JANUARY 2017

Tiger O N E L E AR N I N G L AN E — F R E D E RI C K S B U R G, V I R G IN A 2 2 4 0 1

P H O N E: 5 4 0 - 3 7 2 - 1 1 4 5 F AX 5 4 0 - 8 9 1 - 5 4 4 9

W W W .CI TYS C H O O LS . COM / W AL K E R G R AN TM I D D LE S C H OO L

Principal’s Letter

Dear Tiger Families, I hope that as you read this you are enjoying a jubilant and restful winter break. It is my wish that during this season your middle school child is enjoying some well-deserved time away from school! Winter vacation tends to serve as a half-way point for the school year, so students have the opportunity to return to school refreshed and ready to focus their efforts on learning. It’s the perfect time for administration, parents, and teachers to take time to review student progress from the first part of the year and set academic goals for the remainder - it may help to focus their efforts and help them be more successful. We had a fantastic end to 2016 at Walker-Grant Middle School, and we are preparing to wrap up the first semes-ter. When we return to school there will be just a few weeks remaining in the marking period. With 2016 almost over , I feel privileged to be a part of such an excellent school and community. I have seen first-hand the caring and compassion of our students and staff as they collected food and toiletry items for those in need. I am very proud of the positive difference we are making in the Fredericksburg community. At WGMS we are always focused on academic achievement and meeting the social and emotional needs of each student. We are excited about the impact our new classes have had on our students and the new found interests that have been sparked. During this beginning of the New Year, I hope that you surround yourself with close friends and family. Please continue to inspire your children to make a positive impact in our schools, community, and world. The WGMS administrative team would like to thank each student, family, and staff member who has made each day a success! At Walker-Grant Middle School, we feel very fortunate to serve you and your children as we guide the students toward their goals. We ended 2016 on a very high note and look forward to the opportunities that await us in the new year. Best Wishes and continued success in 2017. Melanie R. Kay-Wyatt, Ed.D Principal

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504 ACCOMODATIONS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION If your child has any type of learning or physical problem, he/she may qualify for accommodations under 504 or special education services. Please call the Walker-Grant Counseling Office at 372-1145 if you have any questions or would like to refer your child for screening and possible assessment. No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of his/her handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits, of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: The Rights of Individuals with Handicaps Under Federal Law.

IN THE MATTER OF NONRESIDENT STUDENT ENROLLMENT The Fredericksburg City Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability in admission or treatment of employment in its programs or activities. Any questions should be referred to Pam Steinkoenig, 200 Gunnery Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 or by calling (540) 371-1127.

SEX OFFENDER STATEMENT The Fredericksburg City Public School Division recognizes the danger sex offenders pose to student safety. Therefore, to protect students while they travel to and from school, attend school or at school-related activities, the Fredericksburg City School Division shall request automatic electronic notification of registered sex offenders in the same or contiguous zip codes as any school within the division. Such request and notification shall be made according to the procedures established by the Virginia Department of State Police (State Police). The Superintendent shall serve as the contact person with the State Police for receipt of the registered sex offender information.

INCLEMENT WEATHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Information concerning school closings or delays for Fredericksburg City Public Schools may be found by checking one of the following: Fredericksburg City Public Schools website: www.cityschools.com Fredericksburg.com FCPS TV (Local Educational Access) – Channel 83 WFLS Radio - (FM 93.3) WVBX Radio - (FM 99.3) WWUZ Radio - (FM 96.9) WFVA/B 101.5 Radio (FM 101.5 and AM1230) WGRQ Radio - (FM 95.9) WGRX Radio - (FM 104.5) WTOP Radio (FM 107.7) WTVR Television - Channel 6 (Richmond) WRIC Television - Channel 8 (Richmond) WRC Television - Channel 4 (DC) WUSA Television - Channel 9 (DC) WJLA Television – Channel 7 (DC) We encourage parents to visit our website or listen to one of the radio or television stations listed above. Announcements are posted as quickly as possible.

