Hawk Highlights
October 8, 2022
October 8, Volume 2, Issue 7
Dear GVMS Families,
We've had another great few weeks at GVMS. Here's an update on what has been going on at Gainesville Middle School:
- We finished our VGA testing with all students in reading and math. Once we have information on scoring from the Virginia Department of Education, we will share scores with families.
- Our counseling department presented to our 8th-grade students on transitioning to high school and the different specialty program offerings. I've included that presentation below for your review.
- This Sunday, 10/9, our GVMS women's ensemble will be singing the National Anthem at the D.C. United Soccer game to a sold-out crowd.
- Our drama department has been hard at work preparing for their VTA performance of Smarty Pants. The performance will run at GVMS on October 21 (7:00 PM) and October 22 (4:00 PM and 7:00 PM).
- We are so proud of the 21 students who were selected for the All-County Choir this year. Students will be performing at Forest Park HS on 10/21 and 10/22. Go Hawks!
- On Monday, October 31, GVMS will host their first Touch Base Parent/Teacher Conferences. More information to come!
This upcoming week, we will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15 - 10/15) with a spirit week for students and staff. At GVMS, we recognize the contributions and influence of generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. Check out the poster below and thank you to Mrs. Linza and one of our fabulous 7th-grade students for their ideas!
As always, we thank you for your partnership in education and are looking forward to another great week at GVMS.
Best,
Mary Kate Graham
Proud Principal
PWCS Transitioning to High School Information
Below you will find the information that the GVMS counseling team presented to our 8th-grade students this past week. Please reach out to your student's counselor if you have any questions.
National School Lunch Week (NSLW) is October 11-14, 2022
This week gives the Food and Nutrition Department an opportunity to showcase the quality of our nutritious meals. This year, the PWCS Food and Nutrition Department held a Pun Art Contest! Students across the division had the opportunity in September to come up with a pun featuring a food on our menu during NSLW. Classes competed to write a pun and create artwork illustrating their pun. One winning class will be chosen per school level (elementary, middle and high). Winning class submissions will be announced and featured on the PWCS Food and Nutrition Department’s Twitter and Instagram accounts throughout NSLW (October 11th – 14th). Their school will receive $1,000 toward a wellness-related purchase of their choosing (ex. bike rack, water bottle filler, school garden, etc.)!
What else is happening during National School Lunch Week, you ask? Locally grown foods will be served, and we encourage parents and other family members to come join us for lunch. Stop by the cafeteria and see for yourself what delicious, healthy choices are available to students every day!
GVMS Student Announcements will be shared over the PA system each morning and in the afternoon. Please click the link below to access the current announcements.
*The link will be updated as new announcements are added.
GVMS Student Council Association
SCA applications were due on 10/4/22 and students voted in class at the end of this past week. Each advisory period will have one elected representative who will share important information with their peers about upcoming events at GVMS. Students who apply will be required to attend monthly after-school meetings from 3:00 - 4:30 PM. Classroom representatives will be notified soon.
Meeting Dates:
Monday, October 17
Monday, November 14
Monday, December 12
Monday, January 23
Monday, February 13
Monday, March 13
Monday, April 17
Monday, May 8
GVMS ATHLETICS IN ACTION - GO HAWKS!
Tuesday, October 11 - Football HOME vs. Unity Braxton MS
Thursday, October 13 - Girls' Track meet at HOME vs. Unity Braxton MS
Friday, October 14 - Volleyball HOME vs. Bull Run MS
GVMS Athletics Events Reminders
Student Behavior at GVMS Events
It is important to remember that the Code of Behavior still applies at all PWCS and GVMS athletics and extra-curricular events. If students are not following the Code of Behavior, they will be sent home, and may lose privileges to come to future events.
PWCS Bag Policy at Athletic Events
Please notice the safety rule for bags that was implemented last school year (21-22) in PWCS. Please plan ahead before attending any school event across the county and possibly out of county.
BAGS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE ATHLETIC FACILITY
(Includes Backpacks, Purses, Fanny Packs, Etc.)
Clear bags are allowed for use as a diaper or medical bag and are subject to search.
GVMS Restroom Availability
For outdoor sporting events, there are portable restrooms located at the back of the school.
Parent Pick-Up
Please note the start time of sporting events and time accordingly to arrange for quick pick-up of students after sporting events. Administrators supervising the events provide reminders to students as to when to contact parents to arrange for pick-up.
