Bobcat Nation:

The end of the first marking period is October 31st and report cards will be distributed on November 8th. These dates will get here quickly. It is important for students not to wait until the last minute to study for tests, turn in missing assignments, etc.

There are two very important actions that are needed by parents of every student. Information and directions for each process are below in the newsletter.

• CCPS Impact Aid Survey in HAC - this was emailed out to all parents last week and needs to be completed by October 31st. Thank you to those parents who have already completed the survey.
• CCPS Annual Student Update in HAC - Thank you to those families who have submitted the required CCPS Annual Student Update in HAC for your student(s). If you have not done so yet, please see below for information on how to do so as the deadline was Tuesday, September 24th.

Have a great week!

Mr. Webster, NMS Principal

It is time to participate in our annual Federal Impact Aid Survey! Federal Impact Aid supports funding for local school districts with concentrations of children who have parents/guardians in the uniformed services or parents/guardians employed on eligible Federal Properties. Last year, your cooperation with completing and returning this form supported Calvert County Public Schools with receiving Federal Impact Aid funds.

Please follow the directions below to complete your form online. The direct link to access Home Access Center (HAC) to complete your form is Home Access Center - Login Page.

If you have technical difficulty, you may complete and return a paper survey with your child. A blank form is posted on our website at Impact Aid Program Survey - CCPS. This link is found by navigating to the parent tab/forms and applications.

Kindly submit your completed form(s) no later than October 31, 2024. It is important that all CCPS parents/guardians complete and sign this form for each child; even if you are not active military or a civilian working on federal property on September 30, 2024.

All information collected is confidential and used only for the stated purpose. The Impact Aid grant application provides only collective information on the numbers and locations of our federally connected students.

Thank you for your continued support of Calvert County Public Schools!

If you have already completed the Annual Student Update for your children, thank you! If you still need to complete it, please follow the attached directions below. The same message was sent to parents/guardians by CCPS starting on September 5th. The direct link to access HAC to complete the update is https://hac.calvertnet.k12.md.us/HomeAccess.

This year, were asked to log in to their Home Access Center (HAC) account to complete the Annual Student Update form electronically for each child who lives with you no later than Tuesday, September 24, 2024. This process replaces the emergency form and several other permission forms and acknowledgements that are required each school year. Only one guardian for each child may complete this process, which is critical to school operations. Once each child’s form is done, it will be marked complete in eSchoolPlus, our student information system.

Parents are having issues with a broken link from HAC to the ASU or Impact Aid form, are asked to try again using the correct HAC link (this link can also be found under Quick Links on the CCPS website).

If the issue persists, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@calvertnet.k12.md.us or 443-550-8146.

The Fine Arts Department would like to invite Bobcat Nation to their Spooktacular Halloween Concert in the NMS gym on Tuesday 10/22 at 6:00 pm.

Please join me in congratulating the following students who auditioned and were selected for the 2024-25 Honors All County Orchestra. These students learned an audition song, recorded their audition in Schoology and were selected through a rigorous audition process. They will now start working with other All County Orchestra students around the county to prepare for their concert.

It is my pleasure to announce that the following students were accepted by audition into the 2024 All County Middle School Honors Band: Students who were selected will receive folders with music this week. Thank you to all students who tried out by recorded audition. Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

The NMS Student Government Association (SGA) is facilitating a canned food drive during the week of October 28th - November 1st for End Hunger in Calvert County. This program will support families in need in Calvert County. We ask that students and families drop off non-perishable or canned foods to their grade designated boxes located in the main office lobby at Northern Middle School to be donated to our local food pantry.

The canned food drive is a perfect opportunity for students, staff, and families to support the community and demonstrate our theme at Northern Middle School – “We Rise by Lifting Others!”

Northern Middle School library resources connect students to a world of information beyond the school walls. We encourage students to make use of our subscription databases to support their research projects.

The link to our listing of databases is here:

Online Resources - Northern Middle School LibGuide - LibGuides at Calvert County Public Schools

Below is the login information to access our databases outside of school.

