Middle River Middle School
800 Middle River Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21220
Winter 2017
QUICK REFERENCE
Main Office:
410-887-0165
Student Services: 410-887-0164
Nurse:
410-887-0168
Principal:
Mrs. Shannon Parker
Assistant Principals:
Dr. Lori Howell - Grade 6
Mr. George Miller - Grade 7
Dr. Lori Howell - Grade 8
School Resource Officer:
Officer Tim Thulion
EMAIL ADDRESSES
Main Office:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Student Services:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Nurse:
[email protected]
School Resource Officer:
[email protected]
Principal:
[email protected]
Assistant Principals:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Don’t forget to check out the
MRMS Website.
http://middleriverms.bcps.org
From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Middle River Families,
Welcome to the second semester of the 2016-2017 school year!! I hope the
New Year finds you happy and healthy! Mother Nature sure has been a friend
to us thus far! Hopefully we will get through this winter without too much
snow! A little bit would be nice though!
While we are in the middle of winter, we are anxiously looking forward to the
installation of air conditioning in our classrooms for the start of the 2017-18
school year!! Pre-construction work is already underway, and students and
staff will begin to notice evidence of the construction work taking place in the
evenings and on weekends. However, once the work begins, it will not interfere with our school day, or any school sponsored activities. We look forward
to the completion of this project! Please note that due to the construction, the
Middle River front office and counseling office will be relocated for the summer. More information to come regarding the change in our location for the
summer.
Speaking of winter weather, please be sure that your child is appropriately
dressed for the temperatures. As a reminder, students are not permitted in to
the building until 8:00 am. If your child arrives much earlier than this, please
make sure they are dressed warmly while waiting outside as we do not have
staff on duty to supervise students prior to our scheduled start time. When
there is a potential for winter weather that may alter our school day, please
monitor the local media as well as social media (BCPS/MRMS twitter account,
Facebook account and the BCPS website) to learn of any changes to the school
day. Please remind your child that hats and hoods of any kind are NOT PERMITTED to be worn in the school building. We appreciate your continued support during the cold winter days!
As we move in to the second semester of this year, we encourage you to work
with us to help your child stay abreast of his/her academic studies. This can be
accomplished by reviewing your child’s binder nightly, regularly checking
BCPS One for grade updates and class information, and limiting time on social
media and video games. Please be sure you have replenished your child’s
school supplies (pencils, paper, binder if necessary, etc). Keeping the lines of
communication open between you and your child’s teachers can also help both
you and your child stay on top of his/her grades. All teachers can be reached
through email via BCPS One. If you need assistance with your BCPS One account, please call our front office for assistance.
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
you to work with us to help your child stay abreast of
his/her academic studies. This can be accomplished
by reviewing your child’s nightly homework with
him/her, regularly checking BCPS One for grade updates and class information. Keeping the lines of
communication open between you and your child’s
teachers can also help both you and your child stay on
top of his/her grades. All teachers can be reached
through email via BCPS One. If you need assistance
accessing BCPS One please call our front office and
they can direct you to the proper staff member for assistance.
Mr. George Miller
Grade 7, Assistant Principal
I would like to take this time to
thank our students, parents, and
Middle River Middle School community for the work
that we have achieved during the first half of our academic school year. There are a lot of great things happening here at Middle River Middle School. We will
continue to work to improve our school culture by ensuring that we have a safe school environment for
ALL students. Having a safe school environment not
In closing, I’d like to thank you again for your contin- only includes every student being physically safe, but
ued support of our endeavors to work with your chil- it also includes ALL students having a sense of bedren each and every day. Please don’t hesitate to con- longing to their school community.
tact us should you have questions or need assistance!
The vision of Middle River Middle School is for stuSincerely,
dents to graduate as 21st century learners in order to be
competitive in tomorrow’s global community. In orShannon K. Parker
der to be successful, students will need to think creaPrincipal
tively, critically, and intuitively, solve real world problems, communicate effectively (verbal & written
forms), work in teams, use technology to accelerate
From Our Assistant Principals
learning outcomes, and develop healthy, ethical lifestyle habits. Therefore, the ROAR motto is one that
Dr. Lori Howell
students must observe daily. The ROAR motto states
that students are Respectful, On-Task, Achieving and
Grade 6, Assistant Principal
Responsible!
