Tiger talk O N E L E AR N I N G L AN E — F R E D E RI C K S B U R G, V I R GIN A 2 2 4 0 1 P H O N E: 5 4 0 - 3 7 2 - 1 1 4 5 F AX 5 4 0 - 8 9 1 - 5 4 4 9 W W W .CI TYS C H O O LS . COM / W AL K E R G R AN TM I D D LE S C H OO L

Principal’s Letter Dear Families: Here’s to wishing you a happy and warm MAY from the WGMS faculty, staff, and administration. May is upon us, which means that we are in the finals days of our last nine weeks of school and our SOL tests are right around the corner. This is an extremely important time of year for us, as teachers are completing their instructional lessons and planning reviews for the tests. Students have completed the final benchmark tests for the year. Tests were administered in Math, Science, English (Reading/Writing), and Social Studies. Our teachers and administration use the results to focus on areas of academic need as we prepare for the SOL tests, which begin on May 15. Please continue to encourage your child and monitor his/her attendance, home-work, grades, and behavior. All of these important elements will improve academic knowledge and success. Our faculty members have been reviewing their instructional data and what they need to do to ensure student success. The administration and teachers held academic progress monitoring and data meetings to better inform staff of additional supports needed for student success. The instructional faculty is confi-dent that they can offer students support to do their very best on the upcoming SOL tests and final exams. The SOL tests are very significant to us because they provide a snapshot of Walker-Grant Middle School for the state and the public to see. Please support us in emphasizing to students that they need to take these tests seriously and give their best effort on all test. We know that Spring is a time of renewal. Our students need to renew themselves with a determination that they will give their best effort for the remainder of the school year. Our staff has

tions that spring and end of year activities bring; however, I am sure if we all work together, we will be successful in the end. Planning and preparation are underway for 8th Grade Gradua-tion, the SOL Pep Rally, the Sports Banquet, Service Day, and several other end of year events. Please see our calendar for spe-cific dates. Our school staff is also planning for Summer School and we have put into place several strategies to better serve all of our children this year. Please look for continued updates and summer school notifications. We are very proud of the accomplishments of the Choral and Orchestra Departments for their superior ratings at District Assessment, and our Odyssey of the Mind teams for their suc-cess in competition. Our school takes pride and puts forth great effort to recognize our student accomplishments on all levels. We recently held a reading rewards basketball celebration to recognize those students who made significant reading process. Last but certainly not least, I want to thank the PTA, Parent Advisory Board, and all of our parents who have been so gener-ous with your treats, meals, and volunteer work! You are

Tigerriffic! Please be sure to contact us with any suggestions, questions or concerns you may have. Sincerely,

Walker-Grant Middle School

504 ACCOMODATIONS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION If your child has any type of learning or physical problem, he/she may qualify for accommodations under 504 or special education services. Please call the Walker-Grant Counseling Office at 372-1145 if you have any questions or would like to refer your child for screening and possible assessment. No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of his/her handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits, of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: The Rights of Individuals with Handicaps Under Federal Law.

IN THE MATTER OF NONRESIDENT STUDENT ENROLLMENT The Fredericksburg City Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability in admission or treatment of employment in its programs or activities. Any questions should be referred to Pam Steinkoenig, 200 Gunnery Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 or by calling (540) 371-1127.

SEX OFFENDER STATEMENT The Fredericksburg City Public School Division recognizes the danger sex offenders pose to student safety. Therefore, to protect students while they

Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8 8th Grade Science Final

Friday, May 15 World Geography

Monday, May 18 Civics

Tuesday, May 19 Reading 6

Wednesday, May 20 Reading 8

Thursday, May 21 Reading 7

Friday, May 22 Algebra & Geometry, World Geography Re-Takes

Tuesday, May 26 Re-Takes & Make-Ups

Wednesday, May 27 Math 7 & Math 6 Enriched (Math 7 Test)

Thursday, May 28 Math 8, Math 7 Enriched, Cortez Math 6 Enriched (Math 8 Test)

Friday, May 29 Math 6

Monday, June 1 Re-Takes & Make-Ups

Tuesday, June 2 Re-Takes & Make-Ups

Wednesday, June 3 Science 8

Thursday, June 4 U.S. History Alternative Test, 6th & 7th Grade Science Final

Friday, June 5 Foreign Language Exams

Monday, June 8 Keyboarding Final (A Day Class)

Tuesday, June 9 Keyboarding Final (B Day Class)

SPRING TESTING SCHEDULE (revised 2/19/15)

Congratulations to

WGMS Teacher of the Year

Mr. Kenneth White

PROMOTION/RETENTION

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PTA AND PRINCIPAL’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The WGMS administration and staff would like to thank the members of the PTA and the Principal’s Advisory Committee for their support throughout the school year.