GVMS PICTURE DAY - UPDATED INFORMATION
School Picture Day was on Monday, October 3rd & Tuesday, October 4th, 2022. Picture make-up/retake day will be on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
Pictures will be available approximately two weeks following our school's photo day. Save time and Pre-order online here: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1000940634
For questions about ordering school pictures please email underclass@vosphoto.com
GVMS PTO UPDATES
Email sent out on 9/29/2022:
PTO needs your help to TREAT our staff members:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4BA5AA2AA02-barnone
Amazon list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1J5X26HA6ANCM?ref_=wl_share
Pre-order spirit wear from the GVMS PTO. Please complete the form below:
https://forms.gle/JidbjN6fCDB5gbCt5
Any questions? Interested in joining the GVMS PTO? Please reach out to the PTO directly at gvms.pto@gmail.com
PWCS Food and Nutrition Department’s Local Harvest of the Month
Did you know your school cafeteria serves seasonal Virginia produce all year long? Incorporating local products into our menus gives students the opportunity to enjoy nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables, while learning about the seasonality of foods and how foods are grown. These products support local farms and are a tasty way to improve the health of our children!
Every month, the PWCS Food and Nutrition Department features a different Virginia-grown fruit or vegetable as the Local Harvest of the Month! Follow @PWCSNutrition on Twitter and Instagram to learn about their monthly Harvest of the Month, and the many local farmers who grow food for our menus! PWCS Food and Nutrition also shares a monthly recipe featuring one of their scratch made menu items and the Harvest of the Month! This month the feature is PWCS Nutrition’s scratch made Apple Crisp!
GVMS ParentVue and Canvas Cheat Sheets
Our fabulous Instructional Technology Coach, Mrs. Chrissy Richmond, put together some "cheat sheets" for Parent Vue and Canvas. Both documents can be accessed by clicking on the links below.
Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA)
The Growth Assessments are computer adaptive tests, shorter than the Standards of Learning tests, that were developed in grades 3-8 reading and mathematics as a result of legislation passed in the 2021 Virginia General Assembly. The growth assessments consist of test items that measure the Standards of Learning, have been reviewed by Virginia teachers, tried out with Virginia students, and accepted for use on the growth assessments.
Beginning with the second year of implementation (2022-2023) and beyond, the legislation requires that the grades 3-8 reading and mathematics growth assessments be administered to students once in the fall and once in the winter (mid-year) during the school year. In addition to the growth assessments, the SOL tests for grade 3-8 reading and mathematics will continue to be administered.
For more information regarding the Virginia Growth Assessment, please check out the VDOE website.
PWCS Device Information and Insurance
Parents/guardians have the option to purchase low-cost student device insurance through the PWCS-approved third-party vendor, Securranty. Students at Gainesville Middle School will receive the HP Pro Book x360 G5 & G7. If purchased, the insurance covers unlimited repairs or replacements for everything from broken screens, lost chargers, and accidental damage, with a zero deductible for one year on a school-issued HP device. The insurance cost is $32.95, which may be significantly less than repair or replacement costs without insurance. (A replacement laptop costs around $450 and repairs range from $150 - $400 depending on the damage).
Parents/guardians will sign up on their own with the following information:
- School name
- Student last name, first name
- Student ID number
- Debit/credit card information
Paper Online Tutoring
Raise your hand if you could use some help with class assignments! The Office of Teaching and Learning is excited to announce that Prince William County Schools has partnered with Paper, a 24/7 academic support tutoring platform. Through Paper, our students can safely and securely chat with an expert tutor anytime, anywhere, for free.
Whether they need help clarifying homework questions or feedback on a written assignment, they can get on-demand and unlimited help when they need it! Teachers can also have students access this service during the school day for small group or individual support while in class!
To get started:
- Log into Paper via Clever or visit app.paper.co to connect with a tutor.
- Use this link to learn more: https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/ Instructional_technology/paper
GVMS DRESS CODE (FROM THE PWCS CODE OF BEHAVIOR)
The following clothing items are prohibited:
- reveal bare skin to the extent that they distract or may foreseeably distract other students or staff;
- reveal or expose undergarments;
- fit in a manner as to reveal or expose undergarments;
- contain vulgar, discriminatory, lewd patently offensive, or obscene language or images;
- contain threats or gang symbols;
- promotes the use of weapons and violence, or the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs, and/or associated paraphernalia;
- cause or may foreseeably cause a disruption to the learning environment; and
- accessories that could be regarded as or used as a weapon
- bandanas
- crop tops
- hoods
- excessively tight/revealing clothing
GVMS CELL PHONE POLICY
While cell phones remain an important aspect of communication between students and parents, they can also limit our students' ability to focus and stay on task during instructional time. Because of this, our school policy is that cell phones are "Away for the Day". Students should have their cell phones turned off and placed in their backpacks or lockers. We believe this is the best policy to support our students' instructional and social needs during the school day and will also help decrease negative exchanges via social media during the school day.
GVMS Lockers and Backpacks
During the 22 - 23 school year, GVMS will bring back the optional use of student lockers. Students will also be able to carry their backpacks throughout the school day for easy access to their supplies.
- Any issues with lockers will be directed to the front office to fill out a form. Our security team will work to fix locker issues. Please contact Mr. Jeter or Mr. Barnes with any questions.
LOCKER TIMES WILL BE ENFORCED FOR ALL STUDENTS.
