Neelsville Middle School

This friday, February 28th is an early release for students. Students are dismissed at 12:30 pm.

Teachers are grading and entering interims on Friday. Make sure your student has checked their grades and has submitted any missing assignments. Encourage your child to communicate with their teacher in person or through email with any questions or concerns. Their ability to advocate for themselves is important!

This February we celebrate the history and contributions of African Americans. Learn about the impact so many have had on the Americas throughout history in the videos below.

Black History Month for Kids

Why is February Black History Month?

Black History Month In Latin America: How Much Do YOU Know?

As we celebrate history, we must also remember that history is being made everyday. Young people just like our students are positively impacting our society. Check out some of their stories below.

Can Kids Change the World?

8 Young Black Trailblazers To Support

Congratulations to Simon Adutwum our 2025 Neelsville School Bee winner! Simon will compete in the county bee in a few weeks. Wish him luck. Congratulations also go out to 2nd place winner - Mustafa Ahmed and 3rd place - Akshadha Chabala. Thank you to all the students who participated in the bee. I hope you had fun and learned how to spell lots of new words.

Looking forward to the Superintendent's SSL Award?? Check out the details below

Any middle school student who has submitted documentation to show the completion of the 75-hour SSL graduation requirement (for the first time in middle school) by April 4, 2025, will receive the Superintendent’s SSL Award. Please note that the Superintendent's SSL Award can be earned only once in middle school.

All SSL forms (MCPS Form 560-51: Student Service Learning Activity Verification form - https://bit.ly/SSLReflectionLinks to an external site.) should be turned in to the school’s SSL coordinator (Ms. Parikh) by the required deadline of April 4, 2025, to be considered for these awards.

Attention Grade 8 students!!! This is your last chance to earn this award ...Let's go for it ......

Parents and caregivers,

Please help us maintain safety for students, staff, and our community by:

• dropping off and pick up students in the carpool lane not in the parking lot
• watch out for pedestrians crossing the carpool lane from the parking lot
• pulling up after the crosswalk speed bump before dropping off your child(ren); this helps drop off and pick up move much faster.

7th Grade Parents and Caregivers! If you would like to volunteer for our Junior Achievement Finance Park field trip in April, here a flyer with more information, including the link to sign up! If you have any questions, including which day your particular student is going, please reach out to benjamin_j_waksberg@mcpsmd.org!

ALSO reminder to students to turn in permission slips by Monday, March 3rd.

For more information about after school activities, please consult our school website or click HERE.

8:10 am - Class Starts!

3:00 pm - Dismissal

Location: 11700 Neelsville Church Road Germantown, MD 20876
Phone: 240-740-6630

Dear Parents,

Would you like to be a Parent Career Champion?

Please share your experience and expertise with us. We would like to expose our students to as many careers as possible as we help provide leadership, service, and growth opportunities.

We are planning to host several career events this year and will be looking for speakers to share their insights and career pathways.

Please register HERE: https://forms.gle/CwGXjQzfw9vW6PDMA

Thank you for your participation,

The Career Champion Team

*************************************************

Estimados padres,

¿Les gustaría ser campeones de la carrera de padres?

Por favor, comparta su experiencia y conocimientos con nosotros. Nos gustaría exponer a nuestros estudiantes a tantas carreras como sea posible mientras ayudamos a brindar oportunidades de liderazgo, servicio y crecimiento.

Estamos planeando organizar varios eventos profesionales este año y buscaremos oradores para compartir sus ideas y planes profesionales.

Por favor registrese AQUI: https://forms.gle/CwGXjQzfw9vW6PDMA

¡Gracias por su participación,

Equipo Campeón de la Carrera

Attention 8th Grade Families - Please save the date for these important 8th Grade events. More information will be coming soon.

Student Exit Interviews @ NMS Media Center - May 19 to 23
- Parent and family volunteers needed.
- Please email Mr. Umak - Adam_G_Umak@mcpsmd.org

End of Middle School Celebration @ Six Flags America in Bowie, MD - May 30
- 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
- Student pick-up needed at NMS after hours

8th Grade Awards and Promotion Ceremony @ Watkins Mill High School - June 11
After Spring Break, each student will be offered two tickets for parents/family members. Extra tickets will be made available to the NMS school community the next week. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors Open at 5:30 PM. Student Check-In by 5:45 PM. Program from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 8th Grade students are free to enjoy their summer vacation after the ceremony concludes.

Attention all 8th Graders! Order your Class of 2025 Panoramic Picture for only $18.

Registration for Boys' and Girls' Soccer team has started and will run until March 10th. Please have your parents register ONLINE, on ParentVue. Tryouts will take place March 11 - 13th. Make sure that you have your physicals by March 10th. See Ms. Buford in Room 125 if you need help with registration.

This contest is open to all 6th - 12th grade students living in Montgomery County and challenges teens to create an original video to promote awareness of dating violence/abuse among teens. Students can enter the contest on their own or as a group; however, students may only participate in ONE entry. Participants are encouraged to be creative! For more information, please visit https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/choose-respect and for updates on the video contest and other events, please visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/fjc/chooserespect/. If you have questions about the contest, please email dvcc.chooserespect@gmail.com.

Brr... it's cold outside, especially in the morning when students are waiting for their bus. PLEASE ensure your student is coming to school with weather appropriate clothing (coats, pants, etc.). We have many students that are coming to school without coats.

Does your child need a winter coat?

Here are some local stores to buy reasonably priced coats and winter accessories:

-Kohls

-Walmart

-TJ Maxx

-Target

-Costco

Need a donated coat? Consider reaching out to the Clarksburg Closet. Contact your child's counselor so we can support you.

Lots of snow is in the forecast which could impact school operations in the coming days.

To receive the latest information on delays, closures and operational changes, Stay Connected, subscribe to Alert MCPS, and monitor our color-coded status system.

Learn more about the color codes
MCPS Operating Status Inclement Weather, 2024-2025

Do you have a big project due? Procrastinating on that big essay? Too many missing assignments? We've got the answer! NJHS is sponsoring Homework help! We will help you with your missing work, projects, and essays. Swing by room 336 on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week from 3:15-4:20 to get extra help or a quiet place to work.

BREAKFAST - all students are eligible for free breakfast every day. Students will collect breakfast from the breakfast station or kiosk on their grade level floor and eat in their first period class.

LUNCH - if your child is purchasing lunch, please remember to add funds to their account or apply for FARMS.

SchoolCash Online Registration - English | Spanish

Apply today!! --> Free and Reduced-price Meals System (FARMS) (Online Application) English | Spanish

Need new spiritwear? Check out our new spiritwear shop that has over 200 items and 12 different designs to choose from!
Click HERE to begin ordering! --> https://www.neelsvillespiritwear.com/

Our PTSA is incredibly supportive of our community! Don't delay, join today! You can find out more about our PTSA by visiting our website: https://neelsvillems.givebacks.com/

Upcoming meetings:

October 8th

March 11th

April 8th

Other useful links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/533102008605077

Join the PTSA: https://neelsvillems.memberhub.com/w/join

Join our WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BauRA3HVU

Here are the Cluster Project's Weekly Newsletters for 02/14.

English Version:

WMCP Newsletter

Spanish Version:

WMCP Boletin

As your child navigates the complexities of adolescence, it becomes increasingly crucial for us, as parents, to stay vigilant and engaged in their online world. Social media has become an integral part of their lives, shaping their interactions, self-esteem, and overall well-being.

Monitoring your pre-teen or adolescent's social media activity is not about invading their privacy, but rather about ensuring their safety and providing guidance as they navigate the digital landscape. Doing so supports childrens' emotional well-being, digital etiquette, communication, and ability to set boundaries.

Here are some resources to help parents navigate various social media platforms.

• Safe Social Network Parent Resources
• Teen Slang & Emoji Guide
• Parents' Ultimate Guide to Snapchat
• Parents' Ultimate Guide to Instagram
• Teaching Kids to Be Smart About Social Media

It's that time of year when many are getting sick. Please see the tips shared in the recent MCPS Health Update.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently and cough and sneeze into their elbow if necessary
• If your child is experiencing symptoms typical of the flu, strep throat, Covid, etc, please keep them home and consult a medical professional
• If your child is home sick, please call or email Mrs. Morales, our attendance secretary. In the event of a multi-day absence, please notify your child's counselor so we can notify teachers.

Daily attendance is important so students can succeed academically, build meaningful relationships with others, and nurture their socioemotional wellbeing.

Click HERE to learn about when students should be absent from school. Feel free to print this document in English or Spanish for easy reference at home.

Personal Mobile Devices (PMD) such as cell phones, tablets, wireless headphones, handheld gaming systems, etc. will not be used during the school day. Students should expect to store PMDs in their backpacks upon arriving at school or kept at home. PMDs can be used after school or after school activities. Parents will be asked to pick up devices used during the school day.

Parents and caregivers, we appreciate your support in helping our students stay engaged in learning. If you need to send a message to your child during school hours, please contact the main office at (301) 353-8064. We are happy to relay messages to students during non-instructional times.

Below are useful parent resources about kids and personal mobile devices.

• Away for the Day
• About Screenagers
• Internet Addiction