Mount View Attendance Policy
7:40 AM - 2:25 PM

All Parents are encouraged to read carefully the following highlights of the HCPSS Attendance Policy #9010. MVMS supports the strong link between daily attendance and successful academic performance. We fully adhere to all HCPSS policies that enhance student learning and strengthen our school community. In partnership we work together to ensure excellence in teaching and learning so that each student will participate responsibly in a diverse and changing world.

• Parents MUST provide a NOTE for all absences.
• The school MUST receive a NOTE from the parent or physician within two school days of the student's return. This documentation will be used to EXCUSE the absence.
• Tardy and Early Dismissal also require a NOTE and a parent sign-in/sign-out. Please make every effort to help your child make the bus on time and schedule appointments after school.
• Tardy and Early Dismissal procedures include that all parents will enter the school and SIGN their students IN after 7:40 a.m. or SIGN them OUT if leaving prior to 2:25 p.m. For your child's safety, our staff will not allow exceptions to this county policy
• Missing 20 minutes ANYTIME from a class is considered an absence from that class.
• Absences for Non-Emergency circumstances are not acceptable during the State and County Testing Windows. Dates - MSA: April 1-10, 2008
• It is required communication as well as a courtesy that parents inform the school administration of planned Non-Emergency absences two weeks in advance. HCPSS has provided a form for these occurrences on its web site: www.hcpss.org. Parents are permitted three discretionary absences for their child.
• A student is counted present for a full day if the student is in attendance four hours or more of the school day. A student is counted present for half day if the student is in attendance for at least two hours of the school day, but less than four hours.

After School Intramurals

Flag Football: Any student wishing to participate in Flag Football intramurals is encouraged to see Mr. Blum for a permission slip. Flag football intramurals will begin on Wednesday, October 10th. There is a limit to 40 students. Parents are expected to promptly pick up their children at 3:30 PM. Permission slips are available on the MVMS website.

Net Games: Any student wishing to participate in Net Games intramurals is encouraged to see Ms. Kenney for a permission slip. Permission slips are available on the MVMS website (hcpss.org/mvms). Net Games intramurals will begin on Tuesday, October 16th. There is a limit to 25 students. Parents are expected to promptly pick up their children at 3:30 PM. Permission slips are available on the MVMS website.

Emergency Volunteer List

Every year Howard County schools complete a comprehensive emergency response plan. As part of our readiness, we have surveyed staff for emergency skills. We are also posting on the school website a parent survey. If you have specific skills and would be able to volunteer in the event of a serious emergency, please complete the online survey so that we can compile an Emergency Volunteer List.

Teacher Notes

From Mrs. Quinn, GT Resource Teacher:
GT Research Class: Sixth grade students in at least two or more GT classes were invited to enroll in the GT Research Class. Parents who gave permission were sent an email confirmation this week. If you would like your child in this class but did not receive an email, contact Mrs. Quinn at lquinn@hcpss.org today.

Attention 8th graders: If you would like to have your baby photo included in this year's Memory Book you need to bring in your photo by Wednesday, October 31st. We also need a current photo. Both photos should be about 4x6 in size and high quality.

For more information, see Mrs. Quinn's website.

Black And Orange Back To School Bash

The Spirit Team Presents ... The Orange and Black Back-to-School Bash! on Friday, October 5, 2007 on 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM featuring DJ: Billy Zee and Big Screen Entertainment

Admission: $2.00 before the dance / $2.50 at the door AND the signed permission slip AND one new "school supply" which the Spirit Team will donate to needy students through Howard County's Prepare for Success program. Tickets will be on sale during lunch, Wednesday, October 3rd through Friday, October 5th (the week of the Bash) for $2.00, and at the door Friday night for $2.50. Remember, you MUST have a signed permission slip to enter.

Questions about the Bash? Feel free to contact Spirit Team Parent Coordinator, Michelle Richards, at 410-461-8494 or michellebrichards@verizon.net

Only CURRENT MVMS students may attend the Bash! Adult Chaperones Needed: Please sign up by emailing Janet Gilbert at janetgilbert@verizon.net. She will send you the standard instructions for chaperones. All Howard County Public School Rules apply for this Spirit-Team sponsored function.

DOWNLOAD Permission Slip

Attention 7th Graders

Join your classmates for an afternoon of fun at ADVENTURE PARK USA on Friday, October 19th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. (School is closed due to MSTA convention.) This event will take place rain or shine. Because the PTA is subsidizing this event, the reduced cost is only $10.00 per student (The regular admission price is $20.00). In order to receive the discount, you must return the permission slip and a $10 check to Front Office by Friday, October 12th. NO WALK-INS. Please make checks payable to MVMS PTA. Please do not send cash!

Price includes: unlimited miniature golf, 50 arcade credits, and 4 attractions. Attractions include Go Karts, Laser Tag, Ropes Course, Rock Wall, and Roller Coaster. There is a snack bar on the premises. Prices range from $1.75-$7.00. No outside food is allowed in the park.