Also, students have access to the Calvert County Public Library resources through their virtual library card (CRAB Card). Information on the CRAB Card and the public library’s resources for students can be found at the following links:

• CRAB Card - https://calvertlibrary.info/kids-teens/kids/kids-cards-crab-cards/
• Online Resources - https://calvertlibrary.info/online-resources/?

Join the NMS community in the upcoming spirit activities being organized by the Counseling Department. We will be celebrating the importance of living a drug-free lifestyle during Red Ribbon Week from 10/28 - 11/1.

See Ms. Himes or Ms. Woehlke in the Counseling Office if you have any questions.

As we kick off another school year, we wanted to inform and/or remind our families of the importance of being to school on time. It is important that students arrive to school between 7:50 and 8:00 a.m. Car-riders that arrive after 8:00 a.m. are considered tardy. A student who is tardy misses valuable instructional time. When a student is tardy multiple times, that student repeatedly misses class time and instruction, which may result in a significant reduction in grades and possible failure of one or more subjects.

Please speak with your child about the importance of regular attendance, which includes being on time daily. The following steps are in place when a student arrives repeatedly late for school:

• 4 tardies in one marking period-the NMS Attendance Team will talk with the student
• 6 tardies in one marking period-parents/guardians will be notified
• 8 tardies in one marking period, the student will receive a lunch detention for each subsequent tardy

If there is any way we can assist you in getting to school on time, we are happy to help. Please reach out to administration or guidance if you have any questions or concerns.

We are excited to share that an online spirt wear store has been opened for our school community. Check out the link below to purchase gear to support Bobcat Nation!

https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/northern-middle-school-bobcats-1985132

The NMS Staff has collaborated to develop a set of common expectations to support reduced distractions and a productive learning environment throughout the building. These expectations will be shared with the students at the beginning of the school year. We appreciate the support of our families with reinforcing these expectations.

See Ms. Himes or Ms. Woehlke in the Counseling Office if you have any questions or would like to participate during Advisory.

Support the NMS Student Government Association (SGA) at their upcoming Spirit Night at Chesapeake Grill.

See Ms. Himes or Ms. Woehlke in the Counseling Office if you have any questions or would like to participate during Advisory.

Congratulations to our soccer and volleyball teams! They have done a wonderful job representing NMS during their first three games of the season. They will be finishing the regular season this week in preparation for the playoffs.

The location for the NMS Soccer game scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2024 @ 4:00pm has changed from NHS to Ward Farm Park.

If you have any questions, please contact our Athletic Director, Ms. Gott, at gottl@calvertnet.k12.md.us or 443-550-9230.

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Fall Festival, which will take place on November 1st from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the school gym. It’s going to be a night filled with fun activities for our students, and we look forward to seeing everyone there!

Ticket Information:

• Tickets are $10 each, and only Northern Middle School students are eligible to attend. A service fee applies to ticket price. Tickets can be purchased here.

Concessions will be sold at the event. Cash payment only will be accepted.

PTO Members:
If you were a PTO member by October 15th, please check your email for a special promo code to receive a discount on tickets.

We are also in need of donations of concession food and drinks and volunteers to help make this event a success! If you’re able to assist, please sign up using the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AA8AC2DABFAC70-52255635-nmspto#/

Thank you for your continued support, and we can’t wait to see our students enjoy this exciting event!

Fall Festival – November 1st!
Join us for a fun evening at our Fall Festival on November 1st, 6:00-8:00 PM in the school gym! Tickets are $10 (plus a service fee) for Northern

Middle School students only. Order here.

PTO Members: If you joined by October 15th, check your email for a special promo code.

Online sales will go through October 31. Tickets will be available for purchase during lunch periods October 28th-30th.

We need volunteers, snacks, and beverages for this event! Sign up to help here.

Hope to see you there!

Chipotle Fundraiser: October 23, 5-9pm

Support Northern Middle School PTO by dining at Chipotle in Dunkirk on October 23rd from 5-9 PM. Bring a flyer or show it on your phone, and a portion of your purchase will benefit the PTO. Enjoy a delicious meal while supporting our school!

