Dear Patuxent Valley Families and Community,
Yesterday our 8th grade students who will be attending Guilford Park High School next school year met with members of the GPHS 9th grade team and learned more about their next steps in their educational journey.
As a former High School educator and ninth grade administrator it made me reflect again on the importance of the work we do in middle school to help our students feel ready for their next steps. I shared with our 8th graders this morning that the most important factor in a successful transition to high school is having a person, or people that you are connected with both as peers and on staff. I’m so glad that our Panther colleagues share the commitment to relationship building that we are centering at Patuxent Valley and I can’t wait to hear the message from Hammond’s staff next Tuesday.
On Monday we took time to recognize the efforts of our December Students of the Month! Each of these young people demonstrated our #BulldogStrong values through their hard work, caring and excellence. Please take time to congratulate them if and when you see them!
6th grade: Bethel A., Deija W., Cing S., Grace M.T., Vung N., Anna B., Adwoa A., Jaden E., Jocelyn C.S., Chris M.
7th grade: Janette D.L., Ashton S., Thang S., Jia L., Aarif B., Rhea M., Trinity T-I., London D., Jamal M., Jason M.S.
8th Grade: Anahis N.G., Joy D., Shae T., Anu O., Ariana A., Nancy H.G.,
Julian L., Abraham A., Djara D., Erin G.
Thank you to Ms. Robbins for organizing our Inclusive Schools week events this week, and a huge thank you to all of our Special and General Education staff for their work on behalf of our students with disabilities. Today I had the privilege of seeing the end of an Orchestra Sectional including a number of our students from our Academic Life Skills program - it was the most beautiful way to end the week. We will continue to strive as a faculty and school to create the inclusive community that all our students deserve.
Last night was our Orchestra Concert and next week we will have the opportunity to attend our Band concert on Monday, and Choir concert on Wednesday. All of our students have been working hard to be ready and I can’t wait to see proud-parent-faces and enjoy the wonderful music they are preparing - come join us at Hammond High School for these events.
Next week is also Computer Science week and our school will participate in the HCPSS Hour of Code Week during Flextime and Computer Science classes. Students will engage in activities related to coding and computer science. Parents, feel free to learn more or do some coding yourself here. Thank you, Ms. Baker for organizing this opportunity for our students.
On Tuesday The Council of Elders of the Black Community of Howard County (TCOE) in partnership with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) hosted the annual Celebration of Academic Achievement to acknowledge and honor students of African and African American heritage across the county. Students in 7th - 9th grade must have earned a final grade of A or B in English, mathematics, science, and social studies in the 2022-2023 school year.
I am proud to report PVMS has over 160 students were honored this school year. While we recognize that each student earned that honor, we also recognize the role our students' families play in supporting their academic efforts. Thank you to the Council of Elders, and our BSAP liaison, Ms. Peguese for their tireless efforts in acknowledging our amazing students!
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:
12/9-12/15 - Hour of Code and Computer Science Week
12/5 - Orchestra Winter Concert, 7pm @HaHS
12/9, 2024 - Band Winter Concert, 7pm @HaHS
12/11, 2024 - Chorus Winter Concert, 7pm @HaHS
12/23 - 1/1 - Winter Break
PTSA: Second Ave Fundraiser
The PVMS PTSA partnered with 2nd Ave to bring you a fundraiser that costs you nothing. 2nd Ave will give money to PVMS based on the weight of your items, so bring us whatever you have! Contact the PTSA if you need any help getting bags or boxes.
We Are Collecting:
Clothes
men's, women's, & children's clothes, coats, shoes, scarves, handbags, wallets, fashion accessories, belts, backpacks, etc.
Household Textiles
bedding, comforters, blankets, sheets, towels, linen, tablecloths, curtains, pillows, etc.
Small Household Goods
kitchen items (such as pots/pans, dishes, silverware, glasses, serving pieces and hand-held appliances), home decorative items, knick-knacks, toys, games, and small electronics
Books
paperback, hard cover - all genres
*no encyclopedias or text books
Please use bags for clothes and textiles and tightly pack boxes of small household goods.
Since we have limited space at the school to store these items, we are asking that you use the signup to list approximately how many bags/boxes you plan to donate. This will also help us prepare the amount of transportation needed to deliver all the donations to 2nd Avenue.
You may drop off your items on three different days: December 12th & 13th at the front office of PVMS from 8:00am - 2:00pm, or Saturday, December 14th 10:30am — 2:30pm at the parking lot of PVMS.
For more info on our FunDrive Fundraiser click HERE!
To signup for approximately how much you will be donating click HERE!
***WE ARE ALSO IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP BE AT THE SCHOOL ON DONATION DAY. PLEASE SIGN UP HERE IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE THIS DAY. THANK YOU!
PTSA - Staff Coffee Cart 12/19
Please consider donating an item or two for our staff coffee cart on December, 19th.
Our staff have been working extra hard this season and we would like to send them off on their holiday break showing them just how much we appreciate them!
Thank you for your support and Happy Holidays from the entire PVMS PTSA!
The annual PVMS dental clinic will be held at PVMS on 1/28/25. Sign up forms will be sent home with students this week. If you wish to have your child seen, please fill out the form and have it returned to the health room before December 17th 2024.
College and Career Readiness Monthly Newsletter
November 2024 Read more
PVMS 8th Period Clubs will begin on October 15th and run through January 16th. All registrations closed on October 9.
NOTE: We will not have transportation during this session. Your child will need to be picked up at 4:15 if they are not walking home.
If you have any questions, please contact LaVerne Porter via email at lporter@hcpss.org or via phone at 410-880-5840.
From HC Drug Free:
Free Online Parenting Classes (Open to HoCo grandparents too) - HC DrugFree offers an evidence-based, interactive prevention program that helps parents, guardians and/or grandparents develop stronger relationships with their kids, while also providing skills proven to reduce the risk of youth engaging in substance use or other risky behaviors. These classes are for families with children 9-14 years old (slightly younger and older may register and will be considered) and held on Zoom on November 12, 15, 19, 22, and December 3 from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. For more information and to register, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/currentevents/
Medication and Sharps Disposal Take Back Day - HC DrugFree will host another convenient drive-thru medication and sharps collection on Saturday, October 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot (near the CA Swim Center). Bring unwanted and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medication, “sharps” (needles, syringes, and EpiPens), vapes without the batteries, inhalers, and more. Medication will be guarded and transported by the Howard County Police and DEA. For more information and to volunteer, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/currentevents/
Teen Advisory Council - The Teen Advisory Council (TAC) receives Community Service Hours for providing the youth perspective to HC DrugFree's staff and Board of Directors. Youth input increases the effectiveness of HC DrugFree's educational programs, newsletters, website and other services. TAC is open to Howard County students in grades 8 through 12 (public, private and homeschool) who meet monthly during the school year to discuss teen use of alcohol and other drugs and to develop educational messages that promote a vision of a county where youth are drug-free by choice. For more information and to register, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/currentevents/
Annual MLK Contest from Howard County Government MLK Commission:
We are approaching the time to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in our community. I am reaching out to invite you to share information about the upcoming Annual MLK Contests.
This year, we have several exciting opportunities for students to engage with Dr. King’s vision of equality, justice, and community service. Additionally, all the awards come with cash prizes.
The contests include:
Oratory Contest: Open to Middle and High School students, this contest challenges participants to express their understanding of Dr. King's message through the art of speech.
Essay Contest: Also, for Middle and High School students, this competition invites students to articulate their thoughts and reflections on Dr. King's impact and teachings in essay form.
Poster Contest: Open to Elementary, Middle, and High School students, participants can visually express their interpretation of Dr. King's dream through creative poster designs.
Additionally, they are hosting a Living the Dream Award Contest for individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to making Howard County a better place, embodying the principles that Dr. King championed. We believe that these contests not only honor Dr. King's legacy but also inspire our students to think critically about their roles in serving the community. We encourage you to share
these opportunities widely with your students and families and to support their participation.
For more information, including deadlines and submission guidelines, please visit https://bit.ly/2025MLKContests
PVMS Attendance Procedures 24-25
If your student is absent or will be absent, please contact us at the following email address to explain the reason:pvmsabsence@hcpss.org. In the email please Include the following information:
Student First and Last Name
Grade
Reason for absence (e.g., illness, bereavement, observance of a religious holiday, lack of transportation)
Late Arrivals Procedures
If your child is late to school, please either send in a note/email to pvmsabsence@hcpss.org explaining the reason for the lateness if you are unable to sign your child into school.
Early Dismissals
Please email on the day of your student's early dismissal, pvmsabsence@hcpss.org, and indicate the time they will be picked up and by whom. Please bring your ID to show the main office.
With the collaborative effort of HCPSS parents, staff and students, we are confident that all students can have successful attendance. This will improve student success in school and in future life!
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL MESSAGE FOR PVMS/BBES CAMPUS
We are excited to return to the school buildings and have been working hard to prepare for a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal from Bollman Bridge and Patuxent Valley. The administrations at both Bollman Bridge and Patuxent Valley Middle Schools have been collaborating this summer on a joint traffic pattern and arrival and dismissal plan. Read more
LIGHTSPEED PARENT NOTIFICATIONS
Parents/guardians can monitor their child’s HCPSS Chromebook internet usage by signing up for Lightspeed Parent Notifications to receive a weekly email summary of their child’s usage.
Once parents have signed up for Lightspeed Parent Notifications, the email summary delivered each Sunday will contain a link with access to the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides near real-time information on their child’s internet activity.
The Lightspeed Parent Portal offers additional details about internet usage and the ability to control a child’s online activities when they are not on the HCPSS network at school by allowing parents to pause the internet for 1 hour, 3 hours or until 6 a.m. the next morning. Frequently asked questions about Lightspeed and the Parent Portal can be found online.
HCPSS teachers will access Lightspeed in the classroom to monitor student Chromebook usage. Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher if they notice their child is regularly on non-academic websites during the day.
Find instructions on signing up for Lightspeed Parent Notifications online.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to review HCPSS Student Mobile Technology Duties and Obligations, which outlines the responsible use of technology in accordance with HCPSS Board Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media.
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.