The PAW Print #1

Monday, August 19: Open House

8th Grade: 9:00-10:00 AM

7th Grade: 10:30-11:30 AM

6th Grade: (Report to Cafeteria)

Last Name: A-K: 5:30-6:30 PM

Last Name: L-Z: 6:45-7:45 PM

*6th grade students will be provided lockers during open house.

* 7th and 8th grade students will be provided lockers on the first day of school

Wednesday, August 21: First day of school

Monday, September 2: Labor Day (all schools and offices are closed)

Thursday, September 19: Two Hour Early Dismissal (12:30PM)

Friday, September 20: Professional Day for Staff, School Closed for Students

Glenna Edwards-Principal

Jessica Bosse- 6th grade AP

Patrick James-7th grade AP

James Peeler-8th grade AP

Robin Kirby- Receptionist

Cindy Garrison- Secretary to the Principal

Carolyn Hutchins- Nurse

Malinda Gloriod-Nurse

Cpl Artina Alvey- School Resource Officer

Elizabeth Ripple-6th grade

Krissy Wells 7th grade

Megan Hildenberger-8th grade

April Roach-Records Secretary

Communication is essential for your child's success in school. In an effort to keep everyone informed about our school, I will be sending home weekly communications known as the Paw Print every Sunday afternoon at approximately 3:45 PM. The Paw Print is sent to the primary email we have on file for your child. If you are reading this Paw Print, then be assured your email is on file with us. We want to provide you with the information you need the most. This year we will be including grade level newsletters in the Paw Print. The newsletters will appear in the first Paw Print of each month. So we can include what is most important to our community, we ask that you take a few minutes to complete the survey linked below. Thank you, in advance for your input.

Grade Level Newsletter Input Survey

The cell phone policy for all SMCPS middle schools requires students' phones to be turned off and put away throughout the school day. This policy has been in effect at MBMS for many years and is not new to our students. We want to thank our community for continuing to support our efforts in minimizing distractions for our students. More detailed information about the SMCPS policy will be forthcoming from Dr. Smith, SMCPS Superintendent.

Please click on the link below.

Nurse - Margaret Brent Middle School (smcps.org)

Funds can be added to students' accounts online. Credit/debit cards by using this web address and creating/establishing an account.

https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home

Meal Benefit Applications

As we are preparing for the upcoming school year, it is necessary that inform our school community of our current policies and practices. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for all of our students that focuses on learning. We realize that the understanding and constant support of our parent community is essential in achieving a productive and positive environment for our students. Again, the focus is on safety and eliminating disruptions to the learning environment. Thank you, in advance, for your support.

• Students are only permitted to have clear water bottles throughout the school day. Please note that metal water bottles are cumbersome for students and have been the reason for countless broken computer screens and injuries. Students will not be permitted to carry these types of water bottles. Examples of acceptable water bottles are provided below. Additionally, students will not be permitted to carry containers of coffee, hot chocolate, tea, energy drinks, soda etc.
• Outside food (fast food) should not be ordered by parents or students to be delivered during lunches. Parents who drop off lunch for their child should not bring additional food to be shared with other students. Birthday celebrations will not be permitted during the school day.
• Parents who come to eat lunch with their child will be permitted to eat lunch with only their child in a designated area (conference room).

