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Northern Middle Newsletter
Weekly Update 11/22/23
Principal's Update
Bobcat Nation:
We hope that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy time over the break with their family and loved ones. Throughout the school year, Northern Middle School has been building upon our theme – “We Rise By Lifting Others.” Thanksgiving Break is a wonderful time to reflect upon our theme and reflect on the things in our lives that we are thankful for. We encourage our students to extend the ideals of our theme beyond Northern Middle School and into their homes and community.
We are excited to announce that for the 1st marking period, 173 students earned High Honor Roll and 356 students earned Honor Roll. Congratulations to these learners on their achievement!
See below for information about yearbook orders. Early Bird pricing ends on 11/30.
Below is a special and early holiday edition of our weekly update. As a reminder, schools will reopen on Monday, 11/27. Have a great Thanksgiving Break!
Mr. Webster, NMS Principal
Information for Bobcat Families
NMS Yearbook 23-24 - On Sale Now - Early Bird Pricing Ends 11/30
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 with a special early bird price of $25.00. After November 30th, the price will increase to $30.00. Be sure to purchase soon to get the discounted price.
If you have any yearbook questions, please contact Mrs. McGuire at mcguireta@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
NMS SGA - END HUNGER IN CALVERT COUNTY - CANNED FOOD DRIVE
The NMS Student Government Association (SGA) is facilitating a canned food drive for End Hunger in Calvert County. This program will support families in need in Calvert County. We ask that students and families drop off non-perishable or canned foods to their grade designated boxes located in the main office lobby at Northern Middle School to be donated to our local food pantry. The grade with the most will win an SGA-designated prize, so get those cans in!
The canned food drive is a perfect opportunity for students, staff, and families to support the community and demonstrate our theme at Northern Middle School – “We Rise by Lifting Others!”
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE NMS MEGA-RAISER!
We would like to thank our students, families, and staff who supported our Mega-Fundraiser. Students who earned their way to the Mega-Party on Monday had a great time enjoying the games and activities. Special thanks to our parent volunteers who helped out at the party!
NMS & SCHOLASTIC WINTER BOOK FAIR 12/4 -12/8
The Scholastic Winter Book Fair is coming soon! Be on the lookout for more information from Mr. Aris.
At the book fair you will find hundreds of books from new and favorite authors, popular series, and cool posters! The Scholastic Book Fair will be here starting Monday, December 4th and run thru Friday, December 8th.
Share the joy of reading with gifts to your favorite people and stack up on books for the winter break by shopping the NMS book fair!
NMS Extracurricular Opportunities
Middle School Athletics - Winter
- See below for the Winter Athletics Flyer
- A calendar of clinic dates will be published soon
- Required Athletics Forms - https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/athletics/middle-school-athletics. Copies are also available in the main office and cafeteria.
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
Get holiday shopping done at Five Below December 1st - 7th while supporting Northern Middle School PTO! Show the attached flyer digitally or print a copy and take it to the store and Five Below will donate 10% of participating sales to NMS PTO!
Hungry before or after shopping on December 3rd while you in Prince Frederick? Stop at MOD Pizza in Prince Frederick and mention Northern Middle School PTO when you order and Northern Middle School PTO will receive 20% of fundraiser sales! **Ordering your pizza online from the Prince Frederick location? Use the digital code - MODGIVES20
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.
CCPS Holiday Card Art Contest Entries Due By Dec. 4
This year's theme for the 2023 CCPS Holiday Card Contest is “Winter Wonderland." Artwork entries must be original artwork of current CCPS students and received by Monday, December 4. 2023, by 5 p.m. Entries may be emailed or dropped off.
Drop-off to: Child's art teacher or to the District's central office located at 1305 Dares Beach Road
OR
Mail to: CCPS, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
OR
Email to: danielsr@calvertnet.k12.md.us - electronic submissions must be saved in the following format: 300 dpi - 1500 x 2100 pixels – jpeg.
Contest is open to all currently enrolled CCPS Students. Artwork entries MUST be original student artwork and should be no larger than 9" x 12” in size. Artwork can be in any medium. NOTE: 3-D artwork must be photographed (high res image)and submission emailed. All entries will be shared on the District’s social media sites during December. Winning entries will also receive a prize pack with cards/envelopes featuring their artwork.
Be sure to include the following with the artwork entry:
1. Student's Name, School, and Grade
2. Parent/Guardian's Name, Phone, and Email
New CCPS Student Forum Announcement
We are pleased to share that CCPS students are invited to attend a new student forum "New Generation – Students for Students" facilitated by student school board member Jordan Hayes. Meetings will take place during the months of November, January, March, and May. Meeting topics will be student-lead. The student forum is open to all CCPS students. Please note: students under the age of 11 must have a parent/guardian present. The November meeting topic is focused on Student Athletics.
New Generation – Students for Students Forum
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Central Office, Multipurpose Room
1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick
6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Refreshments Provided
RSVP by November 21 to https://forms.office.com/r/3iGvrV8KUZ?origin=lprLink
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