Text/E-mail notice of school delays or closings are also communicated through the Fredericksburg Alerts system to those who have signed up for FCPS closing notices.

A link to the alert system is located on our webpage: www.cityschools.com/walkergrantmiddleschool

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Recognitions

The following students were winners in their Grade Level Spelling Bee and have

advanced to the Division Bee on January 18:

6th Grade—Emily Brown, Champion; Bella Kimball, Runner-Up

6th Grade—Sam Longfellow, Champion; Katie Fidler, Runner-Up

8th Grade - Zoey Young, Champion; Paul Lucas, Runner-Up

The December Writing Contest winners were: 1st Place (tie) Abe Rowe and

Olivia Johnston; 2nd Place Delia Rabatin, and 3rd Place (tie) Rebekah Blosser and

Daniel Marchosky.

Library News

Attention 7th and 8th graders— Café Books will begin in January. Come see

Ms. Moyer for sign up and any questions!

Social Studies classes will be competing throughout the 2nd semester for the most col-

lected Box Tops. The winning class will receive an ice cream party!

The Word of the Month is:

PRINCIPLED

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Jan. 4 Wednesday

Buford MS Away 5:00

Departure: TBD

Jan 10 Tuesday

Culpeper MS Home 4:30

Departure: N/A

Jan. 18 Wednesday

King George Away 4:30

Departure: 3:15

Jan 19 Thursday

Buford MS Away 5:00

Departure: N/A

Jan. 23 Monday

Floyd T. Bins MS Away 4:30

Departure: 2:50

Jan. 24 Tuesday

Caroline Middle School Home 4:30

Departure: N/A

Jan. 26,27,28 Culpeper Invitational Away Time TBD

Departure

WGMS BOYS’ BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY

Tues., 1/3 Meet & Greet New Science Teacher Mrs. Pietro in Room 140, 3:15-4:00 PM

Wed., 1/4 MAP Assessments—Reading Boys’ Basketball Game at Buford MS, 5pm

Thurs., 1/5 MAP Assessments—Reading

Sat., 1/7 Saturday School, 8:00-11:00am

Mon., 1/9 MAP Assessments—Language Usage

Tues., 1/10 MAP Assessments—Language Usage Boys’ Basketball Home Game vs. Culpeper MS, 4:30pm

Thurs., 1/12 Canstruction Competition at Spotsylvania Town Center MAP Assessments—Math

Fri., 1/13 Canstruction Competition at Spotsylvania Town Center MAP Assessments—Math GT Field Trip

Sat., 1/14 Canstruction Competition at Spotsylvania Town Center

Mon., 1/16 Martin Luther King Holiday / NO SCHOOL Canstruction Competition Awards at Spotsylvania Town Center

Tues., 1/17 WIDA Testing begins (continues through 1/25) World Language Mid-Terms Family Life Parent Night, 5:00pm

Wed., 1/18 Deadline for PTA Citizenship Essay Contest World Language Mid-Terms Divison-Wide Spelling Bee, 9:00am (LUES) Boys’ Basketball Game at King George, 4:30pm

Thurs., 1/19 Quarter 2 History Benchmarks Boys’ Basketball & Cheerleading Field Trip Boys’ Basketball Game at Buford, 5:00pm

Fri., 1/20 Quarter 2 History Benchmarks PTA Movie Day “Finding Dory”, 2:50-5:00pm

Mon., 1/23 Quarter 2 Science Benchmarks Boys’ Basketball Game at Floyd T. Binns MS

Tues, 1/24 Quarter 2 Science Benchmarks Club & Winter Sports Pictures after school Boys’ Basketball Home Game vs. Caroline Middle, 4:30pm

Wed., 1/25 Principal’s Roundtable during lunch waves

Thurs., 1/26 Boys’ Basketball at Culpeper Invitational

Fri., 1/27 Boys’ Basketball at Culpeper Invitational Pastries with the Principal, 10:00am—1:00pm

Sat., 1/28 Saturday School, 8:00-11:00am

Mon., 1/30 Teacher Workday / NO SCHOOL