Knight's News
Events, information to keep you informed, and school highlights
Keeping You Informed:
Message from the Principal:
Dear MHS Families,
Despite the rescheduling of Registration Night due to weather, we had a terrific turnout of students and families last Thursday Night for both the incoming 9th-grade session and the upperclassmen session. A lot of material was covered so if you were not able to attend, all of the information presented is located on the counselors' webpage https://education.fcps.org/mhs/counseling
During KnightsQuest last Thursday, students in grades 9-11 received elective information, completer information, and Naviance course registration directions so that they could complete course registration for the 2019-2020 school year. As of this morning, about a quarter of the students have completed their course registration requests. The deadline for students to complete their course registration requests in Naviance is Wednesday, February 7. Course registration is an extremely important task and best tackled by backward mapping from the student's post-high school plan, with the idea that course work will support the development of necessary competencies for future courses and/or endeavors. Online resources such as the Naviance website, college websites, and career websites, offer valuable information that supports informed decision making. The MHS Counseling Department is well-versed in assisting students and families with questions about graduation requirements, course work planning, and high school completer programs. I encourage students and/or families to contact the counselors about questions. The counselors are offering extended office hours Monday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 5. See below for details.
At the January 30 PTSA meeting, I shared MHS performance data from the 2018 Maryland Report Card. Although MHS performed well overall, we are committed to continuous improvement. FCPS is once again providing constituents with the opportunity to become part of the school improvement process through participation in the annual school perceptual survey. I hope that each of you will complete the MHS parent perceptual survey. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. To access the Middletown High School online survey go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FAM0313. The students will be asked to complete the survey during their KnightsQuest class starting today and the staff will also complete the survey this week.
As we go into the second semester, one action that I think could positively impact student wellness and academic performance is limiting a child's screen time. Excessive screen time is a serious contributor to emotional and academic difficulties. Excessive screen time erodes time away from friends, school work, and sleep. Self-reports of screen time by students and adults are rarely accurate. Setting limits to screen time through parental controls on devices may be necessary for students who are not able to self-regulate. CBS News "60-Minutes" produced two reports in December 2018 on the impact of mobile devices on the brain which happened to coincide with the beginning of the largest government study ever attempted to study the impact of screen time on adolescent brain development. An NIH study was recently launched to study how screen time impacts the physical structure of a child's brains, as well as their emotional development and mental health. At 21 sites across the country, scientists have begun interviewing 11,000 nine and ten-year-olds and scanning their brains and will follow the children for more than a decade. Here is the link to the 60 Minutes Episode https://www.cbsnews.com/news/groundbreaking-study-examines-effects-of-screen-time-on-kids-60-minutes/
Please email me or call if you have any questions or suggestions.
Thank you,
Lee Jeffrey MHS Principal
FCPS Weapon Regulation Reminder: The FCPS Weapon Regulation is reviewed each semester. https://apps.fcps.org/legal/doc.php?number=200-47
Report Cards: Report Cards will be sent home with students on Thursday, February 7.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR: The MHS electronic registration form for 2019-20 will be open through 11:59 pm on Wednesday, February 6. Students received Registration Directions in school on 1/31. Registration "surveys" for current 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students are available in your child's NAVIANCE account at https://student.naviance.com/middleths (username and password is the 8-digit FCPS student id). For full instructions, go to https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/upload/61/10280.pdf Frederick Community College will be hosting an event called FCC Night for high school seniors and their parents in the JBK Theater from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Tuesday, February 19. Information about enrollment, financial aid, the Honors College and much more will be provided. Those planning to attend need to RSVP by calling 301-624-2716 or through http://frederick.edu/fccnight
Registration Assistance Do you need help with the 2019-20 course registration? Two MHS counselors will be available after school in the counseling center until 4:30 pm on Monday, February 4th to assist you. Parents and students will be seen on a first-come, first served basis.
Seniors & Parents of Seniors: An information packet explaining senior activities and graduation planning was mailed home to the families of all seniors on Friday, February 1. Copies of the packet are located in the front office and electronic copies can be accessed on the senior page of the MHS webpage.
MHS Tutoring Services: Free tutoring services are available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week for students having difficulty in Math, English, and Social Studies. Contact the front office for details.
Need roses for your sweetheart? Let the Horticulture students save your day! Make that special someone very happy and support our MHS students in the process! Florist quality red roses are packaged with babies breath and greenery. Availability is on a first come, first served basis. Limited quantities are available. Questions - please contact Sara.Seiser@fcps.org. Parents and community members should pick up from the MHS greenhouse on Thursday 2 /14/19 from 12 - 2 p.m. Students may purchase single roses on Wednesday and Thursday during all lunch shifts while supplies last. For pricing and ordering information, go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTwGWjfYd4gQbkLvfLPWk9MBZkiuUaN_QucYVgmRkrLlxM6w/viewform
MHS FFA is selling fresh vine-ripened Strawberries! Order now through February 8th. To place an order and see a list of prices, please go to:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0r8DO0q47jLdOBpGqEXjt6bY2ObdXbS-OaDVyyv-xEG1HWw/viewform Pick-up will be the week of February 25th - March 1st.
Support the Souper Bowl of Caring: The MHS Key Club Souper Bowl of Caring Collection has been extended through Friday, 2/8. Souper Bowl of Caring empowers youth and unites communities around the time of the Big Game to help those in need. There are 545 participating groups around the nation and together they have raised $3,110,572 in cash and food items. Let’s join them and make a difference! Encourage your students to bring in any and all kinds of soup to their KQ class by Friday!
Swimming and Diving Fundraiser at the Main Cup: Need a break from cooking? Looking for a way to gather with friends and family? Then we have the perfect solution for you! Bring your family and friends to the Main Cup on Tuesday, February 5th, anytime between 5 - 9 p.m. The Swimming and Diving Team will earn 15% of the proceeds.
Congratulations to the MHS students who recently achieved their Microsoft Certification! Click here to find out more about our programs and the achievements of our students.
MHS 2019 Senior Baccalaureate There will be a Baccalaureate Committee meeting Wednesday, 2/6 at 7 pm in the Heritage Room! We will meet to discuss plans for this year’s senior Baccalaureate which will be held in May. The Baccalaureate is a student-led, senior tradition at MHS in which students perform, listen to inspirational speakers, and reflect on their journey to high school graduation. All interested parents are welcome, especially parents of seniors, to help with the planning and preparation. Questions can be directed to Susan Lagnese, Committee Chair via email: mhsptsabacc@gmail.com.
Attention Seniors: Planning is underway for this year’s Baccalaureate and your family’s input is needed to set the date! Please take a moment to vote for your preferred date option using this survey monkey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DJW5P3T.
STEP UP! Student Songwriting Contest - A Program of Chords of Courage: Chords of Courage is changing the conversation from the demoralizing and cynical to the hopeful and inspirational - one song at a time. We have created the first songwriting contest of its kind in the world and will be conducting it for the second time during the 2018-2019 school year. The contest is currently open to Frederick County middle and high school age students and encourages them to use their creativity to write dynamic and powerful songs about people of particular courage. Deadline to enter is February 15, 2019. To see the flyer and full details, go to https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/upload/61/9869.pdf
Reminders from the last Newsletter:
MHS Volleyball Drop-in Clinics March 25-29 Boys and girls in grades 6-8 are invited to participate. The clinics will be held at the MHS gym. For details and registration information, go to https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/upload/61/10184.pdf
Planning is underway for the 27th annual Empty Bowls Banquet! This event will be held on Thursday, April 11 in the MHS cafeteria. Anyone who is interested in helping to plan this event should contact Jim Zimmer james.zimmer@fcps.org or Alisa Gibson alisa.gibson@fcps.org.
Support the MHS Academic Team: Teams from all 10 FCPS high schools are preparing for heated competition in matches open free to the public on Fridays at Frederick High. Matches start at 6 PM on Fridays, February 8 and 15. The championship match will start at 5:45 on February 22. See the news release for snow dates and other details including each week's theme: https://www.fcps.org/about/news/1650383/fcps-announces-academic-tournament-schedule.
Out-of-district applications: The Out of District Regulation 400-15 has been changed. Applications will be accepted by the Department of Student Services office from January 2 to March 1. This applies to first time applicants and students reapplying. Parents can apply by using the form located on the FCPS Web site: http://www.fcps.org/student-services/Forms. Any parent who needs assistance can call 240-236-2493.
Frederick County Science and Engineering Fair: Frederick County Public Schools will be hosting its 38th Annual Science and Engineering Fair on March 29 and March 30. Registration is now open for all middle and high school students. The deadline to submit the online registration form and ISEF forms is Sunday, March 10. For more information, and to register, go to https://education.fcps.org/sciencesec/sciencefair
MHS PTSA
Join, Donate, or Volunteer - MHS PTSA
Join us at our next scheduled PTSA meeting at 7 pm on Monday, February 11 in the Heritage Room.
Have a favorite Parents Teachers Students Association (PTSA) program or activity, have suggestions, or want to help in general? Volunteers or donations are always welcome.
Support us by becoming a member or contributing to the Write-A-Check fund; visit our website for the membership form and other information: MiddletownHSPTSA.com
Counseling Office Updates:
Click here for the complete list of scholarships, college representatives visiting MHS, college open houses, and other opportunities available to our students.
New this week:
College Visits have been updated - please sign up through Naviance!
New college specific and general scholarships added in Naviance.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) workshops.
FCC Moving Mountain Speaker Series
Reminders:
Interpreter Services: If you require interpreting services for any school event, please contact the front office and provide at least one-week advance notice. MHS Teacher Tutoring Services:
ACT Registration http://www.act.org Dates:
SAT Registration http://www.sat.org Dates:
ASVAB Test: If you're serious about joining the military, then get serious about the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The ASVAB is a timed multi-aptitude test, which is given at over 14,000 schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) nationwide and is developed and maintained by the Department of Defense. For more information go to https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab. Middletown High Students can take this test on April 9, 2019, at Frederick High School at 7:30 am. See Mrs. Bertulaitis in Counseling for more information.
Daily Details:
Arrival Time: Students may enter the building at 7:00 AM. Students must stay in the cafeteria until 7:15. Students may not be walking through the hallways unsupervised. Office hours: 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM Monday - Friday
Communications to MHS via email: Middletown.HS@fcps.org
School Fees: The way to pay for school field trips, sports fees, spirit wear and more, School Cash Online is: https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com
"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