Panther News!
One School, One Purpose: Together We Can!
Monday, August 28, 2023
Weekly Update from Ms. Merica
Dear Parkside Parents & Guardians,
Our first week of school is in the books! We had a wonderful start to our 23-24 school year as we welcomed over 1,400 students into our building on Monday. It was amazing to see so many smiling faces on the first day of school.
During the first week, we have focused on establishing routines and building a positive classroom community. Our students have engaged in proactive circles and begun to create trusting learning environments to support the needs of all students. We have begun to create inclusive routines during our lunch shifts that allow students to interact with their peers in a more social environment.
We will begin our late bus runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It is important to note that the bus stops are different than the regular stops. Late busses are scheduled to depart Parkside on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:45 and Wednesday at 5:30. Please make sure your student knows their address to ensure they take the correct late bus home.
I believe that open communication between all stakeholders is crucial for student success. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or a member of our school team. One school, One Purpose; Together We Can. #Parksideproud.
Respectfully,
Ms. Merica
"One School, One Purpose; Together We Can!"
Current House Points for This Week! - LET'S GET ROLLING!!
Back to School Packets
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The Back to School Packet, available on ParentVUE, is now open. This is where parents and guardians can review and update contact information/acknowledgements and this year, schedules and grade information will not be available on ParentVUE until the completion of the packet. If students have trouble logging in to StudentVUE, they can reset their password online. For more information and instructions on the back to school packet, please visit the PWCS Back to School website._____________________________________________________________
Library Information
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our school library is an important part of our instructional program. Students will be selecting books from our library for independent reading and other assignments. in accordance with PWCS Regulation 796-1. Sexually Explicit Materials, we are required to review all titles in out library and inform parents of the presence of any texts considered to contain sexually explicit content. Our library currently contains the following titles, which are considered to contain sexually explicate materials:
I am notifying you to ensure you have an opportunity to provide guidance to your child about their book selection. Further, if you wish to challenge the inclusion of these titles in our library, please see PWCS Regulation 653-8 Selection and Adoption/Distribution.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Linehan and Sherri Muster
Parkside Middle School Librarians
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Requests to see the School Counselor:
Students are able to request to meet with their counselor throughout the year. They can submit a request through the School Counseling canvas page. The school counselor will triage the requests as they come in and will send for the students when available.
Families can also request a check in for their student by reaching out to the school counselor directly.
Students will see the Counselor According to Their Last Name:
A-Do : Laura Pelczar
Du-La: Clifton Gorham
Le-Ra: Maureen Andrada
Re-Z: James Jackson
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Free and Reduced Lunch Applications are Now Available!
Parkside Families,
It is necessary that free and reduced lunch applications be re-submitted every single year. If you are need of this service please fill out the information below.
School Meals Information
See prices for school meals in 2023-24
► All students at 44 schools will receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2023-24 school year as part of the Community Eligibility Program.
Applying for Free and Reduced Price Meals
Applications for free and reduced-price meals are open
- Free and Reduced Price Meals Online Application
- Solicitud en Línea para Comidas Gratuitas y a Precio Reducido
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Immunization Deadline!
Missing Immunizations
Current 7th and 6th Grade Students - Proof of the following immunization(s) is needed: Tdap and/or Meningococcal.
The deadline for your student to meet this immunization requirement has passed.
Please read below and follow these two steps:
- Schedule an appointment with your health care provider or with the Prince William Health District for your child to receive the missing immunizations.
- Provide documentation to your student’s school indicating that your student has received the immunization(s). Please write your student’s full name and student ID number on the documentation. You can email the immunization(s) information directly to your school nurse (contact your child’s school for the appropriate contact) or deliver a paper copy of the immunization(s) information to your student’s school.
- If your health care provider or the health district indicates your student cannot receive the immunization(s), please provide the school nurse with a signed statement for medical exemption from the health care provider.
- Religious exemption forms may also be submitted, and the form is available on the Virginia Department of Education website.
Please note it will take staff time to receive the delivery of paper or emailed documents and enter them into our student management system.
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Arrival Procedures
Bus schedules will be available in ParentVUE. In anticipation for the first day of school, I encourage you to download the Here Comes the Bus mobile app that allows you to track your student’s buses in real-time. Check back often in ParentVUE, as changes to bus stops and times may occur up until the first day of school.
If your student is not taking the bus to school in the morning, but plans to ride the bus home, please ensure your student knows their bus number for the trip home.
If your student is a car rider, please work with our car lane staff to ensure students are dropped off at designated lanes to keep everyone safe. We will have ample staff to direct you in the morning.
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Beginning of Year Events
Back to School Night - 8th Grade
Monday, September 11, 2023
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Back to School Night - 7th Grade
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Back to School Night - 6th Grade
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Friday, September 22, 2023
PTO Screen on the Green Event!
Tickets will go on sale September 11, 2023
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PTO News!
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Hello Parkside Community!
Parkside PTO would like to welcome everyone to a new school year! Whether this is your first year at Parkside or you are a returning Panther - we are so glad to have you here!
Middle school represents a time of tremendous growth, exciting changes as well as new challenges for our children. We are fortunate at Parkside to have an incredible and dedicated staff to help guide our students through these years but it also takes a community! As parents and guardians we want to do our best to help support our students, their teachers and Parkside as a whole. That's where the Parent Teacher Organization comes in! As the PTO we work closely with parents and the school to encourage student involvement, provide opportunities for positive, inclusive social events and help support Parkside’s teachers & staff.
The PTO Board is committed, ready and excited for the 23-24 school year! We have a great year planned and hope you & your family will be a part of it! Whether you volunteer your time, your services and skills or prefer to donate - you are helping to ensure this is a great and successful year at Parkside!
Please find attached Parkside PTO's first monthly newsletter!
Would you like to receive more PTO info directly to your email? Subscribe to the PTO email list today! ---> https://forms.gle/vwFYEDABvkh78Qdk7
PTO spirit wear sale is going on now! Sale ends 9/29! Shop our online store today! ----> https://parkside-pto-spirit-wear-2023-2024.cheddarup.com
Wishing everyone a great first week of school!
- Parkside PTO Board of Directors
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Monday, August 21, 2023
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Fall Sports Try Outs – 3:15 PM
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Fall Sports Try Outs – 3:15 PM
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Fall Sports Try Outs – 3:15 PM
Friday, September 1, 2023
NO SCHOOL – Labor Day Weekend
Monday, September 4, 2023
NO SCHOOL – Labor Day Weekend
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
School Board Meeting – 7:00 PM – KLC
Monday, September 11, 2023
8th Grade – Back to School Night – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
7th Grade – Back to School Night – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
6th Grade – Back to School Night – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Friday, September 15, 2023
NO SCHOOL – Rosh Hashanah Holiday
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
School Board Meeting – 7:00 pm – KLC
Friday, September 22, 2023
PTO Screen on the Green Event!
Tickets will go on sale September 11, 2023
Monday, September 25, 2023
NO SCHOOL – Yom Kippur Holiday
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Athletics
We will begin our fall sports tryouts on this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Tryouts will begin directly after school and last until 4:40 on Tuesday and Thursday. Tryouts will last until 5:30 on Wednesday. Students must have a sports physical and concussion training on file to try out for sports. Our fall sports are football, volleyball, boys soccer and girls track. Late buses are available. Please see attached late bus stops.
Cheerleading tryouts will begin on Tuesday, Sept 5th directly after school and ending at the same times listed above.
Robotics tryouts will begin today, Monday, Aug 28th. Parent pick up will be at 5:30. All required paperwork should be submitted to Mrs. Soma, sponsor, by the student in order to try out.
Late Bus Routes
Tuesday - Buses will run at 4:45 PM
Parkside Cambridge International Middle School
One School, One Purpose: Together We Can!
Email: MericaEM@pwcs.edu
Website: Parksidems.pwcs.edu
Location: , 8602 Mathis Ave, Old Town Manassas, VA, USA
Phone: 703-361-3106