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Northern Middle Newsletter
Weekly Update 1/14/24
Principal's Update
Bobcat Nation:
As a reminder, CCPS schools are closed on Monday, January 15th to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy.
Below is a famous quote from Dr. King which has a natural connection to our theme at NMS – “We Rise by Lifting Others” and our goal of teaching our students the importance of looking beyond themselves towards ways that they can make a difference in the lives of others. A great way to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy would be looking for opportunities to support others.
8th Grade Families - we are approaching the time of the school year in which 8th grade students will start the process of registering for 9th grade courses and exploring the extracurricular options that are available in high school. We have added a section below in the newsletter for 8th grade families which contains information from the high schools as they are received. Be sure to check each week for updates.
Have a great week!
Mr. Webster, NMS Principal
Information for Bobcat Families
END OF THE 2ND MARKING PERIOD - JANUARY 19TH
With the end of the marking period coming soon, we encourage parents to check HAC to look at their child’s grades and for incomplete assignments that can still be submitted. Parents also have their own accounts in Schoology through which they can monitor their child’s learning activities and assignments. Teachers have been inputting grades into HAC so parents can see their child’s current grades in each of their classes. We encourage parents to use these tools to help their child organize their time and engagement in learning.
If you have questions about one of your child’s classes, please contact the teacher. Be patient in getting a response as teachers are answering messages from many parents and students. Their main focus will be working on current assignments with their classes. As a result, anything missing from earlier in the marking period will be addressed as they can get to it.
After-School Tutoring
Hello, my name is Rachel Van Vliet and I'm the Lead Teacher for Tutoring for the 2023-2024 School Year. Tutoring is scheduled to begin Thursday, January 11, 2024. This year, tutoring is available on Thursdays from 3:20 to 4:30pm. Students may bring their own snack, if desired. Please complete the digital permission slip below permitting your child to stay after school. Students must be signed out by a parent/guardian at 4:30pm inside the Media Center.
Permission Slip: https://forms.office.com/r/SRUjYDZvSm
We look forward to helping your child strive to improve their academic achievement!
IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM CCPS: HAC Will Be Down from Sunday, January 14, 2024, 9 p.m. through Monday, January 15, 2024, 5 p.m.
The Home Access Center (HAC) will be down for required maintenance from Sunday, January 14, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. through Monday, January 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. After the maintenance is completed, HAC will have the following new URL: https://hac.calvertnet.k12.md.us. Please note, if you currently have the HAC URL saved in your bookmarks or favorites, you will need to update.
As a reminder, HAC is an application that allows students’ current grades, assignments, and attendance to be viewed in real time. Every CCPS guardian may create and manage their own HAC account. If you haven’t set up a HAC account, please navigate to the HAC login page through the Quick Links > Home Access Center tab of www.calvertnet.k12.md.us and select the “Click Here to Register for HAC” link near the bottom of the page.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Reminder for AM Car Riders
It is important for students to arrive at school between 7:50 and 8:00 AM. Car-riders that arrive after 8:00 AM are considered tardy and have to sign-in at the main office before going to 1st period.
Student Laptop Reminders
It is important for students to charge their laptops overnight and bring them to school each day. It is also important that students take care of their device and charger. While normal wear and tear is acceptable and expected, intentional damage or damage caused by neglect is not covered under the accidental warranty. These types of damages require an investigation by school administration and may result in a student obligation for the repair costs. We would like to avoid parents being responsible for these costs, as they could hundreds of dollars depending on the damage. Due to an increase in devices needing repair, we are running low on loaner laptops. Loaner laptops will not be available for those who leave them at home so it is important that students remember to bring them charged and ready for the school day.
SGA Winter Reading Activity
On Saturday, January 13th, members of our Student Government Association facilitated a reading activity day for young readers at the Fairview Library. Great job by Ms. Lewis and our SGA students for lifting others in our community!
NMS Yearbook 23-24 - On Sale Now
Be sure to order your 2023-24 NMS Yearbook! Yearbooks are sold online at:
https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/my/NMS2023-24
Yearbooks are currently on sale for $35.00.
