The BULL'S EYE
12/13/2024
A Message from Principal Moore-German
Recently, we've experienced an uptick in incidents in which students have used language referencing weapons or violence that caused peers concern for their safety in school. I'm sharing this information with you, as well as our next steps, in the hope that we can come together as a community and guide our young people in making safer and more respectful and responsive choices when it comes to language around weapons and violence.
We’ve developed lessons to be shared during advisory to help our students understand our expectations and the potential unintended consequences of using such language. Our Assistant Principals will conduct a refresher handbook talk with each class before the end of the second marking period to discuss patterns of behavior revealed through our school discipline data, offer alternatives and explain potential consequences (both in terms of impact on peers as well as disciplinary actions).
Through these methods, we will explain that Hereford Middle School is a safe environment for all students and staff, and that joking, singing/rapping, asking questions or making statements about weapons or violence undermines the safety and well-being of everyone. The types of remarks I referenced will be taken seriously, and there will be disciplinary actions in accordance with the BCPS Student Handbook, the BCPS Code of Conduct outlined in BOE Policy 5550, and when appropriate, involvement from law enforcement. We’ll emphasize that we want to avoid anything that could escalate or make others feel unsafe. We’ll offer alternatives for how students can express themselves in a positive, respectful way and we’ll encourage students to use better ways to connect with peers and to communicate their feelings, frustrations, or jokes.
We will also reinforce that to keep our school community safe, students and community members must continue to report to a trusted adult when they hear something or see something that makes them feel unsafe. We’ll reassure students that all threats, communication about violence or weapons are and will continue to be investigated thoroughly by our school administrators and in some cases, law enforcement.
Lastly, I’d like to share with parents and guardians, that each time there is a report of a threat of violence or language used regarding weapons at Hereford Middle School, the central zone School Safety Manager, Mr. Mitcherling, our Executive Director, Dr. Minus and the Chief of Schools, Dr. Jones are informed, consulted and engage in dialogue with school-based administrators about the procedures being followed, the outcome of the investigation and next steps. If it is determined to that a threat was made, a threat assessment is conducted by a team of individuals including an administrator, the SRO, school counselors and mental health staff members. We take a collaborative approach to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our schools. This work is directly aligned with Superintendent, Dr. Rogers’ Focus Area #2: Safe and Supportive Environment. Resources for parents can be found in the link below including the BCPS Student Handbook and BOE policy referenced previously.
By setting clear expectations, discussing the impact, explaining the consequences, encouraging positive communication, offering support, and working collaboratively, we can guide students toward making safer and more respectful and responsible choices when it comes to language around violence and weapons.
Warm Regards,
Mrs. Moore-German, Principal
Here For It: Weekly Attendance Tip
Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to recover from the uncertainties of the last few years – to learn, connect to peers and teachers and benefit from classroom instructions. Enjoy the holiday break, we can’t wait to see our students back and Here For It!
#TeamBCPS #HereForIt!
As a reminder, tickets for basketball games must be purchased through Go Fan. No cash sales will be conducted at the event. The QR code below links to the December 17th game only. You can visit GoFan.com and search for Hereford Middle School then select the dates you are interested in attending. Also, please note the safety information which was originally shared a few weeks ago.
Tissue Drive
Until December 19th, 6th grade Mod 1A teachers will be collecting boxes of tissues. The 1A homeroom that collects the most tissues during this time will be given a special reward at the grade level activity scheduled on December 20th. Thank you for helping us prepare for cold and flu season!
Looking for Additional Information?
Check out the Hereford Middle School website! https://herefordms.bcps.org/ We're in the process of updating the website so that it serves as valuable resource for our school community. There you'll find past editions of the Bull's Eye, our principal's weekly newsletter, a staff directory, links to important and useful information and so much more!
Contact Info
Hereford Middle School
712 Corbett Road, Monkton, MD 21111
443-809-7902
