Raider Nation Newsletter

Week of November 2, 2020

Short Week This Week

Dear Atholton Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying the extra hour gained this weekend!

We have a shortened week this week as there is no school on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (Election Day) and a three-hour early dismissal on Friday, Nov. 6. As we approach the end of the first quarter, this is an excellent time to review what has worked well and what needs to change regarding study and work habits. More information on signing up for parent conferences will be coming soon.

We have finalized the final dates for our senior pictures. Lifetouch Studios has adopted a new scheduling process to help with social distancing and crowd control, per CDC protocol. The students are asked to log onto the PrestigePortraits.com website to "self-schedule" their appointment. If you have a code please enter the number on this page if you do not have a code, please type in Maryland and Columbia where you see the state and city. Select Atholton High School. The student will then use their unique ID number to log onto PrestigePortraits.com to select a date/time convenient for them. To help with the "No-Touch" policy, students/parents are asked to pay the sitting fee online when making their appointment, as no monetary exchanges will take place at the school/location site.

Dates: NOVEMBER 11 & 12, 2020 and January 25 & 26 2021

Start time: 2:00 PM

Ending time 9:00 PM

Location: Auditorium

Given the upcoming general election this Tuesday, HCPSS developed a multi-part lesson to give students adequate space and time for individual reflection in addition to the opportunity for students to revisit class norms for safe space. Teachers have been provided strict guidelines regarding the discussion of the election in their classrooms.

Lastly, interested in earning college credit or dual credit through HCC? Courses are now available for the winter and spring terms! You can find available courses here: Schedules & Catalogs. Enroll in college courses for “college credit” or for “dual credit”. Register soon as classes may fill up. Tuition discounts are available for all high school students. Interested students should contact their high school counselor and follow the instructions outlined here: rb.gy/qkw8w7.

Details: Registration for Winter / Spring HCC-based JumpStart Dual Enrollment courses opens on November 3rd, 2020 (for current students), and November 10th (for new HCC students). Winter semester dates January 4, 2021 - January 28, 2021. Spring semester dates: January 30, 2021 - May 21, 2021.

Questions can be directed to jumpstart@hcpss.org and jumpstart@howardcc.edu, or drop into one of the many support sessions found here.

Have a great week and don't forget to VOTE!

Warmest Regards,

Robert A. Motley

Principal

Three-Hour Early Dismissal Schedule -- Friday, Nov. 6

Support Our Students -- Community Service Project -- A Taste of Howard County

Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Registration

The Advanced Placement (AP) testing program for the 2020-2021 school year has been modified to allow for the maximum flexibility when registering for exams. Students and teachers are navigating the change to the 4x4 block schedule while dealing with the uncertainty of the health and safety for spring testing. The changes below will hopefully help students feel comfortable registering for exams and demonstrating their knowledge.

Last school year, CollegeBoard implemented an emergency at home testing option. CollegeBoard is currently not planning to offer an at-home option and is expecting students to test in person with health and safety protocols. Due to social distancing requirements, some exams may be administered off-campus. Test site details will be shared as we approach the May test windows.

Critical Changes and Rationale for the 2020-2021 School Year:

All students in an AP class will be defaulted to “Yes” for taking the exam

CollegeBoard is waiving cancellation fees. This allows a student to decide up until the test date to not take the exam. Only students who take the exam will need to pay the exam fee.
Students who select “No” for taking the exam and then decide to change to “Yes”, will be charged a $40 late registration fee. The fee only applies after the Nov 13th deadline for first semester courses and the March 12th deadline for second-semester courses.

Students/families will complete an AP Registration Google Form if they plan to take the exam. Submissions will be due Nov 13th for first semester courses and March 12th for second-semester courses.

Information on the Google Form will help AP Coordinators generate invoices and begin planning for proctors.

Payments for the exams will be due April 16, 2021. Any student who does not pay by this date will not be able to sit for the exam. $95.00 per exam or $15 per exam if the student qualifies for a fee waiver.

If students pay early and then change their mind, payments will be refunded.

AP Program Outline for Atholton High School

First Semester AP Courses

Sept-Oct: Students register for AP Portal using the join codes that AP teachers provide to students.
By Nov 13: Students/families complete this AP Registration Form to register for taking the exam.
Nov-Apr: AP Coordinators will invoice students/families based on November 13th form.
Apr 16: Last day to submit payment to participate in May testing.
May 3-14: AP Exams

Second Semester AP Courses

Feb: Students register for AP Portal using the join codes that AP teachers provide to students.
By Mar 12: Students/families complete this AP Registration Form to register for taking the exam.
Note: Form will be sent in the second semester.
Mar-Apr: AP Coordinators will invoice students/families based on March 12th form.
Apr 16: Last day to submit payment to participate in May testing.
May 3-14: AP Exams

Self Study/Exam Only Students
Students who are independent/self-study students who want to take an exam for a course in which they’re not enrolled need to:

Email Nina_Dix@hcpss.org or Deborah_Sauers@hcpss.org to notify the AP Coordinator that they would like to take a specific exam for a course that they are not enrolled in.
Due to the steps needed within the AP Portal, the deadline for the exam only requests is November 9th.

If you have specific questions, please contact Nina Dix at Nina_Dix@hcpss.org or Deborah Sauers at Deborah_Sauers@hcpss.org.

AHS MEDIA CENTER -- Contactless Book Pick Up / Drop Off

Students will place requests for materials using this form, called I NEED A LIBRARIAN/MEDIA SPECIALIST.
Students will receive an email message to their preferred email address when their holds are ready for pick up on WEDNESDAYS.
Books will be placed on the cart outside the front entrance for student pick up. They will be wrapped in brown paper sleeves with the name of the recipient identified on the spine.
All returned books will sit in quarantine for seven days before circulating back out to households. The latest guidance can be found here (Links to an external site.).
Books can be returned ANY DAY to a cart provided outside. PICKUPS will only be outside on WEDNESDAYS.