Raider Nation Newsletter

Week of November 23, 2020

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Atholton Families,

This is a short week with Thanksgiving break. Schools will be closing early Monday, November 23rd, and Tuesday, November 24th due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. We will follow the 3hr early dismissal (see below). Schools will be closed for students on Wednesday, November 25th due to Parent-Teacher Conferences, and schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th due to Thanksgiving (state-mandated holiday).

Parent-Teacher conferences begin tomorrow. I hope you have scheduled a conference to learn about your child’s progress in each of his/her classes. The page parents used to schedule conferences is no longer available. However, parents can view their conference schedule in HCPSS Connect Synergy by following these instructions that are posted in the Help section of the HCPSS website. https://help.hcpss.org/upcoming-school-year/fall-2020-conferences

Additionally, I hope you had an opportunity to visit classes last week during American Education Week. You do not need a special week to visit your child’s classes. Just coordinate with the teacher and parents are more than welcome to visit anytime.

The Board of Education voted last week to extend our virtual learning environment until April. You can learn more about the decision and exact dates on the HCPSS website. It is expected that the offerings of small, in-person groups will expand at schools. Please stay tuned for more information regarding this initiative.

Given the Board of Education's decision to extend virtual learning, many of you may have questions regarding our intention to begin winter sports. Although we had to cancel the beginning of in-person conditioning for our winter athletes, we are still on schedule to begin our winter season on December 7. Mr. Senisi and our coaches are diligently working to get things ready for this start date. Here is important information you need to know:

Tryouts: In order to ensure a safe return to athletics, all tryout forms must be fully completed online prior to Thursday, December 3rd at 1 pm. Students who submit forms after this date and time will not be allowed to tryout. Reminder, tryouts begin Monday, December 7th. Coaches will provide specifics in the meeting.

Winter Sports Player Meetings: Coaches will be holding informative player meetings on the dates, times, and codes provided below. If you plan on trying out for a winter sport, this meeting is highly recommended.

Sport: Boys Basketball

Meeting Date and Time: Monday, 11/23 @ 12:30pm

Code: Ahs-boysbb

Sport: Girls Basketball

Meeting Date and Time: Monday, 11/23 @ 1pm

Code: Ahs- gbasketball

Sport: Wrestling

Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, 11/24 @ 4pm

Code: Ahs-wrestling

Sport: Cheerleading

Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, 11/24 @ 3:30pm

Code: Ahs-cheer

Sport: Track

Information: No meeting scheduled. Please contact Rachel_Holtzman@hcpss.org if you have specific questions

Winter Sports Parents Meeting: The Atholton athletic department will be hosting a winter sports parent meeting on Tuesday, November 24th at 7:30 pm. We will discuss paperwork, tryout schedule, expectations, and safety guidelines for return to play. Below is the information you can use to join the meeting. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mr. Senisi at Michael_Senisi@hcpss.org

Code for Parent Meeting: meet.google.com/bnm-bwkj-wfe (Join by phone +1 513-816-0368 PIN: ‪358 202 393#).

I had the pleasure of attending the AHS Marching Band Banquet this past Friday night. I am so impressed with how the marching band did not let our virtual environment stop them from doing what they do best. Under Mr. Posner’s leadership, they managed to put together a virtual performance that was truly outstanding. Congratulations to the marching band for a wonderful virtual season!

Lastly, Thanksgiving is this week. It is a time to be thankful, a time to remember and embrace those who enrich our lives. I am thankful for a lot of things and that includes being thankful for this wonderful community.

I wish you all a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving! Please be safe and stay healthy!

Warmest Regards,

Robert A. Motley

Principal

3 Hour Early Dismissal Schedule

Student Day: 8:30-12:15

8:30-9:15 – Period 1

9:30-10:15 – Period 2

10:30-11:15 – Period 3

11:30-12:15 – Period 4

Support Our Fundraisers!!

Athletics

The athletic boosters are having their annual Sherwood Forest Holiday Sale.

Please visit:

https://atholtonboosters.org/spiritwear-blowout-sale/ for more details.

Music

The Atholton Music Department will be selling Cookbooks & Spirit Wear. We have scheduled three dates/times/locations so you can purchase these items and support the music department.

Date/Time/Location

Tues 11/24 from 4:30 to 6:30 @ Corner Stable - 8630 Guilford Rd, Columbia (this is during our Take-Out-Tues Fundraiser! Order your dinner, and Music Boosters will receive 15% of the sales)

Bring Cash or Check: Long Sleeve Shirt: $10 Hoodie: $20 Sweatpants: $15 Beanies: $10

AHS Yearbook STILL Needs Your Pictures

Now that we are not going to be back in the building until APRIL, we need your photos and voice more than ever. If we are going to create a yearbook this year, we need you? For the past 53 years, we have put out a yearbook. Don’t be the reason there is no yearbook this year.

We are putting together pages and stories on:

1. Students during FLEX Time -What are you doing between 10:45 and 1:10 each day?

2. How are you socializing during this time?

3. How do you practice self-care or relax?

4. Show us your Work Area -We want to see where you work, we are going to do a spread on Home Offices/Work Areas.

5. Show us your Pets -Who are the fury friends you are spending time with?

6. What are you doing outside?

7. Have you traveled at all? -Have you gone to a park, hiking trail, the beach, or some other place?

A survey will come out shortly with various questions, please answer any questions you can. We are using your responses for stories and quotes.

Please see the attached info for details and instructions to upload photos.

If you have any questions please contact Mr. Mackechnie at cmackechnie@hcpss.com

UPLOAD INSTRUCTIONS: