Dear Patuxent Valley Families and Community,
We had a great week at Patuxent Valley this week and it could not have been more typified than in seeing the energy of our students beginning preparations for the Fall Play; make sure you have it on your calendar for October 27 and 28 in the evening and October 29 for the matinee!
Tonight we have our monthly PTA meeting and I'm looking forward to seeing lots of people at 7pm - let's fill the library!
Changes to School Start/End Time: To build additional time into the student transportation schedule and prioritize getting every student to school on time, school start and end times will shift effective Wednesday, Sept. 20. Please review HCPSS News at this link regarding new school start and end times. Patuxent Valley times are highlighted below:
7:40 am - Doors Open
7:50 am - Beginning of School
2:35 pm - Dismissal
Tomorrow marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. We are excited to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of our community members whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Look out for more information next week about a family event, celebrations in school and a town hall for Latino/a/x students in our building!
Mañana marca el inicio del Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana. Estamos emocionados de celebrar la historia, la cultura y las contribuciones de los miembros de nuestra comunidad cuyos antepasados vinieron de España, México, el Caribe y América Central y del Sur. ¡Esté atento a más información la próxima semana sobre un evento familiar, celebraciones en la escuela y un ayuntamiento para estudiantes latinos/a/x en nuestro edificio!
Check out the information below for items we’ve been sending out this week, and a number of new items. Let us know if you have any questions or if there is something you’d like to see in the newsletter. All of this information is also posted on our website at http://pvms.hcpss.org/.
There is nothing too big or too small for us to work on together, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Regards,
Richard Smart, Principal (richard_smart@hcpss.org)
UPCOMING DATES:
09/14/2023 - PTA Meeting at PVMS in the Library, @7pm
09/15/2023 Schools and offices closed for holiday
09/25/2023 Schools and offices closed for holiday
10/9/2023: Professional Learning Day - No School
10/20/2023: Professional Learning Day - No School
10/27, 10/28, 10/29: PVMS Fall Play - The Wizard of Oz Gone Wrong
10/31: End Quarter 1
PVMS Spirit Wear
The PTA's first Spirit Wear sale is open until Friday, September 29. You will want your student to be ready to show their School Spirit. There are t-shirts, sweatshirts, performance shirts, flannel pants and sweat pants - something for everyone! Orders must be placed online at: http://bit.ly/pvmsspirit
PVMS Attendance Procedures 23-24
Please review for comprehensive attendance procedures.Read more
Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Saturday Math Academy Fall 2023 Program
Registration for HCPSS’ BSAP Saturday Math Academy will offer an in-person enrichment program for HCPSS students in all levels of math for grades 3 through 12 based on course availability. Registration will take place online Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until capacity is reached. Class space is limited.
FAMILY FILE UPDATES
HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to complete emergency information. All parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child each school year. Parents/guardians can access their student's Family File by logging into HCPSS Connect, selecting the “More Options” tab on the left and then selecting “Family File” in the center column.
Please be sure to read each section carefully and answer all of the questions. You can contact us here at school if you have any questions or concerns.
ARRIVAL DISMISSAL AND TRANSPORTATION
Talk with your young person today about how they are getting to school on the first day. Consider a trial run and check out the resources below. Contact us with any questions - we are here to help.
PVMS & BBES Joint Message about Arrival and Dismissal with a map
HCPSS Important Transportation Reminders and Updates
SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR VISITORS
Please be aware of the following procedures for any visitor to a school/office:
The front door is the only entrance point for all visitors.
Please ring the bell and look into the camera.
Be prepared to state your name and purpose for visiting.
All visitors must walk directly into the front office with a valid photo I.D. and sign in using our LobbyGuard system.
A visitor’s sticker will be given to visitors following the above procedures and must be worn and prominently visible.
Any visitor in the school without a visitor sticker will be escorted directly to the front office by a staff member.
NEW SCHOOL MEALS AND PAYMENT INFO
HCPSS no longer will use Nutrislice for school menus or MySchoolBucks for meal payments. LINQ Connect is a secure, online portal that allows families to view breakfast and lunch menus, make online meal payments, monitor their child’s account, schedule automatic recurring payments, set up low balance alerts, submit a Free and Reduced Meals program application, and more. Details and information. are available online.
WELLNESS CENTER AT PVMS
The Patuxent Valley Middle School-Based Wellness Center is a partnership between Howard County Health Department and Howard County Public School System. School Wellness Centers do not replace students' regular health care providers in the community. By providing some health care at school we can help parents stay at work and help students stay at school or more quickly return to school. There is no co-pay or fee for visits at the Wellness Center. Read more
COMMUNITY RESOURCE NEWSLETTER
Click here to see a comprehensive list of resources and support available to our community. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need help navigating any of these opportunities.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please visit the Community News and Programs page on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.