GMS 01/07/2026

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Winter

Mark Your Calendars!

Thursday, January 8 - IB/AVID Parent and Student Info Night (more info below)

Monday, January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - Division Closed

Monday, January 19 - Orthodox Epiphany

Wednesday, January 28 - 2 Hour Early Release and End of 2nd Quarter

Thursday, January 29 - Staff Development Day - Student Holiday

Friday, January 30 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Monday, February 16 - Presidents' Day - Division Closed

Tuesday, February 17 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Wednesday, February 18 - First Full Day of Ramadan (begins at sundown)

The entire 2025-2026 FCPS Calendar can be found here.

Spelling Bee 2026

The Annual Glasgow Middle School Spelling Bee is Back!!!

 

The Spelling Bee contest is an educational outreach program associated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. and coordinated by one of our Glasgow MS parent, Dr. Ricardy Anderson.

All students interested in participating in the Glasgow Middle School Spelling Bee should complete the GlasgowMS 2026 Spelling Bee Interest Form. by Friday, January 23, 2026.  The Spelling Bee competition at Glasgow Middle School is scheduled for Friday, February 6, 2026, at 6:00 pm. in the Lecture Hall.

The winner of the Glasgow MS competition will participate in the Fairfax County Regional Spelling Bee Competition scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 2:00 pm.

Again, if your student is interested in participating in the Spelling Bee, please complete the interest form located at GlasgowMS 2026 Spelling Bee Interest Form.

We look forward to having your student participate and we thank you for your support in making your student’s school experience a success at Glasgow Middle School.

AVID/IB Information Night

AVID

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE & AVID

January 8, 6:30pm-7:30pm at Justice High School 

Parent/Student Information Night

Elementary, middle, and high school students and parents in the Justice Pyramid are invited to learn about the value of Secondary IB Programs and how AVID supports these programs. 

When: Thursday, January 8 from 6:30-7:30 in the Justice HS auditorium

What: The following topics will be discussed: the value of IB, how AVID helps plan for college, school transitions, accessing IB courses, and Q&A with alumni.

Spanish and Arabic Language Services will be available! RSVP with the QR code below!

News from Student Services

Rising 7th and 8th Academic Advising Caregiver Coffee

Course Selection for the 2026-2027 school year has started! Rising 7th and 8th grade students received 2 lessons from school counselors about course options for the next school year. The School Counseling Team will be hosting a Caregiver Coffee on Tuesday, January 27th from 6-7pm to give an overview of course options to families and answer any questions about the course selection process. Please mark your calendars! This event is for students who will be in 7th or 8th grade next school year and their families. All Rising 7th and 8th grade students will meet one on one with their school counselor to make their course selections starting in Quarter 3. If you plan to attend please fill out this form for planning purposes.

 

Falls Church HS Curriculum Night - January 15th 6:15-8:00pm

​​​​​​​For those attending Falls Church High School next school year, we wanted to share with you the first big event to begin the academic advising season will be curriculum night. The event will be held in person, hosted by the Principal, Director of Student Services and department representatives.

Who: Students, Parents & Caregivers of 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th graders that will be attending FCHS in the Fall of 2026. We are also planning specialized sessions for Multilingual Learners (formally ESOL), Literacy courses, Advanced Academics (Honors, AP, & DE), and Math pathways.  

When: January 15, 2026, 6:15pm presentation in the auditorium, 7:00pm course & elective fair 

Where: Falls Church High School Auditorium (Door 1 & 14)

What: Curriculum night is a presentation to families regarding course selection information, diploma requirements, Academy opportunities and curriculum information. Falls Church Academy Open House will be occurring the same evening. See the FCPS site for all Academy Open House information.  

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.

News From After School Program

The Debate Club is off to a great start! We held our first two sessions this week on Tuesday and Thursday, and students are already engaging in thoughtful discussions and building their debate skills.

If your student is interested in joining the Debate Club, please encourage them to sign up. We would love to welcome new members!

Thank you for your continued support.

 

After-School Closing:

Due to the holiday on Monday, January 19th, the after-school program will not meet on Friday, January 16th, 2026.

Thank you for your understanding. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

 

As a reminder, please discuss after-school plans with your student(s). If your student plans to stay after school for any reason, they must sign up using the After-School Registration Form.

Sign-ups for after school take place between 10:40 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

Thank you for your cooperation and support

News from the Clinic

We would like to share an important update regarding the school health room. Recently, we have seen a significant increase in the number of students visiting the health room throughout the school day.

While we are always here to support students who are feeling unwell or injured, many visits are for minor concerns that can often be managed at home or in the classroom. The increased volume has made it challenging to ensure timely care for students.

