Raider Nation Newsletter

Week of October 19, 2020

Stay Informed...

Dear Atholton Families,

This week is a relatively quiet week. We experienced our first virtual three-hour early dismissal on Friday with the next one occurring next month. There are some very important items coming up for discussion at the Board of Education. I would encourage you to watch and weigh in as athletics, in-person/virtual (hybrid), semester and final exams, and school resource officers (SROs) are all topics on the agenda in the next month. You can find out more information here.

Our front office will now be staffed from 8 am - 2 pm during the week and we will be answering the phones. If you have a question or need to reach someone at school, please give us a call!

As a former world language teacher (French), I am thrilled to announce that HCPSS is expanding its Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Program. The Maryland Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) recognizes students who have attained high levels of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. This year, the program is expanding from recognizing 7 languages to 108 languages. Many native and heritage languages are now included in the program. High school seniors interested in earning the SoBL are encouraged to read the information below and to apply by February 15, 2021. Please direct questions to Mrs. Kimberly Banks, HCPSS Coordinator of World Languages, at Kimberly_Banks@hcpss.org and/or our school’s SoBL Point of Contact, Ms. Jennifer Street at Jennifer_Street@hcpss.org.

I have received several inquires regarding the November dates for senior pictures. There will be four more dates for senior pictures -- November 12 & 13 and January 25 & 26 (all four dates from 2 pm - 9 pm). The registration has not opened yet for these dates. Notification will go out at the end of this month alerting families. Once again, the link to register is here once it opens.

Lastly, please I have included the Advanced Placement (AP) testing information once again for your information. Please read carefully and reach out to our coordinators with any questions.

Have a fantastic week!!

Warmest Regards,

Robert A. Motley

Principal

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.

Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Program

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Maryland Seal of Biliteracy Program Expansion 2020-2021 - for students and families.pdf

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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.

School Meals

A stopgap U.S. government funding bill signed into law last Thursday, which includes almost $8 billion in nutrition assistance, allows USDA to extend the meal waivers, previously due to expire at the end of December, through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Thus, HCPSS will be able to provide meals at no cost to any HCPSS student, and all children 18 and under, through the entire school year, assuming continued availability of USDA funding.

Beginning Monday, October 12, HCPSS will add a snack and dinner to each weekday meal, in addition to breakfast and lunch already being served. Additionally, weekend meals will be included with meals provided on Fridays, and in pre-ordered meals picked up on Thursdays.

HCPSS also has adjusted the pre-order process. Meals for multiple days need to be pre-ordered at least two days in advance for pickup on Mondays and Thursdays. Pre-order meal pickups will be offered only on those two days, to enable Food and Nutrition Services to improve service and efficiency while balancing staffing and food resources.

Full details on HCPSS student meal offerings can be found online.