PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER

March 15, 2019 Happy Friday, Vikings!

Today I had the absolute joy and honor of spending the school day with nearly 100 of your superstars at our Student Leadership Retreat at the Howard County Conservancy! The purpose of our retreat was to get student input regarding our shared values at Mt. Hebron. Earlier this week, we had our third parent input session prior to our PTSA meeting. We had an engaging discussion Tuesday night, and my heartfelt thanks goes to everyone who is contributing to this process and important work. Highlights from our parent input sessions include shared values around caring, compassion, and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.

Your students shared similar thoughts today as they engaged with one another to build genuine interpersonal relationships. Our incredible facilitators from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion asked them fun questions like, “What’s your most memorable meal and who was it with?” as well as more reflective questions like, “How would you define an inclusive school community?” and “What does it mean to be a student leader?” I am continually blown away by your kids and their insights and compassion. On March 27, during Viking Time, we will give all of our freshmen an opportunity to share their thoughts as well.

We’ve spent much of this school year gathering input from all of our stakeholders: students, staff and parents and will next compile and use everyone’s ideas to help drive our vision and mission statements for next year and then create a plan to put them into action. I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, “Thank you to all of the Viking students, staff, and families who have joined us in this work that is ongoing as we continue to build a school community based on trust, respect, and inclusion.”

And if you want to see what that looks like in action, look no further than this week’s Pi Week activities, spearheaded by Math Teacher, Ms. Sara Tagget, and our School Psychologist, Mr. John Klyap. Our students spent the week taking advantage of an array of activities to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention. School Counselor, Ms. Trish Marton, offered restorative yoga. Students could play soccer with Ms. Tierney Ahearn or learn re-channeling with Ms. Melissa McCarthy. We had numerous guest speakers from which students could choose and staff have been having fun putting out dares to students on the morning announcements to give them a “pie in the face” next week. It’s been a joyful five days shining a light on a serious topic. And all of the money we collected (OVER $2400!!!) this week will go towards a day of support at Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Howard County's 24-hour crisis center and homeless shelter.

Your generosity contributes to so much for our students and community, and I know I’m going to see many of you tomorrow at our first-ever MTH Marketplace! Lisa Scarbath, Beth Snyder, Amanda Peterson, Pat Lang, and Patti Lizzo along with countless others from our Viking Backers Booster Club have put innumerable hours into organizing this event, which will directly benefit our school. I hope you’ll stop by to support the incredible line-up of vendors. Concessions will be open all day. There will be door prizes and raffle tickets, and a few of our student clubs, Veg Club, Junior World Affairs Club, and MTH Lacrosse are participating as well.

Your students encapsulated our week perfectly today at our Leadership Retreat when they said, “It ROCKS to be a Viking!” I couldn’t agree more. Joelle

P.S. Look what showed up in all of our staff mailboxes today! Our clever PTSA Staff Appreciation Committee continues to surprise and delight us! We are so very, very appreciative! Thank you!!

FOLLOW US & STAY CONNECTED Twitter: @hcpss_mhhs Website: http://mhhs.hcpss.org/ Student Online Newspaper: The Mountain: https://mthmountain.com/ UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS See the calendar on our website for additional dates. Date Time Event March 12-April 12 Senior Banner Sales March ~ 15 6pm Summer School registration window for Lifetime Fitness, Health, Art, ESOL, and World Language March 18, 25 6-8pm International Parent Leadership Program(IPLP) @ Hebron March 19, 26 5:30 – 8pm 4-week series of Guiding Good Choices Parenting Classes by HC DrugFree & HC State's Attorney's Office @ Elkridge Library March ~ 27 Online Mulch Sales March 27-29 During Lunch Prom Ticket Sales $85 @ Cafeteria March ~ 29 AP Exam Registration Online March 16 10am-4pm MTH Marketplace in Gym & Cafeteria March 17 11am-2pm Soup’r Sundae Fundraiser for Grassroots @ March 17 Deadline Entries for Choose Civility Poster & Video Contest March 18 During Lunch M. Stein will measure students for Prom Tux Rental March 18 7pm HC DrugFree offer Senior Week: Staying Safe in OC programs @ Howard High March 22 Immunization Consent Form Deadline to Health Room for Clinic March 22, 23, 7pm Hebron Theatre Performances of The Wizard of Oz 28, 29, 30 in the Auditorium 3/21 @ 9:30am/ Seniors & 3/24 @ 2pm March 30 9am - 2pm Becca’s Closet @ Atholton High Cafeteria April 1 4:30-7:30pm Ellicott City Brain Bee Competition @ Hebron April 1 7pm HC DrugFree offer Senior Week: Staying Safe in OC programs @ Marriotts Ridge High April 3-4 During Lunch Prom Ticket Sales $85 @ Cafeteria April 4 Last Day Online Sale Prom Tickets April 4 HebronFest April 5 Early Dismissal @ 11:10am/Professional Work Day April 6 Mulch Sale Delivery April 7 8:30am - Women in Aeronautics & Astronautics Presentation 4:30pm @ UMD College Park, Kim Engineering Bldg April 8 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center April 13-22 Spring Break – Schools Closed April 23 Last day to turn in your PTSA Scholarship Application April 24 Report Cards Issued for Quarter 3 April 27 10am - 2pm Drive-thru EpiPen, Medication and More Collection @ Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot April 27 8pm-12am Prom @ The Hotel at Arundel Preserves April 28 12am-3:30am After-Prom @ YMCA in Ellicott City April 29 NHS Applications Deadline to Mrs. Sankey & Ms. Stafford May 6 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center May 16 Interim Reports Issued for Quarter 4 May (TBD) Senior Banners handed out to students @Graduation Rehearsal May 20-31 Graduation Window June 3 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center June19, 20, 21 Early Dismissal @ 11:10am/Final Exams for HS June 21 11:10am Last Day of School

CELEBRATIONS! **For the most up-to-date celebrations, be sure to follow us on Twitter: @hcpss_mhhs

Congratulations to Jaiden Ritter, Blaire Ridgely, Sierrah Matthews and Garcelle Pierre. This incredible relay team ran their personal best at Indoor Nationals with a time of 1:42.02 in the 4x200 meter relay (placed 13th in the nation) and 3:55.4 in the 4x400 meter relay (placed 11th in the nation). Both times qualified them for Outdoor Nationals!

Special Congratulations to Sierrah Matthews who has been named to the Sun All-Metro first team for the 2018-2019 Indoor Track Season and Jaiden Ritter who has been named to the Baltimore Sun All-Metro second team for the 2018-2019 Inoodr Track Season. So proud of these student athletes!

Congratulations to Odell Dickerson, Brandon Prox, Ryan Kinloch and Terrell Coleman! These basketball players have been selected to participate in the 2019 Howard County Senior All-Star Game.

 Top 20 All-Star Game: Odell Dickerson & Brandon Prox  2A vs. 3A All-Star Game: Ryan Kinloch & Terrell Coleman

This is a wonderful accomplishment for these student athletes. If you are interested in attending, the game is next Wednesday night, March 20th at Oakland Mills HS. The Boy’s 2A/3A game is at 6 pm, the Girl’s 2A/3A game is at 7pm, and the Boys Top 20 game is at 8pm. There is also a dunk and 3 point contest.

Congratulations to Trisha Anand, Bryan Tam, Elizabeth Jackson, Josh Starling, Lexi Croft and Mackenzie Strozyk who have their art currently on display at the Howard County Center for the Arts. The show opened last Friday, March 8th & there will be an artist's reception on April 4th from 5-7pm.

Congratulations to Mt. Hebron Mock Trial debate Team!! The team finished its regular season 4-1 and earned a berth in the county finals versus River Hill on March 19th to determine this year’s Howard County champion. The winner of the match will go on to the Circuit Championship in Annapolis March 25 and 26. This season, the legal Vikings were led by dominating performances from attorneys Uma Phatak, Lorelei Loraine, Craig Hamm and witnesses Ryan Jung, Aditya Krishna, and Faith Kipchur. Congratulations to our Mt. Hebron Band Program & Director Mr. Fischer! All three bands recently took-the-stage during our annual HCPSS District Band Assessments. Each group prepared three pieces of music and was rated by four music education professionals using the Music Educators Association performance rubric (I - Superior, II - Excellent, III - Good, IV - Fair, V - Poor). Students also sight- read a piece of music with only 3 minutes to prepare. This is our annual assessment (similar to HSA’s!), except that we are graded as an ensemble, rather than as individuals.  Mt. Hebron Wind Ensemble received an overall rating of I - Superior.  Mt. Hebron Symphonic Winds received an overall rating of II - Excellent.  Mt. Hebron Symphonic Band received an overall rating of II - Excellent.

