Murray Hill Middle School
A Note From The Principal
Dear MHMS Families,
On Wednesday, October 14th, students will engage in the Math MAP assessment. Students will use their Homeroom Google Meet information on Wednesday to engage in the assessment during either our 9:00 a.m. administration or during our 1:00 p.m. administration. Students will learn more specific information regarding the MAP assessment, during their Homeroom period on Monday.. Please remind students to attend their Homeroom session weekly on Monday’s from 10:50-11:20.
Once again, I would like to encourage all families to closely monitor Canvas to stay up to date on student progress in each of their classes. We recognize that many of our students are still working to manage their time effectively, and it is essential that they do not fall behind on theri assignments.
Families I hope that you have a safe and enjoyable weekend, and if you have not already completed your Family File, please make time to complete it this weekend.
Sincerely,
Lisa R. Smithson
Principal
Murray Hill Middle School
Important Dates:
Week of October 12th
Spirit Week
October 13th @ 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Memory Book Pick-Up
October 14th
Math MAP Assessment
October 16th 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
3-Hour Early Dismissal (Schedule)
October 16th 12:00 pm-2:00 pm
Memory Book Pick-Up
October 22nd
Restaurant Night @ Sweet Frog
November 3rd
Schools and Offices Closed
November 6th
3-Hour Early Dismissal
MHMS News:
MAP Assessment: MHMS students engaged in the Reading MAP assessment this Wednesday, October 7th. For those students who did not engage in the assessment on Wednesday, homeroom teachers will be sending information regarding make-up testing, which will occur by October 30th.
The Math assessment will be offered on Wednesday, October 14th at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm (students enrolled in 7th grade Algebra I, 8th grade Algebra I, and Geometry are exempt from the Math MAP assessment). The assessment will be taken in Homeroom groups. Students may choose to attend either the morning or afternoon session. If your child is unable to attend, makeup testing will be offered during asynchronous learning times. Homeroom teachers will review Google Meet information on Monday. Please contact alexia_couch@hcpss.org, if you have any questions.
MHMS Spirit Week: Join us in our first SPIRIT WEEK for the 2020-2021 school year! Feel free to take pics and tag @hcpss_mhms on Twitter to show-off your school spirit.
Monday- Crazy Hat/Crazy Hair Day (Mr. C may win this, if we were awarding winners!)
Tuesday- PJ Day
Thursday- School Color Day (wear your MHMS spirit wear or Black and/or Gold)
Friday- Jersey Day
Reporting Absences: Attendance during Virtual Learning is critical. Students are expected to attend the entirety of their period 1, 2, 3, and 4 classes on Monday’s, Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Friday’s. If your student is unable to attend a Google Meet, due to illness, an appointment, etc., a note must be submitted within two days of the student’s return. To report an absence, please email: MHMSAbsence@hcpss.org.
Family File: Please remember that Family File must be updated every school year. HCPSS uses Family File for parents/guardians to complete emergency information. Parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child, and can do so by logging in to http://www.hcpss.org/connect/. Parents who have forgotten their login credentials for Family File may click the View instructions on resetting passwords. link on the sign in page.
Parents who are new to the Howard County Public School System will receive a welcome email with instructions to activate an account.
(Please note- change of address may not be made through Family File. If you have recently moved, please contact our Student Services Secretary, Brenda Ganzermiller, at brenda_ganzermiller@hcpss.org, as soon as possible)
Thank you to the 450 MHMS families who have completed their Family File for the 2020-2021 school year.
Memory Books: 2019-2020 Memory Books have finally been delivered!!!! We will facilitate another distribution of yearbooks on Tuesday, October 13th from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. and on Friday, October 16th from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. When you arrive in the front of the school, please call the main office (410-880-5897), and a staff member will bring your Memory Book to your vehicle. If you did not order a Memory Book, but would like one, we have additional copies for sale. Hard copies will be sold for $25.00 and soft covers will be sold for $20.00. Only cash or checks made payable to MHMS will be accepted.
School Supplies: A number of school supplies have been donated to MHMS. Reusable bags include a binder, loose-leaf paper, folders, post-it notes, spiral notebooks, index cards, pencils, erasers and earbuds. If your student is in need of school supplies, please come to the school any day next week, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. When you arrive in the front of the school, please call the main office (410-880-5897), and a staff member will bring the school supplies to your vehicle.
Meal Distribution: Meals are available daily at nearly all HCPSS schools. Students 18 and under can pick up a grab and go breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday at any meal distribution site. Food Services Staff have meals available from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Both breakfast and lunch can be picked up during either time slot. Several days of meals can even be pre-ordered. If MHMS is a convenient meal distribution site for your student, you will find our Food Services Staff ready to assist you right inside our main entrance doors. More detailed information can be found here.
From the Math Office: As a result of the 2020-2021 4X4 schedule, not every student is engaging in math this semester. We have heard from many families looking for math engagement during the fall semester in order to prepare for the spring semester. We suggest the Get Ready Courses in Khan Academy. This link takes you directly to these courses. These are excellent resources that combine topics from the last course your student took and the new course your student will take this year.
Materials Distribution and Collection: If you have items that need to be returned to MHMS (i.e. textbooks, media center books, instruments), please know that there is a collection bin located inside the first set of doors to our main entrance; items can be dropped off between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Additionally, if you were contacted by a MHMS staff member to receive art supplies, books for Seminar C, spring pictures, or a device, please contact the main office between 7:30 and 3:30 to arrange pick up (410-880-5897).
Building Access: MHMS is currently not accessible to parents or students. If you need to get in contact with MHMS staff, you can email staff directly, or call the main office at 410-880-5897. Main office staff will be available to assist during school days from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We ask for your patience, as we will be working with a reduced front office staff.
MHMS BSAP News:
MHMS BSAP Survey: Interested families, please complete the survey so that our BSAP program can be a support to you and your student. This survey is intended to gather information on ways the BSAP Liaison can support you and your student during the 2020-2021 school year from parents whose student(s) identify as Black or African American. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Whye at hope_whye@hcpss.org
MHMS BSAP & Me Parent Session: Please join your MHMS Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Liaison, Ms. Whye, for a BSAP & Me season on October 20th at 6:00 pm. During the session, you will be introduced to the program and have the opportunity to provide feedback about how we can best work together in this virtual world. Students are welcome to attend with parents. A Google Meet code will be shared as we get closer to the date.
MHMS Media Center News:
A Message For 6th Grade Students: We're very excited that we're going to start Curbside Library Media Book Pick Up for 6th graders soon, but first we need the 375 books that were checked out returned to their former elementary schools. Some kids have up to 5 books each - 375 - that's a LOT of books!
If you could please drop off your overdue media book to your previous elementary school vestibule or return box, (open 8-4pm) that would be the best! They will be SO happy to have them back to pass along to their current students! If you can't manage that, you can drop them off at MHMS and we'll make every effort to get them back to the right school & Library Media Collection.
Students can verify if they have overdue books by checking their Office 365 email (link on the bottom of hcpss.me) to see if they received an Overdue notice. Email address for students follows yourusualnameloginand#@inst.hcpss.org - You may have to designate EASTERN STANDARD Time - NYC or Washington DC. Look in the inbox for an overdue notice with the book titles.
Canvas inbox Ms. Gwyneth Jones or email if you have questions. Thank you!
MHMS PTA News:
PTA 2020-2021 Membership: Please visit https://mhms.new.memberhub.store/store to obtain your MHMS PTA membership for the 2020-2021 school year.
Pumpkin Painting Project: The Murray Hill Middle School PTA has partnered with Ellicott City’s The Pottery Stop to bring a fun project to our community. Place your order for kit(s). The kit includes an unpainted pumpkin, 4 paint colors to use, brush, and instructions. Once your order has been placed, you will receive an email asking for your address and phone number for delivery. Kits will be delivered to your home on Friday, October 16th. Bring your finished project to The Pottery Stop - 9050 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, Maryland - (410) 480-0111. Their wonderful staff will finish your project by firing it. We hope you enjoy painting your pumpkin!! Thank you for supporting your PTA. Visit our website to learn more.
SweetFrog Restaurant Fundraiser: The MHMS PTA is sponsoring a restaurant fundraiser on Thursday, October 22nd at sweetFrog (3341 Corridor Marketplace). The MHMS PTA will earn 25% of the sales. Please support by showing the SweetFrog Flyer.pdf when you visit sweetFrog on October 22nd.
Community News:
Winter Coat Giveaway: The Howard County MultiService Center will facilitate a Winter Coat Giveaway on Saturday, October 10th, from 10:00 am to noon (or until supplies run out), at the North Laurel Community Center (9411 Whiskey Bottom Road). See the attached flyer for details: WinterCoatGiveAway.pdf WinterCoatGiveAwaySpanish.pdf
Fresh Food Giveaway: Glen Mar UMC in partnership with the MD Food Bank will sponsor a fresh food give away on October 23rd, from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Glen Mar Church parking lot (4701 New Cut Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043). 200 families will be provided boxes of produce at each event. The boxes are FREE. See the flyer for more details: Pantry on the Go- Ellicott City Oct 23 English.pdf Pantry on the Go- Ellicott City Oct 23 Spanish.pdf
The Council of Elders Community Academy: See the attached flyer for information regarding The Council of Elders Parent Workshop Series: TCOE Flyer.png
Murray Hill Middle School | 9989 Winter Sun Road, Laurel, MD 20723 | 410-880-5897 | mhms.hcpss.org