EMMS EAGLE NEWS
Friday, April 2, 2021
(EARLY EDITION)
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Ellicott Mills Community,
I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and safe. This week at The Mill we welcomed more faces to the halls and classrooms as our Group A and B 6th grade students began hybrid instruction. It is wonderful to see the building begin to fill up again. Our 6th graders hit the ground running and seemed to find their place, especially with the help of our student ambassadors answering their questions and getting them to their classes. Also a special thank you to our staff who continue to adapt to an ever-changing learning environment to ensure both the virtual and in-person students are feeling included and engaged at high levels of learning. Lastly, thank you to our parents and guardians for your continued support and flexibility.
I want to also take this opportunity to communicate that EMMS is providing an affinity space next Wednesday, April 7th, for our students and staff to come together in solidarity against Asian-Amerian Racism. Please encourage your child to attend as we work together to root out racism. Click here to download flyer.
In partnership,
Mr. Gaylord
EMMS, Principal
UPCOMING:
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April 2: Spring Break (note: school offices will be closed)
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April 5 and 6: Spring Break (note: school offices will be closed on April 5 only)
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April 7
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April 12: 7th and 8th Grade Group A students return for hybrid instruction
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April 14: End of Third Quarter
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April 15: 7th and 8th Grade Group B students return for hybrid instruction
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April 22: Report Cards Issued
The Mill is proud to share information about Mobile COVID-19 testing sites around Howard County. The Mobile Sites have the ability to test all ages, infant through adult, and if a patient does not have insurance, they bill the state. Patients can be tested regardless of their immigration status. The Mobile Sites will have staff that speak Spanish as well as Korean, Vietnamese, and Sign Language.
MESSAGE FROM STUDENT SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS
EMMS SPIRIT WEAR
Items are shipped directly to you. There are LOTS of different items to choose from (even masks) and you have the ability to CUSTOMIZE with a school design and more. Feel free to contact Ms. Jennifer Johnson ("JJ") @ jennifer_l_johnson@hcpss.org if you have any questions.
Promoting Health and Safety on HCPSS Buses: With many students returning to school on buses, HCPSS is taking extra measures to keep buses clean and help protect the health and safety of both students and bus drivers. These measures include cleaning and disinfection and protocols for seating and bus loading and dismissal. External cameras have been installed to discourage drivers from passing buses illegally. Additional information on transportation procedures for the 2020-21 school year is provided in the Bridge to Normalized Instruction (document download) resource document. General transportation information is also available online.
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 2 school days.
NEWS From Our Feeder High Schools
Howard High School:
HCPSS NEWS
Enrollment is OPEN for the 2021-2022 School Year: Online Registration is now open to enroll new HCPSS K-12 students for the 2020-2021 (current) and 2021-2022 (upcoming) school years. Parents / guardians of children who will be five as of September 1, 2021, must enroll their children in kindergarten or apply for a waiver. Learn More.
Current HCPSS students do not need to be re-enrolled each school year.
2021-2022 Digital Education Center: HCPSS is planning for a full-time virtual option for students entering grades K-12 who wish to learn virtually for the 2021-2022 school year. Learn More.
2021 Summer Programs Registration: Online enrollment requests for currently enrolled HCPSS students are open for BSAP Summer Institute, Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development, Innovative Pathways High School (Math and Science only), and STARTALK Chinese Language Summer Camp.
Health and Communications Protocols: HCPSS has developed protocols for responding to positive cases in schools in conjunction with the Howard County Health Department. These protocols outline how parents should communicate with school staff in instances of suspected or confirmed exposure, as well as how staff communicates with their school communities in those instances.
Updated Attendance Procedure: Effective March 1, a student who attends class in person or synchronously Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday will be marked present. A student will be marked absent if they do not attend instruction in person or virtually. Additional information, including attendance procedures that apply on Wednesdays, is provided online.
Update to Student Meal Service: Effective March 1, meals will be available for pickup from 7:45—8:45 a.m. at elementary school locations and 9:00-10:00 a.m. at middle and high school locations on specified days. There will be no pickups on Tuesdays and Fridays. Students and parents/guardians will continue to have the option to receive meals at their child’s school or at any designated meal distribution site. Additional details about changes to meal service are available online.
Non-Instructional Video Streaming Sites Not Accessible: Video streaming services—such as Netflix, TikTok, Hulu, Showtime, Snapchat, Tumblr, Xbox live, Fortnite and HBO—are no longer accessible on the HCPSS network or on HCPSS-issued devices. These services are not approved instructional technology sites and the use of these sites has created network performance issues.
FAQs Available on HCPSS Help Site: Featuring answers to hundreds of FAQs, HCPSS’ Help Site provides a wealth of information about the Bridge to Normalized Instruction Hybrid Instructional Model, health and safety, transportation, technology, and more. The site is organized by category and can be searched by keyword, making it easy to navigate to the information you need. New FAQs are continually being added and we encourage you to visit the site regularly. A separate Staff Help Site provides FAQs and answers for HCPSS employees.
Hybrid Learning Resource: A new resource document summarizes all major aspects of the school system’s planned transition to hybrid in-person and concurrent virtual instruction that begins on March 1. The document is intended to serve as a reference for both families and staff. Read More.
Online Resources Available to Aid in Hybrid Transition: Information and resources, such as this tip sheet on virtual learning, are available online to aid families and students in the transition to hybrid and concurrent virtual learning. HCPSS’ Help site provides answers to hundreds of questions about hybrid learning, health and safety, transportation, and more.
Google Meet Expectations for Students and Parents/Guardians: To ensure a positive and productive virtual learning experience, it is important that all students and parents/guardians adhere to these Google Meet expectations, and review the virtual instruction responsibilities, expectations, and best practices provided online.
COMMUNITY NEWS / EVENTS
HCPSS Community News / Events: Families can quickly discover educational and recreational resources, events, and after-school programs offered by community non-profits on HCPSS’s new Community News and Programs website.
[NEW] Free Parenting Classes: HC DrugFree and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office, partnering with HCPSS and the Health Department, will once again provide evidence-based classes for families to gain skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will engage in risky behaviors including using drugs. This 4-class series for parents of 9-14 year olds will be held on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, May 4, 11 and June 1, 8. Parents/guardians must register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ HCDrugFreeSpring2021. If you have questions, email Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC DrugFree’s Executive Director at Admin@hcdrugfree.org.
[NEW] Drive-thru Medication, EpiPens, Needles, and Syringes Collection in the Wilde Lake Village Center Parking Lot: Bring your expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medication and “sharps” to HC DrugFree’s convenient drive-thru collection on Saturday, April 24 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot near the Swim Center and The UPS Store. Medication will be guarded and transported by the Howard County Police and the DEA. Safe distancing. Masks worn. No need to remove labels or get out of the vehicle. Sharps must be in appropriate sharps containers. Separate sharps from meds. Looking for adult volunteers to assist at the event and medically-trained adults to assist with the medication collection. Go to https://hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day-1/.
HELP and INFORMATION concerning TECHNOLOGY (Chromebooks, HotSpots, etc.). Read More.
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Address
4445 Montgomery Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
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Phone
410-313-2839
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