The ViewPoint
Mount View Middle School
March 27, 2015
Upcoming Dates
March 27
Half Day for Students
March 30 – April 6
Spring Break
April 14
Report Cards Issued
Principal’s Corner
Your child needs to have the ability to work well with others
Few people rely only on themselves to make a living. Almost all of us
are interdependent – we give and take with others. Long before the work
world, your child must function in the interdependent world of school.
It’s important to stress and model cooperation with your child.
Remember that cooperation:
 Takes practice. Cooperate at home. Prepare a meal together. Take
turns folding laundry.
 Takes patience. You cannot cooperate effectively if you always think
you’re right, or if you insist on having your way.
 Takes planning. Working with people depends on each person
knowing what to do and following through. Let each person choose a
part. Write down what each person has agreed to do and by when.
 Takes perseverance. Sometimes things fall apart when you work
with another person. Talk it over. Make a new plan and try again.
Source: Barbara A. Lewis, Being Your Best, Character Building for Kids
Spring Testing Dates at MVMS
The MSA Science Test will be administered to all 8th grade students during periods 1 & 2 on
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 and Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Please make sure that you child
arrives to school on time during these testing days.
All students will be participating in the EOY (End of the Year) assessments for PARCC in
Math and English Language Arts (ELA). Please make sure that your child arrives to school
on time on the day of his/her test. The testing schedule for these assessments are:
 Monday, April 20, 2015 ~ All 8th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA
EOY assessment.
 Tuesday, April 21, 2015 ~ All 7th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA
EOY assessment.
 Friday, April 24, 2015 ~ All 6th grade students will be taking the PARCC ELA
assessment.
 Monday, April 27, 2015~ All 8th grade students will be taking the PARCC Math
EOY assessment.
 Tuesday, April 28, 2015 ~ All 7th grade students will be taking the PARCC Math
EOY assessment.
 Wednesday, April 29, 2015 ~ All 6th grade students will be taking the PARCC
Math EOY assessment.
More information about the PARCC assessments can be found on the Mount View Middle
School website under HCPSS Resources. The following website will also provide additional
information: www.parcc.org.
SAVE THE DATE! Middle School Program Overview is April 14th
Mount View Middle School invites parents of 5th grade students to attend an overview of
the middle school and G/T programs on Tuesday, April 14th at 7pm. Ms. Szalecki, the
6th grade counselor, will present information on the middle school courses and
schedule. Mrs. Mako, the G/T resource teacher, will discuss the G/T program and its
many offerings.
This overview is designed for parents only. Students will attend a visitation during the
school day on May 19th.
It's Time To Order YEARBOOKS!
Orders can be placed online with the yearbook company's website. There is NO
additional charge for this convenience. No more lost checks in backpacks or lockers!
Just go to ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter 9869915 as the yearbook code. From
there, you'll be prompted to order your yearbook.
The yearbook costs $25 and is an 80 page hardback book in full color which will be
given to students during the last week of school. Please have all orders in by April
20th. If you have any questions about ordering a yearbook, please contact Ms. Stumpfl
at pamela_stumpfl@hcpss.org.
Reading Events at Mount View--Three reading incentive programs are underway at Mount View. The Bowie Baysox are
offering a free student ticket to a baseball game in May to any student who reads 4 books
by the end of March. The Frederick Keys will give a free ticket to any student who reads 3
books by April 17th. Read Across Maryland and the "30/30 Challenge" started on March
1st. Students who pledge to read 30 minutes every day for the next 30 days (March 1March 30) will be entered to win a Kindle Fire or Amazon Gift Card. Contact Mrs. DeMoss,
or any ELA or II teacher for additional information.
From the Health Room
Immunization Requirements for the 2015-2016
School Year
Students entering 7th Grade for the 2015-2016 school year are
required by the State of Maryland to have a meningitis vaccine and a Tdap vaccine by the
first day of school, August 24, 2015.
Please contact your child’s health care provider to obtain documentation of these vaccines
(if they have previously been administered) or to schedule an appointment to receive the
required vaccinations. Failure to provide proof of updated immunizations by the first day
of school next year could result in your child being excluded from school. Please turn in
the necessary documentation to the Health Room as soon as possible. Physician’s offices
may fax immunization documentation directly to the Health Room at
410-442-8050. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Health Room at
410-313-5550. Thank you!
G/T Summer Institutes
The G/T Summer Institutes for Talent Development course catalog is now available
online at http://www.hcpss.org/academics/gifted-and-talented/
Green Team Tip Of The Month: Recycle FILM (aka plastic bags)
Right Here At Mount View!
Did you know... Plastic bags of all kinds can be recycled in your county blue bins, BUT they
are easily contaminated with food products. It's better to take them back to the
grocery store, Walmart, or Target and put them in the collection bins located at
the store entrance. The bags collected at these spots become new materials like Trex
Decking. In fact, the front benches and planters at Mount View, as well as the picnic tables
in our outdoor classroom are all made from recycled plastic!
If getting to the store doesn't work for your family, Mount View's Green Team is happy to
help. Just drop off your bags at our RecyclEASE location outside of the FACS
classroom, right next to the Reuse-A-Shoe drop off.
FILM that can be recycled includes not just grocery store bags, but any stretchy thin plastic
like bread bags (just shake out the crumbs!) and newspaper bags.
Remember... the more you recycle the less you pay in taxes! We pay to have our
garbage hauled away to a landfill in Virginia (Alpha Ridge is just a convenience center) so
the more that you recycle, the less you throw away. The less you throw away, the less tax
you pay for garbage removal! Be Green To Save Green!
PTA News
Have you linked your Harris Teeter VIC Card to the Mount View Middle
SchoolTogether in Education code, #2942?
Harris Teeter contributes a percentage of all HT brand purchases to the Mount View
Middle School TIE account when your VIC card is linked to our school. Here are two
easy ways to link your VIC card:
 visit your Harris Teeter store and ask your cashier to link your card to #2942.
 visit www.HarrisTeeter.com, Community, Together in Education and link your
card online.
Once you are signed up, we start raising funds. This year our goal is $2,000 and the
Together in Education funds can help us get there.
Ice Cream Social to support children living with
Rett Syndrome!
We have fun activities planned along with baked goods and music provided by
the
School
of
Rock!
Enjoy an evening of fun with your MVMS Community and support a great
cause!
Date: Wednesday, April 22nd
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: MVMS Cafeteria
Make
your
own
Sundae $1.00
per
scoop!
All
proceeds
will benefit
the
Alice's
Dream
Foundation
(http://www.alicesdream.org)!
The mission of Alice's Dream Foundation is to provide families in need with
durable medical equipment to provide greater independence and quality of life
for their children living with Rett Syndrome.
Send in those soda pop tabs for the Ronald
McDonald House!
The Community Outreach Committee is collecting soda pop tabs (aluminum)
for the Ronald McDonald House. The funds generated from recycling these
aluminum gems help offset expenses for families so they can have a home
away from home with children receiving medical care. This collection of pop
tabs goes until the end of the school year. Collection containers can be found
around the school or send in directly to Mrs. Parson's classroom. Thank you every bit makes a difference!
Backpack Buddies Program - Are you up next?
Congratulation to Mrs. Merza’s Falcon Time class for bringing in the most
donations this month! We appreciate your generosity!
The following Falcon Time Classrooms are asked to bring in donations for our
8th and FINAL collection:
Mezeivtch, Gavazzi, & Jennifer!
DUE Thursday, April 23rd!
Did you know…? Food insecurity exists in 17.2 million households in America,
3.9 million of them with children.
Use this link for a food list or to gather more information about this
program: http://mvmspta.yolasite.com/backpack-buddies.php
Students enrolled in the Maryland Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement
Program (MESA) from the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) are ready
to compete in the Howard County Regional MESA Day competitions. The
competitions will be held April 10, 2015, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Kossiakoff
Conference and Education Center at the Johns Hopkins University- Applied Physics
Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, MD. These science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) competitions involve a variety of events that include students
at the elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. Students will compete in
cyber security and computer programming events in which engineers and scientists
will evaluate their programming skills. Bridges designed and built out of balsa
wood under strict guidelines will be assessed for efficiency and structural integrity.
Creative and innovative abilities of students will be evaluated in events such as
effective communications and the storybook theme park ride. Construction and
racing of a Hovercraft will also be a part of this year's event. Middle and high
schools will compete in the Prosthetic Arm Challenge, which is the MESA USA
National competition, with the winner being eligible to compete for a chance to
represent Maryland in the national event in Ogden, Utah in June. HCPSS schools
that will compete include: Bryant Woods ES, Guilford ES (Monarch Mills after school
program),
St. John's Lane ES, Lake Elkhorn MS, Murray Hill MS, Oakland Mills MS, Patapsco MS,
Atholton HS,
Howard HS, Long Reach HS, Oakland Mills HS, Reservoir HS, and Wilde Lake HS.
HCPSS MESA students that win at this local competition will compete against
students from other Maryland school districts in the State Finals.
MVMS Website
The MVMS website has a new look! Visit http://mvms.hcpss.org and bookmark
for future reference.
Follow us on Twitter! @hcpss_mvms
The Marriotts Ridge High School Band and Music Foundation Present:
Jazz at the Ridge on Friday, April 10 at 7:00 pm in the MRHS Theater
Please join us for an night filled with great Jazz! This year's concert will feature The
Marriotts Ridge Big Band, Jazz Combo, and a special combined performance with the
Mount View Middle School Jazz Band along with our featured Guest Artist: David Bach
and the David Bach Consort
The Baltimore/Washington area is home to some great Jazz artists and each year we
strive to bring the best local talent to our stage. This year's featured guest artist is the
David Bach and the David Bach Consort. Keyboardist and composer David Bach is a
musician of many stripes. As an established fixture of the music metro area music scene,
Bach has honed a craft worthy of recognition from a dedicated fan base. He is the
recipient of two Gold Records and winner of the Maryland State Art Council
Performance Award. His band, The David Bach Consort, was the winner of the Jazz
Discovery Showcase on BET. They have performed with BB King at the Kennedy
Center, and was voted Best Instrumental Band by Music Monthly Magazine. He was a
finalist for the 2014 Maryland Music Awards in the Jazz category. For much more visit
www.davidbachmusic.com
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and can be ordered by sending an email to
jazzattheridge@gmail.com
Please be sure to include number of tickets needed and contact information in your
message.
The River Hill High School Gay Straight Alliance is hosting the first Howard County Pride Rally
on April 9th from 6-10pm at the Cafeteria. Admission is $5 and is open to all students, parents,
faculty, and community members who are interested in LGBTQ issues. The rally will feature a
panel of speakers including members of PFLAG, Towson University LGBTQ studies, UMBC
LGBTQ and gender studies, Equality Maryland, and community members. The event offers an
opportunity for participants to ask questions about the LGBTQ community, such as the college
and high school experience, career opportunities, the latest research in gender studies, and more!
There will also be student performances and light refreshments. It is sure to be a night of
community building and acceptance!
Community Information:
The following announcements have been approved by the Public Information Office for
school newsletters and distribution. These events are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the
Howard County Public School System.
North Laurel Community Center
A new, free walking program for the community beginning Sat., Mar. 28, at the North Laurel Park, at the
North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whisky Bottom Road, Laurel MD. The walking program will be
every Sat. from Mar. 28-Oct. 31. New member registration is at 8:45 a.m. program is 9-10 a.m. For more
information call 410-740-7601.
Columbia Association Art Center
Columbia Art Center School's Out Spring Break program for grades 1-8. Mar. 30- Apr. 3 and Apr. 6, 7:30
a.m.-5:30 p.m., $50 per child drop-off begins at 7:30; art activities beginning at 9 a.m. To register, please
call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email art.staff@columbiaassociation.org
Columbia Association Art Center
School’s Out Youth Visiting Artist Series, Mosaics, grades 6-8. Come create your own mosaic with
Korey Rosenbaum on Mar. 31, $50 per child, drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m.; art activities begin at 9 a.m. To
register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email art.staff@columbiaassociation.org
Columbia Association
School’s Out Youth Visiting Artist Series, Mosaics, grades 6-8. Come create your own mosaic with
Jackie Serpico on Mar. 31, $50 per child, drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m.; art activities begin at 9 a.m. To
register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email art.staff@columbiaassociation.org.
Robinson Nature Center
Anne Robinson’s Centennial Spring Break Activities
All ages, Wed., April 1-Sat., April 4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free with Robinson daily admission or annual pass.
www.howardcountymd.gov/RNCegacy.htm 410-313-0400.
Howard County General Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Free seminar for parents or coaches of student athletes featuring Johns Hopkins experts – learn about
concussions, overuse injuries, heat illness, common knee injuries and hernias, as well as injury prevention
and when to seek help for potentially serious conditions. Apr. 8, 6:30 p.m., register online:
http://bit.ly/YoungAthletteSerminar
Robinson Nature Center
Butterfly Gala, all ages, Sat., Apr 11, 6:30-9 p.m. The Howard County Therapeutics Division and
Robinson Nature Center cordially invite families of children and adults with special needs to join in an
evening of sensory-friendly activities celebrating spring.
Elkridge Youth Organization
The EYO 12U Baseball Team is hosting a Bingo Night, April 11, 7 p.m., at the OLPH Gym located at
4801 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City. There will be Designer Purses filled with great prizes for each bingo
winner and also Special Bingo card rounds. Tickets are $20.00 in advance or $25.00 at the door. Tickets
may be bought online at http://12ucanesbingonight.eventbrite.com or 12ubingo@verizon.net
Howard County Government
Howard County Office of Workforce Development & the Mid-Maryland Youth Council
2015 Youth Job Fair, Friday, Apr.17, 2- 5 p.m. The Sheraton Hotel in Columbia, located at 10207
Wincopin Circle, Columbia, Md. Free but youth must register at
www.MIDMDYOUTHFAIR2015.EVENTBRITE.COM Jermira Sarratt 410-290-2623 or
jesarratt@howardcountymd.gov
Cedar Lane School
Cedar Lanes Annual Walk for Our Stars, Sat. April 18, 10 a.m., Maple Lawn Community Center.
Come join us for this fun, non-competitive walk. All money raised will be used to support our students
with significant special needs and our staff. Funds will go towards the purchase of specialized equipment,
expand the school's cultural arts program, increase the number of student field trips, and provide staff
development opportunities beyond what is provided by the county. Please support The Walk and help
those who can't walk, learn to stand on their own and those who can't speak, find their voice. For further
information, please contact Cedar Lane School at 410-888-8800 or walkforourstars2015@verizon.net
Ballet Royale
Registration for Ballet Royale Institute of Maryland's 2015 Summer in Motion is open. Summer
Programs include intensives, one-on-ones, camps, evening classes and maintenance classes for all ages.
Programs run from July 13-Aug. 28, Ballet Royale offers an unbeatable combination of small class sizes,
great value and internationally recognized faculty. Register Sat., Mar. 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. to receive 10%
off your summer tuition. Call us at 410-997-8443 or visit us online at www.balletroyale.com.
AFS USA INC.
Host Families Sought for AFS Exchange Students: Next school year, some twenty AFS exchange
students from around the world will come to Howard County for a life-changing year of cross-cultural
sharing. Exchange students live in a family such as yours and attend the locally district HS from your
address.
Contact Christina McGarvey at 410-997-7087 or ckmcgarvey@tahoo.com More information is also
available http://www.afsusa.org/hosy-family.
Howard County Government
Womenfest…A Health & Wellness Event for Women, Sat., Apr. 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. FREE
Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood, Cooksville, MD.
For more information visit the event’s website at www.howardcountyaging.org/WomenFest or call 410313-5440.
CAMPS
YMCA
Join us for the best summer ever. At the Y, for various camps, discover, create and make memories that
will last a lifetime. Whether you’re the outdoorsy type, the air-conditioning type, the nature-lover type,
the sporty type, the traveler type, the science type, the “I want to get away from home!” type, or every
type in between, Y Camp will leave you with a grin on your face! For more information visit
www.ymaryland.org.
The Columbia Foundation, Women’s Giving Circle
Summer camp for rising 8th and 9th grade girls who will live on a college campus and learn leadership and
interpersonal skills, is set for July 12-18, at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. Sponsored by the
Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and operated by Maryland Leadership Workshops, Journey is
accepted applications at www.mlw.org Limited financial aid is available. Deadline is Mar. 15, 2015.
University of Maryland
Stepping Stones to Your Future is a coed engineering summer camp for rising 7 and 8 graders who are
interested in math, science, and engineering. There are 2 Stepping Stones sessions students can choose
from: Session 1 July 13-17 and Session 2 July 20-24, 2015. The application deadline is Fri., Mar. 20.
Applications can be found on the Women in Engineering website, http://www.wie.umd.edu/k12/sstyf
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email at dginnett@umd.edu or call me at
301-405-0315.
UMBC Summer Day Camp
The UMBC summer Day Camp will be celebrating it’s 36th year of existence in 2015, and we hope that
you will send your child to spend all or part of the summer with us. Please let us know if you have any
questions 410-455-2638 or email us at summercamp@umbc.edu