Freedom Middle School News
Week of April 19, 2021 Edition
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FOOD DISTRIBUTION UPDATE
Parent/Guardian Checklist
Hybrid Learning Checklist
Virtual Learning Checklist
Weekly Schedule for April 19 through April 23, 2021
Tuesday, April 20 - "B" Day Schedule; Art Club meets 3:00 to 4:00
Wednesday, April 21 - Connect with your teachers; Submit your attendance
Thursday, April 22 - "A" Day Schedule
Friday, April 23 - "B" Day Schedule
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
We completed our first week of expanded in-person learning successfully thanks to the collective efforts and teamwork of staff, students, and families! The excitement was contagious throughout the week. Below are a few brief announcements and highlights:
Hybrid Student Four Day a Week In-Person Instruction
Return to Learn Addendum linked here.
Our COVID-19 Dashboard is updated daily and can be viewed in the Return to Learn section on each school’s website or by clicking this link: SCPS COVID-19 Dashboard. Also, on our webpage is a link to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Dashboard. This site provides data and statistics regarding COVID-19 positivity rates and cases per 100,000 by locality, region, and state.
Standardized Testing
It is important to note that our school board requested that a letter be to the Virginia Department of Education and the Federal Department of Education requesting standardized testing be waived for this school year. However at this time, Federal and State assessment testing will be conducted this year. Specific information was sent home from your child’s school last week regarding testing details.Graduation Ceremonies for the Class of 2021
On March 23, 2021 Governor Northam updated Executive Order - 72 on preliminary guidance for safe in-person graduations and commencements. Over the past couple of weeks, our high school principals have met to review this guidance and discuss graduation options. After reviewing survey data regarding preferences in terms of an “in-person” or “individual” graduation ceremony we are pleased to offer the following options from the feedback received for students and families to select from:
In-Person Graduation
May 22, 2021
In following social distancing protocols the senior class will be divided alphabetically. The first group of seniors will graduate at 8:00 a.m. with the second group graduating at 11:00 a.m.
Should inclement weather be a factor in the morning we will move accordingly to a later time during the day. Either 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. If weather remains a factor for the entire day, we will then move our ceremonies to Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Individual Graduations
May 24 - 28, 2021
Students/Families who do not wish to participate in the in-person opportunity may select this option.
Graduates will be able to choose their preferred time.
Graduates may register through a Google Form that will be sent out from their specific high school.
Questions relating to graduation ceremonies should be directed to your child’s high school administrator or counselor.
School Board Meeting, FY2022 Budget Information & Upcoming Critical Dates:
This past Monday, April 12th, the school board held its monthly general meeting. At that meeting, we provided a number of special reports including updates on the Return to Learn Plan, Robert E. Lee renaming process and status, Food Service program, Local Career and Technical Education Plan, and Local Special Education Plan. The meeting agenda with attachments is linked here.
School Board meetings can be viewed online at https://www.regionalwebtv.com/spotsysb. Meetings are live-streamed. Recordings of each meeting may be accessed at the same link. Additionally, meetings may be viewed on cable channels: Comcast Channel 17, Cox Channel 18, and Verizon Channel 36.
On Tuesday, April 13th, the Board of Supervisors adopted their FY2022 budget. The School Board will meet on April 26th at 6:30 p.m. to hold a budget work session in preparation to adopt the school division FY2022 budget with the revenue limits that have now been set.
Please see the detailed calendar of additional dates critical to the process here: FY 2022 Approved Critical Budget Dates.
2021 Summer Institute Registration is Now Open
We are offering various learning opportunities this summer for our students to participate in. Whether for enrichment or remediation, our Summer Institute is geared toward fostering connections and skill development. Information can be found by clicking on our division web page or by simply clicking the following link:
I hope that everyone is enjoying the beautiful and cool spring weather this weekend! As always, please let us know how we can provide assistance as we close out this school year. Thanks again for your continued support and partnership.
Sincerely,
Dr. S. Scott Baker
Superintendent of Schools
National Junior Honor Society
Any current 7th and 8th grade students interested in applying for National Junior Honor Society, NJHS, please fill out the application and submit NO LATER than FRIDAY, MAY 7.
To access the application, join the Google Classroom and fill out the documents included in the Classwork tab. Criteria for membership is included with the application documents.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM CODE: ie7gs75
Please email Mrs. Clarkson (sclarkson@spotsylvania.k12.va.us) or Ms. Owen (mowen@spotsylvania.k12.va.us) with any questions.
Counseling Department News - Date Extended
Course Requests for the 2021-2022 School Year - Please review!!
Please review your child’s course requests for the 2021-2022 school year in ParentVue or StudentVue under the Course Request tab. Counselors presented the course options to students and instructed them to discuss the information with parents/guardians before making selections. Counselors then met individually with each student to review his/her course selections and teacher recommendations. All scheduling information can be found in the Counseling Google Classroom that your child has access to.
Please email your child’s counselor by Wednesday April 21st if you would like to make a change in course selections for the 2021-2022 school year. Student schedules will not be adjusted after the 2021-2022 school year begins.
