Knightly Newsletter

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 3:10pm

Upcoming Events:

2/25 & 2/26	3 hr. Early Dismissal (12:15 PM) for students
3/1	The first day of the new schedule (exact schedule will be shared early next week) student day: 8:25 AM - 3:10 PM
3/2	PTA Restaurant Night, Kelsey's Restaurant & Irish Pub
3/3	PTA Mental Health Discussion, 7PM (more info coming)

Dear families,

The purpose of this message is to update you on the availability of digital tools on HCPSS Chromebooks. Recently an Opt-In letter was sent home requesting parent/guardian consent in order for students to have access to the HCPSS authorized set of digital tools used for virtual instruction.

Update:

The following digital tools do not require consent because they are already available to students in HCPSS computer labs: Book Room, Word Work, Scratch BluBot, Scratch JR, Sketch-Up, Collector Classic, JamBoard, and Google Earth.

These supplemental digital tools are approved by HCPSS and comply with federal, state and Howard County Board of Education student data privacy policies.

Please note that your student(s) will have access to these digital tools when the second semester starts through the Google Play Store icon on the Chromebook when logged in with an HCPSS account.

Please note:

HCPSS cannot guarantee that apps are available on devices other than HCPSS Chromebooks.
Teachers may or may not choose to use any or all of these apps during instruction. Students will be notified when a particular app will be used for instruction.
In addition to these Google tools, HCPSS has approved a robust set of supplemental digital tools. Your child’s teacher will notify you of the particular supplemental digital tools being used in each class via email or on their Canvas course page.

Sincerely,

Michael Babe

Principal

Patapsco- a place where everyone is valued and important!

New Chromebook Care webpage

HCPSS has developed a new webpage for students, Chromebook Care, which includes tips on caring for and transporting Chromebooks, as well as student mobile technology duties and obligations and additional resources.

Spring/Hybrid Model

Please take some time to review the Bridge to Normalized Instruction document that shares information about the Spring/Hybrid Model. We will share more information in the coming weeks such as: the dates of when students will return, the days of the week, etc. However, we wanted to share this information that has been shared centrally last Friday.

In addition, here is the link to the FAQs from HCPSS.

Congratulations to all the students who earned Honor Roll for the second quarter!

All students: 537

Principal's (All A’s): 284

Gold (A’s or B’s with 3.0 or higher): 174

Silver (A’s, B’s, and one C with 3.0 or higher): 79

Are you interested in working at Patapsco Middle School?

We are currently hiring for multiple positions!

Classroom Monitor position

This position would begin on March 1st
The hours would be 8:15am - 3:15pm (M,T,TH,F) and 8:15 AM - 11:15 AM on Wednesdays
The pay rate is $14.50/hour.
Interested candidates can apply at: https://www.applitrack.com/hcpss/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Substitute%2fTemporary

Substitute Teacher position

These individuals instruct students during the absence of a regular teacher. $106.25+ per day. Interested candidates can apply at: https://www.applitrack.com/hcpss/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Substitute%2FTemporary+Employment&all=cat

Please email Andrea Harmon, Assistant Principal at andrea_harmon@hcpss.org after you apply so we can keep an eye out for your application.

The Council of Elders (TCOE) Workshops - Please click here for detailed flyers:

February 20th: 9-10:30 a.m. – Family Financial Education Series
March 13th: 9-10:30 a.m. – TCOE Community Academy– Suicide Prevention & Substance Abuse
March 20th: 9-10:30 a.m. – Family Financial Education Series

Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Workshops:

March 6th: 6:30-8:00 p.m. – Re-Entry to School (more details to follow)
March 20th: 6:30-8:00 p.m. – BCAP CCON Webinar – Virtually Expanding Your Horizons – Jumpstart (more details to follow)

Make-up Dates to Pick-up Chromebook and other School Materials

Parents may pick up student’s Chromebook during the week of February 22 – 26 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

To obtain your HCPSS issued Chromebook please follow the procedures below:

Please, wear a mask. Upon arrival to the school, ring the doorbell to state your business. Then stand 6 feet away from the door. A staff member will bring your item to you.
If you currently have an HCPSS Dell Laptop that was issued this school year, return the Dell laptop and charger to exchange for a Chromebook. Please, write your student's name(s) clearly on a sheet of paper and attach to the returned item.

Art supplies (for students 3rd or 4th quarter) and other school materials may also be picked up during this time.

Contact Mrs. Harmon at Andrea_Harmon@hcpss.org if you need further assistance.

From the Health room

To ensure students are healthy enough to attend in-person instruction, parents/guardians are to perform a symptom check every day before the student leaves home. A student having any of the following symptoms should not be sent to school and may continue to access their classrooms virtually if they are well enough to do so: Maryland Department of Health Response to COVID 19 Positive Cases or COVID 19 Like Illness

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html#cdc-chat-bot-open

· 1 of the following:

New onset cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing;
New loss of taste or smell; OR

· 2 of the following:

Fever over 100.4 or chills within the past 24 hours;
Fatigue;
Muscle or body aches;
Headache;
Sore throat;
Congestion or runny nose;
Chills or shaking chills;
Nausea or vomiting;
Diarrhea.

Additionally, students who have been in close contact (within <6 feet for a cumulative of >15 minutes over the past 24 hours with or without a mask) with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 or is suspected of having COVID-19 (exhibiting COVID- like illness and has not tested negative after exhibiting symptoms) should not enter any HCPSS building.

Parent/guardians will assess their children for symptoms of COVID-19 illness and refrain from sending/transporting them to school until after they have been symptom-free at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms, have no fever for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication, and have continued improvement of symptoms and /or medical consult with their primary care physician.

If you have any questions or concerns please email Megan_Blouse@hcpss.org

Changes to 2020-2021 Academic Calendar

In preparation for HCPSS’ phased transition to a hybrid model of in-person and concurrent learning, the Howard County Board of Education approved changes to the 2020-2021 academic year calendar. February 25-26 are now 3-hour early dismissal days for students at all levels. Learn more.

School Start Times and Student Schedules to Change March 1

Effective Monday, March 1, all school start times will be adjusted to begin 20 minutes later than pre-COVID times. Students will not change courses/subjects during the third quarter (Feb. 1-April 14); however, class times and lengths will change. The Patapsco Middle new start time is 8:25 AM - 3:10 PM for students who attend virtually and in-person.

Prior to the schedule shift on March 1, Patapsco Middle will share the grade level and/or school schedule with general start and end times. Your child’s teacher(s) will share the specific times that your child will need to join with Google Meet for the synchronous instruction.

Patapsco Middle School PTA

Chalk the Walk

Join us as we CHALK the WALK around Patapsco on TUESDAY, 2/23, between 5:30-6:30pm to welcome our teachers back to the building for hybrid learning. Bring your own chalk if you have it (there will also be some on site), your mask, and your creative energy and help us welcome our Patapsco teachers and staff back into the building! We are also seeking some volunteers to help decorate yard signs. Contact patapscopta@gmail.com and we'll deliver!

Save the date for Patapsco Middle School PTA’s next restaurant night.

Please help support Patapsco Middle by visiting Kelsey's Restaurant & Irish Pub

Where: Kelsey's Restaurant & Irish Pub, 8480 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043

When: Tuesday, March 2nd for lunch or dinner, dine-in or to-go!

The best part is, you don't need a flyer or to worry about telling your server that you are there to support the PMS PTA, because 10% of all sales on that day will come back to the PTA. So please spread the word to your family and friends in the community to help support the school!

If you choose to order to-go, you can order online at https://kelseyspub.alohaorderonline.com/ or call ahead at 410-418-9076.

Thanks so much, and hope to "see" you there!

Howard County Association of Student Councils Meeting - February

24th

The Student Government Subcommittee of the Howard County Association of Student Councils (HCASC) invites all students interested in student government, leadership opportunities, and planning school-wide spirit events in high school to an online meeting.

The “Leadership Through High School Student Government” meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 24th, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Join the Student Government Presidents from all twelve Howard County high schools to learn more about how to get involved with student government and leadership at your future high school. See the attached flyer for more information! Please visit the HCASC website: https://hcasc.hcpss.org/ or contact Cindy Drummond at cindy_drummond@hcpss.org for additional information.

RSVP to the event at this link: https://forms.gle/x7aKvhj8y7bxG2Yk8

You must RSVP to receive the meeting code.