May 20-24

Dear Walkersville Community,

Next week is a big one for our Seniors and staff- it is the culmination of four years of hard work, and we can't wait to celebrate with our graduates and their families. The Senior Schedule is below:

Monday: Practice at WHS (park at fire hall) 8:00am start; Senior Awards 6:00pm in the auditorium

Tuesday: Practice at WHS (park at fire hall) 10:00am start, followed by Senior Picnic

Wednesday: Graduation at the Mount- graduates arrive by 7:45; doors open at 8, with a start at 9:00

For all 9th-11th grade students, May 22nd is asynchronous. Students will have work assigned through Schoology. Teachers will be available online from 1:00-2:45 . Their links can be found in Schoology.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Stephanie Ware

Principal

Graduation Locations

Most high school graduations occur at Knott Arena at the PNC Sports Complex on the campus of Mount St. Mary's University from May 20-23.

The SUCCESS Program, Rock Creek School, Heather Ridge School, and Frederick County Virtual School and Summer Session will hold their commencement ceremonies at alternate sites.

The full list of graduations is posted online via FCPS.org.

Driving Directions to Knott Arena

Please use this GPS Address: 16251 Jim Phelan Way, Emmitsburg. That address will take you to Knott Arena, where graduations are held. Parking is available in areas surrounding Knott Arena.

Also note: Be on alert for traffic crossings as you navigate U.S. 15.

When to arrive to graduations

We realize that families are excited to see students graduate. However, please note that multiple graduations are scheduled on each day at Knott Arena.

We also encourage families and graduates to depart ceremonies after their conclusion in order to provide an orderly arrival for the next ceremony.

Graduations will be livestreamed

All high school graduations will be livestreamed once again this year for those who cannot attend the ceremonies live. The graduations will be livestreamed on the FCPS Maryland YouTube page and will also be archived there for future viewing.

We will share a message indicating where families can directly access the graduation ceremonies closer to graduations.

Learning @ Home on Graduation Days

Once again this year, FCPS will hold Learning @ Home virtual days on the date that high schools are holding graduation ceremonies.

Please note the following Learning @ Home Day schedule:

Monday, May 20: Frederick High, Gov. Thomas Johnson High, Linganore High
Tuesday, May 21: Brunswick High, Middletown High, Catoctin High
Wednesday, May 22: Walkersville High, Tuscarora High
Thursday, May 23: Urbana High, Oakdale High

Before Learning @ Home days, teachers will communicate assignments to students. Students will complete those assignments virtually and will have the opportunity to seek teacher support.

Schools will communicate more information about individualized virtual learning plans with their families.

Learning @ Home days will not be held on days that SUCCESS, Rock Creek, and Heather Ridge hold their graduation ceremonies.

Meals on Graduation Days

High school students don't have to miss school meals on graduation days. While graduation days are Learning @ Home days for all high school students, meals will be available for purchase.

The menu will be limited and is available online at www.fcpsnutrition.com. All high schools will have breakfast available from 7-8 a.m. and lunch available from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The meals may not be taken home; students must eat them at their high school. Students who want breakfast and/or lunch must come through the serving line and enter their student ID number to get meals.

Meals will be accounted for based on a student's meal benefits. If a student receives free or reduced-price meals, they will get their breakfast and lunch for free. Students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals will pay for their meals as usual (exceptions are Frederick High and Gov. Thomas Johnson High, where all students get free breakfast under the Maryland Meals for Achievement program but may have to pay for lunch depending on eligibility).

FCPS Graduation Profiles

The FCPS Public Affairs team will be sharing Class of 2024 Graduation Profiles on a graduate from each school. The blog posts will be shared on social media and will also be posted to the FCPS All-Stars blog. Our star will be Kaylie Schwai, check it out!

Beginning this year, FCPS will make changes to our Chromebook management procedures for secondary students regarding their collection and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Moving forward, secondary schools will only collect Chromebooks from students in 8th and 12th grades. Additionally, starting next school year, student’s will be expected to use their FCPS issued device for instruction throughout the school day. As a reminder, the FCPS BYOD program will end on June 10, 2024.

