Murray Messenger 10/20/17

Murray Hill Middle School
 

Murray Messenger 10/20/17

A Note From The Principal

Dear MHMS Families,

The Murray Hill Middle School students and staff enjoyed engaging in Spirit Week this week.  It was fun to see the school spirit as so many participated in “Pajama Pants Day,” “Look-A-Like Day,” “Superhero Day,” and “MHMS Spiritwear Day.” 

Also, this week, our 7th grade team facilitated their Annual Poe Museum.  What a fun culminating event and a way for our students to showcase their talents.  Thank you to all of the staff members who made this wonderful experience such a success. 

Next week, 6th grade students will attend our Outdoor Education field trip.  The trip runs from Wednesday, October 25th through Friday, October 27th.  Please remember that all students may bring one piece of luggage with them. It can be any size, as long as the student can carry it themselves. Students may also have one small personal bag such as a string backpack, that they can carry around during the day with them. Students do not need to bring any of their school supplies to school on Wednesday if they are going on the trip. Students attending the trip, may arrive at school starting at 7:45 on Wednesday morning. Please make sure you have brought any medications to the health room before Wednesday!  Contact Ms. Daniller with any questions at jamie_daniller@hcpss.org 

Sincerely,

Lisa R. Smithson

Principal

Murray Hill Middle School

Important Dates:

October 24th @ 6:30 p.m.

PTA Meeting

October 25th- October 27th

6th Grade Field Trip- Outdoor Education @ NorthBay

November 8th @ 7:00 p.m.

Grassroots Change Matters Concert

November 10th

3-Hour Early Dismissal (End of the Marking Period)

November 11th @ 6:00-10:00 p.m.

PTA Sponsored MHMS 20thAnniversary Gala

November 17th

8th Grade Field Trip- Newseum

November 20th

3-Hour Early Dismissal (Parent/Teacher Conferences)

November 21st

3-Hour Early Dismissal (Parent/Teacher Conferences)

November 22nd

Schools Closed for Students (Parent/Teacher Conferences)

November 23rd-November 24th

Schools Closed- Thanksgiving Break

November 27th

Fall Pictures Retake Day

November 28th @ 6:30 p.m.

PTA Meeting

November 29th @ 6:00 p.m.

Passport to Success:  College and Career Night

News From The Hill

SCHOOL NEWS

MHMS Arrival Reminder:  Please be reminded that doors open to students daily at 8:15 a.m.  Those students who arrive early will be asked to remain outside of the building, and staff supervision is not provided prior to approximately 8:10 a.m.  For those students who are car-riders, please do you best to have them arrive close to the 8:15 a.m. arrival time, so that they do not have to spend extended time during these chilly mornings.  

MAP Make-Up Testing:  For those students who were absent or did not complete MAP Testing, make-up testing will administered on October 23rd.  

HCPSS Calendar Adjustment:  Please note the HCPSS Board of Education approved a change to the 2017-2018 school calendar.  The last three scheduled days of school, June 12th- June 14th, will be a 3-Hour Early Dismissal for all students.  http://www.hcpss.org/news-posts/2017/09/board-of-education-approves-2017-2018-calendar-change/

6th GRADE NEWS

ODE Field Trip Information:  Next week, 6th grade students will attend our Outdoor Education field trip.  The trip runs from Wednesday, October 25ththrough Friday, October 27th.  Please remember that all students may bring one piece of luggage with them. It can be any size, as long as the student can carry it themselves. Students may also have one small personal bag such as a string backpack, that they can carry around during the day with them. Students do not need to bring any of their school supplies to school on Wednesday if they are going on the trip. Students attending the trip, may arrive at school starting at 7:45on Wednesday morning. Please make sure you have brought any medications to the health room before Wednesday!  Contact Ms. Daniller with any questions at jamie_daniller@hcpss.org 

BSAP NEWS

College & Career Opportunity Night:  HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program is sponsoring a College and Career Opportunity Night, entitled “Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship, on Wednesday, October 25th, at Long Reach High School.  Please see the attached flyer for more information:  CCON Flyer2017-Color.pdf 

PTA NEWS

MHMS 20TH Anniversary Gala:  The MHMS PTA will be sponsoring Murray Hill Middle School 20th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, November 11th.  Plan to enjoy great music, great company, and great food.  Please see the attached flyer for additional information:  Murray-Hills-flyer (6).jpg 

PTA Membership: The MHMS PTA drive is still in full effect! Please remember to join the MHMS PTA, by October 31st. Individual Membership (single parent home) $15 and Family Membership- $20.00.  Direction donations are also accepted, if you are unable to pay the full membership fee, or if you wish to contribute more to the MHMS PTA.   PTA Membership.pdf 

Mixed Bag Fundraiser:  The PTA Mixed Bag Fundraiser ends today.  If you have not yet turned in your orders, please be sure to send them to the front office with your student on Monday. 

PTA Volunteers Needed:  The MHMS PTA has several committees that are in need of volunteers.  Please see the Committees, along with a brief description and contact, PTA President, Femi Williams, if you are interested in volunteering (femiptamhms@gmail.com )

  • 20 Year Anniversary Planning Committee- This is a planning committee to assist with planning year round activities to celebrate Murray Hill Middle School turning 20 years old.  We are looking for fun ideas to make our anniversary celebration enjoyable! (First activity- Fundraisers- GALA –November 11, 2017)
  • Art Show/Art Fair Studio (Chair Needed)- This committee will work closely with the art teacher, to put together an art showcase. This will be the 4th Annual Art Show. The Art Show is an opportunity to show-off what our students have been doing in art class. In order to create excitement and have non-art students excited about attending, we are planning on combining the event with “Make & Take Art Stations” or an art vendor sale where students who make their own jewelry or wallets or pens can come and set-up a booth to sell their products. The Band will also display their talents throughout the night. (May 3, 2018)
  • 5K/1k Run/Walk -Spring (Chair Needed)- This committee is a work in progress. We are striving to host our first 5k sometime in March. We are in the process of figuring out how to get a registered 5k track and all the details of planning such an event. If we successfully plan this event, it could be our biggest fundraiser. (March 24, 2018)
  • World Day for Cultural Diversity (Chair Needed)– Week of May 2018 – 2nd Annual Event. The vision of this event will be in collaboration with MHMS Social Studies department. We will kick off the event with an activity on May 21and each day we will have various activities during lunch time for the students. On May 22, 2018, there will be a school wide presentations where the students who wish to participate will have an opportunity to talk about their culture (parents etc.) to their grade level peers. On the evening of May 22, 2018, the parents of the students will then prepare a dish from their culture and the students will also present to the parents. The Cultural Arts activities will be held during lunch; The Murray Hill Band will assist with music from around the world.  More information to follow.
  • Reflection Committee (Chair Needed)- This committee chair will be responsible for planning the celebration. The PTA Reflections Celebration is a powerful tool for encouraging students to explore and be involved in the arts. Together, school leaders and families offer positive reinforcement for participation in the National PTA Reflections program.

STAY CONNECTED:  

Communication is an essential component of a successful school experience for both students and parents.  There are many ways to stay connected to MHMS and to HCPSS.  Please consider the following ways to stay connected:

  • Visit the MHMS website often at:  http://mhms.hcpss.org/   
  • Follow MHMS on Twitter at:  @hcpss_mhms
  • Visit Canvas often
  • Visit the HCPSS website often at:  www.hcpss.org
  • Download the HCPSS app on your mobile device (search Howard County Public School System)

Community News

For more Community News visit the Community News and Programs pagehttp://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/ on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.

Date

Friday, October 20, 2017 - 4:45pm