PTA Officers and Committee Chairs

President - Jennifer Kabza Vice President - Chrissy Conway

Secretary - Chris McBride Treasurer - Charlie Rowe

Teacher Appreciation - Kristin Snead, Michele Kreisman Supply Store - Ann Bernardi Spirit Wear - Damian Cobey

Principal’s Advisory Committee

WARD 1 – Gregory Washington

WARD 2 – Terresa Buelow

WARD 3 – Frank Lovos

WARD 4 – Michael Swain

TAKING HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT COURSES

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Your child is currently enrolled in one or more of the credit-bearing high school courses listed below. Grades

received for credit-bearing courses will become a part of your child’s high school transcript and will be factored

into his or her cumulative grade point average. If your child receives a grade that you deem unfavorable, the

grade may be excluded from the high school transcript at your request, and no credit will be awarded. This re-

quest must be submitted in writing to the principal at Walker-Grant Middle School by July 1, 2014.

French I Geometry

Latin I Algebra I

Spanish I World Geography

Keyboarding

Please return the signed portion of this letter below acknowledging receipt of this grade omission policy for the

2013-2014 school year.

Thank you for your attention to this important aspect of your child’s education.

Sincerely,

Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt

Principal

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Walker-Grant Middle School Middle School Grade Omission Policy

I have read and understand that my student, _____________________ (print student’s name), is enrolled in one

or more high school credit courses. I understand that grades received for credit-bearing courses will become a

part of my child’s high school transcript and will be factored into his or her cumulative grade point average. If

my child receives a grade that I deem unfavorable, the grade may be excluded from the high school transcript at

my request, and no credit will be awarded. This request must be submitted in writing to the principal at Walker-

Grant Middle School by July 1, 2014.

___________________________________ _______________

Parent/Guardian Signature Date

Summer School will be held June 22 through July 21. Failure to

attend if required will result in retention. Students required to

attend will be notified in advance.

PROMOTION/RETENTION

A student will be promoted to the next grade level upon

passing a minimum of three of four core subjects

(Reading, Science, Math, and Social Studies). Promotion

is also contingent on an acceptable attendance record for

the year (no more than 16 absences). At the conclusion of

the first semester, a committee of grade level teachers, a

counselor, and an administrator, will make recommenda-

tions to the principal for students who are at risk for

retention.

Timely notification will be provided to the parents/

guardians of students for whom retention is recommended.

If parents/guardians wish to appeal the decision to retain, a

retention meeting will be scheduled with the counselors

and teachers by the school administration. The guiding

principle of any decision made relative to promotion will

always be the welfare of the student, and each decision

will be made on an individual basis.

Save the Date Eighth Grade Graduation News

Eighth grade graduation will be Thursday, June 11, starting at 9:00 A.M.

Graduates must have on proper attire or they will not be allowed to participate in grad-

uation. Anyone arriving after graduation starts will have to watch from the cafeteria

via a live video feed.

Boys are required to wear black or navy blue dress pants, white shirt, and black tie. No

tennis shoes, boots, or flip flops are allowed.

Girls are required to wear a black and/or white dress, black skirt, or black slacks and a

white collared shirt.

Each graduate will receive 4 tickets. Tickets will be distributed to students on Monday,

June 8.

Questions or concerns should be addressed to Mr. Eddie Haynes.

SUMMER SCHOOL

JMHS Cheerleading tryouts are May 11 through 14 from 3:00-5:30pm at JMHS. You must have a current VHSL physical on file before trying out. An interest

meeting will be held on Thursday, May 7, at 3:00pm in the JMHS Lecture Hall. Please see Coach Silver for questions. The JMHS Girls’ and Boys’ Cross country teams’ organizational meeting will be held on Monday, May 11, at 3:00pm or 6:00pm in JMHS room 215. Parents of potential runners may attend either meeting.

JM SPORTS INFORMATION FOR RISING NINTH GRADERS

Congratulations to the following students who received honors on the Latin Exam: Summa Cum Laude Gold—Gina Elkin; Maxima Cum Laude Silver-Lila Cobey and Will Rowe; Magna Cum Laude—Keva Kerr, Bronson Mcleod, April Kim, Adonys Knox, and Jordan Ridderhof; and Cum Laude—Will Bowles and Aine Concepcion. WGMS was represented at the UMW Stem Summit by student ambassadors Rocky Callahan, Saif Mubashar, and Ayham Shailch.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

DATE SPORT OPPONENT LOCATION AND TIME

May 2 Track Rappahannock Relays JMHS, 9:00 A.M.

May 4 Baseball/Softball Locust Grove Middle School Away, 4:00 P.M.

May 5 Boys’ Lacrosse

Girls’ Lacrosse

Culpeper

Stafford Lacrosse Club

Home, 4:45 P.M.

Home, 5:30 P.M.

May 6 Baseball/Softball

Girls’ Lacrosse

Colonial Beach Middle School

Stafford Lacrosse Club

Away, 4:30 P.M.

Home, 5:30 P.M.

May 7 Boys’ Lacrosse Stafford Lacrosse Club Home, 5:30 P.M.

May 12 Girls’ Lacrosse Spotsy Lacrosse Club Home, 4:45 P.M.

May 14 Boys’ Lacrosse

Girls’ Lacrosse

Epiphany

Epiphany

Away, 4:30 P.M.

Away, 4:30 P.M.

May 19 Boys’ Lacrosse Culpeper Away, 4:45 P.M.

Tiger Calendar for May

Monday, May 4 - Spirit Week: Hat Day - Baseball/Softball Games at Locust Grove, 4:00 PM Tuesday, May 5 - Spirit Week: Sport Jersey/Shirt Day - Boys’ Lacrosse Home Game vs. Culpeper, 4:45 PM - Girls’ Lacrosse Home Game vs. Stafford Lacrosse, 5:30 PM Wednesday, May 6 - Spirit Week: Mix/Match Day - Advanced English 7 Field Trip - Baseball/Softball Games at Colonial Beach, 4:30 PM -Girls’ Lacrosse Home Game vs. Stafford Lacrosse, 5:30 PM Thursday, May 7 - 8th Grade Science Final - Spirit Week: Book Character Day (school-appropriate) - Boys’ Lacrosse Home Game vs. Stafford Lacrosse, 5:30 PM Friday, May 8 - EARLY DISMISSAL - 8th Grade Science Final (day 2) - SOL Pep Rally Monday, May 11 - School Board Meeting at JMHS Lecture Hall, 7:30 PM Tuesday, May 12 - Girls’ Lacrosse Home Game vs. Spotsy Lacrosse Club, 4:45 PM Thursday, May 14 - Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse Games at Epiphany, 4:30 PM - Sports Awards Reception, 6:00 PM Friday, May 15 - Interims - SOL Testing: World Geography Monday, May 18 - SOL Testing: Civics - Spring Choir Concert at JMHS, 7:00 PM Tuesday, May 19 - SOL Testing: Reading 6 - Boys’ Lacrosse Game at Culpeper, 4:45 PM - Spring Band Concert at JMHS, 7:00 PM Wednesday, May 20– SOL Testing: Reading 8 - Spring Orchestra Concert at JMHS, 7:00 PM Thursday, May 21 - SOL Testing: Reading 7 Friday, May 22 - SOL Testing: Algebra & Geometry, World Geography Re-takes Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day Holiday / NO SCHOOL Tuesday, May 26 - SOL Testing: Re-takes and Make-ups - PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM Wednesday, May 27– SOL Testing: Math 7 & Math 6 Enriched Thursday, May 28 - SOL Testing: Math 8, Math 7 Enriched, Cortez Math 6 Enriched Friday, May 29 - SOL Testing: Math 6 - SCA After-school Dance Saturday, May 30 - Music Department Trip to Busch Gardens