Changes to the Middle School curriculum – BOE hearing Jan 12th
There are big changes in the works for the middle school curriculum which could start this September. Some of the significant proposed changes are listed below:
- Remove Reading as a stand-alone class and incorporate literacy instruction into all courses. Instead, an English/Language Arts class would be taught.
- Increase class period length (since one less class offered) resulting in seven 50-minute periods a day
- Increase PE instruction to 90 calendar days, when possible (up from 45 days)
- Students have option of starting a World Language in 6th grade.
As you can see the whole school day would change for middle schoolers. Teachers, staff, administrators, parents, PTAs, and more have been reviewing these proposed changes and taking positions regarding them. To help you make an informed stance on the proposed changes, please check out the links below for additional information:
- HCPSS’s Facts: the Proposal to Restructure Middle School Reading Program
- HCPSS’s Overview of the Proposed New Middle School Program of Studies – presented to BOE 12/8/11
- PTA Council of Howard County Power Point Presentation given PTA Delegates on 1/2/12
- Howard County Education Association (Teacher’s Union) Response
- Relevant News articles:
Wondering why all the changes? Maryland has to implement new national Common Core Standards in 2013-2014 and the resulting national assessments. The new Maryland State Assessments (MSA’s) will no longer be used after Spring 2013 and the new assessments will being on Spring 2014.
Our principal, Cindy Dillon, welcomes parents to talk to her about this proposal and she will take the time to discuss them with you. Also, please share your opinions on these proposed changes with the Howard County Board of Education at their Jan 12th meeting at 7:30pm or email the Board ahead of time at boe@hcpss.org.
Your time staying up-to-date on the school curriculum helps not just your child, but all students in Howard County Public Schools.
Allison Anderson
PTA President
Additional Information on Proposed Changes:
- http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/files/8PAJAF4C3575/$file/12%2008%202011%20Middle%20School%20Program%20Studies%20BR.pdf
- http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/howard/news/ph-ho-cf-reading-1215-20111213,0,390784.story
- http://columbia.patch.com/articles/cutting-middle-school-reading-bold-step-or-joke
PTA-Sponsored Dance, Friday January 27th
Get ready for the first PTA-sponsored middle school dance of the year!
Event: The Snow Ball
Date: Friday, January 27, 2012
Time: 7:00pm-10:00pm
Admission: $3.00 (lunch time ticket sales January 25-27)
Location: Patapsco MS Gymnasium and Cafeteria
Attendees: Patapsco MS students ONLY
To volunteer at the dance or to sell tickets during lunch, please visit SignUp Genius at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45ABAF29A46-winter. You will be instructed to create an account with SignUp Genius if you don’t already have one. If you have any problems signing up online, please contact the dance volunteer coordinator, Trish DeWitt, at btkad@verizon.net.
The kids are going to have a “ball” at the dance!
PTA Meeting 11/15
Come hear what’s on the horizon with BOE member, Brian Meshkin
Have you heard about legislation to resturcture the Howard County Board of Education was withdrawn?
Have you heard redisticting plans for 2012 associated with the opening of the new Elkridge elementary school will affect some Patapsco families?
Have you heard HCPSS has chosen a site for the new middle school which they plan to open in 2014?
Did you know the Howard County Board of Education (BOE) is involved with ALL of these decisions and many more?
Join a discussion with the BOE representative, Brian Meshkin, at our November PTA meeting. We are starting early at 6:30pm with a chat with Mr. Meshkin on these issues to learn what is on the horizon for our students from the BOE’s perspective. Mr. Meshkin needs to leave at 7:15pmand then we will hold our regular PTA business.
Please plan to attend this very important PTA meeting to learn valuable information that will affect your children.
Homework help will be available from Peer2Peer Tutors so bring your students. Tell your friends and we will see you there!
Patapsco PTA Board
Fall, 2011 Spirit Wear Order Form
Order your 2011 Patapsco Spirit Wear now!
Deadline Friday, October 28, 2011
Thank you for your support!
Why is your PTSA questioning the use of proceeds from the Alcohol Tax for Turf Fields at 2 HCPSS High Schools?
Why is your PTSA questioning the use of proceeds from the Alcohol Tax for Turf Fields at 2 HCPSS High Schools?
On Thursday, October 20th at 7 pm, at the Board of Education Building located on Route 108, the BOE will vote on using the alcohol tax proceeds for turf fields at 2 high schools. Anyone interested in the matter is encouraged to attend or to email the Board of Education at boe@hcpss.org.
Your Mt. Hebron PTSA first learned of the issue in an article in The Baltimore Sun. As a result, your PTSA wrote the following to the Board of Education:
The Mt. Hebron PTSA is seeking your response to its questions arising from comments made by a HCPSS employee in the October 5, 2011 The Baltimore Sun article regarding the allocation of proceeds from the alcohol tax. The article stated:
“The state Board of Public Works, made up of the governor, the comptroller and the state treasurer, approved $4 million in spending projects in Howard County, in part to replace grass football fields with artificial turf at Atholton and Hammond high schools.
Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat, pressed Wayne Crosby, director of school facilities for the county, on whether upgrading the fields was the school system’s most pressing problem.
Crosby noted that the artificial fields would last 20 years and be tough enough to be used by surrounding communities as well as the schools’ teams.
Other Howard County projects approved Wednesday included an improved weight room at Wilde Lake High School, new cabinets in the art room at Wilde Lake Middle School, and lockers and a new stadium press box at Oakland Mills High School.”
As you know, the Mt Hebron PTSA subcommittee, Help Mt Hebron, has been meeting with Howard County school officials on a monthly basis for a several years cooperatively discussing the ongoing renovation of Mt Hebron High School. On numerous occasions committee members requested that the renovation’s excess funds be used for the installation of turf fields at Mt Hebron instead of being directed to other HCPSS capital improvement projects. Indeed, we regularly offered to be the pilot for any turf field program that HCPSS may consider.
While HCPSS school officials agreed that it would be more cost effective to install turf fields during the renovation rather than later, they were unable to support such a pilot. School officials stated repeatedly that no Howard County school would receive a turf field until funds were available to provide all high schools with such a field. They stated they would follow the precedent set when all football fields received stadium lights. It was an equity issue they stated. Help Mt. Hebron then and today certainly understood and supported such a policy.
However, with the statements made by HCPSS staff, the Mt Hebron PTSA requests a response to the following questions:
- Does HCPSS have funds to pay for turf fields for all Howard County high schools? If so, what is the start and finish date for all schools?
- If funds are not available for the remaining high schools, when did HCPSS change its policy on equity? Was there any public discussion of the change and the plan to accept the money?
- What was the rationale in choosing Atholton and Hammond High Schools? Did the Gilbert Studies that were conducted on all the high schools to determine need for a renovation identify these fields as the most needy or unsafe? Or was the decision influenced by politics as stated in The Baltimore Sun stated the following:
“Most of the money was earmarked in the legislation for Baltimore City and for Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, drawing criticism from Republican lawmakers who called the allocation unfair. They said the earmarking was used to get votes for the measure from those counties.”
Your response is greatly appreciated so we may address our communities many questions.
Sincerely,
Angela Ballard-Landers, Mt. Hebron PTSA President
Maryland PTA Reflections Art Program
Maryland PTA Reflections Art Program
The theme for the 2011-2012 Maryland PTA Reflections program is ”Diversity Means…”
There are some changes to the 2011-2012 program, so please read all of the materials carefully! We NEVER want to disqualify a student’s entry because the chair didn’t follow the instructions – read carefully and contact MD PTA if you have ANY questions.
The complete 2011-2012 Reflections Local Chair Guide, including all the forms and rules can be found linked below:
Patapsco Movie Night! Tonight!
Join your friends and bring your family for the first ever Patapsco MS PTA Family Outdoor Movie Night!
This FREE event takes place this Friday, Sept. 30 from 7:30pm-10:00pm on the lower field behind the school. The students voted and our feature presentation will be mega mega “Mega Mind” starting at 8pm following half an hour of music and games for the kids.
The first 300 people receive FREE popcorn and a FREE glow necklace. Bring a lawn chair, blanket and your own drinks and snacks. School rest rooms will be open.
The PTA will be collecting Tissues for Teachers at the movie, so please bring a box or two.
Please note that Movie Night is NOT a drop-off event. All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
We still need a few good volunteers to help out for only a half hour shift during the event. If you can volunteer or have any questions, please contact Caroline Bodziak at cbodziak@aol.com or 410-461-1605.
Back to School Night & Vocelli’s Pizza Night! 9/15
The Patapsco PTA is kicking off the year and wants to remind you to attend two important events over the next week - Back-to-School night this Thursday, 9/15 (6:30 PM) and first PTA meeting 9/19 (7:00 PM).
Thursday night leave the cooking to Vocelli’s before heading to school for Back-to-School night. Vocelli’s is donating 20% of sales to our PTA. Give the attached flyer to the driver and mention Patapsco PTA when ordering. Also, plan to visit the PTA membership table during Back-to-School night and help support our programs.
Monday night 9/19 at 7pm we will be having our first general membership meeting to vote on our budget, discuss upcoming programs and ways to get involved with the Patapsco PTA. As an additional incentive to attend, Peer2Peer Tutors will have tutors available to help your school students with their homework while you attend the meeting, how fabulous is that?! Connect with other families and school staff, support the education of all students and get some homework help for your student! Priceless!
As always, thank you for your time, energy and support of Patapsco Middle School. I look forward to seeing on Thursday and meeting you in person on 9/19 at the PTA meeting.
Allison Anderson
PTA President
8th Grade T-Shirts
Patapsco Class of 2012 “Kicks Off” T-Shirt Campaign (Order Form)
The 8th grade class has the honor of creating its own Signature Tshirt which will be worn exclusively by this year’s 8th grade students. The shirt will have a logo design on the front and the large numerals ‘12’ on the back. The students will write their names inside these numerals, and their signatures become part of the actual 12 design. There will be a contest to select the front logo design. Students submit a drawing (see rules below); the teachers select the finalists, then the entire 8th grade votes on the winning design.
Please note: The logo contest is totally optional for those that want to enter a design.
Place your design in an envelope or folder and give it to Ms. Hopkins ( room F8). You may enter only 1 design per student. Do not fold or crease your design.
The winner of the logo design contest receives a free short sleeve tee shirt.
We’d like to see each 8th grade student place an order. This will be a great keepsake for years to come.
THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE TO ORDER THESE EXCLUSIVE T-SHIRTS!!! WE CANNOT RE-ORDER NOR EXCHANGE WRONG SIZES.
T-SHIRT ORDER FORM
Please review the sample sizes at the school before you order. Even if you are choosing not to place an order we would like you to sign your name in the space provided on the order form and give it to your homeroom teacher.
RULES FOR THE FRONT LOGO DESIGN:
- Designs should be no larger than 6 inches by 6 inches on plain white paper
- Blue or black ink only; do not fill in with colored pens or markers
- Must be hand drawn, simple design-no computer pictures
- Be creative and try to incorporate something meaningful into the design about PMS or your experience at PMS
- Must include the following 2 items: the name Patapsco and numbers 2012 or 12 or “Class of “ 2012 or 12
- Optional idea to include the mascot… Knight
- Students must not put their names anywhere on the front of the design, but should write lightly in pencil on the back of the
- design and away from the actual artwork
DESIGN & ORDER DEADLINE is Friday, September 30, 2011.
Any questions call Patti LeConte @ 410-750-3545
or email: pattileconte@verizon.net
Welcome 2011-2012 School Year!
NEW SCHOOL YEAR, NEW PEOPLE, NEW PATAPSCO PTA!
The new school year brings an ALL NEW Executive Board for the Patapsco PTA. This is good news since we will bring new energy and new ideas. However, we will have a learning curve so keep the lines of communication open and be patient! The mission of the Patapsco PTA will again be TOGETHERNESS with a focus on all parents working to support all kids with the help of all the Patapsco staff! We strongly encourage you to reach out to any PTA Officer to share your ideas, concerns and/or offers of help. We plan to expand membership, PTA programs/events and have LOTS of new volunteers involved in the PTA to support students. Get connected to Patapsco PTA and email us today with your ideas/comments at patapscopta@gmail.com. Patapsco PTA meetings will take place on the third Tuesday of each month with the exception of the first meeting which will be on Monday, September 19th at 7pm. Also, look for the PTA membership form and Volunteer forms to join us in supporting our school and our students.
We need everyone’s help! We look forward to meeting you in person soon!
The Patapsco PTA Executive Board
- Allison Anderson, Caroline Bodziak, Patti Lizzo, Emily Rice, Kari Schumm and Christina Siedlecki
