eNews

Sign-up for eNews

To view past eNews, click here and select "Walsh MS" in the dropdown menu.


November 5, 2009

WALSH CELEBRATES!!

Walsh Middle School received 5 Gold Performance Acknowledgments for 2009 TAKS results. The acknowledgments are in the following areas:

Reading
Math
Writing
Science
Social Studies
(Attendance was not a measure for Walsh due to not having historical attendance data to compare)

Attention DUKE Talent Search Participants

Good news! The online enrollment deadline for January SAT and February ACT testing has been extended to 12/7/09. The paper application postmark deadline for these dates is now 11/13/09. (Enrollment for the December test date has passed.)

SCHOOL SAFETY

We had our first random drug dog visit conducted by the Williamson County Sheriff's Department this week. All principals and our campus SRO were present during the search. In the past we have had the dogs only go past lockers, yet this week we visited random classrooms. The procedure for this portion of the visit was very systematic and organized. Students in the classroom were told what was about to occur. They were asked to leave their belongings and move out into the hallway. The dogs then entered the classroom and made their search

Today was just one more way that Walsh is fulfilling our commitment to you to keep your students safe at school. If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the school and speak to one of the principals.

VETERANS DAY, NOVEMBER 11TH

On Veterans Day, November 11, we come together as a Nation to thank and honor Veterans for their service. Our students will contribute to a Remembrance Wall by taking home "bricks" that will memorialize a veteran's service. The students can use a family member or a friend, and if they don't have a personal connection to a veteran, the librarian is creating a Veteran's Day Pathfinder on the website so they can learn about a veteran. In addition to the bricks, at 7th grade the students are beginning research on a veteran who is no longer living. They will be creating an epitaph as part of their research and prewriting process, and those epitaphs will be displayed on the Remembrance Wall.

As the purpose of this day is to take a moment to reflect on how we have maintained the freedoms that our country was founded on, we would like to have the students take class time during Social Studies to place their bricks on the wall and reflect on how many people within our Walsh community have been directly impacted by a veteran, and leave a message of gratitude on a graffiti wall nearby. The graffiti wall will be a gift to the troops still serving.

TAG NIGHT

The window for referring a student to be tested for TAG will be opening in two weeks. There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, November 11, at 5:30 in the lecture hall. If you are unable to attend the meeting, there will also be information in the Counselor's Corner on the Walsh website. Please contact Summer Neary at summer_neary@roundrockisd.org if you have further questions.

LIBRARY NEWS

In conjunction with our Read It Forward book, I, Q: Independence Hall, middle schools across the district will be participating in a Rock Band competition. We are in need of An XBox, Wii, or Playstation 3 and the Rock Band game and instrument set (2 guitars, drums, and microphone). If you have any of these items and would be willing to loan them to Walsh, please contact Lori Loranger, Walsh Librarian at 704-0815 or lori_loranger@roundrockisd.org. Use of the equipment will be supervised by an adult at all times.

WALSH SPIRIT NIGHTS

A portion of each sale goes to benefit Walsh students.

Schlotzsky's - 1st Wednesday of every month (starting in November - May)

Pizza Hut - 2nd Monday of every month (starting in November - May)

Papa John's - Tuesday, November 10th

Plucker's - Entire month of December

TEAM PARENT NEEDED

We are still in need of a team parent for 8th Grade Team 1- Dreamers. A team parent is similar to a "room parent" at elementary school. This person would work with the team leader to help organize field trips, email banks, gather campus forms, organize parents for team celebrations, team newsletters, etc. If you are interested in this position, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks so much and have a great week!

LaWanda London

Walsh PTA Volunteer Coordinator

FAMILY FUN NIGHT

November 17, 2009 6-8 pm in the Walsh Gymnasium & Commons

Join us for a night of family fun as we play flag tag, basketball, volleyball, and ultimate football. We will also have an aerobics instructor on site to lead us in some low impact cardio. The commons area will have booths promoting local fitness opportunities and healthy eating ideas.

RRISD ACADEMY INFORMATION

Characteristics of Academies:

Smaller groups for a sense of belonging and for interdisciplinary teaming

Focus on students' interests and aptitudes

Clear and realistic focus on career pathways - Achieve Texas

Heightened awareness of college and career options

Partnering with businesses to develop a qualified workforce

Teacher teams working cooperatively to make the curriculum relevant to the learning and tie it to career pathways

2009-2010 Academies

2010-2011 Academies

. Round Rock High School

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

Human Services Academy

STEM Academy

. McNeil High School

STEM Academy

Health Science Academy

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

. Stony Point High School

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

STEM Academy

Health Science Academy

. Westwood High School

Fine Arts Academy

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

STEM Academy

. Round Rock High School

Law, Safety, and Security Academy

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

Human Services Academy

STEM Academy

. McNeil High School

Law, Safety, and Security Academy

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

Health Science Academy

STEM Academy

. Stony Point High School

Law, Safety, and Security Academy

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

Health Science Academy

STEM Academy

. Westwood High School

Law, Safety, and Security Academy

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

Fine Arts Academy

STEM Academy

. Cedar Ridge High School

STEM Academy

Business, Finance, and Marketing Academy

Human Services Academy

Law, Safety, and Security Academy