Northern Middle Newsletter

Bobcat Nation:

We are quickly approaching the start of the 2023-24 school year! The NMS staff has been busy preparing for the arrival of students. We are excited that they will be joining us in the building!

• Monday, August 26th - 6th Grade & New Student Orientation
• Tuesday, August 27th - First day of school for all students

Please review the newsletter below for important information regarding bus schedules, students schedules, Back to School forms/documents, Open House, PTO information, etc.

The newsletter has been designed with features to improve accessibility for all viewers. On the right hand side of the page, you can access features which allow for language translation, modifying text size, and contrast mode. If you are accessing on a mobile device, there is an icon that looks like a person at the bottom of the newsletter. Clicking this icon on a mobile device will provide the accessibility features.

A key to the success of each student will be everyone working together in support of our theme - "We Rise by Lifting Others." We are excited to work together with your student and family this year!

Mr. Webster, NMS Principal

Be sure to read through the attached Back to School letter. It contains important information to help students and families as we transition into the new school year.

Monday, August 26th - CCPS middle schools will be holding an Orientation Day for 6th graders from 8:10 - 11:10 am. New 7th and 8th grade students will receive an invitation from their counselor. As a reminder, Orientation Day in middle school is for students only. Parents will have an opportunity to meet teachers during Open House. See below for information about a memo from Transportation regarding buses for Orientation Day.

Bus information (bus #, bus stop location and approximate bus stop times) for the 2024-2025 school year was posted in Home Access Center on August 12th. Bus stop information is based on the guardian’s home address unless they have provided a different pick-up and drop-off location to your child’s school. Please contact your child’s school to make any corrections to the student database.

• Bobcat Handbook for Students & Families
• CCPS Code of Conduct – https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/student-services/code-of-conduct
• CCPS Technology in the Classroom letter
• Back to School Vaccinations Flyer

There are forms that need to be signed and returned for each student. They will be included in our First Day Folders so parents will receive a paper copy. Attached are copies of the forms in the event that you would like to start filling them out.

• CCPS Code of Conduct Statement of Understanding
• NMS Technology Expectations Form

Ms. Albaugh, one of our outstanding teachers, has created a video and organizer with tips to welcome our Bobcats back to school. This is a great resource, especially for our incoming 6th graders!

We know you and your child are excited about being prepared and beating the rush of getting your school supplies. However, we recommend that you wait until your child brings home all of their teacher’s syllabuses to determine what supplies are needed. Typical supplies include items such as pencils, pens, notebooks, folders, paper, etc. We also encourage students to have their own corded headphones to connect to their laptops as needed.

Students will have a laptop provided by Calvert County Public Schools. 7th and 8th graders will continue to utilize the laptop this school year that has been previously issued to them and was taken home over the summer. 6th grade students will be receiving new laptops during the initial weeks of the school year.

It is important that students take care of their device and charger. While normal wear and tear is acceptable and expected, intentional damage or damage caused by neglect is not covered under the accidental warranty. These types of damages will require an investigation by school administration and may result in a student obligation for the repair costs. We would like to avoid parents being responsible for these costs, as they could hundreds of dollars depending on the damage.

Students may bring cellular phones/smartwatches to school but, are not permitted to bring in other electronic or communication devices (such as personal laptops) because CCPS provides laptops to students in grades 3-12 and iPads for students in grades PreK-2. The expectations for the possession and/or use of cell phones/smartwatches at schools, on the bus, and during other school-sponsored activities (i.e., field trips) are described below.

Middle School Students

• Students may bring their phone/smartwatch, but once school begins the device must be powered completely off (not on vibrate or silent mode) and remain in a non-visible, secure location throughout the entirety of each school day.
• Students may use their phone/smartwatch on the bus or school-charted vehicle, but it must not be disruptive or cause a distraction to the driver at any time. Sound must only be audible through headphones. Phone conversations are prohibited.
• Smartwatches are required to be turned off throughout the school day and follow all other cell phone guidelines. Electronic communication devices may not be used in Alternative Education, In-School Intervention (ISI), or In-School Suspension (ISS).

If there is an emergency, parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the school. All cell phone/smartwatch guidelines, expectations, and discipline consequences apply even if communicating with parents/guardians.

As a reminder, the CCPS Board Policy 3170 and the CCPS Code of Student Conduct outline a dress code that shall be followed by all students in kindergarten through grade 12. When shopping for school clothes/items, please remember:

Students must wear:

• Shirt or top (all shirts and tops must at least cover the student’s navel).
• Bottom (for example, pants, sweatpants, shorts, skirt, dress, and leggings).
• Shoes (curricular or activity-specific shoes may be required).

Certain body parts must be covered for each student. Clothes must be worn in a way such that the chest, navel, pelvic/groin area and buttocks are covered with material that is not transparent.

Students are permitted to wear:

• Hats or headwear, as long as the student’s face and ears are visible and are not obscured, and the student’s identity is not concealed. Hoods are no longer permitted to be worn on the student’s head.
• Tank tops (including ones with spaghetti straps),halter tops, and strapless tops
• Ripped jeans that do not expose undergarments.
• Athletic attire.

Students are not permitted to wear:

• Attire that depicts profanity, hate speech, obscenity, or violence, including by the use of weapons.
• Attire that promotes use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, or other illegal or harmful products.
• Attire that promotes, implies, or contains sexually suggestive messages.
• Visible underwear or bathing suits.
• Headwear that obscures the face, except as a religious obligation, observation of a religious holiday, or for a school-related activity.
• Attire that depicts gang affiliation.
• Attire that causes or is likely to cause a material disruption, a substantial disorder to school activities or the orderly operation of the school, or an invasion of the rights of others.
• Attire that contains language or symbols that demean an identifiable person or group or otherwise infringes on the rights of others.
• Attire that may be used as a weapon (e.g., chains, dog collars, hats with spikes) or that may cause damage to school property.
• Sunglasses may not be worn inside of the school building unless prescribed by a physician. If sunglasses are prescribed, a medical form must be completed and submitted to the main office.
• Wearable technology (i.e., earbuds, headphones) when it interferes with instruction or student safety.

Open House/Back-to-School Night will occur on Tuesday, September 10th at 6:00 p.m. Please plan on attending. Back-to-School Night provides an excellent opportunity for parents to meet with their child’s teachers. During open house, parents will visit classrooms and learn information concerning curriculum, homework procedures, classroom policies, and upcoming events. There will be many parents attending and in each classroom. If you feel the need to meet with your child’s teachers about individual needs, please schedule a conference through our Counseling Department.

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.

Students not eligible for free/reduced-price meals will be able to purchase meals at the prices below:

• Secondary Schools - $1.65 breakfast, $3.00 lunch

Each CCPS school cafeteria has a computerized debit system which allows parents to deposit money on their child’s very own cafeteria account. Students enter their 5-digit ID number at the cashier’s station where meals and à la carte purchases are then subtracted from the student’s account. Cash is always accepted, although parents may also make deposits online utilizing LINQ Connect. LINQ Connect is an online payment service that provides parents & guardians the ability to securely pay for meals, monitor student cafeteria purchases and receive email notifications for low account balances. This site is free to use, however, please note that there is a fee assessed when using this service to deposit funds into an account.

Student purchases and account balances may be monitored by signing up online for a LINQ Connect account at https://LinqConnect.com. There is no fee to sign up for an account, view purchases, monitor balances, set spending limits or to transfer funds between sibling accounts. If you choose to deposit funds through this site, however, there is a service fee per transaction.

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 will be sent home with students in the beginning of the school year folders but may also be completed online at https://LinqConnect.com.

Applications are available in many languages on the LinqConnect site but are also available on the USDA’s website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/translated-applications. More information is also available on the CCPS website at Departments – Child Nutrition or at https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/child-nutrition.

Sports physicals must be completed prior to a child’s participation in a sport. The clinics for soccer and volleyball are scheduled to start approximately Tuesday, September 3rd. If your child is interested in trying out for soccer or volleyball, they will need to have the completed physical evaluation form, team form, insurance waiver form, clinic form and $35.00 clinic fee turned in before they can participate. These forms can be located below, as well as a Fall Athletics Flyer with directions. Copies are also available in the main office. The clinic fee can be paid online at https://osp.osmsinc.com/CalvertMD/.

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

Hello Bobcats!

My name is Rachael Little and I am your Northern Middle School Parent Teacher Organization President for the 2024-2025 school year.

Another great year is in the works and we can’t wait to get started! I look forward to working with the board, our teachers, staff, administrators, our community and families like yours to ensure a successful school year for our students.

The PTO uses its resources in the form of both volunteers and money to support the NMS students, staff and teachers. We encourage school spirit and encourage a close knit community. We organize school events, support PBIS, and various school clubs. At the end of each school year we’ve been able to provide a donation to the school to go towards purchasing new items that support the students.

Everything that we do relies on volunteers and donations. We hope that you will join us! We invite you to attend a PTO meeting this year, which will be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM in the cafeteria and virtually.

We will have opportunities to volunteer with us throughout the school year. Please be sure to fill out the volunteer application on the CCPS website now to ensure you’re cleared in the system when it’s time to help, volunteer or chaperone.

We look forward to working with you this year!

The NMS PTO encourages you to become a member this school year! You can sign up at https://my.cheddarup.com/c/pto-membership-2024-25/

September 15 - Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse, Inc. "THIS IS ME" Color Run
Join us in September and let NMS PTO blast ya with color! This isn't just any run; it's a celebration of YOUth empowerment, promoting happiness, health, and a substance-free lifestyle. Northern Middle School PTO will be benefiting from this event. Register today and designate Northern Middle School PTO as the participating youth group you are supporting.

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.

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

https://calvertnet.nutrislice.com/

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.

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

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