The Raider Nation Newsletter

News from Principal Novak: September 3, 2024

Week 2-Getting Into the Routine

Dear Raider Nation,

Today, we started the school day with our typical tardy check-in using the attendance kiosks. Thanks for making sure your student is in 1st period by 7:50am. In addition, we conducted two tardy sweeps throughout the day to make sure students are on time and ready to learn for each class. We will do this frequently throughout the year to keep an emphasis on being on time and maximizing time in class. Just think that if a student is 1 minute late every day, they will miss more than 3 classes worth of time over the year; 3 minutes late means more than 10 classes missed; and 5 minutes late equates to 18 classes. For important info on absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals, please refer to this letter.

There's a lot of information shared in the opening weeks of school and, as promised, here are some of the presentations from the first week for you to review:

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Nick Novak

Principal

PS- Bus counts are happening today and tomorrow, so transportation will get a good sense of the routes that need to be changed if overcrowded. Stay tuned for info on additional routes being added.

Important Information

Greek Mythology Olympia-ganza!

Like to Act or Perform? Do you like Greek mythology? Come on out to the Fall 2024 Play Audition Interest meeting for the 'Greek Mythology Olympia-ganza!' The meeting will take place Wednesday, September 4th from 2:50-3:45 pm in room B120. All students are welcome! If you have any questions, please stop by B120 or email Ms. Adler at hadler@hcpss.org. See you there!

Tri-M Interest Meeting

Do you like music? Do you enjoy helping people? Come to Tri-M’s interest meeting! Tri-M is a music honors society that focuses on music performance, leadership, and service opportunities. Our interest meeting is next week on Thursday, September 5th. New members interested in joining Tri-M should come at 2:45, and all returning members should come at 3:15.

Space RAIDERS Meetings

The Atholton Space RAIDers Team 2537 is hosting two identical information meetings for students who are new to the robotics club, and their parents.

When: September 5 and 10, 7-8pm. (Come to ONE date)

Where:
Parent meeting: AHS Media Center

Student meeting: Room E172

Who: Students interested in joining the Robotics Team and their parents.

Why: Learn about the exciting opportunities available to get involved and thrive in robotics. Team members have opportunities to develop skill in technology as well as in marketing, fundraising, and business development! Learn about ways parents can help the team!

If you have any questions please ask Mr. Fyock in E172

PBSA General Membership Meeting

Connect with other Atholton parents and school officials...and meet the PBSA board!

DATE: Monday, September 9th

TIME: 6:30pm-7:30pm

LOCATION: Media Center

MVA Driver's Permit Test

We are pleased to announce that Atholton will be partnering with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration to offer permit testing at school. The next MVA Driver’s Permit Test will be on Tuesday, September 24 afterschool in the media center. Students must be 15 years old and 9 months to complete the driver’s permit test. Students must return a signed parent permission form. Permission Forms (hard copy only) are available now and can be found on Mrs. Bopst's classroom door (room B123). Drivers manuals are also distributed by Mrs. Bopst. Permission forms must be returned to Mrs. Bopst by September 19. Students are registered for the MVA Permit Test on a first come first serve basis when the signed permission slip is returned. Spots are limited to 40 students. If you need to use accommodations for the test, then please visit your local MVA branch for support.

*Disclaimer - when you pass the MVA Permit Test at school, YOU MUST make an appointment with the MVA branch to obtain the actual permit and pay the fee. The paper given to you when you pass is only a piece of paper and DOES NOT SERVE as your learner’s permit.

Important Information-Reposted

Morning Drop Off

For many of you, today was your first glimpse of morning drop off. To help ensure that things run as smoothly as possible, please remember the following:

If you can put your student on the bus, do it. The fewer cars we have in the drop off lane, the faster it goes.
If you were late arriving to school today, leave earlier. Anticipate that there will be traffic and make adjustments so that your student is in 1st period by 7:50am.
Please do not create your own drop off lanes or spots. Drop off in the main loop should happen at the end of the fence. Drop off near the junior parking lot should happen at the auditorium entrance.
Please do not drop student-athletes off near the dumpster area. Student-athletes can take equipment to team rooms through the building by entering the front lobby. Dropping off near the locker room and then leaving campus creates an additional area for back-ups.

Reminder! Complete Your Family File

HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to supply emergency information. Parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child every year. Thanks for making sure we have updated contact info.

Free and Reduced Meals

Many HCPSS families are eligible to participate in the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program, which provides children with a wide range of benefits including free or discounted college tuition, testing and application fees, academic and athletic program fees and many others in addition to free or discounted meals. Families are urged to check their eligibility and complete a FARMs application as soon as possible. Families must submit a new application every school year. Details on the Free and Reduced Meals program, including a link to apply, are available online.

HCPSS Bullying Information

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal. HCPSS Policy 9460 states that bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation are prohibited in HCPSS. Our administration and staff have been trained and made aware of this policy as well as preventative and responsive measures.

We know how important your role is in not only supporting your children, but also reporting possible incidents as you become aware of them. The Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation (BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report all alleged incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation that occur at school or have a connection back to the school setting that create a risk of harm to other students while they are at school, or interfere with the educational environment. An online version is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. Hard copies of this form are available in the main office, staff workroom, school counseling office, media center, and health services office. If you believe your child has been bullied, please complete and submit this form as soon as possible and/or assist your child in doing so.

Once the form is submitted, school administrators will ensure the parent/guardian of both the alleged target and alleged offender are aware of the report and will begin an investigation within two school days of receiving the report. Parents/guardians can expect a school administrator to reach out to them during the investigation. Once the investigation is completed, parents/guardians will be provided written notice of the outcome of the investigation within fifteen days of receiving the compaint, excluding extenuating circumstances.

There are times when incidents of peer conflict or code of conduct offenses may occur that may not be bullying, but may need follow up action. If you become aware of something that falls under conflict and/or a code of conduct offense, please notify a school administrator via email or phone call so that they can become aware and follow up as needed.

Lastly, I want to take a moment to specifically lift up cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying using electronic media like computers, cell phones, and game systems. Our digital interconnectedness makes bullying different and more damaging than it’s ever been before. It allows hatred and publicly humiliating gossip or photos to be instantly far-reaching and inescapable as electronic media is everywhere. It can NOT simply be ignored. In October 2013, the State of Maryland enacted Grace’s Law, making misuse of interactive computer services a criminal offense. Its purpose is to prohibit anyone from using electronic media (computers, tablets, phones, etc.) to maliciously engage in conduct that inflicts serious emotional distress on a minor and/or places that minor in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury. A person who is found guilty of violating this law is subject to imprisonment and/or fines.

While all of this information will be reviewed with students at school, we are asking you to do the same at home. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring all of our students feel a sense of safety and belonging in their school communities! More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

Academic Dishonesty

The HCPSS Student Code of Conduct defines Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism as:

Academic Dishonesty can take many forms including plagiarism and/or cheating.
Plagiarism, using the work or ideas of others, may also include the use of Artificial Intelligence writing programs without proper acknowledgment, giving the false impression of original authorship.
Cheating may include forgery, such as faking a signature of a teacher or parent; or copying the work of another person digitally or in person.
Furthermore, supplying work to be copied is the facilitation of cheating. (Policy 8120 Testing: State and Local Responsibilities and Protocols)

*Plagiarism may include but is not limited to the following types of sources: ChatGPT, textbooks, Wikipedia, other online sources, etc…

If a teacher suspects a violation of the student code of conduct:

The teacher will gather appropriate evidence (review of materials/resources, student statements, etc.)
The teacher will explain to the student(s) the nature of the offense and the possible consequence(s) for that offense.
The teacher will complete an Incident Report, assign the appropriate consequence, and contact the parent/guardian.

Consequences for violations may include:

Level 1 consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
Level 2 consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
Completing a comparable assignment
A grade of 0 for the assignment with the ability to re-do the assignment
A grade of 0 for the assignment without the ability to re-do comparable assignment

*When determining a consequence, consideration may be given to the severity of the incident as well as previous academic dishonesty violations.

Upcoming Events

Please mark your calendars for these important dates and check out the full school calendar on our website:

9/4 Class of 2025 Chipotle Fundraiser

9/9 & 9/10 School Pictures for Grades 10 and 11 (and any 9th grader who missed orientation)

9/9 PBSA Meeting

9/14 JROTC Car Wash Fundraiser

9/17 PTSA Meeting

9/18 Club Fair during school day; 11:35am Dismissal

For Your Viewing Pleasure

As a parent of a teenager, I can totally relate to the stories she shares. As a principal (and as a parent too I guess), I share videos and other advice like this because you don't get a manual when you become a parent. You do the best you can and learn as you go along. If you feel like you have things under control, feel free to skip the video. Just be sure to start writing that manual for the rest of us!