Charles Town Middle School

February 2012 Newsletter

Dear CTMS Students and Parents, The year is over half-over! This comes as a relief to most of our students as they look forward to sleeping-in and summer vacations. As educators and guardians, we have to combat mental wanderlust and make sure we keep our kids on track to finish the school year strong. This should be an easily achievable goal, because we have a truly great group at all grade levels. We are very proud of our Panthers! We have important information to share with you. The West Virginia Writing Assessment is coming up quickly in March. Your students will most likely be engaged in a great deal of writing in their classes over the next couple of weeks in preparation for the writing assessment as we work to reinforce proper writing skills. The Writing Assessment requires the students to respond to various writing prompts in essay form. The test is computer-based, so for those with poor handwriting: theres no need to worry! Our students have done very well over the last few years on this part of the Westest and we have no doubt they will continue to perform to high standards. The Writing Assessment counts for 1/3 of the overall Westest score, so it is very important that your child take this seriously and give 110%. The Westest itself will be given later in May. This is the time of year when, unfortunately, many of us seem to come down with a bit of a bug. Sometimes its a 24hour cold that can be cured with some rest and NyQuil, but other times it can be a more serious flu-like condition. Please consider your childs attendance as you monitor your childs health. We dont want our students coming to school if they are ill. We want them home: resting, taking medicine, and recuperating. However, if the ailment doesnt seem that serious, use your best judgment when determining whether or not to send your child to school. Sometimes it can be a tough choice, weve all been there. This is a particularly important time of the year in terms of instruction and we just want to make sure our students are getting everything we have to offer and arent missing out! There will be a new after school program offered to students who are at risk of failing various courses for the year (these estimations are based on first semester grades and third marking-period interim grades). If you have a child at risk of failing a class, rather than enrolling in summer school, this afterschool program will offer an alternative route to a passing grade. The program consists of regularly scheduled afterschool computer based instruction, for some students this maybe a more favorable alternative to summer school. For more information, please contact our school counselors, Mrs. VanOrsdale and Mrs. Lloyd. They will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding failure risks and options for success. Last but not least wed like to congratulate our Girls Basketball Team for an amazing season. That last game at Charles Town came down to the last minute and was a nail-biter. The Boys JV Team also finished with an exceptional season! So, to everyone involved, from the players to the cheerleaders to the coaches to the managers and everyone else who dedicates their time to these activities so that our kids can experience all sorts of extracurricular options, WE THANK YOU!. Mr. Chuck Hampton, Principal Mrs. Bettina Sperry, Asst. Principal Mrs. Ann Workman, Asst. Principal Mr. Dustin Weaver, Leadership Team

FFA Week at CTMS

The National FFA Week Celebrations were a success at CTMS! The staff at CTMS would like to thank the FFA members for their delicious and most generous teacher breakfast We would like to thank the students, parents, guardians, and staff for their generous contributions to the FFA Can food drive!

FFA Canned food drive results: 1st place Mrs. Allens band room: 180 cans 2nd place Ms. Diamonds room: 175 cans 3rd place Mrs. Brasher: 74 cans

Over 500 cans collected for Jefferson Ministries

Miss West Virginia, Spenser Wempe, visits Charles Town Middle School. Spenser Wempe, the currently crowned Miss West Virginia, shared the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance and discussed the meaning of patriotism to Charles Town Middle Schools sixth graders. The assembly was held in in Charles Town Middle Schools gym on February 15th.

The Team Winners for the County were CTMSs 6th grade team and 8th grade team ~ Individual Winners (*will go onto to the Regional competition) 6th Grade Jackie Arnold*~1st Place, Meagan Trivett*~3rd Place, Jackson Stewart2nd Alternate 7th grade: Bailey Price*~2nd Place, Dara Insixiengmay *~3rd Place 8th Grade: Andres Siles *~1st Place, Tyler Myatt *~3rd Place, Tim Joy-1st Alternate, Evan Snyder=2nd Alternate

Additional School Entry Immunization Requirements Beginning in the 2012-2013 School Year
7th Grade Requirement
Tdap (1 dose) Meningococcal (1 dose) th *There are no provisional enrollments permitted for the 7 grade requirements. th Students must show proof of these vaccinations to enter 7 grade.

