The Eye of the Tiger
Updates for the week of 3/8/2021
Welcome
Hi Tigers and Tiger Families! This week is a white week so we begin with B days and end with A days. Originally, our school calendar showed that 3/12 would be a half-day; however, it is now a regular dismissal day. Spring Break begins Monday, March 15th, and we return to school on Monday, March 22nd.
Hybrid students in Zones A & B will be photographed on Tuesday March 30th during the school day.
Hybrid Students in Zones C & D will be photographed on Thursday April 1st during the school day.
All students who are 100% Distance Learners will have the opportunity to make an appointment to come in between 1:30- 4:30 on Tuesday March 30th or Thursday April 1st to be photographed.
To schedule an appointment, call the school at 540-372-1145, during school hours beginning Monday, March 8th, 2021.
If you wish to order pictures, see the flyer on our website, Facebook page, or Twitter Page for more information about ordering. Our Picture Day ID is: EVTRHS8J8
Even if you are not planning to buy pictures, send your child to get their picture taken to ensure they appear in this year's yearbook.
*** In cooperation with WGMS, Lifetouch will be providing a socially distant and safe picture taking experience. If you would like more information about Lifetouch’s New Safety Protocols, visit their website at www.lifetouch.com/newpicturedayexperience
Course Selection for 2021-2022
Beginning Tuesday during TSA time, 7th & 8th grade students will be introduced to the online career readiness program Major Clarity. Major Clarity helps students begin exploring career paths based on their academic accomplishments and feedback they provide through short assessments. It is different from other programs you may find online because it is connected to Powerschool, so it can use the courses students successfully completed during middle and high school to give more accurate career paths. Students will find up-to-date information on all levels of college, military and some apprenticeships including where the jobs are, how much income to expect and what classes a student may want to choose in high school or post high school to put themselves in the best position to achieve their career goals.
Students and parents can access Major Clarity by visiting the School Counseling Department webpage located by selecting the three bars in the upper right hand corner of our school’s webpage.
IB Open House Information Session
There will be an IB Middle Years Programme Open House Session on March 11, 2021 from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom. We will discuss the Middle Years and Diploma Programme to assist parents and students in making scheduling choices for next year.
Topic: IB Information Session
Time: Mar 11, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://cityschools-com.zoom.us/j/86913881433?pwd=dnpNa1RyZzBoSStKdEVsYXFucEtvZz09
8TH Grade Writing SOL
Beginning on March 22, 2021 students at Walker-Grant Middle school will start taking the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments (SOLs). During these testing windows, all Hybrid students will test during their assigned Zone attendance days. All virtual students and hybrid students who miss a test will need to schedule an appointment for testing make-up. All students must bring their school assigned laptop, charged and ready for testing, the morning of the test. All electronic devices to include tablets, phones, and smart watches will be turned off and placed in students’ backpacks.
8th Grade Writing: March 22-26, 2021
Zone A&B March 22 & 23
Zone C&D March 25 &26
Published test dates and times are subject to change. To verify testing information, please contact Shamus Gordon; sgordon@cityschools.com; (540) 372-1145Instruction: The True Eye of the Tiger
As testing season approaches, strengthening metacognitive skills is a great way to help students prepare to take their SOL and End of Course tests. We introduced our 6 metacognitive skills: visualizing, making connections, asking questions, making inferences, determining importance, and synthesizing. Last week we focused on visualizing; be sure to click the link to preview the information. This week, we share strategies to help students make connections. Good readers make connections to improve comprehension.
Ways to Make Connections:
Text-to-Self (Strong readers make connections between text and their own lives and experiences.)
- What does this story remind you of?
- Have you ever experienced anything like this?
- Are you similar to any of the characters in this story?
- If you were the character, how would you have responded?
- What have you learned that is similar to this?
Text-to-Text (Strong readers make connections between text they're currently reading and text they've previously read.)
- What does this remind you of in another book you've read?
- Compare this text to another book you've read. Create a list of similarities and differences.
- How is this book different from other texts you have read?
- What genre does this book belong to? What other books have you read in this genre?
Text-to-World (Strong readers make connections between things occurring in the world and texts they are reading.)
- What does this text remind you of that is going on in the world now?
- How are the events in the story similar to things happening in the world now?
- How are the events in this story different from things happening in the world now?
- Does what you're reading connect to any other times in history?
Making Connections with your student:
Share stories from your own childhood. Have your student make connections between his or her own experiences to yours. You can practice sharing memories from each grade. Compare your personalities, the content of your story, and what was going on in the world at the time of your memory. This is a great way to get to know each other better while also practicing Making Connections.
Resilence: A Message from Mr. West on Stress Management
Computer Maintenance Tips
Please check out the attached Student Tech Tips below for some common tech help questions.
Student Tech Tip Topics include:
- Wifi not connecting in the building
- Teams not loading (calendar, chats, etc) or working inefficiently
- Downloading Teams as a desktop app
- Browser issues: downloading/submitting in Canvas
- Computer speed and processing speed
- Mouse/track pad issues
- Frozen screen/inability to close out of programs
Department Spotlight: MUSIC
Ms. Fowler - Chorus
What inspired you to become a music teacher?
I have always loved music as a form of expression when words or actions fell short. In addition, I come from a family of musicians with exceptional talent, so this was the only career choice that made COMPLETE sense!
Why is chorus beneficial to students? Why should they be interested in your class?
Chorus is beneficial to students because it aids many different areas of their lives. First, it is an outlet for them to build collaborative skills, lifelong friendships, and music in general is one of the few subjects/life skills that enhances student's lateralization (use of both hemispheres of the brain)! Students should have interest in music because it is a specialized skill that can be utilized in many different facets (song writing, song production, leisure activities, and professional performances). With that, in my class, we focus on musical literacy and practical skills that give young musicians the ability to perfect their talents and pursue their futures as musicians!
One fun fact about you?
I used to live in Alaska!
Ms. Gould - Orchestra
My entire life is a series of events that pointed me towards teaching music, and it would be really time consuming to walk you through all of it (haha). I think there were a few defining moments for me, though. I can remember playing cello in a youth orchestra when I was in 7th or 8th grade and for just a moment detaching myself from the sheet music on the stand and just experiencing the sound. We were playing Pirates of the Caribbean, and I’d never felt so alive. I’ve gotten to enjoy those little almost spiritual moments several times since then, and I just knew when I was approaching the end of my senior year of high school that orchestra was something I never wanted to live without, so I chose a path where I wouldn’t have to. I chose to teach rather than perform because it was my own music teachers that helped me discover my passion, and I wanted to be able to share that with students of my own.
Music education is beneficial to students in so many ways. Studies have shown that students who are enrolled in music classes perform better in their academic classes. They also help build many of the same skills as team sports – teamwork, self-efficacy, accountability, work ethic, goal setting, etc. Learning to play an instrument develops fine motor skills, learning to read music has intellectual benefits, and learning to play and collaborate with an ensemble creates well-rounded citizens. It’s also a fantastic outlet for many students, which helps them develop social-emotional skills. Not to mention – it’s fun! We play music, we go on trips, we use all sorts of different games to learn, we perform concerts for families and communities. It’s an opportunity that anyone can enjoy, and your ensemble becomes your second family.
One fun fact about you?
play more instruments than I can count, but I spend most of my time on cello, piano, violin, ukulele, bass guitar, viola, double bass, and acoustic/electric guitar. I’ve got a little home studio where I write and record my own original music. I’m trying to get Spotify to notice me, that’s a work in progress.
Ms. Ortiz - Band
What inspired you to become a music teacher?
Prior to middle school, I was not doing my best in school. I was getting into trouble and not focusing on my grades. My parents decided to move us so that both my sister and I had a better opportunity to do well in school. That happened to be my 6th grade year. I joined the beginner band (playing the flute) and that was what determined the rest of the story. I started band and I never stopped. I also had a female band director during my 8th grade year and that just moved me even more to join the music teaching world.
Why is band beneficial to students? Why should they be interested in your class?
Band (a performing art) is just not vital to the music world in itself, but also provides a foundation for learning other subject areas as well. There have been numerous studies on how being in band improves your ability in not just band, but in core content area as well. Band allows you the opportunity to join a "family." We don't just play instruments, we also compete at different assessments. We have competed at Busch Gardens and Hershey Park. We have won numerous awards for our performances.
One fun fact about you?
I had job prospects in London. I really wanted to pursue a band position there.
A Tiger Tidbit
Domestic cats share about 95% of their DNA with tigers; almost 11 million years ago they diverged from the same family tree. So if you have a cat, this might help you make sense of his or her behavior.
Walker Grant Middle School
Website: https://wgms.fxbgschools.us/
Location: 1 Learning Lane
Phone: 540-372-1145
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalkerGrantMS