Mount View Middle School

The ViewPoint Mount View Middle School March 27, 2015

Upcoming Dates March 27 Half Day for Students

March 30 – April 6 Spring Break

April 14 Report Cards Issued

Principal’s Corner Your child needs to have the ability to work well with others Few people rely only on themselves to make a living. Almost all of us are interdependent – we give and take with others. Long before the work world, your child must function in the interdependent world of school. It’s important to stress and model cooperation with your child. Remember that cooperation:  Takes practice. Cooperate at home. Prepare a meal together. Take turns folding laundry.  Takes patience. You cannot cooperate effectively if you always think you’re right, or if you insist on having your way.  Takes planning. Working with people depends on each person knowing what to do and following through. Let each person choose a part. Write down what each person has agreed to do and by when.  Takes perseverance. Sometimes things fall apart when you work with another person. Talk it over. Make a new plan and try again.

Source: Barbara A. Lewis, Being Your Best, Character Building for Kids

Spring Testing Dates at MVMS

The MSA Science Test will be administered to all 8th grade students during periods 1 & 2 on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 and Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Please make sure that you child arrives to school on time during these testing days.

All students will be participating in the EOY (End of the Year) assessments for PARCC in Math and English Language Arts (ELA). Please make sure that your child arrives to school on time on the day of his/her test. The testing schedule for these assessments are:

 Monday, April 20, 2015 ~ All 8th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA EOY assessment.  Tuesday, April 21, 2015 ~ All 7th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA EOY assessment.  Friday, April 24, 2015 ~ All 6th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA assessment.

 Monday, April 27, 2015~ All 8th grade students will be taking the PARCC Math EOY assessment.  Tuesday, April 28, 2015 ~ All 7th grade students will be taking the PARCC Math EOY assessment.  Wednesday, April 29, 2015 ~ All 6th grade students will be taking the PARCC Math EOY assessment.

More information about the PARCC assessments can be found on the Mount View Middle School website under HCPSS Resources. The following website will also provide additional information: www.parcc.org.

SAVE THE DATE! Middle School Program Overview is April 14th

Mount View Middle School invites parents of 5th grade students to attend an overview of the middle school and G/T programs on Tuesday, April 14th at 7pm. Ms. Szalecki, the 6th grade counselor, will present information on the middle school courses and schedule. Mrs. Mako, the G/T resource teacher, will discuss the G/T program and its many offerings.

This overview is designed for parents only. Students will attend a visitation during the school day on May 19th.

It's Time To Order YEARBOOKS!

Orders can be placed online with the yearbook company's website. There is NO additional charge for this convenience. No more lost checks in backpacks or lockers! Just go to ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter 9869915 as the yearbook code. From there, you'll be prompted to order your yearbook.

The yearbook costs $25 and is an 80 page hardback book in full color which will be given to students during the last week of school. Please have all orders in by April 20th. If you have any questions about ordering a yearbook, please contact Ms. Stumpfl at [email protected]. Reading Events at Mount View--- Three reading incentive programs are underway at Mount View. The Bowie Baysox are offering a free student ticket to a baseball game in May to any student who reads 4 books by the end of March. The Frederick Keys will give a free ticket to any student who reads 3 books by April 17th. Read Across Maryland and the "30/30 Challenge" started on March 1st. Students who pledge to read 30 minutes every day for the next 30 days (March 1-March 30) will be entered to win a Kindle Fire or Amazon Gift Card. Contact Mrs. DeMoss, or any ELA or II teacher for additional information.

From the Health Room

Immunization Requirements for the 2015-2016 School Year

Students entering 7th Grade for the 2015-2016 school year are required by the State of Maryland to have a meningitis vaccine and a Tdap vaccine by the first day of school, August 24, 2015. Please contact your child’s health care provider to obtain documentation of these vaccines (if they have previously been administered) or to schedule an appointment to receive the required vaccinations. Failure to provide proof of updated immunizations by the first day of school next year could result in your child being excluded from school. Please turn in the necessary documentation to the Health Room as soon as possible. Physician’s offices may fax immunization documentation directly to the Health Room at 410-442-8050. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Health Room at 410-313-5550. Thank you!

G/T Summer Institutes The G/T Summer Institutes for Talent Development course catalog is now available online at http://www.hcpss.org/academics/gifted-and-talented/

Green Team Tip Of The Month: Recycle FILM (aka plastic bags) Right Here At Mount View!

Did you know... Plastic bags of all kinds can be recycled in your county blue bins, BUT they are easily contaminated with food products. It's better to take them back to the grocery store, Walmart, or Target and put them in the collection bins located at the store entrance. The bags collected at these spots become new materials like Trex Decking. In fact, the front benches and planters at Mount View, as well as the picnic tables in our outdoor classroom are all made from recycled plastic! If getting to the store doesn't work for your family, Mount View's Green Team is happy to help. Just drop off your bags at our RecyclEASE location outside of the FACS classroom, right next to the Reuse-A-Shoe drop off.

FILM that can be recycled includes not just grocery store bags, but any stretchy thin plastic like bread bags (just shake out the crumbs!) and newspaper bags.

Remember... the more you recycle the less you pay in taxes! We pay to have our garbage hauled away to a landfill in Virginia (Alpha Ridge is just a convenience center) so the more that you recycle, the less you throw away. The less you throw away, the less tax you pay for garbage removal! Be Green To Save Green!

PTA News

Have you linked your Harris Teeter VIC Card to the Mount View Middle SchoolTogether in Education code, #2942? Harris Teeter contributes a percentage of all HT brand purchases to the Mount View Middle School TIE account when your VIC card is linked to our school. Here are two easy ways to link your VIC card:  visit your Harris Teeter store and ask your cashier to link your card to #2942.  visit www.HarrisTeeter.com, Community, Together in Education and link your card online. Once you are signed up, we start raising funds. This year our goal is $2,000 and the Together in Education funds can help us get there.

Ice Cream Social to support children living with Rett Syndrome! We have fun activities planned along with baked goods and music provided by the School of Rock! Enjoy an evening of fun with your MVMS Community and support a great cause! Date: Wednesday, April 22nd Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Where: MVMS Cafeteria Make your own Sundae - $1.00 per scoop! All proceeds will benefit the Alice's Dream Foundation (http://www.alicesdream.org)! The mission of Alice's Dream Foundation is to provide families in need with durable medical equipment to provide greater independence and quality of life for their children living with Rett Syndrome. Send in those soda pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House! The Community Outreach Committee is collecting soda pop tabs (aluminum) for the Ronald McDonald House. The funds generated from recycling these aluminum gems help offset expenses for families so they can have a home away from home with children receiving medical care. This collection of pop tabs goes until the end of the school year. Collection containers can be found around the school or send in directly to Mrs. Parson's classroom. Thank you - every bit makes a difference!

Backpack Buddies Program - Are you up next? Congratulation to Mrs. Merza’s Falcon Time class for bringing in the most donations this month! We appreciate your generosity! The following Falcon Time Classrooms are asked to bring in donations for our 8th and FINAL collection: Mezeivtch, Gavazzi, & Jennifer! DUE Thursday, April 23rd! Did you know…? Food insecurity exists in 17.2 million households in America, 3.9 million of them with children. Use this link for a food list or to gather more information about this program: http://mvmspta.yolasite.com/backpack-buddies.php

Students enrolled in the Maryland Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement Program (MESA) from the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) are ready to compete in the Howard County Regional MESA Day competitions. The competitions will be held April 10, 2015, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Kossiakoff Conference and Education Center at the Johns Hopkins University- Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, MD. These science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competitions involve a variety of events that include students at the elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. Students will compete in cyber security and computer programming events in which engineers and scientists will evaluate their programming skills. Bridges designed and built out of balsa wood under strict guidelines will be assessed for efficiency and structural integrity. Creative and innovative abilities of students will be evaluated in events such as effective communications and the storybook theme park ride. Construction and racing of a Hovercraft will also be a part of this year's event. Middle and high schools will compete in the Prosthetic Arm Challenge, which is the MESA USA National competition, with the winner being eligible to compete for a chance to represent Maryland in the national event in Ogden, Utah in June. HCPSS schools that will compete include: Bryant Woods ES, Guilford ES (Monarch Mills after school program), St. John's Lane ES, Lake Elkhorn MS, Murray Hill MS, Oakland Mills MS, Patapsco MS, Atholton HS, Howard HS, Long Reach HS, Oakland Mills HS, Reservoir HS, and Wilde Lake HS.

