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Spring Sports Tryouts for ACHS for GW 8th Graders

Current 8th grade students at GWMS are eligible to tryout for, and compete on, the ACHS teams.  The tryout dates for spring sports are Feb 21 to Feb 23, but the packet paperwork for tryouts is due January 31st.  Spring sports include baseball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, rowing, and rugby.  Please see this link for an overview: https://www.actitans.org/info.



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Yearbook Orders

The GWMS Compass, our yearbook, consists of 80 pages of full color student portraits, staff portraits, learning activities, extra-curricular activities and photographs of our amazing school.
Pre-ordering the GWMS Compass:
Sign in:
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com
Yearbook ID Code:
14437623
Complete the order form and pay online. Yearbooks will be delivered to the school and distributed to your student.

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A Message from our PTA President

Our season of giving and gratitude continues for the GWMS PTA. Thank you to everyone who supported the Hard Times Café restaurant night last month. If you would like to show your gratitude this month, there are plenty of opportunities in the two weeks left before winter break. You can volunteer to help at the staff breakfast on December 9th or support the Hooray for Books! fundraiser on December 9th through 11th.  Rocket Fizz is also dedicating 10% of sales to the GWMS PTA on Monday, December 19th. The GWMS PTA kicked off our Honor Roll of Donors campaign last week, so don’t forget the GWMS PTA in your planned giving this year. Be one of the first donors for your chance to win a $2,500 credit for design and installation of a native- or storm water-based garden from Del Ray Landscapes.  The campaign ends December 17th.  See below for more details

Joy Pochatila
GWMS PTA President 2022-2023



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Rocket Fizz Fundraiser

Need birthday and holiday gifts?  Visit Fairlington’s favorite middle school hot spot, Rocket Fizz, on December 19th and let them know you are shopping for the GWMS PTA and 10% of your sale will be donated to the PTA.

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A Message from our PTA President

Welcome back from Thanksgiving Break! There is so much for which the GWMS PTA is grateful!  A big thanks to all the volunteers that donated their time to the PBIS store, the families who donated Halloween candy to our fabulous teachers and staff, to the folks who participated in our Glory Days fundraiser, and to Mom’s Organic Market, our newest business sponsor!

If you would like to show your gratitude this month, there are plenty of opportunities in the three short weeks left before winter break.  You can volunteer to help at the staff breakfast on December 9th or support the Hooray for Books! fundraiser on December 9th through 11th.  The GWMS PTA is also kicking off our Honor Roll of Donors campaign this week, so don’t forget the GWMS PTA in your planned giving this year.  Be one of the first donors for your chance to win a $2,500 credit for design and installation of a native- or stormwater-based garden from Del Ray Landscapes.  The campaign ends December 17th.  See below for more details

Joy Pochatila
GWMS PTA President 2022-2023



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Giving Tuesday: Honor Roll of Donors Campaign

Dear Prexie Families and Friends:

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday and the GWMS PTA is kicking off the Honor Roll of Donors Campaign for the 2022-2023 School Year!  Our goal is to raise $12,000 between now and December 17th.

The PTA exists to support our children, faculty, and administrators – and every dollar you contribute assists in that effort. Your generous contributions allow the PTA to support GWMS teachers, staff, and families in important ways, including funding for teacher grants, teacher and staff appreciation events, end-of-year socials for all grades, and the family emergency fund.

Our first goal is to raise $4,000 for our teacher grant fund by Monday, December 5th. What do teacher grants fund? So far, the PTA has purchased Lego robotics equipment for Mr. Clemmons and Spanish edition literature (such as Julius Caesar, Fahrenheit 451, and Animal Farm) for Ms. Vitale’s 8th grade class. Teachers have used the grants to fund special experiences for their classes or to celebrate student achievement. Let’s make sure we continue to fund these great ideas!

Del Ray Landscapes is offering a huge incentive for giving early – the first 50 donations of $100 or more will enter a drawing for a $2,500 credit for design and installation of a native- or stormwater-based garden! Every $100 donation gets you a chance to win.  So, if you donate $200, you’ll get two chances to win…$500 gets you five chances.

Please consider giving this Tuesday to the GWMS PTA so that we can continue to support MORE programs, opportunities, and the needs of our children, faculty, and administrators.

To recognize the generosity of our families and friends, donor names will be listed in the Honor Roll of Donors and posted on the GWMS PTA website and published each week in the Town Crier. Donors can opt out of this recognition if they choose.  ALL DONORS will be recognized in our Honor Roll of Donors, no matter the amount of the contribution.

All contributions are TAX-FREE and you can donate using this link: https://gwmspta.memberhub.com/store/items/804928

We appreciate your support for our wonderful school!

Jenny Ware
GWMS VP Fundraising, 2022-2023

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Hooray for Books! Book Fair Dec. 9-11

Need gift ideas? Hooray for Books! (1555 King St.) has an extensive selection of books and employees who are happy to offer great suggestions. They will donate 20% of sales to the GW PTA. Come stock up for holiday and birthday gifts!

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GWU Health Sciences Academy Webinar 12/7

Are you a rising 9th grader? Are you interested in a career in the health science field? If you answered yes, then attend an information session and learn more about the program pathways:

  • Biotechnology/Health Informatics
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences
  • Nursing
  • Sports Medicine
  • Surgical

The Governor’s Health Sciences Academy is an ACPS partnership with the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The information session will be held on Wednesday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually; please use the following link to access the meeting. See attached flyer for more information.

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Volunteers Needed for Staff Breakfast!

It’s time to show our appreciation and give thanks for our teachers and staff! Please consider participating in our December edition of the GWMS PTA teacher appreciation breakfast. Every month the PTA treats our hardworking teachers and staff to coffee, juice, and a light breakfast. Please sign up to contribute items and/or volunteer for this month’s breakfast on Friday, December 9th. You can deliver your items to the school library on Friday morning around 7:15 am.

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Update on GW Security Vestibule

Joy Pochatila (GWMS PTA President) attended the school board public hearing on Monday, November 14th to advocate for the Board to fully fund and accelerate the timeline of the construction of the security vestibule at GWMS. The Board also held a work session with City Staff after the hearing to ask follow-up questions. The following are a few points we wanted to share with our membership:

  • The funding for construction of the security vestibule was added to the CIP FY24 budget, meaning the earliest construction would begin is July 2024.  Mr. Finnigan, Director of Education Facilities, confirmed that design of the vestibule has already begun.
  • Willie Bailey, Ashley Simpson Baird, and Kelly Carmichael Booz all asked City Staff to move the funding of construction of the vestibule into this FY/school year (FY23).  Dr. Hart, Chief of Facilities and Operations, acknowledged the request and asked the School Board to identify which projects would be defunded in order to add the new budget item to this year.
  • Dr. Simpson Baird asked Dr. Hart to find a temporary plan to increase safety and security at the entrance, specifically measures that can be taken now through when construction can happen.

The GWMS PTA Executive Committee, as well as Alexandria PTAC, will send follow-up letters to the School Board and City Staff, asking for a status for both the temporary solutions to increase security and the funding for the construction of the vestibule. The Executive Committee will also encourage City Staff to seek input from GWMS Staff.

If you would like to hear the comments from the work session, the link is below and you can forward to minute 21:52 for Willie Bailey’s comments, followed by Ashley Simpson Baird and Kelly Carmichael Booz.  Overall, the discussion lasts about 6 minutes.

https://alexandriaschoolsva.new.swagit.com/videos/189541

The public hearing session link is below and GWMS PTA comments are at minute 8:55. There were also written comments from two parents that were also submitted and read at the end of the hearing:

https://alexandriaschoolsva.new.swagit.com/videos/189535

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Congratulations to the GWMS Teacher of the Year!

