Parent & Student Handbook

Welcome!

The administration, faculty, and staff of Walker-Grant Middle School are pleased to welcome you to a new and exciting school year. As one of the most diverse middle schools in Virginia, we are proud to foster an inclusive and supportive environment where every student is valued, respected, and encouraged to thrive. We look forward to working together to ensure a successful and enriching academic experience for all.

At Walker-Grant, every student is expected to live our core values of Accountability, Perseverance, Empathy, and Respect in all they do.

• ACCOUNTABILITY through showing that we are responsible for our words, actions, and decisions.
• PERSEVERANCE through putting forth effort even when situations, learning, and classwork becomes hard.
• EMPATHY through understanding and sharing feelings of others.
• RESPECT through showing regard for and acknowledging the feelings, wishes, rights, traditions, and cultures of others.

At Walker-Grant Middle School, our faculty and staff are committed to supporting every student. We believe our school is more than just a place for learning; it is a community and a family. Together, we will work to make the 2025–2026 school year a positive, successful, and rewarding experience for all.

Walker-Grant Middle School will ensure all students Excel in Excellence by providing an equitable education through recognizing students' strengths, celebrating diversity, and preparing students with the skills needed for success beyond Fredericksburg City Public Schools.

School attendance is critical for academic achievement and professional and personal success. State law requires each parent or guardian whose child is within the compulsory attendance age to be responsible for their child’s regular and punctual attendance at school.

1. Expectations
   • A student is expected to arrive on time and attend all classes. A student who is tardy or leaves early from school misses valuable instructional time and disrupts the learning environment. Students shall be scheduled for a full school day. A student who is approved to participate in a school-sponsored field trip or other activity shall be counted as present. The Superintendent or designee must approve exceptions to a full-day schedule on an individual basis.
2. Absences
   • There are times when a student is unable to attend school. A parent or guardian shall inform the school each time their student is absent for all or part of any day. The school will make a reasonable effort to notify a parent or guardian of each student’s absence and parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to monitor student attendance in PowerSchool.
   • Absences that may be considered excused require a valid, written note from the parent or guardian submitted to the school within two days of the absence. Examples of excused absences are listed below:
     • Illness (For excessive absences, the school may require a note from a physician)
     • Medical and dental appointments
     • Court appearance
     • Death in the family
     • Observance of a religious holiday
     • Extenuating circumstances as determined by the school administration
3. Excessive Absences
   • Excessive absences may lead to actions that could include a conference with the parent or guardian or referral to the court system. Once a student has accrued five absences from school or a class, a letter will be sent to the parent or guardian. For any student whose absences exceed seven school days, a school designee will contact the parent or guardian to obtain an explanation. A plan will be developed jointly between the school and the family to resolve the student’s nonattendance. A conference shall be scheduled with the parent or guardian and student within 10 days after the seventh absence. Upon the ninth absence, the principal or designee will notify the Fredericksburg City Public Schools truancy designee to take actions prescribed by Section 22.1-258 of the Code of Virginia. Actions include either or both of the following: 1) filing a complaint with the juvenile and domestic relations court alleging the student is a child in need of supervision or 2) instituting proceedings against the parent pursuant to Section 18.2-371 or Section 22.1-262, Code of Virginia.
     • At five days' absence, contact must be made with a parent/guardian for an explanation for the absences and to try and develop a plan to resolve the non-attendance.
     • At seven days’ absence, an attendance conference with designated school personnel is required.
     • At ten days absent, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court will be contacted.
   • If your child is absent, you must contact the school and notify them of the reason for the absence. The reason for the absence must be submitted by either paper/pencil or e-mail. Please communicate all attendance-related information with us promptly so we can accurately document your child’s attendance.
   • NOTE: Students enrolled in high school credit courses must meet required seat time to be eligible for verified credit.
4. Special Requests
   • As with any procedures developed for our school, consideration will be given to special requests made in advance by the parent/guardian. These requests must be made in writing to building-level administration at least three days before the student is out of school. If approved, assignments will be sent home for the days the student will be out of school. All work must be completed and submitted to the teacher no later than three days after the student returns to school.
5. Appeals
   • Parents may appeal, in writing, an attendance failure within three school days. The principal, a member of the Attendance Committee, will present the written appeal to the Attendance Committee and notify parents in writing of the decision of the Attendance Committee within five school days. The decision of the Committee is final.
6. High School Credit-Bearing Classes
   • High school credit is awarded for the following classes: French I, French II, Latin I, Latin II, Spanish I, Spanish II, Geometry, Algebra, and World Geography. In addition, students enrolled in these courses must meet the James Monroe High School attendance and Walker-Grant criteria. Please review the link with your students to ensure they are prepared for on-time graduation.
   • What It Takes to Graduate
7. Release of Students
   • Administrators, faculty, and staff shall not release a student during the school day to any person not authorized by the parent or guardian. The burden of proof that the release is authorized is on the person receiving the student. All families must provide written requests and authorization of release with the complete name of the adult person receiving the student. All students and adults must comply with our school’s formal checkout system to ensure this requirement is met. The adults must provide valid identification.
8. Tardies
   • Being late isn’t acceptable. Classes begin when the bell rings. Unexcused tardiness will be tracked in PowerSchool and affect academic performance. Students arriving tardy to school must report to the Attendance Office to present a signed note. Every tardy will generate an automatic parent communication. Students demonstrating a continued pattern of tardies will have a student/parent/guardian conference with an administrator. Chronic tardiness and absenteeism may result in activity, athletic, and other privileges being revoked.

The School Board provides a computer system, including the internet, to promote educational excellence by facilitating learning, resource sharing, innovation and communication. The term computer system includes, but is not limited to, hardware, software, data, communication lines and devices, terminals, display devices, printers, CD, DVD and other media devices, tape or flash drives, storage devices, servers, mainframe and personal computers, tablets, laptops, telephones, cameras, projectors, interactive whiteboards/panels, audio-visual equipment, multimedia devices, workstations, remote network access, cloud services, the internet and other electronic services and internal or external networks. This includes any device that may be connected to or used to connect to the school division’s network or electronically stored division material.

All use of the division’s computer system must be (1) in support of education and/or research, or (2) for legitimate division business. Use of the computer system is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use may result in cancellation of those privileges, disciplinary action, and/or legal action. Any communication or material generated using the computer system, including electronic mail, social media posts, instant or text messages, tweets, and other files, including communications and materials deleted from a user’s account, may be monitored, read, and/or archived by division staff.

This policy applies to all division computer system users. By using or accessing the computer system, the user agrees to abide by this policy and the superintendent's Technology Use Guidelines.

The superintendent is responsible for establishing Technology Use Guidelines containing the appropriate uses, ethics, and protocols for the use of the computer system. The superintendent is also responsible for reviewing and updating, as necessary, the Guidelines at least every two years. It is the user’s responsibility to know and follow this policy and the Technology Use Guidelines.

The guidelines include:

1. A prohibition against use by division employees and students of the division’s computer equipment and communications services for sending, receiving, viewing or downloading illegal material via the internet;
2. Provisions, including the section and operation of a technology protection measure for the division’s computers having internet access to filter or block Internet access through such computers, that seek to prevent access to:
   1. Child pornography as set out in Va. Code § 18.2-374.1:1 or as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2256;
   2. Obscenity as defined by Va. Code § 18.2-372 or 18 U.S.C. § 1460; and
   3. Material that the school division deems to be harmful to juveniles as defined in Va. Code § 18.2-390, material that is harmful to minors as defined in 47U.S.C. § 254(h)(7)(G), and material that is otherwise inappropriate for minors;
3. Provisions establishing that the technology protection measure is enforced during any use of the division's computers;
4. Provisions establishing that all usage of the computer system may be monitored;
5. Provisions designed to educate students and employees about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with students and other individuals on social networking websites, blogs, in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response;
6. Provisions designed to prevent unauthorized online access by minors, including “hacking” and other unlawful online activities;
7. Provisions requiring every user to protect the security of information necessary to access the computer system, such as usernames and passwords, and prohibiting the sharing of passwords;
8. Provisions prohibiting the unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of photographs and/or personal information of or regarding minors; and
9. A component of internet safety for students that is integrated in the division’s instructional program.

Use of the school division’s computer system shall be consistent with the educational or instructional mission or administrative function of the division as well as the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities and developmental levels of students.

The division’s computer system is not a public forum.

Users of the division’s computer system have no expectation of privacy for use of the division’s resources or electronic devices including non-division owned devices while connected to division networks or computer resources.

Software and/or services may not be installed or downloaded on the division’s computer system without the prior approval of the superintendent or superintendent’s designee.

No employee or agent of the School Board or person or entity contracting with the School Board may download or use any application, including TikTok or WeChat, or access any website developed by ByteDance Ltd. or Tencent Holdings Ltd. (i) on ay device or equipment issued, owned or leased by the School Board, including mobile phones, desktop computers, laptop computers, tables, or other devices capable of connecting to the Internet. The failure of any user to follow the terms of this policy or the Technology Use Guidelines may result in loss of computer system privileges, disciplinary action, and/or

appropriate legal action. Users of the system agree to indemnify the School Board for any losses, costs, or damages relating to or arising out of any violation of this policy or the Technology Use Guidelines.

The School Board is not responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged or unavailable when using the computer system or for any information retrieved via the Internet. Furthermore, the School Board is not responsible for any unauthorized charges or fees resulting from access to the computer system.

All students who stay after the instructional day must be supervised by a faculty or staff member or coach. The Activity Bus leaves at 4:30 PM. The Sports Bus leaves at 5:00 PM and is for athletes only unless approved by an administrator. Students are required to have a bus pass from their teacher, sponsor, or coach. Passes are not available in the main office.

A student awards assembly will be held at the end of each nine-week period to recognize student achievement and accomplishments. During these assemblies, students will be eligible for various awards, including the "A" Honor Roll, the "A-B" Honor Roll, attendance recognition, and teacher classroom awards.

To qualify for the "A-B" Honor Roll, students must not receive a grade lower than a "B" in any subject. These assemblies celebrate students' hard work, dedication, and academic excellence, and we encourage all students to strive for these recognitions. The dates, times, and grade levels for the awards assemblies are provided in the table below:

Students will be permitted to use a backpack during the school day to carry classroom supplies and assignments between classes. However, Walker-Grant Middle School is not responsible for any lost or stolen items if students take a backpack or book bag to class.

The administration reserves the right to prohibit backpacks from being brought to school at any time to ensure a safe and orderly school environment. For safety and logistical reasons, backpacks and book bags should only contain materials required for instructional activities during the school day. The administration also reserves the right to revoke this privilege for a student at any time. Additionally, backpacks may be searched at any time in accordance with School Board policy.

Walker-Grant Middle School is committed to providing a caring, respectful, and safe environment where all students can learn and grow in a secure and supportive atmosphere. Bullying of any kind—whether physical, verbal, social, or online—is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.

Students and parents are encouraged to report any incidents of bullying with the confidence that all concerns will be addressed promptly and appropriately. Reports can be made to any faculty member, including teachers, school counselors, or administrators. Students should understand that speaking up is the right thing to do—it is always okay to TELL.

To report bullying, students may also use the Bullying Help Form, which is available on the Walker-Grant Middle School website at: Counseling

Together, we strive to maintain a positive and inclusive school climate where every student feels safe and supported.

Students are only permitted to enter or exit their assigned bus at their assigned bus stop. Students may only ride a bus different from their assigned bus if they have a note from a parent/guardian that has been approved by an administrator. Notes should be brought to the office by 8:00 AM. All Walker-Grant Middle School and Fredericksburg City Public Schools policies, regulations, and rules apply to students riding buses. Disciplinary incidents on buses may result in administrative action, including suspension from riding the bus.

Riding the school bus is a privilege—not a right—and may be suspended or revoked if students fail to follow safety and discipline expectations. Students who engage in misconduct or violate the Student Code of Conduct while on the bus may face disciplinary action, including the suspension or permanent loss of bus privileges. The school principal has the authority to take such action and will notify parents or guardians if a student’s behavior endangers the safety, health, or well-being of other riders.

Morning and Afternoon Procedures

• Upon arriving at school in the morning, students must remain seated on the bus until the driver instructs them to disembark.
• In the afternoon, students are expected to report directly to their assigned bus immediately following dismissal, when their bus is called not before.
• Misconduct on the bus will not be tolerated and may result in suspension from both bus transportation and school.
• All school rules apply while students are traveling to and from school on the bus.

Bus Assignments and Alternate Transportation

• Students must board the bus at the stop closest to their home and ride only their assigned bus.
• To ride a different bus, students must bring a signed note from a parent or guardian and obtain a bus pass from the main office on the morning of the intended change.

Seating and Bus Rules

• Bus drivers and/or school administrators may assign seats to students at any time as needed.
• A copy of the official bus rules will be distributed to all students at the beginning of the school year and must be reviewed with care.
• By following these guidelines, we work together to ensure a safe and respectful transportation experience for all students.

By following these guidelines, we work together to ensure a safe and respectful transportation experience for all students.

Per POLICY-JFC2, no student phones will be allowed to be used by students during the instructional day. Research shows that social media use distracts students from learning and negatively affects mental and emotional well-being. Cell phone use and reliance on social media can be tied to lowered academic achievement, poor behavior choices, anxiety, depression, and loneliness, as well as disengagement in the classroom and social settings.

FCPS and JMHS firmly believe in the need to minimize distractions to promote learning, build social skills, and improve mental health. Students who wish to bring their phones to school will need to lock up their phones in specially designed, magnetized Yondr phone pouches during the school day. At the end of the school day (or if students leave the building early) the pouches will be unlocked at exits.

All other personal communication devices such as smartwatches, tablets, E-readers, personal laptops, earbuds, and all other non-school-issued devices are strictly prohibited and must be powered off and stored away.

Should any faculty or staff member see a student's phone not stowed away in a Yondr pouch, they are to alert an administrator, and the student will be required to relinquish their device for the rest of the school day. The student and/or guardian 7 may pick up the device at the end of the day. Students who refuse to relinquish their device will have their parent/guardian notified, who will be required to pick their student up.

• What happens if a student uses a phone inappropriately (cyberbullying, harassment, etc.)? This hasn’t changed from previous years and depends on what the inappropriate behavior is. Consequences could range from suspension to expulsion and may include court or legal action.
• What happens if a student forgets their Yondr Pouch? The Phone will be stored in the main office until the end of the day.
• What happens if the student loses their Yondr Pouch? The replacement cost is $30. The student will not be allowed to bring a phone until the $30 is paid.
• What happens if the student damages their Yondr Pouch? The replacement cost is $30. The student will not be allowed to bring a phone until the $30 is paid.

Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) believes that the behavior of an individual student should never disrupt the learning environment for others. Each year, all students and families are provided with the FCPS Code of Student Conduct, which outlines behavioral expectations and disciplinary procedures that will guide school administrators throughout the school year.

All disciplinary incidents will be thoroughly investigated by school administrators, and consequences will be determined based on the nature and severity of the infraction, as well as the student’s previous disciplinary history. Additional details about student discipline policies can be found in Policy JFC – Student Conduct.

To support positive behavior and school climate, FCPS administrators participate in professional development focused on reviewing discipline data and implementing strategies to reduce behavior-related disruptions. The division also remains committed to developing character education programs across all grade levels to promote responsible behavior and increase academic success.

Student Expectations

All students are expected to meet the following daily responsibilities:

• Attend all scheduled classes, arrive on time, and come prepared with necessary materials.
• Put forth their best effort and complete all assignments, including homework.
• Follow all school rules, procedures, and expectations.
• Avoid disruptive behavior and unnecessary talking during class—whether in-person or virtual.
• Demonstrate respect for themselves, their peers, teachers, administrators, and all staff members at Walker-Grant Middle School (WGMS).

Staying Informed

To remain up to date on important school information, procedures, and announcements, students and families are encouraged to:

• Regularly visit the Walker-Grant Middle School website.
• Monitor ParentSquare notifications, which provide essential messages from teachers, administrators, and district officials. · Sign up for eAlerts to receive important messages.
• Listen for automated phone calls and voicemails from school administrators.
• Follow the school’s official social media accounts for current news and updates.

Staying connected through these platforms helps ensure families are informed and engaged in school events, changes, and student expectations throughout the year.

To support a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment, Walker-Grant Middle School does not permit the delivery of flowers, balloons, gifts, birthday treats, or similar items to students during the instructional day. These items can disrupt classroom learning and pose challenges to student safety and equity. If such items are brought to the school, they will be held in the front office, and parents or guardians will be notified to pick them up. We kindly ask that all special celebrations be planned outside of school hours.

Additionally, commercial food deliveries are not allowed during the school day. Parents and guardians are not permitted to place food orders for students through services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, or similar platforms. These deliveries interrupt instructional time and interfere with the effective implementation of our Title I program requirements. Any commercially delivered food that arrives at the school will be confiscated and not delivered to students.

Students are encouraged to bring lunch from home or use the school’s meal services. Your cooperation is essential in helping us maintain an orderly, safe, and uninterrupted educational environment for all students.

The Walker-Grant Middle School Counseling Department is committed to supporting students in all areas of development: academic, personal/social, and career planning, through a strong partnership with families, staff, and the community.

The Counseling Office assists students with a wide range of concerns, whether related to academics, personal adjustment, emotional well-being, or future planning. Numerous support services are available upon request, and students, parents, or teachers are encouraged to reach out when assistance is needed. Counseling sessions are confidential and designed to foster student growth and success.

