November 2026 Newsletter
Welcome, November!
As we welcome November, it is hard to believe how quickly the first quarter has passed. The last few months have been filled with learning, growth, and memorable experiences for our students and staff. From engaging classroom instruction and extracurricular activities to schoolwide events and celebrations, our Parkville Middle School community continues to demonstrate dedication, resilience, and school pride.
November also provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the many things for which we are grateful. We are thankful for our students, families, staff, and community partners who work together each day to support student success. As we move into the season of gratitude, we encourage everyone to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, strengthen connections with one another, and continue building the positive and supportive culture that makes Parkville Middle School such a special place.
Exciting Updates and Upcoming Events
October was an exciting time for the Community Schools initiative at Parkville MS! During our Power Produce Market, we held a soft opening of the Power Closet, and it was a great success! Thank you to the student and parent volunteers whose efforts made this possible. We are also in the process of establishing goals for our Community Schools Implementation Plan, which is due to MSDE in May of 2027. Much of this collaboration will take place during our Shared Decision-Making Team meetings. We need the input of all stakeholders (students, staff, families, community members, and business partners) to formulate our schoolwide goals and look forward to engaging with them all.
Upcoming Events
Coping Skills Workshop Series #1- November 19th from 5:00-6:30PM
School Decision Making Team Meeting- December 7th from 9:30-11:00AM
Power Produce Market and Power Closet- December 9 from 3:30-5:00 (while supplies last)
Get Involved!
If you are interested in getting involved by attending our Shared Decision-Making Team meetings, volunteering with the Power Produce Markets or Power Closet, making clothing or other donations, etc., you can email Ms. Roche directly or complete the following Form: Stakeholder Interest Form – Fill out form
We all need a little help at times! If you are in need of support, you can submit this confidential Form, and we will reach out to see how we can help:
Parkville Middle Support Request – Fill out form
Contact Information:
Corri Roche, Community School Facilitator
443-809-9774
Mathematics
Welcome to Quarter 2!
As we begin the second quarter, we are excited to continue building on the skills, knowledge, and confidence students developed during the first quarter. The start of a new quarter is a great opportunity for students to reflect on their progress, set new goals, and continue developing strong learning habits. We look forward to all the learning and growth that lies ahead!
The Importance of Math Homework
Math homework plays an important role in helping students strengthen and retain what they learn in class. Regular practice helps students move information from short-term memory into long-term memory, making it easier to recall and apply skills when they encounter new concepts.
Homework also helps activate working memory by asking students to retrieve, use, and connect previously learned skills. This process strengthens understanding and helps students build confidence and independence as mathematicians. Even a short amount of focused practice can make a meaningful difference! Families can support students by encouraging consistent homework routines, checking for completion, and asking questions about what they are learning.
What's Coming Up in Math?
Math 6: Students will explore ratios and unit rates and discover how these concepts help us solve real-world problems. They will make connections between fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, and rates while learning to use benchmark percentages and unit rates to make comparisons and solve problems.
Math 7: Students will make connections between proportional relationships and circles. They will explore how the radius, diameter, circumference, and area of a circle are related and learn to use diagrams, measurements, formulas, and pi (π) to solve real-world problems.
Math 8: Students will investigate proportional and nonproportional linear relationships using graphs, tables, equations, and verbal descriptions. They will focus on understanding slope (rate of change) and initial value and how these features help us interpret and make sense of real-world situations.
Algebra 1: Students will dive into statistics and explore how mathematics helps us understand real-world data. They will investigate relative frequencies, lines of best fit, and linear models while learning how to summarize, analyze, and interpret data.
Geometry: Students are finishing their unit on rigid transformations and proving congruence. They are exploring how translations, reflections, and rotations preserve figures and using geometric properties and mathematical reasoning to write and communicate proofs.
We appreciate your continued support and partnership in your child's mathematical journey. Thank you for encouraging practice, perseverance, and a positive attitude toward learning. We look forward to a wonderful second quarter!
Science
In science all 3 grade levels are wrapping up their first units! 6th graders took their end of unit assessment for their chemistry unit and are creating synthetic material infographics! 7th graders tested their s'more cookers to maximize thermal energy transfer. 8th graders submitted awesome PSAs about natural hazards and wrapped up their weather unit.