A note from Dr. Mazur: I’m overjoyed to announce the GWMS Teacher of the Year Nominee…None other than our dynamic Spanish Teacher, Educational Justice warrior, Ms. Ifeoluwa Osuntokun (Salako). Since, her arrival to our school, Ms. Osuntokun has made an impact that extends beyond Spanish Instruction. She is a deep thinker, an artist, a musician, a brilliant collaborator, and an ardent supporter of justice, equality, equity, and cultural knowledges that bridge and bind people together in the spirit of creating a more just place for all. I’m super proud of Ms. Osuntokun, and I know our community shares this sentiment. Ms. Osuntokun will be submitted to compete with teacher nominees from other ACPS schools for the ACPS Teacher of the Year award.

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Congratulations to Reflections Contest Winners!

Congratulations to all 88 GW Middle School students who participated in the 2022 PTA Reflections Art Contest – every single entry is a winner! The artwork of four students received first place in their respective categories (Literature, Photography, Music, Visual Arts) and have been submitted to the city and will now be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by the city of Alexandria. Reflections is a national competition through which student artwork can advance through city and state levels to the national competition.

Students who received first place include:

Name

Grade

Title of Artwork Category Place
Alan van der Sluis

8

Dear Mr. Hippocrates… Literature 1st Place
Zoe Foster

8

Musical Voice Photography 1st Place
Sadie Szamosfalvi

7

Hollie Pollan Music 1st Place
Yoonji Oh

6

Imperfections Visual arts 1st Place

We are so proud of all of our GWMS Student participants. Our students demonstrated their vibrant talents across a number of categories. While 4 participants move on to the next level of the competition, and for that we are proud and wish you nothing but the best, all of our students deserve praise and recognition for their excellence:

Literature:
Genevieve Dalton
Sadie Szamosfalvi
Ava S Hudson

Photography:
Amelia Ruth Parks
Addison Rahn

Visual Arts:
Abigail Shewchuk
Adam Mughloo
Adella Perkal – 7th place (tie)
Adrian Velasro Caustedo
Adur Iglesias
Aidan Heinsius
Alayja Amet
Aleisha Thaggash
Alina Rehman
Amelia Ruth Parks – 5th place
Andrea Cruz
Angie Alvasenga
Anna Knott
Annette Bawcombe – 6th place
Anthony Cubias
Antonia Montes de Oca
Aziz Alakkad
Blaine Page
Caries Diaz Hernandez
Celia Schultz
Claire Nusz
Dahae Meserole
Danny Ortiz
Darragh “Quill” Hopfensperger
Domenica Vargas
Elena Salgado
Elias Hampton
Elija Jachi Chukwuamin
Elmer Rameriz
Emma Lynch
Estella Hinton
Fiona Barnett
Francis Gress
Freya Montes de Oca
Georgiana McCracken Marquis
Grace Wensing
Hailey Kerr
Ingrid Schildknecht
Isabelle Lara – 4th place
Jacob Dvorchik
Jasmin Lopez
Jennnifer Lee Maldonado
Jillianne Mtunguja
Jonathan Abebe
Josephine Kline – 9th place
Josie Dickerson
Kamila Carranza
Madelynn Diaz Villatoro
Maeve Harris
Margaret Bryne
Margaret Sowen
Marlo Vogel
Matías Church Ovalle
Melanie Maultsby – 2nd place
Michael Newman
Naomi Ortiz
Nathania My-Love
Nicholas Suarez-Salinos
Noah Dvorchik
Olivia Grajales
Olivia Smallman
Phoebe Trabb
Reika Aida – 3rd place
Reyna Mendez
Sachin Pippin Mather
Scarlette Eliah
Sean McBride – 7th place (tie)
Sebastian Feitl
Sena Aweke
Siena Lester – 10th place
Sinead Baron
Sofia Reyes
Sophia Chavez
Sophia Coleman
Vaughn Anthony Gibbons
Yasmin Algalatani
Zoe Aiden Bergeland
Zoe Cohn

The PTA  and Dr. Mazur thank all the students! Continue to pursue your passions and broaden your interests. Please remember that  these experiences represent opportunities for you to grow and discover new talents and avenues of personal expression! We are proud of you all!!!

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Come Support the GW Orchestra Tonight!

Come support the GW Orchestra FOTO and enjoy some Port City Brewing Company beer tonight, October 30 from 3-5. And, if your student is in the orchestra, have them come and play some music with their classmates!!!

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A Message from our PTA President

A huge thank you to Dean Malone and the GWMS staff for hosting the Harvest Festival this last Friday.  And thank you to the volunteers that helped with the outdoor games.  What a great event!

We have ANOTHER sponsor to thank! Jack Taylor’s Alexandria Toyota continued their sponsorship this year with a donation of $500. Are you a business owner and, if so, are you interested in a GWMS PTA sponsorship?  Contact our VP of Fundraising, Jenny Ware.

Speaking of sponsors, take a look at the offer (below) from Dr. Markova from VCO Orthodontics.  If you are considering braces, it’s a great deal, ($500 discount to you and a donation for the GWMS PTA).

Bakers!  We need items for the Election Day Bake Sale.  All the volunteer spots are filled (thank you!) but we’d love to sell your delicious creations on November 8th.

Our next PTA meeting is November 15th at 7 pm. GWMS Technology Teacher Mr. Clemmons and his Robotics Teams will be joining us for a demonstration. Be sure to join us!

Joy Pochatila
GWMS PTA President 2022-2023

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Advocacy Letter from GW Exec Committee

On Wednesday, October 26th, the GWMS Executive Committee submitted a letter to the ACPS School Board for approval for funding and expedited construction in the ACPS CIP for a Security Vestibule Enhancement in the main entrance.

Dear ACPS School Board Members,

The past year has been especially challenging with the tragedies in Uvalde and now St. Louis, and the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and teachers, as well as the security of the buildings, should be one of the highest priorities for ACPS. This year alone, across the country, there have been at least 67 shootings on school grounds. Along those lines, there is an important security issue that we wanted to bring to your attention.

The current ACPS CIP does not include funding to construct a security vestibule at George Washington Middle School. From our understanding, GWMS is also the only school in ACPS without this security enhancement. Once visitors are buzzed into the building, they have free access to the entire building. While there are security cameras, the main entrance is lacking a second set of security doors to help staff confirm that visitors who come to the exterior door are people that should be allowed inside the building.
We spoke with Mr. Finnigan, Director of Education Facilities, at our September PTA Membership meeting about the funding for this project. We understand from Mr. Finnigan that a construction request for vestibule project has been requested in the budget, but there is no approval of the funding and, thus, no projected timing for the project. We are imploring the School Board to prioritize the funding and timing of this project, as GWMS has the second largest enrollment in all of ACPS with 1500 students and 180 staff members that require protection.

As you know, our staff, students, and teachers are rightly frightened. Mass tragedy events at schools are far too common and they call for the safest school buildings possible. This security enhancement is necessary to bring the GWMS building up to par with the rest of the ACPS school buildings. We urge you to not only fund, but also accelerate the timeline for this project so the building is as safe as possible.

Respectfully,
George Washington Middle School PTA
Executive Committee 2022-2023
Joy Pochatila, President
Jennifer Ware, VP Fundraising
Reagan Moore, VP Communications
Lindsay Clarke, Treasurer
Greg Ruff, Secretary

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Need Braces? Meet GW’s Newest Sponsor: VCO

Dr. Crissy Marcova at the Virginia Center for Orthodontics is ready to give new patients $500 off braces or Invisalign AND GW’s PTA $500 per new patient! The patient can be a GW student or a family member.

Make an appointment now for the week of November 7-11. Only appointments that week will qualify for the discount and donation. Your first consultation with Dr. Markova is free so if you don’t continue with her, no money is spent.

Dr. Markova has reserved special appointments that week for GW patients. Call her at (703) 774-3070 or visit online at www.vcosmiles.com.

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Notes from Dr. Mazur

1. ALICE Safety Drills: Alexandria City Public Schools, along with community partners including the Alexandria Police Department, have implemented significant changes to our practiced response to physical threats within a school building. The ACPS team developed, educated, and trained staff and students, in an age-appropriate fashion on how to respond and prepare for the unlikely occurrence of an active shooter or active threat at school.  Please know that we are considering developmental appropriateness and levels of learning abilities as lessons are being rolled out over the week of the 17th of October.

The active shooter/threat strategies come from a program called Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate, commonly referred to as ALICE. This process provides appropriate action steps for students and staff to take to stay safe in the event of an active shooter or active threat in the school building or on campus. The main objective of this program is to provide students and staff with OPTIONS to increase their chance of survival during an active shooter or active threat emergency.  Over the week of October 17th, students will receive lessons in the major components of ALICE taught by their classroom advisory teachers in coordination with the school administrative team. The plan is to complete the mandatory lessons, leave time and space for questions and answers, engage in a barricade drill, followed by an evacuation drill, in which we will walk to our off-site location, Jefferson Houston.

Please know that after each lesson your child may have questions about the strategies covered and we are committed to ensuring they are comfortable with this safety information.  Your child will be reminded that they are in a safe school.  Real understanding leads to confidence and confidence leads to safe practice drills.  If questions arise at home, we can also provide information to you that will help you discuss this important safety topic with your child.  It is our hope that you can assist us in not only helping our students solidify their understanding of the material, but also discuss how the strategies could be used in settings other than school (church, the mall, a grocery store, etc.). Student Support Teams (SST) will be deployed throughout our school during lessons and emergency drills. Encourage your child to speak to you and/or your school counseling teams if they encounter any difficulty with lessons or drills.

Our primary focus for students will be on BARRICADING the room and EVACUATION if there were to be an active shooter or threat inside the building. Students will learn the different exits of the building, how to safely run to our reunification point, and actions they can take to keep our school safer (such as not opening exterior doors to known or unknown adults).

It is my absolute priority to keep the students at George Washington M.S. safe, loved, and happy each day at school. I believe that this training will give us another approach that will support this goal. Just as fire drills become routine after practice, it is my hope that these strategies will become ingrained and accessible to our children for the remainder of their lives.  As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions regarding this topic.

2. Parent Teacher Conference Feedback: It remains the mission of George Washington Middle School to ensure that we are providing the best possible service to our stakeholder community. With this spirit in mind, we recently returned to in person parent teacher conferences, a change since the on set of COVID-19, and we seek your feedback, experiences, and preference. Please click here to access a short survey on your experience and preference. Thank you!

3. Fentanyl Awareness Fact Sheets: As we are all aware, the dangers of substance abuse, specifically related to fentanyl, are on all of our minds. The ACPS website now has some resources for staff and parents to learn more about Fentanyl in English, Spanish, Arabic and Amharic. Please visit the ACPS Substance Abuse Prevention and Educational Intervention site for more details.

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Election Day Bake Sale, 11/8, We Need You!

Our Election Day Bake Sale raises funds for PTA programs such as teacher grants, emergency family assistance, and student events. We need baked goods and volunteers to run the booth. Thank you in advance for your help!  Sign up here. And, if you’d like to donate money to purchase baked goods or coffee instead, you can donate here.

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Attention Volleyball Players!

Come to the Titan Volleyball Camp on Saturday, October 29th from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.  It is open to boys and girls from ages 9 to14. Campers will be split into groups by age and ability. This is a great opportunity for training from ACHS volleyball players. $20 online (see link) or $25 the day of the camp.  We hope to see you there!

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Bully Prevention Spirit Week

Monday: Put a Cap on Bullying (wear your favorite hat).
Tuesday: Put Bullying to Rest (wear your favorite pajamas).
Wednesday: Unity Day (wear GW school colors- blue or yellow shirt/top or orange, the bully prevention color in addition to blue, to show that you stand united against bullying).
Thursday: Stomp Out Bullying (wear mismatched shoes).
Friday: Team Up against Bullying (wear your favorite team or school’s jersey or shirt).