Raider Nation Newsletter

Week of March 28, 2022

Third Quarter Ending This Week

Dear Atholton Families,

This Friday will mark the end of the 3rd quarter and will be a 3-hour early dismissal day for students. We are entering the homestretch of the school year and more than ever our students need to remain focused and on-task. Please have a conversation with your child regarding finishing the school year on a strong note.

This week saw the debut of the spring musical, Hairspray, by the Atholton Drama department. I have to extend my highest compliment to Mr. Rosen and everyone involved in this production – it was simply fantastic! Kudos to the entire cast – actors, tech crew, pit musicians, Ms. Freel, and everyone else involved in putting together this superb production. What makes this production even more special is knowing what the cast, particularly our black cast members, had to endure in having to participate in this production which touches on the race issues in the 1960s. To see everyone come together and produce performances that garnered standing ovations is truly heartwarming. The members of the black cast were granted an opening statement to express their difficulty in reconciling with some of the issues in the musical. I have included their statement below along with images from the performance. As principal, I realize that I am sometimes biased with the lens through which I view anything Atholton (Lol!). However, the number of accolades (emails and comments) from the community only affirm my high praise. Once again -- congratulations to everyone involved in this outstanding production.

Attention parents and guardians of the Class of 2022. I am excited to announce that you should receive a special notification THIS WEEK regarding the release of graduation dates and times. I know everyone has been eagerly awaiting this announcement and I want you to know that it is anticipated to be this week. Please be on the lookout for the email. Once the announcement is made, a senior events schedule will be released which will include the last day for seniors and senior final exams.

As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the Junior/Senior Prom will be held at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott on May 7 from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. The After Prom will be at the Overhill Mansion in Catonsville from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am. Please consider volunteering. Additionally, this Saturday, April 2, Atholton’s Becca’s Closet will hold an event where prom gowns/dresses will be available to all. The group has over two thousand dresses (a combination of new and slightly used). If your junior or senior is looking for a prom dress, be sure to stop by on Saturday. The information is below.

With the start of spring, we are hopeful that the school calendar will not be further impacted by inclement weather. As June 17 has been designated as the last day of school at this time, schools can plan to hold final exams June 14-17. The Period 1 exam will be held at the beginning of the day on June 14 (the last full day of school). Periods 2 and 3 exams will be held on June 15, Periods 4A and 4B exams on June 16, and Periods 5 and 6 on June 17. June 15-17 are early dismissal days. Please mark your calendars accordingly.

The Parents of Black Students Association (PBSA) is hosting a Conflict Resolution Town Hall. They invite you to an interactive panel discussion about the impacts of the pandemic, teen mental health, conflict resolution, and restorative practices. Learn more about resources available in Howard County to support families during these challenging times. It will take place next Wednesday, April 6 at 7 pm. I hope you are able to attend. See more details below.

Have a terrific week!

Warmest regards,

Robert A. Motley

Principal

Black Cast Pre-Show Speech

Good (evening/afternoon) everyone!! We would like to say a few words before the show starts. Tonight, the Atholton Theater Department is performing Hairspray, a Broadway musical that juggles fatphobia, race relations, and teenage coming of age. However the musical along with its production has sparked rightful controversy. The nature of the show brought certain emotions to the surface, specifically for many of us in the black ensemble. Because of these feelings, we would like to shine a light on the content of Hairspray, because it’s only fair that as an audience, you have an opportunity to look at this production through a critical and just lens. While the show features a story about integration in 1962; it is told from the perspective of a White-American teenage girl whose primary focus is pursuing her love of dancing and learning self-confidence. Instead of being treated with the emotional weight it deserves, integration is treated as a side plot to highlight the moral justness of certain characters, which is frustrating because the topic is more serious than what this musical makes it out to be. Segregation was about more than just black people not being allowed to dance on television, it was systemic oppression, and the effects of it still linger in our society to this day.

Once the cast was able to understand this show, our roles, and how impactful the show was, it made many of us uncomfortable. We’re saying this not to stir up conflict, or outrage, but to remind some of you that this is a conversation that goes far beyond this stage. Race is a complex and important matter, and it is critical that when performing or consuming media that revolves around it, it is carefully and respectfully handled. Some of you in the audience may not see this as vital, but for many of us, our lives revolve around race. The way we carry ourselves, the way we think, the way we interact with each other every day, is affected by race and the dark history around it, not only in this country but globally. In an ideal world, this isn’t the case, and past events wouldn’t have such a profound impact on our lives and wellbeing, but this isn’t an ideal world. So when viewing this show and addressing this subject, approaching it with a certain sensitivity is deeply appreciated.

Regardless, we hope that you all are hearing, listening to, and internalizing what we are saying today so that we can bring awareness to these issues, while also starting and continuing conversations about them. With that being said, thank you all so much for coming out to support the department, and we hope you enjoy the show!