May 27-31

Dear Walkersville Community,

I want to start by thanking everyone involved in creating an amazing graduation ceremony for our students this week. The countless hours of preparation, planning, and attention to detail allowed us to celebrate our students in the best way. If any parent of a recent graduate needs a program, please stop by the front office- we still have some! Additionally, we have a few caps and tassels that were left. Believe it or not, as soon as we say goodbye to one class, preparation with our next graduating class begins. All Juniors will have a required meeting during FLEX next Thursday so that counselors can begin prepping them for what the Senior year entails, including items to begin working on in the summer and early application information. Counselors will meet individually with students in the fall as well, so we will be sure everyone has the information they need.

Chromebook inventory begins next Friday and will continue the following Monday for all students in grades 9-11. Please ensure that your student is bringing their Chromebook, charger and case to avoid any fees or obligations.

I hope everyone takes some time to enjoy the extended weekend. We will see students back on Tuesday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Stephanie Ware

Principal

Walkersville High's Kaylie Schwai is featured as part of the FCPS Journey to Graduation Senior Spotlight Series. She played four years for the Walkersville High varsity girls soccer team and was her school's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award nominee. As a high school student, she made the Frederick Community College Dean's List.

You can read her full story via the FCPS All-Stars blog.

Walkersville High's graduation ceremony was livestreamed and can be viewed as a recording.

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