Northern Middle Newsletter 3/26/23
Weekly Update 3/26/23
Bobcat Nation:
End of the 3rd Marking Period - March 31st - With the end of the marking period coming soon, we encourage parents to check HAC to look at their child’s grades and for incomplete assignments that can still be submitted. Parents also have their own accounts in Schoology through which they can monitor their child’s learning activities and assignments. Teachers have been inputting grades into HAC so parents can see their child’s current grades in each of their classes. We encourage parents to use these tools to help their child organize their time and engagement in learning. If you have questions about one of your child’s classes, please contact the teacher. Be patient in getting a response as teachers are answering messages from many parents and students. Their main focus will be working on current assignments with their classes. As a result, anything missing from earlier in the marking period will be addressed as they can get to it.
As a reminder, CCPS schools will have a two-hour early dismissal for students on Friday, 3/31. Schools will be closed for Spring Break from 4/3 - 4/10. Schools will reopen on Tuesday, 4/11 with a two-hour delayed arrival for students.
Have a great week!
Mr. Webster, NMS Principal
Northern Middle School Career Day
Last Friday, we had a special Career Day for the students during the afternoon. We had 27 different sessions with presenters sharing their knowledge and experiences. As you can see from the list below, we had a wide variety of careers represented. Northern Middle School would like to thank the presenters for taking time out of their days to visit. They shared their wisdom and expertise with the students of Bobcat Nation, exemplifying our theme of “We Rise by Lifting Others.” The students were able to learn about a variety of careers and ask many questions. Middle School is a good time to start setting goals and thinking about future endeavors you may be interested in pursuing. The connections between NMS and our school community allowed us to provide this experience for the students. We greatly appreciate everyone who helped to create these experiences. Special thanks to Mrs. Himes and Mrs. Woehlke for their help in organizing the event.
NMS SGA Wins MASC Outstanding Student Government Award!
At the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) Conference, the Students Government Association at Northern Middle School won the MASC Felix Simon Outstanding Student Government Association Award. They were one of only two middle schools in the state to win this prestigious award. Congratulations to Ms. Lewis and our SGA students!
NMS Student Wins MD Spring InvestWrite Competition!
Keven Luiru, a 8th-grade student at Northern Middle School, has been named the Maryland winner for the Grade 6-8 Division of the 2022 Spring InvestWrite Competition. InvestWrite, an innovative national writing competition, is a program of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Foundation offered exclusively to teachers and students participating in The Stock Market Game.
Mrs. Amanda Price, Northern Middle School 7th & 8th grade Science Teacher and The Gifted and Talented Liaison, oversees the afterschool enrichment opportunity through the Gifted and Advanced Learning program.
Keven was recognized by Julie Weaver, Director of Financial Education Council on Economic Education in Maryland. She received a certificate and medal. Keven will receive $50 cash prize to recognize his achievement at the MCEE award ceremony in May.
The InvestWrite experience enhances student math, critical research, and writing skills while teaching wealth creation through saving and investing.
NMS MESA Team Wins 1st Place!
Congratulations to the group members - Rodney Miller, Owen Tillett, Samuel Tillett, and Andrew Yates! Thank to our sponsors, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Hautmann, for supporting their work through the school year!
Energy & Sugary Drinks at School
We encourage parents, guardians, and family members to support our efforts to promote healthy choices by having discussions with their children and monitoring items they are bringing to school.
There have been situations in which students have brought these types of drinks to school to sell to others. Students have been reminded that they are not allowed to sell/purchase any items in school to/from their peers. Those found doing so will have the items and money confiscated and returned to a parent/guardian when appropriate.
State Testing Update for Parents - MCAP Assessments - Tentative Dates
Our tentative dates for the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments are below. The assessments are online and students will completed them using a device or desktop. In middle school, these assessments provide information to students, educators, parents, and the public on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland state content standards. For some high school courses, student proficiency is a graduation requirement.
Tentative Testing Dates for MCAP Assessments
- ELA – 4/17, 4/18, 4/19, 4/20
- Math – 5/9, 5/10
- Social Studies (8th Grade only) - week of 5/15 - 5/19
Due to the importance of these assessments, we are asking parents for their support. If possible, please avoid making any appointments on the dates assessments are scheduled if possible. It is important for the students to be in school on time during the assessments. We are also asking families to make sure that each student gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast prior to taking the assessments. While we do not want any students or families to stress over the MCAP assessments, they are an important part of the school year. We want to make sure that every student is able to perform to the best of their abilities.
Further information regarding the transition to the MCAP assessments is available online at http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DAAIT/index.aspx.
NMS Yearbook 22-23 – On Sale Now
Be sure to order your 2022-23 NMS Yearbook! Yearbooks are sold online at https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/view_account.asp?l=FA7A42A7-C300-45ED-BBEB-129ECDED39DC.
Yearbooks are currently on sale for $35.00. If you have any yearbook questions, please contact Mrs. McGuire at mcguireta@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
Calvert Writes - Spring Showcase - April 26th
Bobcat SGA - Reading Activity for Ages 3-8 - April 15th - Prince Frederick Library
Northern Middle School PTO
NMS PTO Save the Dates:
Tuesday April 11th: PTO General Membership Meeting - 5:30 pm - BYLAW AMENDMENTS 2nd Reading & Vote
Friday April 28th: Spring Glow Dance - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Tuesday May 2nd: PTO General Membership Meeting - OFFICER NOMINATIONS
May 8th - 12th: Teacher Appreciation Week - More details to follow.
Tuesday June 6th: PTO General Membership Meeting - OFFICER ELECTIONS
Friday June 9th: 8th Grade Dance - More details to follow.
Monday June 12th: 8th Grade Picnic - More details to follow.
Please consider joining the NMS PTO! 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.
You can email the PTO officers at any time at nmsbobcatspto@gmail.com.
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/
8th GRADE PARENTS interested in volunteering please join our 2023 NMS 8th Grade Parents FB Page.
NMS PTO - Teacher Appreciation Donation Request
Hello families! For Teacher Appreciation Week we are asking for donations of gift cards. These can either be personally purchased or donated from specific companies (like Chick-fil-A, if you don’t mind asking them!) We would like to give each teacher and staff member the opportunity to randomly pick an envelope with a surprise gift card inside, and we’d love your help to make that happen! If you have any questions, please contact the NMS PTO by replying to this email or through the Facebook page.
Please send any donations to the office in a sealed envelope marked PTO.
Thank you very much and we can’t wait to thank the NMS teachers for all of their hard work this year!
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
CCPS Reopening Plan
CCPS School Lunch Menus
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.