Support NMS by Joining our PTO or Making a Donation before November 1 and be entered into a drawing for a Family Movie Night Gift Basket complements of Flagship Cinemas Prince Frederick and NMS PTO!

Please consider joining the PTO, as 100% of your membership dues and direct donations help fund much needed items such as supplies, initiatives designed to improve our students’ educational experience, 8th grade promotion activities, and staff appreciation. You can sign up and/or make a donation at https://my.cheddarup.com/c/pto-membership-2024-25/

Family Memberships are just $10. This year, we will offer a discount to at least one PTO event for students that have parents that joined and/or donated at least $10 to the PTO. *Discounted events determined by PTO and does not include 8th grade activities)

Volunteer Opportunities *You must be an approved CCPS volunteer to sign up.*

School Store Volunteers

The school store will be opening on select Wednesdays during lunch shifts and we are in need of volunteers to run the store. If you would like to help, sign up here.

PBIS Cart Volunteers

The students are ready to spend their Bobcat Bucks! The PBIS Carts are in need of volunteers during lunch shifts on Friday, October 11, Friday November 8 and Friday December 6.

If you are able to help, sign up here.

Copy Room Help

Volunteering in the Copy Room is a wonderful opportunity to support our teachers and staff. Helping with Copy Room tasks frees up time for teachers to focus on their students’ learning. Volunteers are needed each Wednesday anytime between 8:30am-2:30pm and must be approved CCPS volunteers. Tasks may include:

• Copying
• Stapling
• Sorting
• Laminating
• Cutting

Sign up here.

Questions? Please email nmsbobcatspto@gmail.com.

For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, visit calvertnet.k12.md.us/flyers.

Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district.

https://calvertnet.nutrislice.com/

• Bobcat Handbook for Students & Families
• CCPS Code of Conduct – https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/student-services/code-of-conduct

In addition to hard copy notes, parents can send notes for student absences to Ms. Contee in the counseling office via email at conteeb@calvertnet.k12.md.us.

Some students may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. A new application must be submitted each school year. Eligibility is typically determined by household size and income. To see if your household qualifies, please complete, and submit one meal benefit application per household. Applications are available in the main office but may also be completed online at https://LinqConnect.com. More information is also available on the CCPS website at Departments – Child Nutrition or at https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/child-nutrition.

If students have questions about their device (laptop/computer), they can get help from a member of the CCPS IT team at helpdesk@calvertnet.k12.md.us or call 443-550-8146. Students needing assistance can also drop off their laptop in the main office and fill out a paper Help Desk ticket.

Supports are available on the CCPS website using the Technology Support link below. This resource provides links to submit help desk tickets, frequently asked questions, and other resources that can be used to solve issues.

https://calvertnet.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

Learning Expectations with Devices

• CCPS/NMS device brought to school every day – fully charged before school begins.
• Used as the official electronic device in all classrooms
• Use CCPS Office 365 account to save assignments, projects, notes

Device Safety:

• Accounts, usernames and/or passwords are never to be shared with another student/individual
• Laptop devices should never be loaned to another student/individual
• Personal, identifiable information should never be posted on the internet
• Never leave devices unattended

Device Care:

• No decorations, stickers, drawing or writing on the device
• No eating or drinking near the device
• Do not expose the device to extreme heat, cold or rain
• Clean with a dry soft cloth only
• Do not drop or slam the device on any surface
• Do not places papers or other objects between the keyboard and screen and close shut/use as a folder

Schoology accounts for parents are view only accounts. They were created for parents who have an email address in Home Access Center (HAC). For more information about how to access your Schoology parent account click:

https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/instruction/programs/digital-learning/schoology

As part of our commitment to create an optimal learning environment for all students, CCPS has implemented a new policy regarding cell phone and smartwatch use. We kindly request your support in ensuring that your child adheres to the new guidelines.

Students are not permitted to use cell phones or smartwatches during the school day. This policy is designed to minimize distractions and promote a more focused and engaging educational experience.