Please join us in congratulating our hard-working students! We are so proud of their dedication and joyful music-making! Congratulations to junior Sara R. Robinson who was accepted and received a $1,700 academic merit scholarship to attend Princeton University's WEB DuBois STEM Accelerated Learning Academy for 10/11th graders-sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Sara was accepted into the Bio-medical Track (one of three STEM tracks). She completed a rigorous application process and interview that resulted in her joining 75 students of color from high schools across the country (as far as California, Michigan, Florida, etc. She is the 1st Mt. Hebron recipient and 1 of only 3 in Maryland. We are so proud of you, Sara!

Congratulations to sophomore Adrian Cires who was selected as the Student of the Month for the Aerospace Engineering Academy! Here's what his Aerospace Engineering Teacher at the Applications Research Laboratory (ARL) had to say about him: "Adrian is a remarkable young man. I have seen many examples of his talent and have been impressed by his diligence and work ethic. Besides being one of the top students in the Aerospace Program, there are many reasons that Adrian has been selected as the student of the month. Adrian is able to effectively communicate and collaborate in design teams and he solves problems by applying critical thinking skills." We are so proud of you, Adrian! Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

So cool that Mr. Tittsworth’s African American Studies class welcomed Councilman Opel Jones to his class today! (See picture below.) Councilman Opel’s message to our students, “Be happy in what you’re doing and do you!” A great opportunity for our students to hear from an engaged and engaging member of our community! Thank you to Mr. Tittsworth for coordinating this wonderful learning opportunity.

NEW NEWS Graduation Dates: As a reminder, the window for graduation dates is May 20-31. We are still awaiting finalization of the Merriweather concert schedule (only May 31 has a concert scheduled in the window at this time) and will share the final graduation schedule with you as soon as it is available. As you get inquiries, you can refer folks to HCPSS Graduation Window 2019 on the HCPSS website. The last day for seniors is dependent on the graduation dates, so that will be shared at the same time as the graduation schedule.

Are you in need of a Prom or homecoming dress? 's Becca's Closet is partnering with the Zeta Phi Beta sorority to hold the 6th annual A Pretty and Polished Affair. At this event girls will have the opportunity to take home prom and homecoming dresses, jewelry, and shoes. They will also have the opportunity for makeup artists to show them what style of makeup might go best with their dress choice. This event will be held at Atholton High School from 9am to 2pm in the main cafeteria on March 30, 2019. See the flyer for more details! If you have any questions please contact Kathy Barrett [email protected] or Krista Bopst [email protected].

Prom Tickets on Sale Mt. Hebron welcomes all juniors, seniors, and guests to the 2019 Prom held at The Hotel on April 27th. The cost of each ticket is $85. Tickets can be purchased online today and or in the cafeteria on sale dates. The final day of online purchase is April 4th (Tickets can be picked up in the cafeteria). Guest forms for students outside of Mt. Hebron can be picked up and returned to the front office. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Kang at [email protected]. When: April 27th (8pm-12am) Where: 7795 Arundel Mills Blvd, Hanover, MD 21076

Sale Dates: Tickets can be purchased in the cafeteria during lunch on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from March 27th- April 4th. Tickets can also be purchased online at any time (Tickets must still be picked up in the cafeteria).

Tickets for the WIZARD OF OZ on Sale Tickets for the WIZARD OF OZ go on sale during lunch shifts in the cafeteria beginning March 14. You may also buy tickets online at bit.ly/2019HebronOz. Shows are March 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 7 PM and March 24 at 2 PM. Hope to see you all there! Our Senior citizen matinee is on March 21 at 9:30am.