12th Grade Requirement

Tdap (1 dose)

Meningococcal (2 dose required if the first dose was th received before the 16 birthday) th *There are no provisional enrollments permitted for the 12 grade requirements. th Students must show proof of these vaccinations to enter 12 grade

nd

School Entry Immunization Requirements for 7th Graders

Dear Parents and Guardians, Vaccines save lives and protect our children. When young children are about to enter Pre-K and kindergarten for the first time, parents have to make sure that their child is up to date on their shots. However, young children are not the only ones that need shots.

Starting with the 2012-2013 school year, students entering 7th grade will have shot requirements. These requirements must be met before they can start school. Children that are current with their adolescent shots may have already met the new requirements, however many have not. Before the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, students entering 7th grade must show proof of a booster dose of Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) and a dose of the meningococcal vaccine.
Although Tdap and meningococcal shots are required for entry into seventh grade, they are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for adolescents beginning at age 11. Parents are encouraged to have their children immunized after they turn 11, rather than wait until right before the start of 7th grade to ensure that they are fully protected from these vaccine-preventable diseases throughout their adolescence. Seasonal influenza and the HPV vaccine are also recommended, although not required for adolescents. Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective preventive measures available and have saved countless lives. The new adolescent immunization requirements will not only lengthen the time for which immunized students are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, but will also lower their chances of passing diseases to the elderly, children and infants, classmates with weakened immune systems, and others. Immunizations help keep adolescents healthy and prevent problems as they grow older. Take your child to their health care provider for a routine adolescent check-up to determine if your childs shots are current and to meet the 2012-2013 school entry requirements. Children who are found to be missing shots can receive them during that visit. Children without a family doctor or health care provider may visit a local provider or the Health Department. For more information, please contact: Ingrid Daily CTMS School Nurse 304-582-9743 idaily@access.k12.wv.us

Charles Town Middle School Band

2012 Schedule of Events

**All rehearsals and performances are mandatory**

March 1 3 6 & 13 8 & 15 20 28 Jazz Band 3-4pm Eastern Regional Jazz Festival at Shepherd University Frank Center After-School rehearsals 7th grade band 3-5 After-School rehearsals 8th grade band 3-5 Music Booster Meeting 7pm CTMS Region IX Concert Band Festival @ Musselman High School 7th Grade Band performs @ 12 noon 8th Grade Band performs @ 1:00pm

April 3, 5, 17, 19, 24, 26 17 Jazz Band 3-4pm Music Booster Meeting 7pm CTMS

* Chorus reminder*
March 1st - Jefferson County Middle Schools Choral Workshop at HFMS. (Chorus Field Trip)

8th Graders - Jefferson High School Theatre Dept. will be holding

auditions for students interesting in signing up for Acting 1 next year at JHS on March 22, 2012 from 3 to 6 pm. Students are asked to present a memorized one minute monologue for their audition. For more information or questions please contact JHS Theatre Teacher Steve Glendenning at jeffersonhightheatre@gmail.com

PTSO UPDATES:

The tentative date set for Fitness Field day is May 25th.
Next PTSO meeting: Tuesday March 13th at 7:00 PM in the library. Teacher appreciation is March 16th. Items needed: finger foods/grab and go snacks. Donations are appreciated and may be dropped off in the teachers lounge in the morning of the 16th at 7:30 AM, or the day before (March 15th) in the office.

Here comes another great deal from YipDeals!

This GREAT OFFER was prepared to give YOU a discount to a terrific local restaurant while also helping our school to generate funds cooperatively with The Dish in Charles Town and YipDeals. Together we bring you a fantastic 50% OFF Deal! Get a $30 voucher for The Dish but pay only $15! The offer is available for purchasing Thursday, Feb. 23rd through Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 at midnight! Your voucher will be available to redeem through May 23, 2012. Go to https://yipdeals.com/products/dealDisplayExt/736 And access this great offer from The Dish. Don't forget 15% of all vouchers sold will come right back to our PSTO funds! The PSTO will send monthly reminders about deals. If you wish to sign up, please send your email to

CTMSPTSO@comcast.net . You can sign up directly with YipDeals for updates

on great deals in other areas as well! Thank you in advance for your support. Our kids counting on us!