Parents are responsible for transportation. Please arrive on time to take full advantage of the attractions! Students MUST be picked up by 3:00 PM.

DOWNLOAD Permission Slip

Community News

Atholton High School is offering a Middle School Field Hockey Clinic on Saturday, October 6th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. It will be run by Jim Brown, Varsity Coach and Sabrina Clever, JV Coach. Equipment needed to participate is shin and mouth guards, stick, and cleats or sneakers plus bring your own water and food (if desired). Registration begins at 8:30 AM Saturday morning. Contact Meg Durso via email for registration and information at megldurso@comcast.net or 443-398-0944.

The Student Services Advisory Committee is presenting "You're Not Alone!" at Homewood on Wednesday, October 10th, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Howard County Connections Presenters: Pat Heineman, Meg Mekelburg, and "Connections Youth". For more information contact Pat Heineman at pheineman@comcast.net, 410-465-3747 or contact Laura McDonald (MVMS parent) at 410-461-3764. Parents don't have to be all things at all times for their teens. At this presentation, you will:
- Learn why kids need other caring adults (in addition to their parents) in their lives
- Hear a youth panel speak about caring adults who have made a difference for them
- Witness the importance of connecting with adults in a "web of support" to build a strong,positive network of relationships around all youth
- Discuss how to take "real life" steps to form health adult/youth relationships

The Stressless Tests Program is offering a new workshop entitled Testing, Testing for Middle and High School parents. The workshop will be offered on Tuesday, October 30th and again on Tuesday, November 27th, from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM at Centennial High School. For parents whose students do well in class, but not on tests, and who want to learn the most effective strategies to help. If your child "doesn't test well," plan to attend this workshop, which covers challenges with both classroom and standardized tests. Participants will receive the new Stressless Tests Parents Kit. The fee is $85.00 for up to two parents per family.

Registration is now open for the Evening Middle School Study Skills class will meet on Mondays, October 15th - November 5th, at Burleigh Manor Middle School from 6:30 PM -8:30 PM. Additional courses are scheduled for and November 26th - December 17th. The Afternoon Middle School Study Skills class will meet Tuesday afternoons from 3:45 PM - 5:45 at Burleigh Manor. The dates are October 16th - November 6th, and November 27th - December 17th. The fee for the Study Skills class is $165, and includes a copy of the Study for Success DVD. To register go to www.Stresslesstests.org, or contact Betty Caldwell at 410-740-4659 or at Bcaldwell@comcast.net. High School courses also available.

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

11/15/07 - Faulkner Ridge Center in Columbia - Chesapeake Room
1/17/08 - Faulkner Ridge Center in Columbia - Chesapeake Room
3/20/08 - Faulkner Ridge Center in Columbia - Chesapeake Room
5/15/08 - Faulkner Ridge Center in Columbia - Patuxent Room

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:

Thursday, October 25th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, Glenwood Branch Library, 410-313-5577
Thursday, November 1st, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, Miller Branch Library, 410-313-1950
Monday, November 5th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, Elkridge Branch Library, 410-313-5077
Saturday, November 10th, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Savage Branch Library, 410-880-5980

Walt Mueller, President and Founder of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (www.cpyu.org) will present "Understanding the Teenage World", at Chapelgate Church on Friday, October 5th, from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM and Saturday, October 6th, from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The church is located west of Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City. For more information, call 410-442-5800 or go to www.chapelgate.org.

The Columbia Teen Center will hold their 5th Annual "Hear My Voice" Teen Idol Competition at the Columbia Lakefront on Saturday, October 13th, from 4:00 PM. to 7:00 PM. The fun-filled evening will include a talent competition, cool prize giveaways, live bands, and a new iPod for the Columbia Teen Idol winner! Auditions will be held on Monday, September 24th and Thursday, September 27th at the Columbia Teen Center in the Oakland Mills Village Center. Call 410-992-3726 to register for the audition.

The Howard County Public School System and the Learning Disabilities Association of America are co-sponsoring "Social and Emotional Problems Often Seen with Individuals with Learning Disabilities." Dr. Larry B. Silver, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University will review the literature of what is called "a continuum of neurologically-based disorders" often found with individuals who have learning disabilities. The event will take place on Monday, October 1st from 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM at Reservoir High School in Fulton. Admission is free. The website for the Learning Disabilities Association of America - HC Chapter is www.ldaamerica.org.

The "One Step Closer" Autism Walk 2007 will take place on Saturday, October 13th at Centennial Park in Ellicott City. Registration will begin at 9:00 AM and the walk will begin at 10:00 AM. The walk is a great chance for families, individuals, and groups to have lots of fun and show support for a good cause. There will be many opportunities to meet other families in the community, become familiar with local businesses and service providers interested in the cause and most of all have fun! Register today at www.howard-autism.org. All proceeds benefit the Howard County Autism Society, a non-profit organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible.