Important Dates
November 9-13: National School Psychology Week
November 11: Veterans Day
November 16 - Picture Retakes/Make-ups
November 16-20: American Education Week
November 19: Conference Scheduling is Closed for Parents/Guardians @ 4:00 pm
November 23 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early; Turkey Trot; Scheduled In-Person Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 24 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early; Turkey Trot Raindate; Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 25 - Schools Closed for Students; Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 26-27 - Schools and Offices Closed
Happy Thanksgiving
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2026-2027 Student Service Learning Credit Hours
The state of Maryland requires that 75 hours of Student Service Learning (SSL) be completed, as a requirement to obtain a high school diploma. Through SSL students apply specific academic skills to “real world” problems to gain a greater understanding of how providing service to the community both through advocacy and indirect methods can positively affect others. Student Service Learning is not group organized volunteerism, independent volunteerism, or internships. It is a curriculum presented within the student’s school day. All service learning hours are completed as course work offered through projects developed for each grade level. In the Spring each year, 25 service learning hours will be offered to students and awarded by participation in meeting course objectives and completion of the grade level project. In this way, students will obtain their required 75 hours of service at the end of their 8th grade year. Please look for SSL updates in the Knightly News to be informed about special achievements, deadlines and activities. If you have questions about this program, contact our school SSL Coordinator, Sherri Ross: sherri_ross@hcpss.org.
Previously Shared
Scheduling Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for November 23-25, 2026. Conferences will be held in-person on Monday, November 23 and virtually on Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25. Beginning Friday, November 6 at 8:00am, through Thursday, November 19 at 4:00pm, parents/guardians can log into HCPSS Connect to view and select available time slots to meet with teachers.
The purpose of this conference window is to allow parents/guardians the opportunity to discuss with staff their student's progress. Synergy Conference Management allows users to schedule time with individual teachers. Each conference slot is 15 minutes and will be conducted in-person on Monday, November 23 and virtually via Google Meet on Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25. If you have a pressing concern, you are strongly encouraged to contact the teacher to discuss it outside of the conference window. Parent-teacher conferences will not normally be scheduled during the week immediately before or after the designated conference window unless extenuating circumstances exist. Attendance at any such conferences outside the conference window and within the week before and week after the conference window will be at the option of the teacher.
To permit access to our staff by all parents with interest, we ask that parents schedule conferences only for those classes for which there are concerns. Unlike your experience in elementary school, middle school educators do not have a slot for each and every student. So, please be strategic about who you’d like to see and mindful of the need for your neighbors to have the same access.
For step by step directions, please refer to the parent directions. Should you have any questions or require assistance scheduling your appointments during the scheduling window, please use this Google Form. For questions about availability or course specific questions, please contact the teacher directly.
Quarter 1 Report Cards
Quarter 1 report cards became available online on November 6, 2025. Instructions on how to access your child's report card can be found here.
Recess Equipment Needed
Recess is an opportunity for students to play active games with friends! Please consider donating any items below to the school to ensure there is enough equipment to get through this school year.
The blacktop is adjacent to the woods, with LOTS of thorn bushes/overgrowth, so a lot of equipment gets “lost.” Links are provided below to purchase via Amazon or if your family has any of the items below, in decent condition, please consider donating them to Patapsco. All items can be dropped off in the front office. Thank you!
Junior Footballs- 6 junior or intermediate size
Volleyballs- 3 any color
Volleyballs- 1 set of 6
Soccer Balls- 3 any color
Soccer Balls- 5 any color
Basketballs- 1 set of 6
Basketballs- 1 any color
Playground Balls- 1 set of 6
School Pictures are Ready!
Proofs and prepaid pictures were distributed to students on October 29. To order additional pictures, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student’s student ID number. Make-ups for students who were absent, as well as retakes, will be done on Monday, November 16.
PTA News
Run, don't "waddle", to the Turkey Trot!
The annual Turkey Trot is November 23! Please sign up to support our runners by being a course monitor. It's a great way to spend a fall morning and you might even get a selfie with Ned the Knight!
Sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45ABAF29A46-60046786-turkey
8th Grade Activities Committee Still Needed!
The PTA is still in need of a coordinator and committee for 8th grade activities. This includes coordinating the special Tshirt and planning the end-of-the year dance. Please reach out to patapscopta@gmail.com if interested!
’Tis the Season!
Cold and flu season is fast approaching, and fall allergies are here. How can you help?
-Donate tissues! Please consider dropping off a box of tissues in the front office.
-Practice healthy habits - get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, wash your hands often, and eat nutritious foods.
-If you have cold and flu symptoms, stay at home and rest!
Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) Career Academy Open Houses – Nov. 11 and Dec. 8, 2026
Current students in grades 8–11 and their parents or guardians are invited to attend an in-person open house on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026 from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC), located at 10920 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City.
