Neelsville Middle School

There is no school on Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. HERE and HERE.

This week, students at Neelsville will engage in service activities that will support our community and give each student the opportunity to earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours.

Temperatures are expected to be VERY LOW this week, 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.

Attention 8th Grade parents and caregivers! Registration for your child's 9th grade classes on January 21. Please make sure you review the registration presentations for Watkins Mill and Seneca Valley High Schools. Both presentations can be found in the NMS Course Bulletin Website.

We are excited for our 6th and 7th grade students to participate in the Learning Undefeated STEAM Learning Lab in their science class this week! This mobile labe will give our students the opportunity to participate in learning focused on how sugar moves throughout the body and the effect diabetes can have on these processes.

Please dress warmly to science class as we will be walking outside to the learning lab parked in the bus loop.

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

The second session of EBB is almost here, and classes start on Monday, January 27! 🎉 We’ve got some awesome new classes, and we’re excited for you to join us.

To sign up, pick up a form from the main office. Once you’ve filled it out, drop it off in the bin in the main office. Please don’t give the forms to teachers or staff—they need to go straight to the main office.

Classes fill up quickly and are first come, first serve, so don’t wait too long! If you have any questions, stop by and see Mrs. Nolan-Barnes in room 308 or Mrs. Morales in the main office.

We can’t wait to see you there! 😊

8:10 am - Class Starts!

3:00 pm - Dismissal

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

Are you interested in seeing the process of the SMOB election unfold? Want to attend the annual SMOB Nominating Convention to participate in the democratic process in the selection of our two finalists for the next SMOB? If you are interested, please contact your school’s SGA advisor Ms. Franklin or Ms. Fernandez-Johnson by January 27th to learn more about the process of becoming a delegate to the SMOB Nominating Convention.

NJHS will meet in room 315 on Tuesday and Wednesday this week to plan for the Winter Social!

We are excited to host 6 home basketball games: 1/15, 1/21, 1/28, 2/12, 2/20 and 2/26 this winter season. We will be inviting the first 15 students per grade level to sign up during lunch to watch the basketball games after school.

Sign-up will occur on Mondays during lunch. Those children will be able to attend the game until 4:25 pm when the activity bus departs. If your child wishes to attend our games with an adult chaperone, the adult chaperone must be at school by 3:15 and attend the game with their student. We'd love to see the support for our home teams from our community!

Student Spectator Expectations

Students who sign up to attend home basketball games are expected to:

• cheer on the NMS basketball teams and demonstrate good sportsmanship
• use appropriate language
• stay in the gymnasium and follow chaperone directions
• know which activity bus they will ride or plan to be pick up by a parent/caregiver

If you have any questions, please contact marnetta_buford@mcpsmd.org

8th Graders, please bring in your Permission Slip for the Washington, D.C. Museum field trip. The last day to turn in your slip is on January 27. There is no fee for this trip.

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

Attention hyperlexic* students! In-class spelling bees will begin in Englsh/ELD classes when we return from winter break. Classroom based Spelling Bees start this week on January 2nd in English and ELD classes. Winners will compete in the school spelling bee on Tuesday, February 4th at 6:30. Please see your English/ELD teacher to pick up a word list.

*hyperlexic - one who masterfully spells words (in other words, a great speller!)

Practice Lists:

6th Grade List

7th Grade List

8th Grade List

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

February 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.

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