Students who wish to meet with their counselor may:

• Ask their teacher to request an appointment
• Contact their assigned counselor directly, or
• Complete the online Tiger Help Form, available on the WGMS website: Counseling

Students with special needs should speak with their counselor to access the services of additional school support personnel, which may include:

• School Psychologist
• Learning Disability Resource Specialist
• Hearing and Speech Specialists
• School Social Worker or Attendance Officer
• Homebound Instructor (for absences exceeding one month, as needed)

Counseling Staff

• Mrs. Kimberly Cunningham — School Counselor (students with last names A-G)
• Ms. Celeste Wilson — School Counselor (students with last names H-O)
• Ms. Karish Johnson — School Counselor (students with last names P-Z)
• Mrs. Courtney McWhirt — School Counseling Administrative Assistant and Student Records Manager

Our counseling team is here to support every student’s well-being and academic success. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—we are here to help.

Walker-Grant Middle School is a place for learning and teaching. To maintain a safe, respectful, and focused educational environment, all students are expected to wear clothing that is appropriate for instructional activities and free from distractions. Attire should promote a positive school climate, reflect personal responsibility, and support academic success.

Students who do not follow the dress code will be required to change clothing before returning to class. Repeated violations will be considered defiance and may result in disciplinary action, including In-School Suspension (ISS).

General Dress Code Expectations

Students must:

• Wear appropriate footwear at all times
• Wear clothing that fully covers undergarments and cleavage
• Wear pajama pants on Fridays ONLY
• Ensure shorts and skirts are at least fingertip length when standing upright

Students may not:

• Bring blankets
• Expose undergarments
• Wear excessively torn jeans or midriff-baring shirts
• Wear clothing that includes sexual references, profanity, hate speech, violence, or depictions of drugs, alcohol, weapons, gang affiliation, or illegal activities
• Wear jewelry with spikes or sharp edges (e.g., animal accessories)
• Wear swimsuits or muscle shirts, half-shirts, tube tops, halter tops, or other revealing or transparent clothing
• Wear anything that disrupts or distracts from the learning environment

Head and Face Coverings

To support safety and school climate, head and face coverings that obscure a student’s identity are not permitted. This includes:

• Hoods
• Hats or caps
• Bonnets or scarfs
• Skull caps
• Gaiters or ski masks
• Any other facial coverings not approved for health, religious, or educational reasons

Exceptions include:

• Head or face coverings worn for religious purposes
• Medical face coverings (e.g., for COVID-19 or other health-related needs)
• Items worn for educational or extracurricular reasons (e.g., athletic gear)

Students with questions regarding these exceptions should speak with the principal in advance.

Student & Family Responsibility

Parents/guardians and students are responsible for ensuring that clothing meets school expectations before arriving on campus. If there is any uncertainty about whether an item is appropriate, it is best not to wear it.

If a student arrives in clothing deemed inappropriate, they may:

• Be required to change before returning to class
• Be placed in ISS until appropriate clothing is available

Final Authority

The school administration reserves the right to make the final determination regarding the appropriateness of student attire. The dress code is designed to support a safe, inclusive, and distraction-free learning environment. Repeated violations will result in progressive disciplinary action.

Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a respectful and academically focused school environment.

Due dates promote academic success and develop time management skills. They also provide the needed structure and routines for teaching and learning. To excel in class and on end-of-year SOLs, teachers strategically design curricula to build skills and content knowledge throughout the school year. Due dates ensure students practice and master skills and content and receive timely feedback before moving on to new learning objectives.

Students are expected to make the most of class time to meet deadlines. In the event of a missed class due to an excused absence, students are to collaborate with their teacher to determine a suitable extension for submitting work without penalty.

Excused absences include:

• Absences due to illness
• Absences approved by a physician or the school nurse
• Absences due to religious holidays
• Absences due to a death in the immediate family
• Absences (prearranged) for other reasons, which are approved in advance by the school principal or designee
• All excused absences require appropriate documentation submitted to the Attendance Secretary. See Attendance and Tardy Policy, Section B

All other absences are unexcused unless an administrator determines the extenuating circumstances. Students absent unexcused or who miss a deadline for any reason may turn in work one class period beyond the initial deadline and receive a 20% deduction for lateness. Work turned in past the class period following a deadline will not receive credit.

Students may not be signed out after 2:15 PM on a regular school day and 11:30 AM on an early dismissal day.

We understand there may be unavoidable circumstances such as a family emergency or medical appointment that cannot be scheduled outside of the instructional day. If you require early dismissal, you must bring a note signed by a parent or guardian to the Attendance Office by 8:00 am on or before the day you require an early dismissal.

The note must include the date and time of dismissal, the student’s name, the parent’s or guardian’s telephone number, and the reason for dismissal. Parents or guardians must come to the attendance office to sign their student out of school. Students with parking permits will be released at the time stated on their note