Windy Hill Middle School Newsletter

Hello Knight Families!

American Education Week is this coming week. We are opening our doors Wednesday morning and inviting parents/guardians to visit your child's classroom in the morning. We will sign parents in beginning at 8:05 and you will be able to report to classrooms after 8:15 once staff has taken attendance.

We have found a NFL team jersey in our athletic gear room in the gym. If your child is missing one and can identify the jersey, we may make someone very happy. Please call the office at 443-550-9310 to identify the jersey.

We need track coaches for our spring season. There are two separate teams, however the boys and girls coaches can choose to coach together if they prefer. Practice days and times are set by the coaches. If we do not find coaches, we will not have a track team this spring. If you are interested, please reach out to Mrs. Merewitz, Athletic Director, at merewitzk@calvertnet.k12.md.us

WHMS SPIRITWEAR

The basketball team is opening up a team store for three weeks for anyone to purchase WHMS gear. If you are interested, please see the link here WINDY HILL KNIGHTS. The store will close on December 5th.

BOOK FAIR

Coming Soon! Our WHMS Book Fair will take place December 2 - 6, 2024! Family Night will be on Tuesday, December 3rd from 4:00 - 6:00. Please check the website for fair and eWallet information.

If you would like to volunteer during the school day, please email Ms. Murphy at murphymarshalld@calvertnet.k12.md.us, but be sure you have completed the Volunteer Application.

Book Fair Website

CLUBS
NJHS meets on November 18th. Culinary club information will be shared the Monday after Thanksgiving break. Applications will be due by December 13th and names will be drawn the 16th and permission slips due back before the break. Culinary club will meet Wednesdays starting January 8th for 8 weeks.

YEARBOOK

Calling all artists! Do you like to draw or paint or design? Want a chance to be featured in this year's yearbook and win a free one? Then this contest is for you! We are looking for students to design the cover of our yearbook! The flyer with full details can be found on the flyer in the main office or attached to the community newsletter. All submissions are due by Tuesday, November 26th to the main office. Happy designing and good luck!

GIVING TREE
WHMS will be collecting gift cards for our families in need this holiday season. There is a flyer attached with more information. Gift cards should be dropped off by December 13th. Thank you

Carson Scholarship nominations

The purpose of the Carson Scholars Program is to recognize and reward outstanding students in the United States who exemplify academic excellence and humanitarian qualities. The goal of the Carson Scholars Program goes beyond instilling an interest in college early on and assisting with the costs of college.

Students must first apply to be the nominee for Windy Hill Middle School before they can apply to the actual Carson Scholar Award. Only one nominee per school may be selected. Students must go to the attached link and read all information thoroughly prior to beginning their application. All applications to be the school's nominee are due Dec 4th, 2024. https://forms.office.com/r/kW6mnTrw8p

Any questions about the scholarship program can be addressed to their grade level counselor or to Mrs. Dean at deana@calvertnet.k12.md.us who is overseeing the nomination process.

Annual Fundraiser Allocations:

Our check from the Annual Student Fundraiser has arrived, and as promised, I’m being transparent about how the funds will be allocated to directly benefit our students. Please open the attachment below to see the details. Thank you again for your generosity and support.

WHMS FACEBOOK PAGE

CCPS has set up Facebook accounts for schools and ours is up and running. The link for our page is https://www.facebook.com/WindyHillMiddleSchoolCCPS/

LAPTOPS

Students need to bring their laptop to school daily. If they forget, they can use the phone in the main office to contact their parent to bring their laptop. Our loaners will be held for students whose laptops are out for repair and we do not have enough to loan them out for forgotten laptops.

LAPTOP CHARGERS

If your child loses their charger, they need to purchase a replacement through the school. The cost is $39 and your student can bring in a check payable to WHMS, exact cash, or you can pay online at this link Windy Hill Middle School (osmsinc.com). We understand that there is less expensive charger available through Amazon; however using these chargers will void the warranty on the laptop. When the 8th grade students turn in their laptops at the end of the school year, the original CCPS issued charger must be returned with the laptop.

