Dear Patuxent Valley Families and Community,
It’s time for Spring Break!  Whether you are traveling, staying home with family, conducting religious observances for Ramadan or Easter, or continuing working through the break, I hope that each member of our community gets what they need from this break from the school rhythm.  My family will be taking some time to disconnect and take some time outside while also celebrating at least one birthday in the family - life is good!

This past week at Patuxent Valley has been full of Fine Arts, Field Trips, and Competitions:

• The performances of High School Musical Junior last weekend were truly spectacular and I was impressed with the hard work from the cast, crew, Ms. Clark, and all the staff and parent supporters of our Theater program.  

• Congratulations on our NHD group performance going to the NHD State Competition: Painted in Poison: Radium Girls and the Deadly Glow of Time. Emily Knutson, Christy Pierce, and Saanvi Venumbaka.  We are so proud of you!

• This Wednesday PVMS invited three student representatives to the HCASC Convention help choose the Student Member of the Board finalists: Jessica, Kris, and Dave. All middle and high school students will be voting for the Student Member of the Board on May 1st.

• Congratulations to Rishi K, who represented PVMS in last weekend's Howard County Spelling Bee. Rishi made it through the 4th round of the bee.

• Last Night we hosted our Spring Dance Showcase with a full cafeteria and a celebration of the hard work of all our dancers this school year.  Thank you to the young people, Ms. Gum, all the staff helpers and our parents for their support.  The joy in the room was palpable!

• Yesterday and today our grade 6 students have been visiting the Howard County Conservancy. They have been engaging in many activities, building on their learning in Science about climate and conservation.  Thank you to them for the way they showed our school values on the field trip, to Ms. Ryan and Hoover for organizing it and to all the staff and parent chaperones for making the trip happen! 

I want to offer the message below for our time over Spring Break from The National Literacy Institute as shared with the Patuxent Valley Staff by Hope Whye, our amazing Alternative Education Teacher.  Social Emotional Learning is an important part of Middle School, but the truth is that it is a life-long need.  I’ll be meditating on some of these tips over the next week!

Social Emotional Learning Tips 
SEL Tip #1: Reflect and Reset
Take a moment to reflect on your achievements and challenges this school year. Use this time to reset and refocus on your personal and professional goals. Consider journaling or engaging in activities that bring clarity and peace of mind.

SEL Tip #2: Connect with Nature
Step outside and embrace the beauty of spring! Whether it's a leisurely stroll in the park, a hike, or simply enjoying a cup of tea in your garden, reconnecting with nature can have a profound impact on your well-being.

SEL Tip #3: Practice Mindfulness
Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine. Whether through meditation, deep breathing exercises, or mindful walks, these practices can help you stay present, reduce stress, and foster a positive mindset.

SEL Tip #4: Cultivate Joyful Moments
Spring Break is the perfect time to indulge in activities that bring you joy. Whether it's reading a good book, trying a new hobby, or spending quality time with loved ones, prioritize activities that uplift your spirits and bring a smile to your face.

Check out the information below for items we’ve been sending out this week, and a number of new items. Let us know if you have any questions or if there is something you’d like to see in the newsletter.  All of this information is also posted on our website at http://pvms.hcpss.org/ .

There is nothing too big or too small for us to work on together, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Regards,
Richard Smart, Principal (richard_smart@hcpss.org)

UPCOMING DATES:

3/25 - 4/1, 2024 - Schools Closed for Spring Break

4/4 Choir Assessments

4/9- End of third Marking Period

4/10- Professional Work Day- Schools closed for students

4/11 - Grade 6 Music Trip to the Kennedy Center

4/12 - Spring Picture Day

4/17- Reports cards issued via Synergy

PVMS Updates (Priority and New this week)

Spring Picture Day on April 12 - Check out all the information here.

PTA Spring Social on Saturday April 27th

All PVMS Students are invited to attend the Spring Social on Saturday April 27th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm!

Students have been requesting a school dance and the PTA is delivering! There will be a dance in the Gym, board games & cards in the Media Center, and concessions in the Cafeteria - and lots of fun!  Tickets are free for students but parents must complete their online permission form: https://forms.gle/FPCw9knTXVtNAdiXA  This event is entirely sponsored by PTA Parent Volunteers & community help is needed to ensure a great experience; tickets will be released based on the number of adult volunteers signed up to chaperone. Volunteers can indicate that they will be there and select their preferred tasks here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4AA8AB2FA1FC1-48612160-pvmspring

2023-2024 YEARBOOKS ARE ON SALE NOW!

