LRHS FAMILY NEWSLETTER
September 10, 2020
Message from Principal, Janine Holmes
Hello Raiders,
Welcome to school year 2020-2021. We hope you are off to a good start and have joined all your Google Meets. Although this is a very unique start to the year, I am passionate that all students will experience rigorous and meaningful learning in each class.
I have frequently been sharing important information for parents and students through our School Messenger system. If you have not been receiving my calls and/or email messages, please call the office so we can update our system. Additionally, Schoology is a good source of news. You can also find updated information on our school website at LochRavenHS@bcps.org.
Our PTSA published their first monthly newsletter this September and the link is included below. I encourage all families to join the PTSA; they will continue to be active even during the time that we are engaged in virtual learning.
This year, teachers will take attendance for each period and phone calls will be made each evening to inform parents/guardians if a student did not attend. On Wednesday, when students are participating in asynchronous learning, each student is required to log into Schoology anytime between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. in order to be marked present.
Grading procedures have returned to normal and Achievement Grades will be earned at the end of each quarter. We will not use Pass/Fail grades.
Since some classes require books and/or special materials for virtual instruction, we will be distributing these on Wednesday, September 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Please see the instructions and list of classes below. The Loch Raven Network will also be distributing general school supplies.
If you have any questions, please contact your counselor and/or administrator. We are here to help.
As always,
Stay Positive, Work Hard, and Make It Happen!
Janine Holmes
Material Distribution
The drive-through distribution site will be located in the front bus loop of our school. Our pick-up/distribution will be divided into multiple stations: Check-in and Materials pick-up stations for each content needing materials distributed. There will be staff and signage to help guide you through this process. Not all courses require materials to be picked up from the school. Only students who have the courses listed in the following chart on their schedules should attend the materials pick up.
Stations may vary slightly, but the general guidelines for each station are listed below:
STATION #1 – Check-In
- Please have the first and last name(s) of your student(s) and grade clearly written on a piece of paper. A staff person will check your name and direct you to the next station.
STATION #2-#8 – Materials pick-up
- Families will retrieve student materials/resources.
- Remain in your car.
- If you are able to open your trunk without getting out of your car, our staff will place your child’s materials in the trunk of the car. (preferred)
- If you are unable to open your trunk without getting out of your car, our staff will place your child’s materials on the back seat.
- Walking families will retrieve student materials in the designated location.
In order to protect yourself and our staff, please be sure to wear a face covering when you come to school. If you drive to the school, remain in your vehicle unless you are directed to exit. If you walk to school, please follow the designated signs to pick-up the materials. While at school, please remain at least six feet away from other people. Do not bring friends with you; leave elementary children at home under the supervision of other family members, if possible. Finally, if you are ill or under isolation or quarantine because of your own illness or close contact with an individual with COVID-19, please do not come to school. Please contact the school to make alternative arrangements.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation with this process.
bcps news and messages
BCPS is continuing our continuing our Mind Over Matters campaign to raise awareness about mental health and promote wellness for students and staff. Throughout the year, you will find activities on our Web site.
Because this issue is so important, you should also know that every school has a counselor, psychologist, and Student Wellness Committee, and every school has access to a social worker and nurse to help students, as well as our Employee Assistance Program for staff.
Regardless of your title or role, every student should have at least one adult at school whom they trust. That sense of belonging will help us raise the bar, close gaps, and prepare students for the future, which are the goals of our new strategic plan, The Compass: Our Pathway to Excellence.
PTSA News
The LRHS PTSA has an **ALL NEW** look this year. The LRHS PTSA is committed to bringing our socially distant LRHS family and community together in the safest ways possible. To help bring us together and provide much needed information and resources to you, we have launched a campaign to bring the PTSA virtual. Check out our brand new website, social media and our new monthly newsletter format. You can now also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and NextDoor.
Here's the link to the September Newsletter.
September 2020 PTSA Newsletter Final.pdf
Welcome new PTSA Officers:
President – Erin O’Brien
Executive VP – Beth Wolff
VP – Jennifer Schwartz
Treasurer - Janet Stevens
Secretary – Kirsten Berol
college reps virtual visits
You can sign up for the visits via your Naviance account. Simply log in to BCPS One and go to the orange Naviance tile. Once in Naviance, scroll about halfway down until you see the "What's New" section. Under that, you will see a listing of the currently scheduled visits. To sign up, click on the "See more" link and then click "Register." You will be sent an event link to join and the link will be active 15 minutes prior to the start of the event.
