Good Afternoon Tiger Family,
This is your Principal Mr. Ventura with a few important announcements and updates for the week ahead.
What a fantastic first week! The energy in our brand-new building has been contagious and has set the stage for a strong year ahead. Thank you for helping make this such a positive and successful start for our students and staff.
Updated Bus & School Entry Times
Starting Monday, a few new bus routes may enter WGMS and JM at 7:00 AM. All other buses, car riders, and walkers will continue to enter at 7:15 AM. Please use the My Ride K-12 app for real-time updates. Text alerts for delays and daily updates are also available on the Parent & Guardian Resources page.
If your child rides the bus and you do not yet have the app:
Download the My Ride K-12 app
Log in using your student’s ID number
Full setup instructions: My Ride K-12 Setup Instructions
Thank you for your patience as we adjust routes to better serve families.
Attendance Matters
A strong start sets the tone for a successful year. Consistent attendance in the first few weeks helps students build routines and adjust both socially and academically. We understand that illness and emergencies may occur; in those cases, please use the link to submit your attendance notes: Attendance Notes
7:35 AM Start Time
Please be reminded that our instructional day will begin promptly at 7:35 AM. Any student arriving after this time will be marked tardy and will need to be checked in at the front office.
Building Entry
Have your photo ID ready any time you need to enter the building. IDs will be checked at the doorbell every time. If you do not have your ID, you will be asked to retrieve it before being admitted. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe.
Update Contact Information
Parents and guardians to receive up-to-date information and in case of emergencies, make sure your contact information is current. Contact our main office at (540) 372-1145.
Afternoon Pick-Up Procedures
Please notify the school office if your child's afternoon procedure changes. No changes are accepted by phone, and all changes must be submitted online before 2:15 PM. No student pick-ups will be able to be honored after 2:15 PM.
Walking & Biking to School
It’s exciting to see so many of our students walking and biking to school each day! However, please remind your child to stay alert, use the designated pedestrian crossing areas, follow safety rules, and be cautious around traffic.
ParentSquare
If you haven't already done so, please activate your ParentSquare account to stay up to date on all of happenings at WGMS. You can access ParentSquare on any device by downloading the free mobile app or by visiting www.parentsquare.com.
🔗 Parent_Guardian - Getting Started Guide (English)
🔗 Parent_Guardian - Getting Started Guide (Spanish)
Responsibility-Centered Discipline (RCD)
Review our school-wide foundations with your child. Grasping and embracing these foundational principles is crucial for ensuring an effective and inclusive educational experience for all students.
One-Time Habits
Families, encourage your student to take the most direct route to class and arrive on time. Strong habits now will set them up for success. Students will be held accountable for punctuality, and the administrative team will be in the halls to support.
FCPS Cell Phone and Personal Device Policy
Take a moment to review and discuss the FCPS Cell Phone and Personal Device Policy with your student.
🔗 FCPS Cell Phone and Device Free Policy
Dress Code Reminder
Remind students that hats, hoods, do-rags/scarves, bonnets, and blankets are not permitted to be worn on campus. Students with a religious or medical exemption will be approved individually. Thank you for helping us maintain a focused and respectful learning environment!
Safety Drills
We will continue to review and practice fire and lockdown drills at school this upcoming week. We appreciate your continued support in speaking with your student(s) about the importance of these safety drills.
Student Laptop Chargers
Laptop distribution is almost complete! If your student turned in their laptop without a charger and needs a replacement, please use the link attached to this message to purchase a new one.
Spirit Gear
Show your Tiger pride with our school spirit gear! Grab yours today and wear it proudly. Tigers Win!
Thank You
As always, thank you for your continued partnership and involvement in the Walker-Grant community. Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday and a fantastic week ahead.
Go Tigers!