Click here for more information, including price and how to order.

G6 G7 All Things Yearbook

 

Grade 8: All Things Yearbook!

 

PVMS Updates (recurring from previous newsletters)

From the Health Room:

Spring time is around the corner and we are beginning to see a lot of children with full blown allergy symptoms in the health room. The health room staff is not allowed to administer medications without doctor's orders and therefore we suggest that parents treat their children at home before school to help them manage their allergies throughout the school day. 

Sincerely,

-PVMS Health room staff

Ramadan:

On behalf of Patuxent Valley Middle School I would also like to extend our best wishes to Muslims throughout our community on the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.  For any student who is participating in the month of Ramadan we are offering our front office conference room during grade level lunches.  Students should check in with the secretaries as they come to lunch.  If any student has other needs during the month of Ramadan they should contact their school counselor who wil arrange with them how we can support them.

Recognizing and Reporting Bullying

As we approach the second half of the school year, we wanted to remind you that HCPSS is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment that focuses on student well-being. We are taking this time to uplift the importance of reporting any type of bullying that has occurred. We will be reviewing this with our students and staff as we start the second half of the school year, and we hope that you, too, can uplift this at home. 

For children facing the emotional toll of bullying, a supportive individual can make all the difference. Please encourage your children to reach out to a trusted staff member at school should they need to report anything. As parents and guardians, you will use the same reporting form as students by following the steps outlined below. 

How do I report bullying?

1. When you believe bullying has taken place, you should report it through the Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Intimidation (BCHI) reporting form.  Reporting can take place in one of three ways:
   1. Complete a BCHI online reporting form
   2. BCHI paper reporting form (available in the main office, staff workroom, school counseling office, media center, and health services office
   3. An oral report to a staff member 
2. It is important to note that the policy states “In the event the reporting party does not complete a BCHI Reporting Form, school administrators/supervisors will take the appropriate steps to address and document the incident.”  Therefore, if you or someone else makes an oral report, it then must be documented (i.e. through a BCHI reporting form) by the administrator.

Thank you for your partnership and attention to this important topic.

CELL PHONES - MIDDLE SCHOOL
This is a friendly reminder to our community that per HCPSS Policy 8080, middle school students “will not use personal technology devices during non-instructional time, to include but not limited to transition between classes, lunch, recess, or in bathrooms.”  Please remind your students that their cell phones should be off and away during the school day. Students are always welcome to use an office phone to reach out to a parent during the school day. If you need to contact your child at school, please call 410-880-5840.

PVMS Attendance Procedures 23-24

Please review for comprehensive attendance procedures.Read more

FAMILY FILE UPDATES

HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to complete emergency information. All parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child each school year.  Parents/guardians can access their student's Family File by logging into HCPSS Connect, selecting the “More Options” tab on the left and then selecting “Family File” in the center column.

Please be sure to read each section carefully and answer all of the questions.  You can contact us here at school if you have any questions or concerns.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR VISITORS

Please be aware of the following procedures for any visitor to a school/office:

• The front door is the only entrance point for all visitors.

• Please ring the bell and look into the camera.

• Be prepared to state your name and purpose for visiting.

• All visitors must walk directly into the front office with a valid photo I.D. and sign in using our LobbyGuard system.

• A visitor’s sticker will be given to visitors following the above procedures and must be worn and prominently visible.

• Any visitor in the school without a visitor sticker will be escorted directly to the front office by a staff member.

SCHOOL MEALS AND PAYMENT INFO

HCPSS no longer will use Nutrislice for school menus or MySchoolBucks for meal payments. LINQ Connect is a secure, online portal that allows families to view breakfast and lunch menus, make online meal payments, monitor their child’s account, schedule automatic recurring payments, set up low balance alerts, submit a Free and Reduced Meals program application, and more. Details and information. are available online.

WELLNESS CENTER AT PVMS

The Patuxent Valley Middle School-Based Wellness Center is a partnership between Howard County Health Department and Howard County Public School System. School Wellness Centers do not replace students' regular health care providers in the community. By providing some health care at school we can help parents stay at work and help students stay at school or more quickly return to school. There is no co-pay or fee for visits at the Wellness Center. Read more

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please visit the Community News and Programs page on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.