Gator Gazette Weekly News
Principal's Update
Building Kindness
We are spending this month focused on kindness and how we can practice acts of kindness to make PPMS Great! I want to give a HUGE shoutout to PPMS 6th grader, Jillian M. who helped plan and deliver this week's PBIS assemblies to each grade level. She shared the poem below that we incorporated into our assemblies.
Helping Your Child Manage Big Emotions
Does your child have meltdowns you
would love to prevent? Do you want to
help your child learn how to regulate
their emotions and become a selfaware
problem-solver? "The Zones of
Regulation" will help you learn
regulation strategies to teach your
child for managing emotions and
sensory needs. Focused on ages 4+.
Presentation followed by Q&A.
Register Here: Helping Your Child Manage Big Emotions (Zoom & In Person) - Calvert Library (libnet.info)
January
15 - No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
16 - NO FCA TODAY
17- CTE Event for 8th graders in the gym, pd. 3
19 - PBIS Incentive (1:00 - 2:45 PM)
19 - End of 2nd Marking Period
22 - 2-hour Late Arrival for Students
26 - 2nd Marking Period Report Cards Published by 3 PM
29 - 3rd Quarter Advisory Clubs Begin
February
8- Guest Speaker Gwyn Novak (3rd period- see sign up below)
8 - History Fair Parent Night, 6-7:15 PM
9 - After-school Dance, 3-4:45 PM (students receiving ISI or OSS from 1/22-2/9 will not be allowed to attend)
12 - PTSA Meeting (Virtual) - Vote on bylaws
15- Guest Speaker Christopher Breedlove (3rd period- see sign up below)
Clubs (recurring)
- Chess Club, Mondays, 7 AM, Rm. 114
- Garden Club, Mondays, 3-5 PM, Rm. 114
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Tuesdays, 7 AM, Gym FCA CANCELED 1/16
- Student Government Association (SGA), Thursdays, 7 AM, Rm. 316
PTSA Update
After School Dance - February 9
If you would like to donate money to go towards concessions or decorations for the dance, please visit Plum Point Middle School (osmsinc.com) and choose "PTSA Dance Donation."
Dance signup (decorate, chaperone, and/or clean-up): https://bit.ly/3TTNTat
Parent Help Days
Do you have time on Friday mornings to help out at the school? The office and teachers can use YOUR help for tasks like filling folders and making copies, beginning in January. If you have time to give, please consider signing up here:
https://bit.ly/Friday-helpers-2324
Our next PTSA Meeting will be February 12th on Microsoft TEAMS. We will be reviewing and voting on the new PTO bylaws. We hope to see you there!
Meeting link: https://bit.ly/PTOMeetings-23-24
It’s not too late to join the PPMS PTSA! You can join here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/ppms-ptsa-23-24
Contact the PTSA:
Visit our new LinkTree for all the ways to find us!
Gator Athletics
Please email our athletic director, Mr. Pellock, with any questions: pellockj@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Student Government Association
SGA Meetings
The SGA is happy to announce the schedule for SGA meetings for the 2023-2024 school year. SGA will meet in Mrs. Kelly’s room, room 316, on Thursday mornings at 7:00 am. Students are still welcome to join SGA. Feel free to attend a meeting 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.
Career Corner
Ms. Phillips rm 251 (across from the cafeteria)
Do you know what the RIASEC model is? No? Come see me! I would love to tell you more about it and how it can be helpful.
Information for January
On January 16, I will be briefing the 8th graders on the Career Technical Education (CTE) visit.
On January 17, 2024, Huntingtown High School's CTE students will come to the gym at PPMS to share information about CTE with the 8th graders during third period.
The follow programs will be presented:
- Business (Management, Accounting, Admin Services)
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement
- NJROTC
- Biomedical Science
- Engineering
- Teaching
These are programs based in your high school and some programs can begin in 9th grade. They fit right into your normal schedule and factor in your GPA as any other class.
Guest Speakers
I have set up some guest speakers in a variety of professional fields. Select students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade will invited to attend. These will occur during 3rd period on their scheduled day. No more than 20 students can attend. Students will only be allowed to sign up for one a month. In order to be eligible to attend you cannot have any major missing assignments. We have two to coming in February. You may sign up for one. If you would like to attend both, sign up for your first choice then please email me to let you know you are interested in both opportunities for the month. I will do my best to accommodate you.
Career in Cooking/Baking
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CABAE2FABFFC25-47163552-guest
Career in Public Safety
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CABAE2FABFFC25-47163990-guest
I am working on setting up a Physical Therapist for March. If you have another profession in mind for a guest speaker event let me know. You may also want to consider joining the Advisory Team for your grade and help me plan for these kinds of event.
Lunch time Career Advisory Groups
Below are links to the Advisory Teams. We will meet during lunches. Each group will meet for four Wednesdays in a row starting 1/31/24. The sign ups will close on 1/24/24. I will contact the selected students by Friday, Jan 26, 2024. If you sign up and are selected, you are expected to attend all four sessions. After the fourth session, new groups will be created. If you miss the opportunity to join during the first round, do not worry, there will be plenty of chances to participate. You can also come see me any other day during lunch. As long as I am in my office, I am happy to chat with you.
6th grade advisory team sign up link
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CABAE2FABFFC25-47016435-advisor
7th grade advisory team sign up link
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CABAE2FABFFC25-47162477-7thgrade
8th grade advisory team sign up link
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CABAE2FABFFC25-47162638-8thgrade
All students are invited to come chat with me about any and everything related to identifying a plan for success. If you would like to set up a meeting, please send me an email (phillipsn@calvernet.k12.md.us) or see me during lunch for a pass.
PPMS Theatre
Descendants Rehearsals
Please see the attached student list for the production this year. Rehearsals/Tech days will begin on January 9th. ALL Cast and Crew should stay on Tuesday 1/9 and Wednesday 1/10, Crew ONLY on Thursday 1/11. After the first week, cast (and some crew) will stay on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Tech crew will stay on Thursdays until we can get on the stage in March. We will have a parent meeting on Wednesday, January 10th at 4:45pm. Contact ppmstheatre@gmail.com with any questions.
PPMS Yearbook
Yearbook Committee
Yearbook Committee will meet on the following days during 3rd Period:
1/25, 2/14, 2/28, 3/18, 4/4, 5/16
Email any photos for yearbook consideration to eversolec@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
Yearbook Sales
Please fill out the attached form and return with payment. Books are $30.
Visit https://bit.ly/PPMSYearbookInfo for everything you need to know about this year’s yearbook: links to pay online and how to submit photos (candid activity pics needed!).
Order yours today!!!
Nurse Notes
PPMS Families Lets Get More Zzzz's This Year!
Sleep is as important to your overall wellbeing as eating nutritious foods, drinking enough water, and daily exercise. The exact reasons are still a mystery, but experts agree there are numerous benefits to consistently getting a full night's sleep. Adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Children aged 6-12 should get 9-12 hours each night and teenagers 13-18 should get 8-10 hours of sleep each night.
Sleep gives your body time to repair and maintain processes that keep your body healthy. Here are some great benefits of sleep!
- Improved Mood - Sleep restores your body and improves your energy levels. Lack of sleep can lead to anxiety, depression and irritability.
- Healthy Heart - Quality sleep promotes cardiac health. While you sleep all cardiac function slows down, heart rate and blood pressure decrease. Which decreases the workload on your heart. Insufficient amounts of sleep can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and heart failure.
- Regulated Blood Sugar - Sleep impacts your body's use of the hormone insulin which helps blood glucose enter the cells to be used for energy. Getting less than 7 hours of sleep each night increases the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
- Improved Mental Function - Studies show that a good night's sleep can lead to better problem solving and decision-making skills. When you sleep, your brain can grow, reorganize, restructure and make new neural connections. These connections can help you learn new information and aid in the formation of memories.
- Restored Immune System - During sleep growth hormones are produced which are essential for proper development in children and adolescents. These same growth hormones repair tissues and cells in people of all ages. Cytokines are also produced while sleeping, these proteins help decrease inflammation in your body and help you fight off infections. Chronic lack of sleep can make you more susceptible to common infections, such as a cold.
- Stress Relief - Quality sleep can decrease anxiety, depression and stress, getting enough sleep can help you wake up refreshed.
- Athletic Performance - Most athletes require at least 8 hours of sleep each night for athletic recovery. The body's production of growth hormone is highest at night, this hormone is necessary for the repair of tissue and contributes to muscle growth.
- Maintaining Healthy Weight - Leptin is produced during sleep. Leptin is produced by the body as a natural appetite suppressor. Sleep also reduces the production of the appetite stimulant ghrelin. When you get too little sleep the production of ghrelin increases and Leptin decreases. So, you may feel hungrier after a poor night's sleep.
Stay tuned next week for a summary of the 2nd half of the article - Tips for Improving Sleep!
Repeated Information
Volunteering at PPMS
From CCPS
Below you will find the Optimist Club Essay Contest information. The deadline for submission is 2/2/2024
Cafeteria Information
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.
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.