Key Points of the Policy:

1. Students may bring cellular phones/smartwatches to school but are not permitted to bring in other electronic or communication devices (such as personal laptops).
2. Once school begins, the device must be powered completely off (not on vibrate or silent mode) and must remain in a non-visible, secure location. There are exceptions for administratively approved times for students in grades 9 – 12 only to use their cell phone/smartwatch.
3. If there is an emergency, parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the school’s main office. All cell phone/smartwatch guidelines, expectations, and discipline consequences apply even if communicating with parents/guardians.
4. Students may use their phone/smartwatch on the bus or school-chartered vehicle, but it must not be disruptive or cause a distraction to the driver. Sound must only be audible through headphones.
5. Camera/video use, and phone conversations are prohibited at all times.
6. Students found using cell phones during school hours are subject to disciplinary consequences, including having their devices confiscated and returned at the end of the day. Repeated violations may result in further disciplinary action.

We are confident that, with your support, CCPS students will follow expectations and contribute to a more focused, engaging, and supportive educational experience for all. Thank you for your partnership with successful implementation of the new cell phone and smartwatch policy.

Here Comes the Bus (HCTB) is an app with tracking features for the bus(es) your child(ren) is assigned to ride. They include

• Showing the real-time location of your child's bus on a map
• Scheduled and actual arrival times at home and school for bus routes
• Push and email notifications when the bus is near

Click this link for more information on getting the app - https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/transportation/bus-status/here-comes-the-bus

To create an account, you will need to know your child's ID number and the school district activation code 87557.

NMS parents who drop off or pick up their student(s) are asked to turn left onto Flint Hill Road then left into the parking lot near the NMS cafeteria. The drop off and pick up zone for students extends from the sidewalk by the NMS cafeteria, continues along the sidewalk towards the NMS office, then continues along the sidewalk in front of the Mary Harrison Center. Please pull up to the furthest spot in the drop off zone so that we can allow as many vehicles into the zone as possible. Students should be ready to exit their vehicle quickly so that we can keep traffic flowing. Upon students exiting and entering, vehicles follow a route that allows them back onto Flint Hill Road. In the afternoon, if there are no additional spaces on the sidewalk before the cafeteria entrance, please park in a parking space so that we do not have cars blocking traffic on Flint Hill Road.

We are excited to share that the construction process for the new Northern Middle School building is scheduled to begin over Winter Break. The new building will be constructed in the NMS front parking lot. As a result, there will be significant changes to the parking lots and entrances to campus. Starting in January, the current NMS parking lot and the entrance to the bus lot will no longer be accessible. At that time, all cars and school buses will begin entering and exiting the NMS/NHS campus via the first entrance off Chaneyville Road by the NHS tennis courts. Additional details will be provided as we get closer to January. With all vehicles accessing just one entrance, families can help reduce traffic congestion by having their student(s) ride the bus to/from school. Students beginning the school year on the bus will have a much easier transition. We appreciate the cooperation of our school community as we work through the logistics with construction. While there will be short-term challenges, the long-term advantages of a new NMS building will benefit our community for years to come.

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. 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

Contractors are paid $24.04 an hour/8 hours per day for a brand-new bus driver. There are increases for those individuals with more verified school bus driving experience starting at year 4, 9, 14, 19 and 24. Drivers work for independent school bus contractors throughout Calvert County. The contractors hire drivers to work on daily bus routes, or as substitutes, or to drive field trips and sports teams.

The Transportation Department provides training, free of charge, for qualified candidates to become school bus drivers. This is a terrific opportunity to work close to home and to serve the children and schools in our community.

For more information about raining, requirements, and an application, go to the CCPS Transportation page at https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/transportation.

Please contact Chuck Baker, Driver Instructor, @ 443-550-8778 or bakerc@calvertnet.k12.md.us for details on the free training process or with questions. Classes are typically held twice a month at the Career & Technology Academy, 331 Dorsey Rd., Prince Frederick, MD 20678