TVMS News
January 21, 2023
Happy Lunar New Year to our TVMS families!
What is the story behind Lunar New Year?
“This holiday has ancient roots in China as an agricultural society. It was the occasion to celebrate the harvest and worship the gods and ask for good harvests in times to come," explains Yong Chen, a scholar in Asian American Studies.
The term 'Lunar New Year' is increasingly used to refer to festivals in other countries that take place at the same time and with many of the same traditions as in China.
A number of other countries in East Asia, including Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, hold their own new year celebrations at this time. (Occasionally, the date celebrated may differ by one day or even one moon cycle due to time zones and other factors.)
We wish our TVMS families health and fortune in the upcoming year!
Friday marked the end of the second quarter. Our students worked hard to finish the quarter strong and we look forward to seeing our students keep up the hard work as they finish out the second half of the school year. Families will be able to view the Quarter 2 Report Card through HCPSS Connect on Tuesday, January 31st after 4 PM. Printed copies are not being issued.
As a reminder, school is closed for students on Monday, January 23rd and 3rd Quarter classes start on Tuesday, January 24th. Please log in to HCPSS Connect to view your child’s Quarter 3 schedule.
Have a great weekend,
Denise Young, Principal
Important Dates
Monday, January 23 - School closed for students, Professional Work Day
Tuesday, January 24 - Chipotle Fundraiser Night, 4:00 - 8:00 PM (Dobbin Ln, Columbia)
Friday, January 27 - TVMS Talent Show, 6:30-9:00 PM
Tuesday, January 31 - Q2 Report cards available after 5 PM on HCPSS Connect (Update)
Wednesday, February 1- Howard County Public Library Book Tasting Event
Monday, February 20 - Schools and Offices closed for Presidents Day
Incoming 6th Grade New Student/ Parent Orientation
If you have an incoming 6th grader and missed our orientation this past week, you can find the information shared on our school website.
Chipotle Fundraiser Night (Round 2!)
What's that? You missed out on the PTA's Chipotle fundraiser?
Well don't you worry because the TVMS music department is hosting another Chipotle night.
When: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 from 4-8 PM
Where: Dobbin Chipotle in Columbia, 6181 Old Dobbin Ln Ste 100, Columbia, MD 21045
Purpose: 33% of each order will go directly to the TVMS music department, most specifically lowering the cost of our Hershey Park field trip for kids and providing scholarship to students who may need it for either Hershey or our BSO field trip.
Is online ordering available?
Yes, but for PICKUP only. Use the online ordering code: WBRFZGF
Ways to Support:
Stop by and grab a bite to eat for you, your friends and your families.
Share flyers
Encourage students to go
Text the flyer to your favorite Chipotle fan in the area
Post the flyer on social media
Spread the word 🙂
We hope to see you there!
HCPSS/The Council of Elders (TCOE) Community Academy
Public Hearing: School Start Times
The Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the School Start Times for the 2023-24 School Year on Thursday, January 26th at 7:00 PM. Community members can sign up through 4:30 PM on January 25th and must indicate if they wish to speak in person or virtually when completing the registration.
Howard County Public Library Book Tasting Event!
Summer Programs Registration
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program wants all students and parents to have an understanding of CTE course offerings. With 24 career pathways, there are often many misconceptions related to CTE. To ensure that all students and parents make informed decisions with their middle and high school course selections, two virtual webinar sessions will be offered to support understanding and planning.
Rising 7th and 8th Grade CTE Webinar
Tuesday, January 31st
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Registration is required for attendance. Utilize this link to register.
A confirmation email will be sent upon completion of registration, and meeting reminders will be sent prior to the webinar.
As a reminder, for ease of access, parents should plan to attend virtually with their students and utilize their student's login and credentials.
Important Immunization Requirements for 2023-2024 School Year - 7th Grade Students
Effective the first day of school for the 2023-2024 school year, 1 dose of Tdap vaccine and 1 dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) are required by the state of Maryland for all students entering grade 7. Many students may have already received these immunizations, but the Health Room may not have the updated immunization record. Please contact your student’s doctor and send or fax an updated copy of your student’s immunizations to the Health Room or schedule an appointment to have your student receive these immunizations. Our fax number is 443-973-5510. The Health Department provides immunization opportunities for kids who are not up-to-date on school-required vaccinations. Call the Health Department at 410-313-7500 for more information and to schedule a vaccination appointment for your child.
If you have further questions, please email Cheryl Harris, TVMS School Nurse, at cheryl_harris@hcpss.org.
PTSA NEWS
The Den Dollar Store is in need of restocking, please consider making a donation using this link (https://www.amazon.com/registries/custom/2JPB106SDT0JU/guest-view) or by sending in a donation purchased elsewhere to the front office. The Den Dollar Store is open to all students during extended Den Days. Students trade in Den Dollars they have earned for good behavior. All donations are greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your support!
Please support the PTSA by becoming a member. PTSA Membership Hub: https://thomasviaductptsa.memberhub.com. You can also stay connected by joining the school’s PTSA Facebook Page.
CONTINUING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student and Parent Handbook
The 2022-2023 Student and Parent Handbook is now available on the HCPSS website. This resource is helpful for navigating the school year and includes information about HCPSS practices, policies and services available to support and enrich learning. A printed version of the handbook is no longer provided.
Cell Phone Expectations
Students are not permitted to use their personal technology devices (phones) during school time, including lunch and hallway transitions. This is in accordance with the Board of Education Policy 8080. If a student is seen with their device they will be expected to put it away immediately. If chronic issues persist, disciplinary actions may be implemented in alignment with the HCPSS Code of Conduct.
To support this, please refrain from calling or texting your child during school hours. If you need to get a message to them or contact them, please call the Front Office at 410-313-8711
Outside Food Expectations
Food delivery services (i.e. Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc.) are not allowed. Delivery will be refused as we do not have the capability to process this during the school day. If a parent would like to bring their child’s lunch to the school, we ask that you do so prior to the start of your child’s lunch shift. Parents will need to leave the lunch with our Front Office staff.
Family File
It is mandatory that all parents/ guardians verify and/ or update emergency information for each child each school year. Updating this information provides us with the most current emergency contact information, and also ensures that you are receiving important information and updates for HCPSS and TVMS. Log in to HCPSS Connect, select the More Options tab on the left and then select Family File in the center column.
HCPSS News
Communication is an essential component of a successful school experience for both students and parents. There are many ways to stay connected to TVMS and to HCPSS. Please consider the following ways to stay connected:
Visit the TVMS website often at: http://tvms.hcpss.org/
Visit Canvas often
Thomas Viaduct Middle School
Website: http://www.tvms.hcpss.org
Location: 7000 Banbury Drive, Hanover, MD, USA
Phone: 410-313-8711