To help us best support all students, we ask for your partnership in the following ways:

  • Please remind your child to visit the health room only when they are truly feeling ill or have an injury that requires attention.
  • Talk with your child about recognizing the difference between minor discomforts (such as mild tiredness or temporary aches) and symptoms that require medical care.
  • Ensure your child arrives at school well-rested, hydrated, and having eaten breakfast when possible. This includes stomach discomfort and irritation after eating spicy snacks (such as spicy chips).
  • If your child is feeling unwell before school, we encourage keeping them home to rest.

Our goal is to keep students healthy, safe, and ready to learn while ensuring the health room remains available for those who need it most. We truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the school health room at 703-813-8710.

News from the PTA

January VIRTUAL PTA Meeting: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7:00pm

Link will be send soon. 

Glasgow MS PTA needs you!  We believe that together, we an make every child's potential a reality-but we need more believers like YOU. Please join the PTA! 

Email us at: Glasgowpta.va@gmail.com if you have any questions; if you would like to be a volunteer for our events; or to help in any way!

PTA Silent Auction

The Glasgow Middle School PTA will host its annual online Silent Auction from March 2–8, 2026. This is our primary fundraiser of the year, and all are welcome to participate. Proceeds support classroom materials, technology, educational programs, and special initiatives for our school community.

We are seeking donations including services or lessons (music, art, cooking, fitness, home maintenance, salon services), experiences (tickets, boat rides, private dinners, vacation rentals), memorabilia, or any other creative ideas.

All donations are tax-deductible, and participating businesses will be recognized across our marketing and auction site. We kindly ask for donations by February 10 to allow time for organizing and posting items. Pickup or drop-off can be arranged at your convenience.

Thank you for supporting our school!

Order your Yearbook!

There is nothing else like your school yearbook. Get your hands on the limited edition collection of our stories from the school year. Here is the link to order your 25/26 school year Yearbook. Please go to our Website and order it now!

News from FCPS

Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS. 

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Verify and update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

Your school’s principal will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Parents Can Manage Screen Time on FCPS Devices!

FCPS offers the Lightspeed Parent Portal to help you manage screen time on your child's FCPS device at home. With a Parent Portal account, you can control your child’s access to YouTube and pause website browsing during after-school hours.

Please note that parent controls are active only during after-school hours, defined as Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. (including student holidays) and all day Saturday and Sunday. 

If you haven't signed up for the portal yet, use the link at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email. To learn more, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page.

Monitoring Support for your Child in ParentVUE

All FCPS schools use an approach called Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to make sure every student receives the help they need to learn. 

MTSS helps school teams deliver high-quality instruction for all students and provide extra time, support, and interventions as needed. Families are partners in this process. Your child’s school will share information about their individual learning, needs, and progress.

To see your child's intervention plans and progress, log in to SIS ParentVUE. Families can expect progress to be updated quarterly. 

❄️ Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings

Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE to make sure you receive notifications of school delays/closings. Emails and text messages are sent to parents/caregivers based on the addresses and cell phone numbers entered on this platform. 

Watch this video to see how FCPS makes weather closing decisions

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Make Your Voice Heard!

Look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education and encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process. Several key decision dates and engagement opportunities are listed below:

  • Wednesday, January 7, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m. - There will be virtual regional public hearings on the governor’s proposed 2026-28 biennial state budget.
  • Thursday, January 22, 2026 - Dr. Reid will present the proposed FCPS budget to the School Board.

Visit the FCPS budget webpage for more information.

Winter Resources for Families

A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.

Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!

We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during the upcoming winter break and on snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.

Keeping Children Safe Online

The Fairfax County Police Department shares these resources to help keep children safe online.

What Families Can Do to Fight Drug Misuse

FCPS is committed to raising awareness about the opioid epidemic with our educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Together, we can help ensure our students thrive.

What can families do?

  • Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse. More than 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink. 
  • Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success. 
  • Show you are a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs. Find helpful resources on the FCPS Opioid Awareness webpage
  • Pay attention to your child and discourage risky behaviors. 
  • Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they will say, “No thanks.”

Get more information on opioid awareness.

Parent & Family Engagement Policy

The annual Parent & Family Engagement Policy/Compact can be located on our website.

Justice Pyramid of Schools believe that…

Working as a collaborative community, we cultivate a strong sense of belonging and joy, fostering high expectations while providing access to opportunities that fuel the growth and success of every student, empowering families to thrive.

We are the Panthers! Show your Panther Pride!

                   Please visit our Website at  https://glasgowms.fcps.edu/

                  and Follow Us on Instagram @glasgowms.panthers!

PANTHER