Dear Patuxent Valley Families and Community;

The new school year is upon us!  Yesterday we welcomed our faculty back into the building and had a great day of community building, sharing food, of course, beginning setting up our spaces so we can host our young people when they are back in the building (8/22 for New Student Orientation or 8/26 for the first day of school at 8am).

Our school theme for the 24-25 school year is, “Building a Home for Everyone at Patuxent Valley.”  We know that if our young people, staff and families know that there is someone at school who has their back, and if students are able to bring their best selves to school then they will be able to thrive in their academics and open doors of opportunity for their futures.

Our school and HCPSS team has been working hard to prepare the building for the new school year and I’m excited to announce that our new quotes for Bulldog Boulevard have been installed.  Thank you to everyone who contributed and especially to James McLean (former PVMS student) who designed, printed and installed the quotes.

These are the quotes that were proposed by students, staff and community members and selected at the end of last school year:

"There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it." Amanda Gorman

“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up." Nelson Mandela

“The world needs all types of minds.” ― Temple Grandin

“I raise my voice, not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” Malala Yousafzai

They are motivational and inclusive of the diversity of our school community, representing different genders, races, communities, languages, abilities and cultures.  We can’t wait until you see them as you come to events like New Student Orientation, Back to School Night or other community events.  This is just one example of how we are striving to live  out the HCPSS Equity Framework and create an inclusive community here at Patuxent Valley mirroring our community’s diversity in as many ways as we can.

Our staff has been working hard to plan learning experiences for our young people and are committing to providing the best education we can during the 24-25 school year.  To help create an environment conducive to learning, we will be enforcing our cell phone rules from day one. Cell phones and earbuds should remain put away and out of sight during the school day. I ask for your support in monitoring and restricting your student's access to their devices during school hours. If you need to get a message to your child during the school day, please contact the school directly, and we will relay the message.

Before the school year begins we need you to complete your emergency card!  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.

See below for some important upcoming dates, and information to help prepare for the upcoming school year.  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:

8/22 - New Student Orientation

8/26 - First Day of School for Students

9/2 Labor Day, Schools and offices closed

9/5 - Back to School Night

PVMS Updates (Priority and New this week)

New Student Orientation:

On August 22 at 1pm we are looking forward to welcoming our new 6th graders and students who will be new to PVMS in 7th and 8th grade for the 2023 -2024 school year.

• Student will meet in the gym and parents in the cafeteria
• All students will have a chance to walk their schedule and get to meet staff and students, and find some of their people for this school year.
• There will be a meeting for parents to share information and answer questions about the school and school year.  Parents will also have a chance to find some of their people for this school year too.
• After the parent session there will be staff in the library to help families complete family file paperwork, and any assistance with school technology.

Back to School PTSA Block Party!

• On August 23 from 5pm to 7pm the PVMS PTSA is hosting a Welcome Back to School Block Party on the PVMS Blacktop.
• There will be games, music provided by DJ POV, 360 photo booth and food from Chick Fil-A! 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL MESSAGE FOR PVMS/BBES CAMPUS
We are excited to return to the school buildings and have been working hard to prepare for a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal from Bollman Bridge and Patuxent Valley. The administrations at both Bollman Bridge and Patuxent Valley Middle Schools have been collaborating this summer on a joint traffic pattern and arrival and dismissal plan. Read more

Student Schedules

Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 21, all students and parents/guardians can log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy to view courses, teachers and schedules.

Change of address   
Families are required by Policy 9000 to notify HCPSS if they move to a new home address. Current residency documentation must be updated each time residency changes. Contact pvmsregistrars@hcpss.org with any questions. 

UPDATED PATUXENT VALLEY SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
Click here for the 24-25 PVMS School Supply Menu!

• This is the most comprehensive list.  Most students will not need all items, and no student is expected to have more than what is listed here.
• Teachers will share needs for individual classes at the 6th grade orientation and on their Canvas page.
• The supply list includes a need for a School Planner to help all of our students with organization.
• Contact team leaders or Richard Smart with questions.

LOCKERS and BACKPACKS.

Students are permitted to use backpacks during the day. Lockers will be assigned to students in September using the locker request form (which will be distributed in home room).  Students are permitted to access their locker before school, before and after lunch, and at the end of the school day.  Lockers are for individual use only – students are not permitted to share their combination or allow others to use their assigned locker. 

PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES. Per HCPSS Policy 8080, all middle school students are not permitted to use personal electronic devices in school during the school day.  All devices, including cell phones, iPad, personal computers, earbuds, and headphones must be off and away in their backpack or locker until 3:15 PM.

STUDENT TECHNOLOGY DEVICES. 

PVMS will continue to have a 1:1 student-to-device ratio.  All students have or will be provided with a Chromebook. These devices are required for all county and state testing and assessments. HCPSS Technology and Devices information 

All 6th graders will be issued a device in the first weeks of school.

7th or 8th graders who have not been issued. If a student has not been issued an HCPSS device, they will report to the Media Center to be assigned a device during the first week of school.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT

Thursday, September 5th, 6:00 pm. Our annual Back-to-School Night event will be held in person on Thursday, September 5th.  Parents and Guardians will have a chance to walk in their student’s shoes for an evening and get to experience a day at Patuxent Valley.

HCPSS POLICIES, STUDENT HANDBOOK, CODE OF CONDUCT. HCPSS policies are regularly reviewed and updated. For the most current policy revision, or to view the policy in its entirety, along with supporting regulations and procedures, you may visit the HCPSS Policy Web Page: www.hcpss.org/board/policies.

Important information/links:

Student Handbook - https://www.hcpss.org/about-us/handbook/

Student Code of Conduct - https://www.hcpss.org/about-us/student-code-of-conduct/

PVMS Updates (recurring from previous newsletters)

Changes in Social Media and Gaming Access

Beginning July 1, HCPSS will block access to social media at all schools and most game websites at middle and high schools only on the HCPSS instructional (student) network and on student Chromebooks. Español | 中文 | 한국어

Message from the Health Room:

Immunizations for Upcoming 7th Graders 

Current 6th grade parents- Please email your students updated immunizations records to the Health Room if you have been contacted by the health room about your student missing required 7th grade immunizations.

Howard County School-Based Wellness Centers are offering free health visits this summer for children without health insurance.

Families with medical coverage should visit their primary healthcare provider. You must make an appointment; no walk-ins.

Email HowardSBWC@howardcountymd.gov or Call 410-313-6362 to schedule a summer appointment if needed.

English Flyer

Spanish Flyer

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.