Principal's Message
Dear Whitman Community,
This weekend looks to bring in some much welcomed cooler weather. I’m sure our Fort Belvoir families will be happy to have such glorious weather for Oktoberfest!
Our 8th graders completed their field trips to Finance Park. Finance Park is funded by Junior Achievement as well as many other business partners. It provides students with a dynamic, hands-on financial literacy education. All 8th graders in FCPS participate in this important event. Students traveled to the state of the art storefront facility in Fairfax and were given a fictional adult profile and a budget. They had to make important decisions about mortgages/rent, purchasing an automobile, buying insurance, and raising a family. This simulation allowed students to experience what adults do to balance their budgets. Be sure to ask your student about his/her experience! Learn more about it at www.myja.org/financepark/.
On Thursday, October 24 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, the Whitman PTSA will be hosting its annual Fall Festival. There will be games, treats, and fun. We welcome staff, parents, community members, students, and siblings.
As we approach the halfway point of the first grading period, please take a moment to log onto ParentVue and check your student’s progress. If you are unsure how to do this, go to this website and follow the instructions provided (www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/student-information-system-sis-fcps/sis-parent-account-overview). Or you can always contact your student’s school counselor at 703-660-2428.
Thank you for all you do to support the Whitman Community and I hope you have a great weekend!
Craig Herring, Principal
       Bullying Prevention and Intervention
Students are taught about bullying as part of the health and counseling curriculum using age appropriate language and examples.
FCPS is deeply committed to creating a safe and positive school environment where all students can learn. Through school-wide positive behavior approaches and participation in K-12 health and guidance lessons students are taught to behave respectfully and to resolve conflicts in positive ways. A culture of acceptance and creation of safe opportunities to discuss concerns is actively developed through class meetings, interactions, and relationships with caring adults.
Bullying
Bullying in Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”
When bullying is reported, school administrators are directed to take immediate action to investigate and respond. Parents and/or guardians are contacted and the principal may assign a consequence ranging from a conference to recommendation for expulsion. Incidents involving substantial threats or assault will also be reported to the police. When a student with a disability is involved in a bullying incident, a referral to the individualized education program (IEP) team to consider additional interventions may also be made.
In addition to the disciplinary consequence for the specific behavior, school administrators, counselors, psychologists, or social workers will work with all involved students and intervene with the student who engaged in the bullying behavior, with the target of that behavior, and with the by-standers who witnessed the behavior. The primary goals of these interventions are:
- To ensure that the student who bullied will understand that such behaviors are unacceptable, and understand the potential harm and impact of the behaviors
- The safety of the target will be ensured, and the target will feel safe, supported, and learn some positive approaches to dealing with this type of behavior
- The by-standers will learn that they have a responsibility to report such behavior to adults, and will learn effective strategies for intervening when they see bullying behavior in the future
In some cases, the administrator may invite students and parents and/or guardians to participate in a Restorative Justice conference in an attempt to give the students a deeper understanding of the impact of their behavior, to develop empathy, and to provide an opportunity for the student to take responsibility for the harm caused and work on a way to restore the damaged relationship. Parents and/or guardians and students meet first with a trained facilitator to gain an understanding of the process, and are given an opportunity to decide whether or not to participate. Participation is always voluntary. With support and trained facilitation, the target of the bullying (and the student’s parents and/or guardians) is given an opportunity to explain the impact of the bullying in a safe environment. In this way, the underlying issues can be resolved and are much less likely to resurface again for the students.
Students are taught about bullying as part of the health and counseling curriculum using age appropriate language and examples. The curriculum expands as the students get older and more mature. The lessons help students better recognize bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, or a hostile environment, and to report them if they experience or witness these behaviors.
Under Virginia law, intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass someone using a computer network or to communicate obscene, vulgar, or indecent language or threaten any immoral or illegal act may be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Student Rights and Responsibilities booklet states that cyber-bullying that takes place during school hours, on the bus, or using school equipment will be subject to disciplinary action. Cyber-bullying that occurs from home or when the student is not under school supervision is not regulated by the school. Parents and/or guardians reporting this type of out of school behavior will be referred to the police to file charges if desired.
Harassment
Harassment involves emotional abuse and includes verbal or physical threats, physical assaults, bullying and theft of property. When bullying or harassment is targeted at members of religious groups, is based on shared ethnic characteristics, or includes gender and sexual harassment of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender individuals it is considered a violation of federal anti-discrimination laws enforced by the Office of Civil Rights. Schools where such behavior is reported will take immediate action to investigate, and if discriminatory behavior has occurred will take action to end the harassment, to eliminate any hostile environment and its effects, and to prevent the harassment from recurring. Any suspected discrimination or harassment must be reported to the Office of Equity and Compliance.
FCPS collaborates with the office of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) in Fairfax County to ensure that consistent messages about bullying are integrated into activities at after school programs, teen centers, and community centers. NCS has developed a toolkit to address bullying and other issues (drug use, depression, teen dating abuse) which includes resources for parents and/or guardians, and for community groups (scouts, faith youth groups, etc.) to use when working with youth in community activities.
Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education , Middle School (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle, and High School (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle. Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in FCPS 24-7 (Blackboard) Parent View https://fcps.blackboard.com/. Account information is available at your local school or online at http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/247help/parents.shtml. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the Fairfax County Regional Library in the City of Fairfax (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by contacting Elizabeth Payne, Health and Physical Education Coordinator at etpayne@fcps.edu
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Información del Programa de Instrucción sobre Educación para la Vida Familiar
Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Fairfax (FCPS) proporcionan un programa secuencial y exhaustivo de Educación para la Vida Familiar (FLE) para alumnos desde kindergarten hasta el grado doce. La instrucción se considera una labor conjunta entre los padres, los tutores legales, la escuela y la comunidad a fin de apoyar el aprendizaje que es esencial para establecer lazos familiares sólidos, relaciones positivas y una comunidad saludable.
Los padres o tutores legales pueden optar por excluir a su hijo del programa de Educación para la Vida Familiar o de parte de él. A los alumnos que optan por no participar se les proporciona, sin sanción alguna, instrucción alternativa sobre salud según su edad, y se hace el mayor esfuerzo posible para fomentar el respeto por las decisiones de la familia. Si desea excluir a su hijo del programa FLE o de parte del programa este año escolar, usted encontrará los formularios de exclusión incluidos en los paquetes de regreso a clases y de orientación de su hijo y en el Internet en Primaria (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education, Intermedia (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle y Secundaria (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle. Por favor, llene el formulario de opción de exclusión y devuélvalo a la escuela de su hijo antes de que empiece la instrucción del programa de Educación para la Vida Familiar.
La descripción detallada del programa está disponible en el internet según el grado en Primaria (K-6) , Intermedia (7-8) y Secundaria (9-12). Los padres pueden ver en el Internet las lecciones específicas por grado y los videos para los cuales FCPS tiene derechos de transmisión en la cuenta Parent View 24-7 (Blackboard) de FCPS https://fcps.blackboard.com/. Encontrará información sobre esta cuenta en su escuela local o en el Internet en http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/247help/parents.shtml. También puede encontrar las lecciones específicas por grado en la Biblioteca Regional del Condado de Fairfax en la ciudad de Fairfax (esta biblioteca no cuenta con los videos de las lecciones). Las lecciones y los videos del grado de su hijo que no pueden verse en línea se encuentran a su disposición en la biblioteca de la escuela de su hijo si usted los quiere revisar. Debido a los derechos de autor, no podemos transmitir todos los videos por Internet.
Las preguntas que tenga con respecto al programa puede dirigirlas a la escuela de su hijo o puede llamar al Departamento de Servicios de Instrucción al 571-423-4550 o enviarle un correo electrónico a Elizabeth Payne, coordinadora del programa de Salud y Educación Física, a etpayne@fcps.edu.
FCPS Career Switcher Information Session – October 14, 2019
The Office of Talent Acquisition & Management (TAM) will host a Career Switcher Information Session at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center on Monday, October 14, 2019. This event will give military veterans, community members and anyone interested an opportunity to learn how to become a licensed Virginia teacher.
The information session will begin with presentations from the five approved Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) career switcher programs, Educate Virginia, Old Dominion University, Regent University, Shenandoah University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Troops to Teachers will also present their program offerings to our military veteran attendees. A panel of FCPS educators will share valuable information with attendees, followed by an opportunity to network with the six presenters, the FCPS licensure team and the substitute office.
We would like you to share this event information with your school community, parents, FCPS employees and anyone in your network seeking information on becoming a licensed Virginia teacher.
Event Information Monday, October 14, 2019 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Willow Oaks Administrative Center Building 8270 / Room 1000A
Action Required: Please distribute to your community. Individuals interested in attending should register here.
Deadline
10/13/2019
Contact
Lena Cohen lmcohen@fcps.edu 571-423-3162
     Walt Whitman Middle School has partnered with Food for Neighbors to help feed our local students who deal with food insecurity because even in a county as wealthy as Fairfax, one in four kids in our area are struggling with hunger.
Food for Neighbors is a local organization addressing this problem by collecting food from our community via the Red Bag Program and donating directly to our local schools. The food is then distributed to the students on Friday afternoons and through our food pantry.
We hope you will consider participating in the Red Bag food collection program. You can make a difference in a local student’s life by simply adding a few extra items to your shopping cart every 2 months.
Here’s how it works:
- Request a reusable Red Bag here and Food for Neighbors will drop it off at your house.
- Fill the Red Bag with food items that are listed on a tag on that bag.
- Put the Red Bag outside your front door in the morning on the next bag collection day. (Collection dates are also listed on the tag.)
Your Red Bag will be picked up from your house and the food delivered to Whitman MS and then distributed to students in need through a Weekend Snack Program. As an added benefit, you can get a tax deduction for the food that you donate!
With your help, even more kids can be fed. For more information on the Red Bag program click here.
Other volunteer opportunities include Driving to pick up filled Red Bags and Sorting the donated food during the Red Bag Day events. Visit the FFN FAQ page to find out more about and to sign up to volunteer in these 2 very important roles.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Karisa Gearheart (school social worker) kdgearheart@fcps.edu or Laura Wainwright (FFN parent liaison) laura@foodforneighbors.org
Thanks for helping us provide food to students who need that extra support!
          WHITMAN PTSA
The Whitman PTSA board would like to thank you in advance for your support. Questions, comments, and ideas are always welcome. PTSA email is Parentsforwhitman@gmail.com. We also post upcoming events on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WhitmanPTSA/.
Co-Presidents: William Curtis & LaShawne Curtis
Vice-President: Stephanie Reynolds
Co-Secretaries: Ian and Jade Spurgeon
Treasurer: Marie McCain
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