The Raider Nation Newsletter

Dear Atholton Community,

Welcome to February! I don't know what happened to January (I vaguely remember some Netflix binges on snow days), but we are quickly moving along with our school year. As we kick off the month, we celebrate National School Counselor's Month from 2/3-2/7. Please take a moment to send an email to your child's counselor thanking them for the work they may have done for your child this year or over their high school career. Have a question for your counselor? Send an email with a "Happy National School Counselor Week, Can you help my son get signed up for SAT's this Spring?" I joke, but I seriously appreciate you taking the time to acknowledge the work they do here at Atholton.

This month, we also celebrate Black History Month. Our in-school assembly won't take place until February 27th, but there is daily trivia and student events throughout the month to celebrate. I hope our students, staff, an community take advantage of these opportunities. Go Raiders!

Sincerely,

Nick Novak

Principal

Resharing this message from HCPSS to make sure you see it:

On Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, the Howard County Board of Education approved adjustments to Policy 8080 – Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media, and the Student Code of Conduct that is intended to reduce the use of personal devices by students during the student day. The policy changes will take effect on Monday, March 3, 2025.

While more information will be provided to students, staff and parents/guardians prior to the March 3rd implementation date, here are the highlights of the adjustments that were adopted by the Board:

• No students, PreKindergarten-12, will be permitted to use cell phones and other personal devices during the student day (first bell to last bell of the day) except for reasons detailed in a student’s IEP, 504, or health plan.
• Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction.
• When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, the device will be confiscated for the remainder of the student day.
• Students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced”, meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise.
• Personal laptops may be used for instructional activities in high school when permitted by the teacher.
• A staff member on a school-sponsored field trip may permit the use of a personal technology device by a student in limited situations where capturing a picture or video may be appropriate or contacting a parent/guardian is necessary.
• School administrators and school administrators’ designees may authorize use of a personal device in rare instances such as an emergency for communication purposes.

More information will be provided related to the expectations and consequences from now through implementation, so students and parents/guardians are fully informed and prepared for policy implementation on March 3, 2025.

AHS DRAMA IS LOOKING FOR RECYCLED MATERIALS TO USE FOR PROPS AND COSTUMES FOR THEIR SPRING MUSICAL: SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL!

WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Plastic Bottles

Plastic Milk Jugs/Cartons

Red cups/ Plastic cups

Bottle caps

Water bottles

Soda bottles

Food containers (like clamshell packaging

Milk jugs

Shampoo and conditioner bottles

Laundry detergent bottles

Grocery bags

Plastic shopping bags

Bubble wrap

Styrofoam packaging

Disposable cutlery and cups*

Pool Floaties (must be INTACT)

Please make sure all materials are RINSED AND CLEANED if need be. If you bring in a bag full of recycled materials/pool floatie(s), you get a free AHS DRAMA STICKER OR 0.5 SSL Hours!

Turn in your materials to B120 with your NAME CLEARLY MARKED ON YOUR BAG.

Thank you Raiders, and happy recycling!

The HCPSS Hispanic Achievement Program is selling sarapes (stoles) for purchase by Hispanic and Latino graduating seniors. Sales will run through May 2, 2025. Purchases can be made directly here, and a flyer for sarape sales is linked here.

The Hispanic “sarape” represents the ancient customs of colorful textiles throughout all the ancient indigenous people of Latin America. These bright colors represented their devout spiritualism and the advanced knowledge they possessed. Additional history of the sarapes and the initiative in HCPSS for graduating seniors can be found here. Direct questions to Gaston Gamez, Hispanic Achievement Supervisor at (410) 313-6667.

The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) is selling Kente cloth graduation stoles to families for graduating students. BSAP Liaisons at each high school or a principal’s designee are the point of contact for students and families regarding the sale of the stoles. Please share this information with staff who support graduation planning to ensure that graduating students who would like to purchase a stole. Sales will run through April 30, 2025. The flyer for the stole sale can be found linked here.

Kente is a traditional African textile that the Ashanti people in Ghana and West Africa first weaved. Today, it is worn to pay homage to African ancestors and to show pride in the heritage of the Diaspora during ceremonial occasions.

The Atholton Wrestling Team is sponsoring the next Food Pantry distribution—February 19.

Please help fill the Food Pantry shelves and the families of AHS by donating items. You can purchase using the link here and have the items delivered directly to Atholton (choose Erin Bourque as delivery option).

(all non-expired, non-glass items only please):

Thank you for your support!

Apply to be a Student Delegate: Each year, student delegates from middle and high schools are selected to attend a convention to select two nominated candidates, and two alternate candidates, for Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB).

One student delegate from grades nine, ten, eleven and three at-large delegates are selected to represent each high school. AHS needs 6 delegates. These delegates are selected by a committee that interviews students who have submitted a Student Delegate Application.

A successful delegate will:

• Attend the SMOB Convention on March 19, 2025 (You will be missing school for this "field trip")
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the SMOB
• Demonstrate respect for the ideas of others.
• Work well with other students.
• Evaluate the Student Member applicants before convention.
• Complete a training program for delegates.
• Give and receive constructive feedback.
• Serve as a representative leader.
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Promote the position of Student Member of the Board.

In order to be considered for the position of delegate to the Student Member Convention, a middle/high school student must:

• Submit a Student Delegate ApplicationLinks to an external site. by February 7, 2025.
• Participate in an interview with Delegate Selection Committee including your principal and peers at an assigned date and time.
  • Review the Student Delegate ApplicationLinks to an external site. for more information this interview.

Apply to be the SMOB: Each year, HCPSS middle and high school students elect one Student Member of the Board (SMOB), who represents student voiceLinks to an external site. on the Board of Education. The Student Member serves a one-year term (from July 1 through June 30). They have all the rights and responsibilities of a Board member, with the exception of statutory restrictions against voting on specific matters, participation in appeals or confidential personnel matters, and attendance at closed sessions relating to restricted matters.

Any current sophomore or junior in Howard County may apply for the 2025-2026 position. The student must be regularly enrolled in an HCPSS high school and academically eligible. Interested students must submit a completed applicationLinks to an external site. by 4:00 p.m. on Friday February 7, 2025. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Additional information related to becoming 2025-2026 SMOB can be found in the SMOB introduction letterLinks to an external site..

Attention Seniors! Make sure to complete all of these items below.

Graduation:

• Order your cap and gown through this linkLinks to an external site. by March 1st
• Complete your nomination for teacher of the year through this formLinks to an external site. by February 8th
• If you would like to audition to be a speaker or performer at graduation you must submit a video through this formLinks to an external site. by February 14th

Senior Activity:

• Senior Trip to Hershey Park Interest Form- fill out this linkLinks to an external site.

Please address any questions to Mrs. DeFilippo, Mrs. Jesneck, Sgt. Gordiano

Synergy online enrollment requests will be open Monday, February 3 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, February 17 at 12 p.m. for the following Summer programs:

• BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9)
• Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8)
• Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9-12) – original credit courses only

Find more information here:

https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2024/12/2025-summer-programs-registration-to-open-feb-3-2025/

2/3 Summer School Registration Opens

2/7 No School for Students

2/10 PBSA Meeting

2/11 Athletics & Activities Boosters Meeting

2/17 President's Day- Schools & Offices Closed

Atholton PTSA

Atholton PBSA

Atholton Boosters

Atholton Drama Boosters

Atholton JROTC Boosters

Atholton Music Boosters

Atholton Robotics Boosters