The PAW Print

September 20-September 22: 7th Grade State Testing

September 23: Two-hour early dismissal

September 24: Professional Day (no school for students)

September 28-September 30: 8th Grade State Testing

October 5- October 7: 6th Grade State Testing

October 12: 6th Grade State Testing (Science)

October 13 & October 14: Virtual Academy State Testing at MBMS 8:15

When letters are sent out, they state that a member of our school community has tested positive AND your child MAY have been in the same space. Below are excerpts from that letter with areas bolded to highlight language that may be helpful to parents.

This letter is to inform you that we were notified that a member of the St. Mary’s County Public Schools community tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 and the individual is currently self-isolating. We cannot identify the person who tested positive because of federal health privacy laws. Your child may have been in the same space as the person who tested positive. Being in the same space does not mean your child is considered a close contact.

The next part of the letter explains that the health department will perform contact tracing AND if you are contacted by the health department your child that your child should follow the quarantine at-home instructions.

St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) performs contact tracing which is a process used to determine close contacts. You will be notified directly by the SMCHD if your child is identified as a close contact. If you are notified that your child is a close contact, please follow the quarantine at home instructions and COVID-19 testing directives that are provided by the SMCHD at time of notification. Your child should continue to quarantine until released by the SMCHD.

The letter sent out by MBMS is simply a notification NOT a requirement for students to stay home. It is sent as simply a notice for parents to watch their child for symptoms and to keep them home IF they start to have symptoms.

Currently, a Tik Tok challenge is circulating online called "Devious Lick". It encourages students to record themselves taking or damaging school items such as soap dispensers, toilet paper holders, paper towel holders, sinks, toilets, stall doors, etc. As a result, we have experienced several instances of damage/vandalism. We request that parents speak with their children so they understand that these actions are considered destruction of property and theft (if they take the items with them). There will be school consequences and restitution for students who engage in this type of behavior. Again we ask parents and guardians to be proactive and discuss this inappropriate behavior with their child(ren) and monitor social media interactions. Thank you in advance for your support and assistance in helping us address this disturbing trend.

Please be extremely careful when arriving at school for parent drop-off or parent pick-up. We have had several incidences of vehicles "cutting off" buses and cars that are traveling southbound. This can obviously cause an accident and put individuals at a serious safety risk.

Please click on the link below to view all of the MBMS fundraisers scheduled for the 2021-2022 school year.

MBMS 2021-2022 Fundraisers

Interested in a fall sport? Join intramurals.

Pick up a form next to the gym doors or ask your PE teacher. Activities being offered are running club, kickball/dodgeball, volleyball, and basketball. All activities will end at 4:30. Pick up will be by the gymnasium doors.

Basketball on Monday & Wednesday with Mr. Kamp & Mr. Brotherton

Running Club on Tuesday & Thursday with Mrs. McCumbee

Kickball/Dodgeball on Tuesday & Thursday with Mr. Guthrie

Volleyball on Tuesday & Thursday with Mrs. Hart

**All forms must be turned in by Friday, October 1st.

2020-2021 Yearbooks are in!

Yearbooks from last year are finally in and were distributed to students during their ELA classes last week. If you have a child that has moved on to Chopticon, yearbooks can be picked up during the day from the main office. We will also have an after-school pick-up available on Wednesday, September 22nd from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Please stop by the main office. If you still have child siblings at MBMS and would like the books to go home with them, email Mrs. Kamp with their names so she can get the book to them. jmkamp@smcps.org

-If you missed out on purchasing a yearbook, there are a few still available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Email Mrs. Kamp with any interest. jmkamp@smcps.org

2021-2022 Yearbooks are on sale!

This year's theme is Game On 2022! Books are currently on sale and can be purchased online from the following link.

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1066787/Margaret-Brent-Middle-School/

This site allows you to purchase your yearbook, a yearbook ad for your student, as well as MBMS spirit gear!

Homeroom teachers will also be sending home an order form for purchasing. If paying by check, make them payable to MBMS. Checks made payable to Jostens will take longer to clear, as they have to be mailed directly to Jostens for them to cash. Payment can be dropped off to homeroom teachers or to Mrs. Kamp in room 219. Any questions can be directed to Mrs. Kamp. jmkamp@smcps.org

Makeup Picture Day is scheduled for October 19!

Also, MBMS students who are attending the Virtual Academy may come to MBMS from 8:00-9:00 in the morning on October 19, for pictures. Please report to the main office

Monday will start the state MCAP testing for 7th graders at Margaret Brent Middle School. The students will take the previous year's test (last spring's test was postponed to this fall). To help ensure technology success, please make sure that your child completely shuts down their computer the night before, plugs it in to fully charge it, and brings it to school with them on Monday. As always, a good night's sleep and a good breakfast are recommended.

The MCAP schedule is as follows:

• 7th grade: September 20, 21, and 22
• 8th grade: September 28, 29, and 30
• 6th grade: October 5, 6, 7, and 12 (5th grade also has the science test)