Wow! Our school year is half way over. My
class of sixth graders are awesome students. As we enter the new semester, please
be sure to be mindful of your student’s
attendance. Please ensure that your student
arrives each day, on time and ready for the
day’s learning activities. Also, please check
your student’s device periodically to ensure
that they are effectively utilizing their digital
learning environment. I look forward to the
continuance of a great school year for our
grade six students!
I encourage you to remind your child daily that embracing the ROAR motto will ensure they are a successful student at Middle River Middle School. We
will continue to have incentives to celebrate our students who consistently follow our Code of Conduct,
our goal is to have all students included in our incentive activities. In addition, to the Code of Conduct,
attendance is a factor in our incentives activities. Students should maintain a 95% attendance rate to maximize exposure to instruction.
Student academic success and personal responsibility
at Middle River Middle School are dependent on a
cooperative triangle comprised of student-teacherparent/guardian. Through a close and shared partnership with all stakeholders associated with Middle River Middle School, I am confident our school will continue to be a successful place for our students to learn
and grow. I am so excited and honored to be the 7th
grade Assistant Principal of Middle River Middle.School! ROAR!
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Kristy Allan, Grade 8
Assistant Principal
Greetings, Students, Parents and Guardians!
As we approach the midpoint of the school
year, the eighth grade team continues its
work to provide welcoming learning environments for students each and every school
day. Our teachers have been working on
making connections with students, supporting them in understanding each student’s
strengths and areas for growth. Teachers
and students have been working together in
each class to have dialogue regarding the
new BCPS grading policy, assignments
available for “redo” and the process students
follow when redoing an assignment. Students are also encouraged to utilize Pride
Time for opportunities to revisit the content,
complete make-up work, ask teacher questions and schedule to attend coach classes.
Planning for end of the year activities for
grade 8 has begun! A date for the Farewell
Assembly will be provided once it is available.
Who to contact:
Mrs. Allan, Assistant Principal – Grade 8
Mrs. Roh, Team Leader – Grade 8
Grade 8 students are reminded to of the
components of the BCPS student handbook
and the day to day expectations for student
learning. Students are expected to come to
school each day with the necessary supplies
to fully participate in all planned learning
activities. This is a great time of year to
check with students and replenish any needed supplies. Students should have a binder
(with paper), pencils and pens ready for
each class, each day.
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think!”
Albert Einstein
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle River IS HAVING A RECYCLING CONTEST !!!
We will be recycling plastic bottles and aluminum
cans! Just drop your bottles and cans in our collection box in the cafeteria. We’ll pull one winner
(bottle or can) per week!
LIDS and NAME MUST BE ON THE BOTTLES
FOR A Chance TO WIN
25 Prides
“A piece of plastic a day keeps waste out of the bay!”
MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
WHOM SHOULD I CALL?
When parents have questions or concerns about their
child’s progress in school we encourage parents to call
the specific teacher first, or the team leader if the concern is about more than one class. You can call
410.887.0165 to leave a message for any of our teachers. If you have a question or concern about career exploration or any overall academic or social-emotional
concerns about your child, feel free to call the Student
Services Office at 410.887.0164.
Team Leaders are:
Mr. Snelling Grade 6 [email protected]
Mrs. Ruckelshaus Grade 7 [email protected]
Ms. Catanese Grade 8 [email protected]
You may also contact the assistant principals Dr. Howell, Grade 6; Mr. Miller, Grade 7; and Mrs. Allan,
Grade 8; or the principal, Mrs. Parker. We can be
reached at 410.887.0165.
Art News
March is National Youth Art Month
The “Kindness for Paws” art will be on display at
White Marsh Mall from February 4th through February 12th. A reception will be held on February 12th
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. During this time, you may peruse the art work to purchase. This is a fundraiser for
the Maryland SPCA and approximately sixty 7th graders will be participating. The time spent will be counted as student service learning hours.