GVMS 2022 - 2023 TRAFFIC REMINDERS
As we begin the 22-23 school year, I want to provide some reminders for our traffic patterns to help keep all of the GVMS community safe. We understand that the pick-up/drop-off traffic lines can be long, however, the safety of our students and staff is critical.
If you drive your child to/from school or pick them up from a club/activity after school, we ask you to adhere to the following expectations:
- Please do not drop your student off on Limestone Drive.
- Please follow the flow of traffic around the parking lot and only pick up/drop off students from the designated area.
- Use a single file traffic pattern to loop around in front of the school.
- Refrain from entering visitor parking lots/spaces to drop students off or exit the student drop-off line. This is crucial to the safety of our students.
- Remain in line and follow traffic flow back to Limestone to exit school grounds.
- Please make sure you are using crosswalks when necessary.
As a reminder, it is illegal for PWCS employees to direct traffic off of school grounds, including Limestone Drive. These directions are intended to retain an orderly, predictable traffic environment for the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our students safe in and around our parking lots each morning and afternoon.
PWCS Transportation Information
Wondering where the bus is? Check out Here Comes the Bus
Wondering if the bus is delayed? Check out the PWCS Bus Delay Website
Questions or concerns about your bus route? Contact Transportation Services
PWCS uses the “Say Something” Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) designed specifically for students in grades 6-12 and staff to report any type of serious or potentially violent concerns of unsafe behavior or threats of harm to self or others. Say Something is a youth violence prevention program from the national nonprofit organization Sandy Hook Promise and is provided and sustained at no cost to PWCS.
“Tipsters” can send reports on anything from school threats they’ve seen or overheard to personal crises including sexual harassment, self-harm, and depression. The system enables school administrators and those in law enforcement to create effective interventions and intervene upon at-risk individuals to help prevent violence, suicide, bullying, self-harm, and other forms of threatening behavior.
All tips submitted receive an immediate response by one of the highly skilled crisis counselors at the Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center; this person then determines the necessary support steps. When credible tips are received that are life-threatening and require immediate attention, the crisis center will notify school-based representatives, even after hours. And, in cases of imminent threat, the crisis center will contact local 911 dispatch and involve law enforcement. Users can submit a tip by calling 1-844-5-SAYNOW or by visiting www.saysomething.net. The free app is available for download from the App Store and Google Play Store, where students can submit tips instantly.
School Meal Payments 2022 - 2023
Meal prices for the 2022-23 school year are listed below. You can pay for meals online via www.MySchoolBucks.com. Students can also bring cash or check on the first day of school and deliver them to the cafeteria staff when paying for lunch. Checks should be made out to Gainesville Middle School (please include your student's ID number in the memo).
Our breakfast and lunch menus are available online at www.pwcsnutrition.com. You can sign up to have the menu emailed to you monthly and download our free menu app for your smartphone! Contact the Food and Nutrition Department at 703-791-7314 with questions, or visit our website, www.pwcsnutrition.com, for more information. We are looking forward to serving your students again this year!
Monday, October 10, 2022
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Staff Professional Learning Day
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
GVMS PTO Meeting - Zoom - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Advisory Council Meeting - Zoom - 6:00 PM
Friday, October 21, 2022
Smarty Pants Play - 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Smarty Pants Play - 4:00 PM
Smarty Pants Play - 7:00 PM
Monday, October 24, 2022
No School
Monday, October 31, 2022
No School for Students
Teacher Work Day
Touch Base Conferences for all (Time TBD)
Administation Team
Mrs. Mary Kate Graham - Principal - grahammk@pwcs.edu
Ms. Michelle Praul - 6th Grade Assistant Principal - praulmh@pwcs.edu
Mr. Ed Schultz - 7th Grade Assistant Principal - schultej@pwcs.edu
Mr. Steve Williams - 8th Grade Assistant Principal - williasp@pwcs.edu
Safety and Security Team
Mr. Antione Jeter - jeterad@pwcs.edu
Mr. Jeffrey Barnes - barnesja@pwcs.edu
Counseling Team
Mrs. Jessie Castles - Director of School Counseling - castlejm@pwcs.edu
Ms. Janaelle Robles - Last Names A - Cou - roblesj@pwcs.edu
Mrs. Erin Abbott - Last Names Cr - Hin - abbotte@pwcs.edu
Mrs. Sarah Ware - Last Names Hl - Mik - waresm@pwcs.edu
Ms. Alexis Hawkins - Last Names Mil - Rut - hawkinam@pwcs.edu
Mrs. Autumn Brown - Last Names Ruu - Z - brownal2@pwcs.edu
Mrs. Patricia Lopez - Registrar - lopezpa@pwcs.edu
Technology Team
Mrs. Christine Richmond, Instructional Technology Coach: richmocm@pwcs.edu
- Canvas
- Parent Vue/Student Vue
Mr. Joseph Evans, Technology Specialist: evansj1@pwcs.edu
- Device Information and support