The PAW Print

Rising Freshman Orientations will be in person at each high school beginning at 6PM.

March 7, 2022: Chopticon High School
March 8, 2022: Great Mills High School
March 9, 2022: Leonardtown High School

Attached is a flyer for the RIsing Freshman Orientation nights, scheduled for March 7-9. Please share with your 8th-grade students and families in SMORE or other communications.

The purpose of the events is to provide an opportunity for rising ninth graders and their families to preview ninth-grade course selections, learn about available Academies and Pathways, meet counselors and school administrators, and get an overview of high school graduation requirements. The Rising Freshman Orientation Nights will take place:

• Monday, March 7, 2022, at Chopticon High School from 6:00-7:30 PM
• Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at Great Mills High School from 6:00-7:30 PM
• Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at Leonardtown High School from 6:00-7:30 PM

Families are welcome to attend any night. All information will be repeated each night. For more information, https://www.smcps.org/dci/rfo

Students and parents, please take time to review the transition information by following the link below.

Transition Presentation

We just started our Joe Corbi fundraiser and we need your help.

Here’s how you can help:

• Order from the brochure your child brought home or https://www.joecorbi.com/store/categories/pizza-more/ to view the brochure online. We earn profit from every item ordered. There are many delicious choices including meals and desserts for your family.
• You can also help us by registering your child as a Participant to help spread the word about our fundraiser to your family, friends and coworkers via text, email or social media. Just go to joecorbi.com and click “Participation Registration”

Thank you in advance for your help!

Please remind your child to charge their computers overnight and bring them every day! We have noticed a growing number of students who forget to bring their computers on a daily basis. This is becoming problematic. We have only a few extra computers that we "loan" out to students when their computers are sent away for repair. We do not have extra to give to students who forget their computers at home. Without their computers, students may fall behind in their classwork or activities throughout the entire day. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

During the month of March our school counseling intern will be facilitating Lunch Lessons for those who are interested. Some topics include Tips for getting better sleep, How do I grow my self-confidence, and tips and tricks with test anxiety. Please have your student sign up during lunch starting next week.

The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) and St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) invite local students from 6th to 12th grade to submit videos of their questions about drugs, including alcohol in anticipation of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. A local expert will record responses to selected questions. All submissions will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card. The deadline for submissions is February 21, 2022. Video questions and answers will be compiled into a single video released during National Drug & Alcohol Fact Week, March 21st - 27th. Parental consent will be needed for students under 18 years of age. Directions for video submission are available at smchd.org/ndafw

As was presented at the January 26, 2022 St. Mary’s County Public School Board of Education meeting, we will be moving to elementary STEM For All programming next school year and will not be taking applications for STEM 4 or STEM 5. In the past year we have implemented STEM For All with our current 4th grades and have been able to offer STEM-integrated activities to all students in this grade, county-wide. The program has proven successful and has provided every student (1,160 4th grade students) with quality STEM-integrated experiences. Next year we will expand our STEM For All programming to grades 3-5. Click here to watch the full Academies presentation to the Board of Education.

Yearbook Orders!

It is not too late to order your yearbook for this year. You can click on the following link to order your yearbook online.

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1066787/Margaret-Brent-Middle-School/

Using this link, you can also order a recognition ad for your child. Recognition ads can be purchased for students in any grade level. Leave your child a message about how proud you are of them! The Gold Package will get you a message with 40 characters and the Silver Package will get you a message with 20 characters. Each package allows for 1 photo of your child to be added next to the message. If you purchase an ad, simply email the picture and message to Mrs. Kamp. JmKamp@smcps.org

Just a reminder of the SMCPS dress code. We continue to see clothing that violates the school system policy. Although students are permitted to wear hats, we are having issues with students using the hats/hoodies to hide ear pods. Ear pods are not permitted to be worn during school hours. This obviously distracts students from hearing and listening to instruction while also listening to music/movies etc.

Students are also wearing midriff shirts that expose their mid-section. These articles of clothing should be worn outside of school. If worn to school, a jacket or some other article of clothing should be worn to completely cover the mid-section.

Onesies, costumes, and blankets (worn as coats) are not appropriate for the school environment. Parents of students not wearing appropriate attire will be notified.

Additionally, cell phones are to be turned off and out of sight throughout the day. Students are not focusing on their instruction when they are texting or using apps with friends, siblings as well as parents/guardians

Standards for appropriate attire and accessories shall include the following:

• Students must wear clothing that covers certain body parts. Clothes must be worn in a way such that the chest, midriff, pelvic/groin area, and buttocks are covered with opaque material.
• Clothing displaying or suggesting profanity; sexual activity through graphic images, words, or innuendos; weapons; drugs/alcohol or drug paraphernalia; violence; or tobacco products may not be worn, visible, or displayed.
• Clothing with identifiable gang/crew representation or paraphernalia may not be worn, visible, or displayed.
• Symbols or messages generally accepted to promote intolerance, hate, racial slurs (for example Confederate flag, swastika, Ku Klux Klan or KKK) may not be worn, visible, or displayed.
• Head coverings may only be worn indoors so long as the student's face is visible and it does not interfere with instruction or student safety.
• Shoes must be worn that are safe for all activities.
• Official St. Mary's County Public Schools’ athletic uniforms may be allowed at the discretion of the coach and school administrator.
• Student dress for school-sponsored activities must be in compliance with the Student Dress Code.

Just a reminder that students are permitted to bring water in clear (mostly clear) containers only. Students should not be bringing coffee, hot chocolate, Dunkin Donut drinks, Kool-Aid, Monster/energy drinks, etc in containers to take from class to class.

Thank you for your continued support.

Parents and Guardians, please be reminded that you must present photo identification when picking up a student from school.

• Emergency contacts ARE NOT permitted to pick up students unless the parent/guardian notifies the school.
• Siblings who are not at least 18 years of age ARE NOT permitted to pick up students.

These requirements are meant to keep your child safe.