Dear Patuxent Valley Families and Community,
This week was an 8th Grade focused week. The promotion ceremony on Wednesday was amazing and I loved seeing the way that students acknowledged each other and the support of our community for our young people.
Today we took our 8th graders to the Maryland Zoo for the 8th grade field trip. It was a wonderful day and while some students were more focused on the food court than the animals, I know that all had a great time with each other and a good way to celebrate the relationships that make Middle School so special.
Last Night was the last PTSA meeting for the 2024-2025 school year and I want to take a moment to Thank Hala Sahli and Holli Devaser for their service as PTSA President and PTSA Treasurer for the past two years. Their dedication and leadership has made a true difference to our school culture and sense of community. Thank you both!
Next week we have three half days for the end of the school year and we have listed below information about important end of year tasks. Please read through carefully and review with your student.
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:
6/16-6/18 - 3 hour Early Dismissal
6/18 - Last Day of School for all HCPSS Students
PVMS Updates (Priority and New this week)
Draw String Bags, June 16 through 18
Student will only be able to use draw string backs on June 16, 17 and 18 which are the half days at the end of the school year. No backpacks or other bags will be permitted. Students should also leave chromebooks, blankets or any toys at home. Any items that cannot fit into the drawstring back will be kept in the office for students to collect at the end of the day.
Medication Pick Up
If your student has medication in the health room, those medications will need to be picked up by noon on June 18th. If your child will need to take medication during the coming school year, medication order forms can be found on the HCPSS website at https://www.hcpss.org/health/medications/
*If your child will be in band, orchestra, or chorus next year, consider requesting the doctor to include a "self-carry/self-administer" order for your child's emergency medications (epipens, inhalers) for extended day and weekend field trips.
Orders for each new school year must be dated on or after July 1. All medications must be in containers properly labeled with the following information:
- Student name
- Medication name
- Dosage to be given
- Time and frequency of medication
- Date of medication order
- Prescriber's name
- Expiration date of medication
Over-the-counter medications such as cold, allergy, and headache medications should be brought to the health room in new, unopened containers.
*Medications should be delivered to school by a parent/guardian to assure safe arrival. Students should not transport medications.
**Medication remaining at the end of the school year should be picked up by the parent/guardian by noon on June 18th. Any medication not picked up will be destroyed.
Please contact our nurse if you need to make different arrangements for medication pick up.
Chromebooks:
All Chromebook loaners must be returned to the Media Center by Wednesday, June 11. After this date, daily loaner Chromebooks will no longer be available, so please make sure to bring your own device if you still need one for schoolwork. If you currently have a loaner, return it as soon as possible to avoid any issues. Thank you for being responsible and helping us get everything wrapped up for the end of the year!
Here are some frequently asked questions we get about Chromebooks:
Will I have to pay for a repair?
It depends. You can read more detailed information here at the HCPSS student device pages. but the short version is: if it is the first time you've needed a repair and it was an accident, then no. If it's not, then probably yes.
Who decided what and how much I have to pay for a repair?
There is a process that occurs once we write a repair ticket. A county technician comes to school to assess the issue and determine why the device is not working, or determine how extensive the damage is. Then the repair ticket moves on and students may either be eligible for a new device or may need to pay for the repair according to this published scale. Media specialists and media paras do not determine who is responsible or how much a repair may cost.
If I have to pay for a repair or a lost Chromebook does that go away next year?
No. Student obligations will "follow" a student even if they are promoting to high school. We encourage everyone to take care of their Chromebooks and any obligations as soon as they can have efficient access to technology which facilitates the learning process.
How will I know if I need to pay for a repair or lost Chromebook?
You should communicate with your family that something happened with your Chromebook and that a message from MySchoolBucks or HCPSS Finance may be sent via email with instructions on how to take care of any obligation.
For other questions, you can find more information at the HCPSS website.
From the Theater Program!
Congratulations to Theater Casts and Crews
The PVMS Theater Department has produced two successful shows this year. Saving Camelot took the stage in October with thirty-three actors and fifteen crew members. (Many actors also worked on crews backstage.) In March, Disney Descendants, a musical, took the stage. Forty-five students sang, danced, and acted in this show. Five students choreographed all the dances. Fifteen other students served in crew Positions. Congratulations on putting on such entertaining and successful Shows!
