Hurricane Happenings
September 27, 2020
Harper Park Middle School
Be sure to follow HPMS on Facebook, Twitter, and our school website for important updates!
MAP Testing Information
Reading MAP Assessment
Any make-up Reading MAP tests will be administered during the student Asynchronous day, Monday, September 28th.
Math MAP Assessment
September 29 – October 2
Assessments will be completed during your student’s Math block.
We HIGHLY encourage you to read all the attachments listed below, but most importantly:
The MAP Reading and Math growth test are designed to find your student’s instructional readiness level. This level is reached when a student answers approximately 50% of the answers incorrectly and 50% correctly. Since MAP growth tests can extend above the student’s current grade level, some students may test for more than 50 minutes per test while other students may finish their test a bit earlier. Additionally, your student will likely indicate that many of the questions were “hard” and/or may feel frustrated at the level of difficulty required to select an answer. Some students may wish to quit rather than continue and/or may ask for help answering the questions. It’s important that you encourage your student to do their best and finish the test. Please do not help them as this will result in a much higher score, leading the teacher to assign work that may be above your student’s readiness level. There is no benefit to a high score on these tests.
Please also complete these steps during your student's Asynchonous day on Monday, September 21st to ensure that their device/technology is working properly:
1. Make sure your device has an internet connection
2. Disable pop-up blocking on your internet browser
3. Make sure your device meets testing requirements using the Workstation Diagnostic Tool
4. Watch the MAP Growth introduction video
5. Practice the test at practice.mapnwea.org
(Username: grow, Password: grow)
HPMS PTA Membership 2020-2021
Harper Park PTA would love you to join us! We invite you to join the PTA for your child because increasing our membership, even by one, makes it possible to provide important educational resources, speak up on important issues, and create a stronger school community. There is no wrong or right way to be involved—anything you can give, whether it’s time or money, will support your child’s potential. Especially starting the school year off virtually this year, if you are looking for a way to be involved to support our administration, staff, parents, and students, please join. We will be focusing a lot of effort in supporting them at a distance.
To become a PTA member, please register in MemberHub, then go to MemberHub store to purchase your PTA Membership. Simply follow the instructions below to get started.
To register for MemberHub click here
To purchase your PTA Membership click here
To follow us on our PTA Facebook for up to date information click here
If you have any questions please contact Charlie Greenough at harperparkpta99@gmail.com or Shirley McLellan at skmclellan@verizon.net
Thank you for your support!
PTA SPIRIT WEAR
An Easy Way to Donate to the Harper Park PTA
An Amazon Smile Account has been set up for Harper Park Middle School. Please click this link and it will take you directly to our Amazon Smile page. https://smile.amazon. com/ch/54-1948805. You will see "Supporting Harper Park Middle PTA" directly under the search bar at the top of the page.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases directly into our Harper Park PTA account on a quarterly basis. Please feel free to share & shop by forwarding the link above or copying and pasting anywhere you need to!!
Attendance Reporting Procedures during 100% Distance Learning
1. Parents can log into ParentVUE and report their students attendance (this is the most secure way).
2. Parents can fill out the following Attendance Google Form by clicking HERE.
3. Parents can call the attendance line at (571)252-2822
As an aside, parents and students are reminded that attendance is taken during each period of the day that a student is scheduled to attend (even for resource). The advisory block that starts at 8:35 a.m. is extremely critical for students to attend as this is the way that we pull our official attendance for the day and distribute important school-wide information to students.
Please, if at all possible, schedule appointments and dismissals outside of the normal school schedule (listed below).
Options for Students to Check-Out Library Books!
The Harper Park library is happy to announce two ways to get books into students hands. The first way is curbside pickup at Harper Park Middle School on Monday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 and Thursday afternoon from 3:30-4:30. Students should look for books in the library catalog using the following link to Destiny Discover. After locating books, they can request the books using this link to the book request form. After a request is placed the student will be notified that their book is ready by student email. The second way to get a library is by the book bus. There are 13 stops for the Harper Park cluster and they can be found on the book request form. Book delivery takes place on Monday mornings. The library also has access to a number of eBooks through MackinVIA. Students can access MackinVIA by logging into LCPS GO, going into Library Resources, and selecting MackinVIA.