Tickets are currently on sale and are $10. Over 80 Vikings are involved in this production celebrating 80 years as an American Classic. Come support your Hebron Theatre and take a trip down the yellow brick road!

Senior Banners Celebrate your senior by ordering a Personalized Senior Banner! Banners are 36x34 and made of 13 Oz vinyl. This is a fundraiser to benefit and help fund After Prom, a fun drug and alcohol free alternative for students attending prom. An amazing, fun after party at the Y in Ellicott City! Senior Banner Sales from 3/12/19 – 4/12/19. Banners are a great addition to graduation parties and a wonderful memento for an important life event. Please visit our website to order! Banners will be hung at the school from 4/23/19 until 5/18/19 in the hallways around the Auditorium for all to see and celebrate your senior. Banners will be delivered to your senior at the first graduation rehearsal. Banners are $35.00 plus tax. All proceeds benefit After prom!

Please Visit this website for ordering details and to place your order http://www.varsitygraphics.net/hebron Questions email Cindy Anderson [email protected]

Choose Civility Contest All K-12 students are eligible to enter the 2019 Choose Civility Poster and Video Contest, sponsored in partnership with the Columbia Association Art Center and Howard County Library System. The theme is “We Are All Welcome” here. The deadline for entries is March 17, 2019. Winning students will receive Target gift cards. Details can be found at: http://choosecivility.org/2484-2/ Student Climate Survey Recent state law requires that all public schools in Maryland survey students about school climate. The purpose of the survey is to gain valuable information about the quality and character of each school’s learning environment so that schools can promote a climate that supports student learning.

Students will take the survey during regular school hours. The survey window is 3/4/2019 - 4/26/2019. The survey will ask students about topics such as student engagement, interactions with adults and with other students in the school, the school environment, bullying, and safety. The survey will not ask about a student’s personal experiences, and students will not be asked to provide any information that might violate his or her privacy.

The survey is confidential and school personnel will not have access to the responses of specific students. The responses your child provides will be combined with the responses from other students in the school, and results will be reported for each school and district.

We are eager to receive this very important information about your student’s school and about schools across the state.

If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Dwayne Williams at 410- 313-2880 or [email protected]

Screening of “Angst” and Discussion Around Anxiety in Youth Students and families are invited to a free documentary screening and panel discussion around anxiety in youth. There are 4 screenings, and you are invited to attend any of them, but the screening on Wednesday, April 10th will be held at Mt. Hebron. Click below for more information and to register for this FREE event. https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/03/attend-a-free-screening-of-angst-and- discussion-around-anxiety-in-youth-april-2-4-9-10-2019/

WORTH REPEATING

April 2, 2019, World Autism Day World Autism Day presents another opportunity to celebrate and educate our community about ASD. Join DSE and “Light It Up Blue” to raise awareness about autism, and encourage your staff and students to wear blue on this day. You can find additional resources on the https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-awareness-day website. No Cars Allowed in the Bus Loop Effective Wednesday, March 6, 2019, cars will no longer be allowed to park in the bus loop between the hours of 6:30am-2:30pm. Cars parked in our bus loop during these hours will be subject to towing. Signs have been posted as a reminder. Thank you for continuing to support our efforts to keep our students and staff safe.

Are you Renting a Tuxedo for Prom? Skip the line at the menswear store! Students can be measured, pick up and return tuxedos all at school. M. Stein Tuxedos will be at Mt. Hebron during all lunch periods on Monday, March 18 to measure students for tuxedos. Even if students are unsure if they will attend Prom, please have them get measured anyway. M. Stein will keep their measurements on file for if/when they choose to order their tuxedo. No payment is needed at the time of measurement. Browse M. Stein’s online catalogs and only pay when you find and order the tuxedo you want. Prices start at $95 and there’s no extra trip or waiting in line to pick up and return – it all happens at school! Plus M. Stein gives back a portion of rental proceeds to the PTSA to benefit After-Prom. Get measured!

Mulch Sale NOW OPEN Online sales will run March 6-27 and delivery day is Saturday, April 6. New this year: You have a choice of brown or black mulch! Visit the Mulch Sale website https://mhhsmulchsale.wixsite.com/mhhsmulchsale to order (starting March 6) and to volunteer to help on delivery day. We especially need drivers with pick-up trucks or other delivery vehicles/trailers. 100% of mulch sales benefits After-Prom.

Women in Aeronautics & Astronautics Presentation The University of Maryland's WOMEN IN AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS and DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING invite you to WIAA Day for middle and high school students interested in Engineering, Math, and Science

Sunday, April 7th, 2019. 8:30am - 4:30pm Kim Engineering Building (KEB) University of Maryland, College Park - TENTATIVE SCHEDULE - Welcome and Introduction - Opening Keynote - Student and Industry Panels - Engineering Student Group Information Fair and Lab Tours - Lunch Presentation: What is Aerospace Engineering? - Engineering Group Activity - Closing Keynote

*All students are required to have a chaperone. Chaperones will follow the same schedule as students until the Engineering Group Activity, when they will split off for presentations on Admissions, Living and Learning Programs, and Resident Life* PRICING OPTIONS AND REGISTRATION ONLINE: ter.ps/wiaaday19 Email: [email protected] with questions. Ellicott City Brain Bee Registration is Now Open! The Ellicott City Brain Bee will be held at on Monday, April 1, 2019 from 4:30-7:30pm. The purpose of the Ellicott City Brain Bee is to engage students in a competition focused on neuroscience. Questions will focus on areas of psychology, neurology, neurosurgery, and more. This bee will include a two competitive rounds, a keynote presentation, and a light dinner. Email [email protected] if you have any questions. Also, see Dr. Kiehl in room 109 if you have any questions. Registration is now open and will close on March 20, 2019. To register, Visit: ecbrainbee.weebly.com

Collecting supplies for Homeless Center Senior Ben Williams Eagle Scout Project Troop 318 is collecting portable, travel-sized toiletries in order to create a minimum of 100 hygiene kits to Glen Burnie Homeless Center. If you are willing or able to donate money or supplies for the Eagle Scout Project. Please contact: [email protected] or 443-970-1772. List of needed supplies: Shampoo, Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Deodorant, Socks, Baby Wipes, Hand Sanitizer and Gallon Sized Ziplock Bags.

AP Exam Registration AP Exam registration runs through March 29th. All information regarding how to register can be found on the school’s homepage. If students have questions, they should see Dr. Kiehl in room 109. Interested in National Honor Society? Current sophomores and juniors received information in their English classes regarding the National Honor Society selection process and the NHS membership requirements in early March. On March 25th an optional meeting will be held at 2:15PM in room 217 in order to receive help in filling out the selection materials and to answer any questions. Interested students may attend the meeting in order to receive help. NHS selection materials and general information can be found on the NHS section of the Mt. Hebron website under academics, or use the QR code listed below. From the website, students can print as many of the teacher and community forms as they need, as well as the selection materials packet. All of these materials must be turned in no later than April 29th to Mrs. Sankey in room 208 or Ms. Stafford in room 217. https://mhhs.hcpss.org/academics/honor-societies

Safe Space Training Safe Space Thanks to a generous grant from The CarMax Foundation, Grassroots will offer Safe Space training on Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Non-Profit Collaborative in Columbia. Safe Space was designed by Grassroots as a suicide prevention and intervention model that focuses on the LGBTQ+ population and their increased risk for suicide. It is free for Howard County residents and those who work in the county. The training program combines cultural competence with prevention and intervention strategies to reduce stigma, reduce suicidality, and ultimately save lives.

For more info, contact Katie at 410-531-6006, ext. 1761. Click this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/safe-space-training-tickets-56053869633 to register.

Drive-thru EpiPen, Medication and More Collection: Howard County's next convenient drive-thru collection for over-the-counter and prescription medication and “sharps” (needles, syringes and EpiPens) will be held on Saturday, April 27 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot near the Swim Center and The UPS Store.

HC DrugFree and the Howard County Police urge you to clean out your medicine cabinets. Teams, clubs, students, PTAs/PTSAs, families, scouts, etc. are welcome to volunteer at the event and receive community service hours. Please visit HC DrugFree’s website at www.hcdrugfree.org and go to the Events/Drug Take Back Day page for more information about medication disposal, or let us know you plan to volunteer by emailing [email protected] or calling 443-325-0040.

Update to the Academic Calendar Howard County public schools have been closed due to inclement weather on four days this school year: November 15, January 14 and 30, and February 11. As a result, all four of the inclement weather make-up days reserved on the school calendar will be used. The last day of school is now scheduled to be Friday, June 21. The final three school days, June 19, 20 and 21, will dismiss 3 hours early. The updated HCPSS calendar is available online at https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/.

Elevator Keys – Health Room Throughout the school year many injuries occur. Because the elevators require a key for use, students are issued a temporary key if they are on crutches, in a wheel chair or a boot. Unfortunately, some of the students have not promptly returned the keys even though they have been released from the doctor. If you have a child who was issued an elevator key and no longer needs it, please check with them to make sure that the key is returned to the health room. The health room is almost out of keys.

ATTN: Current and Former MTH Band Students We are looking for any MTH band instruments that might be lying around your house. It seems that several instruments have been borrowed over the years and not returned to the band program upon graduation or leaving the program. If you have an instrument that belongs to Mt. Hebron, please kindly return the instrument to the front office or directly to Mr. Fischer in the Band Room. No questions asked. Thanks for your assistance as we work together to ensure the success of the band program for years to come. Do you play a Woodwind, Brass or Percussion instrument? If YES, I have just the thing for you… JOIN BAND! I wanted to reach out and let you know how excited I am to be joining the Mt. Hebron community as the new Band Director. I know that for many of you, band was once an important part of your daily schedule, and I am reaching out to encourage you to consider joining band again. The Mt. Hebron Band Program has a storied history that dates back to 1964 when the band first performed as an integral part of the Mt. Hebron Community. I am looking forward to building on the tradition of excellence that has become the cornerstone of the program.

I recognize that there are many reasons why students choose not to participate in band in high school. I respect that band may no longer be a top priority or even an interest, however I want you to know that I would love to speak with you to discuss ways that you might enjoy band in high school. You can find me in the band room before school or during lunch (4A). There is a place for everyone in our band family. So… If you currently play, used to play or wish you could play an instrument, stop by to see me or feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]. I look forward to meeting you and building an even greater band program together.

Change in Vaping Law A recent change to the law regarding Vaping now allows police to issue a civil citation to juveniles for possessing an electronic smoking device. This is very important for both parents and students to be aware as it is illegal for juveniles to possess any type of electronic smoking device.

Muslim Interscholastic Tournament The Muslim Student Association is proud to be attending MIST (Muslim Interscholastic Tournament) again this year in conjunction with students from the surrounding area and ISB. If your student is interested in participating this year, please have them contact Ms. Brooks-Odom through canvas or email. Information for the weekend long event in April can be found here: www.dcmist.com and is open to all Mt Hebron Students regardless of beliefs.

2019 Graduation Window Dates The window for graduation for the Class of 2019 is Monday, May 20 - Friday, May 24 and Tuesday, May 28 - Friday, May 31. The actual graduation schedule will be available in the spring (usually around April 15).

Photography Supplies Donations Needed Do you have any 35MM film cameras not being used? Any old photo equipment, supplies, or other cameras that you no longer need? The Mt. Hebron Photo Department wants to grow the program for our students, so they have more opportunities to improve their photography skills.

Please contact photo and art teacher Caroline Creeden [email protected] for more information or donations. Thank you for your support!

After-School Bus Dates Added The following are the after-school bus dates for the remainder of the school year. Since we have had school closures on past bus dates, we have rescheduled the bus for the dates highlighted in red – they are Mondays. The bolded dates are Wednesdays.

Mar: 18, 19, 21, 25, 26, 28 Apr: 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 23, 24, 25, 30 May: 2, 7, 9, 14, 16

If there are any more school closures on the dates above, we will add another Monday as the make-up day.

