potomac middle school...potomac middle school will be hosting its high school information night for...

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January 2017 Newsletter

Potomac Middle

School "Staff, Students, and Parents Working Together as One"

3130 Panther Pride Drive, Dumfries, VA 22026

703.221.4996 Fax: 703.221.4998

Dear Potomac Parents and Guardians:

Welcome Back and Happy New Year! A New Year brings about time for us to reflect on past achievements, I

would like to commend our students and staff for the great things they have accomplished in 2016. All student

assessment data continues to show steady improvement across all content areas. We are very proud of the

accomplishments and strides our students have made, but there is still work to do. So we are looking forward to

seeing more great things as the school year progresses. With continued effective community collaboration, I

am confident that our students will achieve at even higher levels. We will be working with the students

throughout the remainder of the school year to prepare them for their upcoming assessment exams which will

provide the teachers a wealth of data on what the students need to review to ensure that they master the needed

objectives.

Mark your calendars parents, Potomac’s SOL testing will begin May 2, 2017 and run through May 24, 2017.

Make-Up Dates will be May 29-31, 2017 and retakes will occur June 5-9, 2017.

The winter sports season is off to a very successful start. Potomac continues to field some of the most

accomplished and successful sports teams in the county and the region. I appreciate all of the support I have

seen parents and community members give to our student athletes over the course of the winter. I also enjoyed

hearing band, chorus, and orchestra students in action during their winter concerts in December. The quality of the music at these events continues to be a testament to the skill and dedication of both the students and the

teachers in the Potomac Middle School music program. In recognition of the many accomplishments of our

students, I am pleased to announce that several of our young musicians have been selected to participate in All County and /or District Band, Chorus, and Orchestra.

Parents and Guardians as we begin the second half of the school year, I am requesting your continued support of our school and School Division’s policy as it pertains, to dress code, code of expected behaviors, and

completion of assignments. Many of our students follow through on the expectations, but there are still a few

students who need the helpful reminders here at school and if you can reinforce those expectations at home this would be greatly appreciated.

Potomac’s annual Martin Luther King Oratorical Contest was held in December. Congratulations to Titilayo

Fagbenro, an 8th grader who will be representing Potomac Middle School in the Martin Luther King Oratorical Contest. We wish Titilayo nothing but the best in this year’s competition.

Season III tryouts for boys’ basketball and wrestling will be held on January 25, 26, and 27, 2017. All

students trying out need to have a PWCS sports physical on file before they can participate.

Sincerely,

Mr. Kevin J. Smith

Principal

Upcoming Events

January 16

Martin Luther King Holiday –

No School

January 20

Inauguration Day – No

School

January 25 - 27

Boys’ basketball and

wrestling tryouts

January 30

Teacher work day – No

School

Important

Announcement

January 27

End of 2nd Grading Period

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PTMS “Jewel of the East “Administrative Team

Kevin J. Smith, Principal

Brian Coleman, Assistant Principal

Latanya Haskins, Assitant Principal

Counselors’ Corner

Potomac Middle School will be hosting its High School Information Night for all

rising 9th graders on Tuesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. This is an opportunity

for 8th grade students and their parents to come out and learn more about

high school graduation requirements, specialty school program selections,

high school course selections, and scheduling. We do not want you to miss

out on this great opportunity, so mark your calendar for Tuesday, January 17th

at 7:00 p.m.

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Important Dates

January 16 – Martin Luther King Day – No School

January 20 – Inauguration Day – No School

January 27 – End of 2nd Grading Period

January 30 – Teacher Work Day – No School

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Strengthening Our Communities by Educating and Empowering Women”

Are you looking for a way to empower, Inspire, Motivate and

Educate your Daughter?

Then Real Women Moving Forward is here for you!

PTMS Meeting:

January 18, 6:00 p.m.

Real Women Moving Forward is a nonprofit organization that has served our communities since 2009. We

provide state of the art classes, seminars, and workshops all designed with the women in mind! We will be

providing workshops in your local community beginning Spring 2017.

For more details, please email me:

[email protected]

Or call 240.351.2015 for location, dates and times.

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“What the World Needs Now……”

Potomac students, staff, and community are cordially invited to

the

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Competition

at the Hylton Memorial Chapel, on January 21, 2017, at 11:00 A.M.

This event is free!!!

Please feel free to donate a coat and canned food items for families in need.

You do not want to miss this awesome event.

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Panther of the Month

Potomac Middle School’s Panthers of the Month! This award honors children who deserve special

recognition for outstanding abilities, achievements and efforts.

Panther of the Month/Year Criteria

1. Student must have the cumulative, non-rounded GPA of 3.0 or higher for the month receiving

award. * For a student to be eligible for Panther of the Year Award they must have earned the

Panther of the Month Award.

2. Leadership:

A. Student exemplifies positive attitude.

B. Demonstrates reliability and dependability.

C. Is a leader in the classroom and in school activities.

3. Service:

A. Works well with others and is willing to take on various responsibilities.

B. Volunteers and provides dependable and well-organized assistance and is gladly

available to offer assistance to others.

C. Shows courtesy in and out of classroom by assisting visitors, teachers, and students.

4. Character:

A. Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise,

composure).

B. Cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office,

and hallways.

C. Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability.

D. Regularly shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others.

E. Engaged during instruction, observes rules, and is punctual.

F. Actively helps promote Potomac Middle School in a positive manner!

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Congratulations to December Panthers of the Month!

Khadijah Kamara Nana Yeboah

Michael Awuah Mia Villalobos

Jimmy Kennedy Hugo Alachan

Samuel Elmery Trevor Hughes

Eeman Aamer Tyler Chatman

George Owusu Trinh Vu

Mathis Rhoades Jewel Dixon

Ethan Barrera Clarence Braimah

Olivia Wahl Brian Doan

Kyia Orange

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This year we are excited to be partnering with a fun, free, and truly easy fundraiser called

Shoparoo! Schools nationwide are already earning hundreds and even thousands every year

through Shoparoo and it’s a great opportunity for us to really make a difference this year!

Shoparoo is school fundraising made easy: the free app turns pictures of your everyday shopping

receipts into cash donations and sweepstakes entries for our school! Yep, it’s that simple. No more

cutting labels, selling door to door, or time-consuming coordinating. All you have to do is shop as

you normally do, snap pictures of your receipts with the app, and voila Just shop, snap, earn!

Get started today:

1. Download the free Shoparoo app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store

2. Select our school from the list and start taking pictures of your receipts - shop anywhere, buy

anything!

There’s no limit to how much money we can raise with Shoparoo - the more supporters, the more

we will raise for our school. Schools with just 40 supporters are earning an average of $1,000 every

year. That’s free, easy money that we could be fundraising too. Check out shoparoo.com to learn

more about this awesome app!

Thank you for your support!

This is our second year using Shoparro. Last year we earned over $85, let’s see if we can earn even

more this year!

http://www.shoparoo.com/

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** Please send in your completed form and dues with your student. **

Dear Parents,

We invite you to help make a difference in your child’s Middle School

Experience by joining the PTSO. The PTSO has partnered with Potomac

Middle School to help expand several great programs that include:

1. Make PTMS a place where parents want to help out and be involved.

2. Create opportunities for parents to be involved and have a place where

they can share their concerns and ideas.

3. Help raise money to help teachers with additional learning tools for our

children. Our goal this year is to donate new laptops for teachers and

students.

4. Have more fun family events throughout the school year.

We have a page on the Potomac Middle School website. We will update

with all our latest information of upcoming events, program updates and

ways you can help our students, school, and community.

You can also “Join” our Facebook Page “Potomac Middle School PTSO”. If

you have any questions or would like more information on the PTSO, and

volunteer opportunities please contact us at

[email protected]

Please fill out this form and return along with payment with your student.

Checks can be made out payable to Potomac Middle School PTSO.

Returned checks will be subject to a $36 service charge.

Sincerely,

Potomac PTSO

mailto:[email protected]

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** Please send in your completed form and dues with your student**

Student Name (s) _______________________________________

Grade 6th 7th 8th Homeroom Teacher ____________________

Parent/Guardian ______________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

City __________________ State_______________ Zip ___________________

Email (Please print clearly) __________________________________

Telephone _________________________ Cell Phone _____________________

I prefer to be contacted by ____Email ____Phone _____Text

PTSO FEES

______ $ 15 per family

______ $ 5 per facility member (Must be part of PTSO to request funding and

supply donations)

______ $ 150 Business donation and membership. This will insure your

advertising of business on the bulletin board at school throughout the school

year. As well as advertising on the PTSO web page and the PTSO newsletter.

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Right to Special Programs/Services The Prince William County Public Schools Division is required to inform the community of a

student’s right to a free, appropriate public education and the availability of programs and

services, including a special education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education

Improvement Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) are federal

laws that give the School Division certain responsibilities with respect to providing such

educational programs to students with disabilities. Under the IDEA and Section 504, the School

Division has the responsibility to actively and continuously identify, locate, and evaluate those

children, infant to age 21, living in Prince William County who may be in need of special

education and/or related services, or adaptations or accommodations to regular education

services.

These laws also require the School Division to:

• Refer for possible evaluation any student of school age living in the School Division who a

school staff member suspects may be disabled.

• Provide appropriate educational and school‐related opportunities to students with disabilities

in an inclusive setting to the maximum extent appropriate.

• Provide notice of the availability of services and types and location of services to nearby

private schools, pediatricians, and the Health Department.

• Provide parents/guardians of students with disabilities with notice of their rights annually,

and prior to their student’s evaluation and placement, or any significant change in their

student’s placement.

• Develop and implement procedural safeguards with respect to actions regarding the

identification, evaluation, and placement of students with disabilities.

• Provide written notice of the School Division’s procedural safeguards to parents or guardians.

If you suspect that your student may have a disability affecting your student’s development or

academic performance, or may have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a

major life activity, please contact the Director of Special Education at 703.791.7287 for further

information.

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