Walker Grant Announcements

Camille Irby, Ben Henderson, Tiyel Johnson, Rachel Hancock, and Summer Dunwoody recently participated in All-District Choir at King George High School.

The Math Night scheduled for March 11 has been CANCELED.

Mr. Moore’s art classes can make good use of empty cans, jugs, bottles, lids, paper spools, and newspaper. If you have items that could be recycled for use in our art classes, please send them to room 244.

The Book Fair will be open on Thursday night during the Exploratory Fair and Parent Conferences, 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted.

Students interested in trying out for Track and Field should sign up in the office. Baseball practice will be held from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M., beginning on the following dates: March 8 for 6th graders, March 9 flr 7th graders, and March 10 for 8th graders. Bring baseball gloves, cleats, sneakers, and a sweatshirt. STUDENTS MUST HAVE A CURRENT SPORTS PHYSICAL BEFORE TRYING OUT FOR ANY SPORT. Forms are available in the main office and on the “Athletics Programs” page of our website.

The following students were Reading Counts leaders for their grade level during the second nine weeks:

6th Grade – Lindsey Haberman 262 points, Kenna Garman 243 points
7th Grade – Libby Sanderson 356 points, Nicole Clayton 277, Sarah Garnett 247, Juwaan Fuller 220
8th Grade – Saiya Abdul Wadood 149 points, Jessica Uta 150, Gloria Martin 92, Joshua Rehm 64

Seventh grader Yanni Fallon was the winner of this year’s Fredericksburg City Schools’ Division Spelling Bee. Yanni will represent FCPS in the Regional Spelling Bee at James Monroe High School on Saturday, March 13.

Several events have been re-scheduled to inclement weather. Updates are as follows:

Feb. 25 (during school day) – Honors Assemblies
Feb. 25 (evening) – Family Book Fair 5:00 – 8:00 PM, Exploratory Fair & Family Life Meeting 5:00 – 6:00PM,
Parent Conferences 6:00 – 8:00 (by appointment)
March 10 – Interims
March 31 – 7th Grade Poetry Slam
Literacy Carnival Date TBA

Chick-fil-A at Central Park is hosting a joint fundraiser for the Odyssey of the Mind teams at Lafayette Upper Elementary and Walker-Grant Middle. During the weeks of February 15 – 26, please stop by for a meal and place your receipt in the Walker-Grant bucket. At the end of the two weeks, Chick-fil-A will present the winning team with a check for $1000, with the second place team receiving $500. On March 4 the administrators from both schools will be making milkshakes from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. Please plan to stop by and support our OM teams!

The Division Spelling Bee scheduled for Wednesday February 10^th has been postponed until Friday February 12^th. The Spelling bee will take place at Walker-Grant Middle School at 8:30 AM.

Off-season baseball conditioning has been cancelled for Saturday, 2/6.

The Book Fair will run February 12 – 19, with after-school hours on Tuesday, February 16.

Yearbooks are being pre-sold through March 1 and may be purchased online at www.yearbookforever.com/walkergrantmiddletigers/schoolstore. Order forms are also available in the main office.

Please plan to join us on Thursday, February 25, for three evening events:

The Walker-Grant Counseling Department and exploratory teachers are hosting an exploratory fair for all current 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students from 5:00 – 6:00 PM. Parents and students will have a chance to take an in-depth look at what each exploratory has to offer and the activities involved. This will enable them to better select exploratory classes for the upcoming school year during pre-registration.

Physical Education teacher Mr. Eddie Haynes will conduct a Family Life Information Session for interested parents. Parents may view the curriculum and materials used during Family Life classes, which begin in March.

Parent Conferences will be held in the gym from 6:00 – 8:00 PM by appointment. Appointments scheduled for the snowed-out February 9 conference night will be honored. New appointments and changes will be scheduled by Mrs. Courtney McWhirt, Guidance Secretary. Mrs. McWhirt may be reached at 540-372-1145, ext. 2206.

Congratulations to the following winners of the grade level Spelling Bees:
6th Grade – Kenna Garman (winner), Samuel Lucas (runner-up)
7th Grade – Yanni Fallon (winner), Flo Medina (runner-up)
8th Grade – Josh Rehm (winner), Katelyn Snyder (runner-up)
These six students have qualified to the Division Spelling Bee on February 10.

Original artwork by 8th grader Sandra Sabino Irizarry was chosen for use on this year’s Fredericksburg City Public Schools’ holiday card. Sandra will be recognized for this accomplishment at the January School Board meeting.

The Holiday Shopping Spree scheduled for Monday, December 14, has been cancelled.

The WGMS Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society donted a tree to the Hope House Festival of Trees at the Expo Center. NJHS members decoupaged glass ornaments and attached a quote representing one of the five pillars of the NJHS. Additionally, members donated $5 gift cards to Walmart or Target. The tree holds $100 worh of card sto each store!

Walker-Grant will host a Holiday Shopping Spree in our main foyer from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Monday, December 14, prior to our Winter Concert. Items sold will include jewelry, candies, Attractions discount books, Walker-Grant shirts, and “Re-Gift” bargains. The Winter Concert will feature the W-G String Orchestra, Band, and Chorus. Both events are free and open to the public.

The Builders Club is looking for energetic students to join their membership. Builders Club is a community service organization sponsored by Kiwanis International. They participate in school and community projects and are responsible for the recycling program at WGMS. The club meets on Tuesday afternoons. Interested students should pick up a permission form from the front office.

The SCA is hosting Spirit Night at Golden Skateworld on Thursday, November 19, from 6:30 – 8:30 P.M. The $4 admission covers skate rental, open skating, and open gym. Golden Skateworld is located at 12220 Five Mile Rd.

The Fredericksburg City Public Schools will a host vaccination clinic for the H1N1 (SWINE) FLU on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 At Lafayette Upper Elementary School, 3 Learning Lane, Fredericksburg VA 22401

Important Clinic Information
The clinic will begin at 5:30 PM and families should not arrive at the school before 4:30 PM.
There is no cost.

Luke Payne and Marija Petkovic were chosen for the North Central Virginia Regional Honors Orchestra by audition. The 80-piece ensemble, which includes students from Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Prince William, Loudoun, and Fauquier, will perform at James Monroe High School on November 7 at 4:00 PM.

The band performance scheduled for Thursday, October 22, has been cancelled.

The field hockey game for 10/16 has been cancelled.

Yearbook orders are now being taken.  Order forms are available in the main office, or you may order online at www.yearbookforever.com/walkergrantmiddletigers/schoolstore.

Field Hockey practice is cancelled today (10/15).  Come prepared to play tomorrow (weather permitting).  The football game against Culpeper is cancelled today (10/15).

Students interested in participating in the Odyssey of the Mind program may pick up a form in the main office.  All forms are due by October 2.  There will be an informational meeting at Lafayette Upper Elementary School on October 6 at 6:30 PM

Back to School Night will be held on Tuesday, September 29, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.  Student schedules will be available at 6:15.  Parents will follow an abbreviated version of their child’s class schedule to get an overview of the classes.

Pre-sales for yearbooks will be taken at Back to School Night on September 29.  Yearbooks are $25 and will be delivered in the spring.

Orientation will be held on Tuesday, September 1.  To better accommodate all parents and students, orientation will follow an open house format.  Please come by at your convenience between 4 and 7 P.M.  Student schedules, locker assignments, and bus information will be available.  The following fees may also be paid during orientation:  gym uniform purchase ($15), gym locker rental ($1), and payment to cafeteria accounts. The PTA will have Walker-Grant t’shirts and hoodies for sale.

The Spotsylvania Emergi-Center is offering $25 sports physicals on Tuesdays and Thursdays at their Bragg Road location (next to Spotsylvania Town Centre).  Walk-ins are welcome.  For information, please call the Emergi-Center at 786-7637.

Girls’ basketball tryouts will begin after school starts.  Interested students should listen to the morning announcements for sign-up information.

Summer reading lists are available on the web.  Choose “Programs and Events” on our homepage, and look for the link to the summer reading lists on the left side bar.  Students should read three books over the summer, with at least one being from the list.  A book summary form should be completed for each book read.  Book summary forms are due to homeroom teachers by September 16.

Yearbooks are still available and may be purchased for $25 in the main office.

Field hockey practice will begin on August 24 from 8:00 – 10:00 A.M.  Students must have transportation to and from practice and a current sports physical on file.

Football tryouts will begin on August 26 from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M.  Interested students will need transportation to/from practice and must have a current athletic physical on file.  Physical forms are available in our school office or may be printed from the Athletic Programs homepage.

The Sports Awards Reception will be held on Friday, May 15, at 6:30 P.M.  All W-G student athletes and their parents are invited to attend.

For the second time this year, eighth grader Anna Cobey earned a perfect score in the WordMasters Challenge!

Walker-Grant can earn cash for our educational needs through Giant Food’s A+ Bonus Bucks program.   To assist, you need simply to register your Giant bonus card to benefit Walker-Grant Middle School using Id # 02404.  If you were registered last year, you will need to re-register in order for our school to receive credit.  Registration may be completed online at www.giantfood.com/aplus or by dialing 877-366-2668.

Walker-Grant receives money for recycled ink cartridges. If you have any used cartridges at home, please turn them in to our office for recycling. Thank you for your help!

Parents and students are invited to use our recycling bin, provided by R-Board Solid Waste Management of Fredericksburg and Stafford in support of the Builders Club recycling efforts. Paper products, plastics, glass, aluminum, steel, and tin are accepted. Look for the big green bin to the left of the school as you enter the first parking lot.

Dental services are available for eligible students. Information on the school dental program may be accessed by clicking on the link below.

School Dental Program

The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to providing quality education for all students. This commitment includes keeping parents and the public informed through the Virginia School Report Card of the progress of our schools in raising student achievement and enhancing the learning environment.