Northern Middle Newsletter

Welcome Back, Bobcat Families!

I am thrilled to begin this school year with the Northern Middle School community and honored to serve as your principal. As we prepare for an exciting year of learning, growth, and new opportunities, I want to emphasize how important our partnership with families is to student success.

I encourage you to stay actively involved in your child's middle school experience by joining our PTO, volunteering when possible, attending school events, and maintaining open communication with our staff. Together, we can create a positive and supportive environment where every Bobcat thrives.

Calvert County Public Schools has compiled helpful back-to-school information and resources here: Welcome Back to School! - Calvert County Public School District.

I encourage you to explore these resources and reach out if you have any questions. Thank you for your support and partnership. Here's to a fantastic school year at Northern Middle School!

• Mon, August 24: 6th Grade & New Student Orientation (8:00-11:15 AM)
• Tues, August 25: First Day of School for All Students
• Wed, August 26: Rita's Spirit Night (6-8 PM; Dr. Sutton will be scooping!)
• Tues, September 1: Fall Sports Clinics Begin
• Mon, September 7: School Closed for Labor Day
• Wed, September 9: Northern Middle Open House Night (6-7:30 PM)
• Wed, September 16: 2-Hour Early Dismissal for Students
• Sun, September 20: Color Run Sponsored by PTO at Calverton. Register here: "THIS IS ME" Color Run Tickets, Sunday, September 20 • 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Eventbrite
• Mon, October 5: Soccer and Volleyball Games vs. MCMS (at Dunkirk Park and NMS)
• Wed, October 7: Picture Day
• Wed, October 7: Soccer and Volleyball Games vs. CMS (at Dunkirk Park and NMS)
• Mon, October 19: Soccer and Volleyball Games vs. PPMS (at Dunkirk Park and NMS)
• Wed, October 21: Soccer and Volleyball Games vs. SMS (at Dunkirk Park and NMS)
• Fri, October 23: PTO Fall Dance (6-8 PM)
• Mon, October 26: Soccer and Volleyball Games at WHMS

Welcome to a new school year! The NMS PTO is excited for another year of supporting our

students, staff, and school community. We’d love for you to join us and be part of all the fun and exciting things happening this year.

Join the NMS PTO: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/2026-2027-northern-middle-school-pto-memberships-and-donation

We’re also collecting our staff’s Favorite Things! Parents will have access to the completed list, making it easy to recognize and celebrate our amazing NMS staff throughout the year.

Staff Favorite Things List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iuxhvwRO7wORVtEtYD75DF4V8RFhy0shgDvnMuJiqCM/edit?usp=sharing

Save the Date

Rita’s Fundraiser

August 26 | 6:00–8:00 PM

Join us at Rita’s for our first fundraiser of the school year! Bring the family, enjoy a sweet treat, and support NMS PTO.

Special Guest Scooper: Dr. Sutton!

CASA This Is Me Color Run

September 20 | 8:30 AM–11:30 AM

Celebrate youth empowerment at the "THIS IS ME" Color Run on September 20th! Free t-shirts, music, and games. When you register, please be sure to designate NMS PTO as your chosen organization.

Secure your spot today: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../this-is-me-color-run.

Monday, August 24th - CCPS middle schools will be holding an Orientation Day for 6th graders from 8:00-11:15 AM. New 7th and 8th grade students will receive an invitation from their counselor. As a reminder, Orientation Day in middle school is for students only. Parents will have an opportunity to meet teachers during Open House. See below for information about a memo from Transportation regarding buses for Orientation Day.

We are excited to see everyone for our first day of school! Students will report to the following locations at the start of the day:

• Since 6th graders will already have their schedules from orientation, they will report directly to first period. 6th graders who did not attend orientation should report to the gym to receive their schedules from the counselors.
• 7th graders will first report to the gym.
• 8th graders will first report to the cafeteria. Their first period teachers will meet them there and then give out copies of their schedules in class.

On their first day of school, we will meet with each grade level when they arrive and provide them with a paper copy of their schedule.

Be sure to double check HAC prior to the 1st day of school as revisions to schedules will still be occurring. With new students enrolling, we will continue to work on balancing class sizes. As a result, student schedules may be adjusted.

Bus information (bus #, bus stop location and approximate bus stop times) for the upcoming school year will be posted in Home Access Center (HAC). Bus stop information is based on the guardian’s home address unless they have provided a different pick-up and drop-off location to your child’s school.

If you have questions about your student's transportation or need assistance after reviewing your information, please contact the Transportation Department at https://calvertnet-trn.zendesk.com/ and submit a ticket. Their staff will be happy to assist you.

Here Comes the Bus (HCTB) is an app with tracking features for the bus(es) your child(ren) is assigned to ride. They include

• Showing the real-time location of your child's bus on a map
• Scheduled and actual arrival times at home and school for bus routes
• Push and email notifications when the bus is near

Click this link for more information on getting the app - https://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/departments/transportation/bus-status/here-comes-the-bus

To create an account, you will need to know your child's ID number and the school district activation code 87557.

Due to limited space during construction, we highly recommend your child ride the bus to and from school. If you are planning to drive your child to school, please review these instructions:

Morning Drop-Off:

1. All vehicles and school buses will enter and exit the NMS/NHS campus via the first entrance off Chaneyville Road by the NHS tennis courts.
2. All vehicles other than buses will be making the first right-hand turn in the parking lot and following a loop to the Student Drop-Off Zone that is in the first row of the parking lot near the NHS cafeteria.
3. Please follow the directions provided by staff and pull up to the furthest spot in the drop off zone so that we can allow as many vehicles into the parking lot as possible.
4. Students should be ready to exit their vehicles quickly so that we can keep traffic flowing. There is a sidewalk next to the drop off zone that will allow students to safely walk to NMS.
5. Vehicles will be directed back towards Chaneyville Road. Please note that vehicles will be stopped as needed when buses are entering or exiting the bus lot.

Afternoon Pick-up:

1. During dismissal, all vehicles will enter and exit using the same pattern.
2. Parents waiting to pick up their child may park in the drop off zone or in any vacant parking spot so that other vehicles can exit the parking lot.
3. Please pull up to the furthest spot in the drop off zone so that we can allow as many vehicles into the parking lot as possible.

School Day Visitation:

For those visiting during the school day, there are designated visitor parking spaces in the front row of the parking lot.

We appreciate the cooperation of our school community as we work through the logistics with construction. While there will be short-term challenges, the long-term advantages of a new NMS building will benefit our community for years to come.

Fall Athletics Clinics for Volleyball and Co-Ed Soccer will begin as early as Tuesday, September 1! These clinics provide students with an opportunity to develop their skills, learn teamwork, and prepare for team tryouts.

To participate, families must complete the following requirements before students can attend clinics:

• Complete the Athletics Registration Form through the Home Access Center (HAC):
  • Select Registration
  • Select Update Enrollment
  • Click Start next to Athletics Registration Form
  • Complete all required fields
  • Upload a current Sports Physical Form signed by a healthcare provider
• Pay the $35 Athletic Clinic Fee, which covers participation in all athletic clinics for the school year.

Important Deadline:
To ensure your child can participate on the first day of clinics, all registration requirements and payment must be completed by Friday, August 28. Please note that registrations submitted after this date may require 24-48 hours for processing before a student is eligible to participate.

Clinics will be held immediately after school and generally conclude at 5:00 p.m. Students must be signed out by a parent/guardian or authorized adult at the end of each session.

The final days of clinics will serve as team tryouts. Students selected for a school team will begin practices the following week and will compete against other middle schools throughout Calvert County.

For questions regarding athletics registration, fees, or participation requirements, please contact Mr. Joseph Korycki, Athletic Director, at 443-550-9230 or KoryckiJ@calvertnet.k12.md.us.

We would like to share information about what to expect in our cafeterias for school year 2026-2027.

The Free and Reduced Meal Program continues to be available, however, to all families who qualify. A new application must be submitted each school year. To see if your household qualifies, please complete, and submit one meal benefit application per household. Applications will be sent home with students in the beginning of the school year folders but may also be completed online at https://LinqConnect.com.

Applications are available in many languages on the LinqConnect site but are also available on the USDA’s website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/translated-applications.

Breakfast and Lunch meals are offered daily.

School Meal Prices for SY 2026-2027:

Breakfast: $1.85; Secondary Lunch $3.25; Student Milk $0.65.

In order to volunteer in the school and/or chaperone field trips, you must complete a 2026-2027 CCPS Application.

CCPS Online Volunteer Application Process

Calvert County Public Schools uses Raptor for visitors and volunteers to sign in and sign out. All volunteers will need to review the volunteer handbook and watch the volunteer training video before completing an Online Volunteer Application. Volunteers must be approved before they may begin service as a volunteer in any school buildings. Please note, the procedures for policy 8123 states that all volunteers must be at least twenty-one years of age unless he/she is the parent of a child in school.

Only complete this application if you intend to volunteer with Calvert County Public Schools. The volunteer application is not used for visitors.

1. Read the volunteer handbook.

2. Complete the Online Volunteer Application. CCPS Volunteer Application

· The application may be completed on a computer or a mobile device.

· You are required to watch the CCPS Volunteer Training Video (approximately 14 minutes) before you can proceed with your application.

Don’t miss important school and district updates! Families are encouraged to make sure their contact information and communication preferences are current in the CCPS Notification System.

Need help checking or updating your information? Follow the step-by-step directions:

• Guardians (non-CCPS employees): Guardians - Calvert County Public School District
• Guardians who are CCPS Employees: Guardians and Employees - Calvert County Public School District

We are excited to share that an online spirit wear store has been opened for our school community. Check out the link below to purchase gear to support Bobcat Nation!

https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/northern-middle-school-bobcats-1985132

For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, visit calvertnet.k12.md.us/flyers.

Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district.