The Raider Nation Newsletter

News from Principal Novak: January 27, 2025

Midyear

Dear Atholton Community,

Congrats on making it to the 2nd semester. Hopefully, you/your student did well on midterms. The report cards will be viewable in Synergy on February 4th. As I shared with students today, if you're doing well--keep it up. If the year isn't going the way you planned, now is the time to change (and honestly, this is probably the last time to change things up to salvage a passing grade in a class). Even if a student earned two E's for the first half of the year, it is still mathematically possible to pass the class. But it's going to take a monumental turnaround. It's not a coincidence that report cards come out the same time as summer school registration opening. If you/your child has two E's already this year, be sure to talk to his or her counselor about potential summer school plans and talik with teachers about improved outcomes for the third and fourth marking period.

Sincerely,

Nick Novak

Principal

Important Information

Apply to be a 2025-2026 Student Delegate and/or the SMOB

Apply to be a Student Delegate: Each year, student delegates from middle and high schools are selected to attend a convention to select two nominated candidates, and two alternate candidates, for Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB).

One student delegate from grades nine, ten, eleven and three at-large delegates are selected to represent each high school. AHS needs 6 delegates. These delegates are selected by a committee that interviews students who have submitted a Student Delegate Application.

A successful delegate will:

Attend the SMOB Convention on March 19, 2025 (You will be missing school for this "field trip")
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the SMOB
Demonstrate respect for the ideas of others.
Work well with other students.
Evaluate the Student Member applicants before convention.
Complete a training program for delegates.
Give and receive constructive feedback.
Serve as a representative leader.
Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Promote the position of Student Member of the Board.

In order to be considered for the position of delegate to the Student Member Convention, a middle/high school student must:

Submit a Student Delegate ApplicationLinks to an external site. by February 7, 2025.
Participate in an interview with Delegate Selection Committee including your principal and peers at an assigned date and time.
- Review the Student Delegate ApplicationLinks to an external site. for more information this interview.

Apply to be the SMOB: Each year, HCPSS middle and high school students elect one Student Member of the Board (SMOB), who represents student voiceLinks to an external site. on the Board of Education. The Student Member serves a one-year term (from July 1 through June 30). They have all the rights and responsibilities of a Board member, with the exception of statutory restrictions against voting on specific matters, participation in appeals or confidential personnel matters, and attendance at closed sessions relating to restricted matters.

Any current sophomore or junior in Howard County may apply for the 2025-2026 position. The student must be regularly enrolled in an HCPSS high school and academically eligible. Interested students must submit a completed applicationLinks to an external site. by 4:00 p.m. on Friday February 7, 2025. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Additional information related to becoming 2025-2026 SMOB can be found in the SMOB introduction letterLinks to an external site..

Senior Information

Attention Seniors! Make sure to complete all of these items below.

Graduation:

Order your cap and gown through this linkLinks to an external site. by March 1st
Complete your nomination for teacher of the year through this formLinks to an external site. by February 8th
If you would like to audition to be a speaker or performer at graduation you must submit a video through this formLinks to an external site. by February 14th

Senior Activity:

Senior Trip to Hershey Park Interest Form- fill out this linkLinks to an external site.

Please address any questions to Mrs. DeFilippo, Mrs. Jesneck, Sgt. Gordiano

Senior Picture Make-Ups

Legacy Studios made arrangements to reschedule the canceled senior pictures for January 31st. Families who were impacted should have received direct notification.

Summer School Registration Opens on 2/3

Synergy online enrollment requests will be open Monday, February 3 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, February 17 at 12 p.m. for the following Summer programs:

BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9)
Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8)
Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9-12) – original credit courses only

Find more information here:

https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2024/12/2025-summer-programs-registration-to-open-feb-3-2025/