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Important Information for Incoming Students: 2023-2024

#WalkerWednesday Emails for incoming families -  the newest email is on top!

March 15 -There will NOT be a #WalkerWednesday email... Enjoy your Spring Break!

March 8- Thank you to all of the families that attended  IB Basics- Parent Session 1 - IB Learner Profile

Parent Session 1- IB Learner Profile Presentation Slides 

Sign Up for the upcoming sessions! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094eadab2aa13-ibbasics#/

March 8 - Get Involved!

Myth: Children don’t need their parents as much in middle school.

Some parents get to middle school thinking their kids know all about the school routine, so they don’t need to be as involved. But the evidence says otherwise. Even at the middle level, parents still play an important role. Research from Harvard University’s Family Research Project shows that the children of involved parents tend to do better in school across a number of measures, including a higher overall GPA, better scores on standardized tests, and an increased likelihood of enrolling in college. Even though students may roll their eyes about moms helping at school, parents can be reassured that their involvement has long-lasting positive effects on their children’s academic motivation and performance.
Excerpt from: MiddleWeb - All About the Middle Grades
 
Ways to Get Involved at Walker!
  • School Advisory Council (SAC) 2023-24 School Year
  • Attend Parent Information Meetings
    • IB Basics Parent Series on Zoom at 7:00-8:00pm
  • Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA)
 

Uniform and Spirit Store Links have been fixed and dates updated!

Incoming families place orders NOW - April 15 and pick them up on Wednesday May 3 at the Welcome to Walker Ice Cream Social.

 
HOST Program Updates
  • The HOST program enables families to drive their children to school while avoiding the “rush hour” in the morning and afternoon. HOST is a fee-based program run by Walker teachers. The morning session opens at 6:15am and the afternoon session closes at 6:00pm. Space is limited, so when registration opens, you must sign up right away. Registration information will be emailed to all families when available.
  • The registration for next year has not opened yet, but we were sent brochures from the district. See attached in English and Spanish.
  • Summer HOST sites have not been announced yet. I will share all information as it becomes available!

March 1

Today’s #WalkerWednesday topic is Uniforms!

Please read all the way to the bottom for NEW Important Dates and links.

 

Walker Middle Magnet School believes that our uniform policy promotes a positive learning environment and contributes to school spirit and safety.  

 

The Student Uniform shall consist of the following:  

  

Tops 

Only White, Black and Forest Green collared polo shirts shall be worn. White undershirts may be worn underneath, but they must be tucked in. Outerwear such as hoodies, jackets or sweaters must be appropriate; not disruptive or offensive. Outerwear should not cover up the collar of the uniform top and should not be longer than the “bottoms”. Vests and shirts are not allowed as outerwear. 

Bottoms  

Only khaki/beige and black pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, capris, and jumpers may be worn. Hemlines shall be no shorter than fingertip length. (7-inch inseam recommended). All “bottoms” must be worn at the waistline and be a solid color without logos and/or prints of any kind. Short shorts, mini-skirts, yoga-style stretch pants, leggings, athletic shorts, and sweatpants are not acceptable. Blue jeans are allowed on special, designated days. Rips/holes are discouraged. No skin may show through rips/holes. 

Shoes 

Shoes must be worn. Skate tennis shoes and bedroom slippers are unacceptable and not allowed. 

Friday Dress 

Official Walker spirit shirts may be worn on Fridays with uniform bottoms. Student of the Quarter bracelets may be worn, and those students are permitted to wear blue jeans and a spirit shirt.  

PE Uniform

Official Walker t-shirts & shorts and tennis shoes must be worn in Physical and Health Education class. 

 

Uniform and School Store Links

The B&B Store will be open on a rolling schedule. Typically, ordering windows are on or about the 1st - 15th of each month. The uniform link shuts down at the end of the ordering window to process the orders for delivery, then it will re-open. So, if you click on the link and see "This store has expired", it means the B&B Store is processing orders and you will need to come back. It will have a line for HOMEROOM on the order form; since incoming students don't have a HR, just type in NEW STUDENT.

 

Incoming families can pick up orders placed from March 1 - April 15 on Wednesday May 3 at the Welcome to Walker Ice Cream Social.

All families can pick up orders placed in June and July in the main office from Wednesday August 2 - August 8 in the main office.

Once school starts on August 10, students will be given their order during lunch in the cafeteria. 

  • You are not required to purchase a uniform shirt with a logo.
  • You are required to buy PE uniforms with logos. 

 

B&B Store: This store has uniform shirts and PE uniforms: https://walkermiddlestudentuniforms1.itemorder.com/shop/sale/



B&B PTSA Spirit Store: https://walkerspiritstore1.itemorder.com/sale

PTSA Spirit Store: This store can be accessed through the PTSA Website - it has additional items that are not in the B&BPTSA Spirit Store  https://walkermiddlemagnetptsa.memberhub.store/store?category=Spirit%20Wear

More information about PTSA will come in a future #WalkerWednesday email.

 

"School Uniform Policy" can be found on the HOMEPAGE of the Walker Website under the SCHOOL NEWS heading.

 

Save the Dates - Register for Events by April 16, 11:59pm

 

Want to share this information with additional family members? 

February 22

Today’s #WalkerWednesday topic is Transportation!

Please read all the way to the bottom for NEW Important Dates and links.

 

Bus Transportation

  • Hillsborough County Public Schools offers free bus transportation to Walker through the magnet bus system for most of our families. When you applied for Walker, it stated whether transportation would be provided.  
  • IF transportation is provided; The1st bus will pick up the K-12 magnet children in your neighborhood and drive them to one of four bus ramps. From the bus ramp they will transfer to a 2nd  bus that will bring your child to Walker. The same process is reversed in the afternoon. See the HCPS website for more information about the locations of the bus ramps: https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/Page/4985
  • This is the Magnet Transportation phone number: (813) 982-5500
    • You can call them, but they won’t have any information about magnet bus routes at this time. They will tell you to call the school, but we don’t have more information about buses than the transportation department.
    • The magnet bus routes are the last ones planned each year because the routes are based on the families that accept magnet school offers. Typically, families are notified about 2 weeks before school starts with bus stop locations and times. The fastest way to find out about the magnet bus stops in your neighborhood is to talk to your neighbors and observe; if you see multi-age students waiting for a bus early in the morning, they are probably going to a magnet school.
    • It would be great if the district offered direct buses from our closest neighborhoods to save on transportation costs and time spent riding on a bus; we have asked, but it hasn’t happened yet. Perhaps this is an opportunity for parents to participate in “IB Service As Action”, which includes research and advocacy.

 

Car Transportation

  • Most of our families drive their children to school. Please read: Safety Information – Car Line Procedures
    • Carpools are an option we would like you to consider so we can reduce the number of cars on campus and, as a “FL Green School”, we want to reduce carbon emissions.  Walker’s PTSA typically helps families connect through a private Facebook page and online form submission. We will have more information regarding carpools at the Welcome Event May 3.
    • The HOST program enables families to drive their children to school while avoiding the “rush hour” in the morning and afternoon. HOST is a fee-based program run by Walker teachers. The morning session opens at 6:15am and the afternoon session closes at 6:00pm. Space is limited, so when registration opens, you must sign up right away. Registration information will be emailed to all families when available.

 

Walkers and Bike Riders

  • We have a few families and teachers that live within walking and biking distance. These students will be given special passes and safety instruction at the beginning of the school year.

 

Save the Dates - NEW:

 

Want to share this information with additional family members? 

February 8 

We are so excited that you accepted your child's offer to attend Walker Middle Magnet for the 2023-2024 school year!
Welcome to the Wolf Pack!
 
Now that you have "ACCEPTED":
  • Follow Walker Middle Magnet IB World School on Twitter @WalkerMiddleIB 
  • Follow Walker IB Coordinator on Twitter @jmscfla
  • Bookmark our website Walker Middle Magnet / Homepage (hillsboroughschools.org)
  • Add josephine.corder@hcps.net to your contacts so you don't miss important emails. I will be your point of contact until the 2023-24 school year begins.
  • Share your good news with family and friends on social media!
 
#WalkerWednesday: 
  • I will send you an email every Wednesday, starting today, February 8 and ending on May 31 !
  • Every email subject line will start with #WalkerWednesday and end with - the topic for the week. 
  • My goal is to answer all of the FAQs in weekly "chunks"!
Save the Dates:
 
#IBaWorldTraveler: You may have heard that as an IB World School, Walker students and families have educational opportunities to travel the world.  In 2024, we are traveling to Belize and Spain. Register for the February 9 virtual meeting: https://bit.ly/3sSmHtL
 
Want to share this information with additional family members? 
 
 
 

Josephine S. Corder, M.Ed.

IB Coordinator

SAC Chair

Walker Middle Magnet IB MYP World School

International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme

 

 

8282 N. Mobley Road            Odessa, FL 33556

Office:  813.631.4726 x259    FAX:   813.631.4738

Website: https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/walker

Twitter: @WalkerMiddle IB

 

 

                

      

            A 2023 National Magnet School of Excellence

2022-23 Year of Acceptance: Empowering Students to Be the Change