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Northern Middle Newsletter 9-17-23
Weekly Update 9/17/23
Bobcat Nation:
Thank you to our staff, students, and parents for working together to create a successful Open House. It was wonderful to see connections being built between the school and home environments. Special thanks to our PTO and PBIS teams for organizing the Back to School Bash events prior to Open House.
If you were unable to attend, you can view the opening video below.
Thank you to those families who have submitted the required CCPS Annual Student Update in HAC for your student(s). If you have not done so yet, please see below for information on how to do so by the deadline on Friday, September 22nd.
Mr. Webster, NMS Principal
IMPORTANT & REQUIRED INFO NEEDED FROM FAMILIES - CCPS ANNUAL STUDENT UPDATE FORM - Please complete by 9/22/23
If you have already completed the Annual Student Update for your children, thank you! If you still need to complete it, please follow the attached directions below. The same message was sent to parents/guardians by CCPS on September 5th. The direct link to access HAC to complete the update is https://ccpses4hac.calvertnet.k12.md.us.
This year, you will need to log in to your Home Access Center (HAC) account to complete the Annual Student Update form electronically for each child who lives with you by Friday, September 22, 2022. This process replaces the emergency form and several other permission forms and acknowledgements that are required each school year. Only one guardian for each child may complete this process, which is critical to school operations. Once each child’s form is done, it will be marked complete in eSchoolPlus, our student information system.
NMS Picture Day - Monday, September 18th
Students will be provided with picture day order forms to bring home. The easiest way to order is to submit and pay for pictures online. Pre-order access will expire 48 hours after picture day.
Skip the Order Form & Pre-order Before Picture Day
https://vando.imagequix.com/J9FRB96
Online Code: nmscalvert23
Questions? - please contact Classic Photography at: (800)869-9515 x112
1st Marking Period Interim Reports Coming Soon
First marking period interim reports will be distributed via HAC on Thursday, September 28th. If you have any questions about a particular class, please contact the teacher. This will allow them to provide you with suggestions on how to provide the best supports to help your child improve their performance. It may also be valuable to work with your child to set goals for the remainder of the first marking period.
The end of the first marking period is November 1st and report cards will be distributed on November 13th. These dates will get here quickly. It is important for students not to wait until the last minute to study for tests, turn in missing assignments, etc.
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.
Car Riders - Arrival & Dismissal
Please note that students who arrive as car riders starting at 8:00 am are tardy to school and will need to sign in at the main office.
NMS parents who drop off their student(s) are asked to turn left onto Flint Hill Road then left into the parking lot near the NMS cafeteria. The drop off and pick up zone for students extends from the sidewalk by the NMS cafeteria, continues along the sidewalk towards the NMS office, then continues along the sidewalk in front of the Mary Harrison Center. Please pull up to the furthest spot in the drop off zone so that we can allow as many vehicles into the zone as possible. Students should be ready to exit their vehicle quickly so that we can keep traffic flowing. Upon students exiting, vehicles follow a route that allows them back onto Flint Hill Road.
Afternoon Dismissal
In the afternoon, if there are no additional spaces on the sidewalk before the cafeteria entrance, please park in a parking space so that we do not have cars blocking traffic on Flint Hill Road.
Forms to Sign & Return
There are forms that need to be signed and returned for each student. Thank you to everyone who has already returned the forms. They were included in our First Day Folders so parents would receive a paper copy. Attached are copies of the forms in the event that you need to print them out. Students should return the signed forms to their 1st period teacher.
- CCPS Code of Conduct Statement of Understanding
- CCPS Personal Cell Phone, Electronic, & Communication Devices Registration Form
- NMS Technology Expectations Form
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 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 will 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.
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
FREE/REDUCED PRICE MEAL BENEFIT APPLICATION
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 will be sent home with students in the beginning of the school year folders but may also 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.
NMS Extracurricular Opportunities
Willy Wonka Auditions Coming Soon!
NMS - Fall Athletics Clinics Underway
Fall Sports Clinics have begun for soccer (coed) and volleyball. Attached is a calendar of clinic dates. Please look for which grades participate each day. In order to participate in the clinics, students will need to submit a completed physical, Athlete Clinic Form (with the clinic fee), and a School Insurance Waiver Form. These documents can be turned in at the main office.
- Required Athletics Forms - https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/athletics/middle-school-athletics. Copies are also available in the main office and cafeteria.
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
Update from the NMS PTO
The NMS PTO is excited to have the 2023-2024 school year off to a great start. We look forward to meeting and working along side your families and the Bobcat community. Here are a few updates for this week!
Immediate need for volunteers TOMORROW (Monday) for picture day!
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/409044DACAA22A46-picture
Haven't joined us yet? What are you waiting for!? PTO is a great way to be involved in supporting our students, staff, and school!
https://my.cheddarup.com/c/pto-membership-2023-2024
Membership raffle!
2 families will be chosen to win a gift card just for joining!
If you’ve already joined your name has already been entered! In addition to the 2 family winners, the advisory class from each grade level with the most memberships will win a special treat! To be entered, join by 9/30/2023!
The October Sign Up is now available for volunteers to help with making copies, and other miscellaneous tasks.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044DACAA22A46-44329218-copies
Resource Flyers and Opportunities for Students and Families
Strategic Planning Community Forums
Save the date! We are seeking input from our parents, students, staff, and community members to help guide our next strategic plan. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts on the profile of a graduate, strengths, focus areas, and future outlook for our school system. Please make plans to join us at one of our Community Forums being held at 6 p.m. on September 18 at Huntingtown High School and at 6 p.m. on September 19 (Patuxent High School). Thank you for your support!
CCPS Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC)
Recurring Resources for Families
CCPS Reopening Plan
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.
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.
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 also available on the CCPS website using the Technology Support button (pictured below) on the main page. This resource provides links to submit help desk tickets, frequently asked questions, and other resources students can use to solve issues.
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