Raider Nation Staff Newsletter
Week of September 21, 2020
Settling In...
Hello Raider Nation,
We are settling into our virtual routine as we enter the third week of school. There were several discussions regarding grading and small group in-person student supports at the last Board of Education meeting. You can find information on small groups here and grading policy changes below.
There has been a lot of talk surrounding the small group in-person aspirations of HCPSS. As directed, I have reached out to those individuals on staff who were targeted for this initiative. The second part of this initiative is to identify students who would benefit from such small group in-person instruction. Here is where you come in! As you interact with students virtually, have you encountered any students that you feel would benefit from coming into school and engaging in this small group instruction? Please take a moment to reflect on the students in your classes and send me by end of the day tomorrow any names you feel would truly academically and socially benefit from such an environment.
We have a staff meeting this coming Tuesday, September 22 at 7:40 am. We will use our same keyword: AHSVirtualStaffMeetings. Additionally, it was suggested that we create a google document for you to pose your questions in advance. You will find that document here. Please complete by the end of the day tomorrow (Monday) so that we have time to address your questions. During the staff meeting, I will elaborate more on the dialogic conversations and staff expectations. I am acutely aware of the fact that we are all feeling the pressures of this virtual environment. I have tried to make this county requirement as stress-free as possible for everyone.
It is our intent to make all of our resources available to students and staff as we continue in this virtual environment. Kudos to our outstanding media specialists, Carolyn and Natalie, who have set up a way to make our media center available to our students, staff, and community. Below you will find information regarding a contactless book pick up for those who would like to make use of our media center resources. They will further elaborate on this process during our staff meeting.
If you have a need to reach the entire student body with an announcement regarding a club/activity meeting, please contact Carolyn and/or Natalie. This is our only way to get messages out to the entire student body regarding meetings and activities. Additionally, we also have the “announcements” on our website. You will need to have your Google slide sent to Adrienne to get it posted. Please do not forget to get those announcements out as we are trying very hard to make sure our students are connected and involved.
Wishing everyone a fantastic week! See you Tuesday morning!
Robert
Did you join PTSA??
Virtual News
- Review the Safety Measures During the Google Meet Session on 20-21 HCPSS Virtual Teaching and Learning Page.
- Review Google Meet Safety Updates: Google has improved Google Meet participant controls for education platforms. We have received the following Google Meet updates from the Information Technology Office. Feel free to email Nick Vissari with any questions.
- Report all severe Google Meet disruptions that involve racial/ethnic slurs, sexually explicit comments/content, cyberbullying, threats to self/others
Meetings This Week
Tuesday -- Staff Meeting (7:40 am)
Wednesday -- Attendance Team (2:15 pm)
Wednesday -- NO ADMIN PIP -- enjoy the gift of time!
Thursday -- ITL Meeting (7:40 am)
Contactless Book Pick Up
Students will place requests for materials using this form, called I NEED A LIBRARIAN/MEDIA SPECIALIST.
Students will receive an email message to their preferred email address when their holds are ready for pick up on WEDNESDAYS.
Books will be placed on the cart outside the front entrance for student pick up. They will be wrapped in brown paper sleeves with the name of the recipient identified on the spine.
All returned books will sit in quarantine for seven days before circulating back out to households. The latest guidance can be found here (Links to an external site.).
Books can be returned ANY DAY to a cart provided outside. PICKUPS will only be outside on WEDNESDAYS.
Grading Policy Information
2020 – 2021 Grading and Reporting Dates
9/15 Change all remaining 2019-20 Q4 I’s to N/A’s (students have until 9/30 to hand in summer packets to earn a P)
W Day – Sem 1 and FY Classes
9/25 Last day to withdraw from high school credited course without penalty **Reduced the number of days from 20 to 14 based on 4X4 classes.
1st Marking Period
11/5 Teachers begin entering grades
11/6 End of 1st marking period
11/11 Grades Due
11/16 Report Cards issued
2nd Marking Period
1/27 Teachers begin entering grades
1/28 End of 2nd marking period
2/2 Grades Due
2/5 Report Cards issued
W Day – Sem 2 Classes
2/22 Last day to withdraw from second-semester high school credited course without penalty **Reduced the number of days from 20 to 14 based on 4X4 classes.
3rd Marking Period
4/13 Teachers begin entering grades
4/14 End of 3rd marking period
4/19 Grades Due
4/22 Report Cards issued
4th Marking Period
TBD Report cards mailed home
Senior Dates – TBDAthletics for 2021
SEASON 1 - Winter Sport Season
February 1 - February 21, 2021 - Sport Season Practice and Reconditioning
February 22 - March 27, 2021 - Sport Competition Season
SEASON 2 - Fall Sport Season
March 15 - April 4, 2021 - Sport Season Practice and Reconditioning
April 5 - May 8, 2021 - Sport Competition Season
SEASON 3 - Spring Sport Season
April 26 - May 16, 2021 - Sport Season Practice and Reconditioning
May 17 - June 19, 2021 - Sport Competition Season
HCPSS 2020 Seasonal Flu Vaccine Clinics
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, obtaining a vaccine for seasonal influenza (flu) is even more important this year than ever. HCPSS Health Services is continuing its partnership with the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) and the Maryland Partnership for Prevention (MPP) to offer several regional seasonal flu vaccine clinics for HCPSS students and staff during the month of October. The clinic dates are October 7-14. The clinics will be held at 24 school sites, outdoors, from 4:00-6:00 pm, and ANY HCPSS student or staff may attend any clinic they wish; pre-registration with appointments will be required.
The dates and sites are as follows:
Wednesday, October 7 – AHS, CHS, DLES, SFES
Thursday, October 8 – GHS, WLHS, JHES, ARL
Friday, October 9 – MRHS, HOHS, LWES, HMS
Monday, October 12 – RHS, MHHS, BWES, CRES
Tuesday, October 13 – OMHS, HCMS, LES, DRES
Wednesday, October 14 – RHHS, LRHS, GCES, LES
Mark Your Calendar
September 28 -- Schools and Offices CLOSED
Atholton High School
Click Below for Boosters' Organization News
Email: Robert_Motley@hcpss.org
Website: www.ahs.hcpss.org
Location: 6520 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: (410) 313-7065