NHMS Families,

We are excited to see everyone at our Open House on Friday, August 30th, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. This will be a self-guided tour. Please enter through the main entrance doors by the flagpole. Your tour will start in the main lobby, where students will be informed of their homeroom number. Students will then proceed to their homeroom to receive their locker numbers and combinations. From there, students can tour the building to locate their homeroom and classes.

Schedules and locker information are currently available in the Home Access Center (HAC).

We will have staff members in designated areas to assist with questions:

• Bus Number: Please visit the main office.
• Scheduling Issues: See a counselor in the main office.
• Student Medication Drop-off: See the school nurse in the main office.
• Nutrition/MySchoolBucks: Please visit the cafeteria.
• Chromebook Insurance & HAC Login Questions: Head to the media center.
• Contact Information Updates: Please see the counseling secretary in the main office.

Marc A. Manzo

Principal- North Harford Middle School

540-360-180! We make every day count!

First Week for Students:

This year features many changes for our returning students, most notably due to middle school innovation work.

Tuesday, 9/3:

• 7-block instructional rotation (Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
• Students can expect an introduction to their classes, receive supply lists, and be provided with course syllabi.

Wednesday, 9/4:

• 4-block instructional rotation (Periods 1, 2, 5, 3).

Thursday, 9/5:

• 4-block instructional rotation (Periods 4, 6, 7, and Advisory block).
• During the Advisory Block, students will be introduced to school expectations and school safety procedures. They will review all emergency practices, including severe weather drills, evacuation drills, fire drills, lockdowns, and an explanation of ACRT practices.

Friday, 9/6:

• 7-block instructional rotation (Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
  
• Chromebook distribution

If your student is a car rider, drop the student off at the front of the school in the loop with the flagpole.

(Cars are not permitted in the bus loop during drop off or pick up)

HCPS Policy- Update

• Physical Education – Proper physical education apparel and shoes are to be worn. For secondary students, the appropriate school physical education uniform should be worn.

1. No jewelry, with the exception of stud earrings, medical bracelets, and fitness trackers, may be worn during physical activity. Jewelry which needs to be removed for physical education class shall be the responsibility of the student. This year, all HCPS middle schools will return to changing clothes for PE class. Keeping in mind safety and hygiene with the added 90-minute block, this policy change is necessary. We understand that the thought of changing into a PE uniform may cause anxiety for some students. Our PE teachers will provide clear expectations for locker room behavior and changing procedures at the start of the year to all students. They will also meet the variety of needs that may arise. Students will be issued a PE locker for belongings while the student is in PE class.

PE Uniforms consist of a NHMS uniform t-shirt and shorts. Students will be allowed to layer up by wearing a sweatshirt or sweatpants if they are cold, but they must use the NHMS uniform as a base layer.

The base layer should come home on a regular basis to be cleaned.

Students MUST have appropriate footwear to be able to participate in PE class. Appropriate footwear is defined as a tennis shoe or sneaker.

• Uniform pricing: NHMS Shirt $12.50
• NHMS Short $12.50

School Cash Online Link to purchase uniforms is below.

• Requests for bus passes must be submitted to the main office in the morning from 7-7:25am.
• Parents/Guardians should be aware that students are required to utilize the designated bus stop assigned by the Transportation Department. Requests may be made for the use of another bus stop to the principal for emergency situations and approval must be provided to the bus driver in writing.

Students should receive their Chromebooks the first week of school. Once they are given out students should take them home to charge nightly. Chromebooks should be charged and ready for use daily. Students will be given the Device Protection Plan document on the first day of school. A copy of the Device Protection Plan is below.

HCPS Attendance Policy states: Parent Handbook pg. 8

Family vacation or family trip – A family vacation or a family trip during the school year is strongly discouraged as the loss of class time may have a negative impact on the student’s academic progress and record. It is also recognized that, on some occasions, working parents/guardians have little control over the time of the year when vacations or trips may be taken. Family vacation absences are considered lawful only if they have prior written approval of the principal and do not exceed five days per school year. Written requests must be made at least ten school days in advance of the requested vacation absence and after approval, parents/guardians and students are responsible for requesting assignments. If a family vacation or trip is not approved by the school principal, the parent/guardian may contact the appropriate executive director to discuss the matter. Requests that exceed five days per year may be approved by the superintendent’s designee and may result in the withdrawal of the student for the time in which the child is not in attendance, if the absences exceed 9 consecutive unexcused days.

Questions on attendance? Please reach out to NHMS administration

August 30th: Open House 12-2pm Find your homeroom and locker

September 3rd: First Day of School

September 12th: Back to School Night 6-8pm

September 17th: Fall Picture day - more information to follow

September 27th: 3 hr. early dismissal

November 14th: Picture retakes

The e-Hall Pass is a digital tool that replaces traditional paper hall passes. It allows students, teachers, and administrators to manage and track hall passes electronically, improving school security and ensuring that students are where they need to be.

Why Use e-Hall Pass?

• Increased Safety: The system allows school staff to know where students are at all times.
• Efficiency: No need for paper passes, which can be lost or forgotten. The digital system streamlines the process.
• Accountability: Detailed logs of hall pass usage help prevent students from abusing the privilege and identify patterns of behavior.
• Convenience: Students can request and receive passes quickly without disrupting the entire class.

Don't forget about our FREE online tutoring service!

https://www.hcps.org/students/tutoring.aspx

Substitutes Needed

· HCPS Daily Substitute Teacher Pay Rates:

• $150.00/day (This rate applies to all substitute teachers who have completed any education under a four year Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.)
• $165.00/day (This rate applies to all substitute teachers who have completed a four-year Bachelor's degree or beyond from an accredited college or university.)

Steps to Become a Daily Substitute Teacher:

1. Complete an Online Employment Application, attach supporting documentation (copy of transcript, degree, teaching certificate, etc.), and provide three professional references (note that friends and family are not acceptable references and will not be accepted). You must provide proof of a high school diploma to be eligible to substitute in elementary and middle schools. To be eligible to substitute in high schools you must provide proof of at least sixty credits from an accredited college or university. Human Resources will then review your application.
2. Completion of a screening interview
3. Upon a successful interview, you will receive further instructions