All three grades will be moving on to unit 2 for the 2nd quarter. 6th grade will begin a physics unit about forces and motion, studying Newton's Laws of Motion. 7th grade will begin a biology unit about cells and body systems. 8th grade will explore the geologic time scale and fossils!
School Counseling Updates
6th Grade Families: The 6th Grade Lesson for Quarter 2 will focus on Healthy Friendships. Roadmap meetings (6-year-plan meetings) will begin for 6th graders in December and continue through February. Students are required to meeting with their school counselor at least once a year but can request to see their counselor as frequently as needed.
7th and 8th Grade Families: Ms. Sands and Mrs. Robinson will be meeting with students to complete their roadmap to ready (6-year plan) meeting. This meeting helps students start planning for their future in high school and beyond. The deadline for 8th graders to have their meeting is December 2, 2026, and the deadline for 7th graders is February 2027. Students are required to meeting with their school counselor at least once a year but can request to see their counselor as frequently as needed. Quarter 2 classroom lessons for 7th graders will focus on Xello Time Management and 8th graders will focus on Healthy Relationships.
A Note from the Academic Advisor
I like to tell our students, “New quarter, new you!” The start of a new marking period offers a fresh start and an opportunity to reflect on the practices and habits that contributed to success during the previous quarter, while setting goals for an even stronger Quarter 2.
For parents and guardians, I encourage you to take time to do a quick academic "audit" with your child. Help them clean out and reorganize binders, restock school supplies, and ensure they have the tools they need for a successful quarter. As you review Quarter 1 grades together, take time to celebrate accomplishments and identify one or two habits they can strengthen to support continued growth.
Our seventh graders kicked off Marking Period 2 with a trip to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore! Students enjoyed a day outdoors observing a variety of animals, exploring their habitats, and learning about wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship. We hope this experience deepens their appreciation for the natural world and sparks excitement for our upcoming science unit, Form and Function.
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of the parents and guardians who volunteered as chaperones. We hope you enjoyed spending the day with us, and we are grateful for your time, support, and commitment to making these meaningful learning experiences possible for our students.
7th Grade
Field Trip
To the Zoo!
6th Grade Cookies and Cocoa
6th Graders, join us on Thursday, November 5th from 6-7:30pm in the Parkville MS cafeteria for our "6th Grade Social- Cookies and Cocoa." Permission slips were distributed in 6th grade homerooms and need to be turned in no later than November 4th.
Attendance Matters! Every Student, Every Day!
For the month of October, the overall school attendance rate was 96.19%. Here is a breakdown of attendance rates for October by grade level:
Grade 6: 96.65%
Grade 7: 96.10%
Grade 8: 95.77%
Great job! Let's keep striving for 94%!
The Attendance Homeroom Competition bulletin board is updated daily, with each homeroom earning one ⭐ for 94% attendance for the day, and ⭐ ⭐ for 100% attendance for the day. Last month, Ms. Young's homeroom won a special Power Pay worth a total of 5 Power Pays that can be used in the Power Plaza, for quarterly PBIS events, or Walk and Talks.
The winner for attendance for the month of October is Ms. Conway's homeroom! Students in Ms. Conway's homeroom will win a prize. The runner up is a tie between Ms. Valbrun and Mr. Johnson's homerooms. Whose homeroom will win in November?!
We will hold Grade Level BINGO during the second week of November for all students with 94% attendance in Quarter 1. We also have fun playing BINGO and Ms. Roche loves to be our BINGO caller!
Finally, be sure to reference the attendance notepad that was sent home with your child. There is information, an attendance tracker, and notes to use for when your child is absent, late, or dismissed early. There is information including when to keep your child home for illness and when it is safe for them to return following an illness. Please be sure to use this as a reference, as cold and flu season are upon us!
