The ViewPoint

The ViewPoint

May 29, 2020

From the Principal

Falcon families,

  It is hard to believe that it is almost June and near the end of this school year. Over the past couple of weeks, we have received several requests from families to pick up or drop off items to the school. Items that may need to be picked up include such things as medications, eyeglasses, and personal music instruments. Families who may be moving and will not be back in an HCPSS school next year have also asked about returning items to Mount View Middle prior to their move.
  In the next couple of weeks, you will be given an opportunity to come to Mount View Middle to pick-up CRITICAL items your child left at school, or to return items if your child is NOT returning to an HCPSS school next year. Unfortunately, we are not able to allow students and their families inside of the school. However, we will be able to retrieve critical items for you that you will be able to pick-up outside on a specific date and time (date/time to be determined, probably during the week of June 8). In order to help us help you, we ask that you complete the following survey by June 1, 2020.   

Please COMPLETE THIS SURVEY if:

  • Your student left a critical item at school that you need to pick up.
  • Your student is not returning to a HCPSS school next year and you need to return items.

  We will only be able to return items to parents/guardians/students if you complete the survey by Monday, June 1. Requests made once this survey closes, or on the date of pick-up, will not be able to be honored as we need to coordinate with multiple staff in order to implement this process. Thank you for understanding and for your support.
  We will be in contact with more information regarding the process, specific date, and window of time for drop-off/pick-up items. Once again, here is the Link to the survey.
Thank you in advance for helping us ensure a safe and orderly plan for the pick-up and drop-off of items, and do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Thanks for Your Support,
Lynnette N. Moore
Principal

*Please note: If your child is returning to any HCPSS school (to Mount View or any other HCPSS school) for the 2020/21 school year, you should NOT return HCPSS property at this time, this includes Chromebooks. Once school resumes in school buildings, students will bring their school system property to whatever school they attend and it will be collected and redistributed to its original location. There is nothing that families staying in HCPSS need to do, even if your student is being redistricted or your student is moving to a new school within HCPSS.

Save the Date For Incoming Grade 6 Orientation

Dear Future MVMS Falcon Families,

Mount View Middle School invites you to “Save the Date” for our virtual incoming sixth-grade orientation. We were sorry to miss everyone for our originally scheduled date in May but wanted to still provide an opportunity to the current fifth graders to get a small taste of Mount View. In addition to our virtual orientation which will be done through a video/PowerPoint, we will also be hosting two Q & A sessions geared towards students to answer any questions they have about Mount View. You are encouraged to submit those questions ahead of time by going to www.slido.com and typing in event code: 91522. You may begin submitting a question to the Slido link on Monday, June 1.
The Q & A sessions will be done using Google Meet on Monday, June 8th. They will run from 10-10:45 and 2- 2:45. The code for both sessions is: MVMSJune8Orientation
We look forward to hearing from you and sharing our school with your children.

Sincerely,
Octavia Cutsail
Sixth Grade ITL

PTA News

Wondering What MVMS PTA Positions Are Still Open?

Many are perfect for families who are looking for a small/contained amount of involvement. Check out our list!

Virtual Gift of Thanks Ends Tonight at Midnight!

Please help our community collectively thank our amazing staff for EVERYTHING they have done throughout the year, including during this challenging time of distance learning.  The program begins May 16 and ends Friday, May 29.
Steps to participate

  1. Go to the MV PTA PayPal Page
  2. Scroll to the Gift of Thanks program
  3. Make your contribution using PayPal or debit/credit card
  4. Indicate how you'd like your family acknowledged (e.g., family last name, MVMS student(s) name)
  5. Complete these steps no later than Friday, May 29.

No suggested dollar amount, give what you feel you can/would like to contribute. Questions?  Please contact Liz Page, PTA Gift of Thanks coordinator, at gpage69123@aol.com or 410-707-5460​​​​​​​

Important Info for Eighth Graders

Virtual MRHS Visitation for Incoming Ninth Graders
On Thursday, June 11th at 10:30 am, Marriotts Ridge High School will host a virtual visitation program for all incoming 9th graders. We are looking forward to welcoming students and sharing about the MUSTANG experience. If you will be a 9th-grade student at MRHS in the fall, please take a moment to COMPLETE THIS SURVEY so that we can be sure to answer the questions that are most important to YOU!

Slideshow Deadline Extended
MVMS staff is putting together a slideshow to celebrate the 8th-grade students’ promotion to high school. We are looking for candid photos of our 8th graders to include in the slideshow. Eighth graders can upload 1- 4 photos to the GAFE. They can upload them into their Falcon Time teacher’s folder. Pictures need to be school appropriate and are due June 1, 2020 (the date had been extended). Pictures can include individual photos, group photos, and/or baby pictures. 
Here are the directions:
1. Login to GAFE
2. Click on shared with me
3. Click on your Falcon Time teacher’s folder
4. Submit photos
If you have any problems, please contact your Falcon Time teachers.

From the Counselors

Coping Skill Spotlight: Positive Affirmations 


Image retrieved 4/29/2020 from Lakehouse Recovery Center Have you said to yourself a positive statement when you are feeling stressed, nervous, excited, angry, frustrated, or happy? If yes, you are practicing positive affirmations! You can challenge negative thinking or unnecessary thoughts when you practice repeating a positive phrase, quote, or word to yourself. 
Positive affirmations can help you when you are not feeling motivated when you are seeking positive changes in your life, or if you want to work on your confidence. Counter negative self-talk with positive affirmations. 
Set yourself alarms on your phone with a positive affirmation (I am strong). Post sticky notes throughout your room and in your bathroom (I am doing my best). Write in a journal (I am grateful for all that I have). Draw, doodle, paint, color. (I am proud of myself). Visit Positive Psychology to learn more about positive affirmations and the research behind the practice. Take a moment to appreciate how awesome you are. Yeah, you! 

Previous Viewpoints

May 10, 2020

From the Media Center

Please Help Preserve Our Library Media Center For 2020-2021

Hi Falcon Families.  Many of your children currently have MVMS library books checked out - which is a wonderful tribute to our students. 

Over the next couple of weeks you will be receiving emails from our library paraeducator, Mrs. Kay Peck.  The emails will provide a list of books your student has checked out.   Please work with your child to locate and secure the books so they can eventually be returned.

Returns will most likely occur in August to the school your child will attend.  8th graders will return books to the high school, and 6th and 7th graders will bring them back to MVMS.  Thank you for your support keeping our book collection in good shape for the future.

Electronic Books Available

In the meantime, students can access ebooks and audiobooks through Mackinvia on their hcpss.me homepage. They can even download the Mackinvia app and checkout ebooks to read without Internet access.

Lunch Book Chats for Students - Tuesdays at 11:30

Mrs. Mako and I are hosting lunchtime Meets to informally discuss books with students.  Meet codes to this and all lunch activities, are available through the Mount View Middle School Student Resource Canvas course announcements and calendar. 

Calling All Talents!

MVMS is still going to host our annual Talent Show, however this year it's going to be virtual! 

  • We need singers, dancers, emcees, acrobats, jugglers, beatboxers, painters, dramatic readers, drawers, photographers, etc.
  • Click on this link to apply, but act fast! We are only accepting the first 50 applications.​
  •  

​May 2, 2020

Staff appreciation week is May 4-8, 2020. We welcome you to leave a surprise message for a Falcon staff member. They LOVE messages and will especially love them this year because we miss being with our students so much! Write as many as you would like-- 1 or 21! Thank you for helping us celebrate our amazing staff!

Write your messages here

You can also do the following to show your appreciation:

  • Type an email
  • Send a family video saying thank you
  • Record your child singing a favorite song or playing an instrument
  • Take a picture of something beautiful you find outside. Send it along to brighten someone’s day!
  • Send an inspirational quote.
  • Just say thank you during your Check-in session

Here is a little secret that I do not mind sharing, we have staff meetings every week and during those sessions, staff members are always talking about how much they miss their students. They are working hard to provide engaging activities for you because they truly love and care about children, especially you. As a Principal, I wish I had a magic wand to change our current situation- I would love to see your precious faces during morning arrival but feel grateful that I can see you during the check-ins. Let’s make the best of our virtual community by staying connected.

Congratulations – you have completed your first two full weeks of distance-learning! MVMS students and faculty and staff are doing an amazing job navigating the “Continuity of Learning” expectations. At MVMS we pride ourselves on student engagement, offering a variety of GT Seminar, clubs, and organizations for students to participate in beyond the instructional environment. We are working to continue this experience for students using our current virtual platform. It is important for students to visit the Mount View Middle School Student Resource page to view the activities that are being offered and we also want to check out the MVTV show on Wednesdays. It's a great show with a variety of information from our students and staff.  Check out the link below for the previous MVTV shows, as well as a list of activities to participate in this week:

  • MVTV is now online! Did you know that a new episode of MVTV is posted each Wednesday in Canvas on the MVMS Student Resources Page? Ask your child to show you where the show is located! In case you missed them, here are the first two episodes:
  • Grade level Lunch and Recess Hangout Sessions with Ms. Hess and the staff
  • Book Chats with Ms. Finley on Tuesdays
  • MakerSpace on Wednesdays
  • Trivia on Thursday
  • Read Alouds on Friday

Distance Learning Guidelines for Parents and Guardians

Regarding Distance Learning Privacy Guidelines, this information was shared in the April 21 Community Message from the superintendent, please review:

To maintain a positive, productive learning environment and assure confidentiality for students and teachers during distance learning, all parents/guardians are asked to follow the following privacy guidelines.

  • Google Meet virtual check-ins are designed for students. To prevent disruptions to the learning environment, parents/guardians should not actively participate in check-in sessions, although parents may assist their child with technology and/or remain nearby.
  • Do not video record, audio record, photograph, live stream, or transmit in any other way any part of a Google Meet virtual check-in, including not posting on any social media platform.
  • Any confidential or personally identifiable information related to students participating during Google Meet virtual check-ins should not be collected, discussed or shared.
  • Parents should not engage with students during Google Meet virtual check-ins. If you need to speak with your child during a check-in session, first mute your child’s microphone.
  • If a parent/guardian has a question, please email your child’s teacher.

Attendance

Middle school students are expected to participate in two different types of Continuity of Learning activities every week: virtual check-ins with teachers and completion of weekly assignments, due the Friday of each week. Middle school students have check-ins for seven (7) periods and are expected to complete seven (7) check-ins and seven (7) assignments each week.

Teachers will mark students present in period attendance on the date the period is held when students report to the check-in through Canvas.

  • Monday - Period 4(A/B)
  • Tuesday - Period 1(A/B) and Period 5(A/B)
  • Wednesday - Period 2(A/B) and Period 6(A/B)
  • Thursday - Period 3(A/B) and Period 7(A/B)
  • Friday - Assignment submitted in each class or, for students who receive extended time accommodation, a note sent by the student to their teacher(s) indicating that the work is “in progress.”

On Friday, teachers will enter period attendance if the assignment is submitted. Teachers in MS will enter period attendance for check-ins each day in Synergy.

For attendance record keeping, a student will earn 1 point for attendance at a check-in and 1 point for each assignment submitted. A student can earn up to 14 points per week (7 check-ins and 7 assignments).

At the end of each week, a secretary will review attendance for students. Students will be marked present in daily attendance for the week if the student participated in 50% or more of virtual check-ins and/or submitted the current week’s assignments in each class (earning 7 or more of the 14 points possible). If a student has participated in some check-ins and/or turned in some assignments, but earned “Present” in fewer than 50% of class periods and/or the assignments, they will not be marked present for the whole week but will be marked present in Synergy for any days that they were present. Students who do not submit any assignments nor participate in any virtual check-ins will be marked absent for the entire week.

This process began on April 27, 2020.

Student and Parent Canvas Information

Canvas Tips and Help for Parents and Students is a useful resource to utilize.

  • Account Self-Service for Students: Students must be logged into their school email through HCPSS.me and not use outside emails. Students have the ability to retrieve their usernames and reset passwords, independent of teachers and staff. Click here for Directions on using self-service.
  • Student Check-Ins and Assignments: Links for the check-ins can be found on the teacher's canvas page. Check-in time is for students and their teachers only. If a parent has a question or a concern, please email the teacher. Assignments will be posted by 9:00 a.m. on Mondays. Assignments are due on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. We are emphasizing with our staff that this is a time of grace, patience, and reconnecting with our students. If your child does not check-in or turn in an assignment at the end of the week, we will reach out to you to ensure that everything is okay.

