Dear MHMS Families,

 

During the 2020-2021 school year, students were unable to engage in the state-mandated assessment MCAP.  As a result, students will engage in MCAP in both the fall and the spring of the 2021-2022 school year.  The Fall MCAP assessment will assess skills that students learned during the 2020-2021 school year, and will provide teachers with data to better understand student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards.  

 

The testing schedule for MHMS is below.  We ask families to support the fall MCAP assessment by ensuring that students get a good night’s sleep, arrive to school on time, and be prepared to fully engage in the testing environment.  If your student is absent on their designated testing day, they will engage in make-up testing on another day.  If you have questions regarding MCAP testing please contact Assistant Principal Mrs. Couch (alexia_couch@hcpss.org) or Mrs. Blasko (jennifer_blasko@hcpss.org).  

• 8th Grade Testing

  • September 20th- periods 1, 2, 6; and September 21st- periods 1, 2, 4, 5

• 7th Grade Testing

  • September 22nd- periods 2, 3, 7; and September 24th- periods 2, 3, 6, 7

• 6th Grade Testing

  • September 27th- periods 1,2, 4, 5; and September 28th- periods 1, 2, 4, 5

 

Families, we are asking for your assistance as we have learned that some of our students are engaging in a Tik Tok Challenge known as the “Devious Lick Challenge.”  This is a trend that is occurring in many schools across the nation, in which students steal, deface and/or destroy items found in schools, specifically in school bathrooms.  As a result of our own students participating in this inappropriate behavior, we have locked all of the bathrooms except for the two bathrooms that are located on the first floor, right outside of the main office, and these bathrooms are monitored by staff during the majority of the school day.  At MHMS, we pride ourselves in cultivating a culture of belonging and community and these inappropriate behaviors do not support our school culture.  Please take time to talk to your students about the importance of always respecting school property, and encourage your students to say something if they see something that does not align with our values as a school community.  We appreciate your support with this.    

 

Thank you to the 63% of our families who have already completed/updated their Family File for the 2021-2022 school year.  Please remember that Family FIle must be updated every school year for each child in HCPSS.  Parents/guardians can log into  http://www.hcpss.org/connect/. Parents who have forgotten their login credentials for Family File may click the View Instructions On Resetting Passwords Link on the sign in page. Parents who are new to the Howard County Public School System will receive a welcome email with instructions to activate an account. (Please note- change of address may not be made through Family File. If you have recently moved, please contact our Student Services Secretary, Brenda Ganzermiller, at brenda_ganzermiller@hcpss.org, as soon as possible).  

Sincerely,

Lisa R. Smithson  

Principal

Murray Hill Middle School

Important Dates:

MHMS News:

MHMS Bus Reminders  Please be reminded that students are required to wear masks, properly, while riding the school bus.  If your student forgets their mask, the bus drivers should have a supply of disposable masks.  Please remind your student of this expectation.  

 

Absences To School:  If your student is going to be absent, please send a message to MHMSAbsence@hcpss.org.  The message will go directly to Ms. Speiser, who manages our daily attendance.  Please take time to review HCPSS’s Attendance Policy 9010.

 

Quarantining Students:  If your student is required to quarantine as a result of established COVID procedures, please be aware of the following:

• Absences will be coded as excused.

• Families will continue to receive a daily, automatically generated, email stating that your student is absent.

• Students can do the following to stay up to date academically:

  • Access assignments through Canvas for each course.

  • Log in to individual teachers Google Meet Support Sessions, specifically established to assist students who are quarantining.  Information can be found on Canvas Homepages.  

  • Contact teachers via email with questions about assignments.  

Also, be reminded that if your student has a medical condition that presents like COVID-like symptoms, a doctor’s note can be provided stating the details of the condition; this could prevent possible repetitive quarantining.  If you have questions or would like more detailed information about this, please contact our Cluster Nurse, katherine_castiglia@hcpss.org.  

 

Secondary Student & Parent Handbook:  All families are encouraged to take time to review The Secondary Student & Parent Handbook which includes the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct and other important policies/procedures.  The handbook is posted on the school system website. MHMS reviewed highlighted information with all of our students during the first 

week of school.

 

Clothing To Cash Recycling Program:  MHMS is a part of the Clothing To Cash Recycling Program.  The program not only supports environmental efforts, it also serves as a fundraiser for our school.  MHMS earns a cash payment for every pound of collected items.  So please, bring your used clothing, shoes and other items in plastic bags, and place them in our collection bin located at the entrance of our parking lot.  Please see the attached flyer to learn about all of the different items that can be donated. MHMSClothingToCash.jpg 

 

Stay Connected:  Please stay connected to our Murray Hill Middle School Community by visiting our website frequently- MHMS Website.  You can also follow our school community on Twitter- @hcpss_mhms.  Also stay connected with all HCPSS news and information by visiting the HCPSS website and following @HCPSS on Twitter. 

MHMS Music Boosters News:

Music Boosters Newsletter:  Check out the latest edition of the MHMS Music Boosters Newsletter. 

MHMS PTA News:

PTA 2021-2022 Membership:  Please visit https://mhms.new.memberhub.store/store to obtain your MHMS PTA membership for the 2021-2022 school year.

 

MHMS SPIRITWEAR:  MHMS Spiritwear is now available to order online!  Support our MHMS PTA and show your MHMS pride by purchasing today!  Spiritwear can be customized and features both glitter and non-glitter options.  All merchandise will be mailed directly to the address of your choice. 

 

The PTA would like to thank everyone for joining our virtual meeting on Tuesday, September 14th.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 12th.  We hope to see you there.

 

Join the PTA: https://mhms.memberhub.com/store

 

Ways to join the fun:

- Attend monthly PTA Council of Howard County (PTACHC) meetings:  

5451 Beaverkill Road, Columbia, MD 21044

August 30, 2021		Monday		7:30 PM		Homewood School Cafeteria
October 4, 2021		Monday		7:30 PM		TBD
November 1, 2021		Monday		7:30 PM		TBD
December 6, 2021		Monday		7:30 PM		TBD
January 3, 2022		Monday		7:30 PM		TBD
February 7, 2022		Monday		7:30 PM		TBD
March 7, 2022		Monday		7:30 PM		TBD
April 4, 2022		Monday		7:30 PM		TBD
May 2, 2022		Monday		7:30 PM		TBD
June 6, 2022		Monday		7:30 PM