The Raider Nation Newsletter

Dear Atholton Community,

If you haven't heard, we are conducting a monthly medal competition between the four grade levels. At the end of each month, we tabulate the totals for each grade in these five categories:

• Highest attendance percentage
• Fewest number of E's
• Fewest number of referrals/incident reports
• Lowest tardy to school percentage
• Highest participation is school spirit days

The junior class has won the first two months of the year and received a snack during lunch for 1) coming to school regularly, 2) working hard in class, 3) making good decisions, 4) getting to school on time, and 5) showing that Raider Pride.

That's what it boils down to...your child will have a much more successful experience at Atholton if they focus on those five things and the reward will be greater than just a snack...but fruit snacks or Rice Krispie Treats are a nice addition too.

Thanks for encouraging your kid to focus on what's important. They may not have done it September or October, but it's a new month, a new marking period and they can always turn things around. Who knows...they may even help their class win the gold medal?

Sincerely,

Nick Novak

Principal

Atholton teachers will hold parent teacher conferences Monday, Nov. 25-Wednesday, Nov. 27. Parents may register for conferences via HCPSS Connect Synergy from Friday, Nov. 8 at 8 a.m. through Thursday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m.

There will be four performances of the Fall play on November 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. Get your tickets now by purchasing on Booktix. Thanks for supporting Atholton Theatre!

The Columbia Association, Downtown Columbia Partnership, Merriweather District and Grassroots are offering several upcoming community activities in November/December in which they are seeking volunteers to support the event. Events include the ColorBurst Park Tree Lighting Ceremony, Family Festive Friday, Holiday Mart Days, and Grassroots Breakfast with Santa.

These events are great opportunities for students to engage in our community, meet students from other schools, gain leadership experience, and have fun! All events provide documentation of volunteer hours served.

Senior Families! We don't have a graduation date yet or a window of time, but we know that graduation will be happening for the class of 2025 this Spring. We do know though that it is time to begin ordering your graduation regalia from our official provider--Josten's! Information regarding packages, pricing, and ordering can be found in the link below.

Josten's Atholton HS Graduation Ordering Link

Demand for the Atholton HS food pantry is growing and we need to make sure our inventory can keep up with the demand. Please consider purchasing items from our wish list below to help out. The food gets delivered directly to AHS, so you don't have to drop it off yourself. Here's the link to purchase through Amazon:

Food Pantry Wish List

The HCPSS Food and Nutrition Service is holding their 1st Regional Food Taste Test Event at the Guilford Park High School cafeteria on November 14 from 6:00-7:00 pm The food taste test is an exciting opportunity for parents and students to try new and currently prepared foods and share their opinions. This event is an authentic method to engage our school community to support and celebrate the value of being willing to try healthy school meals. In addition to tasting samples of food, the event will also be an opportunity to provide participants with relevant information and literature about school food service. Participants are asked to register for the event by November 7 at https://forms.gle/Fypx58DtXWf5vhA7A since capacity is limited to a maximum of 450 persons. Please contact Brian Ralph, Director of Food and Nutrition Service if you have additional questions.

The flyer below includes important details about a free food giveaway happening the week of Thanksgiving. Please take advantage of this opportunity if you need it or pass it in to someone who does. Thanks.

Thanks to the parents who have helped with our Open Gym already. It's a big help having some additional support in the main gym. We have some additional dates to sign up for if you're free for 30 minutes-2 hours. Whatever time you can provide is greatly appreciated! Sign up to help here.

All of the October 18th senior picture dates have been booked, so we have added more dates: December 9-10, 2024 and January 7, 2025. All three days will have appointments from 2:45pm-8pm in the senior cafeteria. Make your appointment here: https://seniors.legacystudios.com/atholton-hs-columbia-md/

Free Online Parenting Classes (Open to HoCo grandparents too) - HC DrugFree offers an evidence-based, interactive prevention program that helps parents, guardians and/or grandparents develop stronger relationships with their kids, while also providing skills proven to reduce the risk of youth engaging in substance use or other risky behaviors. These classes are for families with children 9-14 years old (slightly younger and older may register and will be considered) and held on Zoom on November 12, 15, 19, 22, and December 3 from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. For more information and to register, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/currentevents/

Medication and Sharps Disposal Take Back Day - HC DrugFree will host another convenient drive-thru medication and sharps collection on Saturday, October 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot (near the CA Swim Center). Bring unwanted and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medication, “sharps” (needles, syringes, and EpiPens), vapes without the batteries, inhalers, and more. Medication will be guarded and transported by the Howard County Police and DEA. For more information and to volunteer, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/currentevents/

Teen Advisory Council - The Teen Advisory Council (TAC) receives Community Service Hours for providing the youth perspective to HC DrugFree's staff and Board of Directors. Youth input increases the effectiveness of HC DrugFree's educational programs, newsletters, website and other services. TAC is open to Howard County students in grades 8 through 12 (public, private and homeschool) who meet monthly during the school year to discuss teen use of alcohol and other drugs and to develop educational messages that promote a vision of a county where youth are drug-free by choice. For more information and to register, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/currentevents/

11/5 Election Day- Schools & Offices Closed

11/6 Choir Cluster Concert

11/8 Report Cards Viewable in Synergy

11/11 Evacuation Drill-5th Period

11/12 Athletics & Activities Boosters Meeting

11/13 Fall Sports Award Ceremony

11/14 NHS Induction Ceremony

11/15 Honor Roll Ice Cream for MP 1

Atholton PTSA

Atholton PBSA

Atholton Boosters

Atholton Drama Boosters

Atholton JROTC Boosters

Atholton Music Boosters

Atholton Robotics Boosters