A Message From Your Counselors

Click here for this week's message from your counselors.

Comcast Internet Essential 

Affordable internet at home for eligible households, please click here.

Stay Informed

Continue to access the HCPSS website for the most up-to-date information:

#Connections   #Soaringtonewheights   Go Falcons!

April 25, 2020

Hello from your Counselors!

We miss you and hope you are doing well! Please remember you can email your counselor anytime. We can also set up video chats with you. Just let us know what you need and what works best for you and your family. These are difficult times for many people and we are here for you. We’re sharing the following information with you, our Mount View Falcons, and the school community because we care about each of you. Be safe and stay well.

If you have an immediate need for help with depression, suicidal thoughts, or other serious mental health issues, please contact:

  • Grassroots Crisis Intervention at 410-531-6677
  • The Maryland Crisis Hotline: Dial 211 and then choose option 1
  • The Crisis Text Line:  Text 741741 and a trained counselor will respond.
  • The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 

Yearbook Deadline Extended

YOU CAN STILL ORDER A 2019-2020 MVMS YEARBOOK!   The online ordering system is open and you can place your order now to reserve your copy. The cost of the Yearbook is $25.00.   To ensure you get a copy, purchase it now!  

Directions for ordering online:

  • Go to ybpay.lifetouch.com
  • Enter our Yearbook ID Code: 9869920
  • Enter your student’s name and complete the payment.

April 17, 2020

Falcon Families,

I am including resources and tools that will support you and your student(s) as we transition to the next phase of the “Continuity of Learning.” This information will also be posted on the MVMS website for you to reference as needed. Faculty and staff are prepared and eager to start classes. Teachers have updated Canvas and sent out messages to their students in preparation for next week. I have received emails and feedback this week and know that many of you have been discussing ways to navigate this new world of teaching and learning. I hope that the resources below will help answer some of the questions you may have. Please know that Administration, Student Services, Support Staff, and Teachers will be available next week to provide your student with support-we are only an email away.
Thanks for Your Support,

Lynnette Moore
Principal

Helpful Resources and Tools for Virtual Learning

Student Technology Resources   This link provides official county directions for students:  Students can select the tab to Join a Google Meet, or access other topics such as forgotten passwords and Chromebook issues. 

Google Meet Tutorial

MVMS Student Orientation

Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology and Social Media 

Student Code of Conduct 

Course Organizer for Your Virtual Classes   Here is a master copy of the schedule that you can complete and post on your wall to help you stay organized (link below). It's a good idea for students and parents to have this schedule, especially a computer is being shared among family members. Remember that April 20th is an A WEEK and April 27th is a B WEEK. Please make a copy before you begin to edit the document. )

Canvas Orientation for Parents  This is a helpful guide for parents and guardians as they navigate Canvas to support their students.

A Message from your Counselors

3 tips for VIRTUAL success in the classroom!
As we adjust to our new virtual classrooms, it can be helpful to have a plan to help us stay organized and focused.  

  • Create a Regular Working Space

Find a working space that you can use daily that is quiet and distraction-free.  Make sure it is well lit and comfortable (but not too comfy!).  If available, sit in a chair instead of choosing to lay on a bed or the floor.  This can help increase your focus.

  • Eliminate Distractions

Turn off mobile phones and TV.  Some background music can be relaxing, but it is important that it is not too loud.  If you find yourself singing along to the lyrics, it’s a distraction!  A distraction-free environment allows you to be more present and able to concentrate on the work in front of you versus the noise or space around you.

  • Create a Weekly/Schedule

A routine is very helpful when learning virtually.  Use a planner or schedule template to help you keep track of due dates, classroom check-ins, as well as other tasks that you need to complete throughout the week.  Set reminders to help you remember important meeting times.
Print a hardcopy schedule and fill it in each week.  If you do not have access to a printer, you can create your own schedule on a piece of paper.  
Consider using the Course Organizer provided by Ms. Moore

A Note About Counselor Office Hours
We miss you and are here for you!  Please remember that counselors offer daily office hours to best support all MVMS students.  
Monday - Friday from 9:30 am - 11:30 am and from 12:00 pm - 1:00pm Don't hesitate to contact your counselor to set up an appointment or ask a question!

A Note From Ms. Felix, School Psychologist
I hope you and your students are doing well during this time!  I miss seeing your students and am hoping that they are taking a deep breath and time to relax while preparing for virtual learning. Beginning on April 20, I will be holding daily office hours from 1:30-2:30 pm.  During this time I will have appointments available to meet virtually with parents, staff, and students in order to answer questions or address other concerns to support our students.  Meetings will take place via Google Meet or over the phone.
If you are interested in setting up an appointment with me, you can email me directly at jessica_felix@hcpss.org with your preferred day(s) of the week, a brief description of your needs, and how long you anticipate our meeting should last.  I will schedule you into my next available appointment and respond with a meeting link. I look forward to hearing from you!
Jessica Felix, School Psychologist ​​​​​​​

Take a Mindful Moment


Practice mindfulness as a family
Mindfulness, explains David Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, is “Anything that helps everyone take a moment to slow down, stay present, and come together.” Designating time to practice mindful activities as a family will help everyone feel less anxious. It could be a daily family yoga session, or a quiet walk in the woods as a group- (obviously this can be tricky if you aren’t near a trail these days), taking time to focus on the way the air feels, the sound of the birds and the smell of the trees. If you can’t take a walk, even sitting in the backyard can help you accomplish this goal.  Another good family mindfulness idea is asking everyone to mention one good thing they heard or saw that day over dinner.  We like to call this hi/lo or thorns and roses.  We suggest starting with the thorn or the low so you always end on a good note.

Food Pantry Fliers

Open Doors Food Pantry     Pop-up Pantry at Long Reach Village Center

April 14, 2020

MVMS Homepage 

Are you having trouble locating resources sent to your email? The MVMS Homepage is a good place to check for current updates and communications. We have begun to place the ViewPoint on the homepage for easy access, as well as other updates. 

Salvation Army Food Distribution

  • April 15 1 pm to 3 pm
  • 3267 Pine Orchard Lane, Ellicott City 21042
  • Please do not arrive before 12:45 pm as we need time to prepare due to COVID-19 precautions
  • For everyone's protection, please follow all special instructions on that day.
  • Please be ready with proof of Howard County residency
  • Questions? Please call 443-656-3376

PTA Virtual Meeting

MVMS PTA will hold our monthly PTA meeting - virtually - on April 15 at 6 pm.  To do so, a link to attend the virtual meeting will be sent by 5:45 pm on the 15th & also posted on the MVMS PTA Facebook page.

If you're not already on our Facebook page, please feel free to join here. 

MVMS Yearbook

Do you have pictures of the Snowball Spectacular, National History Day, Outdoor ED, Geography Bee, Spelling Bee, Science Olympiad, Falcon Day or any other school activities in which your child participated before the school closure? 
We would also like to include pictures of some of the things students are doing to stay engaged during the school closure—games, puzzles, bike riding, exercising, reading, school work, etc.  Please only include current MVMS students in the photos.
Please send the pictures to Jane Antico, jane_antico@hcpss.org.
You can still order a Yearbook!  The online ordering system is open and you can place your order now to reserve your copy.  The cost of the yearbook is $25.00.   To ensure you get a copy, purchase it now!  

  • Go to ybpay.lifetouch.com
  • Enter our Yearbook ID Code: 9869920
  • Enter your student’s name and complete the payment.​​​​​​​

Stay Informed

Continue to access the HCPSS website for the most up-to-date information:

 

April 5. 2020

From Your Principal

MVMS Falcons,

We miss you and hope all of our families are safe and well! We continue to encourage you to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the state of Maryland and engage in best practices to stay well. The staff would like to thank MVMS PTA and the community for their words of encouragement and support received this week. The PTA message put a lot of smiles on the faces of the staff. Your MVMS staff have been busy the seek. Teachers participated in multiple virtual staff meetings and professional development to support the HCPSS Continuity of Learning. They are working incredibly hard on their training and preparing for distance learning. In addition, our classroom teachers were able to reach out to their students for the first time this week. If you did not receive an email message from your child’s teachers this week, please check your Canvas Notifications.

This week our front office staff worked hard to reach out to families that had not yet completed the Student Technology Survey. Due to their efforts and your participation, 99.8% of our families have completed the survey. Your participation will better enable us to make sure that technology will be in the hands of our students!

Families who requested a device will be emailed directly with details on where and when devices can be picked up. Devices are first being distributed to families with high school students. Please continue to be patient as the school system works through the logistics and contact of families for the deployment of over 9000 devices.

As teachers continue to participate in intense professional development throughout the upcoming week, families continue to be encouraged to review academic resources provided through the HCPSS Continuity of Learning website. Specifically, the section titled “Resources to Support at Home” will provide grade-level specific resources. Middle School students are scheduled to begin remote learning during the week of April 20, 2020. Until then, we will continue to direct requests for additional materials or guidance back to information on the HCPSS website.

We will see you soon virtually!  Thanks for Your Support,

Lynnette Moore, Principal

Staff Spring Break

Please note that teachers will be celebrating the spring holidays for an adjusted spring break on April 9, 10, and 13. They might not respond to email communications during that time.

Communication and Canvas

Earlier in the week, teachers reached out to students and parents by email. We would like each of you to please respond back to them as soon as possible so we know you are receiving the communication from them. 
Please also make sure you and your child are able to get on their teacher’s Canvas pages.
Parents/guardians should check your Canvas notification settings to ensure you are receiving announcements, assignments, and messages from teachers. Directions on how to update your notification settings can be found here. If you need a refresher course on how to use Canvas, you can go here.

Account Self-Service for Students

Resetting student passwords, and sharing student usernames and passwords put our student accounts at greater risk of compromise and are unnecessary actions. Students can retrieve forgotten usernames and reset their own passwords via Account Self-Service. Instructions for Account Self-Service are available on the Student Technology Resources Canvas course and HCPSS.me.


A Message From Your School Counselors

Hello Mount View Falcons and families!

We hope you’ve been doing well and are staying safe.  We have all been spending lots of time staying close to our families and preparing to reconnect with you!

We will have office hours available Monday - Friday from 9:30 am - 11:30 am and from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm starting Tuesday, April 14th. You are welcome to set up your appointments starting now. Please email us if you would like to set up a time to meet.

We can meet virtually (We would love to see you!!) or on the phone.  We look forward to chatting with you.

The School Counseling Department will also be making announcements and posting college, career, and class lessons on Canvas in the upcoming weeks. We will make sure you have access to it all and will include those on our Canvas pages.

We look forward to talking with you in the upcoming days and weeks. Please know that we are still here to talk if you have questions or any other concerns as well.  Our email address is above.

We are thinking of you and miss you! 

Mrs. Marton, Mrs. O’Ferrall and Mrs. Adams

MVMS Yearbook Updates

Hello MVMS Community,

We hope this finds you all safe and healthy.  The Yearbook advisors are working hard to get our book finished for this year.  However, school closure has impacted our ability to gather photos.  

First, we would like to ask if you have any pictures of school activities such as the Snowball Spectacular, National History Day, Outdoor ED, Geography Bee, Spelling Bee, Science Olympiad, Falcon Day or any other school activities in which your child participated before the school closure, please send the pictures to Jane Antico at jane_antico@hcpss.org.  

Second, we would like to include pictures of some of the things student(s) are doing to stay engaged during the school closure—games, puzzles, bike riding, exercising, reading, school work, etc.  Please only include current MVMS students in the photos.  All pictures can be emailed to Jane Antico at jane_antico@hcpss.org.  Thank you!

YOU CAN STILL ORDER A 2019-2020 MVMS YEARBOOK!   The online ordering system is open and you can place your order now to reserve your copy of our Memory Book. The cost of the Yearbook is $25.00.   To ensure you get a copy, purchase it now!  Directions for ordering online:

  • Go to ybpay.lifetouch.com
  • Enter our Yearbook ID Code: 9869920
  • Enter your student’s name and complete the payment.