Northern Middle Newsletter
Weekly Update 2/12/23
Bobcat Nation:
As we continue into the second semester, please take a moment to review your expectations with your child and to reinforce kindness and acceptance of differences among their classmates and peers. Each school day is a new opportunity for students to choose kindness, compassion, and empathy. Harmful or disruptive acts that have become part of some students' choices have included the use of foul language, unkind acts towards others and in some instances, standing by and watching instead of speaking up and coming to an adult for support.
Through our Monday Character Strong programming and monthly grade level meetings, as well staff reinforcement of these expectations throughout the school day, we are providing all students with valuable tools and strategies to make good choices and model our school theme, “We Rise by Lifting Others.” We appreciate your efforts at home to help our children focus on developing positive habits for the remainder of the school year!
As a reminder, CCPS schools are closed for students on Monday, 2/13 and Monday 2/20.
Have a great week!
Mr. Webster, NMS Principal
NMS - MS Course Registration Information for Current 6th and 7th Gr Families
2023-24 Middle School Registration Lesson for Current 6th Graders
2023-24 Middle School Registration Lesson for Current 7th Graders
Information for Current 8th Grade Students & Families: 9th Grade Course Registration
8th grade students have received their course registration material for high school during a presentation in their science classes. Course registration sheets are due back to their 1st period teachers on February 21st.
Please see video below for an instructional video that explains the registration process and important high school information. This information was shared with your students in class.
Please refer to the link below for the 2023-24 High School Planning Guide:
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1674498172/calvertnetk12mdus/uqx5hqym7bijjd7cghnz/2023-2024-High-School-Planning-Guide.pdf
Feel free to contact your child’s counselor with questions:
Below is information on the dates and times for the upcoming high school information nights at NHS, HHS, and CTA.
Upcoming 9th Grade Registration Nights
- NHS – occurred on February 7, 2023
- CTA – occurred on February 8, 2023
- HHS – February 16, 2023, 6:00 PM (AP US History Session at 5:30)
NMS Students of the Month - January
Congratulations to the Northern Middle School Math Counts Team!
The NMS Math Counts team competed in the Southern Maryland Regional Competition last weekend. They finished in 3rd place in the team competition which allowed them to advance to the state Math Counts competition this spring. Andrew Bisang also finished in 4th place in the individual competition.
- Team Members – Andrew Bisang, Ali Ahmed, Logan Oberg, Alex Schultz
- Sponsor – Dr. Dempster
Congratulations to the NMS History Day Advancers!
Congratulations to the following students whose projects advanced to the CCPS History Day competition on Saturday, March 11th. Thank you to our Social Studies teachers for supporting the students. Special thanks to Mrs. Martus for coordinating the NMS History Fair!
Research Papers
- Lochlan Fitzgerald—The Colossus: The Titan who won WWII
- Ali Ahmad --- Frontiers in History: The Theory of Evolution, an Idea that Pushed Boundaries, Changed the World and Influences Thought Today
- Maggie Bright--- How Photography is a Frontier in History
Individual Exhibits
- Nathan Hitchman—The 300 Horsepower That Changed America’s Railways
- Daphne Niederhauser—Star Trek: Boldly Going Where No Man has Gone Before
- Jackson Robshaw— Great Chicago Fire
- Aryana Amato—Women in Medicine: Elizabeth Blackwell
Group Exhibits
- Madlyn Sokolov and Ila Gramiccioni—Miranda v. Arizona
- Sam Dick and Amelia Hill—The Gettysburg Address
Documentaries
- Alex Rubio and Ryan James—How Video Games Advanced Technology
- Jack Dusek and Evan Swoope—The Step That Changed Mankind Forever
Websites
- Isaac Simpson—The Plough: Revolutionary or Just Another Tool? Agriculture’s Recognized Frontier
NMS Orchestra Students Excel at CCPS Solo and Ensemble Festival
Congratulations to Rachel Brewer and Susanna Zielinski for both receiving a Superior rating this weekend at the CCPS Solo and Ensemble Festival! Both of them now qualify for the State Solo and Ensemble Festival later this spring.
NMS SGA - Reading Event for Young Children - 2-18-23
CogAT Testing Reminders for 7th Grade Parents/Guardians - Week of Feb 21st-24th
Student assessments are an important part of education as the scores help educators determine many factors about how students learn and how to continue to help individualize their learning in the future.
7th graders will be taking the CogAT test during Science classes on February 21-24th. CogAT stands for Cognitive Abilities Test. It is a multiple-choice test that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions and is used to measure aptitude for the gifted and talented programs.
To help students do their best on this test and create good habits for future tests, please help them with the following:
- A good night’s sleep
- Laptop charged the night before and then both the laptop and charger in the bookbag
- A good breakfast
- Earphones that plug in to the laptop (no wireless ear buds)
- Reminders that they cannot use their cell phones or digital watches during the test. All electronic devices, except for their school-owned laptop, will need to be off and placed in a location in the classroom away from the students.
- To maintain excellent attendance during the test windows as much as possible and try not to have any scheduled appointments.
If you have any questions about the test, feel free to email Mrs. Pellock at pellockl@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
Northern Middle Career Day – March 24th – Presenters Needed
The Counseling Department at Northern Middle School will be hosting a Career Day on Friday, March 24th. The purpose of the Career Day is to expose students to a variety of professions and inform them of all the details regarding those careers so that they may relate them to their future goals and aspirations. It is an opportunity for our students to see firsthand the career choices of some of the parents in our school and community. In addition, students can see the commitment and dedication that parents give to their career.
We would like to invite you or a family member or friend to present at our Career Day to discuss the opportunities and expectations of your career. Career Day will take place from about 12:26 pm - 2:43 pm. Lunch will be provided for our presenters starting at 11:30.
If you are interested in being a Career Day Presenter, please complete the attached form and return it to the counseling department by March 3rd. If you have any questions, please contact your school counselor via email or by phone at 443-550-9230.
Jessica Himes, School Counselor - himesj@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Linda Woehlke, School Counselor - woehlkel@calvertnet.k12.md.us
CCPS Student Transfer Requests for 2023 – 2024
The attached letter outlines information regarding information for students currently enrolled on approved transfers or interested in submitting transfer requests for the 2023 - 2024 school year. The application is now available. Transfer requests that are not submitted by February 15th may not be honored due to lack of space at the desired school or grade level. Please note that transfers are approved on a one-year basis so families must apply/reapply each year.
CCPS Virtual Academy 2023-24
If you are interested in the CCPS Virtual Academy for your child for the 2023-24 school year, the flyer below contains information about the program and registration process.
NMS Yearbook 22-23 – On Sale Now
CCPS Science and Engineering Expo - Feb. 25th
On February 25, 2023, Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) will host the 10th Annual Science and Engineering EXPO at Calvert High School from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. This family event is free and open to the public. The EXPO will showcase CCPS science and engineering programs and STEM organizations from the local community. Exhibits will be engaging for both children and adults, designed to spark interest in STEM classes and careers. The hands-on activities will include computer coding, biomedical experiments, robots, math games, catapults, and much more for the entire family to explore.
For more information, contact Dr. Yovonda Kolo at 443-550-8026 or koloy@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
Message from the NMS Best Buddies Group
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), held on March 21st, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. To show support for individuals with Down syndrome, students and staff may use the link below to purchase a shirt or crazy socks to wear to school on March 21st.
NMS PTO Activities
Thank you to the NMS PTO for facilitating an appreciation activity for the NMS staff. The students and PTO "sparkled" staff with kindness and thankfulness with sweet treats and kindness cards written by students to show their fondness of the staff's commitment to them.
PTO volunteers also supported the PBIS team with Hot Chocolate Day! Students used Bobcat Bucks to earn a special and warm drink as a reward during lunches.
Northern Middle School PTO
Please consider joining the NMS PTO. The PTO is a very active organization at NMS. We need the support of all parents and families. Even if you have no time to volunteer, there are other ways to support all children at NMS. Please look for PTO information at the beginning of the school year and at Back-to-School Night.
The electronic link for membership is https://pto-membership-83842.cheddarup.com
You can also access the NMS PTO Facebook group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/nmsbobcatspto/
Resource Flyers and Opportunities for Students and Families
Calvert County Community Events & Activities
For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, visit calvertnet.k12.md.us/flyers.
Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district.
Recurring Resources for Families
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
Family, Student, & Staff Responsibility – Daily Health Screening
It is the responsibility of all families, students, and staff members to self-assess before entering a school bus or CCPS facility by answering the following questions:
- Has the individual or anyone in the family been sick with dry cough, shortness of breath, chills, fever, muscle or body aches, sore throat, or loss of sense of taste or smell in the last 5 days?
- Has the individual or anyone in the family been exposed to COVID-19 and asked to quarantine? If yes, who was directed to quarantine and what date did the quarantine start? (Ensure quarantine time is up and symptoms have improved.)
- Has the individual or anyone in the family tested positive for COVID-19? If yes, who and when? Were they having any symptoms? (Ensure quarantine is up and symptoms have improved.)
- Student and staff should not attend school if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been medically advised to quarantine. If this is the case, please contact our School Nurse, Carin Fleshman, at 443-550-9227 or fleshmanc@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
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.
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.
