The Seahawks Call
Weeks of November 15th and November 22nd
Important Dates to Remember:
(Monday) November 15th -
Make-Up/Retake Picture Day!
Virtual Book Fair continues through Nov. 21
Thanksgiving Food Drive begins
Dance until 3:30 pm in the gym
All County Middle School Chorus Rehearsal from 6-8 pm
LPBK Cheer from 6-8 pm
(Tuesday) November 16th -
Report Cards issued. Please check your ParentVUE or StudentVUE for Q1 grades.
Archery Practice until 3:20 pm
Drama Club until 3:30 pm
(Wednesday) November 17th -
Archery Practice until 3:20 pm
VEX robotics until 3:30 pm
(Thursday) November 18th -
Newspaper until 3:30 pm in room 206
Sea Perch until 3:30 pm in room 203
Vaccination Clinic in the gym from 4 - 8 pm
LPBK Cheer from 6-8 pm
(Friday) November 19th -
Last day to donate to our Thanksgiving Food Drive
Archery County Tournament @ Somers
(Monday) November 22nd -
Dance until 3:30 pm in the gym
LPBK Cheer from 6-8 pm
(Wednesday - Friday) November 24th - 26th -
Thanksgiving Holiday Break
Reporting about possible threats to school safety
Dear Parents and Guardians:
I wanted to address recent rumors and social media threats that have recently been shared with the Milton M. Somers Middle School administrative team and ask for your support. In the past two weeks, three different reports about a possible threat to school safety have been shared with me or members of the administrative team days after the threat was first made or known.
The safety of students and staff is a priority at Somers, and we investigate any reported threat to school safety. This often includes the assistance of our school resource officer and police. However, when reports are shared with administrators or police days after they are first shared, it makes the investigation process challenging for us. I am asking for your assistance in helping our school be a safe learning space for students and a safe place for our staff to work.
School administrators appreciate the collaboration we have with the school community, including the partnership with parents. We appreciate any information about a threat to the safety of our school and act upon such reports as quickly as possible. This becomes a challenge for us if we do not know about a threat until a few days after it is made or shared.
Please encourage your child to report to you or a staff member any viewed or known threat to the safety of our school. We keep reports as confidential as possible and thoroughly investigate each report. If you or your child are concerned about confidentiality, I encourage you to use the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) anonymous online See Something, Say Something reporting tool posted on the school system website at https://www.ccboe.com/index.php/see-something-say-something-ql. Reports are kept anonymous and shared with the appropriate school system staff and authorities for investigation.
I appreciate those students and parents who feel comfortable in sharing threats to school safety to school staff. It is important that we work together to ensure our school is safe for students and staff.
Thank you for your support of Milton M. Somers Middle School.
Sincerely,
Principal Taylor
Makeup and Retake Picture Day is Monday, November 15th!
Your picture can be taken if:
- You were absent or not enrolled at Somers on the original picture day.
- You are having your picture retaken and have your uncut/undamaged picture package to return.
- You are purchasing new pictures and have ordered them online prior to coming to school on the 15th.
Students will be called down over the announcements Monday morning by grade level and letter of their last name. Cameras will be leaving before 4th period, so please make sure you arrive to school on time so you do not miss having your photo taken.
Help us Help Others - Thanksgiving Food Drive
Changes to Quarterly Recognitions & Assemblies due to COVID
The first quarter has ended and ideas on the best way to recognize our academic scholars have been discussed extensively. Given the current COVID protocols and any new guidance that we receive, we have decided not to host official recognitions or assemblies this year. However, the administration, Instructional Leadership Team, team leaders and department chairs have collaborated and come up with several ways to recognize deserving students on their academic accomplishments.
As we continue to deal with ever-changing circumstances of this public health crisis, we thank you in advance for your continued patience, support and understanding.
Laptop Bags and Water Bottles
LAPTOP BAGS
All students who were issued a new laptop, were also given a brand new laptop bag. Unfortunately, we are starting to see many laptop bags getting destroyed beyond the normal wear and tear. Students are using these laptop bags like they are backpacks. Besides the actual laptop, students are putting books, binders, and lunch bags in the laptop bag as well. These bulky, heavy items are causing the zipper to break as well as the seam of the bag to rip causing large holes.Students have been told to only put their laptop, charger, a couple of folders, and pens/pencils inside their laptop bag.
If laptop bags are broken beyond the normal wear and tear, students will be charged a replacement cost of $10.00.
Do us a favor and just look at the contents of your child's laptop bag and see if they are following our expectations with only having their laptop, charger, and a couple of folders.
WATER BOTTLES
Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle daily that can be refilled using any water fountain. We also have a bottle filler located right outside the gym. Due to limited resources, students will no longer be given a cup if they forget to bring their own water bottle.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support.
Spirit Week
.........From the Library
THE BOOK FAIR IS HERE!
Our school’s Book Fair has gone online! Discover new books sure to keep kids reading. Every purchase supports our school. Shop now! https://www.scholastic.com/bf/miltonsomersmiddleschool1
Our Book Fair is open through November 21. All orders will be shipped to your home address. Thank you for supporting our Somers Library!
SCHOOL SUPPORTS
Matthew Newcamp - 6th Grade VP - mnewcamp@ccboe.com
Marlon Walker - 7th Grade VP - mwalker@ccboe.com
Cynthia Panizzi - 8th Grade VP - cpanizzi@ccboe.com
Zachary Ortolano - zortolano@ccboe.com
COUNSELING SUPPORTS
Mike Simms - 6th Grade Counselor - msimms@ccboe.com
John Craddock- 7th Grade Counselor - jcraddock@ccboe.com
Nancy Franklin - 8th Grade Counselor - nfranklin@ccboe.com
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Andrea Johnson - Reading Resource Teacher (Reading) - afjohnson@ccboe.com
Jennifer Branham - Instructional Resource Teacher (Math) - jbranham@ccboe.com
Suzanne Johnson - Learning Resource Teacher (Gifted Education and Testing Coordinator) - srjohnson@ccboe.com
Email: somersms@ccboe.com
Website: https://www.ccboe.com/schools/somers/
Location: 300 Willow Lane, La Plata, MD 20646
Phone: 301-934-4663
Twitter: @miltonsomersms