EMMS EAGLE NEWS
Friday, September 25, 2020
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#EMMSOneMillOneFamily
#EMMS_Pride
Calendar Reminder: All HCPSS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 28th. There will be no meal service on this day.
Message from Principal Gaylord
EMMS Parents and Guardians:
Thank you for your support with completing week three of virtually teaching and learning. EMMS administration continues to prioritize visiting virtual classrooms. We continue to be encouraged by the growth, flexibility, and support observed on the part of both staff and students. We have many updates and reminders to share with you this week. Please make sure you review carefully. As always, feel free to contact our teachers, support staff and administration if you have any questions or concerns. Enjoy your long weekend.
Behavioral Expectations Reminders: As we are finishing up our third week of virtual schooling, I wanted to take a minute to review some of our school-wide expectations, as well as the ways EMMS has communicated those expectations to students. During the first week of school students were taught our Ellicott Mills Expectations and were required to watch a policy video and take a comprehension quiz through their lunch courses. Below are some of the topics covered in our lessons. Please review these expectations with your child.
- Adhere to HCPSS Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media and other relevant HCPSS policies.
- Follow the school’s values (ex. Be Safe, Act Responsibly, Respect Self and Others, Keep Focused).
- Students will only be permitted into a Google Meet session with a HCPSS account. All students can be identified through their HCPSS account.
- Inappropriate/offensive/threatening comments, misrepresentation of identity, and/or disruptive participants (invited or uninvited) during Google Meet sessions will not be tolerated.
- Sharing login information violates the confidentiality rights of other students and places them at risk of having to witness disruptive behaviors from students who are not members of the class or school community.
- Students who are disruptive and/or “trespass” Google Meet sessions will be immediately reported to administration and will receive appropriate consequences in accordance with the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct. Consequences may result in temporary or permanent loss of technology access, which will also result in a student's inability to participate in Google Meet sessions; arrangement for receiving instruction and assignments will be established by administration communicated and arranged with parents.
Flex Time/SEL Period Expectations: I want to take a moment to provide some clarity regarding the Flex Time/SEL period expectations. The Flex Time/SEL period takes place every Monday from 10:50am to 11:20am. This is a class and it is NOT optional, and attendance is required. I believe that some students and families saw the phrase “flex time” and took this to mean optional. Please make sure you are ensuring that your child is attending this period. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. DW or Mr. Gaylord.
Face-to-Face Supports to Small Groups of Students: In the coming weeks, HCPSS will begin providing face-to-face support to small groups of students. Identified students and staff have been invited to complete an interest survey. If you did not receive a survey, it is because your child has not yet been identified for in-person support. All students who receive special education services will receive an email with directions to complete a survey. If your child receives special education services, and you have not received an email by Friday, September 25th, then please reach out to Ann Scholz ( ann_scholz@hcpss.org) from the Office of Special Education Compliance, Non-Public Services, and Family Support. More information about the HCPSS In-Person Support initiative can be found here: https://www.hcpss.org/2020-2021/small-groups/.
Reminder - Credits for High School Courses Taken in Middle School:
- High School courses which are offered at the middle school level are eligible for high school credit. These courses follow the same policy as all other high school courses.
- Middle school students enrolled in high school level courses this policy applies to include: Algebra I,
Algebra I GT, Geometry GT, Algebra II GT, AP Statistics in any grade level and World Language in grade 8.
- Students who withdraw after the published withdrawal date, September 25, 2020, will receive a "W" on their high school transcript. Courses with W codes will not receive credit and will not be calculated into the cumulative GPA.
- The student’s course grade will be recorded on the high school transcript.
- The student’s grade will not be calculated into the high school grade point average. Refer to Policy 8030: Graduation Requirements for full details.
- If a student re-takes one of the high-school courses that was taken in middle school for which credit was earned:
- The high school grade(s) will be calculated into the GPA, and
- Only the first credit will be awarded.
- If a student is receiving a full year of high school world language content within one middle school year, one high school credit will be awarded at the completion of that year. If a student is receiving the course content over two or three years, the high school credit will be awarded upon completion of the final year.
Please contact your child’s counselor if you have any questions.
Math Academy: The Office of Secondary Mathematics would like to let you know that Khan Academy has a new section within their site called, Get Ready Courses. This site has the skills students will need for the next grade level. Students can fill gaps, refresh skills, and/or prepare for the next course! The site has activities for grades 3 through PreCalculus. This is a good place for you to send your student if they don't have math this semester or are in need of extra support. Students do not need to sign in or sign up. Website: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/get-ready-courses.
Mr. Gaylord
EMMS Principal
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Administration
On Wednesday October 7th and 14th, students in grades 6 to 8 will take the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The data from the MAP assessment will help schools and teachers measure where your child is starting the year academically. The HCPSS intends to also give the assessment in winter and spring to measure how your child’s learning is progressing throughout the year.
MAP Reading test will be offered on October 7th at 9 AM and 1 PM. MAP Math test will be offered on October 14th at 9 AM and 1PM. We are encouraging students to attend the 9 to 11 AM session, as students tend to perform better in the morning. Additionally, should they need additional time, as MAP is an untimed test, they can return at 1 PM to finish. If your child is unable to attend, makeup testing will be offered during asynchronous learning times.
An email message from me will be sent to students with their Google Meet codes and testing group by Monday, October 5th. If you have any questions, please contact me at michele_doyle-wetzelberger@hcpss.org or call 410-313-2839.
Stay well,
Ms. DW
EMMS Assistant Principal and Testing Coordinator
EMMS News
Need Us? Check out or website to see if your answer is there. We highly encourage you to email our staff due to the decrease in front office staff availability ( click here for staff contact information). EMMS is offering many different Virtual Office Hours, check out our EMMS Calendar for more details.
Distribution of 2020/2021 Student Materials: EMMS is reaching out DIRECTLY to families as we have items to distribute to their student(s) based on request and class registration. Please be aware that we do not have any Chromebooks to distribute. EMMS is currently waiting for more devices to come to use from HCPSS.
Does your child need a Chromebook and/or internet access? Read More.
Family Technology Support: Before contacting the Technology Support Team, please make sure that you have checked all of the resources available to you @ hcpss.me. If you still have a Canvas or Synergy technology-related question, please complete this form, and a member of our support team will be in touch with you within 48 hours.
EMMS CELEBRATING OUR EAGLES
Teachers and Staff at EMMS and Elliott the Eagle are proud to recognize the following students for showing POSITIVITY:
Grade 6: Annika Salvador
Grade 7: Mikey Walls
Grade 8: Sophie Pinkler
Thank you for Making Great Things Happen at The Mill!
HCPSS NEWS
[NEW] BSAP Saturday Math Academy Online Registration: Families can register online on Saturday, September 26th for the BSAP Saturday Math Academy. Certified teachers offer instruction and enrichment in all levels of mathematics to a diverse student population through the six-week academy, offered virtually in October and November.
[NEW] 2020 Census: Several HCPSS programs rely on funding based on accurate census information. All families are encouraged to participate in the 2020 census, which may be completed online by Wednesday, September 30th. Read More.
[NEW] Bright Minds Foundation Golf Classic: Proceeds from the Golf Classic, on Wednesday, October 7th at the Waverly Woods Golf Club, support the work of Bright Minds Foundation, the official educational foundation of the Howard County Public School System.
HCPSS 2020 Seasonal Flu Vaccine Clinics: Have questions, please contact Suzanne Wingard RN, School Nurse for Ellicott Mills Middle School, at Suzanne_Wingard@hcpss.org. Read More.
HCPSS to Introduce Small Group, In-Person Supports for Selected Students: Read More.
Parent Empowerment Conference: Pre-registration is required by September 28th. Read More.
Free Student Meals: The food services program during the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year will consist of free Grab-and-Go meals served Monday through Friday from 8-9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at all schools except Burleigh Manor Middle School and Hammond High School. Meals are free for all students through December.
Google Meet Expectations for Students and Parents/Guardians: To ensure a positive, productive and enjoyable learning experience for all participants, it is important that all students and parents/guardians adhere to these Google Meet Expectations.
COMMUNITY NEWS
HCPSS Community News / Events: Please visit the Community News and Programs page on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.
PTA Coat Drive: Donations accepted: Tuesday, September 22th and Thursday, September 24th, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Howard County MultiService Center. HCPSS PTAs are collecting coats, hats and gloves for an annual coat drive to help keep Howard County families warm this winter. Donations of new and gently-used clean items of all sizes will be accepted at the Multiservice Center. Each PTA will also provide school-specific donation instructions. Any family in need may receive items at the Coat Giveaway on Saturday, October 10, 10 a.m. to noon, or until supplies last, at the North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel.
If a parent/guardian is not receiving emails and/or texts, please complete EMAIL / TEXT HELP FORM and HCPSS Tech Staff will look into the issue. The majority of the time, the user has unsubscribed or marked us as spam, and we can quickly add them back in to restart communication. Occasionally there is a break in the system, and we need a deeper dive into the issue.
There are links to many resources at HCPSS Connect and additional resources available within the Canvas LMS and the Synergy SIS. For additional support, please contact your child’s school. To report a Login issue, visit HCPSS Connect Help. For resources on using HCPSS Connect, visit HCPSS Connect Guides.
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Address
4445 Montgomery Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
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Phone
410-313-2839
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