In celebration of National Youth Art month, select Baltimore County Public Schools students will have their
artwork on display at the Walter’s Art Museum. The
art work will be on display beginning on March 1st
through 12th. On March 12th , there will be a reception for students and their families from 1p.m. - 3p.m.
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PTSA UPDATE
Middle River Middle School held a fundraiser at PIE
FIVE, located in White Marsh on Monday, January
23rd. Regardless of the wind and rainy weather, the
night was a success. Thank you MRMS staff, parents
and students. A big shout out to PIE FIVE for their
generosity. All of your continued support is greatly
appreciated.
Be on the look out for our next
delicious fundraiser.
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
BUS LOADING/UNLOADING AREAS
Please do not pull into the circle drive at the beginning or end of the school day. In order to provide an
orderly and timely dismissal, the buses park in assigned places around the circle. If there are cars in the
circle, the buses are unable to unload/load properly.
GRADE 8 TRANSITION YEAR RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
Baltimore County Public Schools’ policy requires that
all students transitioning from Grade 5 to Grade 6 and
Grade 8 to Grade 9 verify residency prior to the start
of the school year. Provisions for student enrollment
and attendance are outlined in Board of Education
Policy and Superintendent’s Rule 5150, STUDENTS:
Enrollment and Attendance. A copy of this Policy
HOURS
and Rule 5150 can be obtained by accessing the link
Students may enter the building at 8:00 a.m. First pe- http://www.bcps.org/system/
riod begins at 8:18 a.m. Students should go directly to policies_rules/5000toc.htm.
their homeroom classes. Bus riders will be dismissed
to board their buses at 2:45 p.m. Walkers are disVerification of residency requires at least five (5)
missed at 2:50 p.m.
documents from the parent/guardian, including photo
As a reminder:
Upon entering the building, students are to remove all
hats, hoods, and earphones. Cell phones are to be kept
in the locker.
identification, one of the following documents providing proof of domicile: deed or lease, title, mortgage
coupon book, real estate tax bill or receipt, and three
pieces of business mail or documentation dated within
sixty (60) days of the date submitted. All documents
must reflect the same address.
PHONE MESSAGE POLICY
The above information is to give you advance notice of the residency requirements for transitioning
grade 8 students.
Please do not call school with a message for your
child. Our class time is devoted to learning. We cannot interrupt instruction to deliver personal messages. THIS INFORMATION CAN BE PROVIDED TO
In the event of an extreme emergency, an administra- GUIDANCE STARTING THE FIRST WEEK OF
tor must give permission for the message to be de- MAY.
livered.
CHECKS
STUDENT TRANSFERRING SCHOOLS?
If your student will be transferring schools, please
allow the Guidance Department 48 hours advancednotice to prepare your student’s transfer packet. You
may call them at 410.887.0164 to schedule an appointment for registration or withdraw packets.
Unfortunately, due to the issuance of dishonored
checks presented to Baltimore County Public Schools
last school year, MRMS will not be able to accept
personal checks. We will accept cash, cashier’s
checks, and money orders for items such as physical
education uniforms, yearbooks, etc. However, the
cafeteria will continue to accept checks for money
placed on student accounts. We apologize for any inconvenience that this might cause.
MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
DRESS CODE
We have used common sense and reasonableness to
form our dress code. Before your child leaves for
school, one should ask if the outfit would be acceptable in the world of work. Even in the hot weather students need to come to school with their bodies covered in a modest fashion. The following are guidelines for shopping;
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Skirts, dresses, or shorts need to be fingertip
length
No undergarments should be exposed
Tops need to cover midriff and should not be
strapless, tank tops, or muscle tee shirts; straps
should be at least two finger-width
Avoid clothing or other items (jewelry, etc.)
depicting either a dehumanizing message or a
danger to others (including, but not limited to,
chains, dog collars, metal stud bracelets, etc.)
Shoes or sandals must be suitable for outdoor
wear and provide foot safety (no slippers)
No nightclothes, pajamas, or loungewear
In cool weather, students must keep coats in
his/her assigned locker; sweaters or sweatshirts
are good choices
No hats, scarves, or bandannas
Expensive jewelry and all electronic devices/
headsets should be kept at home. This allows
our students and staff to focus on achievement
rather than on lost/misplaced/stolen items
LOCKERS
All students are assigned a locker. Outer coats, book
bags, backpacks, large purses, cell phones, and other
electronic devices are to be kept in the lockers.
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DONATION OF HEADPHONES/
EARBUDS
As we move toward a blended curriculum, students
will be using headphones/earbuds as part of their
learning process. We would appreciate any donations
of these items to assist students with their learning.
FROM THE LIBRARY
It is never too late to return overdue library books.
Library books from any Baltimore County Public
School can be returned to Middle River Middle. Payments for lost/damaged books also are accepted. The
payments must be in the form of cash, cashier’s
check, or money order. We are sorry, but we cannot
accept personal checks.
MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Counselor’s Corner
Greetings Middle River Middle School Families! The
Counseling Team would like to wish you a Happy New
Year! We hope your year is off to a great start!
Your Counselors are:
Jamie Rudden (Dept Chair) – 8th Grade & 6th Grade (Last Name M-Z)
[email protected]
Leigh Ridgell – 77h Grade & 6th Grade (Last Name A-L)
[email protected]
Lea Mussini – Part-Time Group and Classroom Guidance Counselor
[email protected]
Naviance is a website that provides a unique, individualized, customized experience for our students to engage in early career and college readiness activities.
In November, as well as recently in January, students in 7 th and 8th grade visited
the computer lab to access this program to complete interest inventories, personality assessments and record academic and future career goals. We encourage each family to discuss with your child the importance of future career planning.
The counselors have also been meeting with all 7 th and 8th grade students to discuss their plans for next year, as well as high school and beyond. Individual student conferences are being held throughout the next few months in order to
have this important conversation about future plans. It is our hope that you, too,
will have this conversation with your child at home.
We are here to help! At any point throughout the year, if you feel that we might
be able to help you or your child in any way, please feel free to contact us
through e-mail or you can call the Counseling Office at 410.887.0164.
Good luck to all students who have applied to a Magnet Program
and are currently taking assessments!
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At Middle River Middle School, WE:
Walk in the hallways.
Eat only in designated classrooms or the cafeteria.
Keep hoods down at all times.
Use electronics, including earbuds, only under the direction of a
teacher.
Use appropriate language at all times.
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
ATTENTION PARENTS OF ALL 6th GRADE STUDENTS!!
Changes in Immunization Requirements
All upcoming 7th grade students in 2017-18 (next school year) will be required to provide
proof of having received a dose of meningococcal vaccine (also called Menactra) and a
booster dose of Tdap (also called Boostrix and Adacel.) These vaccines are in addition to
vaccines required for kindergarten. Most children receive these vaccines at age 10 or 11.
Parents of current 6th graders are urged to…
·Check with their child’s health care provider to see if the child has received these vaccines.
·Schedule an appointment for the child to receive these vaccines BEFORE 09/05/2017.
·Provide verification of the immunizations to the school nurse.
More information about these vaccines is available at the Office of Health Services website
http://www.bcps.org/offices/sss/health/.
COME SEE OUR WELLNESS CENTER!
Ms. Weihs, CRNP, is a Family Nurse Practitioner and sees students here at Middle River
every Monday and Friday. The hours of operation are 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. She can also
see students from Glenmar, Martin Boulevard, and Victory Villa Elementary schools. If
you’d like to set up an appointment for your child for a physical, acute illness like ear infection or sore throat, chronic illness like asthma, or any other health concerns, please contact
the school nurse.
All you need to do is complete a wellness consent form and history for your child to be
seen. Call Mrs. House, school nurse, at 410.887.0168 for more information, to schedule an
appointment, or to get the forms.
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
“Home of the Lions”
BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
DATE
TIME
(L) = League Game
OPPONENT
(NL) = Non-League Game
SITE
UPDATED: 1-23-2017
December
13
20
Boys 4:00 / Girls 5:00
Boys 4:00 / Girls 5:00
Stricker
Sparrows Point
@ Stricker (L)
@ Sparrows Point (L)
5
23
24
26
30
31
Girls 4:00 / Boys 5:00
Girls 4:00 / Boys 5:00
Girls 4:00 / Boys 5:00
Boys 4:00 / Girls 5:00
Boys 4:00 / Girls 5:00
Girls 4:00 / Boys 5:00
Dundalk
Holabird
Deep Creek
Pikesville
Stemmers
Arbutus
@ Middle River (L)
@ Middle River (L)
@ Deep Creek (L)
@ Middle River (NL)
@ Stemmers (L) ***
@ Arbutus (NL) ***
2
7
Boys 4:00 / Girls 5:00
Girls 4:00 / Boys 5:00
Golden Ring
Parkville
@ Middle River (L)
@ Parkville (L)
January
February
Principal: Mrs. Shannon Parker
Athletic Administrator: Mr. George Miller
Boys’ Coach: Ms. Kathryn Graybeal
Girls’ Coach: Ms. Casi Leisure
MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
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7 Ways to Encourage Reluctant Readers
Reading is a tremendously appealing, satisfying activity, and children will become hooked once the adults
in their lives consistently build it into their daily schedules. The key is getting children started. The following seven strategies will help even the most reluctant reader become more enthusiastic about the endeavour.
1. Start with the child’s passions. Children will be more excited about reading when they can choose
books or magazines related to their interests. This suggestion is far and away the most powerful one
when it comes to encouraging those who are reluctant to read. When kids own the choice of what they
will read, motivation increases significantly.
2. Make reading a social experience. Children who don’t enjoy reading alone often enjoy reading with
somebody else. Children can read with their parents, siblings, other relatives, and friends. Some children
even start mini-book clubs and discuss books related to their common interests. Asking children to read
to their younger siblings and cousins can powerfully impact their own motivation to read.
3. Read aloud to children. Many parents regularly read aloud to their children when they are very
young, yet stop this activity as the kids get older. Parents should read aloud to children throughout their
educational experiences. Doing so makes reading more enjoyable, improves listening skills, builds comprehension, lengthens attention spans, and grows the imagination.
4. Take advantage of new technology. Children who may not find books interesting may enjoy reading
the same texts on smart phones, computers, and electronic readers, such as the iPad or Kindle. Technology makes everything seem cooler and more engaging to children, and we should capitalize on this fact
when it comes to reading.
5. Be a role model to children. When children see their parents reading frequently, discussing what they
have read, and carrying books around, they will value reading to a greater extent. The power of modeling
cannot be underestimated.
6. Camouflage reading. Parents can increase the amount of time their children spend reading by subtly
building the activity into other, seemingly unrelated activities. Examples include reading menus at restaurants, reading the directions to board games, and looking at various websites together. Children who may
not yet enjoy reading for its own sake may enjoy it tremendously when it’s incorporated into other engaging pastimes.
7. Be sure children read books that are appropriately challenging. Many times kids don’t want to read
simply because the books they encounter are too difficult. This seemingly obvious point is frequently forgotten. None of us want to encounter frustration, and we will go to great lengths to avoid experiences
that make us feel this way. Appropriately challenging books are those in which students can fluently read
approximately 95% of the words. Encountering a small number of difficult words can help children grow in
their reading skills, but encountering too many of these words can interfere with fluency and lead to discouragement.
Commit to trying one or more these ideas to help your child become a more enthusiastic reader!
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
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MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL CALENDAR
2016 — 2017
Thursday
January 26th
Distribution of Report Cards
Friday
February 17th
Professional Development - Elementary and
Middle Schools Close 3 hours early
Monday
February 20th
President’s Day (Schools/Offices Closed)
Friday
March 31st
Third Marking Period ends - Elementary and
Middle Schools Close 3 hours early
Friday
April 10th
Spring Break Begins at end of the day
Tuesday
April 17th
School Reopens
Thursday
April 20th
Distribution of Report Cards
Middle River Middle School is on Twitter!
@MRMSlions
Keep up to date with current events, upcoming field trips,
teacher features, student showcases and special events.
Go to twitter.com to get started!