Hawk Highlights
August 21, 2022
August 21, Volume 2, Issue 3
BACK TO SCHOOL UPDATE FROM PRINCIPAL GRAHAM
Dear GVMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,
Our first day of school is tomorrow and we are excited to welcome all 1,440 students back into the building. We have been hard at work this summer preparing for the new school year! Here are some important reminders for tomorrow:
- Monday, August 22, 2022, is an A DAY.
- Schedules are located on Student Vue and Parent Vue. Students will receive a printed copy of their schedule on Monday 8/22 in the morning.
- IMPORTANT: Students have advisory first thing each morning (from 8:10 - 8:30 AM). Students should report to their advisory when they enter the building.
- 6th Grade Students have advisory with their FIRST PERIOD TEACHER
- 7th Grade Students have advisory with their THIRD PERIOD TEACHER
- 8th Grade Students have advisory with their FIRST PERIOD TEACHER
- The lunch schedule for all students is below.
- ALL GVMS STAFF will be wearing a Grey t-shirt tomorrow. Please share with your student that if they need any help finding their classes, they should look for adults in grey t-shirts. Staff will be located throughout the building tomorrow to assist students.
- We will build time into this week for students to try out their lockers.
- Students should bring something to write with, something to write on, a water bottle, and a plan for their lunch.
- Students will receive their laptops at the end of the day tomorrow.
- If your student has "Placeholder Teacher" listed on their schedule, you will receive a letter with more information.
I look forward to greeting each student and creating lasting memories for the 2022- 2023 school year!
Rise Up Hawks!
Mary Kate Graham
Proud Principal
Administration 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
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
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 LUNCH SCHEDULE 22-23
Please look at the charts below to determine your lunchtime for the 2022-2023 school year.
*7th Grade Lunch updated at 6:45 PM on 8/21/22.
Mrs. Dorsey's class has second lunch.
Robotics Tech Team Meeting 8/25 from 3:00 - 6:00 PM
All returning and new interested students are expected to attend the Robotics Tech Team meeting on Thursday, August 25 in rooms 1322-1324 from 3:00 - 6:00 PM. There will be a parent/student meeting in the cafeteria beginning at 6:00 PM, immediately following the student meeting.
NJHS Meeting 8/25 from 3:00 - 4:30 PM
The first NJHS meeting of the school year has been canceled due to sports tryouts.
GVMS Clubs and Activities
GVMS Club Information is TBD for the 22 - 23 School Year.
Students will have an opportunity to explore clubs through a club fair at the beginning of September once our offerings are finalized. Information will be finalized and shared via the GVMS website and in a future issue of Hawk Highlights.
The activity buses for after-school clubs will begin on September 19, 2022.
BACK TO SCHOOL PACKET 22-23
We are excited to welcome all students to the new school year. The Back to School Packet, where parents/guardians can review emergency cards, update contact information, and complete annual policy reviews and acknowledgments, is now available in ParentVUE.
All families should complete the Back to School Packet as soon as possible, but no later
than Friday, September 16, 2022. The information you provide will allow school staff to
ensure the safety of your student this school year.
To access the Back to School Packet:
- Login to your ParentVUE account and go to “Online Records” in the top right corner.
- Written Instructions for completing the Back to School Packet
- Video Tutorial for completing the Back to School Packet
- If a parent/guardian needs to make changes to information once they submit the Back to School Packet, they can resubmit anytime by following the same instructions provided above.
- If you need assistance or do not have an active ParentVUE account, please contact your child’s school.
For your convenience, we have created a Back to School webpage with information and
resources you and your student need to start the school year off right.
IMPORTANT 7th Grade Vaccination Requirements
The deadline for students to meet the immunization requirement for mandatory immunizations for public school enrollment has been extended to December 14, 2022. If you have questions, please contact the school nurse, Dominique Alexander (alexandn1@pwcs.edu), or visit the immunization requirements webpage.
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
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.
- If you are not able to attend Open House, students should bring their backpacks, something to write with, write on, and either a lunch or lunch money. Lockers can be stressful on day 1 for students!
- 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.
OPENING A LOCKER: It's a great idea to have your student practice opening a locker prior to the start of school. Below is a document with a QR-code that takes you to a lock simulator. A little practice will help make Open House and the first few weeks of school easier with lockers.
*Thanks to Ms. Bergman, 6th-grade math teacher for the document!
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.
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.
The passcode for the webinar is: =!kJ6@k$
Welcome to the 2022 - 2023 school year! We are looking forward to welcoming you into the building in just few short weeks. The start of school means preparing materials and supplies to allow learning activities to successfully take place. Below you will find the materials necessary for a successful school year.
Gainesville Middle School will provide students with:
- Laptop
- Charger
- Student Agenda
All students in grades 6 - 8 will need:
- Backpack
- Pencil pouch
- Earbuds
- 2 or 3 pocket folders
- Writing utensils (#2 pencils and pens)
- Highlighters
- Dry erase markers
- Colored Pencils
- Loose leaf paper
- Index cards (for note-taking, keeping a list, and creating study materials)
The items below are specific to grade levels:
6th GRADE STUDENTS ONLY
- Two composition notebooks (one for Language and Literature Support 6 and one for Language Arts)
7th and 8th GRADE STUDENTS ONLY
- 1.5 - 2 inch Binder (you only need one)
- This will be used for all classes
- Dividers
Don't forget about the Virginia Sales Tax Holiday, running from August 5 - 7, 2022.
Here are some frequently asked questions:
How can I pay for workout gear?
We accept cash or check (made out to GVMS with the student ID number in the memo line).
*If you choose to pre-pay by credit card, you MUST show your receipt for confirmation. Please print a copy of the receipt to show at checkout.
What if I pay online and find I selected the wrong sizes?
No worries! We can get you the correct size.
What do you sell and what is the cost?
T-Shirt ($10)
Shorts ($10)
Sweatshirts ($20)
Sweatpants ($20)
What sizes do your offer?
We offer sizes ranging from youth large to adult XXL.
What if I purchased the wrong size and it doesn't fit?
You can return the item for a different size as long as no name has been written on it. We do ask that all exchanges are done during the first two weeks of school.
*We are not able to make any exchanges on winter gear that is ordered through an order form. We only purchase the sizes and items that we need and do not supply extras.
Do we have to purchase workout gear at Open House?
No, but we strongly encourage it. It makes the first few days of school easier because students are prepared and ready to go. We do sell t-shirts and shorts year-round. We DO NOT sell sweatshirts and sweatpants year round.
When will my student begin changing for PE?
6th and 7th-grade students usually begin the second week of school.
8th-grade students will begin the 3rd or 4th day of school (the end of the first week).
Locker Room Information - The GVMS PE department will lend students a lock to be used on their PE locker. Please note that if your student loses the lock, there is a $7.00 replacement fee. Students are not able to use their own locks for security purposes. The Health and PE department is not responsible for student belongings, so, we strongly encourage students to lock their valuables in their lockers.
Any other questions/concerns please reach out to Laura Harris, PE Department Chair, at HarrisLL@pwcs.edu.
Fall Sports Tryouts: August 24 - 26
All information can be found on the PWCS Student Athletics Website.
GVMS Fall Sports Tryout Dates
Wednesday 8/24
Thursday 8/25
Friday 8/26
All try-out dates run from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. An activity bus will be offered on 8/24, 8/25, and 8/26 at 5:00 p.m. *Extra tryout days may be added due to weather, but the activity bus will not be offered.
It is important to note that students are NOT allowed to walk home from tryouts or athletics events at any time. Please arrange for a ride for your student.
In order to try out for an athletics team, all students must:
- Take concussion training;
- Meet participation requirements; and
- Have a current physical dated after May 1, 2022.
Important Forms
Middle School Physical Exam Form (PDF)
Middle School Activities Participation Guide (PDF)
Concussion Training Information
All student-athletes and their parent/guardian are required to complete an annual Concussion Training according to PWCS Policy 759. Concussion training information can be found on the PWCS Student Athletics Website. In-person GVMS Concussion Training dates are TBD and will be updated on the website.
You are eligible for Online Concussion Education Training if you are in grades 6, 7, and 8 and are currently enrolled in the Prince William County Public Schools. More information and the Online Concussion Education Training can be found by clicking the button below.
*Sports tryouts documents can be turned in at Open House in the Gym.
Greetings GVMS Student Athletes!
We are excited for the start of the 22 - 23 athletics and activities season. Below is some important information about GVMS Student Athletics and the different offerings by season.
Fall Sports Season
- Football
- Girls Volleyball
- Boys Soccer
- Girls Track
- Cheerleading (Fall - Winter #2)
Winter Sports #1 Season
- Girls Basketball
Winter Sports #2 Season
- Boys Basketball
- Wrestling
Spring Sports Season
- Baseball
- Softball
- Girls Soccer
- Boys Track
Any questions about GVMS athletics, please reach out to the Athletic Director, Mr. Steve Cadolino at cadolisx@pwcs.edu.
*Coaches for the Fall 2023 season will be announced soon!
School Meal Payments 2022 - 2023
The USDA waiver that allowed us to serve breakfast and lunch free of charge to all students since March 2020 is no longer in place for this school year. Families of students attending Gainesville Middle School are encouraged to complete a Free Meal Benefits Application. Free meals are available to students whose households qualify under federal standards. The Meal Benefits Application is available in English and Spanish on the PWCS Food and Nutrition website. After your 2022-23 Meal Benefits Application is processed, you will be notified by e-mail or US mail of your child's status. Until you are notified, you must provide your child with meals or money for meals. If your child was eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the 2019-20 or 2020-21 school year, they will receive free breakfast and lunch until October 6, 2022.
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!
**Students are strongly encouraged to practice and know their student ID numbers for Monday. They will need to punch their numbers in to purchase breakfast or lunch.
Monday, August 22, 2022
First Day of School for All Students
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Fall Sports Tryouts 3:00 - 5:00
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Fall Sports Tryouts 3:00 - 5:00
Robotics Tech Team Student Meeting 3:00 - 6:00 (Rooms 1322 - 1324)
Robotics Tech Team Parent Meeting 6:00 (Cafeteria)
Friday, August 26, 2022
Fall Sports Tryouts 3:00 - 5:00
Friday, September 2, 2022
NO SCHOOL
Monday, September 5, 2022
NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Back to School Night - 6th Grade
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Back to School Night - 7th Grade
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Back to School Night - 8th Grade
Monday, September 26, 2022
NO SCHOOL