November Attendance Lunch Prize Drawings:
Monday, November 2
Wednesday, November 4
Wednesday, November 25
Monday, November 30
Updates from Club and Activities Sponsors
Battle of the Books - Ms. Kendzierski
Our Battle of the Books club is off to an amazing start. If your child missed our first meeting on October 22nd, they are welcomed to join us on Thursday, November 19th from 3:15-4:00. This club asks students to read 10 Black Eyed Susan nominated books and compete in a team trivia contest against other schools in late April or early May.
Builders Club- Lindsey Zimmerman
This club meets most Tuesdays (schedule provided) from 3:15-4:15 in room 100. Applications are still being accepted! Our Fall Food Drive runs through November 10 and will benefit Victor's Vittles Food Pantry. Items can be brought to room 100 during homeroom. The homeroom that collects the most items per person wins a prize! Please reach out to lzimmerman3@bcps.org with questions.
Educators Rising - Laura Quatmann
It is not too late to join the Educators Rising club! This is a fun opportunity for any students interested in the teaching profession. Please grab a permission slip outside Mrs. Quatmann's room (105) if you are interested. We meet Tuesday mornings from 7:20-8:05 am twice a month. November's meeting dates are 11/10 and 11/24.
World Language/Spanish Club - Mikaela Ellis
The Spanish club will be meeting on November 10 and 24 from 3:15-4:15.
Green School Club - Richard Pouffary
This team encourages all of our Parkville community to be good stewards of the environment and recycle when able. Even just a few plastic and glass water bottles or some cardboard go a long way! Will meet 11/4, 11/11, and 11/18 this month.
Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble - Jake Neville
Jazz Band will meet each week on Wednesdays, 3:15-4:15. Students attending must turn in their permission slip first! More information will be available later for Wind Ensemble.
Honors Orchestra - Lindsey Zimmerman
This club meets every Thursday from 3:15-4:15pm. Students can expect a rigorous performance experience and are currently preparing for a virtual recruitment field trip to Fullerton Elementary (more info to come, please check Talking Points!) as well as their Winter Concert performance on Wednesday, December 9 at 6pm. Students currently enrolled in Strings are invited to audition for this ensemble. Please reach out to lzimmerman3@bcps.org with questions.
Intramurals- Andrew Burkhardt
Morning Intramurals has started and is held Thursday Mornings at 7:30am. Permission forms are located in the folder outside of the gym.
Yearbook - Krista Klausmeier
Meetings will begin on Tuesday, November 17th. See Mrs. Klausmeier for a permission slip!
Activity Bus
There will be an Activity Bus running on Tuesdays from October 6, 2026, through June 1, 2027. Students MUST be in an after-school club/activity on Tuesdays to ride the bus. The bus will depart Parkville MS at approximately 4:20 PM and will stop at the following elementary schools in the flyer.
Students with an interest in the activity bus must submit a permission slip, which indicates which club/activity they are participating in. The bus is limited to 40 students, and a wait list will be maintained. Permission slips are available in the main office and counseling office. If the student is no longer participating in the after-school club/activity or encounters behavioral challenges on the bus, they will no longer be able to ride the activity bus. If a student scheduled does not ride the bus 2 times, they will be removed from the rider list, and the waitlist will be accessed.
Library Updates
We are excited to see so many students visiting the library during homeroom and also at lunch several times a week! The library is also excited to support Wow Wednesday and our D.E.A.R initiative to have students participate in sustained silent reading.
In the month of October, we started our Baltimore County Library partnership with Library at Lunch. They come the third Thursday of every month and set up in the cafeteria lobby during all lunch shifts. We had our first visit on October 15th, and our next visit will November 19th. All BCPS students have student accounts with BCPL and can check out up to 5 items. Return is easy as they can return BCPL books to the school library. Students may also request book using the QR code posted in the library.
Looking ahead, our Book Fair will be the week of December 16th through the 20th. Students will visit during a class, and it will also be open during homeroom as well as the evening for 12/18 for families to shop.
If you have any library specific questions, please reach out to Mrs. Kendzierski at akendzierski@bcps.org
Fun Times
At
PMSCT!
Volunteering and Chaperoning
If you are interested in volunteering or chaperoning a field trip during the 2026-27 school year, you must complete the online BCPS Volunteer Training. This must be done every academic year and is applicable to all BCPS schools. Please note that it takes time to process applications, and there will be deadlines for being considered a field trip chaperone, so complete this process ASAP! Information about completing the volunteer training can be found via the link below:
https://parkvillems.bcps.org/parents/volunteers___chaperones
Please note the following:
- Emailing or sending in a copy of your volunteer training certificate is NOT sufficient. The online application must also be submitted.
- The online application has a link to upload a document, so you can upload the training certificate before submitting.
- If you have students in other BCPS schools and you list another school first in the application, Parkville MS will not receive your application directly. Please email croche@bcps.org to inform of your application submission and the main BCPS database will be reviewed to confirm your approval status.
TU Literacy Center
Drop-in for our Open House to reconnect
and become a literacy advocate!
Date: Nov. 5
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Place: Psychology
Building, First Floor
Light refreshments will be served. Directions and parking will be emailed to registrants.
TU Literacy Center Open House
Come see what the Literacy Center has to
offer at our Open House!
Date: Nov. 5
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Place: Psychology
Building, First Floor
Light refreshments will be served. Directions and parking will be emailed to registrants.
Centro de Lectura y Escritura de TU
¡Venga a conocer todo lo que ofrece el Centro de
Lectura y Escritura en nuestra jornada de puerta
abiertas!
Fecha: Nov. 5
Hora: 6 – 8 p.m.
Lugar: Edificio de
Psicología, primer
paso. Se ofrecerán refrigerios ligeros. Las indicaciones para llegar y la información sobre el estacionamiento se envirarán por correo electrónico a las
personas inscritas.
Texas Roadhouse
Join from 3-10pm on Tuesday, November 2nd at the Texas Roadhouse in White Marsh for a Parkville Middle spirit night fundraiser. Just bring in this flyer or mention Parkville MS when you order!
Wendy's
ThriftBooks
The ThriftBooks online fundraiser will run from November 8-22. More information is forthcoming!
PTO Updates
Thank you to our parent volunteers and PTO members for donating to the Power Closet and volunteering their time to help set it up! We are excited to be able to offer this resource to our school and surrounding community. The next time the Power Closet will be open is during the Power Produce Market on December 9th, however, reach out to our Community School Facilitator any time you are in need of resources: Parkville Middle Support Request – Fill out form
Sprit Wear is now live! The store will stay open until the end of November and items will arrive before Christmas! Please order via this link: https://timeoutforsports.chipply.com/parkvillemsspiritwear/?action=viewall
Upcoming Dates:
Thursday, November 5th from 6-7:30pm- 6th Grade Social "Cookies and Cocoa"- Cafeteria
Monday, November 16th at 6:30PM- PTO Meeting- Google Meet
Slides from the October PTO meeting: https://cdnsm5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_4201733/File/2026-27/_Parkville%20Middle%20PTO%20Meeting%20%2010_19_26.pdf
If you have any questions, you can email the PTO at: parkvillemspto@gmail.com
A Message From Ms. Robinson
Hello Squires,
Happy National Career Development Month!
Thanks to those of you who’ve completed Xello… woohoo! Now it’s time to close those chromebooks and explore. This weekend there will be an Open House at the Local 486, located at 1201 66th street, Rosedale, MD 21237, for those of you interested in trades and apprenticeships. All ages are welcome and you don't have to register. If not maybe you'd rather spend your Saturday exploring STEM… well there's an option for that too. Grab your family and friends to learn and enjoy the Family Stem Fest at the National Cryptologic Museum Located at 8290 Colony Seven Rd, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. Bring me back a piece of evidence from your career exploration weekend for a piece of candy. Lastly, look out for info about upcoming guest speakers and see you in the library next Tuesday.
Released by the Governor's Office for Children in Partnership with the Child Mind Institute
The Maryland's Youth Digital Wellness Playbook is a practical, evidence-based guide that helps young people, families, and educators build healthier habits in a digital world. The Playbook is available in two editions, one for elementary school students and one for teens. It includes skill sheets on mindfulness and cognitive reframing, strategies for managing compulsive digital behaviors, and targeted resources on cyberbullying and online gambling.
Elementary and Teen editions are both available at no cost: