Dear Patuxent Valley Families and Community,
I love our community and the way so many families support the school, and increase our connections with our community.
Today the PVMS PTSA came to school and made a Coffee Cart with hot drinks and pastries for staff in the building. Thank you Ms. Macoomber and your team for building community and connection in our building. This is #BulldogStrong.
One of the ways we build belonging is by allowing individuals and groups to see their unique identities reflected in all facets of education here at PVMS. This is our work throughout the year, not only in specific months for specific groups, and I’m also proud of the work we are doing for Hispanic Heritage month - this is #BulldogStrong.
Between September 15 and October 15 we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Last night we hosted our annual Hispanic Heritage Month family event. This year it was titled: Unidos por Nuestra Cultura. We hosted 48 families and over 104 people, shared great food from Tacqueria los Perez and provided both activities for the children who were there and information to bridge connections with school with our families.
This event is now a partnership between PVMS, BBES and FRES and could not have happened without the hard work of our own Danializ Arbelo, Tatiana Pham from BBES and Paola Loarca Estrada from FRES. I know that our families feel more connected because of their care and excellence.art@hcpss.org)
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:
9/27 - HCPSS Family Kick Off at OMHS
9/30 - MCAP Reports Disribution
10/2 - School Closed
10/17 - School Closed
10/20 - School Closed
10/31 - 3 Hour Early Dismissal
PVMS Updates (Priority and New this week)
HC-Drug Free Updates:
Parenting Classes: Free! On Zoom and open to parents, guardians and grandparents residing in HoCo or with school-age children/grandchildren residing in HoCo. Evidence-based, interactive prevention program that provides families with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs and alcohol or engage in other dangerous behaviors. The curriculum was written for families with children 9-14 years old, but it is appropriate for K-12 families. Class dates: November 11, 13, 18, 20 and December 2 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit HC DrugFree’s website for more information and register at https://tinyurl.com/GGC-Fall2025
Drive-Thru Medication Disposal: Saturday, October 25 in the Wilde Lake Village Center Parking Lot near the Swim Center from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medication, vitamins, pet meds, vape devices, inhalers, and more. Unlike previous events, we will not collect sharps (needles, syringes and EpiPens). Need student, adult, and medically-trained adult volunteers. Earn Community Service Hours! Giving away 100 medication lockboxes. For more information and to volunteer visit HC DrugFree's website: https://hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day-1/
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 September 29, 2025 from 5:30-7:00pm on Zoom. Earn Community Service Hours. Register to receive the meeting link: https://forms.gle/SgMrjdeo11JpNuuV8 For more information, visit HC DrugFree's website: https://hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council/
Free Newsletter: Stay up to date with HC DrugFree's free events offering Community Service Hours to HoCo students, resources, and a variety of substance use and behavioral health information! Sign up for HC DrugFree's free digital newsletter: https://hcdrugfree.org/enews-signup/
PTSA Updates
PTSA Fundraiser for Grade 8 Activities
Coming soon! Double Good popcorn to double the fun for our 8th graders this year! Mark your calendars for 10/06 for the start of our Double Good popcorn fundraiser, it will run for just a short time so save the date and help us make this last year of middle school amazing for our 8th graders!
Join the PTSA!
Support our school by becoming a PTSA member for the 2025-2026 school year. Visit us at https://pvalleymspta.givebacks.com/shop to join!
Mark Your Calendars for Our Upcoming Restaurant Nights!
Oct. 9, 11 am - 11pm, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse
Nov. 4, 6 am - 10 pm, Chick Fil A (John’s Hopkins Rd.) join!
Patuxent Valley MS Girls Basketball Tryouts
Non-School Sponsored (HCYP)
Grades 6th- 8th
Dates: 9/16 & 9/30 Time: 6:30-8pm
Location: Lime Kiln Middle School
11650 Scaggsville Rd, Fulton, MD 20759
PVMS Updates (recurring from previous newsletters)
Roving Radish, a partnership between HCPSS and Howard County Government, is coming to our school community to promote healthy eating with a mobile produce market!
Where: School Bus Loop (*parking or driving in the Bus Loop during dismissal times is still prohibited - please walk over or park in the PVMS lot after 2:45pm)
When: Tuesdays, 2:45-4:30pm
Anyone can participate -- students, families, staff, and community members!
Regular Members: Sign up for 50% off weekly special items.
Exclusive Members: Qualify through a subsidy to receive free weekly specials + 50% off all other items.
Applications will be available at the mobile market. An online application link will be coming at a later date.
Locker information for families
Students can pick up a locker request form beginning on Monday, September 23 in the front office before or after school, or between periods. Completed forms should be dropped off to the bin in the front office at the same times. We will assign lockers and share assignments with students through their first period teacher within a few days.
Registration for BSAP Saturday Math Academy:
The BSAP Saturday Math Academy fall session is approaching! The program offers an in-person enrichment for Howard County Public School System students in all levels of math for grades 3-12, based on course availability. Registration will take place online Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 9:00 am until capacity is reached. Class space is limited. Families can register by accessing the HCPSS Connect Website on the registration date. Please contact BSAP Supervisor, Nicole Brown if you have any questions. For more information, please visit: https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2025/09/black-student-achievement-program-bsap-saturday-math-academy-fall-2025-program/
Flyers for distribution:
BSAP SMA Fall 2025 Flyer (English) / BSAP SMA Fall 2025 Flyer (Spanish)
BSAP SMA Fall 2025 Flyer (Chinese) / BSAP SMA Fall 2025 Flyer (Korean)
High School Credited Course Withdrawal Notification:
Last day to withdraw: September 30, 2025
The last day to withdraw from High School credited courses is Monday, September 30th. If a student is withdrawn after this date, then they will be issued a "W" as their final grade for the course. The W will be carried onto their high school transcript. Affected courses include the following:
- ELD - English Language Development 1 & 2
- Mathematics - Algebra I, Algebra I G/T, Geometry G/T, Algebra I/Geometry G/T, Geometry/Algebra II G/T, Algebra II G/T, and Statistics - AP
- Computer Science, Engineering, and Technology Education - Exploring Computer Science & Foundations of Technology
- World Language - Spanish I & II, French I & II, and Chinese I & II
For more information, click here for the full letter regarding high school credited courses taken in middle school.
Is your student looking for a great and fun way to get involved, learn new things, and make new friends?
GT Seminars are a great way to expand students' knowledge and skills around a topic of interest in a non-graded environment, and they will have the opportunity to get know other students! Our seminars this year include book club, creative writing, debate, morning news/ television production, photography, forensics, STEAM and stock market game seminar. Participation in seminars is open to all students.
Each seminar offers a unique focus. However, all seminars have these components. They all (1) develop critical and creative thinking skills, (2) involve conducting research, (3) involve working collaboratively to produce an authentic product or creative production, and (4) utilize technology to create and communicate. Check out this document. to learn more about each seminar.
How do students sign up?
Since students are pulled from classes once a week or once every two weeks, it is important that students make up missed work.
Please complete this form.
by Wednesday, September 10th. The form is also located in the GT module of Student Canvas Resources. You may email Mrs. Chelidona with any questions at mchelidona@hcpss.org.
PVMS Arrival and Dismissal Information:
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.
HCPSS Important Transportation Reminders and Updates
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.
- Please review the map below carefully as you review with your child and those taking them too and from school and read the key points below.
- Both the PVMS and BBES parking lots are available to families from both schools for drop off and pick up.
- The Bus loop is for School Buses and Staff Parking only.
- Please only drop off and pick up in the designated areas and follow all traffic laws, signs and school personnel’s instructions.
- Staff will be posted at arrival and dismissal to support walkers, car riders and bus riders.
- PVMS’ School Day begins at 8am and school is open to students from 7:40am. School finishes at 2:35pm
- BBES’ School Day begins at 8:45am and school doors will open for students at 8:35. School dismisses at 3:15pm.
Please contact the office at either school with questions - we are here to support you.
BBES PVMS Arrival and Dismissal Map
Transportation Information
The online HCPSS bus locator application is scheduled to be available Wednesday, Aug. 20. At that time, eligible families can access bus stop locations, and pickup/dropoff times.
Based on revisions to Board of Education Policy 5200 Student Transportation, the distance students may walk to school has decreased. As a result, more households in our school community will be eligible for bus transportation for the 2025-2026 school year.
Please view the online map SY25-26 Walk Area Map that shows the updated non-transportation (walk) area for our school. Families can use the 2025-2026 Attendance Area Locator to verify their transportation status. Please note: bus stop information will be available in mid-August, prior to the start of the school year.
HCPSS Change of Residency Communication
Any change of residency must be reported through Family File within 10 school days of the move. Current residency documentation must be provided to the school each time residency changes.
Update Your Student/Family Emergency Information Today!
Parents/guardians must verify and/or update emergency information for each child every school year. This is completed online in Family File, which has several new updates including how and where to access. Full details on updating your Family File are available online.
HCPSS Family Academy Kick-Off
New Date: Friday, Sept. 27, 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Location: Oakland Mills High School
This districtwide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature:
- A session with Superintendent Bill Barnes
- Resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations
- Information on programs, resources, and services available throughout the school year
- Childcare and language access provided
For additional information, please visit the Family Academy Kickoff HCPSS News Post.
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.
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.