If you have any yearbook questions, please contact Mrs. McGuire at mcguireta@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
Attendance Notes
In addition to hard copy notes, parents can send notes for student absences to Ms. Contee in the counseling office via email at conteeb@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
New Books Grant Awarded to NMS Library
Recently, our library was awarded a gift of books to add to our collection. Thanks to The Steve Nash Foundation for this grant! These books make a great addition to the library, so stop by the library and check them out. Thank to Mr. Aris, our Media Specialist, for organizing this opportunity!
NMS Extracurricular Opportunities
Middle School Athletics - Winter
We are excited to see our basketball teams, cheerleading squad, and poms squad compete against the other middle schools. Below is the schedule of home games for the regular season.
Games will start at 4:30 pm. Students and families who wish to attend as spectators will be admitted starting at 4:00 pm. Admission is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for students.
- 1/18 - Girls Basketball, Cheer, Poms at home vs MCMS, Boys Basketball at MCMS
- 1/25 - Boys Basketball, Cheer, Poms at home vs SMS, Girls Basketball at SMS
- 1/30 - Boys Basketball, Cheer, Poms at home vs CMS, Girls Basketball at CMS
- 2/1 - Girls Basketball, Cheer, Poms at home vs PPMS, Boys Basketball at PPMS
- 2/8 - Boys Basketball, Cheer, Poms at home vs WHMS, Girls Basketball at WHMS
If you have any questions, please contact our Athletic Director, Ms. McGuire, at 443-550-9230 or at mcguireta@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Northern Middle School PTO
PTO is a great way to be involved in supporting our students, staff, and school! Click the link to join! https://my.cheddarup.com/c/pto-membership-2023-2024
The NMS PTO meeting that was rescheduled from last week will take place on Tuesday, January 16 at 5:30 PM. Can’t join us in person? Click the link to join virtually. Tap on the link or paste it in a browser to join.
Family Game Night will take place on Friday January 19th. See the flyer below for more details.
Family Game Night RSVP link - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044DACAA22A46-47221782-ptos
February staff appreciation. We will be providing a soup lunch for our SOUPer staff! Click the link to see where you can help.
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/409044DACAA22A46-47073112-nmsstaff
Calendar update: the March PTO meeting will be moved to March 12th.
Information for 8th Grade Families - Opportunities for 9th Grade
UPCOMING 9TH GRADE INFORMATION NIGHTS
- HHS – February 5, 2024, 6:00 PM (AP US History Session at 5:30)
- CTA – February 7, 2023, 5:30 - 7:00 PM
- NHS – February 8, 2024, 6:00 PM (AP US History Session to follow)
NHS Info Night - 2/8
NHS will be hosting our annual Information Night for all incoming 9th graders and their families on Thursday, February 8 at 6 p.m. in the Mary Harrison Center. In the past, we reviewed high school graduation requirements, graduation pathways, additional learning opportunities (i.e. online courses, Dual Enrollment), ways that parents/guardians can support their child’s transition to high school, and other items pertinent to our high school. After this general presentation, we invite any families interested in learning more about their child taking AP US History to attend this presentation. There will also be a curriculum, athletic, and clubs fair after the general session.
NHS Football Recruit Night - 2/28
Northern Football Recruit Night - Thursday February 28th - 6:00 pm at the Mary Harrison Center.
Resources, Opportunities, and Flyers
Calvert County Community Events & Activities
For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, visit calvertnet.k12.md.us/flyers.
Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district.
CCSF 2024 Spread the Love Classroom Refresh Fundraiser Underway!
Calvert County School Foundation's Spread the Love Classroom Refresh fundraiser is underway! Show your support at https://bit.ly/CCSF2024SpreadtheLove. On Feb. 14th, three teachers will each win $750 for a classroom refresh! Thank you Calvert County School Foundation and Educational Systems Federal Credit Union!
For more information about Calvert County School Foundation, visit https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/district-information/community-partnerships-and-engagement/calvert-county-school-foundation.
