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Northern Middle Newsletter
Weekly Update 4/7/24
Principal's Update
Bobcat Nation:
The last day of the third marking period was Friday, April 5th. Third quarter report cards will be posted in HAC on Friday, April 12th. If you have questions about one of your child’s classes, please contact the teacher. Be patient in getting a response as teachers are answering messages from many parents and students. Their main focus will be working on current assignments with their classes. As a result, anything missing from earlier in the marking period will be addressed as they can get to it.
This week we celebrate National Assistant Principal Week! Bobcat Nation is so grateful for the support we receive from Ms. Wagner. Thank you for all that you do for the staff and students of Bobcat Nation! You help us RISE by LIFTING OTHERS!
As a reminder, CCPS schools will have a two-hour delayed arrival for students on Monday, April 8th.
Have a great week!
Mr. Webster, NMS Principal
Information for Bobcat Families
State Testing Update for Parents - MCAP Assessments
Throughout the months of April and May, Northern Middle School will be completing the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments. The assessments are online and students will complete them using their school laptop. In middle school, these assessments will provide information to students, educators, and parents, on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland state content standards.
Tentative Testing Dates for MCAP Assessments
- ELA – 4/15, 4/16, 4/17, 4/18
- Social Studies (8th Grade only) - 5/7, 5/8
Math – 5/21, 5/22
Please encourage your child to being their own plug-in headphones (wireless headphones are not permitted for testing). This will increase their comfort with the headphones, as well as reduce items that need to be shared.
Due to the importance of these assessments, we are asking parents for their support. If possible, please avoid making any appointments on the dates assessments are scheduled if possible. It is important for the students to be in school on time during the assessments. We are also asking families to make sure that each student gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast prior to taking the assessments. While we do not want any students or families to stress over the MCAP assessments, they are an important part of the school year. We want to make sure that every student is able to perform to the best of their abilities.
Further information regarding the transition to the MCAP assessments is available online at https://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DAAIT/index.aspx.
Update from CCPS - April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse Info and Safety Tips
A partial solar eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8, 2024. In Calvert County, the eclipse will begin at approximately 2:00 p.m. and end just after 4:30 p.m., with maximum coverage at 3:20 p.m. During the eclipse, there will be 86 - 88% coverage during which it will get darker outside, but there will not be total darkness.
All CCPS schools dismiss at some point during the eclipse period. Parents/guardians and students should be aware of the following safety tips:
- Never look directly at the sun, especially during a solar eclipse. It is dangerous to look directly at the sun and can cause permanent damage to the eyes. Do not look at the sun through sunglasses, a telescope, or binoculars.
- Anyone using special viewing glasses or filters should only use those that conform to all International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards.
- If you purchase special viewing glasses, ensure they are from reputable manufacturers. There have been reports of counterfeit products labeled as if they conform to international safety standards. The American Astronomical Society, whose products are known to conform to ISO standards, provides a list of companies that are reputable and conform to safety standards.
Students and families are encouraged to read more about solar eclipses and safety and enjoy experiencing this exciting phenomenon.
Health Room Update for 6th Gr Families - Immunizations Required for 7th Gr
6th Grade Families - please see below for important information about a requirement for your student that must be completed before 7th grade.
According to state law, students entering seventh (7th) grade are required to show proof of one (1) tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis/whooping cough (TdaP) vaccination and proof of one (1) meningococcal (MCV4) vaccination. Many of our students may have received the required immunizations and just need to send paperwork to the school. If you would like to have your child’s physician fax a copy of the updated immunization record, Northern Middle School’s fax number is (410) 286-4025. Updated immunization records can also be brought to school.
To help families with this requirement, the Calvert County Health Department will hold a vaccination clinic for 6th graders at Northern Middle School during the school day on April 24, 2024. Please see the attached letter regarding the clinic.
If you would like your student to be vaccinated during the clinic, please register at:
Please do not hesitate to contact our school nurse, Mrs. Fleshman, at (443) 550-9227 or fleshmanc@calvertnet.k12.md.us, with any questions/concerns.
CCPS MESA Awards – Congratulations to the NMS MESA Team!
Calvert County Public Schools held the 2024 MESA (Math, Engineering, & Science Achievement) Competition awards ceremony on Thursday, April 4th. The Northern Middle School MESA team was awarded 2nd place in the Wearable Technology Challenge.
Please congratulate the members of our MESA team and our sponsors, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Hautmann, for their accomplishments.
Thank you everyone for your continued support of MESA. Together, we are shaping the future of our students and inspiring the next generation of innovators and leaders!
Information from Ms. Elgesem - NMS Career Advisor
Career Corner
Ms. E is located in the library. The room next to the Calendar wall before the teacher work room.
Guest Speakers
On April 15, 2024 we will be having a Security Guard from Calvert Cliffs Power Plant coming in to speak about what her career is about and the pathways you can take to get there and move up in this position. If you are interested in hearing about this career please see Ms. E to sign up as seats are limited.
VR Career Experiences
I have VR headsets prepared with several careers for students to try. If you are interested in trying it out please see me to sign up for a lunch or advisory time.
Upcoming Events
- April 15 Guest Speaker during Advisory
- April 30/May 1 7th grade assembly for Maryland Scholars
- May 16th Stemfest presentation for 7th Graders
- April Lunch group- sign up with Ms. E to talk about careers that deal with Mental Health, Disabilities, Special Services.
- May Lunch group- sign up to talk about careers with Foreign Languages
RIASEC
Have you heard of the RIASEC model? If not come see me! I would love to talk to you about what it is and how helpful it can be.
I invite all students to come and chat with me about interests and possible career paths and plans for success. All are welcome to email me at elgesema@calvertnet.k12.md.us for a meeting or come see me in my room for a lunch or advisory pass.
Save the Dates – 8th Grade End of Year Activities
We are excited to share dates that have been scheduled for 8th grade end-of-year activities. We wanted to give 8th grade families a heads up for your calendars. More information and details to come as we get closer.
- 8th Grade Dance sponsored by the NMS PTO – Friday, June 7th – 6:00 – 8:00 pm
- 8th Grade Picnic sponsored by the NMS PTO – Monday, June 10th – last two hours of the school day
- 8th Grade Awards Assembly – Monday, June 10th – 6:00 pm at the Mary Harrison Center
After-School Tutoring
Hello, my name is Rachel Van Vliet and I'm the Lead Teacher for Tutoring for the 2023-2024 School Year. This year, tutoring is available on Thursdays from 3:20 to 4:30pm. Students may bring their own snack, if desired. Please complete the digital permission slip below permitting your child to stay after school. Students must be signed out by a parent/guardian at 4:30pm inside the Media Center.
Permission Slip: https://forms.office.com/r/SRUjYDZvSm
We look forward to helping your child strive to improve their academic achievement!
NMS Yearbook 23-24 - On Sale Now
Be sure to order your 2023-24 NMS Yearbook! Yearbooks are sold online at:
https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/my/NMS2023-24
Yearbooks are currently on sale for $35.00.
If you have any yearbook questions, please contact Mrs. McGuire at mcguireta@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
NMS Extracurricular Opportunities
Middle School Athletics - Spring
Congratulations to those students who were selected to be part of one of our spring athletics teams! Thank you to our coaches for providing a valuable experience for all of our clinic participants. We are excited to see our baseball, softball, and track teams compete against the other middle schools.
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
PTO Update
PTO is a great way to be involved in supporting our students, staff, and school! Click the link to join! https://my.cheddarup.com/c/pto-membership-2023-2024
April Sign up for volunteers to help with various tasks like making copies, laminating and sorting is now available! We appreciate your help!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044DACAA22A46-48826379-april
Save the date for the April PTO meeting- Tuesday April 9 5:30pm in the cafeteria or virtually!
Spirit Wear! NMS Bobcats Socks are now available, in 2 designs! Striped or Solid!
Place your order on the link, socks will be delivered to students during Advisory.
Information for 8th Grade Families - Opportunities for 9th Grade
NHS Cheerleading Tryout Info for Fall 2024
Good afternoon! NHS Cheer is preparing for our upcoming clinics and tryouts and would like to get the word out to our future PATRIOTS!!!
We will be holding clinics and tryout for the upcoming Fall 2024 season:
- Date: April 29 through May 3
- Time: 4:00pm to 5:30pm
- Where: NHS Cafeteria
- Questions??? email: nhspatscheer@gmail.com or burchinale@calvertnet.k12.md.us
USE THE LINK TO COMPLETE OUR INTREST/REGISTRATION FORM and where you will gain access to to the link for all the DETAILS!!!!
Resources, Opportunities, and Flyers
Calvert County Community Events & Activities
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.
Congressional Art Competition from Congressman Hoyer
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. All pieces must be submitted by April 17th.
U.S. Service Academy Showcase – Tuesday, April 23, 2024 @ St. Charles High School Auditorium
The showcase provides students from the Fifth District who are interested in pursuing a career in the Armed Services the opportunity to learn more about the nomination process to one of the four service academies. Representatives from the Federal Service Academies, College ROTC Programs & Members of the MD05 Nomination Selection Board will be present to answer questions and concerns.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Stefanie Carey Barone at Stefanie.Carey@mail.house.gov or by phone at 301-474-0119.
School Bus Drivers Needed - Free Training
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
Recurring Resources
CCPS Reopening Plan
Attendance Notes
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.
Reminder for AM Car Riders
It is important for students to arrive at school between 7:50 and 8:00 AM. Car-riders that arrive after 8:00 AM are considered tardy and have to sign-in at the main office before going to 1st period.
Tardy to School Process for NMS
It is important for students to arrive at school between 7:50 and 8:00 AM. Car-riders that arrive after 8:00 AM are considered tardy. The following steps are in place when a student arrives repeatedly late to school:
- 4 days tardy in one marking period, the NMS Attendance Team will talk to the student about the need to be at school on time and discuss solutions with the student.
- 6 days tardy in one marking period, the NMS Attendance Team will call the parents or guardians to discuss solutions.
- 8 days tardy in one marking period, the student will have lunch detention each day they arrive after 8 AM.
If tardiness is something your child is struggling with in the morning, here are some suggestions to help them get to school on time:
- Pack lunch (if necessary), lay out outfit for the morning and pack book bag before going to bed at night.
- Talk to the student about they need to do in the morning (take shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, drive time, etc.), and how long each activity will take, then have them set their alarm for enough time to get all activities completed to get to school before 8 AM.
- Students can be dropped off at 7:50, so aim for 7:50 instead of 8 AM as your arrival time.
- If tardiness continues, have student take their assigned bus to school instead of being a car-rider.
CCPS SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS
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
It’s not too late! Apply today for free and reduced-price meal benefits!
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 may 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.
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 for students to charge their laptops overnight and bring them to school each day. It is also 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 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. Due to an increase in devices needing repair, we are running low on loaner laptops. Loaner laptops will not be available for those who leave them at home so it is important that students remember to bring them charged and ready for the school day.
Technology Expectations
Learning Expectations with Devices
- CCPS/CHS 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
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 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.
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.
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