• Phones are to be turned off during the school day. Please discuss with your child the proper use of their phone. Visual or auditory recording of students and staff is prohibited.
• Please do not text your child during the school day. If there is an emergency, please contact the office and we will make sure the message is delivered. Please note that no teacher will ever require your child to use their phone as part of their instruction. Please encourage your child to report issues and concerns to the adults in the building rather then texting home. This allows us to address the issue without delays.
• Earbuds, Air Pods, and all wireless headphones are not to be worn in school. Again, there will be no need for any student to use wireless headphones since no teacher will require your child to use them.
• The school is not responsible for lost, broke or stolen electronics or headphones.
• Although the county dress code changed a few years ago to allow students to wear hats, we recommend students choose a single hat as opposed to wearing two or three hats.
• Students arriving in the building after the school day begins (7:38AM) without a doctors note will be marked unexcused tardy. Please be aware that the parent drop off line varies in length depending on the day. Please note that three instances of being tardy to classes (combined) in any one week will result in ISI (in-school intervention).
• Students eating school breakfast will be dismissed from buses at 7:25 to report to the breakfast lines. All other students will be dismissed from buses at 7:30. Outside food and beverages (except clear water bottles) will not be permitted in the hallways and classrooms.
• Emergency phone calls home by students will be permitted though the grade level assistant principal.
• Bus passes will only be permitted in cases of emergency. Bus passes will not be approved for birthday parties, sleep overs etc. The buses are crowded and there is not much room for extra students. Bus passes will not be written after 2:00. Requests must be provided to the school in writing via a note or an email to both secretaries (rgkirby@smcps and cagarrison@smcps.org)
• For safety purposes, book bags and string packs will not be permitted. All backpacks must be kept in the students' lockers. Small computer bags are permitted. Please refrain from purchasing large, bulky, back pack computer bags. Examples of acceptable bags are shown below.
• Only 6th grade schedules will be mailed home. Please use HAC to access 7th and 8th grade students' schedules. The schedules will not be available until 5:00 PM on August 16. If you do not have access to the internet or need assistance with HAC, please stop by the appropriate table during Open House.
• Students who are to be picked up daily for parent pick up will need to have parent/guardians complete the form below and return the first day of school. Students will be dismissed at the end of the day (2:30 to the cafeteria where a staff member will check them out to their parent/guardian). Identification is required. Those parents who occasionally need to pick up their child should contact the office prior to 2:00 so we can inform the student they are to go to parent pick up.
• ANY legal parent, guardian, or confirmed designee picking up a student during the day must provide identification. We will not be able to release students without proper identification.
• Every year there are hundreds of items that are left in the lost and found. Please put your child's name on all personal items (coats, hats, hoodies, lunch boxes etc.)

Parents choosing to transport their child to school should enter the property at the north entrance closest to the sport fields and circle around by the tennis courts and form a line in front of the cafeteria doors indicated on the map with a smiley face. At 7:15 staff will dismiss students from cars that are along the entire sidewalk in front of the cafeteria. All students should exit their cars on the school side for safety purposes. Once students are safely out of the cars, parents will then proceed around the parking to exit.

Students arriving as parent drop off will not be permitted inside the building until 7:15 Staff is not on duty until that time. Students being dropped off will be directed to the cafeteria and dismissed to their lockers at 7:30. Students arriving after 7:35 will need to report to the main office to check in. Students not in their homeroom by 7:38 will be marked tardy.

Parents who are planning to pick up their child every day should complete the form below. Students will be dismissed at the end of the day to the cafeteria. The same process will be followed for pick up as we use for drop off. Please be aware that the first few days will take a bit longer until staff get to know you and your child. Your patience and understanding is appreciated Once the school year is underway, the pick up process goes rather quickly.

PTSO members are parents, teachers and students who are dedicated to promoting the education and welfare of our children. We highly encourage everyone to join our PTSO to show their support. As a member you are welcome to attend all meetings & functions; however, your membership does not require you to participate in these functions. The membership fee is $10. If interested in joining, you may email us at mbmspanthersptso@gmail.com! We will have a sign up table at Open House as well!

Your PTSO Board Members for the 2024-2025 School Year are:

Tiffany Wilson - President

Kimberly Rawlings - Vice President

Samantha Tuck - Treasurer

Nina Masri - Secretary

Make sure you follow us on Facebook (Margaret Brent Middle School PTSO) to stay up to date on fundraisers and other events.

Events to look forward to this school year:

PTSO General Meetings (all meetings are at 2:45pm in the Media Center)

- Wednesday, September 18

- Wednesday, November 20

- Wednesday, February 19

- Wednesday, May 14

Dances

- 6th Grade (November 15)

- 7th Grade (January 10)

- 8th Grade (May 16 - date subject to change)

Dodgeball Tournament

- Thursday, March 13 at Chopticon High School

Fundraisers

- Joe Corbi's -September 9-27

Spirit Nights

- Tuesday, 8/27 - Red Robin - All Day

- Thursday, 9/12 - Rita's - 6-8pm

- Saturday, 9/28 - Drift Inn Crabhouse - 4-8pm

- Thursday, 10/24 - Texas Roadhouse - 4-8pm

Ongoing Fundraisers:

- Croc Charms & Magnets

- First come, First serve – limited quantity available. Orders will be delivered to students during homeroom as orders are placed. They will also be available for sale at the PTSO table during Open Houses. Order Forms attached.