Many schools including Frostburg , Towson, Goucher, University of Baltimore and many others have already scheduled visits and want to meet with YOU!
Virtual visits are a great way for you to get personalized information about the college and meet the admissions rep who may be reviewing your application! This is also a great way to visit with schools that are far away.
Make sure to sign up today and remember visits are being added all of the time so keep checking your Naviance account daily for new visits!
SAT Update
As you may now know, BCPS has cancelled all SAT administrations through November 13, 2020. That means that there will be no SAT’s offered at any school in BCPS during that time, including Saturdays and school day administrations. Even if you registered for the SAT at a BCPS school and it is still showing up on the College Board website as occurring, it is NOT and WILL BE CANCELLED. It is possible to take the SAT at another location, either in a different county, or even a different state, if it is being offered.
To search for a school in another county, state, or a private school that may be holding the SAT's this fall, you can look that up on the College Board website. HOWEVER, you should then contact that school DIRECTLY to find out if they are having the SAT to be sure. The College Board website lags behind and may not be as up to date.
If you have registered for a BCPS administration of the SAT for August- November and you do nothing, you will be refunded your money in 5-7 business days by the same method you paid. In other words, if you paid with a credit card, the refund will go to that credit card. If you paid with a check or money order, they will send you the refund through a check.
If you register for the SAT at another school in another system, state or private school, and the testing center cancels, you can move your registration to another school or date within 5 business days. If you do not move the registration, the refund process will begin automatically.
If on test day, you need to cancel the registration, YOU must take the initiative to contact the College Board. If you do not, you will NOT receive a refund. To contact them, call 866-756-7346 or email them at SAT@info.collegeboard.org to initiate the refund. I would recommend emailing rather than calling as wait times on the phone have been VERY long and email gives you an electronic trail of the communication for your reference later.
Again, as I receive info, I will pass it along to you.
senior pictures
fall sports
Important information from our Athletic Director, Mike McEwan:
While we won't have actual in person sports this fall, I am excited to share that we will be having virtual coaching. Our fall coaching staff will be checking in on our student athletes including their academic and mental well-being. Anyone who is interested should use the link below to register on formreleaf which is our online registration platform.
https://app.formreleaf.com/organizations/loch-raven-high-school
Parent University Update
This school year is certainly different, but don’t worry; together, we’ll get through this most unusual first day, first week, and first semester. And because this school year is like no other, today let’s focus on a key ingredient necessary to get us all through – inspiration!
We all need inspiration to get us through those special times in life. Especially in school, inspiration can be the key to discovering a new intellectual passion or excelling at a sport – or simply doing well on a test.
For today, however, check out a few inspiration resources from the Positivity Blog, the U Group, and Inspire Me Today to set the tone for back to school and the first few days. Be inspired by your children, and let them be inspired by you, and together find inspiration, joy, and success in the learning year ahead.
Food distribution update
Baltimore County Public Schools will provide school meals, at no cost, to all children ages 2-18 by curbside pickup or by bus delivery. The Office of Food and Nutrition Services meal distribution program is providing meals in cooperation with the Office of Transportation to provide increased access to meals during virtual learning from home.
Meals are available to all children up to the age of 18, and to students with disabilities regardless of age. Parents or guardians can pick up student meals. School staff will record the number of meals, student(s) name(s), and the vehicle at the curbside location.
No sign up or registration is required. Curbside pickup is available at the main entrance of every middle and high school each Monday and Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. There are also some bus distribution locations.
Please see Free Student Meals for locations and times.
On Monday students will receive: Two days of meals-breakfast and lunch (consists of cold food items, fruit, vegetables, milk and breakfast items).
•On Wednesday students will receive: Three days of meals-breakfast and lunch (consists of cold food items, fruit, vegetables, milk and breakfast items).
The Student Support Network will continue to supplement the BCPS food distribution program. The Network will be at Parkville High School and Loch Raven Technical Academy each Friday from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. or until their food supply runs out.
bcps resources
Click here to get updates from Baltimore County Public Schools https://www.bcps.org/system/coronavirus/
Here are the links to connect to BCPS One and Schoology
Accessing Schoology Once You Have a BCPS Account
BCPS Social Emotional Support Team Resources for wellness, mental health, self-care and related topics: