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Important Information for Incoming Students: 2025-2026

 March 19
We hope you are having a fabulous Spring Break reading a good book ❤️
 
World Water Day....Summer Reading Announcement!
World Water Day | UN-Water
World Water Day is on Saturday March 22 We celebrate water and raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. This year the theme is Glacier Preservation. 
 
All of the Walker summer reading books are connected to Water!
  • Year 1: Flush
  • Year 2: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
  • Year 3: Dry or The Water Wars
     
And all of the activities we will do while we read connect to the IB Learner Profile and the Global Contexts...I will share detailed information in May. Then in August, all eight of your IB Subject classes will have lessons & assignments that connect to your Summer Reading Book!
 
The IB MYP develops inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through education that builds intercultural understanding and respect.
 
Want to learn more about IB? Sign up for the IB Basics - Parent Series Walker Parents: IB Basics - Parent Series (signupgenius.com)
 
March 12 - IB Subjects
 
The IB Middle Years Programme curriculum framework comprises eight subject groups, providing a broad and balanced education for early adolescents. 
The 8 Required IB MYP Subjects and the district (subject) names:
  1. Mathematics (Math)
  2. Sciences (Science)
  3. Language and Literature (English Language Arts and Reading)
  4. Language Acquisition (World Languages)
    • Spanish
    • French
  5. Individuals and Societies (US History, Civics, World History)
  6. Physical and Health Education (PE)
  7. Arts (Electives)
    • Agriculture
    • Art
    • Band
    • Computer/Technology
    • Culinary
    • Orchestra
    • Robotics
    • Yearbook                                  
  8. Design (Unique to IB)
    • Year 1 Design 
    • Year 2 Design 
    • Year 3 Design 
More information: MYP curriculum - International Baccalaureate® (ibo.org)
 
FOCUS ON MATHEMATICS- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
 
FAQ #1: What math tracks are available at Walker?
 
Middle School
Accelerated
Double Accelerated
Year 1
6th Grade Math
6th Grade Math Advanced
Pre-algebra (8th grade skills/standards)
Year 2
7th Grade Math
Pre-algebra 
(8th grade skills/standards)
Algebra Honors (HS credit)
Year 3
Pre-algebra
Algebra 1 or Algebra Honors 
(HS credit)
Geometry Honors (HS credit)
 
FAQ #2: Does Walker have a regular track?
·         The Middle School track is designed for students to take the grade 6-8 level math courses in middle school.
·         Students will take HS credit math courses as a high school student. 
o   This track allows students to start Algebra 1 during the 9th grade year of high school.
 
FAQ #3: Who is eligible to take the Accelerated math track?
·         All students that scored level 3, 4, or 5 on the 4th grade 2023-24 PM3 - Progress Monitoring 3 will be placed in the Accelerated track.
o   Level 4 and 5 students will be invited to learn more about the Double Accelerated track, but parents can choose to stay in the Accelerated.
o   Accelerated track allows students to take Algebra 1 or Algebra Honors (HS credit) in Year 3.
o   Grades earned in HS credit courses taken during middle school count toward your High School GPA.
o   Accelerated track allows students to take IB, AP, and Dual Enrollment courses during high school.
 
FAQ #4: Who is eligible to take the Double Accelerated math track?
    This track is for students who ❤️ Math, it comes easily to them, and they have the maturity and organizational skills to handle a high school course load while in                  middle school.
  • Parents of incoming 6th grade students that scored a level 4 or 5 on the 4th grade Math 2023-24 PM3 - Progress Monitoring 3, will receive an invitation to the Double Accelerated Informational Meeting in a separate email. The Assistant Head of School for Curriculum (APC) and the Mathematics Department Head (SAL) will address the requirements and expectations of the Double Accelerated Track at this meeting. 
  • If your child did not take the Florida 2023-24 PM3 - Progress Monitoring 3, we will contact you in a separate email.
  • Please note that these emails will not be sent until after we have all of the updated information from HCPS Mathematics Department which we anticipate will be no later than April 4.
        FAQ #5: What about incoming Year 2 /7th and Year 2/ 8th grade students ?
·   Students will be placed based on the level of math completed at their current middle school.
 
Save the Dates:  Double Accelerated Math Program 
  • Double Accelerated Informational Meetings on Thursday April 17 https://sugeni.us/Vqco
    • 9:00am - 10:00am on Zoom
    • 1:00pm - 2:00pm on Zoom
    • 5:30pm - 6:30pm in the Walker Cafeteria
  • Double Accelerated Math Testing at Walker Sign up will OPEN on April 17 at 6:30pm
    • Friday April 25
      • Begin arriving at 4:15pm, MUST be in room 401 by 4:25pm
    • Saturday April 26
      • Begin arriving at 8:00am, MUST be in the cafeteria by 8:25am
 
 
March 7- IB Basics Sign Up Error Walker Parents: IB Basics - Parent Series
 
Unfortunately, an error occurred on our SignUp Genius account while adding more time slots as requested by many parents. Most of the registrations for the IB Basics - Parents Series were deleted. The only solution by the company was to ask families to re-register. 
  • May 21 & 28 at 7:00pm - were not deleted but you can make a change to the new time if it works better for you. There is an option at the top of the page to make a change to your sign up when you log in.
 
