October 26, 2007

From Your MVMS Principal ...

In education, as in all aspects of life, we benefit from an open-minded perspective and when that doesn't work, it feels good to have a good chuckle. Let's think about homework, for example.

A student is reprimanded for not having finished a book report on a Dickens novel. The student replies, "I couldn't help it. We couldn't get the video." (Milton Berle)

We all know homework and projects take time. However, modern society is engineered so that we save time. We can get email on the go; cell phones keep us always in the communication loop; DVRs record our favorite shows for when we have time to relax; navigation systems provide real-time traffic to keep us moving; the internet puts shopping and information at our fingertips. Everything is fast and we are all busy. This takes us back to the time that homework and projects consume.

The purpose of education is not to be fast, but to be full of learning opportunities. We do recognize that students and teachers have full lives outside of the school day and so we have to schedule time for extended student learning and teacher planning, just like we have to schedule activities, meals, family time, and healthy living. The Howard County Public School System does provide Homework Guidelines, which you can review by following the link: http://www.hcpss.org/aboutus/guidelines_homework.shtml

Mount View Middle School summarized these guidelines for our students and parents in the Parent Handbook that we sent home the first day of school. So that you can review these guidelines quickly, they follow:

Homework Guidelines

In order to ensure that each student meets or exceeds rigorous performance and achievement standards, Howard County Public Schools will assist students in maintaining and extending their learning. The design, use, and evaluation of regular homework assignments are all integral pieces needed to achieve that goal.

In grades 6-8

Approximately 5-10 hours of homework a week is expected. Homework may reinforce previously taught skills, prepare students for future lessons, extend learning, promote creativity, and/or be a reflection on the student?s day at school.
Middle school students have more than one teacher. It is important for students to budget homework time.
Homework may provide opportunities for integrating skills and content.
Homework is typically assigned Monday-Friday.
Every student is expected to record homework in the assignment book. Teachers will post HW on their web pages.
Students should be prepared so that homework can be handed in or reviewed on time.
It is a good idea to identify a Homework Buddy in each class. A student can call this person when there is a question about an assignment or when he/she has been absent. On the third day of an absence, the parent/guardian may call Student Services to request make-up work.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with your child's teachers about his/her homework expectations. The teachers are working in interdisciplinary teams to recognize the time that homework impacts students outside of school. The agenda book and your child's actual time on task at home will be good data points for all of us to monitor the time devoted to daily homework. With a sense of humor, Milton Berle also helps us focus on what is important: "Why study? The more we know, the more we forget. The more we forget, the less we know. The less we know, the less we forget. The less we forget, the more we know. Why study?" I think we all see right through this whimsical logic, although it does sound good!

Sincerely,

Kathryn S. McKinley
Principal

Reminders

Tardy procedures include that ALL students who enter the building after 7:40 AM are required to have a note and a parent must come to the front office to sign-in the late student. (MVMS Attendance Policy)

Early Dismissals require a note to be taken to Student Services (Guidance) Office in the morning. Student's name and the dismissal time will be printed on the daily attendance bulletin and displayed on the MVMS News Ticker that runs on the classroom televisions. To reduce the amount of interruptions into the classroom, students will report to the front office at the early dismissal time.

Memory Book

8th graders who would like to have their baby photo included in this year's Memory Book need to bring in a photo by Wednesday, October 31st. We need a current photo too (or we can take a photo in school). Both photos should be about 4x6 in size and excellent quality.

Coat Drive

The MVMS Spirit Team will be conducting a Coat Drive on behalf of the PTA Council of Howard County. The goal of the drive is to support the Howard Public School System Pupil Personnel Workers efforts to meet the needs of some of our county's children. New or gently used (cleaned, all zippers and buttons work, ready to wear) boys, girls, and adult coats of all sizes are needed. Coat collections will take place next week (October 29th - November 1st) during FalconTime. Spirit Team members will be collecting coats. We have a school-wide goal of 500 coats and there will be a "friendly competition" between grades. The Spirit Team appreciates your support. Any questions should be directed to michellebrichards@verizon.net.

Teacher Notes

From Ms. Williams' Band Room:
All band and orchestra students went to a rehearsal of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, October 18th.

We are proud of the band students who were chosen for the 2007 Gifted and Talented All-County Band: Sara K., Allison D., Philip R., Jonah S., Sam S., Brian W., Steve K., James M., Anna R., Dana K., Nathan W., Shafer B., Jon K., Joe C., Jon S..

Jazz Band is up and running. Rehearsals are every Wednesday after school.

From Ms. Piluk, Music Teacher/Chorus Director:
All music classes are playing the keyboards and guitars. We also had a "Guitar Hero" tournament and declared a "winner" in each class.

The Concert Chorus will begin rehearsals on Tuesday, November 6th. We will meet after school on Tuesdays from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM for the 2nd and 3rd quarters and have a Spring Concert on Thursday, March 13th at 7:30 PM, at MVMS. There will also be a field trip in April, to perform at a Choral Festival. Students must hand in a permission slip before they will be allowed to stay after school for the rehearsals. You may obtain a permission slip from Mrs. Piluk or from the front office.

From Mrs. Quinn, GT Resource Teacher:
The next GT Program Parent Academy meeting on Tuesday, October 30th will feature nationally recognized author Alexinia Baldwin. The presentation is from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM at Long Reach High School. Dr. Baldwin will focus on Cultural Diversity in Gifted Education Programs: Fostering Talent at Home. Interested parents and community members are invited to attend this presentation.

American Education Week

As part of American Education Week, Jocelyn Martin, a teacher at River Hill High School, will present: "Making Academic Learning More Efficient" on Thursday, November 15th from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM in the MVMS Cafeteria. All Mount View families, including students, are welcome! As part of her presentation, Ms. Martin will:

Describe 3 different learning styles: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic/Haptic;
Help families to identify each student's learning style;
Identify effective tools and strategies to use for each learning style;
Help students learn how to complete homework assignments more effectively and efficiently.

Community News

The Columbia Volleyball Club is looking for female volleyball players. Tryouts will be held Sunday, November 11th and 18th at the Volleyball House in Elkridge. For more information, go to www.columbiavolleyballclub.org.

The Girl Scouts of Central Maryland is sponsoring a babysitter training class, which offers a great opportunity to learn about safety, discipline, activities, and business savvy when it comes to childcare. Real Life CPR will share with you everything a babysitter needs to know. At the end of the course you will earn a certification card for babysitting, CPR and First Aid. Class is Sunday, December 2nd at 9:00 AM in Ellicott City. Open to girls ages 12-17. Fee of $75 covers all materials and certifications. Bring a bag lunch. Other upcoming classes also available. Call for more details 410-988-2991 or 410-358-9711. You do not need to be a Girl Scout to take this class. You may register online at www.gscm.org or by phoning 410-358-9711.

St. Joseph Medical Center is presenting two free basketball clinics through its Powered by ME! campaign that aims to educate coaches, parents, teachers, athletic trainers, young athletes and the public about the dangers of anabolic steroids and performance enhancing supplements. The basketball clinics will serve boys and girls in grades 5-8 from around the Baltimore region. They will be held on Saturday, November 3rd at Goucher College in Towson, and on Sunday, November 4th at Towson University. The keynote speaker at the basketball clinics will be Mr. Ray Sydnor, who is a local football and basketball star from Baltimore City's Northwestern High School, who played in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and was on the 1980 Super Bowl team. To register for either clinic, please call 410-337-1397. Registrations will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Attendees are limited to girls and boys in grades 5-8. Due to anticipated demand, students may only attend one clinic. The clinics are free of charge, and students must be pre-registered by Monday, October 29th. No walk-in registrations are permitted.

Technology Classes: Interested in improving your technology prowess? Whether you're a novice or an expert you'll find something that may wet your appetite with the courses that we offer at Marriotts Ridge. These courses are open to all students, faculty and the community at no cost. If you're an adult I just need your name, phone and email address. For more information and permission slips go to: www.marriottsridge.net/TechOpp.php

Members of the community are welcome to attend School Health Council meetings:

The Horizon Councils, Howard County Library and HC DrugFree will present a free workshop and dinner program "straight talk on DRUGS," where pre-teens and parents talk about alcohol and drugs. The program's focus is on improving communication between parents and middle school students around the topic of drug use. Parents receive information on current drug trends, signs and symptoms of drug use and approaches to keeping their children drug-free. Students discuss ways to avoid alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and talk about positive alternatives to drug use. The event will take place on the following dates:

Call to register at the respective Library branches. For more information, contact Laura Smit, Executive Director, HC DrugFree, 410-799-4879, email hcdrugfree@yahoo.com or www.hcdrugfree.org.

Thanksgiving Citrus Fruit Sale: The Glenelg High School Marching Unit will hold their Citrus Fruit Sale again this year from November through February. In November, they offer pink grapefruit, navel oranges, tangerines and a Variety Pack. Orders are due by November 2nd for fruit to be picked up at Glenelg High School on November 17th. Order forms are available from the Glenelg High School office, by contacting Danita Kinnison at 410-489-5260 or ghsfruitsales@comcast.net, or for downloading from our website at: www.glenelgbands.com (Click on the Fruit Sale Website link). Please mail the completed fruit order form with your check made out to GHS Marching Unit Fruit Sale to the address given on the form.

The Y of Central Maryland, Ellicott City Center is sponsoring Fitness and Weight Training for Teens. Individuals 12 -15 years of age are invited to participate in a weight training and cardiovascular fitness program. The programs are on Fridays, 6:45 PM -9:30 PM. The next session begins Friday, November 2nd. The cost per session is $40 for members and $80 for non-member. Registration forms are available in MVMS front office or online at www.ymaryland.org. For more information call 410-465-4334.

Calendar

Oct. 29 - Nov.1
Spirit Team Coat Drive Week

Oct. 31
Spirit Day - Wear Orange and Black

Nov. 1
End of first marking period

Nov. 2
Schools Closed - Professional Development/Work Day for Staff

Nov. 5
Field Trip to AFI Silver Theatre, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 8th Grade GT English

Nov. 12 - 16
American Education Week

Nov. 13
Report Cards Issued

After School Activities for Week of October 29th:

Flag Football: Monday, Wednesday, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Net Games: Tuesday, Wednesday, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

SEE THE COMPLETE
MOUNT VIEW CALENDAR