Weekly News
August 27th
Principal's Update
Back to School Night is September 12th, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
In advisory this week, students will be learning all about our Gator S.W.I.M. If a student can tell their advisory teacher the meaning of S.W.I.M. by the end of the week, they can earn 2 Gator Bucks.
Our Gator Bucks can be used for a variety of things including:
- Eating outside at Gator Cafe
- School Store (opening September 15th)
- Monthly raffles (pizza & gift cards)
- And much more!
This past week in advisory, students explored both the PPMS Student & Family Handbook as well as the CCPS Code of Conduct. The PPMS Handbook is found below. The Code of Conduct was sent home in First Day Folders and the link is found below for reference.
Below you will find the prices for A la Carte items from our breakfast and lunch menus. These are also posted in the lunch lines for students.
School Events
September
4 - No School, Labor Day
5 - Sports Clinics Begin (calendar below)
6 - NJHS Meeting, 7:15 AM
7 - NJHS Meeting, 3 - 3:45 PM
11 - Chess Club begins, 7 AM
11 - Garden Club begins, 3 - 5 PM
12 - Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) begins, 7 AM
12 - Back to School Night, 6-7:30 PM
19 - NJHS Induction, 9 AM
21 - NJHS Meeting, 3 - 3:45 PM
26 - Picture Day
28 - Interims in HAC & 2-hour Early Dismissal
29 - No School
Armchair Fundraiser - 9/14-9/28
Help us raise funds to supplement school shirt orders, school decor, & advisory club resources/supplies.
Gator Athletics
- Before a student can participate in a clinic or tryout, all paperwork must be turned in. This includes: sports physical (good for 14 months), insurance waiver (one per year), and clinic fee (one time per year). All of these forms and additional information can be found on the CCPS Middle School Athletics page: https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/athletics/middle-school-athletics\
- All soccer players should bring proper attire and footwear for indoor practice on days that volleyball is off in case of inclement weather.
- Temperatures will be high the week of September 5th. Clinic participants should bring plenty of water and/or a reusable water bottle to fill.
Please email our athletic director, Mr. Pellock, with any questions: pellockj@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Student Government Association
Student government helps develop public speaking and leadership skills which help students throughout life. Students get to practice these leadership skills at county and statewide general assemblies and conferences. SGA also plans and executes many schoolwide events.
- End Hunger Food Drive
- School Dances and Socials
- School Beautification Days
- Teacher Appreciation Activities
- Pink Day − Breast Cancer Research
- Love All Pets Month − Calvert Animal Welfare League
Past and current PPMS Student Government Association, SGA, leaders have served on the Calvert Association of Student Councils, Maryland Association of Student Councils, and Calvert County Board of Education! PPMS SGA helps develop our future leaders!
We are very happy to announce the schedule for SGA meetings for the 2023-2024 school year. We will begin meeting on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 7:00 a.m. in Mrs. Kelly’s room, room 316.
We hope to see many returning students and students new to SGA at this meeting. Feel free to attend and learn more about the Student Government Association at Plum Point Middle School. We always welcome enthusiastic student leaders! Please reach out to Mrs. Kelly at kellyd@calvertnet.k12.md.us if you have any questions.
Nurse Notes
Fun Facts About Apples!
That old saying just might be true..."An apple a day keeps the doctor away!". Or is it "An apple a day benefits the whole body in multiple ways!"
Did you know apples come in more than 7500 varieties?
They are healthiest when you eat them fresh and whole.
A medium apple has about 80 calories, 1 gram of protein, 19 grams of natural sugar and 0 grams of fat, sodium, and cholesterol.
That same medium apple also has 3 grams of fiber! Fiber keeps your digestive system on track and can also help you to feel fuller longer! And they have a low glycemic load - so they won't spike your blood sugar!
Don't peel the peel! That's where 2/3 of the fiber is found!
The skin also holds lots of antioxidants - which helps protect your cells from damage that may lead to cancer, heart disease and stroke.
Apples have a plant-derived chemical called flavonoid that protects cells throughout your body, including ones in your brain! Those flavonoids and antioxidants may offset the memory loss caused by various types of damage to cells.
In lab studies, the combination of the plant chemicals and fiber found in apples helped protect the heart and blood vessels from damage.
Studies also show that fiber helps lower your LDL - the bad cholesterol that can build up in your arteries and lead to heart disease.
Apples, like other fruits and vegetables, have natural anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties.
They can't compete with oranges, but they do have 10% of the vitamin C you need daily!
So, enjoying "an apple a day" just might keep the doctor away 😍
It's still the season to pick a few apples, enjoy a family outing and get healthier too 🙂
Here is the complete article if you want to read more facts about apples - Health Benefits of Apples (webmd.com)
**Also, if your child requires emergency medication (Epi Pens, Benadryl, Albuterol) at school get them to me with the required paperwork. A new administration authorization form is needed each year along with the medication. I have attached the needed forms. Thank you 🙂
PTSA Update
PTSA Meeting:
Please join us for our first meeting of the year on September 14th at 6 PM. This meeting will be virtual. Click here to join the meeting
We're Looking for Book Fair Chairperson for '23-'24 Year
We want to thank Terri McClain and Mrs. Remington for the great job they did coordinating and running the book fairs last school year! We're in search of a new Chairperson for this year. If you'd like to help with this task, or if you have any questions about what is involved, please contact us at ppmsfamilies@gmail.com
How to contact the PTSA:
Join Our Private Facebook Group: PPMS Families
Email Us: ppmsfamilies@gmail.com
Visit our Website: tinyurl.com/ppmsptsa
Repeated Information
Hello PPMS families and students! It's almost time for a new school year! If your student requires medication during school hours, please review the following.
Medication forms for next school year can be found on the Calvert County Public Schools website under Parents / School Health Program / School Health Forms. Medication orders need to be renewed each school year and must be signed and dated by a health care provider after July 1st.
If you have questions, please feel free to call me at 443-550-9174 .
Just a quick reminder about the requirements for medications at school
Requirements for Medication at School – a Safeguard for Children
- In order for students to receive medication at school, including over-the-counter (OTC) medication, the School Medication Administration Authorization Form must be completed by the student’s physician and the parent. The completed form will be kept on file in the school.
- Medications that need to be given to a student at school must be brought to school in the original pharmacy / OTC container. It may be necessary to ask your pharmacist to fill an extra bottle or container for use at school.
- All medications that are to be given at school are to be brought to school by the parent or responsible adult. The student will not transport medications to school.
- Medications are to be given to the school nurse.
I have attached the medication forms below for your convenience.
Take care 🙂
Transportation To and From School
From CCPS Message, 8/24
CCPS posted all of our bus stops and times at the password protected page on the district's website. It may be accessed by following this link https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/busroutes and entering the passkey: 2023routes.
School Bus Rules & Regulations 23-24 School Year (repeat)
Notes from the Cafeteria (repeat)
Welcome Back to the School Cafeteria!
We would like to share information about what to expect in our cafeterias for school year 2023-2024.
The Free and Reduced Meal Program continues to be available, however, to all families who qualify. A new application must be submitted each school year. To see if your household qualifies, please complete, and submit one meal benefit application per household. Applications will be sent home with students in the beginning of the school year folders but may also be completed online at https://LinqConnect.com.
Applications are available in many languages on the LinqConnect site but are also available on the USDA’s website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/translated-applications.
Breakfast and Lunch meals are offered daily. School Meal Prices for SY 2023-2024 will remain the same:
Breakfast: $1.65; Secondary Lunch $2.80; Student Milk $0.55.
Volunteering at PPMS
From CCPS
Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) (repeat)
The Board of Education is seeking applicants for the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) for the 2023-2024 school year.
The CAC will be composed of a cross-section of the population of Calvert County. The Board will consider a variety of criteria when appointing members. These criteria will include, but will not be limited to, the high school district in which the prospective member resides, achieving geographic, demographic, ethnic, and racial diversity, the order in which applications were received, and the attendance record of individuals who previously served on the committee.
Members must be legal residents of Calvert County during the period of his/her term. The term of service for CAC members is one (1) year. No more than twenty-five (25) applicants will be selected.
If you are interested in serving on CAC, please complete the survey on this form by September 5, 2023: https://forms.office.com/r/Lm8r0YeQ1m
Contact PPMS Secretaries
If you have a question regarding school events/activities, would like to report an absence, or need to contact the school about car/bus rider status, please email the PPMS Secretaries:
Nondiscrimination Statement
Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry or national origin, familial status, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or genetic information in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
- Director of Student Services
- Director of Human Resources, 443-550-8000
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
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Anti-sexual, Anti-racial and Anti-disability Harassment Statement
Discrimination can manifest itself in behaviors such as bullying, harassment, or intimidation of individuals.
Calvert County Public Schools does not tolerate any form of harassment including, but not limited to, sexual, racial, or disability. Any individual (student, employee, or community member) who believes that he or she has been subjected to any form of harassment is encouraged to report the allegation of harassment. Students, parents, and community members may report allegations of harassment to: Ms. Cecelia Lewis, Director of Student Services, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Employees may report allegations of harassment to: Mr. Zachary Seawell, Director of Human Resources, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Calvert County Public Schools is committed to conducting a prompt investigation for any allegation of harassment. If harassment has occurred, the individual will be disciplined promptly. Disciplinary actions for students found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or expulsion. Disciplinary actions for employees found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or termination.
Calvert County Public Schools encourages all students, parents, employees, and community members to work together to prevent any form of harassment.
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
Calvert County Public Schools Antiracism Statement
Calvert County Public Schools explicitly denounces racism, bullying, discrimination, white supremacy, hate, and racial inequity in any form within our school community. Furthermore, CCPS will not tolerate the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism.
Each member of the district, individually and collectively, is responsible for creating and nurturing a safe, antiracist learning environment where each student, staff member, and community partner is a respected and valued member of the CCPS community.