Registration Link - https://forms.gle/kbDUGAVArt5XWVXs9
2023-24 Annual Calvert SECAC Staff Appreciation Awards - Call for Nominations
The Calvert County Special Education Citizens' Advisory Committee (SECAC) invites parents and guardians to nominate the CCPS staff member (individual or team) who has made a difference in the life of your child with an IFSP, IEP or 504 accommodation plan in the 2023-2024 school year.
Nominations must be submitted by the parent, guardian, or the student by Friday, March 8th, 2024.
https://forms.office.com/r/tRRfpCPmPY
See the attachment below for more information.
Book Study Opportunity with Dr. Anderson, CCPS Director of Special Education
Dear Families, Teachers, and Staff:
I would like to encourage you to engage in a book study with me. We will be reading “Lost at School”, written by Ross W. Greene, Ph.D. This is one of his books that will reveal some of the behavioral approaches that he has produced through his life’s work. Calvert County School District has been training teams for quite a few years and we are embarking upon a train-the trainer model to increase the knowledge of these approaches to teachers and those who support our students across the county.
Please join me for this virtual “Koffee with Kendy” book study. Sessions will be held on the following Saturdays from 9-10am:
- January 27th, 2024 – Chapters 1 & 2
- February 3rd, 2024 – Chapters 3 & 4
- February 10th, 2024 – Chapters 5 & 6
- February 24th, 2024 – Chapters 7-9
See the attachment below for additional information including an RSVP link and link to the virtual meetings on Teams.
NHS Poms "Lil Poms Clinic"
The Northern High School Patriot Poms Dance Team is hosting their annual Poms and Dance Clinic on Saturday, January 20th from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for students in grades 3-8. Girls participating will have the opportunity to perform at the Friday, January 26th Varsity Girls Basketball game with the current NHS Patriot Poms. Register by January 12th for a reduced registration fee. Late and walk-in registrations will be accepted.
School Bus Drivers Needed - Free Training
Contractors are paid $24.04 an hour/8 hours per day for a brand-new bus driver. There are increases for those individuals with more verified school bus driving experience starting at year 4, 9, 14, 19 and 24. Drivers work for independent school bus contractors throughout Calvert County. The contractors hire drivers to work on daily bus routes, or as substitutes, or to drive field trips and sports teams.
The Transportation Department provides training, free of charge, for qualified candidates to become school bus drivers. This is a terrific opportunity to work close to home and to serve the children and schools in our community.
For more information about raining, requirements, and an application, go to the CCPS Transportation page at https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/transportation.
Please contact Chuck Baker, Driver Instructor, @ 443-550-8778 or bakerc@calvertnet.k12.md.us for details on the free training process or with questions. Classes are typically held twice a month at the Career & Technology Academy, 331 Dorsey Rd., Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Recurring Resources
CCPS Reopening Plan
Tardy to School Process for NMS
It is important for students to arrive at school between 7:50 and 8:00 AM. Car-riders that arrive after 8:00 AM are considered tardy. The following steps are in place when a student arrives repeatedly late to school:
- 4 days tardy in one marking period, the NMS Attendance Team will talk to the student about the need to be at school on time and discuss solutions with the student.
- 6 days tardy in one marking period, the NMS Attendance Team will call the parents or guardians to discuss solutions.
- 8 days tardy in one marking period, the student will have lunch detention each day they arrive after 8 AM.
If tardiness is something your child is struggling with in the morning, here are some suggestions to help them get to school on time:
- Pack lunch (if necessary), lay out outfit for the morning and pack book bag before going to bed at night.
- Talk to the student about they need to do in the morning (take shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, drive time, etc.), and how long each activity will take, then have them set their alarm for enough time to get all activities completed to get to school before 8 AM.
- Students can be dropped off at 7:50, so aim for 7:50 instead of 8 AM as your arrival time.
- If tardiness continues, have student take their assigned bus to school instead of being a car-rider.
CCPS SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS
NEW ONLINE MEAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
To provide parents/guardians with a better user experience, the CCPS Child Nutrition Program has transitioned from www.MySchoolBucks.com to https://LinqConnect.com for its online meal management system.