Pick up time is approximately 4pm. The bus will stop at the following locations: 1) Liter Court and Liter Drive 2) Hollifield Station Elementary Station 3) Town and Country and West Springs Drive 4) Worthington Elementary 5) Brunswick Zone/Dunkin Donuts

Seeking Camp Assistants and Camp Volunteers The Howard County Arts Council is once again seeking Camp Assistants and Camp Volunteers for its 2019 Visual and Performing Arts Summer Camp. The camp runs one week sessions for children grades K-7 from June 24- August 28. The application deadline is March 30, 2019. Contact Tammy Oppel [email protected] for more information.

Youth in Conversation Youth in Conversation is a group of high school students who want to “talk about the things no one talks about.” The goal is to build community by having conversations about identities we have in common and issues that separate us, such as race, culture, religion and gender.

All HCPSS high school students are welcome & free dinner will be provided by #OneHoward and the Columbia Association each evening we meet

We will meet the second and fourth Monday of every month from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Oliver’s Carriage House, 5410 Leaf Treader Way, Columbia, MD 21044 (also known as Kittamaqundi Community Church)

Meeting Dates in 2019: 3/25, 4/8 and 4/29 (In April we will meet the 5th Monday instead of the 4th Monday because of Spring Break), 5/13. Please see the FRONT OFFICE for a form if you would like to participate.

Senior Week - Staying Safe in Ocean City: HC DrugFree will offer 2 Senior Week: Staying Safe in OC programs. Adults and all students are welcome to hear beach safety tips and beach-related police updates to keep your teen safe.

Guiding Good Choices Parenting Classes: Free for Parents of 9-14 Year Olds. HC DrugFree and the Howard County State's Attorney's Office will once again provide evidence-based classes for parents to gain skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs. This 4-week series will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 in the Elkridge Library. Parents are expected to attend all 4 sessions. Visit HC DrugFree's website calendar at http://www.hcdrugfree.org/events for more information and to register. Free workbook included. If you have questions, email [email protected] or call 443-325-0040.

From Health Room – Immunization Clinics Health Room Direct Line: 410-313-8178 Nurse: Karen Torpey Health Assistant: Michele Wilder

In April, we will be holding in-school immunization clinics for 11th and 12th graders, offering Tdap, Meningitis, MenB, and HPV vaccinations. These vaccines may be required or recommended for college entry or employment. The vaccines will be offered at no cost to you. There is no co-pay or deductible. However, we will bill your insurance company, if you have insurance. Attached and below is additional information about the clinics and the vaccines. If you would like your child to be vaccinated, fill out and return the attached consent form https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/02/11th-12th-grader-vaccination-clinics-april- 2019/ OR REGISTER ONLINE by MARCH 22, 2019 at: ****Consents received after March 22, 2019 WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED****. www.vaccineconsent.com Having your child vaccinated at school saves time and makes sure he/she is protected from serious diseases. Thank you. Your Child Might Need… Meningococcal Meningitis (MCV4) Booster Meningitis is very contagious and can be deadly. Prevents four types of meningitis. First dose at 11 or 12 years old. Second dose recommended five years after the first dose. Meningococcal Meningitis Type B (MenB) Vaccine* It is responsible for most college outbreaks of meningitis. First vaccination at about 16 years old. The second one is needed at least six months later. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine Prevents nine types of cancer. One of only two vaccines that can prevent cancer. For males and females 9 to 26 years old. Depending on age, two or three vaccinations needed at least six months apart. Tdap Vaccine Prevents tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Now, if you didn’t get one after 11 years old.

When you fill out the consent form, initial beside all vaccines you would like your child to receive. We will check school records and the Maryland immunization registry, ImmuNet, see which ones are needed. Questions? Call Health Room Direct Line: 410-313-8178 Nurse: Karen Torpey Health Assistant: Michele Wilder