HCPSS MESA students that win at this local competition will compete against students from other Maryland school districts in the State Finals.

MVMS Website The MVMS website has a new look! Visit http://mvms.hcpss.org and bookmark for future reference.

Follow us on Twitter! @hcpss_mvms

The Marriotts Ridge High School Band and Music Foundation Present:

Jazz at the Ridge on Friday, April 10 at 7:00 pm in the MRHS Theater

Please join us for an night filled with great Jazz! This year's concert will feature The Marriotts Ridge Big Band, Jazz Combo, and a special combined performance with the Mount View Middle School Jazz Band along with our featured Guest Artist: David Bach and the David Bach Consort The Baltimore/Washington area is home to some great Jazz artists and each year we strive to bring the best local talent to our stage. This year's featured guest artist is the David Bach and the David Bach Consort. Keyboardist and composer David Bach is a musician of many stripes. As an established fixture of the music metro area music scene, Bach has honed a craft worthy of recognition from a dedicated fan base. He is the recipient of two Gold Records and winner of the Maryland State Art Council Performance Award. His band, The David Bach Consort, was the winner of the Jazz Discovery Showcase on BET. They have performed with BB King at the Kennedy Center, and was voted Best Instrumental Band by Music Monthly Magazine. He was a finalist for the 2014 Maryland Music Awards in the Jazz category. For much more visit www.davidbachmusic.com Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and can be ordered by sending an email to [email protected] Please be sure to include number of tickets needed and contact information in your message.

The River Hill High School Gay Straight Alliance is hosting the first Howard County Pride Rally on April 9th from 6-10pm at the Cafeteria. Admission is $5 and is open to all students, parents, faculty, and community members who are interested in LGBTQ issues. The rally will feature a panel of speakers including members of PFLAG, Towson University LGBTQ studies, UMBC LGBTQ and gender studies, Equality Maryland, and community members. The event offers an opportunity for participants to ask questions about the LGBTQ community, such as the college and high school experience, career opportunities, the latest research in gender studies, and more! There will also be student performances and light refreshments. It is sure to be a night of community building and acceptance!

Community Information: The following announcements have been approved by the Public Information Office for school newsletters and distribution. These events are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Howard County Public School System.

North Laurel Community Center A new, free walking program for the community beginning Sat., Mar. 28, at the North Laurel Park, at the North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whisky Bottom Road, Laurel MD. The walking program will be every Sat. from Mar. 28-Oct. 31. New member registration is at 8:45 a.m. program is 9-10 a.m. For more information call 410-740-7601.

Columbia Association Art Center Columbia Art Center School's Out Spring Break program for grades 1-8. Mar. 30- Apr. 3 and Apr. 6, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., $50 per child drop-off begins at 7:30; art activities beginning at 9 a.m. To register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email [email protected]

Columbia Association Art Center School’s Out Youth Visiting Artist Series, Mosaics, grades 6-8. Come create your own mosaic with Korey Rosenbaum on Mar. 31, $50 per child, drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m.; art activities begin at 9 a.m. To register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email [email protected]

Columbia Association School’s Out Youth Visiting Artist Series, Mosaics, grades 6-8. Come create your own mosaic with Jackie Serpico on Mar. 31, $50 per child, drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m.; art activities begin at 9 a.m. To register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email [email protected].

Robinson Nature Center Anne Robinson’s Centennial Spring Break Activities All ages, Wed., April 1-Sat., April 4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free with Robinson daily admission or annual pass. www.howardcountymd.gov/RNCegacy.htm 410-313-0400.