Current 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will keep their Chromebooks through the summer. This change will simplify end of year procedures for our students and staff. A physical inventory of each device will occur before students leave for summer, but this process should be significantly easier and less time consuming than the traditional collection. The physical inventory will ensure that FCPS has an accurate account of each device that is assigned to a student in the aforementioned grades.

As required by law, FCPS issued student Chromebooks will continue to have a restrictive internet content filter applied to them throughout the summer. Students will still be able to access FCPS approved educational programs. If a student has an issue with a Chromebook over the summer, the issue will need to be reported to the school’s User Support Specialist at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

At the start of next school year, secondary schools will only need to issue devices to newly enrolled students, students who previously used BYOD, and 6th and 9th grade students. This change allows a majority of students to have their FCPS assigned devices for the first day of school.

Any family who will be unable to maintain their child’s device over the summer or who knows they will be withdrawing from FCPS should contact the User Support Specialist Amy.Meadows@fcps.org to coordinate a plan for Chromebook collection.

The last day of school is June 7th, 2024

According to FCPS Regulation 400-23 students are not permitted to take their medications home at the end of the school year.

A parent/guardian must pick up all medications in the health room by the end of the school day on June 7, 2024. To arrange for pick-up please contact health room staff directly or stop by during school hours.

All non-emergency medications and expired medications of any kind remaining in the health room will be destroyed at the end of the school year, unless alternate arrangements have been made directly with health room staff.

Summer School

If your child will be attending a summer FCPS program and medication must be administered during summer school hours, contact the health room for additional guidance.

Preparing for the 2024-25 School Year

All medication/treatment authorization form(s) must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Ensure that the appropriate authorization form is completed by your healthcare provider. Forms are available online at www.fcps.org.

Verify the expiration dates on your child's medication(s). Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.34.23.07, dictates that we determine expiration dates as follows:

one year from the dispensing date on the pharmacy label (OR)

expiration date on the medication package, whichever comes first.

If the instructions on the pharmacy label states, "see attached", you must provide the pharmacy attachment. Medication will not be accepted without the required attachments.

To ensure your child's medication/treatment needs are met at the start of the school year contact the health room on or after August 12, 2024, to arrange a drop off time for medications/supplies and completed forms. Health room staff will review medication/treatment authorization forms and medications with the parent/guardian to ensure compliance with state regulations. If the medication/treatment authorization forms and/or medications do not meet compliance, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to follow up with their health care provider.

Per FCPS Reg 400-23, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to deliver medication/treatment authorization form(s) and medications directly to health room staff. Please do not send your child to school with medications.

Thank you for your cooperation.

WHS Nurse: Beckie Kress

Beckie.Kress@fcps.org

(240) 236-7337

Beginning on July 1, 2024, Walkersville High School’s phone number will be changing as all of FCPS transitions to a new telecommunications system.

The phone number change is necessary for two primary reasons: (1) The current telecommunications system is being modernized to allow more system functionality and reduce maintenance and service costs; and (2) the phone number change allows for the standardization of FCPS phone numbers with a common area code and initial three digits for all schools.

Walkersville High School’s new phone number for the main office will be (227) 203-3350.

School based staff can be reached by calling the school’s main number and choosing the appropriate option from the call menu or by dialing a staff member’s extension at any time:

1. Front Office
2. Attendance
3. Counseling Office
4. Health Room
5. Cafeteria

Walkersville High School has been preparing for this change by ensuring that we are updating all contact information on the school website, school messaging and other school documents. We are committed to making this transition with a minimal impact on school communications.

Counseling Department Information – 2023-24

• Schoology: General reminders for students in all grades will be posted on Schoology in the WHS Counseling Office group. Students and parents who want to join can follow these instructions:

• Click Groups at the top of Schoology.
• Select My Groups.
• Click Join Group on the right.
• Enter the Group Access Code: KCCM-CPHP-HGP93
• Click JOIN

• Please review the Counseling Office Newsletter for updates