The Raider Nation Newsletter

Dear Atholton Families,

I am pleased to share that our website now features a more accurate reflection of what is going on here at school. We have been working over the first marking period to eliminate outdated calendars and create a system that captures essential information about what's happening during the school day and in the afternoon/evening. I find the agenda view to be most effective since you get a week at a glance and can see everything on all calendars. If you don't want to see a particular calendar, you can de-select it in the dropdown list. Or, if you just want to focus in on when the upcoming fundraisers are at Atholton, for example, you can select only that calendar in the dropdown list.

Here's a breakdown of what each calendar contains:

• Atholton Community Calendars- events and activities for our parent groups like PTSA, Boosters, Music Boosters, etc.
• AHS Activities- concerts, performances, and other co-curricular/extra-curricular events that happen after the school day ends.
• AHS Field Trips- kind of self-explanatory, but it's important to note that the calendar includes off-site field trips and what we would consider an in-school field trip (activity during the school day that students need permission slips to attend because they are missing class).
• AHS Athletics- games for all of our sports teams here at Atholton. Practices and other team events are communicated directly with students/families.
• AHS Testing- test dates for PSAT, MCAP, AP, and other "schoolwide" exams that impact more than just one class.
• AHS School Day Events- activities such as Raidertime, pep rallies, or assemblies that happen (you guessed it) during the school day.
• AHS Fundraising- another somewhat self-explanatory calendar title.
• RepVisits Calendar- schedule for when student services hosts college admissions representatives and other post-secondary planning events.

We hope you find this information helpful and are always interested to hear feedback on how we can improve home/school communication through the website, newsletters, and other means. Feel free to send me an email or let me know when you see me at an upcoming event (check the calendar--I'll be at the Fall Athletics Banquet on Thursday, the Football Game on Friday, and Cross Country on Saturday). Go Raiders!

Sincerely,

Nick Novak

Principal

The Raider Recycling Initiative (RRI) is a group of student leaders within the 2023 Leadership Class with a mission to support the community. RRI has partnered with Planet Aid to start a clothing and textile drive at Atholton. Throughout the month of November, we will have boxes throughout the school to collect clothing, shoes, coats and other textiles like bedding and towels.

Also, on Monday, November 20th during parent/teacher conferences, we will host a Raiders Recycling Initiative Raffle Night from 3:30 to 6:30pm. For every bag of clothing that’s donated, your name will be entered into our drawing for a chance to win a prize. Planet Aid is a non-profit organization created to help international communities by recycling and distributing donated items. Our bin is located in the front parking lot.

As we begin the 2nd marking period this week, a few reminders from the attendance office to help you navigate absences and tardies. You can consult the HCPSS Attendance Policy for more info:

• The school must receive notification from the parent or physician explaining the absence/tardiness of a student within five (5) school days of the student’s return or the absence/tardiness will be unlawful/unexcused.
  
• Absences for Discretionary Days: A written request for such absences to be lawful/excused should be submitted at least one week in advance to the principal. Such absences may not occur during exam or state-mandated testing periods unless authorized by the principal/designee. For absences of up to three (3) days per year, the principal will determine whether the absences will be lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused. For absences in excess of three (3) days under this provision, the principal in consultation with the Community Superintendent or designee will determine if the absences will be lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused.
• Teachers may assist students with make-up work when a student has an unlawful absence, however, students will not receive credit for such assignments.
• Students presently enrolled in public schools are considered lawfully absent from school, including absence for any portion of the day, and may receive make-up work under the following conditions: Bereavement, Illness of the student, Health-related exclusion, Pregnancy and parenting needs, Court summons , Hazardous weather conditions, Observance of a religious holiday, State emergency, Suspension, or Lack of authorized transportation.

If the Health Room calls for you to pick up your child or if your child contacts you and needs you to bring something to them (medication, clothing, etc), please be sure to check in first in the front office before going to the Health Room. All visitors must check-in using the Lobby Guard system. The Health Room staff will not admit parents who do not have a Lobby Guard ID badge. Thanks.

Thanks to your generosity for supporting the start of our Food Pantry at school. The food drive we conducted helped stock the shelves, but we want to continue to build our inventory and maintain a steady flow of donations as we prepare for our first distribution date. You can always use the Amazon Wishlist to buy items and have them shipped directly to Atholton HS. In addition, watch for more food drive announcements and check out these pictures of shelves being stocked by students and staff.

Since the yellow Planetaid clothing donation bin in front of the school was installed at the start of September, we have been averaging about 200 pounds of clothing per week. That's fantastic! Thanks for your donations and your support. Planetaid pays Atholton by the pound and all that money goes to our student assistance fund. We often receive inquiries about how we can help students and families in need with various school expenses or handling a crisis situation like a house fire. Dropping off clothing donations to the Planetaid bin is a great way to help out. If you are interested in direct financial donations to the student assistance fund, please reach out to our book keeper, Colleen Fowler, at Colleen_Fowler@hcpss.org.

In-person and live, virtual, eight-hour college prep classes are being offered in partnership with Atholton, Centennial, Hammond, Howard, Marriotts Ridge, Mt. Hebron, Reservoir, and Wilde Lake High Schools and are open to students from all high schools. Families are also welcome to take advantage of our newly launched Personalized College List Service.

• In-Person Prep for the Paper SAT in Partnership with AHS PTSA: M/W Oct. 16 & 18 from 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm will prepare students for the Nov. 4 and Dec. 2 SAT.
• Virtual Prep for the ACT in Partnership with AHS PTSA: Nov. 11 & 12 from 9 am - 1 pm will prepare students for the Dec. 9 ACT and winter ACTs.
• Digital SAT prep classes will prepare students for the inaugural Digital SAT on March 9, 2024.
• The Answer Class Personalized College List Service will provide your student with an individualized list of 20-25 schools that match their background and interests and your family's financial ability.

AHS students can participate in ANY Answer Class offering and AHS PTSA will continue to earn the 20% donation. Visit www.theanswerclass.com to view the full class schedule and to register your student.

11/6 Conference Sign-Ups Open at 8am

11/9 Fall Sports Banquet & Ceremony

11/10 Honor Roll Ice Cream

11/15 Winter Sports Tryouts Begin

11/16 Opening Night of Alice in Wonderland

11/20 Career Exploration Day (Modified Bell Schedule)

11/20 1/2 Day-Evening Conferences

11/21 1/2 Day-Afternoon/Evening Conferences

11/22 No School- Conferences

11/23-11/24 Schools & Offices Closed

ATHOLTON HIGH SCHOOL WINTER ATHLETICS: Tryouts November 15, 2023

• TRYOUTS: Participants are expected to be at ALL tryouts beginning November 15th. Practices will begin immediately after teams are selected. Participants MUST have all forms filled out completely prior to tryouts. The last day to submit paperwork will be on November 13th
• SCHEDULE: Click here for the tryout schedule.
• WINTER ATHLETIC FORMS: The HCPSS Office of Information Technology has developed a portal through HCPSS Connect Parent Access to submit your Winter Athletics Forms. Parents/guardians can now fill out required forms, upload physicals, proof of residency documents, and complete the eligibility process just by following this link: HCPSS Connect.. Click here for step-by-step directions on how to submit forms online. Forms can be uploaded to the HCPSS Connect parent portal at this time.

• Parent Permission: include insurance company and #

• Physicals: dated after April 1, 2023

• Residency: (BGE, tax bill, water bill, lease) must be dated within 45 days of tryout date

• Concussion Awareness & Testing: signs and symptoms, sign both documents

• Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA): signs and symptoms

• COVID-19: New release form that needs to be signed by parent and players

• IF YOU TRIED OUT OR PLAYED A FALL SPORT: If you tried out or played on a sports team in the fall, all you will need is a new parent permission form, indicating the sport and an updated residency bill. All other forms will carry over.
• PHYSICALS: Wellness visits are NOT considered physicals. Physicals can be taken at the doctors’ office, CVS, Target, or Patient First. Please bring HCPSS paperwork with you. The athletic boosters have partnered with a local Urgent Care FACILITY to provide affordable physicals. You can use this link to register for a discounted physical. Physicals must be taken after April 1, 2023, and must have a doctors’ signature and stamp.

For more information, please contact the Athletics and Activities Manager, Mr. Senisi at Michael_Senisi@hcpss.org

Atholton PTSA

Atholton Boosters

Atholton Drama Boosters

Atholton JROTC Boosters

Atholton Music Boosters

Atholton Robotics Boosters