Hawk Highlights
October 16, 2022
October 16, Volume 2, Issue 8
Dear GVMS Families,
We've had another great week at GVMS. Here's an update on what's good at Gainesville:
- We had an awesome Hispanic Heritage Month spirit week with great participation from students and staff.
- A HUGE thank you to the GVMS PTO and community for the amazing treats that you provided for the GVMS staff. We really felt the love! THANK YOU!
- On October 18, 2022, we will be holding our first Advisory Council meeting of the 22-23 school year. The meeting will begin at 6:00 PM over Zoom. The link can be found below.
- This week on 10/18 and 10/19, we will be completing hearing and vision screenings with our 7th graders and any new students to PWCS. These screenings will take place during your student's P.E. classes. If anybody is interested in volunteering, here is a sign-up for you to access: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DAFAB2EA4F8C16-hearingvision
- On Thursday, October 20, 2022 our PTO is holding a Spirit Day at Panda Express in Gainesville (10:30 AM - 9:00 PM). 20% of event sales will be donated to the GVMS PTO. (Flyer is linked below).
- This week Friday and Saturday, we will have our performances of Smarty Pants. Please come out and support our fabulous drama department and see the performance they are bringing to VTA competition on 10/29. (Flyer is below).
- Marking Period 1 – A reminder that marking period 1 ends on October 28th. Parents/guardians can monitor student progress through Parent VUE. Please direct class specific questions about student progress to your student’s teachers. There is a teacher workday on October 31st; where there is no school for students.
This week we will be talking to our students over the announcements about the "One Chip Challenge". Moving forward, we are banning the "One Chip Challenge" from Gainesville Middle School. The challenge involves eating a tortilla chip made with the extremely hot Carolina reaper peppers and scorpion peppers and waiting as long as possible before eating or drinking anything. Videos of people doing this challenge are then shared to TikTok and YouTube. Completing the challenge is unsafe and students can potentially become very sick. Please speak with your student regarding the dangers of the "One Chip Challenge" as it is unsafe and disruptive to learning.
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
GVMS Advisory Council Meeting 10/18/22
Our first advisory council meeting of the year will take place on Tuesday, October 18 at 6:00 PM over Zoom. All are welcome.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/83544516910?pwd=QWNBWXJRUm1rYWJ6T3hjL3dzM3VSdz09
Meeting ID: 835 4451 6910
Passcode: hawks
Student Council Association Updates
Important Reminders:
- The first SCA meeting will take place on Monday, October 17 from 3:00-4:30pm.
Upcoming Events:
- Halloween Duckies - Starting on Wednesday, October 19, students can buy their friends a special gift and send it with a personalized message. Duckies will cost $2 each or 3 for $5, and they can be purchased in the mixing bowl before morning announcements. The duckies will be delivered during advisory on Friday, October 28.
- Operation Turkey Canned Food Drive - The GVMS Student Council Association (SCA) is working with Northern Virginia Family Service to collect items for Operation Turkey, which benefits over +1200 families yearly in Prince William County. In 2022, our school community donated 2,568 canned and nonperishable food items, and our goal for this year is to match or exceed that number! Donation collection will begin on Tuesday, November 1, and it ends on Monday, November 7. Students will bring their donation items to their advisory period for collection. The class from each grade level with the largest percentage of collected items will win a special breakfast.
Suggested Donation Items
- Stuffing Gravy Cornbread mix
- Muffin mix
- Bisquick mix
- Applesauce
- Rice
- Pancake mix and syrup
- Dry/canned beans,
- lentils
- Soup/broth
- Pasta and sauces
- Coffee/tea/cocoa
- Boxed dessert
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Cooking oil/spray
- Sugar
- Flour
- Cereal and oatmeal
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables (green beans, carrots, peas, corn)
- Canned sweet potatoes
- Canned/instant potatoes
- Shelf-stable milk
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 ATHLETICS IN ACTION - GO HAWKS!
Monday, October 17 - Soccer AWAY at Metz Middle School
Tuesday, October 18 - Girls' Track meet at HOME vs. Marstellar MS
Wednesday, October 19 - Soccer HOME vs. Unity Braxton MS
Volleyball AWAY at Nokesville
Thursday, October 20 - Girls' Track meet at HOME vs. Unity Braxton MS
Football AWAY at Reagan MS
Tuesday, October 25 - Volleyball HOME vs. Reagan MS
Wednesday, October 26 - Football HOME vs. Marstellar MS
Volleyball AWAY at Marstellar MS
**Boys Basketball tryouts will begin the first week of November. Please make sure you have your physical up to date before that time!
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 and will send out a text to families with about 10 minutes left in the game.
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
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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