6th GRADE SILVER HAWKS

We have truly been busy both students and teachers this 9 week grading period! Midterms were sent home on Tuesday and need to be signed and returned. In our classes we are learning many new items. Math classes are exploring Algebra! Balance is everything!

Science classes are investigating the powers of the lever, screw, and pulleys. They give many a lift every day!

Social Studies classes are studying world invasions and WWI. How did this happen and can it happen again. It was The War to end all Wars! Then WWII came just around the corner.

Language Arts is approaching the WESTEST Writing assessment in mid-March. We have been writing extensively and turned in our research papers. We are writing a persuasive paper that will sum up everything we have learned so far in the writing process. We have also been reading various novels and learning how to take them apart so we can understand text more effectively. Field Trip information will be forth coming due to the fund raiser moneys not in at this time. Please help your child with the fund raiser. The funds need to be in by Tuesday February 28 to make the most effect on reducing the field trip cost.

Have a great Month!

Thank you to the parents who supply food for staff appreciation! We thank you for your support!
21st Century Learning Students have worked hard on their writing assignments using the West Virginia Writes program. Students may login at home by going to https://student.wvwrites.com/. The site code is wr17-244 and the password is the same as the AR password.

CONGRATULATIONS to Our January Students of the Month: Trajon Brown & Alex Hackney
Students are reminded to continue reading AR every night for 30 minutes. Progress for AR will be on live grades after mid-terms go out. Congratulations to Erin Jackson on receiving second place at the CTMS Science Fair (category of health sciences). Her project measured the damaging effects of soda on teeth. GREAT JOB, ERIN! Math Tutoring! Math tutoring for the 6th grade Purple team is available after school in Mrs. Manns room until 4:00 PM on Wednesdays. Students need to sign up by Tuesday. Students need to be picked up by 4:00 PM. All math tests need to be brought back and signed by parents. Reminder to parents: Purple Puffin field trip to Medieval Times is scheduled for Thursday March 29. Field trip permission forms and money are due February 24. Money is nonrefundable for this event. Gum is no longer allowed in classes by purple puffin teachers due to gum being misplaced on floors and in the fish tank. Please do not send gum to school with your children. Reminder to check live grades to track the progress of your child.

6th Grade Gold Team

Students of the Month:
January: Paris Sokel & Bradley Morrison. February: Brooke Adams & Matthew Carpenter March: Lindsay Heflin & Craig Link

Mrs. Aliucci: Gold Team Social Studies and Science

Medieval Europe will be coming soon to Social Studies. We will devise our own Feudalism in the classroom. Next on our agenda: The Renaissance with European colonization and renewed interest in the arts. After The Renaissance we will study the Revolutions. The American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Industrial Revolutions will all be explored within our studies. In Science we will study outer space. Each team will select a planet and create a brochure convincing people to visit their planet. Some research will be involved. We will also discover oceans and their importance. With spring coming, we will grow our own plants identifying each step along way.

Mrs. Brashear: English/Reading

Students have been working very diligently preparing for the WVWrites. I am so proud of the improvement they are showing and hope they continue to apply written skills they have learned in the classroom. Next month we will begin working on some poetry forms such as limerick, diamante, cinquain, and bio poem. In reading, Honors completed the Hatchet novel and created some beautiful dioramas for display while 7/8 period students learned about the difficulties and dangers of Cambodian refugees in The Clay Marble. Other students enjoyed reading various fairy tales, myths, and tall tales in addition to learning to recognize figurative language. Please continue to read AR to help increase vocabulary and reading comprehension. Reading is the door to knowledge.

Ms. Mackey: Math

Congratulations to the CTMS 6th Grade Field Day Team for winning 1st Place-Team in the county. Also, Congratulations to Jackie Arnold (1st) and Meagan Trivett (3rd) ~ Good luck at regionals in March!

Algebra is where we are headed! Students are preparing for one-step and two-step equations and evaluating expressions. After Algebra, all students will be engaging in all areas of geometry.
**Parents - ask your student if they have their nightly word problems in preparation for the Westest**

7th Grade Golden Dragons

MARCH/APRIL

Striving for excellence, curiosity, and creativity!

Rehbergs Realm (Science)

It is hard to believe that it is the middle of February already! So far this quarter we have talked about disease causing organisms, adaptations, limiting factors, and how behavior responses of organisms can be a combination of both heredity and the environment. Students created a Wanted poster about a disease causing organism. Students also created their own organism and had to write about its adaptations, needs, habitat, and symbiotic relationships with other animals. They impressed me with their creativity! Honors students competed in the school and county science fair recently. They did awesome! Here are the winners of the Jefferson County Science Fair held last month:

Kylie Kershner (2nd in Animal Science), Cara LaVigne (1st in Behavioral and Social Sciences) Hannah Byxbee (2nd in Chemistry), Garrett Richardson (Honorable Mention in Earth and Planetary Sciences) Hunter Coates (Honorable Mention in Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical) Philip Dietrich (Honorable Mention in Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering) Meghan Delaney (Honorable Mention in Energy and Transportation), Emma Locarnini (3rd in Microbiology) Aleah Shadle (2nd in Energy and Transportation), Anna Allen (2nd in Environmental Sciences)
Congratulations to everyone! I am so proud of all of the students that competed. They worked very hard on their projects and the effort st nd rd paid off. Students who placed 1 , 2 , or 3 in the Jefferson County Science Fair will move on to the Eastern Panhandle Junior Regional Science Fair next month at Shepherd!

The Hall Way (English)

Muias Math
February 4th was the Math Field Day competition for Jefferson County. I am pleased to announce our 7th grade winners from CTMS. Bailey Price won 2nd place and Dara Insixiengmay won 3rd place. They will compete in the Regional Math Field Day in March. Also attending were Hunter Baker, Austin Cross, and Mason Steeley. Please help me congratulate all 5 students because qualifying to attend the event made each of them a winner!

Students are busily preparing for the upcoming writing assessment by learning how to respond to different types of prompts and to write in different styles. We are finishing up narrative writing and will move on to descriptive, persuasive, and expository writing. Ask your student to explain the difference! Students are continuing to work on their two week vocabulary units. If you can, run over the words with your child to help them study. Many of them are taking my suggestion to use flashcards and are doing a great job!

Ms. Adams World

We have collected many pictures of mamma polar bears and their cubs, but we are still waiting on that snow! From the tropical jungles of South America we will be traveling to Northern Europe maybe that will increase our chances for cold preciptiation. Two of the most interesting men we talked about during Black History month were Dr. Charles Drew and Garrett A. Morgan. Did you know that Mr. Morgan not only invented the gas mask, which saved thousands of lives in WWI, but he also invented the electric stop light and sold it to the General Electric Company. Dr. Drew developed the protein for separating and preserving blood plasma. He helped establish many blood banks in England and the US during WWII. We honor our country by remember its past and by working toward improving its future.

FLY THE FLAG!

Mrs. Morton's English Classes My students have been focusing on their writing skills this month. They have written an expository essay as well as an essay persuading the school board to "eliminate homework." One of my students felt that global warming was somehow responsible for homework, therefore it should be eliminated. Another felt "homework is the root of all evil!" These kids are too funny! I have enjoyed reading their work. Using the computer program, "WV Writes," the students are preparing for the Westest Writing Assessment coming up in March. Please continue to check your child's LiveGrades to ensure their academic success. If you do not have access to this website, please contact the guidance office for your parent password and user id.

Newsletter8th Grade Gold Team

Mrs. Colberts WV History/Civics Classes:
Mrs. Colbert's WV History and Civics class just wrapped up our Economics study. We are now studying West Virginia's geography and history.

Mrs. Coughlins Math & Classes:

My 8th grade math students have been working very hard on their Geometry Unit. We have been finding area and volume. This is a tough topic for middle school students. Please ask your child what they are working on in math and ensure that they are completing homework daily. If you send me an email (ccoughlin@access.k12.wv.us) saying you read this in our newsletter I will give your child two homework points for this 9 week grading period. Soon we will begin working on solving inequalities, an important topic to prep for Algebra next year. My algebra class continues to impress me with their hard work! We are factoring polynomials, which is a very abstract process for middle school students. Hang in there. In Social Studies we are working on the Civil War era. West Virginia is becoming a state just as the Union is falling apart. I believe we are lucky to live in this area, so rich in history. Much of what we have been reading about has happened right here in the Eastern Panhandle. The Golden Horseshoe Test is coming up in late March. Good Luck Panthers! It can't believe spring is coming and we are finishing up the 3rd 9 weeks. I am enjoying this year, and these students so much. Keep up the hard work we are entering the homestretch now.

Mr. Days 7th Grade Reading Class: We are currently reviewing story structure, Latin roots. Also we are analyzing Greek mythology via Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Mr. Days 8th Grade Reading Classes: Presently we are reviewing story structure, Latin roots, and analyzing the novel: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. *Please feel free to contact me via my school email at <jwday@access.k12.wv.us>.

_________________ Mrs. Ervines English Classes:

English 8 classes are working on writing portfolios consisting of one writing each week. We are also reviewing mechanics and are having mini quizzes two to three times each week. Accelerated Reading has finished an author study of Ray Bradbury and will be beginning the novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham -1963. Honors English will be compiling commonplace books and working with elaboration and proofreading.

Mr. Rockeys Science Classes:

Hello Parents & Guardians! My science classes have started the unit on Chemistry for the third nine weeks. Currently the students are working on a Web-based Inquiry activity investigating the problem of 'Can we slow down Climate Change?' followed by a presentation of their results to the class using technology

8 Grade Purple Team

Let your hungry mind feast on a book!

th

MR. WEAVERS ENGLISH CORNER

All classes have finished reading Robert Louis Stevensons THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. This proved to be a challenging (and hopefully rewarding) read for all the students. In many cases, this is the first time they have read a piece of true literature and examined it not only from a plot perspective but with a critical eye, in an attempt to discern the themes and authors message. I am very proud of the progress that all students have made. Throughout reading the book, the students completed reading guides examining the authors message and intent. Now that we have finished the book we are moving into essay writing. However, the students- for the first time-are creating critical and analytical essays. Essays will be thesis driven using supporting evidence from the text to support the findings. This will be difficult (at first) as it is a new type of writing for the students who are used to more personal narrative/plot recall writings. However, as we progress throughout the year, it will become easier. I am very excited about the rest of the year and very proud of the progress my students have made so far this year. The honors classes have already completed their first analytical essay and I was amazed at their abilities. At this point, we are probably going to be able to make more progress this year than even before. This is a very talented group of students that it is a joy to work with every day. We have just started Jon Krakauers INTO THE WILD, a book that the students and I are very excited about. The novel poses many existential questions about mans nature in the world and the importance of individuality and self reliance in a world consumed by materialism. This is a non-fiction book so it is quite a departure from the Victorian world of JEKYLL/HYDE (a world that we will return to later in the year with Oscar Wildes THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY). I believe the students will really enjoy this book and it will give us the chance to talk about some very complex ideas and philosophies. All in all, I couldnt be happier with the students this year. It is a very talented group of young people. BOGERTS CORNER

All my classes are beginning new novels. Periods 1 & 8 are reading The Watson's Go to Birmingham, Period 3 will be reading The Acorn People and will participate in the PBL that goes along with it, Period 4 is reading The Hunger Games, and Period 6 is reading The Cay. Each novel unit will have Voc Packets and a choice of a final project. All classes will

be using WV Writes to help prepare them for the upcoming Writing Assessment. Top AR
Readers beginning in Term #3: Gabreille Lugo with 30 AR Pts., Kaleigh Elms with 31 AR Morales with 31 AR Pts., Mary Ball with 32 AR Pts., and Hailey Hawthorne with 45.6 AR Pts. "Let Your Hungry Mind Feast on a Book"!