PICTURES FOR YEARBOOK

If you are at a WHMS event, game, field trip etc. and get some pictures, we'd love for you to upload them to this link so we can use them for our yearbook, school posters, etc. Thanks!

https://shorturl.at/n5eDQ

LATE ARRIVAL/EARLY DISMISSAL

When students are dropped off late or returning after an appointment, they can come in without an adult and sign themselves in. The parent/guardian does need to come in with them when signing the student out. The latest a student can be picked up for early dismissal is 2:45. Thank you

ATTENDANCE ***** Update effective 10/18/2024 *****

Attendance updates are handled by Mrs. Madison, WHMS Guidance Secretary. Notes should be delivered to the Guidance Office or sent to WHMSAttendance@calvertnet.k12.md.us

When your student arrives late or leaves early due to a Health-Related Appointment (Doctor/Dentist/Therapist/etc.): A note is required to code as Legal. Please send a note in with your child when they return to school or email a note to WHMSAttendance@calvertnet.k12.md.us

Please refer to Student Code of Conduct Policy #3005 for Lawful Causes of Absences as defined by COMAR 13A.08.01.03. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to provide school authorities with verification of the reason for each student absence. Any absence not certified by the parent, guardian, physician, court or other appropriate person/agency will be considered unlawful. Students returning from absences without notes with appropriate signatures certifying lawful absences will be given three school days to provide such certification. Absences not certified at the end of three days will be considered unlawful.

For students illegally tardy:

3 tardies = 1 day lunch detention

4 tardies = 3 days lunch detention

5 tardies = after school detention

6 tardies = Saturday School

LOST AND FOUND

Our lost and found is kept on the stage on the cafeteria and donated or discarded every other Friday. Your child is always welcome to check the cafeteria before school or during lunch for missing items.

CAFETERIA

Please make sure you child has money on their lunch account if they are buying lunch. More information about the Child Nutrition Department and link to set up an account can be found here. School Meal Information - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us) Our cafeteria manager has also given us our WHMS menu for the first week of school which is attached below for your reference.

VOLUNTEERS

Calvert County Public Schools uses Raptor for visitors and volunteers to sign in and sign out. Volunteers must apply annually to be an approved volunteer. You will need to apply for the 2024-2025 school year. All volunteers will need to review the volunteer handbook and watch the volunteer training video before completing and Online Volunteer Application. Volunteers must be approved before they may begin service as a volunteer in any school buildings.
CCPS Online Volunteer Application & Process: https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/human-resources/become-a-volunteer

SAVE THE DATE

The incoming Freshmen Registration Night for NHS will be Thursday, February 6th at 6:00pm. More information to come.

Thank you

Mark Whidden

Principal, Windy Hill Middle School

Dates for upcoming clinics are:

Cheer 11/18, 11/19 tryout 11/20 - pick up 4:45

Poms 12/2-12/6 - pick up 5:00

Girls Basketball 11/18-22 - pick up 5:00

Boys Basketball 12/2-12/6 - pick up 5:00

• COACHES NEEDED - We are looking for girls and boys track coaches for the spring. If interested, please reach out to our Athletic Director, Mrs. Merewitz at mailto:merewitzk@calvertnet.k12.md.us.

Our next PTSO meeting is Tuesday, November 19th at 4pm here at WHMS. All are welcome to join us in the WHMS library for the meeting.

You can email the PTSO officers at any time at mailto:windyhillptso@gmail.com.

Join the WHMS PTSO Facebook Page to keep up with information - Windy Hill Middle School Parents Teachers Students is the group name.

We encourage you to join PTSO. Joining PTSO does not obligate you to volunteering, but we certainly welcome your support with any events you are interested in helping with.

https://checkout.square.site/buy/PWK2E77ZYGDGEBG5FMT5KHKK.

Your PTSO officers this year are Mary Rooney, Michelle Dyro, Andrea Hoover, Cheri Kline and Karen Merewitz.