Dear Patuxent Valley Families and Community,
Can you believe that it is Quarter 2 already? We had a great week this week closing out the quarter, relaxing on Pyjama day and my highlight was connecting with students at two town halls for students who were redistricted to Patuxent Valley. It was good to hear student’s experiences, who they are connecting with and the suggestions they have for how we can create a greater sense of community and belonging for them. If you are parents of newly arrived families, please know that we are so glad you are here at Patuxent Valley.
Last weekend I had the privilege of seeing two of the three shows that our amazing Theater program performed. The Wizard of Oz Goes Wrong will be a forever memory for me and I cannot express enough how impressed I was with the performance of our actors, the set, costumes, lighting and sound. I heard so much laughter and saw so much student leadership and endeavor. Congratulations to everyone and especially to Ms. Clark and her team for putting together this amazing show.
The month of November is jam packed with important events:
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:
11/6: Conference Sign ups Open
11/8: Report Cards Issued
11/8: PTA Chipotle Resaurant Night (Market Pl, Fulton)
11/13-17: American Education Week
11/20: Schools Close 3 Hours Early/Parent Teacher Conferences
11/21: Schools Close 3 Hours Early/Parent Teacher Conferences
11/22: Schools Closed for Students/Parent Teacher Conferences
11/23 & 24: Schools and Office Closed
QUARTER 1 REPORT CARDS
Quarter 1 report cards will be available in HCPSS Connect Synergy at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Instructions on how to access report cards are available online.
Parent Teacher Conference Information:
Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up! On Monday, November 6th, the conference scheduling window will open for all parents wishing to meet with their students' teachers.
Monday, 11/20 - all conferences will be held IN PERSON
Tuesday, 11/21 & Wednesday, 11/22 - all conferences will be held VIRTUALLY via Google Meet
Parents will need to register for conferences using their account through HCPSS Connect. Instructions on how to register for conferences can be found here: Parent/Teacher Conference Registration
FALL & WINTER CLOTHING GIVE AWAY - TOMORROW 11/4!
What: Free Coats & Clothing for All Ages (Infant to Adult)
When: Saturday, November 4, 2023 (9:00am - 11:00am)
Where: Long Reach High School. 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia, MD 21045
PVMS Well-Being Survey
The Howard County Public School System is committed to student achievement and well-being. During SEL Student Enrichment Time (SET) on November 6th, we will be asking all students in Grades 7 and 8 to take a brief survey to tell us about their social-emotional skills and access to supportive relationships. The survey should not take more than 10-15 minutes to complete. Make-up sessions will be provided as needed.Read more
MAP Test Results
MAP scores have been entered into Synergy. Parents can access their students’ scores through the parent portal. Please click on the link for directions. Student PDF reports will be available to view at the same time as reports cards. Please contact LaVerne Porter with any questions. (LaVerne_Porter@hcpss.org)
The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities. Any interested student must be nominated by the principal at his or her school to be able to compete for a Carson Scholarship. Only one student from each school can be nominated. Carson Scholars must have a GPA of 3.75 or higher and display humanitarian qualities through community service. Scholarships are awarded solely on the basis of academic achievement and humanitarian qualities. Please review this information if you are interested in participating in this year’s process.
Fan Behavior and Safety at HCPSS Athletics Events
High school athletic events serve as a wonderful opportunity for students, friends, families, staff and community members to come together in support of their favorite teams. To ensure these games are able to be safely enjoyed by all in attendance, it is imperative that everyone adheres to the rules, expectations and laws in place to ensure safety.
All children who are in 8th grade or younger must be accompanied by an adult or will be turned away from entry.
Athletic contests are considered extensions of the school day, and behaviors that violate the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct or Board of Education policies are subject to the same disciplinary measures as those that occur during the school day. Any students found to engage in inappropriate, illegal or dangerous behavior, including verbal and physical abuse at games, are subject to discipline up to the forfeiture of the game itself. Non-student spectators who violate event rules may be asked to leave the premises and may be banned for the remainder of the season. Additionally, the Howard County Police Department maintains a presence at games and will be sure all applicable laws are adhered to.
Please note that substances such as tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol are illegal to have on school grounds. Furthermore, no spectators are permitted to be under the influence of these substances upon entering school grounds.
HCPSS schools are welcoming environments for our friends around the county and state. All spectators are expected to display good sportsmanship to the athletes, coaches officials, members of the marching band, cheerleaders and poms, dance teams, opposing fans, and anyone in attendance. Please show respect for all those around you.
Transportation Updates: The morning bus drop off time has been changed to 7:35am beginning on October 2. Pick up times have been adjusted in bus locator. See HCPSS Transportation Page for more bus locator information: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/transportation/
HC Drug Free Updates
Free parenting class and Medication and Sharps Disposal Take Back Day Read more
PVMS Attendance Procedures 23-24
Please review for comprehensive attendance procedures.Read more
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.
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.
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 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.