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Mr. Mills“Pause” Corner

Volume 4 Issue 6~ December Issue

Mr. Mills“Pause”CornerVolume 4 Issue 6~ December Issue

Dear Samuel Ogle Middle School Families,

As we approach the end of the calendar year, I want to take a moment to share the exciting events and important dates happening at our school in December. It's shaping up to be a busy month full of performances, celebrations, and opportunities for our students. Please take note of the following:

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

  • Friday, December 6
    Middle School Honors Chorus Concert
    Location: Fairmont Heights High School
    Time: 7:30 PM
    Students in the Honors Chorus will be performing. We encourage you to come out and support them!

  • Scholastic Book Fair - December 2, 2024 - December 6, 2024 During the school day 9:30am - 4:00pm and (Thursday December 5, 2024 evening hours 5pm - 7pm).

  • Monday, December 9
    Picture Day for Students
    Forms will be sent home with students this week. Be sure to have your child prepared for their school photo!

  • Wednesday, December 11

    • Athletic Pep Rally & Attendance Incentive for students
      We're excited to host an athletic pep rally, and students can earn incentives for good attendance.

    • 6th & 7th Grade Chorus Performance
      Location: Bowie State University
      Time: 7:00 PM
      The 6th and 7th grade chorus students will be performing at Bowie State University. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to hear our talented singers!

  • Thursday, December 12

    • Band/Orchestra Winter Concert
      Time: 7:00 PM
      Come enjoy a night of music as our Band and Orchestra students showcase their hard work.

    • PTSO Monthly Meeting
      Time: 6:30 PM via Zoom
      Join us virtually for our monthly Parent-Teacher-Student Organization meeting. Your involvement makes a difference!

  • Friday, December 13
    8th Grade Chorus Performance
    Location: Bowie High School
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Our 8th grade chorus students will be performing at Bowie High School. Please come support their performance!

  • Monday, December 16
    1st Quarter Honor Roll Assembly
    We will celebrate the academic achievements of our students during the 1st quarter Honor Roll assembly.

  • Tuesday, December 17 & Wednesday, December 18
    7th Grade Field Trip to JA Finance Park
    The 7th graders will be heading to JA Finance Park for an exciting, hands-on learning experience about personal finance.

  • Friday, December 20

    • Progress Report Window Closes for Quarter 2
      The progress report window will close, and teachers will finalize grades for Quarter 2.

    • 3-Hour Early Dismissal Day for Students
      Please note that students will be dismissed three hours earlier than usual.

  • Monday, December 23 – Friday, January 3
    Winter / Holiday Break
    Schools and offices will be closed for the Winter Break. Enjoy this time with your family

Basketball Season is Underway!

We are thrilled to announce that basketball season is officially underway! Our student-athletes have been practicing hard, and games are starting to take place. Please join us in supporting our basketball teams and cheerleaders at the upcoming games. It’s always a great experience for students, staff, and families alike to come together and cheer on our teams!

New Attendance Procedure: “Hall Sweeps” Begin December 2, 2024

In our ongoing efforts to promote student responsibility and ensure that every student arrives to class on time, we are implementing hall sweeps beginning Monday, December 2, 2024. These sweeps will serve as a monitoring tool for school staff to ensure that students are not missing valuable instructional time due to tardiness.

Helpful Information:

  • Students who are late to class will be held accountable and will need to check in at a designated location before being allowed to enter class.

  • Responses for repeated tardiness will be addressed with the goal of helping students understand the importance of punctuality.

  • Our staff will continue to support students in developing good time management habits, ensuring that they maximize their learning time.

We ask for your support in reinforcing the importance of being on time to class. Together, we can help students establish routines that contribute to their academic success.

A Few Reminders:

  • Student Absences: If your child will be absent for any portion of the school day, please ensure they submit a note or contact the school in advance.

  • Picture Day: Don't forget to send in the picture day forms with your child on Monday, December 9.

PTSO at Samuel Ogle MS

Samuel Ogle has an active PTSO that meets regularly at 6:30pm on the second Thursday of each month. These meetings are traditionally held via zoom. Our PTSO board will be providing updates throughout the year. If anyone is interested in becoming part of our PTSO or has general questions, please send an email to samuelogleptso@gmail.com.


PTSO Meeting: Your involvement in our monthly PTSO meetings helps make a difference in our school community. We hope to see you there via Zoom on December 12, 2024 at 6:30pm.

Grade-Level Counselors

This year our Grade-Level professional School Counselors are as follows:

6th Grade - Ms. Andrea Carswell andrea.hepburn@pgcps.org

7th Grade - Ms. Monica Leftwich monica.leftwich@pgcps.org

8th Grade - Ms. Selena Archibald selena.archibald@pgcps.org

Grade-Level Assistant Principals

This year our Grade-Level Assistant Principals are as follows:

6th Grade - Ms. Betsy Bratek betsy.bratek@pgcps.org

7th Grade - Mrs. Tamela Taylor-Orr ttaylor@pgcps.org

8th Grade - Mr. Brian Harbel brian.harbel@pgcps.org

Principal's Final Thoughts

I want to thank you all for your continued support and involvement in our school. It’s because of your dedication that we are able to create such a vibrant and engaging environment for our students. Wishing you a wonderful December and a joyful holiday season ahead!
Cameron Millspaugh, Principal
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