The Warrior's Call

Vol 7 - 2025 April
March 28, 2025
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April is The Month of the Military Child

The Month of the Military Child is a time of reflection and celebration. This month is dedicated to recognizing the unique experiences and contributions of military children, who often navigate a world of constant change with remarkable resilience and grace.

Military children face challenges that many of their peers may never encounter. Frequent relocations, the absence of a parent due to deployments, and friends moving away are just a few of the hurdles they overcome. Despite these obstacles, military children exhibit an extraordinary ability to adapt and thrive. They bring diverse perspectives and experiences to our school community, enriching the lives of their classmates and teachers.

In our school, we honor the Military Child by creating a safe and supportive environment. During the Month of the Military Child, we will have events that give an opportunity for every Military Child to feel a sense of pride and belonging. These events include assemblies, spirit week, a photo drop, and a family bingo night.

We also provide resources and support tailored to the needs of military families. Our counseling services, peer support groups, and academic programs are designed to help military children succeed both academically and emotionally. We work closely with military families to ensure that their children receive the stability and support they need to flourish.

The Month of the Military Child is an opportunity for our entire school community to come together and show our appreciation for the sacrifices and contributions of military children. It is a time to celebrate their strength, resilience, and the positive impact they have on our school. As their principal, I am deeply committed to supporting and honoring these incredible young individuals, ensuring they feel valued and understood every day.


If you're on Facebook or Instagram, be sure to like/follow our pages. It's a great way to keep up with our events and activities.

Together, we are Warrior STRONG!

Your QMHS Administrative Team, 
Miles J. Shea, Principal, 703-459-3693
Ben Kolodziej, Assistant Principal, 703-459-3287

Quantico Middle High School - QMHS - Quality Mentoring Hastens Success

DoDEA's official photo of Mr. Miles J. Shea.

Mr. Miles J. Shea

3307 Purvis Road
Quantico, VA 22134-2198
United States

571-660-9555
DoDEA's official photo of Mr. Ben Kolodziej.

Mr. Ben Kolodziej

3307 Purvis Road
Quantico, VA 22134-2198
United States

571-660-9555

Calendars? We've got them!

QMHS School Website Calendar

The Calendar that is located in the "Calendar" section of this website shows all of our school activities, sports, special events, and days out of school. It is updated regularly and is very reliable. Click the "See Calendar" button to see the full "live" calendar.

See Calendar

April 2025 At-a-Glance

Red = Red day classes
Yellow = Gold day classes
Orange = Orange day classes (all classes meet except R4)
Apr 1- 4 - No School, Spring Break
Apr 7 - No Classes, Teacher Work Day
Apr 8 - Instruction Resumes (Gold Day)
Apr 9 - Early Release, Students attend R1-R3 only
Apr 14 - Report Cards Sent
Apr 21 - No Classes, Teacher Training Day
Looking ahead...
May 7 - Early Release, Students attend R1-R3 only

Click the "QMHS Red/Gold Calendar" button to download the pdf.
 

QMHS Red/Gold Calendar

Attendance Requirements

If your child is absent from school, call (571-660-9555) 
or email (MHS.Attendance@DoDEA.edu) the QMHS Main Office

When your child or children return to school, please provide the main office with a written explanation. Please note that the written explanation, by itself, does not constitute an excused absence.

Additional Info:

  • A doctor's note is required after 3 consecutive days of illness.
  • An Extended Absence Form is required for absences of 5 or more days. This includes for isolation periods, planned trips, and emergencies.

If your child is absent from school, call (571-660-9555) 
or email (MHS.Attendance@DoDEA.edu) the QMHS Main Office.

DoDEA SIS (Aspen) - Checking Grades AND Daily Announcements

Aspen for Grades

Parents, be sure to check your child's grades in the SIS (Aspen) Parent Portal. Your access credentials are the same ones you used when you registered your child(ren). 

In addition to checking grades, the Parent Portal gives you access to your child's attendance information, the public version of our live school Google calendar, and the daily announcements made over the intercom each morning!

Pro-tip: If you don't see this extra information and you're using your smartphone or tablet, try the "View Full Site" link.

Your child has their own access as well.
 

Yearbook Info

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Buy Your Yearbook Like, NOW!

Online Sale Price:  $50

Online Sales end on MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2025

Visit:  https://ybpay.lifetouch.com
Use Code:  8408425

After March 31, 2025, there will be a limited number of yearbooks available for purchase. They will be $60, and only cash will be accepted.

Questions about the yearbook? Please email the yearbook sponsor.

Community News

If you have any community events questions, please contact the School Liaison Officer, Penny Rowley at penny.l.rowley.civ@usmc.mil

MCCQ Child and Youth Programs are listed here:  https://quantico.usmc-mccs.org/marine-family-support/child-and-youth

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Youth Connection through the Arts

Spring Origami

Wendy Anderson from the Workhouse Arts Center will guide young artists (ages 11-18) in the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.

Date: Wed. April 9, 2025 (QMHS Early Release Date)

Time: 1300-1430

Location: QMHS

Provided by:  Your MCCS School Liaison Program

For more information on how your School Liaison can help, call 703-789-3458

Eventbrite Registration Required

Ed Tech Bits

Do you ever wonder what your child hears at school?

Well...I can't tell you everything they hear...but...

Each day at QMHS starts with our morning announcements. These are read over the intercom by a student. They start with the Pledge of Allegiance, continue with the school lunch menu for the day, and then on to the notices that various staff members send in to be read aloud each morning. They always finish with a sports segment, where there's a small report of a recent game or match, or a reminder that a game is upcoming that evening or the following day. REALLY useful information for all students AND staff! 

Similarly, if a game or event gets cancelled or postponed, or any other change to the schedule, the office staff will announce it over the intercom.

However, there's a problem. Have you spotted it?

YES! If anyone is late to school that day, or if they weren't paying attention, they miss the announcements. 

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Student Announcements Google Doc

To solve this problem, QMHS offers the following solution! We have a Google Doc!

That doesn't sound very impressive, does it? I mean, a lot of people have Google Docs. 

I guess the real power in this solution is where and how we're sharing that Google Doc. We have made this particular Google Doc available to QMHS Students, Staff, AND Parents! Yes! PARENTS! You can now read what your child heard (or was supposed to hear) over the intercom each day. How? Well, please read on!

  • QMHS Students can read the morning announcements from their DoDEA SIS (Aspen) landing page AND it's included in the QMHS Students Google Classroom under the "Classwork" tab
  • QMHS Staff can read the morning announcements from their DoDEA SIS (Aspen) landing page AND it's embedded in our QMHS Staff Sharepoint page
  • QMHS Parents/Guardians can read the morning announcements on THEIR DoDEA SIS (Aspen) Parent Portal landing page AND they're free to ask their child to show it to them from their login on their Chromebook
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Smartphone View - Select "View Full Site"

Parents, we know that many of you (probably most) access the Parent Portal from your smartphone. Sadly, from the normal view on your smartphone, you don't see much by way of announcements...but...if you click on "View Full Site" you can see SO MUCH MORE! Please see the image for a visual description.

Hopefully this information will help to support the lines of communication between school and home!

-Special thanks to one of our amazing QMHS parents, BH, for helping with the Parent Portal "Smartphone View" image.

Clubs & Activities

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Featured Pages

Activities

Sports Physical Requirement - All QMHS athletes must have a sports physical each school year from May of the current school year through June 30 of the succeeding year in order to try out for QMHS athletics.

See our DoDEA & QMHS School Handbook (link in the top banner) for information on Eligibility to Participate in Athletics and Clubs.

Click the Flyer button to access the QMHS Athletic Policy Handbook.

School Process Observation Tool (SPOT) Team Visit - March 2025

Follow us on Social Media

DoDEA School Dress Code

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Students MUST wear:

  • Tops with sleeves (sleeveless tops/dresses are permitted for school sponsored formal events such as prom)
  • Solid clothing (not transparent or translucent) that fully covers the top and bottom from armpit to mid-thigh
  • Shoes (shoes must be safe for the school environment)
    • Bedroom slippers shall not be worn, except for school activities approved by the principal
    • Open toe shoes with a strap across the heel are allowed

Students CANNOT wear clothing with:

  • Language or images promoting violence
  • Language or images that depict, promote, or advocate the illegal use or sale of drugs, alcohol or tobacco products; violent conduct; curse words; pornography; that contain threats or expressions which are violent, discriminatory, lewd or obscene; or that advocate or promote any other illegal item or activity or the use of same
  • Derogatory speech/imagery targeting groups based on race/color, ethnicity/national origin, sex, disability, religion, or any other characteristic protected by law
  • Headgear that obscures the face (except as a religious observance or health purpose); clothing items with hoods attached can be worn but must not cover the head

* Teachers/courses can require certain attire as part of the curriculum (for example: physical education, culinary) that may include specific dress

* DoDEA issued athletic uniforms and athletic practice attire outside of the DoDEA school dress code is permitted when worn by participants during athletic practices and sports events

QMHS - Dress Code Clarifications

QMHS and DoDEA believe that a student's attire can affect their attitude, behavior, and achievement. Adherence to the DoDEA School Dress Code ensures that student's clothing and overall appearance meets basic standards for health, safety, cleanliness, and decency. Dress or appearance which disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school will not be tolerated. The administration reserves the right to prohibit an item of clothing that may not be specifically covered by this policy if it threatens the wellness, safety, and security of our school. The DoDEA dress code policy also pertains to all after-school activities and school-sponsored events.

Related regulations

QMHS Activities Outside of School Hours

School Sponsored Nights

QMHS sponsors several programs and activities that occur outside of normal school hours. Often these are referred to as After-School Activities or School Sponsored Nights. These programs and activities are for current QMHS students and are supervised by the administration, staff members, parent volunteers, and the School Resource Officer. If a student is assigned Out of School Suspension, they remain ineligible to attend any School Sponsored activity until 7:20am on the following school day. This time period spans the weekend if the Out of School Suspension is assigned for a Friday. Examples of QMHS School Sponsored Nights could include:

  • College and Career Family Night
  • International Festival
  • Dances*
  • Sporting and Athletic Events*
  • Homecoming
  • Family Reading Night
  • National History Day
  • AP and Honors Night
  • Music Concerts
  • Drama Productions
  • Art Shows
  • Inductions into Honor Societies
*See below for details

QMHS Dances

QMHS Dances are open to current QMHS students only. No other students may attend unless special permission is given by the administration. A student wishing to bring a guest must obtain a guest pass from the dance sponsor at least one week prior to the date of the dance. QMHS administration will issue final approval. Further rules include:

  • All school rules, regulations, and policies are in effect while students attend dances
  • Students who attend a dance must have been present at school on the day of the dance unless a waiver is granted by the administration.
  • Transportation to and from the dance is to be provided by the parents or students have permission to drive to school.
  • Students who attend a dance must be picked up (or leave) within 15 minutes of the ending time of the dance. 
    • Students who are picked up late will be restricted from attending the next dance.
  • Parents who wish to retrieve their child early from the dance must either,
    • Pick them up in person, by entering the dance venue and verifying with a chaperone
    • Provide written permission in advance to the dance sponsor
  •  Students who are removed from a dance for any reason will be ineligible to attend future dances unless approved by administration
  • Inappropriate dancing is not allowed. Always be courteous and considerate of fellow students and chaperones.
  • Middle school students may not attend high school dances and high school students may not attend middle school dances.

QMHS Activities and Athletics

All middle school and high school sports, clubs, and organizational meetings will be advertised during the school year.

Eligibility to Participate in Athletics and Clubs

Besides being present at school on the date of the Athletic or Club event, students must meet grade eligibility. Students who meet eligibility requirements have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and no more than one "F" as a course grade. Grades are checked and eligibility is met according to the following procedure:

  • Student grades will be checked by a school counselor every Wednesday morning at 0700. 
  • The eligibility period is from that time (Wednesday morning) through the following Wednesday morning. Students will not be removed from the list mid-week.
  • Students with grades that do not meet these criteria (above) are considered "Ineligible." Until the student brings their grade into compliance, ineligible student athletes:
    • Cannot be in uniform
    • Cannot participate in any game
    • Cannot travel with the team to away games 

Eligibility for athletic and club activities occurring in Semester 1 is determined by student grades from Quarter 4 of the previous school year. Students who complete summer school may use those grades to count toward eligibility.

Related regulations

School Administrators

Name Position Details Phone
School Webmaster School Webmaster

School Hours

  Start Time End Time
Office Hours 7:00 am 3:30 pm
Student Hours 7:20 am 2:20 pm
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