BackPack Buddies - Virtual Fun Run
The Harper Park Community is cordially invited to the upcoming Virtual Fun Run being hosted by the Backpack Buddies Foundation of Loudoun. We are still accepting runners and walkers to help raise money to go right back to the schools and their Backpack Buddies programs for the 2020-2021 school year. Already this year the Foundation has given out just under 125,000 in grants to the programs and businesses that help support our school's programs.
National Hispanic American Heritage Month
Student Portraits Delayed Until Late Winter/Early Spring
Meal Service for All Students
- Walk Up Meal Service - 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Daily Bus Delivery of Breakfast and Lunch Meals throughout Loudoun County-2 Runs: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm and 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
- For delivery: Please visit the interactive map to identify the nearest bus stop and associated time for mobile service.
- Daily Breakfast and Lunch Meal Service under the Summer Food Service Program at 93 sites
- Children and teens aged 18 and younger eat FREE of charge
- Breakfast & Lunch Meals Distributed Simultaneously at both walk up sites and bus stops
- Parent Meal Pick Up Available
- Meal Service available for childcare participants and students in attendance
Schoology Information and Student Schedules
We just finished up the first week of school and for many of us, navigating the Schoology platform is something we are still getting used to. Please see the attached "tips" for navigating Schoology.
Academies of Loudoun Admission Information
The AOL admissions team will be hosting several webinars explaining the admissions process and answering parent questions. The first one is this Monday, Sept 14th at 6:30 PM. There will be several between now and October 14th. Applications are currently open. They will close on October 23rd at 12:00PM (noon).
The link to the page that has the dates and registration form: https://www.lcps.org/domain/22344#calendar287033/20200911/month
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Admission Information
8th Grade Application is still not open. Next update is anticipated on October 8th.
In effort to increase diversity in their school, TJHSST is working to modify their admissions policy.
Read more about their proposed changes in this news release:
Visit this link for the latest admissions information: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/thomas-jefferson-admissions
Common Sense Media Opportunities
Over the course of the next few weeks your student will receive several presentations through their resource class from Common Sense Media, a program that provides education and advocacy to families to promote safe technology and media for children. Here are some resources to foster further discussion with your student.
Common Sense Media - Check out common sense media for movie and game reviews before you view or play so you know what to expect. Click on the Movies & TV or Apps & Games tabs to see reviews.
Wide Open School - Free learning activities from Common Sense Media on a variety of interesting subjects. Explore by selecting a subject and topic.
Digital Citizenship Resources for Family Engagement - Scroll down to Family Activities - Grades 6-8 Family Activities and select one of the topics for family activities and discussion.
Cellphone Parenting - Lay the groundwork for responsible cellphone use and manage the challenges and opportunities they bring. Check out the articles and videos by scrolling down to those sections.
If you have questions regarding Common Sense Media, please contact Mr. Howell by email at: james.howell@lcps.org
Internet HotSpots Available - Quantities Limited
Harper Park Middle School is seeking information on which families are in need of an LCPS-issued internet hotspot to assist during the extended closure due to COVID. If you would like to request a mobile internet hotspot, please contact Harper Park Social Worker, Ashley Olson (Ashley.Olson@lcps.org) or Harper Park Parent Liaison, Neldy Negron (neldy.negron@lcps.org). You must be an LCPS student to be eligible to request a device. Quantities are limited. Therefore we plan to evaluate the need with multiple data points to ensure that devices are not distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, but rather to the students with the greatest needs first. Submitting a request does not guarantee that a hotspot will be provided.
The school staff will review and approve all requests. If approved, staff will contact you to inform you how to coordinate the pickup of the device at one of the Hardware Repair Centers starting 9/1/20.
If you do not have cellular coverage in your area, please contact us to discuss alternative options to assist your student(s). "
Chromebook Distribution and Technical Support
Getting Assistance for your computer
Students and parents/guardians are encouraged to reach out to their respective teachers when questions arise with how to use the chromebook or access instructional resources.
The Department of Digital Innovation (DDI) will continue to provide technical support. Staff members and students can receive technical support through one of the following methods:
- Fill out this form for an appointment by clicking on this link: Repair Appointment
- Email your question to supportcenter@lcps.org (from your LCPS provided email)
- Call the Technology Support Center at (571) 252-2112