The good news is that I have added an additional session for each date since our Zoom account has a 99-device limit per session! 
  • Each date/topic now has a 6:15-6:45pm and a 7:00-7:30pm session
 
 Please Re-Sign Up: Walker Parents: IB Basics - Parent Series
March 7 - Walker STEM Summer Camp $
 
Register for STEM Summer Camp: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUtw3U3EM4ApKyk3cmUnwHWgjEmBJaMr79ntay3aQ6VRvzmA/viewform
This camp is open to current & incoming students!
Camp
 March 5 - Ice Cream Social & Wolf Camp
 
Welcome to Walker Ice Cream Social
This is an opportunity for our incoming students and immediate family to visit Walker's campus. The evening event starts at the gate to our Gymnasium where you will be greeted by Walker's Band. Inside the gym you will have the opportunity to learn about the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) Community Engagement requirements. Walk through the gallery of projects and hear students share information about their Year 3 Community Service Projects and Service As Action creative reflections.  Then you will be matched up with National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Tour Guides to walk through the campus as they share their student perspectives of Walker. As you reach the cafeteria patio, you will hear Walker's Orchestra playing and say goodbye to your student tour guides. Inside the cafeteria, PTSA volunteers will be serving Ice Cream Bars to our incoming students, Teachers from all 8 IB Subjects will be available to talk with families and representatives from Sports and Clubs will share information on how students can get involved. From start to finish, the event is 45 minutes.
 
 
 
Walker Wolf Camp and optional Parent 101 Meeting
Walker Wolf Camp is a one day, 4-hour opportunity for NEW Walker students to meet some of the Year 1 /6th grade teachers and to make some new friends before the 1st day of school! Parents have the OPTION to stay for Parent 101 at 8:00am - 9:00am in the MEDIA CENTER on the date their child is attending the camp. The last camp session ends at 12:00pm. Parents should pick up their children in the car line (close to the flag pole in front of the school) NO Later than 12:30pm.
           Sign Up CLOSES on Wednesday July 9, 11:59PM
February 24 - 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!
 
HCPS District Family and Community Engagement
  • District Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Academy, Saturday March 1 at Tampa Bay Tech
    • FACE Academy aims to uplift and inspire families by providing essential resources and tools to help every child excel both academically and personally. Come learn strategies and tools that support your child's success, strengthen your voice as an advocate, and more. Explore family resources centered around education, employment, finance, health, wellness and more.
    • Event Details: FACE Academy / Overview
February 19 - Transportation
 
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; The 1st 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: Magnet Schools / Transportation  
     
  • 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.
 
Private Bus Transportation 
  • Families that attend Westchase Elementary were sent information about Recreation Express.  A Walker parent living in Westchase set up this transportation option that picks up and drops off at the Westchase Golf Course.  Tampa School Bus Rentals ~ Tampa Bay Bus Tranportation, Tampa FL (tampa-schoolbus.com) This private bus is not connected to HCPS. I am sharing this information with you as a service to our families. Please contact Recreation Express with questions, not Walker Middle Magnet.
 
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. PTSA board members will be at the April 30 Welcome to Walker - Ice Cream Social with more information!
    • 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 HCPS program run by Walker teachers. The morning session opens at 6:30 am and the afternoon session closes at 6:00pm. Space is limited, so when registration opens this summer, you must sign up right away!  HOST (Before and After School, Summer Care) Programs / Overview
    • Access Points: Families of our special needs students will drop off/pick up students in the area that the buses unload. No other vehicles are permitted in the bus area. They will have an ESE Drop Off/Pick Up car line tag in the vehicle—please allow them to merge and pass as needed. Access Points students will be met at the car starting at 8:10am by a teacher or paraprofessional that will escort them into the school.
 
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.
 
#IBaWorldTraveler
Transportation around the world on planes, trains, subways and boats! Students may travel with or without family members. Follow the links to learn more about our international travel program and IB a World Traveler Club IB a World Traveler .
 

February 12, 2025 - Welcome & Important Dates

 

Congratulations and Welcome to the Walker Wolf Pack!

We are so excited that you accepted your child's offer to attend Walker Middle Magnet IB World School for the 2025-2026 school year!

Walker was recently recognized by Magnet Schools of America as a 2025 Top National Magnet School of Excellence ❤️

Now that you have "ACCEPTED":

  • Follow Walker Middle Magnet IB World School on X/Twitter @WalkerMiddleIB 
  • Follow Walker Middle IB on Instagram @walkermiddleib 
  • Follow Walker IB Coordinator on X/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 2025-26 school year begins.

 

#WalkerWednesday: 

  • I will send you an email every Wednesday, starting today, February 12 and ending on May 28 !
  • Every email subject line will start with #WalkerWednesday and end with - the topic for the week. 
  • I will answer ALL of the FAQs in weekly "chunks"!

Save the Dates - Sign Ups 

  • March 26 - May 28: IB Basics - Parent Series Sign up for one or all evening Zoom sessions https://sugeni.us/VoUQ
  • April 30, 5:00pm - 7:15pm: Welcome to Walker Ice Cream Social Sign Up for your start/end time https://sugeni.us/VoeW
  • July 29 or 30, 7:30am -12:00 noon: Walker Wolf Camp & Parent 101 (8:00am - 9:00am). Camp is one day, choose one date https://sugeni.us/VoUm
  • August 8: Walker Open House - details will be sent to you in July - message will come from the school
  • August 11: First Day of 2025-2026 School Year

#IBaWorldTraveler: 

You may have heard that as an IB World School, Walker students and families have educational opportunities to travel the world.

  • In June 2026, we are traveling to Japan on the "Robotics, Engineering, and Future of Cities in Japan" tour. We have only 13 traveler spots left!
  • Want to travel with us? Follow the links below to Sign Up for an informational meeting!
  • This tour is run by EF/Educational Tours and is not directly associated with Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS). 

 Want to share this information with additional family members? 

 

 

 

Josephine S. Corder, M.Ed.

IB MYP 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 close up of logosDescription automatically generated

                
    A 2025 Top National Magnet School of Excellence

            2024-25 The Year of the Pack

                        Positive attitudes

                       Active engagement

                      Caring community

                      Kindness in Action