LRHS FAMILY NEWSLETTER
September 23, 2020
Message from Principal, Janine Holmes
Hello Raiders,
I am very pleased to hear so many positive comments from teachers about student participation in classes. I trust that you are getting to know your teachers and are enjoying your Google Meets. I hope parents were able to attend Back-to-School Night and were able to meet teachers. Students and parents should feel free to email teachers with any questions or concerns about work assignments and teacher expectations. The student and teacher schedules also allow time for small group instruction and office hours.
Our counselors are also available by email or Google Meets, and students and parents should not hesitate to contact our counselors and/or our social worker.
We have updated our school website to make it more user-friendly and hope that you are able to find the information you need at LochRavenHS@bcps.org.
As I shared in the last newsletter, 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. If a student will be absent for the day or for any classes on a synchronous learning day, please be sure that teachers are notified of the absence and the reason for the absence so attendance can be properly recorded.
We were very pleased that most students needing books or special materials for classes were able to join us on the distribution day. For those that were not able to do so, arrangements can still be made to pick up the materials. Please call the main office at 443-809-3525 to schedule a time.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact your counselor and/or administrator. Our goal is for each student to have the support he/she needs to be successful
As always,
Stay Positive, Work Hard, and Make It Happen!
Janine Holmes
hispanic heritage month
¡FELIZ MES DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA!
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
If you’re like a lot of Americans, perhaps you haven’t given it much thought. For many, Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Tuesday, September 15, comes and goes without much observance, celebration, or thought. There are no store sales or military flyovers or cherished national traditions.
Maybe there should be. In Baltimore County and in BCPS, thousands of families, children, and educators appreciate Hispanic Heritage Month and what it means – not only to them but to our school system, our county, our state, and our nation.
And you should hear their appreciation. For Hispanic Heritage Month this year, we asked Hispanic/Latino BCPS educators why this month is so special, what it means, and why it should matter to everyone, regardless of their own roots. Their answers were illuminating, often both personal and universal, pointed, moving, and profound. They spoke of the immense contributions Hispanic and Latino people have made to the nation and world. They spoke of the incredible diversity of Hispanic/Latino culture and peoples, and they spoke of the deep pride they felt to be part of that diversity and tradition.
“Hispanics and Latinos continue to contribute to American life in deep and meaningful ways, and we celebrate this impact with respect and pride,” says Jennifer Hernandez, director of World Languages and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) for BCPS. “The influences of . . . Hispanic people have forever changed the fabric of our country on so many levels, and the contributions are lasting, impactful and a source of great inspiration.
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. Be on the lookout for the next PTSA newsletter coming soon.
Please support our PTSA!
All membership fees and donations can be made online at: https://lochravenhs.new.memberhub.store/store
Please take a minute to enter the PTSA September contest!
Yearbook news from Ms. Hinton, our new yearbook advisor
counseling connection
College Visits
Starting this week, college admission reps have signed up for visitations with LRHS students. These visits are virtual and occur when you do not have a scheduled class.
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!
See flyer below with more details!
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Magnet Programs
Attention current 9th and 10th grade families!
Now is the time to gather information about magnet programs if you are looking to apply for the 2021/2022 school year. Please view the BCPS magnet brochure at https://dci.bcps.org/department/educational_options/educational_opportunities/magnet_programs
Magnet applications are available starting September 16th and are due on November 6, 2020 before 1p.m. Applications are available online at
https://bcpsonlineapplication.com/apply/
There will be 2 Information meetings (online via google meets):
Saturday - September 26, 2020 at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
or
Wednesday – September 30 at 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m.
*Parents must pre-register for the information sessions on the BCPS Magnet Programs website at
https://dci.bcps.org/department/educational_options/educational_opportunities/magnet_programs
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Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation
In order to request your transcript and letters of recommendation to be sent to colleges, your parent must fill out and sign the Consent for Release of Student Records form and send it electronically to your school counselor.
The form can be found in your Naviance account. A copy of it is pictured below.
No transcripts or letters will be sent to colleges until this form is received.
Please email the transcript release or send it as an attachment to a message in Schoology to your counselor as listed below.
- Last names A - G: Ms. Moody @ jmoody@bcps.org
- Last names H - O: Ms. Johnson @ tjohnson2@bcps.org
- Last names P - Z: Ms. Miller @ smiller18@bcps.org
If you have any questions, please call our counseling office at 443-809-3832.
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: