Glasgow Community Gazette - August 2

Glasgow Community:

We are very busy gearing up for the 2020 - 2021 school year! This upcoming week we are welcoming our rising 6th graders virtually with our Jump Start program. Many of you have shared how grateful you are for the opportunity for your child to get a taste of what Glasgow is all about, and our Jump Start team is excited to work with your students!

Additionally, we are deep in planning the master schedule, attending our own and creating virtual professional development for our staff, and working through laptop distribution and resource pick-up logistics. More information regarding laptop distribution will be coming soon. 

To help us ensure we are providing the right supports for our students and including all stakeholders in our efforts to prepare for a great school year, we are seeking your feedback. I know that distance learning this past spring had its successes and its challenges. As we continue our preparation, we would like to know what went well for your student(s), what was challenging, and what supports you may need moving forward. Please take a moment to complete this parent feedback form to help shape our approach. 

Finally, as we continue to improve as a school community, your support and involvement is essential. Our PTA has a few examples of how to get involved today:  

• Volunteer Throughout the Year: Check out the Glasgow PTA website to find out how you can help at Glasgow!  http://www.glasgowpta.org/participate/volunteer/

• Stay In Touch and In The Know:  Sign up for the PTA listserv by sending a request to  glasgowms.pta@gmail.com.  

• Join the PTA: It’s only $10! http://www.glasgowpta.org/participate/membership/

Please reach out for questions or concerns, and stay safe!

Katie Madigan, Acting Principal

Contact Information:
Twitter: @ktmadigan
Email: kemadigan@fcps.edu
Website: http://www.fcps.edu/GlasgowMS/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlasgowMS.FCPS/

Important Dates

August 3 - Computer Collection (see below)

August 3 - 5 - Jump Start - Rising 6th Grade Orientation

August 11 - Yearbook Distribution Day 2 (see below)

August 18 - 28 - FCPSOn Computer Distribution (more info coming soon!)

September 8 - First Day of School!

Important Information 

 Parent Outreach Survey - We have had some great turnout this year in our virtual PTA, Parent Coffees and Town Hall meetings. In order to help us plan programming and other events for the upcoming school year, please respond to the following questions below.  Thank you!

https://forms.gle/RvQKDaQFbsPSnR5B7

Computer Collection - Our Technology Team will be collecting laptops on Monday, August 3rd from 12pm - 5pm. All FCPS middle school students will receive a brand new laptop for distance learning and beyond at a later date, but we must first collect the old devices given out last spring. Glasgow students not participating in summer learning are asked to return all laptops distributed in the spring. Students participating in summer learning may drop off their device at a later date. Also, those students who have an FCPS Mifi device, but are no longer using it, are asked to return those as well.

The drop-off process is curbside, drive-up, and takes only a few minutes. Please drive up through the Kiss’N’Ride lane and a staff member will take your device from Door 1. Be sure to prepare the laptop prior to arriving for drop off: 

• Remove all stickers and decals from your device. 
• Clean device to the best of your ability. 
• Have this information should be attached to your laptop
  • Full Name
  • Student ID number
• Have the charger ready to turn in along with the laptop.  

If you are unable to return your laptop on the following date, please contact Melinda Hedenberg at mkhedenberg@fcps.edu or plan to drop off during new laptop distribution for the 2020-21 school year (dates and times forthcoming). Our Tech Team is working to collect the old laptops now, which will be given to the elementary schools for distance learning. All middle school students will be receiving a brand new laptop this year, so be on the lookout for messages and information about distribution of new devices. Follow our Twitter accounts for technology information and updates: @GlasgowMS and @GMSDeanofTech.

Jump Start - Our 6th grade orientation is taking place this week, with two half day sessions M/T (August 3 & 4) and W/Th (August 5 & 6). If you missed the registration or are unable to attend this week, no need to worry, we will be sending out the information to all rising 6th grade students to their fcpsschools.net email in the coming weeks. If you have any questions about Jump Start, please contact Keely Norris, kcnorris@fcps.edu. 

Yearbook Store is Open - Glasgow has a very limited supply of 2019-2020 yearbooks remaining.  The only way to safely process yearbook sales is to have families order on-line at the following site:  https://www.balfour.com/virginia/alexandria/glasgow-middle-school.  The cost of the yearbook is $30. Once the yearbooks are gone, the store will close. Yearbooks ordered after August 9th will be handed out with student laptops.  Please note: yearbooks WILL NOT be sold at the school on August 11th.

Yearbook Distribution Day 2 - August 11 - Families who have purchased a yearbook during the school year and missed Distribution Day #1 and families who purchase in August may pick up their student’s yearbook on August 11th from 12 noon to 2:00 pm.  If you are not able to pick up your yearbook on August 11th, we will package the book with your student’s laptop: current Glasgow students will get their yearbook at Glasgow. Rising Freshmen will get their yearbook at Justice HS. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Perella at maperella@fcps.edu.