our second lockdown drill on Monday and another fire drill on Thursday. 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.

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, "Five Steps Parents Can Take to Raise Strong, Bully-Resistant Girls" outlines how building confidence now will help later - in the workforce and beyond.

Volunteer at Glasgow!

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 27.

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.

Panther Store Donations Needed - The GMS PBIS is looking for donations of new or lightly used prizes for students to get at the monthly Panther Store. Items can include small toys and games, fidget toys/stress balls, unopened nail polish/hair things, t-shirts, water bottles, and individually bagged snacks and candy.

Please drop any donations to the front office (labeled Panther Store), C/O Tess Roper or Michael Pulver. Thank you so much in advance! Your students will appreciate your help greatly!

Picture Day Parent Volunteers Needed - October 8 and 9: Picture Days at Glasgow are coming up! Parent volunteers are needed throughout the two days Tuesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 9. You will assist teachers and photographers getting students through the line and organized for the photos!

For every three-hour shift you will receive $25.00 voucher to use towards the costs of your child’s pictures. Shifts are 7:30am-11:00am or 11:00am-2:15pm each day. For more information, email: glasgowms.pta@gmail.com or Marc Perella at MAPerella@fcps.edu. 

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084aa4a92da0fc1-2019

Important Dates

September 23 - Late Buses/After School Program Begins

September 27 - Panther Store (all lunches)

September 27 - TJHSST Applications Due

October 2 - FIT Begins (Tues/Wed/Thurs)

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

October 5 - Taste of Annandale

October 8 & 9 - Picture Day

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

October 17, 6:30-8:00pm - International & Cultural Food Night

November 6 - World Credit Exam

Jumpstart on Bullying Awareness – Week of September 23: Beginning the week of September 23, the Student Services Department will start our Anti-Bullying classroom lessons through 6th grade health classrooms. We will teach lessons on what bullying looks like, tips on how to handle it in a variety of situations, and cyber-bullying. We will also be reviewing our updated anonymous bullying reporting system located on the Glasgow website!

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.  

International Potluck - October 17 from 6:30-8:00pm: Glasgow will be hosting an International Potluck on October 17 from 6:30-8:00pm. This event is free for the Glasgow Community! Sign up to bring food to share or volunteer at http://bit.ly/GMSPotluck2019.

Credit for World Language Exam - November 6: Glasgow will host the World Credit Exam on Wednesday, November 6 at 8:00am in the lecture hall. The exam is designed to assess students’ native language proficiency and enable them to earn one or two credits toward fulfilling the world languages requirement for the Advanced Studies Diploma.

The 2019 Credit Exam for World Languages will be administered November 6th, 7th and 8th. Twenty-nine languages will be included:  American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali/Bangla, Chinese/Mandarin, Farsi/Persian, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit/Samskritam, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog/Pilipino, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinia, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Registration closes on Thursday, October 10, 2019, at 4 p.m. Students must meet with their school counselors to register. Late registrations will not be accepted. Please see information on the credit exam website or contact Irania Escalante, school counselor, at ivescalante@fcps.edu, for questions or more information.

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.