September 28, 2007     

School Pictures

School Pictures will be taken on Thursday, October 4th. The photographer will begin taking student pictures at 8:00 AM starting with 7th grade followed by the 8th grade, then 6th grade. All pictures will be completed by 10:30 AM. A flyer with picture selections and prices was sent home with your student. The envelopes for the picture money and your selection will be sent home on Wednesday, October 3rd.

Teacher Notes

From Mrs. Aldrich, Orchestra Teacher:
Congratulations to Allison K., Sea K., Hannah M. and Carol W., who were accepted into the Howard County Gifted and Talented Orchestra. Congratulations to Christiana C., Sydney D., and Minji K., who were accepted into the Howard County Enrichment Orchestra.

From Mrs. Quinn, GT Resource Teacher:
GT Parent Academies: Interested parents are invited to attend the Tuesday, October 2nd G/T Parent Academy at the Faulkner Ridge Center. This session will provide an overview of the Howard County Gifted and Talented Education Program at each level followed by a meeting for the parent representatives. The information presented will be especially useful to parents new to Mount View Middle School or the Howard County Public School System. Eighth grade parents can learn about the secondary GT Education Program in preparation for high school.

Instructional Seminars: Students who would like to participate in a GT Instructional Seminar must complete an application and set up time for an interview with Mrs. Quinn.

Memory Book: 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.

Parents of 6th grade students who elected to enroll in the GT Research Class will receive an email confirmation today. This class was offered to 6th grade students in at least two GT classes. If you gave permission for your child to take the class but did not receive an email, contact Mrs. Quinn at lquinn@hcpss.org.

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

Girl Scouts of Central Maryland sponsors Baby Sitter Training Classes for girls ages 12-17. These classes offer an opportunity to learn about safety, discipline, activities, and business savvy when it comes to childcare. Real Life CPR will teach everything a babysitter needs to know. At the end of the course, participants will earn a certification card for babysitting, CPR and First Aid. You do not need to be a Girl Scout to take the class. For more information, call 410-358-9711.

Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and Brownie Troop 580 are sponsoring "Let's Play Day" at Camp Ilchester in Ellicott City on Saturday, September 29th from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Come for an afternoon of fun and fitness, including dance, a rock climbing wall, games, kickboxing and much more. The event is open to all girls ages 6 - 12. The fee is $2. For more information, contact mpezzella@gscm.org or call 410-358-9711, x217.

The Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club will present the 12th Annual Howard County Farm Heritage Days on September 28th, 29th and 30th beginning at 9:00 AM. The event will take place at the Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum in West Friendship, across from Fairgrounds Road. Admission is $5 per person ages 12 and above, to benefit the Living Farm Heritage Museum. Vintage farm equipment demonstrations, antique cars & trucks, wagon rides, arts & crafts show and a flea market, are among the highlights of the event. For more information, call 410-531-2569 or 410-988-8165.

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

Fall 2007 Recreational Youth Volleyball League for grades 6 ? 8. The 6 week program begins on Saturday, October 6th at the Glenwood Community Center is Cooksville. . The cost to play is $75. For additional information contact Mike Blevins at 410-313-4720 or mblevins@howardcountymd.gov.

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.

Howard County Youth Program is currently accepting registrations for their 2007 - 2008 Winter Girls and Boys Basketball Program. Go to www.hcyp.org to register. Click on the "Register Now!" link next to "Basketball" and follow the instructions. Once completed you will be immediately registered for HCYP Basketball. MVMS front office has a flyer with more information and a registration form.