Walker Midde Magnet IB World School
The Year of Acceptance #IBtheDIFFERENCE
Quarter 2 Newsletter 12/1/22
Greetings Walker Families,
I hope you enjoyed your Fall break as much as I did and were able to spend some quality time with friends and family! We have a busy 3 weeks ahead of us.
Teachers and students will be busy finishing up semester 1 curriculum and mid-year assessments begin next week on 12/7 and continue through 12/23. See the mid-year assessment schedule below.
Our IB Learner Profile Attribute for December is REFLECTVE.
We will thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experiences. We will work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development. We will ask students how this connects to their exam preparations and encourage them to embrace this trait as we move into 2023.
A reminder that, due to hurricane days, Mondays in 2022 will be full school days (dismissal at 3:25 every day). Also, Monday, 1/9, is now a school day (full day and last day of semester 1). Early release Mondays will resume on Monday, 1/23/23.
Please take a few moments to read through each section of this newsletter. Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Heather Holloway
Principal/IB Head of School
Visit Walker's Website Regulary & Follow Us on Twitter!!
Follow us on Twitter: @WalkerMiddleIB
Upcoming Assessment Schedule
12/7 - ELA FAST
12/12 - Math FAST
12/15 - PE Exam
12/16 - Science Exam
12/19 - World History Exam
12/20 - World Language Exam
7th Grade Assessments
12/8 - ELA FAST
12/13 - 7th Grade Math FAST (except Algebra students)
12/14 - Algebra Exam
12/15 - PE Exam & CAB Exam
12/16 - Science Exam
12/19 - Civics or Early US History Exam
12/20 - Spanish or French Exam
12/21 - Elective Exam
8th Grade Assessments
12/9 - ELA FAST
12/14 - 8th Grade Math FAST, Algebra Exam or Geometry Exam
12/15 - PE Exam
12/16 - Science or IPS Exam
12/19 - US History or Civics Exam
12/20 - Spanish or French Exam
12/21 - Elective Exam
Make Up Testing - All Grade Levels
12/22 & 12/23
Important Upcoming Events
12/2 - PTSA $1 Jeans Day
12/2 - Band Disney Trip
12/5 - Raise the Flag Monday - Wear Bucs Shirt
12/5 - Virtual NJHS Mtg, 3:30-4:30 pm
12/6 - Lock Down Drill, 1:45 pm
12/6 - Girls Who Code Club, 3:30-4:30 pm
12/7 - Track Cluster Meet @ Sickles, 6 pm
12/8 - Robotics Club, 3:30-5:30 pm
12/8 - Orchestra Concert @ Sickles, 6:30 pm
12/9 - AVID College T-shirt Day - All may wear a college tee.
12/9 - Walker Campus Clean Up, 3:30-4:30 pm
12/12 - IB a World Traveler Mtg, 3:30-4:30 pm
12/13 - First Tee Field Trip Rescheduled
12/13 - ESE Drama Field Trip to Steinbrenner
12/14 - County Track Meet @ Middleton
12/14 - USF Women's Basketball Field Trip
12/14 - Run Club, 3:30-5:00 pm
12/14 - FBLA General Meeting, 3:30-4:30 pm
12/15 - Winterfest Family Night, 5:30-7:00 pm
12/16 - $1 Winter Festive Dress Day
12/16 - Raise the Flag Friday - Wear Bucs Shirt
12/19 - School Advisory Council Mtg, 7:45 am
12/19 - Virtual NJHS Mtg, 3:30-4:30 pm
12/21 - Run Club, 3:30-5:00 pm
12/21 - Girls Who Code Club, 3:30-4:30 pm
12/22 - ESE Winter Feast
12/22 - Robotics Club, 3:30-5:30 pm
12/23 - Relay for Life $1 Jeans/Purple Day
Winter Fest 2022 - PTSA Family Fun Night & Elective Showcase - Dec 15th
Join us for our 2nd Annual PTSA Family Fun Night & Elective Showcase Winter Fest! See attachment with more info below.
When: 12/15, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Where: Walker Middle Magnet
We need VOLUNTEERS! - https://bit.ly/WintefestVolunteers22
PTSA Helping Hands
PTSA Supports our Students & Staff!
Register to Volunteer!
Our PTSA coordinates all volunteer opportunities. See link below.
2nd Semester PE Students - Order Uniforms NOW!
Any students ta
District Dress Dode Policy pp. 51-52
Forms & Eligibility for Middle School Sports
The Athletic Department at Hillsborough County Public Schools now hosts their Pre-Participation Athletic Forms online at www.PlanetHS.com . This digital platform is open now and will allow you, and your student(s), to complete and access athletic forms via computer, tablet, or mobile phone. It is HIPAA, COPPA and FERPA compliant.
- You can access the middle school athletic procedural requirements and getting started guide and at: Student Forms and Eligibility
- You can view the following video on how to complete the online process: https://youtu.be/br-L5eNOmhc
Students will not be able to participate in athletic activities, including practices, until this information is submitted and approved online by school staff. Completing the required paperwork does not guarantee making the team, but does cover all sports for the entire school year. For assistance with online registration, please use the help/support feature within the program or contact Mr. Lefler @ Henry.lefler@hcps.net.
Information on SOCCER and FLAG FOOTBALL tryouts will be on Canvas soon!
School Safety & Security
- We practice our evacuation and active assailant drills monthly, and our shelter in place drills twice during the year.
- All building perimeter gates and interior/exterior doors remain closed and locked at all times. During AM arrival, open gates are monitored by a staff member.
- Security cameras were installed this summer, which allows our School Resource Officer and school staff to better monitor the safety of our campus.
- All staff wear an GPS/Automated Centegix badge that allows them to engage a lock down from any area of the school.
- We are a closed campus. This means that anyone visiting campus must sign in through the main office. Parents are not permitted to walk students to classrooms.
Report Suspicious Activity
Staff Vacancies at Walker
- Spanish Teacher - Email heather.holloway@hcps.net
- VE Teacher - Email heather.holloway@hcps.net
- Access Teacher - Email heather.holloway@hcps.net
Stay connected through Canvas!
Download the Canvas Student and Canvas Parent Apps on your phone!
Download Canvas Student iPhone
Download Canvas Student Android
Download Canvas Parent Android
Also, See SIMPLIFIED Canvas Log In & Password attachment below. Use CHROME or EDGE when logging in to Canvas.
Log in to Canvas here: https://hcpscanvasproject.azurewebsites.net/
Canvas Support:
Administration, School Counselors & ESE Support
Assistant Principals
Student Last Name A-Li - sarah.caldwell@hcps.net
Student Last Name Lo-Z - henry.lefler@hcps.net
School Counselors
Student Last Name A-Go - amanda.edlfalquez@hcps.net
Student Last Name Gu-Patel - monica.ode@hcps.net
Student Last Name Patt-Z - lauren.sabourin@hcps.net
ESE Specialist - jeannine.stevens@hcps.net
School Hours & Bell Schedule
- Each day, school begins at 8:30 and dismisses at 3:25.
- Students should arrive on campus no later than 8:25.
- Walker's bell schedule is attached.
- Office Hours are 7:30-4:00
Car Line Procedures
Watch AM Drop Off Video: https://youtu.be/9C6SFfDI1xw (all grades dropped off in front circle)
PM Pick Up :
- Year 1(6th Gr) - Picked up on bus ramp
- Year 2/3 (7th/8th gr) - picked up in front circle.
Please see the attachments below for important details on our car line. Safety is our top priority in the car line.
Request for Your Student to Walk/Bike Home from School
- Only students who are within walking distance of the school will be allowed to walk home from Walker's campus.
- Address will be verified and mapped.
- Students who walk home from school will be provided with a lanyard that allows them to leave campus on foot or bicycle. This will be delivered to their homeroom class.
- Submit one form per child.
- Students should pay attention to surroundings (not on electronic devices) while walking or biking.
- Please note that there are no crosswalks, crossing guards or supervision in the roadways near Walker.
Submit request for your student to walk/bike home from Walker Middle School HERE.
Transportation
Looking for a Carpool? Click HERE
Need before or after care for your child?
AM: 6:15-7:50 AM
PM: 3:25-6:00 PM
Need to Change Your Address?
Walker is a "NO CELL PHONE ZONE"
Does Your Student Have Special Medical Needs?
When do I eat lunch?
Year 1/6th Grade - 4th Period
Year 2/7th Grade - 5th Period
Year 3/8th Grade - 6th Period
All students will have an assigned seat in the lunchroom. Electronics are not permitted in the cafeteria. All electronics should be off and in your back pack when you arrive on campus.
School Lunches No Longer Free!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL MEALS!
- All students will receive free breakfast this year in our school cafeteria.
- New this year, student lunches will now cost $2.75 unless you qualify for free or reduced lunch.
- Please, even if you don't think you will qualify, complete the free/reduced lunch application at THIS LINK.
- If you need to add money to your student's lunch account CLICK HERE.
What information you will need to provide during the free/reduced lunch application process:
- Walker is not a CEP (Community Eligibility Provision School)
- The names and incomes of every member of your household
- The school, grade, birthdate of every student in your household
- Your social security number and electronic signature
- A valid email address and phone number for district communication about the status of the application.
Covid-19 Student & Staff Protocols
Our Student Body
Year 2/7th Grade - 321
Year 3/8th Grade - 329
Where is Walker taking our IB Learners? Our Vision & Mission...
Mission: Equipping internationally-minded students through rigorous, service-based learning in an atmosphere of creativity, inquiry and fun.
Walker's Instructional Priorities
School-wide Themes: Literacy and AVID strategies, as well as IB philosophies, will be embedded into all content area instruction.
Differentiation Based on Knowledge of Students: Creative practices, teacher-led small group structures and knowledge of students’ social/emotional and academic strengths, needs and progress will serve as a catalyst for individualizing teaching and learning.
Howling Out More Info Below
Contact Us & Follow Us on Twitter
Website: https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/Page/443
Location: 8282 North Mobley Road, Odessa, FL, USA
Phone: (813) 631-4726
Twitter: @WalkerMiddleIB