WOLF WEEKLY

August 6, 2023

 

Good evening Lake Ridge Middle School Parents/Guardians- 

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS

During the summer, the school office will be open from 8:00 – 4:00 M-F. 

6TH GRADE Parent info night

6th Grade parents and families will have an Information Night Tuesday, August 8 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  This will be an opportunity to hear information and ask questions.

OPEN HOUSE

We will have our Open House event on Thursday, August 17.  Below are the times for each grade.

  • 6th Grade from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
  • 7th Grade from 11:00 a.m.- noon
  • 8th Grade from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

EVOLVE SECURITY SCREENING

This fall, PWCS will implement weapons detection systems at all high, middle, and nontraditional schools for the 2023-24 school year. This is a critical component in PWCS’ multi-layered security protocol to “deter, detect, and defend.”

PWCS will deploy this technology on a staggered basis starting in mid-September. This approach will allow schools time to return to school and establish daily routines with students. Additionally, this will allow further time to ensure proper training of staff and educate students regarding the process for entering school through the screening technology. Schools will provide notice at least two weeks before implementation.

To prepare ahead of the use of the technology in your school, families are encouraged to help reduce the possibility of “false alerts” on everyday items, while none are prohibited, using these guidelines will ensure a quick entry for everyone:

  1. Select clear and plastic school supplies over covered/concealed and metallic when applicable.
  2. Use three-ring binders with plastic spines/rings (non-metal). 
  3. Utilize plastic (versus metallic) BPA-free water/coffee bottles.
  4. Use hard plastic eyeglass cases (versus metal). 
  5. Students should “pack-light” and limit the number of items in bags or other equipment.
  6. Keep superfluous metallic items home (game consoles, beauty products, USB drives).
  7. Laptops and umbrellas will be passed around the technology via a staffed table.

Further Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding this technology can be found on our website. Additional communication and details will be shared in the coming weeks both centrally, and by each school, with further details. Please be aware that doors will open no sooner than 30 minutes before the start of the school day.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL PACKET IN PARENTVUE

Having up-to-date emergency contact information for our families is vital. We need all families to complete the annual Back to School Packet.  Until this packet is complete, parents/guardians will be unable to access important information in ParentVue to start the new year (including student schedules and bus information). If you do not have an active ParentVue account, please contact our front office.  The Back-to-School Packet will be available in ParentVue on August 8.

SCHOOL MEAL PRICES INCREASING

The USDA-approved school meal prices are increasing slightly for the 2023-24 school year.  Breakfast will be $1.60, lunch is $2.75, and milk is $1.00.  Please contact the PWCS Food & Nutrition Department at 703-791-3151 with any questions.  The 2023-24 Meal Benefits Application is now available on the PWCS Food and Nutrition website as well.

SCHOOL DEVICE INSURANCE

PWCS will once again be using Securranty for families who wish to purchase insurance for their student(s) assigned devices.  This is highly recommended to avoid costly repairs, or replacements, for damages Please see the attached flyer. 

7th grade immunizations REQUIRED

We’d like to remind our Rising 7th Grade families that students are required to have a Tdap booster and Meningococcal immunization to enter 7th grade. HPV vaccinations are recommended but are at the discretion of the parent/guardian after consulting with their child’s pediatrician.  Separate reminders have been sent out to those families with immunization records still missing. Proof of immunizations are due no later than August 17th to ensure your student can be permitted to start school on August 21.  You can check to see what your student is missing by going into the Health section of ParentVue. 

Immunization records can be dropped off at the school or emailed to Mr. Forberg at [email protected].  Please do not email immunization records to Nurse Camacho as she will not be in the building until August 14th and may not be accessing emails before then.

For more information, please use the following link.  Additional reminders may be sent out throughout the summer.

AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS FOR IMMUNIZATIONS

Prince William Health District:
Accepts Insured, Medicaid, and Uninsured 
Manassas: 703-792-6300     Woodbridge: 703-792-7300 

Mason and Partners (MAP):
Accepts only Medicaid and Uninsured; children 18 years of age and younger
Manassas Park: 703-993-5880 

Greater Prince William Health Center:
Accepts Insured, Medicaid, and Uninsured 
Dumfries, Manassas, and Woodbridge: 703-680-7950  

Upcoming Vaccine Clinics: Friday, August 11 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

  • Unity Braxton Middle School, 10100 Lomond Drive, Manassas
  • Freedom High School, 15201 Neabsco Mills Road, Woodbridge

The following vaccines will be available while supplies last: Meningococcal ACWY (rising 7th and 12th graders), Tdap (rising 7th graders), HPV (rising 7th graders), Hepatitis A (rising 2nd graders). Please bring your child's current immunization record. If your child has Medicaid or private insurance, please bring the current Medicaid or insurance card. 

MEDICATION DROP-OFF

If your student will need/require medications to be left in the clinic, and administered by the school, please make sure to have the attached paperwork completed.  You can begin to drop-off the authorization form(s) and the medications to Nurse Camacho beginning August 14th. 

Please note that prescription medications need a Dr.’s signature on the authorization form and that the medications MUST be brought in a prescription bottle which includes the student’s name, the name of the medication, the time for the medication to be given, the dose/amount to be given, and the name of the health care provider. Non-prescription medications (over-the-counter) must be in the original sealed package and must not exceed the expiration date. No Dr.’s signature is required on the authorization form for over-the-counter medications. Additional forms for Asthma and Allergy Plans can be found on the PWCS Student Services webpage here.  Please reach out to Mrs. Camacho with any questions.  She will be back in the school beginning August 14.

FALL ATHLETICS

If your student intends to try out for a sports team this year, please remember to get their sports physical completed along with concussion training.  1st time athletes MUST attend an in-person concussion training.  Any athlete that has tried out for or played a sport previously in middle school should do the training online here. 

Our first in-person Concussion Training will be on August 15th at 6:30 p.m. for ALL students.  A second session has been added on Wednesday, August 23 at 6 p.m. The 2023-24 sports physical form is attached to this newsletter and you only need one form for any/all sports for the year.

Fall tryouts for Boys Soccer, Football, Girls Track, Volleyball, and Cheerleading will begin on Monday, August 28th after school from 3:15 - 5:15.  Students will need to make sure they bring/wear proper athletic attire for their sport (athletic shorts, sneakers/cleats, and an appropriate shirt).  They will have an opportunity to change in the locker room before tryouts begin. Coaches will be checking an updated Eligibility List at the beginning of practice to see if the updated Athletic Physical and Concussion Training have been completed before trying out.  If they are missing any part, they will not be able to try out until all paperwork has been submitted.

To ensure a fair and equitable tryout for all athletes, all tryouts and practices are closed to the public per Prince William County Public Schools policy.  Please respect all athletes participating in that sport as some athletes might be nervous during the tryout process.

Completed Athletic Physical forms can be dropped off to the school on Wednesday August 9th from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Tuesday August 15th at the Concussion Training, or brought by the student to Mr. Larson during the first week of school.  Emailed forms will not be accepted.  It is highly recommended that you keep a copy of the completed sports physical!!!  If you have any questions about middle school athletics, please email our Athletic Director, Mr. Larson, at [email protected]

 

Jim Dutrow

Principal

Lake Ridge Middle School

703-494-5154