The PAW Print

• November 7: Report Cards available on HAC
• November 10: Veterans Day (All schools and offices are closed.)

Veterans Day is a holiday honoring all service members. Thank you to all veterans who proudly defended our nation.

We are beginning to schedule numerous field trips and events that may require permission forms and money. It is important for students to follow the instructions for turning in the forms and money so that teachers have accurate records. With the busy nature of the front office, the secretaries will not be able to accept money from parents/guardians who stop by the school. Please work with your child to ensure they know the procedures outlined by the staff and turn in money and paperwork to the appropriate person by the due date that is set. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

This year, MBMS 8th graders will be completing their required service learning project by supporting Charlotte Hall Veterans Home with a fundraiser and supply drive. Please see the attachment for specific requirements.

Seventh-grade students will have the opportunity to attend a performance of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” at the Classic Theatre of Maryland in Annapolis as an extension of our curriculum. The daytime matinee is a great educational opportunity where students will watch the performance and then ask the actors questions about the theater and/or the performance. The dates for these trips are December 13th (Coons/Dollen) and 14th (Thomas and Eller). Please see the attached letter for more information.

St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) is encouraging all parent(s)/guardian(s) to please take the time to access and complete the online Impact Aid form located in the Home Access Center (HAC). Directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. The form can now be accessed in Spanish by clicking on the Globe in the top right-hand corner once the form has been started.

Our schools are heavily impacted by federally connected students. Federally connected students are those students whose parent(s)/guardian(s) work on federal property in Maryland, live on federal property in Maryland, and/or are active-duty military personnel. Because of this impact, we receive federal grant funds to operate and maintain our schools and enrich school programs. To receive these funds, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) requires us to survey each student to determine eligibility. The information must be based on the survey date, September 30, 2023.

All information that is collected is confidential and used solely for Impact Aid purposes. The Impact Aid grant application provides only demographic information on the numbers and locations of federally connected students attending our schools.

Impact Aid surveys will be digitally collected for this school year. Families who cannot complete the digital survey can either contact their child’s school for a paper copy or a blank form can be downloaded from the St. Mary’s County Public Schools website or from any SMCPS individual school website.

Families will be asked to voluntarily provide various pieces of information; for instance, information such as workplace employment will be requested. Specifically, the following two employment addresses will be requested:

1. the address for the employer; and

2. the address of the Federal Property where their physical work address is located.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) that are on active duty in the Reserves or National Guard, will need to either upload a copy of their active-duty orders or provide their supervisor’s contact information. (* all information on the service member’s orders can be blackened out, except for name, rank, branch of service, and Title Number “USC Title 10” or “USC Title 32”).

Your cooperation in completing the survey no later than Monday, November 14, 2023, is greatly appreciated. The more surveys that are submitted, the greater amount of funds will be available to our students in St. Mary’s County Public Schools.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your student’s school.

Effective communication is critical to the success of St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS). This will be crucial not only for emergencies but for our ability to communicate with families in general. Online Emergency Information Update Forms are now available through the student’s Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. It is vital that all information is updated in eSchool. The deadline for the online submission of Emergency Information Update forms is November 14th, 2023. Please click here for the Blank Emergency Form.

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

All students are required to have an acceptable use policy agreement (AUP) on file. This is to be completed by the PARENT or GUARDIAN of the student. Forms submitted with an email address ending in "@k12.smcps.org" indicate a student account completed the form. This will automatically invalidate the form. The entire Acceptable Use Agreement is linked here.

This form needs to be completed for each student you have in the school system. At the end of the form, you have the option to submit another response for your additional students.

The form is found at this link: Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

Vendor Registration

PTSO members are parents, teachers and students who are dedicated to promoting the education and welfare of our children. We highly encourage everyone to join our PTSO to show their support. As a member you are welcome to attend all meetings & functions; however, your membership does not require you to participate in these functions. The membership fee is $10. Membership form is attached. You may complete the registration form and send your payment in with your child to turn in to their homeroom teacher.

Make sure you follow us on Facebook (Margaret Brent Middle School PTSO) to stay up to date on fundraisers and other events.

And you can always reach us via email at mbmspanthersptso@gmail.com

SAVE the DATES:
PTSO Meetings (3pm in the Media Room):
- 11/29
- 2/21
- 5/15

PTSO Upcoming Events:

- JOE CORBI order PICK UP - Monday 10/23/23 from 4:30pm to 6:30 pm in the school cafeteria

- Red Robin Fundraiser, California, MD location - eat all day and 20% of food sales are donate to the PTSO - Thursday, 10/26/23

- Paws Ticket Shopping - Wednesday, 11/1/23 during lunches

- 6th grade dance - Friday, 11/17/23 from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in the cafeteria

- Paws Ticket Shopping - Wednesday, 12/6/23 during lunches

- MBMS PTSO Vendor Table - Saturday, 12/9/23 from 9am to 2pm in the cafeteria during the Holiday Bizarre - we will be selling croc charms, magnets, Pizza Hotline gift cards and more...

- Leonardtown Board & Brush Fundraiser - Saturday, 1/20/24 from 6-9pm - Book your seat NOW at this link - https://boardandbrush.com/leonardtown/events/pypworkshopfundraiserformbmsptso/

Things to look forward to this year:

- Spirit Nights
- Talent Show (tentatively February 2024)
- Dodgeball Tournament (March 7, 2024)
- School Dance for each grade (6th - 11/17, 7th - 1/12, 8th - 5/17)

Ongoing Fundraisers:

Paper Pie

- We all know that feeling, it's 10 minutes before we leave for the birthday party and we remember we forgot to get a card. Paper Pie is the perfect fundraiser to keep you prepared for any event or occasion. 5 different themed boxes, 30 cards per box. Place your orders now through the link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5S2mxRgwoZT9nrUsjj9Z65cuiuIzy4-eo-3oik45hcwFmdA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0