Student purchases and account balances may be monitored by signing up online for a LINQ Connect account at https://LinqConnect.com. There is no fee to sign up for an account. From this one site, parents/guardians will be able to apply for meal benefits (no registration required) and to register their student(s) if they wish to monitor Café purchases, view balances, set low balance reminders and make deposits. In addition, parents/guardians will also now have the ability to transfer funds between their student accounts and may choose to place spending limits/purchasing maximums on these accounts. Online deposits will still incur a fee of $1.60, but that fee will now include all deposits made during a single transaction.
Please note that all previous account balances automatically transferred into the new system, however, any special notes regarding snack/á la carte purchases and limits did not and will need to be re-entered vis https://LinqConnect.com or by contacting the Child Nutrition Office at 443.550.8680.
FREE/REDUCED PRICE MEAL BENEFIT APPLICATION
It’s not too late! Apply today for free and reduced-price meal benefits!
Some students may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. A new application must be submitted each school year. Eligibility is typically determined by household size and income. To see if your household qualifies, please complete, and submit one meal benefit application per household. Applications may be completed online at https://LinqConnect.com. Applications are available in many languages on the LinqConnect site but are also available on the USDA’s website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/translated-applications.
More information is also available on the CCPS website at Departments – Child Nutrition or at https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/child-nutrition.
Student Laptops
Student have been provided with a laptop and charger by Calvert County Public Schools. 8th graders will continue to utilize the laptop this school year that has been previously issued to them and was taken home over the summer. 6th grade and 7th grade students have received new laptops.
It is important that students take care of their device and charger. While normal wear and tear is acceptable and expected, intentional damage or damage caused by neglect is not covered under the accidental warranty. These types of damages will require an investigation by school administration and may result in a student obligation for the repair costs. We would like to avoid parents being responsible for these costs, as they could hundreds of dollars depending on the damage.
Technology Expectations
Learning Expectations with Devices
- CCPS/CHS device brought to school every day – fully charged before school begins.
- Used as the official electronic device in all classrooms
- Use CCPS Office 365 account to save assignments, projects, notes
Device Safety:
- Accounts, usernames and/or passwords are never to be shared with another student/individual
- Laptop devices should never be loaned to another student/individual
- Personal, identifiable information should never be posted on the internet
- Never leave devices unattended
Device Care:
- No decorations, stickers, drawing or writing on the device
- No eating or drinking near the device
- Do not expose the device to extreme heat, cold or rain
- Clean with a dry soft cloth only
- Do not drop or slam the device on any surface
- Do not places papers or other objects between the keyboard and screen and close shut/use as a folder
PARENT ACCOUNTS IN SCHOOLOGY
Schoology accounts for parents are view only accounts. They were created for parents who have an email address in Home Access Center (HAC). For more information about how to access your Schoology parent account click: https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/instruction/programs/digital-learning/schoology-for-parents
Technology Support
If students have questions about their device (laptop/computer), they can get help from a member of the CCPS IT team at helpdesk@calvertnet.k12.md.us or call 443-550-8146. Students needing assistance can also drop off their laptop in the main office and fill out a paper Help Desk ticket.
Supports are available on the CCPS website using the Technology Support link below. This resource provides links to submit help desk tickets, frequently asked questions, and other resources that can be used to solve issues.
Here Comes the Bus - A School Bus Tracking App for Parents
Here Comes the Bus (HCTB) is an app with tracking features for the bus(es) your child(ren) is assigned to ride. They include
- Showing the real-time location of your child's bus on a map
- Scheduled and actual arrival times at home and school for bus routes
- Push and email notifications when the bus is near
Click this link for more information on getting the app - https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/transportation/bus-status/here-comes-the-bus
To create an account, you will need to know your child's ID number and the school district activation code 87557.
Become a Volunteer
Calvert County Public Schools uses Raptor for visitors and volunteers to sign in and sign out. Volunteers must apply annually to be an approved volunteer. All volunteers will need to review the volunteer handbook and watch the volunteer training video before completing and Online Volunteer Application. Volunteers must be approved before they may begin service as a volunteer in any school buildings.
CCPS Online Volunteer Application & Process: https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/human-resources/become-a-volunteer