We are Walker Mill Middle School
Parent Edition - March 13, 2023
Principal Message
Greetings Walker Mill Families!
Welcome to March! We are less than four months away from the end of school! We are committed to creating an environment of culturally responsive leaders and promoting creativity and academic excellence. Our school staff participates in the Successful Middle School Program . This program has allowed us to survey staff and identify areas of improvement. In a couple of weeks we will send the survey to staff for you to provide feedback to assist us as well. Students will receive a survey in April for their input.
Families are invited to learn about the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP), Maryland School Report Card star ratings, and Individual Student Reports
Please attend the PGCPS upcoming MCAP webinar: A Guide to Individual Student Reports on Thursday, March 16 at 6 p.m. Zoom registration is limited. The session will be live-streamed on the PGCPS YouTube channel and recorded for viewing on-demand following the event.
- Slideshow presentation
- Frequently Asked Questions: Maryland Accountability System and School Report Cards
- Webinar recording: A Guide to the Maryland School Report Card
I have scheduled the Pop -ins with the Principal for the end of the month. We will discuss our school report card there. The information for the meetings are below. Please save the date.
- Grade 6-March 20, 2023 @ 10am- htt ps://tinyurl.com/Grade6March
- Grade 7-March 20, 2023 @ 11am-, 2023 @ 11am- https://tinyurl.com/Grade7March
- Grade 8-March 21, 2023 am2023 https://tinyurl.com/Grade8March
Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation
Summer Camp and Summer Programs Booklets were mailed out last week to residents. You can also view camps and programs at the following link. Registration opens March 15, at 9am or in person at PG Parks facilities.
https://www.pgparks.com/629/Summer-Programs
Lacrosse
Kettering Largo Mitchellville Boys & Girls Club is working to establish a lacrosse program. A flyer for our upcoming clinic is attached. If you have any questions please see the link attached below.
Marlboro Boys & Girls Club is working to establish a lacrosse program. Please see the link attached below.
Finally, please remember the importance of students attending school on time daily for the entire day. If your scholar is out 10% of the time they are considered chronically absent, and 20% of the time students are considered habitually absent. The administration will be reviewing attendance bi-weekly to make sure students are not falling into either category. In addition chronic and habitual students will receive home visits to see how we can assist with improving attendance. Great Job to the 8th grade families!
Thank you for all that you do!
~Principal Cribbs
Mrs. Tiffany Johnson
Dwayne Martin
Byonka Gregory
CELEBRATE OUR MUSIC STUDENTS!
Rising 7th and 8th Graders!
AVID IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!
For Your Information
Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Academy
OBAP's Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Academy provides middle and high school youth with exposure to opportunities in aerospace through week-long summer academies.
Endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), OBAP has played a leading role in establishing ACE Academies nationwide to introduce, educate and guide diverse students towards careers in aerospace.
Now, with 38 locations including Honolulu, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, three academies in Houston, and two in Louisville, the program engages 1,100 students annually.
Free Math Tutoring
Click here to watch a video on how to schedule a 1-on-1 tutoring session!
Click here to watch a video on how to attend a Drop-In Tutoring session!
Order your Yearbook!
School Meal Information
If your student(s) are currently carrying a balance for school meals please add funds to your MySchoolBucks.com account online or by sending cash via the student or coming into the building to Ms. Joseph in the main office from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm M-F.
YES! You can make a general donation to assist all students in receiving meals.
Also, it is never too late to apply for free and reduced lunch. Meal Prices are below:
Middle and High (Grades 6 through 12)
Full Price Breakfast
- Daily $1.60
- Weekly $8.00
- Monthly $32.00
Full Price Lunch
- Daily $3.00
- Weekly $15.00
- Monthly $60.00
Eighth Grade Parent Letter
Prince George’s County Community Food Programs/ Programas de alimentos comunitarios del condado de Prince George
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SIKk4gr_FvWNWx5FXGVt1l0b-eYlq825z_n0gS7clrE/edit
If you have questions or need additional assistance please email Mr. Dials at pg_yancy.dials@pgcps.org
New Virtual Mental Health Services with Hazel Health
PGCPS, the Department of Health, and Hazel Health have partnered to bring a new virtual mental health service to all students in the district. With Hazel Health, students can meet with a licensed therapist virtually for a therapy appointment. Services are available at school and at home, and are at no cost to families.
Hazel Health services include:
Scheduled therapy appointments: Therapy can help students cope with what they’re feeling, such as behavior changes, anxiety, bullying, withdrawal, grief, peer and family relationships, depression, or stress.
Licensed therapists: Hazel Health therapists are bilingual, diverse and are experts in the needs of children and teens.
Care coordination: If your child needs additional services outside of Hazel Health services, Hazel will help connect you to local resources.
Learn more and sign up: https://my.hazel.co/pgcps
In addition, you may reach out to our school counselors or Mental Health therapists.
Nicole Bonds (last names A-J) nicole.bonds@pgcps.org
Nina Johnson (last names K-2) nina2.johnson@pgcps.org
Gabrielle Bismarck, LGPC Mental Health Therapist, pg_g.bismarck@pgcps.org
Volunteers are needed!
Volunteers include: mentors, tutors, interns, field trip chaperones, concession stand workers, gate receipt workers, athletic event helpers, etc.
School volunteers must complete fingerprints and a background check.
Undergo a fingerprint check - at least 15 business days in advance of volunteer activity
Undergo a Child Protective Services (CPS) clearance - at least 15 business days in advance of volunteer activity
Complete the required SafeSchools training modules each school year - prior to
engaging in volunteer activity.
Once you have completed fingerprint check, CPS clearance, and SafeSchools training modules, please submit all documentation to the Principal Secretary, Mr. Frederick Butler (frederick.butler@pgcps.org)
Morning Drop off - Reminders
The staff at Walker Mill is committed to ensuring that your students remain in a safe and conducive environment. With that being said, it is important that we adhere to the following procedures as students are dropped off either via the school bus or a parent/guardian:
- Car riders can be dropped off at the front of Walker Mill. Please enter via the construction side and drop off. There is to be no parking; this is a drop-off lane only.
- Please do not double park with other cars or buses; busses need to be able to drop off students and exit quickly to move to their next pick-up destination
- The drop-off lane is ONE WAY ONLY! Cars should enter the bus lane on the construction side and exit on the other end.
- Please maintain a speed of no more than 5 mph as you drive through the drop-off lane. Students are walking to school and crossing the parking lot to gain access to the outside cafeteria doors where students are to report.
- When students are disembarking from the bus, the bus will use its stop sign. DO NOT go around the stop sign, wait until all students are off of the bus to ensure student safety.
New Building
To view information about our new home please visit:
https://pgcpsblueprintschools.com/schools-2/walker-mill-middle-school/
Uniform Policy
Visit our School Store
BACKPACKS
Early Dismissal
School Hours
Parents Guide to Contacting Walker Mill
TECHNOLOGY ISSUES OR REQUEST
All PGPCS students who are new to Walker Mill should maintain the PGCPS device from thier previous school. Only return your device if you are leaving the PGCPS
TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION
We are a 1 to 1 School. Each student is assigned a PGPCS device for educational purposes
School issued laptops are the responsibility of the student to transport to and from school.
Any damage to a device, can be charged up to $250 to replace
Students should charge their device at home before coming to school.
The detailed electronic device policy is posted on our website. Please remind your students:
All cell phones and personal electronic devices (PEDs) must be powered off and put away during the school day, except when permission is given by a teacher or administrator to use for instructional purposes.
Students may not listen to music, text, make phone calls, play games, or take photos or videos at school, except under certain circumstances where permission may be granted by administration.
Parents, please do not call or text your student during the school day. If you need to speak to your student, please call the main office and we will allow your student to come to the office to take the call.
If you need assistance with your device or need a device please email jehan.williams@pgcps.org
School Nurse Corner!
School and Illness: Should Your Scholar Stay Home?
The following guidelines will help you decide whether your scholar is too sick to go to school.
Scholar Is Too Sick When:
Your Scholar is too sick to go to school if he or she has any of these signs:
- Seems very tired and needs bed rest (this is common with flu symptoms)
- Have vomiting or diarrhea
- Becomes short of breath or is wheezing
- Has a cough that disrupts normal activity
- Has distracting pain from earache, headache, sore throat, or recent injury
- Has yellow or green drainage from eye(s)
- Breaks out in a rash; not all rashes require that a child stay home from school so check with your child’s doctor
Fever
Your child should not go to school if his/her temperature is above 100.4 degrees F. He/she may return to school when he/she is feeling better.
Contagious Disease
- Your child should stay home from school if he/she has a contagious disease. A contagious disease is one that can be spread by close contact with a person or an object. Examples are chickenpox, covid19, flu, vomiting, diarrhea, colds, strep throat, and "pink eye." A disease may be contagious before the child shows signs of illness. It is very hard to prevent the spread of some germs, especially in a school classroom. Good hand washing will help prevent the spread of germs.
- If your child has a contagious disease, ask your doctor when he/she may return to school. For example, children who have active chickenpox should not return to school until all the lesions are dried and crusted. Children with strep throat should be on antibiotics for 24 hours and feel well enough to concentrate.
Remember
- School is a child's work. It is important for normal development. If your child is sick, they cannot perform their normal duties at school.
- If your child is sick for more than 3 days they need to be seen by a doctor for clearance to return. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your doctor or nurse.
Irene Campbell, Ph.D. MS, RN, Health Service Leadership Mgmt -EDU.
Irene Campbell, Ph.D. MS, RN, Health Service Leadership Mgmt -EDU.
Professional School Nurse/Case Manager/Delegating Nurse
Forms related to school health can be found here https://www.pgcps.org/health-forms/
Check out my virtual office.
Mark your calenders!
School Closed Presidents’ Day
Monday, Feb 20, 2023, 12:00 AM
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 - Parent-Teacher Conferences - 2hr delayed opening
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 - Parent-Teacher Conferences - 2hr delayed opening (11:30 a.m.) for students. Students will not be allowed entry to the building before 11:00 am
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023, 11:30 AM
PGCPS School Calendar SY 2023
New address, phone number, email or custody documents?
Please make sure your information is up to date in school max! It is especially important that staff members have accurate information in order to reach you in a timely manner. To make changes email swatts@pgcps.org
Family Portal Information
Parents, please take time to Register for SchoolMax Family Portal to see your Students Grades & Attendance. Make sure you have an email address on file!
To ensure families are able to receive SchoolMessenger emails, you will need a Family Portal Account. Directions and guide videos can be found here.
ATHLETICS INFORMATION
Students who desire to play sports must have a completed physical in order to play.
If you have questions contact Coach Fludd at kyle.fludd@pgcps.org
WMMS Phys Ed: https://sites.google.com/pgcps.org/wmmspedept/home
WMMS Athletics: https://sites.google.com/pgcps.org/walkermillathletics/home
SCHOOL COMMUNICATION TOOLS
We will use our Website, Twitter (@WalkerMillMS) and Class Dojo
- Make attendance a PRIORITY including limiting tardiness and absences
- Check SchoolMax Parent Portal regularly to stay informed of student progress
- Communicate often with your child’s teacher
TAG Center Mission and Vision
MISSION:
WMMS TAG Center mission is to create an environment that empowers students to achieve their OWN personal excellence by nurturing and supporting our students to develop a passion for becoming life-long learners.
VISION:
WMMS TAG Center’s vision is to be a model TAG Center that fosters the development of gifted students that will thrive, flourish and become creative and productive citizens. This will be done through:
Innovative and rigorous instructional practices designed to expose, challenge and stimulate high-level thinking experiences.
Differentiating instruction to meet the needs of the student
Advance technology
Personal Experiences
Community partnership
Building a student's self-esteem to nurture their social and emotional needs.
TAG COORDINATOR: Nadine Gaujean EMAIL: Nadine.Gaujean@pgcps.org
AVID Program Mission
AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. It is designed to ensure all students, especially the least served students who are in the academic middle to:
Succeed in rigorous curriculum
Complete a rigorous college preparatory path
Enter mainstream activities of the school*
Enroll in a college
Become educated and responsible participants and leaders in their communities and our society
AVID COORDINATOR: Ayasha Lyke EMAIL: Ayasha.Lyke@pgcps.org
Walker Mill Middle School
Website: https://www.pgcps.org/walkermill/
Location: 800 Karen Boulevard, Capitol Heights, MD, USA
Phone: 3018084055
Twitter: @WalkerMillMS