Dear Patuxent Valley Families and Community,
I hope that each of you have been getting what you need during this hot July with many opportunities to recover from the weather!
Our admin team has been working hard reflecting on the school year and working with our teams to prepare for next year. Last week and this week we’ve had a number of important conversations with community members at our Community Circle and our young people at the Student Council Retreat hearing about what they need for the upcoming school year, and I can honestly say that we have an amazing community and I know that school will only show up for our students and community if we know what our community is experiencing.
Next week is our second Community Circle. We are hosting three smaller gatherings for up to 15 people each to connect with each other and to share about what we value in our community, what we need, and what we can offer each other.
These meetings will be held in a Peace Circle, which is an indigenous practice that brings together individuals who wish to engage in healing, support, decision-making or other activities in which honest communication, relationship development, and community building are core desired outcomes. Derived from indigenous and native traditions, circles intentionally create a sacred space that lifts barriers between people; opening fresh possibilities for connection, collaboration, and mutual understanding.
Please use this form to sign up by the Friday before. We'll email you a confirmation. Dinner will be provided as a part of the circle (Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza and Salad).
July 24 - 6pm to 8pm
July 31 - 6pm to 8pm
Summer is an important time to recharge and reconnect, and to follow your passions. We’d love to hear what you are doing, and we look forward to seeing students, and families at summer school or our meet and greet sessions. There is nothing too big or too small for us to work on together, so don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us.
Our summer office hours are 9am to 2pm and we’ll be open every weekday except for July 4. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything. We are here to help.
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:
7/24 - Community Circle, 6pm to 8pm @PVMS
7/31 - Community Circle, 6pm to 8pm @PVMS
8/22 - New Student Orientation
9/2 Labor Day, Schools and offices closed
9/5 - Back to School Night
Resourceful Summer Links
UPDATED PATUXENT VALLEY SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
Click here for the 24-25 PVMS School Supply Menu, now updated to include a School Planner to help all of our students with organization.
COMMUNICATION
Emails/Text Messaging: All parents/guardians are in our system to receive HCPSS and school emails/text messages. Our systems will update in early August, at which point parents will automatically receive communication from your child’s 2024-2025 school. Prior to that rollover, you will continue to receive communication from your child’s 2023-2024 school. Parents/guardians with a child new to HCPSS in the fall will automatically begin to receive communication from that school in August.
Please do not unsubscribe to summer emails/texts!
Unsubscribing from any HCPSS or school messages will block you from receiving all future messages from the district and your child’s school, including notifications of emergency closings.
2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
The 2024-2025 school year is scheduled to begin for most students Monday, Aug. 26. Pre-K/RECC students will begin Thursday, Aug. 29. The calendar is updated and posted online for viewing, subscribing to, or downloading.
Information on preparing for the 2024-2025 school year can be found online. That page will be continually updated as new information becomes available.
PVMS Updates (recurring from previous newsletters)
Changes in Social Media and Gaming Access
Beginning July 1, HCPSS will block access to social media at all schools and most game websites at middle and high schools only on the HCPSS instructional (student) network and on student Chromebooks. Español | 中文 | 한국어
Message from the Health Room:
Immunizations for Upcoming 7th Graders
Current 6th grade parents- Please email your students updated immunizations records to the Health Room if you have been contacted by the health room about your student missing required 7th grade immunizations.
Howard County School-Based Wellness Centers are offering free health visits this summer for children without health insurance.
Families with medical coverage should visit their primary healthcare provider. You must make an appointment; no walk-ins.
Email HowardSBWC@howardcountymd.gov or Call 410-313-6362 to schedule a summer appointment if needed.
2024 Free Summer Meals Program
To continue meeting the growing need to feed hungry children and families in Howard County and fill the nutritional gap over the summer months, HCPSS once again will provide free summer meals Monday-Friday, June 24-Aug. 2, at locations throughout the county. Meals will be served only on days schools are open and there will be no meal service on Thursday, July 4. Complete details on the HCPSS 2024 Summer Meals Program are available online.
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.