MHS News
Events, information to keep you informed, and school highlights
A Warm Welcome Back to Middletown High School!
Greetings Middletown Families: We are excited to welcome our students to the 2018-2019 school year tomorrow! Our custodial staff has been hard at work making sure the school and the facility are ready to welcome students, staff, and families back to Middletown High. The teachers have also worked very hard the last six days preparing their classrooms, learning about curriculum changes, and reviewing school and student safety procedures. Last week, all teachers and support staff participated in a variety of training covering topics that included building evacuation procedures, bullying and harassment prevention and protocols, supporting students with special needs, and cooperative discipline. We were especially grateful to have guest speaker Eric Philips, FCPS Supervisor of Accelerating Achievement and Equity, facilitate a discussion about misconceptions and culturally responsive teaching. The MHS staff remains committed to our school's vision, “To provide an excellent learning environment that enables our students to achieve success and to become contributing members of society.” and the MHS motto, "Ready - Respectful - Relentless."
We also remain committed to partnering with parents. To help families and students keep informed, we have prepared a large envelope containing lots of information, to be given to each student tomorrow in their first block class. The envelope contains the FCPS Calendar Handbook, Free and Reduced Meal form, Insurance form, a Health Information form, a PTSA Membership form, etc. Some students will also receive PARCC and other test score reports from last spring. One very important document that will be in the envelope is a current contact information sheet. Parents/Guardians need to check the form, record corrections on the form, and return the form as soon as possible so that we can update the information.
Please feel free to contact us with questions, ideas, or concerns. Staff email addresses and phone extensions are listed on the website. I can also be reached at 240-236-7410 or at lee.jeffrey@fcps.org. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone tomorrow! Sincerely, Lee Jeffrey Principal
The front office hours for the 2018 - 2019 school year will be Monday through Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm.
MHS Student Handbook of Policies and Procedures: Please take time to review the student handbook with your son/daughter before the start of school. https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/upload/61/9154.pdf
Dress Code: Please review the FCPS Dress Code Policy 439 at the following link https://apps.fcps.org/legal/doc.php?number=439. The most notable change is the policy regarding hats and headgear. MHS will be enforcing a no hat/headgear policy from 7:00-2:15. Exceptions apply per administrative approval for medical, religious, and school spirit activity reasons.
Daily Arrival: Car riders are to be dropped off in the lower parking lot and the upper parking lot. Drivers are asked to help preserve everyone’s safe arrival and departure by obeying traffic signs and pavement markings. Drivers need to drop off and pick up students at designated locations. Stopping along sidewalks to drop off or pick up passengers or pull through parking spaces is not permitted.
The building is open at 7:00 a.m. and students are to report directly to the cafeteria where breakfast is served. Students are to remain in the cafeteria until classrooms are open for students at 7:15 a.m.
Bus Information: To verify student bus information, please go to: http://www.fcps.org/transportation/bus-stop-information-online
A Message from the FCPS Transportation Department: Please take a moment to read this information. It includes safety tips for all methods of transporting students to and from school. https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/upload/61/9186.pdf School Fees: Course fees and field trip fees must now be paid using School Cash Online. Register at: https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com Locker Reminder: Lockers are available to all students. Locker information will be distributed to students during Block 1 on the first day of school if the locker form was completed by August 18. Students may still sign up for lockers by stopping by the guidance office, but those locker assignments will not be ready on the first day of school. Please see Ms. Bertulaitis in the Counseling office if you have any locker questions or problems.
Cafeteria Breakfast/Lunch Accounts: Don't forget to add funds to your cafeteria accounts. Visit https://www.myschoolbucks.com. For Information on Free/Reduced-Price Meals, go to http://www.fcps.org/food-services/free-and-reduced-price-meals
Medication Drop-Off: If a student needs to have any type of medication administered at school, the Medication Authorization Form must be completed. Please review the attached: Medication Authorization Form. Medications must be brought to school by a parent/guardian. See the Medication Authorization form for details. The health room is open for medication during school hours starting Tuesday, September 4
If you have any questions regarding medications or student health concerns, contact the MHS Health Room at 240-236-7416. Parking Permits: Students may pick up parking permit applications in the front office. The deadline for initial applications is Friday, September 7. All vehicles parked on school property who do not display a permit will be ticketed beginning on September 11. Students should bring completed applications and required documents to the front office to purchase permits. Parking spaces are limited. MHS does not guarantee availability. Permits will not be reserved. Permits are issued based on need and then on a first-come, first served basis.
1:1 Chromebooks/Electronic Devices for Instruction: All 9th-grade students have the option to be issued an FCPS Chromebook. Students may choose to bring their own device to school such as a personal Chromebook, laptop, IPad, etc. Opting out of using a device (FCPS issued or personal) is not an option. A cell phone does not meet this requirement.
The yearly technology fee for the Chromebook program is $60. This may be paid via schoolcashonline link: https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com/. This fee provides coverage for accidental damage that may occur during normal use of the device. If you do not wish to pay the $60 technology fee, you may waive this fee and choose to assume all liability for the repair of the device should damage occur. The program and coverages are described in the documents linked below.
FCPS Chromebook User Agreement:
1:1 Device User Agreement
FCPS Technology Fee Coverage:
Technology Fee and Coverages
Fee Reduction/ Waiver Form:
Fee Reduction/ Waiver Form
MHS will begin Chromebook distribution on Thursday, September 6th (last names A-L) and Friday, September 7th (last names M-Z). Please bring your completed/signed forms and payment receipt to the Knight's Quest 1:1 presentation on Thursday or Friday. Students will receive their device as soon as all forms and payments have been received.
FCPS Apprenticeship Program: The FCPS Apprenticeship Program has many new placements for this year. Some of the Employers are Canapes Catering, Wagner's Meats, Fountaindale Auto, Trinity Salon and Spa, Phoenix Mecano, and South Mountain Lawn & Landscape. Many of the Employers may take more than one apprentice. If you are interested, please note that applications need to be submitted by Friday, September 7th.
If you are interested, please see Mr. Zimmer or Mrs. Gibson (Room 502) or visit the FCPS website (https://www.fcps.org/academics/apprentice-program).
SSL and Interns:
Mandatory Training on Tuesday, September 4th you will come to MHS for training, instead of reporting to your SSL or Intern Assignment:
Block 1 SSLs (Mr. Zimmer) - Report to Room 422A - Training
Block 1 Interns (Mrs. Gibson) - Report to Room 436 Training
All Other Placements (Blocks 2-5) - should report to MHS Media Center for Mandatory Training on Tuesday, September 4th.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Mrs. Gibson (alisa.gibson@fcps.org) or Mr. Zimmer (james.zimmer@fcps.org)
Responsible Use of Digital Technology?: Please review the updated FCPS Regulation 400-76 at https://apps.fcps.org/legal/doc.php?number=400-76.
New MHS Athletics Website: There is a lot going on this week. Don't miss out on the excitement. Be sure to bookmark the FCPS CMC website: https://www.frederickcountycmc.org/public/genie/312/school/10/
MHS is looking for volunteers to help in the Copy Room! We need volunteers to make copies of instructional material for the teachers as well as manage the distribution of teacher-printed material. Your help in this area matters greatly to the teachers. Helping with this administrative task frees our teachers so they can spend more working with your students. If you can spare a morning or afternoon or just an hour or two, just one day a week, please email Sandy Marks sandra.marks@fcps.org. No experience necessary. Thank you for considering this volunteer opportunity!
Schedule Changes: Students can request a schedule change in the first five days of the school year by submitting a completed “Schedule Change Request Form,” signed by a parent. These forms are green half sheets available on the wall just inside the door of the counseling center. Students should not leave class to ask for a change or a form. Forms should be picked up before or after school, during lunch, or between classes. Once submitted, the form will be processed by the counselor and the outcome shared with the student. After the first week of school, no changes can be made. Schedule changes are not guaranteed because the changes are dependent on the individual student’s overall program and the availability of desired courses.
PSAT Sign-ups September 1-12: Current 10th and 11th-grade students register through https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com. 9th-grade students interested in taking the PSAT should visit the Counseling Office to register. Cost is $16. Student Guides with testing information will be distributed to registered students during all lunch shifts on September 13 and 14. Official practice tests, sample questions, and personalized study with Khan Academy can be accessed at the following website: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/practice.
Colleges visiting MHS: Students should access Naviance Family Connection to see the latest list of colleges who will be visiting MHS. Students can log in at http://connection.naviance.com/middleths
Username: (8-digit student ID number)
Password: (8-digit student ID number)
September 12 & 13 - Senior Photo Make-ups September 19- Fair Day: Schools closed September 26 – Underclassman picture day October 5 – Midterm October 5 - Homecoming game October 6 - Homecoming dance
"Ready, Respectful, Relentless"
http://education.fcps.org/mhs
Middletown High School 200 Schoolhouse Drive Middletown, MD 21769 240-236-7400 phone 240-236-7450 fax