On both Nov. 11 and Dec. 8, guests will have the opportunity to walk about and explore CTEC’s career academies and learn how Career and Technical Education provides high school students with opportunities to earn college credit, scholarships, and industry-recognized credentials. Students can also participate in worksite and mentorship experiences while developing creativity, problem-solving skills, and career-ready skills through hands-on, project-based learning.
Complete information about all career academies is available online. Students and parents are encouraged to review the CTEC Career Academies Overview.
Participating academies include:
- Aerospace Engineering: Project Lead the Way
- Animal and Agricultural Science
- Animation and Game Design
- Apprenticeship Maryland (for current 11th graders)
- Architectural Design
- Automotive Technology
- Biotechnology
- Civil Engineering: Project Lead the Way
- Construction and Carpentry
- Cybersecurity
- Network Security Engineering
- Finance
- Graphic Design and Print Production
- Health Professions
- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Parking at Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) is limited. Additional parking can be found on premises in the Homewood School and Board of Education parking lots.
Carson Scholarship
The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students in grades 4-11 who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities. An interested student must be nominated by the principal at his/her/their school to be able to compete for a Carson Scholarship. Only one student from each school is able to apply, ensuring that each nominee epitomizes academic excellence. Carson Scholars must have a GPA of 3.75 and display humanitarian qualities through community service. Scholarships are awarded solely on the basis of academic achievement and humanitarian qualities, without regard to financial need, ethnicity, creed or religion. More information can be found on: Carson Scholarship Website
If you are interested in being considered for nomination, please complete the Carson Scholarship Form and send it to Mrs. Shurtleff at erin_shurtleff@hcpss.org.
All nomination forms will be due to Mrs. Shurtleff no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2026.
Update Your Family File
Thank you to the families of the 626 students who have already completed your Family File. Leading all grades is 7th grade with 94.3% of their Family Files completed! 6th grade has completed 92.4%, while 8th grade is trailing, with only 85.6% of their Family Files completed. If you have not already done so, please assist us by completing your Family File ASAP at hcpss.org/connect. Parents/guardians can access and complete Family File by logging in to HCPSS Connect, selecting the Online Registration/Family File at the top right of the page and then selecting Family File Verification.
Clothing to Cash
Is it time to clean out your closets? If you have clothing or shoes that you would like to donate, please consider leaving them in our “Clothing to Cash” textile recycling bin.
How Clothing to Cash Works
- What they accept: Clothes in any condition (even torn or stained), shoes, backpacks, sheets, towels, and stuffed animals.
- How to donate: Bag your items tightly and drop them into the designated white collection bin located at the south end of our parking loop.
The payout: Patapsco earns cash based on the total weight of the recycled textiles.
From the Health Room
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This is a friendly reminder from the Health Room regarding the Howard County Public School System’s illness policy. As we enter flu season, it is especially important to help keep our school community healthy and safe.
Please be mindful of the following guidelines when deciding whether your child should attend school:
· Children must be fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) before returning to school.
· Vomiting or diarrhea: Students should remain home until symptom-free for 24 hours.
· Contagious illnesses such as strep throat, conjunctivitis (pink eye), or influenza often require staying home for at least 24 hours after starting treatment or as directed by your healthcare provider.
· If your child is experiencing persistent cough, significant fatigue, chills, body aches or symptoms that interfere with learning, please consider keeping them home to rest.
With flu and other seasonal illnesses circulating, we appreciate your help in preventing the spread of germs within our classrooms. Keeping children home when they are sick protects not only your child but also classmates, staff, and our wider school community.
Thank you for your attention to these guidelines and for helping us maintain a healthy school environment.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Health Room.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Ailstock, BSN, RN
HCPSS cluster nurse
Patapsco Middle School
Cell Phones
All phones and personal communication devices must be silenced and in backpacks or lockers from the beginning bell until the dismissal bell. Violation of this policy will lead to confiscation of the device. First-time offenders may pick their device up in the office at the end of the day. Further violations will require a parent or guardian to collect the device.
Free and Reduced Meals (FARMSs)
Many HCPSS families are eligible to participate in the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program, which provides children with a wide range of benefits including free or discounted college tuition, testing and application fees, academic and athletic program fees and many others in addition to free or discounted meals.
Families are urged to check their eligibility and complete a FARMs application as soon as possible. Families must submit a new application every school year.
Details on the Free and Reduced Meals program, including a link to apply, are available online.
2026-2027 HCPSS School Calendar
For your planning needs, please see the link below to access the HCPSS School Calendar which details dates/holidays for this coming school year, including Winter break, Spring break, and professional learning days.
2026-2027 HCPSS School Calendar