Announcing the Induction of New ITS members
On May 30, 2025, sixteen new members were inducted into the International Thespian Society. The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an international theater honors society. To be accepted, students must earn 5 points by being a part of two shows, and must earn points in two areas: performance, crew positions, or a yearlong theater class. Congratulations to: Aubrey C, Ava N, Braelyn P, Briseida B, Callie G, Everley S, Jaxon P, Kasen M, Kimberlyn M, Kinley C, Lillian M, Malachi S, Martina E, Olivia R, Tola L, and Vera L. The new inductees join fifteen current members.
Celebration of Theatre
In addition to inducting new members, PVMS celebrated the
year of theater with performances from the two shows and plays performed by the Theatre A and Theatre B classes on May 30. It was a wonderful way to end our theatrical year.
Looking to the Future
Plans are underway for theater productions for next year. A fall show based on an unsolved mystery is in development. In the spring, a Shakespeare comedy involving mistaken identities is being planned. Please look for an announcement in August about auditions for the fall
play. A December audition is being planned for the spring show. Auditions for after school productions are open to all dedicated students. Responsible students are also encouraged to consider signing up for a crew position. Fall show commitments last for up to mnine to ten weeks, and spring show commitments are for three to four months for actors. Crew members must be willing to commit to up to four weeks. The reward for this commitment includes friendship, fun, theater skills and experience. If you like theater, consider joining us.
Family and Friends of PVMS Theatre
Congratulations to 8th graders
Congratulations to our many 8th graders who have been performing on the PVMS stage over the last three years on their promotion to 9th grade! We applaud your accomplishments and wish you the best in your future endeavors. We will miss you!
HC DRUGFREE UPDATES
Teen Advisory Council - Open to Howard County students in grades 8-12. Earn Community Service Hours and make meaningful contributions to the community. Next meeting: Monday June 9, 2025, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Must register to receive the meeting link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TAC_6-9-25 More information: https://hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council/
Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City - Senior Week should be a celebratory, memorable time with friends—not a risk! With the right planning, it can be a safe and fun experience for everyone. Check out HC DrugFree's recorded webinar, "Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City", for graduating high school seniors and their parents. The tips shared by Howard County teens, the Ocean City Police, and the Ocean City Beach Patrol are appropriate for all families or anyone visiting Ocean City, MD this summer or throughout the year. View webinar: https://hcdrugfree.org/senior-week/
Thank you for your continued support!
PVMS Updates (recurring from previous newsletters)
SAVE THE DATE - GPHS Rising 9th Grader Sports Information Night - Tuesday 6/10 @ 6pm - GPHS Auditorium
GPHS is hosting Rising 9th graders and their parents on Tuesday 6/10 @ 6pm in the GPHS Auditorium. We encourage ANYONE interested in playing sports at GPHS to attend to learn about dates, required forms, summer workouts, and meet the coaches!
- Entrance will be on the side of the school with the panther graphic on the doors
- There will be a 15 minute presentation by the Athletic Director
- Handouts with all important information will be provided
- Student-Athletes and parents will be given time to meet and ask questions of the coaches
Guilford Park HS Boosters - 2025 Summer Camps - Baseball/Volleyball/G. Lax/Basketball/Soccer/Wrestling/Football/Cheer/Field Hockey - Open For Registraton
- - Most camps are $145! Go to https://gphsboosters.com/summer-camp to register!
- - Camps are open to rising 4th-9th graders
- - Campers will be grouped by age and skill level
- - Campers DO NOT have to be future GPHS athletes to attend
- - All camps will be led by GPHS coaches - skill development, drills, assessments, games, and competitions will be conducted
- - All campers will receive a GPHS t-shirt upon the conclusion of camp
New Options for Reporting Hate Biases Now Available: HCPSS is committed to providing safe and inclusive learning environments for all students. When harmful incidents occur in schools, it is important that those incidents are appropriately investigated and responded to. On February 11, the HCPSS Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation formLinks to an external site. was updated online and new paper copies of the form have been distributed to your school. This new form now allows students, staff and families to report hate bias incidents as a type of harassment.
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.