Estimado padre o tutor: Durante el mes de marzo se llevarán a cabo clínicas de inmunización en las escuelas para niños de 11º y 12º grado, que ofrecerán vacunas contra la Tdap, la meningitis, la meningitis B, y el virus del papiloma humano (VPH). Estas vacunas son requeridas o recomendadas para ingresar a la universidad. Las vacunas se ofrecerán sin costo alguno para usted. No habrá copago ni deducible. Sin embargo, le facturaremos a su compañía de seguros, si usted cuenta con seguro. Adjunto y a continuación encontrará información adicional sobre las clínicas y las vacunas. Si desea que su hijo sea vacunado, llene y devuelva el formulario de consentimiento adjunto O https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/02/11th-12th-grader-vaccination-clinics-april- 2019/ REGÍSTRESE EN LÍNEA antes de 22 de Marzo en: www.vaccineconsent.com Vacunar a su hijo en la escuela ahorra tiempo y asegura que se encuentre protegido de enfermedades graves. Gracias. Su hijo/a podría necesitar... Refuerzo de Meningitis Meningocócica (MCV4) La meningitis es muy contagiosa y puede ser mortal. Previene cuatro tipos de meningitis. La primera dosis a los 11 o 12 años. La segunda dosis se recomienda cinco años después de la primera dosis.

Vacuna contra la meningitis meningocócica tipo B (MenB)* Es responsable de la mayoría de los brotes de meningitis en las universidades. La primera vacuna a los 16 años aproximadamente. La segunda es requerida por lo menos seis meses después.

Vacuna contra el virus del papiloma humano (VPH) Previene nueve tipos de cáncer. Una de las dos únicas vacunas que pueden prevenir el cáncer. Para hombres y mujeres de 9 a 26 años. Según la edad, se requerirán dos o tres vacunas con un intervalo de al menos seis meses. Vacuna Tdap Previene el tétanos, la difteria y la tos ferina. Ahora, si no fue vacunado después de los 11 años de edad. Cuando llene el formulario de consentimiento, escriba sus iniciales al lado de todas las vacunas que le gustaría que su hijo recibiera. Revisaremos los registros escolares y el registro de inmunizaciones de Maryland, ImmuNet, para ver cuáles son necesarios.

Parent Support Group Mount Hebron has a parent group. The purpose of this group is to provide a voice and tools that will assist parents of students who have needs in the areas of social communication, social regulation and executive functioning skills - whether in a university, work or supported living setting.

Mount Hebron parent, Michelle Im, along with members of our special education team, have volunteered to lead this amazing discussion and support group. Ms. Im also serves as the Vice President for Howard County's Special Education Citizens' Advisory Committee (SECAC).

The remaining meeting will be held in Mt. Hebron’s Media Center from 6:30-8:00. All are welcome! Please join us!

Wednesday, May 8th - SI + SR =  Group discussion designed to foster an understanding of the relationship between social interaction and self-regulation; to prompt parents to implement strategies at home.

The Faith Community Partnership Presents Soup’r Sundae Fundraiser for Grassroots The Faith Community Partnership of Bethany United Methodist Church and Glen Mar United Methodist Church and Wilde Lake High School are hosting the 11th annual Soup‘r Sundae, a family event featuring soups prepared by area restaurants, as a fundraiser for Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center on Sunday, March 17, from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia, MD 21044. Special St. Patrick’s Day features include a performance by the Teelin Irish Dance Company from 12-12:15 p.m., as well as scones from Renata’s Tasty Bites and other surprises. There will be a silent auction with hundreds of items, 50/50 raffle, music and entertainment for children.

Admission is $20 per adult and $5 per child under 12 and includes unlimited soup and bread and ice cream. Over 600 people attended last year’s event, including 80 volunteers from Howard County high schools.

Tickets are at www.souprsundae.eventbrite.com or by contacting [email protected]. Tickets will also be available at the door for cash and checks made out to Grassroots. Sponsorships are available.

Grassroots provides Howard County’s only emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis intervention services. Professional crisis counselors staff Grassroots’ 24-hour hotline; see walk-in clients in need of immediate counseling; and operate the Mobile Crisis Team, which responds with the police to community emergencies. Grassroots also manages the county's emergency shelter for men, women and families who are homeless and serves as the single point of entry for the Coordinated System of Homeless Services. In addition, Grassroots operates the Day Resource Center and manages the Cold Weather Shelter during the winter months. For information, visit www.grassrootscrisis.org, or call 410-531-6006.

Your next VALHALLA VOICE will be published March 18th with the latest news from your parent advocacy groups and community.