Hawk Highlights

HFAC Monitoring Indicators.pdf

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GVMS School Counseling Information

GVMS Counseling Team Newsletter

GVMS Counseling Team Newsletter - November 2024 by Jacquelyn Leif | This newsletter was created with Smore, an online tool for creating beautiful newsletters for educators, businesses and more

PWCS High School Specialty Programs

PWCS High School Specialty Programs - 2024-2025 by Jacquelyn Leif | This newsletter was created with Smore, an online tool for creating beautiful newsletters for educators, businesses and more

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GVMS Parent Liaison Information

GVMS Parent Liaison Corner November, 2024.pdf

GVMS Parent Liaison Corner December,2024.pdf

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VT Summer STEM

This marks the end of new information: Below information remains for reference

PWCS School Fee Payments Just Got Easier!

RYCOR - Online Payment Newsletter_Accessible _English.pdf

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Traffic Support for clubs and activities

Due to some traffic concerns in the afternoons when dismissing after school activities, we ask that you please park your vehicle in the GVMS parking lot if you arrive prior to our scheduled 5:00pm pick-up time. When it is 5:00, you may leave your parking spot and move into the pick-up line as usual.

We will be providing you with a colored pass to display in your dashboard to signal that you are a 5:00 pick-up parent. We appreciate your willingness to help us with traffic in the afternoon and hope that this ensures a smoother pick-up process for all!

This is to support those activities that conclude at 4:30 to allow a smoother flow of traffic and to keep our kiddos safe.

Student Attendance at After School Athletic Events

Parents: As a reminder or first time information for our 6th grade students and parents, please review the below information for students attending after school athletic events as spectators:

Dismissal: Spectator Students must go home their usual way at the end of the school day. To attend an after-school event, spectator students must then be dropped off by a parent or guardian for the event.

Waiting at School is not permitted: Students who are not participating in the game as athletes, must not stay on school grounds to wait for the event to begin. Please see above for process.

No Bag Policy: As a reminder, there is a no-bag policy for game attendees. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together to keep our schools safe.

Behavior Expectations: All students attending the event are expected to adhere to the PWCS Code of Behavior. Any infraction of these expectations can result in loss of school privilege of attending after school events and activities.

Student Pickup: Parents are required to pick up their child immediately following the event.

Post-Event Transportation: Students are not permitted to walk home or to any other location after the event. Pickup must be by a parent, guardian, or approved carpool.

Ticket Price is $1 for students and $3 for adults. Cash only.

Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone!

Eligibility for Athletics

Middle school interscholastic athletics follows the Virginia High School League (VHSL) eligibility rules, and in addition to the VHSL eligibility rules, the following applies to interscholastic athletics, marching band, and drill team:

To be academically eligible, a student must pass a minimum of five classes and fail no more than one class for the nine-week grading period. The student shall be declared ineligible for the next grading period when not meeting this standard. This rule applies to practice as well as game participation. Students will begin or end academic eligibility or ineligibility on the Monday following the end of the grading period workday. Transfer students must comply with this standard, and grades from the transferring school must be reviewed to determine eligibility before participation by the Athletic Coordinator. Students who become eligible may begin game participation on Monday following the end of the workday for the grading period.
Participation in middle school athletics is a privilege. Students are expected to abide by school expectations and the student Code of Behavior. Should the principal or principal’s designee determine that a student is not in compliance with school expectations or the student Code of Behavior they may at their discretion limit or suspend the right to participate or attend extracurricular activities.

GVMS Cell Phone Policy

Cell Phone-Free Education in Virginia K-12 Public Schools

Executive Order 33 directs the Virginia Department of Education to provide guidance to school boards on cell phone-free education policies and procedures. School boards will establish local cell phone-free education policies and procedures.

PWCS has been sharing information on this executive order with the community and the division's approach to meeting this guidance.

Please know, I will continue to provide updates on our Cell Phone Free education policies to ensure clarity to our GVMS community. Essentially, student phones and wireless headphones/earbuds are expected to be away for the duration of the school day.

At GVMS we have been off and away for the day for some time now. This will not be a drastic shift in policy for our students.

I have provided a letter below providing additional information on: Student Cell Phone/Wireless Device Use for 2024-25 School Year. This letter also contains links to the division guidelines and FAQ's. Please remember, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out and talk through any questions or concerns you may have with me.

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Principal BTS Letter - Wireless Device Guidelines.docx

Read Federal Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions – English

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First Offense – The student will surrender the wireless communication device, and it will be returned to the student at the end of the class period. The student will sign the Acknowledgment of Further Consequences Form. The teacher/staff member will document this offense in The Hub.

Second Offense – The student will surrender the wireless communication device, the device will be locked in the main office, and the device will be returned to the student at the end of the school day. The student will receive a second warning and the teacher/staff member will notify the parent/guardian via SchoolStatus. The parent will be informed that the next offense (third offense) will result in a disciplinary incident in The Hub and the parent will have to retrieve the device. The teacher/staff member will document this offense in The Hub.

Third Offense – The student will surrender the wireless communication device, the device will be locked in the main office, and a referral will be generated documenting the violation of the cell phone guidelines. The student will complete a Healthy Cell Phone Use Canvas Module during a lunch detention, after-school detention, restorative reflection, or Saturday school. The parent/guardian must retrieve the device from the school office and sign the Acknowledgment of Further Consequences Form.

Any disciplinary infraction that a student commits arising from the staff or school administration’s attempt to enforce the cell phone guidelines shall result in disciplinary consequences determined by the Code of Behavior and Tiers of Response.

Who is responsible for adhering to these guidelines and securing personal belongings?

It is each student’s responsibility to follow the guidelines and ensure the security of their wireless communication devices. Classes and instruction will not be interrupted to search for lost devices.

Weapons Detection System

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for all students, we are pleased to announce that we will continue utilizing our weapons detection system on day one of welcoming our students to GVMS. This advanced technology will enhance our existing security protocols and help us quickly identify potential threats, ensuring the safety of our students and staff.

The building will open to students at 7:40 AM, 30 minutes prior to the start of the school day.
We will have two entries into the building while all other doors will be locked. Those entries will be:

Door 1 (Main Entry) - Parent drop-off and walkers
Door 1 and 18 - Bus riders

Once the school day begins, all visitors and students arriving after the bell will enter through Door One and will go through the screening.

To prepare ahead of the use of the technology in your school, families are encouraged to help reduce the possibility of “false alerts” on everyday items. While none are prohibited, using these guidelines will ensure quick entry for everyone:

Select clear and plastic school supplies over covered/concealed and metallic when applicable.
Use three-ring binders with plastic spines/rings (non-metal).
Use plastic (versus metallic) BPA-free water/coffee bottles.*
Use hard plastic eyeglass cases (versus metal).
Students should pack lightly and limit the number of items in bags or other equipment.
Keep superfluous metallic items at home (game consoles, beauty products, USB drives).
Laptops and umbrellas will be passed around the technology via a staffed table.

Watch this video to learn more about entry through the system.

Further Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding this screening technology can be found on the PWCS website. If you have any questions or concerns about this new security measure or any other aspect of our school’s safety protocols, do not hesitate to contact us. Your partnership and support are vital in making our school community safe and conducive to learning.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We look forward to working together to create a safe and nurturing environment for all our students, staff, and families.

GVMS Policies

Click the image above for more information about the GVMS Cell Phone Policy, Dress Code, and the PWCS Code of Behavior

PWCS Breakfast and Lunch Information

Click the link above for information about meal prices and menus for the 24-25 school year.

GVMS Policies

Click the image above for more information about the GVMS grading policy, parent information, bus information, etc.

2024-25 Meal Applications Available Now

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Meals are available for free for eligible students in Prince William County Public Schools. In order to receive these benefits, you must apply for meal assistance every year. Applications filed last year are only good for the first few days of school. Children from households that meet Federal Income Guidelines are eligible for free meals.

Read Federal Guidelines and Frequently Asked Spanish - Spanish

The fastest way to apply for free meal benefits for your child is to apply online:

Application in English

Application in Spanish

Online applications are typically processed within 48 hours of submission.

Households receiving SNAP or TANF for their children or who have foster children may not have to fill out an application. School officials will notify those households of children who do not need to apply. If you do not receive notification by August 12th, 2024, you must contact the Food and Nutrition Department, or submit an application.

School library controls for parents now available

Our library circulation system provides the option for parents to restrict access to specific titles in circulation in our school library, if they choose that option for their child. While the school shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the student is not provided with access to such materials, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure that the student understands the restriction and does not attempt to access the materials.

If you are interested in restricting specific library titles for your student(s), please visit the “Parent Library Controls” webpage for more information.

Restriction of library materials using the “Additional User Type” is a parent's responsibility. Librarians and school administrators can provide access to the link but cannot provide support within the system.

School Library Controls for Parents

Energy Drinks

In an effort to support safe participation, PWCS does not support the use of energy drinks by students and athletes. Athletes are prohibited from the use of energy drinks for any reason, especially for the purpose of re-hydration before or after exercise. Fluid replacement drinks or drinks used to replenish body fluid after exercise are defined as drinks that replace energy and electrolytes to assist the body in recovering from exercise. Fluid replacement drinks are not classified as energy drinks. Some common examples of fluid replacement drinks are Gatorade and Powerade.

Sharing of Food and Birthdays/ Events

Sharing of Foods and Beverages PWCS REGULATION: 275-1

Schools shall discourage students from sharing their foods or beverages with one another during meal or snack times. Food allergies can result in an allergic reaction in which the student’s life is threatened. Given concerns about allergies and other restrictions in certain children’s diets, food and beverages should not be shared.

No Shared Food Items: Parents will not be permitted to bring in food items for their child to share with others during the school day. This policy helps us maintain a safe and secure environment for all students.

Individual Food Items: If you wish to bring food for your child, you may do so with the understanding that the food is solely for your child.

No Outside Food Deliveries: Delivery services such as Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc., are not permitted. Allowing these deliveries increases the number of people entering our building, which poses a safety and security risk.

Visiting for Lunch: If you would like to come to GVMS to eat with your child, please provide us with advance notice. We are happy to accommodate by reserving the conference room for your visit. Should your child wish to invite a few friends, please contact the grade level administrator and the front office ahead of time. We will coordinate with the parents of those children to receive permission in advance. Please avoid last-minute arrangements.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we strive to ensure a secure and welcoming environment for everyone at GVMS.

Transportation

PWCS Transportation Information

Questions or concerns about your bus route? Submit a request below.

Submit a request

pwcstransportation.zendesk.com

PWCS Here Comes the Bus App

Wondering where the bus is? Click the image above to register for Here Comes the Bus.

PWCS Bus Delays

Click the link above for more information about late buses in PWCS.

GVMS Traffic Patterns

Click the image above for more information about GVMS traffic patterns.

Bus Schedules

TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION

Parent Vue Information

Click the image above for more information about accessing Parent Vue.

Canvas Pairing

Click the image above for more information on how to pair with your student's Canvas page.

GVMS Student Devices

Click the image above for more information about student devices, optional insurance, and the PWCS Device Handbook.

Parents - Check your School Status Communications Settings:

Stay in the know! Check or Modify your SchoolStatus communications settings: Check your Subscription Status - text STATUS to 939393

Subscribe to School Messages - text START to 939393

Unsubscribe from School Messages - text STOP to 939393

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

GVMS Club Information will continue to be updated on the school website over the next few weeks. Click the Clubs link below and the GVMS student announcements for more information.

The activity buses for after-school clubs will begin on Monday, September 9, 2024. Activity buses run at 4:45 on Mondays and Thursdays as long as the school is in session.

GVMS CLUBS

Click on the image above for quick access to club applications and information.

GVMS Athletics

Click on the image above for quick access to athletics information.

PWCS uses the “Say Something” Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) designed specifically for students in grades 6-12 and staff to report any type of serious or potentially violent concerns of unsafe behavior or threats of harm to self or others. Say Something is a youth violence prevention program from the national nonprofit organization Sandy Hook Promise and is provided and sustained at no cost to PWCS.

“Tipsters” can send reports on anything from school threats they’ve seen or overheard to personal crises including sexual harassment, self-harm, and depression. The system enables school administrators and those in law enforcement to create effective interventions and intervene upon at-risk individuals to help prevent violence, suicide, bullying, self-harm, and other forms of threatening behavior.

All tips submitted receive an immediate response by one of the highly skilled crisis counselors at the Sandy Hook Promise National Crisis Center; this person then determines the necessary support steps. When credible tips are received that are life-threatening and require immediate attention, the crisis center will notify school-based representatives, even after hours. And, in cases of imminent threat, the crisis center will contact local 911 dispatch and involve law enforcement. Users can submit a tip by calling 1-844-5-SAYNOW or by visiting www.saysomething.net. The free app is available for download from the App Store and Google Play Store, where students can submit tips instantly.

Student Days Off

The link below provides attendance processes and information to include pre-arranged absences and PWCS regulations pertaining to student absences.

GVMS Attendance Page

24-25 Back to School Letter Attendance.pdf

A guide to student illness.pdf

A guide to student illness-Spanish.pdf

student days off flyer-Spanish.pdf