Jefferson County Schools

Menu, 2012
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
1
Sausage Gravy/Biscuits; Fresh Fruit; Milk BBQ Chicken; Mashed Potatoes; Peas; Applesauce; W/W Roll; Milk

MARCH
FRIDAY
2
French Toast w/syrup; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk Fish Sticks; Macaroni and Cheese; Peas and Carrots; Fruit Salad; Oatmeal Cookie; Milk

THURSDAY

5
Pancake w/syrup; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

6
Scrambled eggs w/ham; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk Chicken and Noodles; Green Beans; Fresh Fruit; Whole Wheat Roll; Milk

7
Bagel w/Jelly; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk Vegetable Soup; Toasted Cheese Sandwich; Oatmeal Cookie; Fresh Fruit; Milk

8
Breakfast Pizza; Fresh Fruit; Milk Chicken Patty on W/W Bun; Lettuce/Tomato; French Fries; Baked Beans; Carrots w/Dip; Milk

9 NO SCHOOL

Beef-a-Roni; Tossed Salad w/dressing; Frozen Juice Bar; Whole Wheat Roll; Milk

12 NO SCHOOL

13
Chicken Biscuit; Fresh Fruit; Milk

14
Taco go eggs; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk Hamburger on W/W Bun; Lettuce/Tomato; Baked Beans; French Fries; Fresh Fruit; Milk

15
Egg patty w/Cheese on English Muffin; Fresh Fruit; Milk Baked Chicken; Baked Potato/sour cream; Green Beans; Applesauce; W/W Roll; Milk

16
Ham gravy / Biscuits; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Pizza; Tossed Salad w/Dressing; Fresh Fruit; Brownie; Milk

Fish Sticks; Macaroni and Cheese; Peas and Carrots; Fruit Salad; Oatmeal Cookie; Milk

19
Breakfast Wrap; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

20
Oatmeal; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk

21
Cinnamon roll; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

22
Sausage Gravy/Biscuits; Fresh Fruit; Milk Meat Loaf w/Gravy; Green Beans; Parsley Potatoes; Fresh Fruit; W/W Roll; Milk

23
French Toast w/syrup; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk Pizza; Tossed Salad w/Dressing; Fresh Fruit; Brownie; Milk

Sloppy Joe on W/W Bun; Cole Slaw; French Fries; Baked Beans; Peaches; Milk

Open Faced Turkey Sandwich; Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy; Peas; Brownie; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Chicken Nuggets; Potato Wedges; Baked Beans; Glazed Carrots; Fresh Fruit; Milk

26
Pancake w/syrup; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

27
Scrambled eggs with ham; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk Ground Beef Stroganoff/noodles; Tossed Salad w/dressing; Applesauce; W/W Roll; Juice Bar; Milk

28
Bagel w/Jelly; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

29
Breakfast Pizza; Fresh Fruit; Milk

30
Cheese Omelet; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Chicken Fajitas; Lettuce/Tomato; Sour Cream; Refried Beans; Spanish Rice; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Chicken Noodle Soup; Toasted Cheese Sandwich on Whole wheat; Fresh Fruit; Carrots w/dip; Cookie; Milk

Salisbury Steak; Mashed Potatoes/Gravy; Green Beans; Fruit Salad; W/W Roll; Milk

Fish Sticks; Macaroni and Cheese; Peas and Carrots; Fruit Salad; Oatmeal Cookie; Milk

Visit the new West Virginia Department of Education Child Nutrition website - www.wvsmartfoods.com - for more information about school child nutrition. Free/Reduced Meal Applications are now available online http://wvschoolmeals.net Payments may be made at - http://wv.parentonline.net Please visit the safe and secure way for parents to make online payments and view student meal account activity. Menus are subject to change due to availability of food product. A variety of cold cereals are offered with all Breakfast menus.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call, toll free, (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.