PTA Meeting, 7 PM (Media Center)
3/18 7th Grade Field trip - Beauty and the Beast Play
Concert Choir Assessment, River Hill High, 3:35 PM
School Store
3/19 6th Grade Chorus Adjudication, River Hill High, 11:20 AM
3/21 Spelling Bee at OMHS, 2PM
3/25 Club Day
3/26 PTA sponsored: Cyber Safety Information Session, 7 PM Media
3/27- 3/30 MISA Testing (8th grade science)
3/31 Spring Pictures (only for those who order)
4/1 MESA field trip – Meeting House Columbia
School Store
4/3 3hr. Early Dismissal - End of marking period
Career Day: Pathways to the Future
4/6 - 4/13 Schools closed - Spring Break
4/15 Music Boosters Meeting, 7PM
School Store
Dear Patapsco families:
Spring is upon us and we are looking forward to the next several weeks with some amazing events with our students. We have had and will have some fantastic musical adjudications and assessments with our bands, chorus, and orchestras. Our students are extremely talented and it is a pleasure to hear them perform!
On March 26, we will have a PTA sponsored event on Cyber Safety that is led by the Howard County Police Department and we encourage all parents to attend this informative and free seminar.
In addition, we are excited about our upcoming Career Day: Pathways to the Future that is scheduled for our students on April 3. If you are or know someone who may be interested in volunteering and sharing their career, please complete this link https://forms.gle/UFjqaLqoodJewiq46
It is not too late to sign-up to showcase your career! INSERT FLIER HERE
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank our counselors and staff who have implemented the Mindfulness March activities this month with our students. It has been wonderful to hear from the students who are eager to learn more about mindfulness and the benefits to reduce stress, anxiety, and improve sleep.
I hope you have an enjoyable and restful weekend. Thank you for being part of our commUNITY.
Mike Babe
Principal
Patapsco- a place where everyone is valued and important!
COVID-19
Please note that HCPSS updated the website to reflect important information about COVID-19. https://www.hcpss.org/health/coronavirus/
Additionally, we strongly encourage parents/guardians to continue to encourage preventative measures including regular hand washing and keeping students home when ill.
Stick It to Homelessness - Buy Pi for a Day:
Grassroots Fundraiser 2020 March 16th - March 27th
Patapsco Middle School is running a fundraiser to benefit Grassroots Crisis Center of Howard County. Grassroots is the only homeless center in Howard County. Our school goal is for each student to support making change in our community by wearing a “Stick it to Homelessness” bracelet on April 1st. Students may obtain a bracelet by donating “Pi” ( $3.00 donation) to receive a bracelet for themselves and 2 of their friends. Also, students may bring in any dollar amount in by check. Please make your tax deductible donation to “Grassroots”. The maximum number of bracelets a student can receive is 3. Each donation will count towards the homeroom challenge for each grade. Homerooms will compete for the honor of sticking (taping) Mr. Babe to the wall to support Grassroots during Knight Time on April 1st. In addition, there will be random drawing of 30 names of students to assist with taping Mr. Babe to a wall. So, let’s “Stick it to Homelessness for Grassroots Crisis Center!” Watch for more coming information in the Knightly News about the services provided by Grassroots and how our students are progressing with their support for our community. If you have any questions, please contact sherri_ross@hcpss.org.
Welcome Visitors
*SIGN-IN PROCEDURE*
In order to ensure the safety of all students and staff, all visitors must press the buzzer located on either set of main doors to gain entry to our building. Please listen and look at the camera when we greet you. You will need to provide us with your name and the reason for your visit. We will buzz you in and direct you to report to the main office where you must sign in with the LobbyGuard. As a reminder, please remember to bring a valid form of identification (e.g. Drivers License).
Early Dismissal Procedure
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) please be prepared to provide picture identification when signing students out from school. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) please do not exit the building without your student.
The last unscheduled Early Dismissal time is 2:30pm on full days and 11:30am on 3-hour early dismissal days. If you arrive after these times, parent(s)/guardian(s) will be asked to wait for your student in your vehicle in the car loop for our dismissal. We thank you for your understanding.
Evacuation Drill
We value the safety of all students and staff. Throughout the year, we practice various emergency drills to make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency situation. Next week, students and staff will participate in an emergency evacuation drill.
Spelling Bee
Our 2020 Patapsco Middle School Spelling Bee champion is Monica Moon. Monica will go on to represent our school at the
Howard County Library Spelling Bee
Saturday, March 21st, 2020
Oakland Mills High School
2:00 PM
Everyone is invited to attend the HCLS bee and cheer on Monica. If you can't make it to Oakland Mills, watch the HCLS Bee from home on the Howard County Government channel.
The winner of the HCLS bee will move on to participate in the 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee this May in Washington, D.C.
History Day Winners
Two students will represent Patapsco Middle School at the Howard County National History Day Competition. Hannah Seok has entered in the Documentary category and Avery Maslow has entered in the Exhibit category. The competition will be held at Long Reach High School on March 14th from 8am-3pm.
From the Art Department
Congratulations to 8th graders Aidan Hauf, Hazel Faherty, and Jana Elkhatib! Their "Imaginary Food" sculptures were selected for exhibition in the Food for Thought show at The Howard County Arts Council (8510 High Ridge Rd.) Only three students per school are selected for this honor, and all three of our Knights earned it. The gallery hours are M-F 10am - 8pm, Sat 10am - 4pm and Sun 12 - 4pm. All are welcome to the Artist's Reception, March 18, 5pm - 7pm. The exhibition runs March 6 - April 16. Support our Patapsco Artists!
National Geographic GeoBee
The results are in! The National Geographic Society named Patapsco Middle School 8th grader, Praneeth Idamakanti as one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2020 National Geographic GeoBee State Competition. The contest will be held at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring on Friday, March 27. 2020.
Student of the Month - February
Congratulations to the following students who were Resilient, Responsible, and/or Respectful
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6th |
7th |
8th |
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Zachary U |
Jackson M |
Madison N |
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Hannah P |
Ava B |
Nancy A |
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Matthew F |
Richard B |
Neeomi D |
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Jocelyn R |
Ally M |
Amanda M. B. |
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Tyler L |
Ugo E |
Nishtha M |
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Gabriel V |
Diego A |
Carlos T. P. |
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Miles S |
Mimi H |
Natalie M |
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Nneka E |
Frances M |
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Angel G. M. |
Kiran T |
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Nisa C |
Conrad E |
From the PE Dept.
Some students will be starting the Stunts and Tumbling Unit next week and we are looking for donations of grippy socks from any place like Launch, Ninja Be, Sky Zone, etc… If you have a pair or two that you would like to donate to the PE Department, we will gladly take them off your hands. Please just send them in with your child and have them give it to us during their next PE class. If your child will be participating in this unit, please have them keep a pair for themselves to be able to use in the unit. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
Mr. Spliedt, Mr. Capecci and Ms. DeBenedetti (Spicer)
Spring Pictures
Spring pictures will take place on Tuesday, March 31st. Order forms will go home the day before on Monday, March 30th. Only the students that have filled out an order form will have their picture taken. Online order forms can be found here.
MISA
On March 27th & 30th, the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) will be administered to students in grade 8. For more information about MISA, use the following link: Maryland Integrated Science Assessments
News from the Health Room
If your child has a fever of 100.0 (or greater) or is contagious with any illness, the student may not come to school until the symptoms have cleared and the student has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medications, such as Acetaminophen / Tylenol or Ibuprofen / Advil / Motrin.
Students who are ill and have a fever should remain at home until the temperature has been normal for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medications such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. Students with symptoms of acute illness such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and persistent coughs should be observed at home and evaluated by their health care provider. If your child is diagnosed with a contagious illness (such as the flu, strep throat, pink eye, Fifth’s disease, etc…), he / she may not return to school until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours or until cleared by the health care provider in writing. We also request that you please inform the Health Room staff of these diagnoses, so that we may observe for additional cases. You may either call 410-313-2574 or email Megan_Blouse@hcpss.org
If your child texts you from school stating that they are sick please have them report to the health room to be evaluated. Students have been texting their parents to come pick them up without being seen by a nurse. It is important that we know what is going on with students so that we can track illnesses.
PTA
PTA General Membership Meeting - 3/11 at 7pm in Media Center
Cyber Safety Information Session presented by Howard County Police Department - 3/26 at 7pm in Media Center
Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training - provided by Grassroots Crisis Intervention - upcoming dates 3/19; 4/6; 5/11; 6/9. Sign up here: https://www.grassrootscrisis.org/events/
MUSIC BOOSTERS
This year's trip to the Music in the Parks Festival to Hersheypark, PA for 7/8 Concert Choir, String Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble, will be on May 15, 2020. The cost of the trip will be $130 for student performers and $48 for chaperones. Permission slips are due by March 20th. We hope many of you will be able to save the date to chaperone. Thanks!
Our annual 8th Grade Recital Night: "A Little Knight Music," will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 7 PM in the PMS cafetorium. All interested 8th graders are welcome to apply to perform music as a soloist or with a group. Students may perform with friends, parents, private instructors, teachers, or perform their own solos. Please pick up an application from your music teacher today!
Would you like to sponsor a chair for the music department? Chair sponsors will be recognized in a plaque housed in the music department. More information can be found here: http://patapscomusicboosters.weebly.com/sponsor-a-chair.html
RISE (Research in Science and Engineering) Conference
The conference is on Wednesday, March 11th at 6 PM. It is aimed at educating students and providing them with networking opportunities by bringing in experienced individuals to lead workshops from various fields such as public policy, data analytics, bioengineering, environmental science, and biomedical research. Additionally, there will be interactive booths, student presentations, and refreshments. See attached flyer for more information.
Restorative Justice Event
On March 23, 2020, from 6 pm – 8:30 pm, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in conjunction with HCEA and the Restorative Justice Partnership, will be hosting an event with Dr. Kathy Evans, one of the co-authors of the Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education.
Mulch Sale
The annual Mt. Hebron High School Mulch Sale to benefit After-Prom is on now through March 18th! Delivery day is Saturday, March 28th – DELIVERY REQUIRES a 15 BAG MINIMUM ORDER of brown (3 cu ft) or black (2 cu ft) mulch. Smaller orders can be picked up at the high school on delivery day between 8-11 AM. If ordering online, please note that we have the option of adding a few extra cents per bag to help cover the credit card fees. The form to pay by check is under the Order/Donate tab. Don’t need mulch? Consider making a donation to support the After-Prom program instead. Donations directly fund the After-Prom program and also allow us to gift tickets to students who might otherwise not be able to attend this event. ORDER OR DONATE HERE We are limiting our total number of bags this year to 6,000 – so PLEASE get your order in early to ensure you don’t miss out!
Community News
For more Community News visit the Community News and Programs page http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/ on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.