Northern Middle Newsletter 9/3/23
Weekly Update 9/3/23
Bobcat Nation:
Thank you to the students, staff, and families of the Northern Middle community for their contribution to a successful first week of school. Student attendance and engagement has been outstanding. Our staff has planned quality lessons and helped students adjust to being back in the classroom. Everyone’s efforts to make the first week a success were a perfect example of our theme – We Rise by Lifting Others!
It is important that your preferred contact information is up to date in Home Access Center (HAC) and School Messenger (SM) so that you don't miss important information from the school and district levels. Information on how to update information is below.
There is a lot of information in this week’s update. Please take the time to look over these items. We hope this information is helpful as we start the school year.
As a reminder, CCPS schools are closed on Monday. 9/4. Have a great remainder of the holiday weekend and a great week!
Mr. Webster, NMS Principal
Open House/Back-to-School Night will occur on Monday, September 11th
Prior to Open House, the NMS PTO and PBIS team will be holding a Back to School Bash from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. Come out and enjoy the Bobcat community with music and games.
HOME ACCESS CENTER & SCHOOL MESSENGER - UPDATING PARENT CONTACTS
It is important that accurate phone numbers and email addresses are in place for parents. This will help to make sure that you receive messages and email updates from the system, school, and your child’s teachers.
Parents of Calvert County Public Schools students are able to view their child’s gradebook, interim reports, and report cards online through the Home Access Center (HAC), the online application that allows families to view grades and monitor progress throughout the school year.
The HAC Login page may be accessed on the website in the Quicklinks dropdown menu, via the Students and/or Parents tabs of Calvertnet, or may be accessed directly at: https://hac4.calvertnet.k12.md.us/HomeAccess/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fHomeAccess
Each guardian needs to login to their HAC account and update their contact information. Remember, each guardian has his/her own account and each account should be updated. To update your contact information, please login to HAC, then click on Registration. Scroll down to Contacts and click Edit on the right. At the top, guardians may see information for their student. Underneath your student’s information, you will see your name listed under Guardian. It is critical that a valid email address and updated phone numbers are attached to your account in the Guardian section.
Guardians can access the SchoolMessenger Info Center at https://go.schoolmessenger.com/#/home. In the School Messenger Info Center, you cannot change contact numbers or email addresses. However, you can adjust preferences for how general school or CCPS messages are delivered. This is not related to the emails sent directly by teachers.
Important Notice Regarding CCPS Text Messages
Effective on September 1, 2023, individuals will automatically receive text messages from the district and schools.
When the CCPS SchoolMessenger Notification System made this update, if you have not already previously opted in or out, you received the following text message: You're now registered with the SchoolMessenger notification service. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply.
If you previously opted out, you will remain opted-out from receiving text messages from the district and schools. Please note, at any time you can text Y to 67587 to begin receive text messages.
If you aren’t receiving text messages as expected, please double-check that you have a Cell or Cell2 number in HAC (for parents/guardians). For more information about our SchoolMessenger Notification System, please refer to the information posted at: www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/communications/calvert-county-notification-system.
Car Riders
Forms to Sign & Return
There are forms that need to be signed and returned for each student. Thank you to everyone who has already returned the forms. They were included in our First Day Folders so parents would receive a paper copy. Attached are copies of the forms in the event that you need to print them out. Students should return the signed forms to their 1st period teacher.
- CCPS Code of Conduct Statement of Understanding
- CCPS Personal Cell Phone, Electronic, & Communication Devices Registration Form
- NMS Technology Expectations Form
Student Laptops
Student have been provided with a laptop and charger by Calvert County Public Schools. 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 and 7th grade students have received new laptops.
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.
NMS NON-NEGOTIABLES FOR STUDENTS
SCHOOL MEALS - BREAKFAST & LUNCH (for the 2023-24 school year)
Students not eligible for free/reduced-price meals will be able to purchase meals at the following prices: Secondary Schools - $1.65 breakfast, $2.80 lunch
Students enter their 5-digit ID number at the register when making purchases. The total purchase price will be subtracted from their account. Please review your student’s
5-Digit ID number with them. (Please Note: For accountability purposes, students/siblings are not permitted to share accounts).
NEW ONLINE MEAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
To provide parents/guardians with a better user experience, the CCPS Child Nutrition Program has transitioned from www.MySchoolBucks.com to https://LinqConnect.com for its online meal management system.
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. From this one site, parents/guardians will be able to apply for meal benefits (no registration required) and to register their student(s) if they wish to monitor Café purchases, view balances, set low balance reminders and make deposits. In addition, parents/guardians will also now have the ability to transfer funds between their student accounts and may choose to place spending limits/purchasing maximums on these accounts. Online deposits will still incur a fee of $1.60, but that fee will now include all deposits made during a single transaction.
Please note that all previous account balances automatically transferred into the new system, however, any special notes regarding snack/á la carte purchases and limits did not and will need to be re-entered vis https://LinqConnect.com or by contacting the Child Nutrition Office at 443.550.8680.
FREE/REDUCED PRICE MEAL BENEFIT APPLICATION
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.
NMS Extracurricular Opportunities
Willy Wonka Auditions Coming Soon!
NMS - Fall Athletics Clinics Start This Week
Fall Sports Clinics will begin this week for soccer (coed) and volleyball. Attached is a calendar of clinic dates. Please look for which grades participate each day. In order to participate in the clinics, students will need to submit a completed physical, Athlete Clinic Form (with the clinic fee), and a School Insurance Waiver Form. These documents can be turned in at the main office.
- Required Athletics Forms - https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/athletics/middle-school-athletics. Copies are also available in the main office and cafeteria.
If you have any questions, please contact our Athletic Director, Ms. McGuire, at 443-550-9230 or at mcguireta@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Northern Middle School PTO
Update from the NMS PTO
Welcome back NMS families. We hope all the NMS staff and students had an enjoyable summer with their family and friends.
Our PTO school year has already been busy supporting our staff and all they give to our students and community. The PTO provided a Welcome Back picnic this week. We appreciate all the donations and volunteers that showed their support this week for the luncheon and first day folder organizing.
We would like to invite you in considering joining the NMS PTO as we need the support from the parents and families at NMS. No matter how you support us: with your time, your item donations or your financial contribution please know it goes directly to the students and staff at NMS.
Also please look out for additional information in the first day folder or sign up with us at the Back to School Bash and Family Fun event being held on September 11th at 5:00 pm. Rita's will be available for purchase and fun yard games will be available to entertain your crew before the Open House.
Join the NMS PTO! Membership link below:
Recurring Resources for Families
CCPS Reopening Plan
CCPS SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS
Here Comes the Bus - A School Bus Tracking App for Parents
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.
PARENT ACCOUNTS IN SCHOOLOGY
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-for-parents
Technology Support
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 also available on the CCPS website using the Technology Support button (pictured below) on the main page. This resource provides links to submit help desk tickets, frequently asked questions, and other resources students can use to solve issues.
Become a Volunteer
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
Resource Flyers and Opportunities for Students and Families
Board of Education Seeks Citizen Advisory Committee Members
The Board of Education is seeking applicants for the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) for the 2023-2024 school year.
The CAC will be composed of a cross-section of the population of Calvert County. The Board will consider a variety of criteria when appointing members. These criteria will include, but will not be limited to, the high school district in which the prospective member resides, achieving geographic, demographic, ethnic, and racial diversity, the order in which applications were received, and the attendance record of individuals who previously served on the committee.
Members must be legal residents of Calvert County during the period of his/her term. The term of service for CAC members is one (1) year. No more than twenty-five (25) applicants will be selected.
If you are interested in serving on CAC, please complete the survey on this form by September 5, 2023: https://forms.office.com/r/Lm8r0YeQ1m
CCPS Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC)
CCPS Family Life Committee
Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) is establishing a joint Family Life Committee of educators who work in CCPS and community representatives who reside in Calvert County for the purpose of reviewing and commenting on, and where appropriate, recommending instructional materials. Members will serve a one-year term.
The Family Life Committee will meet the 2nd Monday of each month, January through May at 6PM. At the initial meeting, the purpose, expectations, and full health curriculum will be reviewed. Following full group sessions, the committee will divide into an elementary and a secondary committee where specific family life curricula will be reviewed and discussed.
CCPS is asking for any community member or parent residing in Calvert County to consider serving on this committee. Eight community members and parents representing elementary and secondary schools will be randomly selected. An official notification will be sent to those who are selected by September 15.
If you are interested in serving on the Family Life Committee, please complete the survey on this form: https://forms.office.com/r/Yu5z4EAwJu by August 28.
CCPS Library Reconsideration Committees
Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) is establishing Library Reconsideration Committees for Elementary, Middle, and High School. Members will serve a one-year term.
CCPS is asking for any community member or parent residing in Calvert County to consider serving on these committees. Each committee will consist of administrators, teachers, librarians, students, community members and parents. These committees will meet based on need.
One (1) community member and two (2) parents will be randomly selected to serve on each committee. An official notification will be sent to those who are selected by September 15. If additional committees are needed, members will be selected at random from the original list.
If you are interested in serving on a Library Reconsideration Committee, please complete the survey on this form: https://forms.office.com/r/jZX1u49Lmu by August 28.