November 1, 2007

From Your MVMS Principal ...

One of the primary goals of the Howard County Public School System is to ensure that all students meet or exceed rigorous standards for student achievement, as established by HCPSS and the state of Maryland. To monitor progress towards the goal, our school system has developed its own formative assessments, called local assessments. Schools administer these local assessments in math, English, science, and social studies quarterly; reading is embedded in each of the assessments. At this time, there is also a Health Education assessment quarterly and a World Language assessment at the end of 8th grade.

Individual student scores are collected school and county-wide. Scores are disaggregated so that both teaching and learning can be analyzed. Your student's scores are calculated in the quarterly grade as a test score. Teachers will work with students to identify areas of strength and weakness in the curriculum content, in addition to reading and writing skills. As parents, ask your students how they did on the assessments. Check the grade. At Mount View Middle School, we believe our students should score better than 70%. The assessments are secure testing materials, so they cannot be sent home; however, encourage your students to talk about study skills and what kinds of questions were hard or easy.

Quarter 1 Report Cards are just around the corner. Neither you nor your student should be surprised by any grade, so have regular discussions about your child's progress. You can certainly check the teacher web sites for ongoing assignments and many of the teachers are transferring their grades to an online grading system, which parents can access throughout the quarter. Remember, an A = Outstanding Performance, a B = High Level Performance, and a C = Satisfactory Performance. Daily attendance is also reported and is critical for student success since valuable teaching and learning occur every day.

In middle school, it is important to celebrate student successes with praise and it is important to recognize student weaknesses with support. At times, your children may hit a stumbling block with an unsatisfactory grade and this provides a good learning opportunity for adolescents. Help your student make a plan for improvement, if that is what is necessary. Or help your student set goals for greater achievement - what is an A+ or what do we mean when we say, "Give 110%?"

I want to congratulate our students, staff, and parents for a great first quarter and a strong start to the 2007-08 school year. I look forward to reviewing assessment results and PBIS initiatives as we continue our BOLD STEPS towards excellence in teaching and learning.

Sincerely,

Kathryn S. McKinley
Principal

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held at Mount View Middle School Monday, November 19th, Tuesday, November 20th, and Wednesday, November 21st.

Monday, November 19th
    12:00 PM-3:00 PM
    5:00 PM-7:30 PM
Tuesday, November 20th
    12:00 PM-3:00 PM
    5:00 PM-7:30 PM
Wednesday, November 21st
    8:00 AM-11:00 AM
    12:00 PM-3:00 PM

Mount View Middle School uses the on-line internet program, PickATime, to schedule parent/teacher conferences. A letter explaining PickATime has been sent home with your student and through eschool or you can access the letter through Mount View's website. For additional questions, please call MVMS front office, 410-313-5545.

PTA Sponsored Educational Event

Recent correspondence from many parents at Mount View has shared concerns with PTA and administration regarding the time and stress of homework. In a first step targeting this concern the PTA is sponsoring a speaker, Jocelyn Martin, a teacher at River Hill High School. Her presentation will be "Making Academic Learning More Efficient." All MVMS families--including students--are invited to this presentation on Thursday, November 15th, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM in MVMS Cafeteria. 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.

Box Tops For Education

Please remember to clip all BOX TOPS for our school. Send them in for your child to drop off in the boxes in the main office. This is an easy way to make extra money for Mount View Middle School!

Teacher Notes

From Mrs. Quinn, GT Resource Teacher:

Instructional Seminars including Debate, Digital Photography, Graphic Art, Model Rocketry, Stock Market, Video Production, and Web Design are taught by Mrs. Quinn in the GT room. Contact Mrs. Quinn if your child completed an application but has not received a schedule. If you have experience in any of the listed instructional seminars, please consider presenting to our students for one class. If interested please contact Mrs. Quinn at lorraine_quinn@hcpss.org.

Parent volunteers will be needed for the GT Enrichment Fair on Thursday, May 8th. If you can help out working with students or assisting that night, contact Mrs. Quinn.

Invitation For All 6th Graders

Be among the first to see the much anticipated Bee Movie starring Jerry Seinfeld in the movie theater at Columbia Mall on Friday, November 2nd (School is closed due to a Professional Day). We will be attending the showing at 2:20 PM. The admission price will include a small popcorn, drink and piece of candy. Because the PTA is subsidizing this event, the reduced cost is only $10.00 per student (The regular price of admission plus snack is $12.00). In order to receive the discount, you must return the permission slip (below) and a $10 check to Front Office. We have extended the last day to turn in money until Thursday, November 1st, since we were not able to post the movie time until today. NO WALK-INS. Please make checks payable to MVMS PTA. Please do not send cash!

Parents are responsible for transportation. Please arrive 15 minutes early so that we may all sit together.

If you have any questions, contact Susan Kelly at mdkellys@verizon.net or Suki Nam at sukinam@comcast.net.

DOWNLOAD Permission Slip

Community News

The Black Student Achievement Program - Saturday Math Academy (BSAP-SMA) will be starting its Fall Session on November 10th. The BSAP-SMA is open to all HCPSS students in grades 4 - 11 on Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the Media Center at Oakland Mills High School. Students that are on, above or below grade level in mathematics will work in an informal, yet structured, and nurturing environment. We will have registration this Saturday, November 3rd, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Oakland Mills High School in the Media Center. Registration must take place on-site at Oakland Mills High School. If you have any questions, please contact Patricia Branner-Pierce, Black Student Achievement Program at 410-313-6771. There will also be a Spring Session beginning on Friday, January 11th. Spring Registration will take place on Saturday, January 5th at OMHS

MRHS Mustang Stampede 5K Run and 1 mile Fun Run/Walk: This Saturday, November 3rd, 9:00 AM. It's not too late to register for the Mustang Stampede! Check out all the details on the Boosters web site

www.mrhs-boosters.com/stampede07.html
All participants receive a Mustang Stampede t-shirt designed by a very talented MRHS student. You can register in person Friday, November 2nd, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM at MRHS or Race Day from 7:30 AM - 8:55 AM. Any questions, contact Craig Stout mustang5k@comcast.net or 410-750-6326.

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.

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 Council, 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.

Calendar

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. 12
1:00 - Parents may begin to schedule Parent/Teacher Conference

Nov. 13
Report Cards Issued

Nov. 18
5:00 - Conference Scheduling closes

Nov. 19
Early Dismissal - 11:25 AM -Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:00 PM-2:45 PM and 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Nov. 20
Early Dismissal - 11:25 AM -Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:00 PM-2:45 PM and 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Nov. 21
No School for Students - Parent/Teacher Conferences 8:00 AM 11:00 - AM and 12:00 PM -2:45 PM

Nov. 22
Schools Closed - Happy Thanksgiving

Nov. 23
School Closed

After School Activities for Week of November 5th:

Flag Football:
Tuesday, Wednesday, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
(Flag football intramural make up days will be Friday, November 9th and Monday, November 12th.)

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

SEE THE COMPLETE
MOUNT VIEW CALENDAR