Howard County General Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine Free seminar for parents or coaches of student athletes featuring Johns Hopkins experts – learn about concussions, overuse injuries, heat illness, common knee injuries and hernias, as well as injury prevention and when to seek help for potentially serious conditions. Apr. 8, 6:30 p.m., register online: http://bit.ly/YoungAthletteSerminar

Robinson Nature Center Butterfly Gala, all ages, Sat., Apr 11, 6:30-9 p.m. The Howard County Therapeutics Division and Robinson Nature Center cordially invite families of children and adults with special needs to join in an evening of sensory-friendly activities celebrating spring.

Elkridge Youth Organization The EYO 12U Baseball Team is hosting a Bingo Night, April 11, 7 p.m., at the OLPH Gym located at 4801 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City. There will be Designer Purses filled with great prizes for each bingo winner and also Special Bingo card rounds. Tickets are $20.00 in advance or $25.00 at the door. Tickets may be bought online at http://12ucanesbingonight.eventbrite.com or [email protected]

Howard County Government Howard County Office of Workforce Development & the Mid-Maryland Youth Council 2015 Youth Job Fair, Friday, Apr.17, 2- 5 p.m. The Sheraton Hotel in Columbia, located at 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, Md. Free but youth must register at www.MIDMDYOUTHFAIR2015.EVENTBRITE.COM Jermira Sarratt 410-290-2623 or [email protected]

Cedar Lane School Cedar Lanes Annual Walk for Our Stars, Sat. April 18, 10 a.m., Maple Lawn Community Center. Come join us for this fun, non-competitive walk. All money raised will be used to support our students with significant special needs and our staff. Funds will go towards the purchase of specialized equipment, expand the school's cultural arts program, increase the number of student field trips, and provide staff development opportunities beyond what is provided by the county. Please support The Walk and help those who can't walk, learn to stand on their own and those who can't speak, find their voice. For further information, please contact Cedar Lane School at 410-888-8800 or [email protected]

Ballet Royale Registration for Ballet Royale Institute of Maryland's 2015 Summer in Motion is open. Summer Programs include intensives, one-on-ones, camps, evening classes and maintenance classes for all ages. Programs run from July 13-Aug. 28, Ballet Royale offers an unbeatable combination of small class sizes, great value and internationally recognized faculty. Register Sat., Mar. 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. to receive 10% off your summer tuition. Call us at 410-997-8443 or visit us online at www.balletroyale.com.

AFS USA INC. Host Families Sought for AFS Exchange Students: Next school year, some twenty AFS exchange students from around the world will come to Howard County for a life-changing year of cross-cultural sharing. Exchange students live in a family such as yours and attend the locally district HS from your address. Contact Christina McGarvey at 410-997-7087 or [email protected] More information is also available http://www.afsusa.org/hosy-family.

Howard County Government Womenfest…A Health & Wellness Event for Women, Sat., Apr. 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. FREE Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood, Cooksville, MD. For more information visit the event’s website at www.howardcountyaging.org/WomenFest or call 410- 313-5440.

CAMPS YMCA Join us for the best summer ever. At the Y, for various camps, discover, create and make memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re the outdoorsy type, the air-conditioning type, the nature-lover type, the sporty type, the traveler type, the science type, the “I want to get away from home!” type, or every type in between, Y Camp will leave you with a grin on your face! For more information visit www.ymaryland.org.

The Columbia Foundation, Women’s Giving Circle Summer camp for rising 8th and 9th grade girls who will live on a college campus and learn leadership and interpersonal skills, is set for July 12-18, at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. Sponsored by the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and operated by Maryland Leadership Workshops, Journey is accepted applications at www.mlw.org Limited financial aid is available. Deadline is Mar. 15, 2015.

University of Maryland Stepping Stones to Your Future is a coed engineering summer camp for rising 7 and 8 graders who are interested in math, science, and engineering. There are 2 Stepping Stones sessions students can choose from: Session 1 July 13-17 and Session 2 July 20-24, 2015. The application deadline is Fri., Mar. 20. Applications can be found on the Women in Engineering website, http://www.wie.umd.edu/k12/sstyf If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email at [email protected] or call me at 301-405-0315.

UMBC Summer Day Camp The UMBC summer Day Camp will be celebrating it’s 36th year of existence in 2015, and we hope that you will send your child to spend all or part of the summer with us. Please let us know if you have any questions 410-455-2638 or email us at [email protected]