Current 6th Grade Cheryl Gallello cgallell@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Current 7th Grade (A-J)Cheryl Gallello (K-Z) Paula Flamm
Current 8th Grade Paula Flamm pflamm@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
April Calendar Reminders
- April 20 - Art Club meets in person (or virtual) 3:00 to 4:00pm
- April 21 - Course Request Final Date for Changes
- April 21 - PTSA Spirit Day @ Salsarita's 11:00 to 8:00pm
- April 28 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (Virtual) 5:00 to 7:00pm
Spring SOL Testing
What to Bring Each Day
When returning to school, students should plan to bring each day:
Mask
Agenda
Fully charged school device with power cord
Water bottle (suggested)
Personal Supplies:
Small Hand Sanitizer
Bookbag (no lockers)
School Supplies
Earbuds
Mechanical Pencils and/or individual pencil sharpener
Boys Soccer Tryouts at Riverbend High School
Riverbend Boys Soccer is having a 1-day tryout on Monday, April 19th from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the stadium for any interested 8th graders to fill spots on their JV soccer team. If you are interested, you must have a completed VHSL physical, complete the required concussion training found on the Riverbend Athletics website, complete the COVID screening form on Monday and contact Coach Recore (mrecore@spotsylvania.k12.va.us) by email.
Riverbend High School Concussion Training
Lunch Code Lanyards
Parent Teacher Conferences/April 28th
As a reminder, you will join the conference using your student’s SCPS email address. If you prefer, you can join by phone. The meeting will only be available during the scheduled 15 minutes, as teachers have multiple conferences to attend.
Please watch this video to answer any questions you might have on accessing your conference.
Art Club Upcoming Meetings
Summer Enrichment 2021
Spotsylvania County is excited to offer live virtual sessions and in-person sessions for our Summer Enrichment Program for any student looking for a fun, exciting way to learn, explore and grow this summer! The Middle School Summer Enrichment Course Offerings are for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. You can go to the SCPS Summer Enrichment Website to view the information and register online. The registration deadline is April 30th, but sign up early as classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Important Message From Nurse Newton
Call: 540-548-1030 Ext. 6219
A Note from Our School Social Worker, Mrs. McCurdy
To help support our SCPS School Social Workers in April, join with us in simply downloading the Purposity app in the Apple store or Google play and following “Spotsylvania County Public Schools”. This app will be a valuable resource to our school community as needs are posted and followers can decide to help simply by making a few clicks in a matter of minutes!
Share with friends and family to do the same! There is no obligation to purchase anything! Let’s show our school social workers we support their work in our community!
As summer approaches, we will share summer camp links for parents to explore. Although we do not endorse any one particular camp, here are more weekly options for parents to review:
www.family-ymca.org/child-care/camps
www.fredericksburgsummercamps.com
Mentor Teacher of The Year
New Teacher of The Year
Staff Member of the Month
2021 Yearbook Orders
Yearbooks may now be purchased for $40.00. Use this link to purchase a yearbook. We have a limited amount of yearbooks left for this year - so place your order today! Once you click on the upload link, make sure you use the code: FreedomMS.
Thank A Teacher Annual Campaign
PTSA News
Join us for upcoming PTSA Spirit Days at the following:
Salsarita's @ Southpoint April 21 11:00 to 8:00pm
Mention you are part of the FMS family, and a portion of your sale will be donated to the PTSA. Thank you for your continued support!
Did you know that you can help support the FMS PTSA when you make purchases through Amazon Smile? Please make sure to select "Freedom Middle School PTSA, VA" from the Charitable Organization List for your future purchase(s)!
Please follow the Freedom Middle School PTSA on Facebook for information on Spirit Nights, Fundraisers, School Events, and more.
PTSA Fundraiser
Please see the attached pdf with information about The Butcher Shop, a new feature to this fundraiser.
Debate Club Schedule for April, 2021
Meetings are on Thursdays at 3:30 PM in Google Meet. If you are an interested 7th or 8th grade student you are welcome to join us Thursdays in April at 3:30 PM. The last meeting of the year will be May 6th.
Coach: Mr. Jennings cjennings@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Google Meet Code: e6xyagbypo
Learning Hub
Website: https://sites.google.com/spotsylvania.k12.va.us/fmsstaff/home
Wednesday Parent Conversations
9:00 to 9:30 World Language
9:30 to 10:00 English, History, Electives
10:00 to 10:30 Math, Science
10:30 to 11:00 SPED, ESOL, Specialists
Please email your teachers if you have any questions. Teacher emails can be accessed directly on the FMS Learning Hub found on our website.
Google Classroom
Freedom Middle School
Freedom Middle School
Home of the Tigers
#FreedomStrong
Email: ewright@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Website: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/freedom
Location: 7315 Smith Station Road, Fredericksburg, VA, USA
Phone: 540-548-1030
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Freedom-Middle-School-1552644134793827/
Twitter: @Freedom_MS_SCPS