Glasgow Parents and Community:
Greetings on this New Year! We are officially in 2023! As we begin this year, we are treating these first few weeks back as if it is the beginning of the year. We will be doing a Reset with our school expectations and offering activities for families that we offered at the beginning of the year. We have had so many students and families join us throughout the first semester. We want to ensure all our families and students have the necessary information to finish out the 2023 strong academically and behaviorally. We are excited to have students start back on January 3rd, 2023. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
A Multilingual Family Podcast is produced by the offices of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and School Partnerships, and Professional Learning and Equity. It covers important information for parents in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Korean.
Family Panel. Would you like to share your voice, your cultural background, and your school expectations with us? The Equity Team is organizing a Family Panel and an interactive CT event for January 26th from 9 -11 AM at Glasgow Middle School. We want to flip the dashboard and amplify your (parents’ and guardians’) voices at Glasgow. The goal is to listen to your perspectives around educational experiences, cultural backgrounds, and school expectations.
This two hour event will have two parts. The first hour will be a Family Panel, in which parents/guardians on the panel will be invited to volunteer to share with teachers and staff their educational experiences, cultural backgrounds, and school expectations. The discussion will be facilitated by a moderator. We are looking for six parents/guardians to volunteer for this panel.
For the second hour, we plan to have an additional fourteen parents/guardians volunteers to work alongside Teacher Teams to develop next steps to ensure that we are creating learning environments that are equitable and respectful of our students’ diverse cultures.
To make this happen, we need you. Please complete THIS Google Form if you would like to participate in the Family Panel, work alongside a team of teachers of a specific content area, or suggest topics or questions for the parent panel.
If you have any questions about this event or want to volunteer, you can also contact Lauren Herr at lmherr@fcps.ed. It was also great to dress up like the students before break and we also had a great Sip and Paint Community event for students and families before the break! Please see the pictures below.
Humbly,
Victor L. Powell, Principal
Contact Information:
Email: vlpowell@fcps.edu
Twitter: @VictorLeonPowe1
Website: http://www.fcps.edu/GlasgowMS/
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Rising 9th grade Curriculum Night Information
Justice HS January 11th Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30-8pm (Optional: Electives Fair starting at 5:20pm)
For all rising 9th graders who will be attending Justice High School in SY23-24, Justice will be hosting a curriculum night for parents and students to hear about the courses in the core content areas: English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. There will be an electives fair before the presentations for parents/students to learn more about the different electives available for rising 9th graders.
- 5:30-6:20pm – Electives Fair – Little Theatre
- World Languages, CTE, AVID, Perf Arts, Visual Arts, etc.
- 6:30-8pm – Curriculum Night - Auditorium
- Welcome in the Auditorium
- Rotations for the content areas will be in the Auditorium, Student Commons, Cafeteria, and Library
- A chance to meet your student’s School Counselor
Annandale HS January 11 - Rising 9th Grade Open House, 6pm: On January 11 from 6-8pm Annandale High School will host an Open House for our rising 9th grade students and families to learn more about what high school at Annandale is all about! We will offer short optional sessions on our various Annandale programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses for 9th graders. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities our students will have as an Annandale Atom! Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office and Math Course Placement. If you have any questions, please contact Erik Healey
Falls Church HS January 18th Curriculum Night & Academy Open House, 6:30 pm: We wanted to share with you that the first big event to begin our academic advising season will be our curriculum night on January 18, 2023. We will hold the event in person, hosted by our Principal, Director of Student Services, Academy Administrator, Director of Student Activities and department representatives.
Who: Parents & Caregivers of 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th graders that will be attending FCHS in the Fall of 2023
When: January 18, 2023 beginning at 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Where: Falls Church High School Auditorium & lobby
What: Curriculum night is a presentation to families regarding course selection information, diploma requirements, Academy opportunities and curriculum information such as AP and honors levels. The Falls Church Academy is included and holds an open house to allow all eligible high school students a chance to learn about the Academy offerings.
Why: Your child will be selecting his/her/their courses for the next school year, this presentation offers lots of information on making the best choices for a successful school year.
     
Free, On-Demand, Online Tutoring
FCPS students who’ve used Tutor.com have provided positive feedback:
“This was an awesome tutor! She explained why I needed to do specific steps, and she gave me practice problems! Best tutor I have had!” –IB Chemistry Student
Unless they’ve been opted out, students can access Tutor.com through Schoology. Every session is personalized to meet students’ needs from remedial to advanced levels. Sessions focus on conceptual learning and critical thinking—not quick answers. Learn more on FCPS’ Tutor.com webpage.
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS!
On January 3rd-5th and 9th-10th our 8th Grade Civics classes will attend Finance Park near Irving Middle School. Finance Park is a simulation where students learn about making informed decisions to ensure lifelong success by having the opportunity to:
- -Align the realities of life – and personal choices – with financial stability
- -Connect education and career decisions with income expectations
- -Experience first-hand what it takes to make it
You can read more about this amazing program here.
We need approximately 25 volunteers each day our school attends to run the full program. We are reaching out to the entire GMS community and asking for help! (you do not need to have an 8th grade student to volunteer!) If you can spare a day to support this amazing opportunity for our 8th graders, please contact Carmen Andersen at ncandersen@fcps.edu.
After-School Updates
Hello Glasgow Families. I hope you’ve had a wonderful relaxing Winter Break and was able to spend time with family and loved ones. The After School Program will resume on Wednesday, January 4th, 2023! We are proud to announce three new clubs: Digital Art Club with Ms. Schikel, Beauty Bar and Chess Club with Ms. Smith.
Digital Art Club will run on Wednesdays in room B-109 during 2nd Block(3:45-4:45). Students will explore various Digital Art & Animation apps. We will review basic digital drawing programs available on the students’ school issued laptops. If you’re interested in the various forms of Digital Art, please sign up during your lunch.
Beauty Bar will start on Thursday, January 12th, 2023 during 2nd Block with Ms. Smith (3:45-4:45). Students will learn the basics of make up application, blending and shading colors to match skin tones, nail polish application all while developing communication skills, team building, information sharing.
Chess Club is on tap to begin the week of January 9th, 2023. Chess Club will allow students with an interest to play one another, learn new techniques and strategies in a learning environment. Chess Club also invites students with an interest in learning how to play. All skill levels are welcome. More information will follow.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Mr. Williams at gwilliams2@fcps.edu
  
GMS Parent Academy
Glasgow MS families are invited to attend our Parent Academy session on Academic Excellence Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at 6 PM (English/Arabic) and 7 PM (Spanish)! During the session, you will learn more about the programs offered at Glasgow and course selection. You will also learn more about our upcoming Parent Academy sessions. Our session will be led by Nonye Oladimeji, IBMYP & Advance Academic Specialist, Kelly Greenshields, AVID teacher, and Jenn Pallotto, Director of Student Services. Select your preferred language to sign up for the session. English, Arabic, or Spanish. You will receive a session link on the day of the event. We hope to see you on January 17th.
Student Vue and Parent Vue
All FCPS students have a Student Vue account. All student schedules are active and up to date in SIS Student Vue and SIS Parent Vue. If you do not have a SIS Parent Vue account, we strongly encourage you to sign up for an account. You can find directions on how to do so at this link: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/student-information-system-sis-fcps/sis-parent-account-registration. Once you have signed up for an account, you’ll need an activation code - which we will work as quickly as we can to provide to you. You can find a video that provides information on how to use SIS Parent Vue and all that you will be able to access with your account here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLwkkemipws.
 
COVID Diagnostic Testing in January
Mark your calendars! COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county January 3-5 from 5 to 8 p.m. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information.
Adult Panel Discussion - Preparing Families for Difficult Conversations about Alcohol & Drugs
The FCPS Student Safety and Wellness Office, along with each pyramid’s Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist (SAPS), will be presenting an in-person, adult-only panel discussion designed for parents/caregivers of students in 5th grade through high school. Receive basic information about alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids; learn what caregivers can do; and identify and connect with community resources.
- Annandale Pyramid - March 6, 2023, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Edison Pyramid - March 14, 2023, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Falls Church Pyramid - January 24, 2023, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Justice Pyramid - March 6, 2023, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Woodson Pyramid - January 17, 2023, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Strategic Planning Community Forums
Beginning in late January 2023, FCPS will host a series of community forums in each of the magisterial districts as part of the Strategic Plan development. The meeting in the Mason District is scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Mason Crest Elementary School cafeteria.
Interested parties may attend any or all of the forums. The full schedule, including several virtual options, is available on FCPS' Strategic Planning webpage.
 
Music Department Updates
I wanted to reach out and say thank you SO MUCH for having the opportunity to perform at the Lincolnia Senior Center. Our students performed for them on December 2nd and not only played pieces from our upcoming concert, but also some carols to sing along to. After the performance, the students went around and introduced themselves to the attendees, asking them about their life experience and advice. It was amazing to see! Nonye and Hina were such wonderful supports and really made this field trip impactful. I can honestly say this was one of the most musically fulfilling experiences I have had as a music educator. Thank you for continuing to support our music department. We appreciate you all so much!
Alexandra Blaine
  
Outdoor Learning Spaces Coming Soon!
FCPS received $6.05 million from a Virginia state construction grant which is earmarked for outdoor learning spaces. Outdoor classrooms will be constructed at all middle and high schools not currently slated for renovation. Outdoor learning spaces will be included for schools undergoing renovations. A limited number of elementary schools across the division will also receive outdoor learning spaces.
The FCPS Get2Green team will provide professional development and connect with community partners to support schools in designing, planting, and using these spaces. Construction will begin in summer 2023 and be completed within two years.
Virtual Math Week - January 9-13
Come together as a community for students in K-8 for 5 nights the week of January 9, 2023, with delightful math games and stories - all on your own time and from the comfort of your own home. All content will be available for free directly to all families in English and Spanish.
Through rich story-based mathematics experiences, math week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a positive way. The games and stories feature several countries including Lesotho, Madagascar, Ghana, and China.
All content will be available completely free on the Math Week website starting January 9, 2023. To access the games, families will be able to simply click on the day of the week and find their child's grade and language. For families that want to reduce screen time, there will be physical print options for access to the content and games as well.
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