The Raider Nation Newsletter

Dear Raider Nation,

Here we are in week 2 of the school year and the routines are starting to be formed. These routines will be essential to success throughout the year. It's all about being disciplined enough to stick with the routine consistently:

• You (your child) should have figured out by now what the best wake-up time is to shower, get dressed, and get breakfast before the bus comes or the ride to school departs to make it to school so you can be in class by 7:50am.
• You/your child should be settling in to finding classes around the building and making it from the GYM to the C hallway in less than five minutes without getting caught in a tardy sweep (yes, we started those up this week). Students have plenty of time to get to class, even with the crowded hallways, if they're not just messing around with their friends.
• Sports and other activities are in full swing so it's important to determine where and when homework will be completed. As the school year progresses and the work increases, having designated times each day for homework is essential.
• Don't underestimate the nighttime routine! Teenagers are definitely wired to stay up later than we often do, but be sure to set some boundaries with them about bedtime/device-free time/etc. A good morning routine is definitely dependent on a good nighttime routine.

I hope you and your student(s) are establishing some positive routines as the year begins. If not, I'm sure we'll talk at some point. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Nick Novak

Principal

Are you interested in joining Atholton's very own after school a cappella group? Come out for the Atholtones interest meeting Wednesday, September 4th right after school in the choir room, B118, to learn more information! We hope to see you there!

Attention Juniors and Seniors: The National Honor Society will hold a meeting to discuss the 2025 NHS application process and requirements. Interested students are encouraged to report to the auditorium after school on Wednesday for this brief meeting.

Do you enjoy trivia? Want to expand your knowledge on everything from STEM, history, literature, to pop culture? If so, join Atholton’s QuizBowl team for an interest meeting after school on Monday, September 8th in Ms. Rhee’s room (B125), for a couple fun and competitive rounds of trivia! No prior experience required. Hope to see you there!

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe, engaging, and supportive school environment that fosters the social and emotional safety, dignity, and well-being of all students. HCPSS acknowledges the need for employees

1. to use an array of research-based positive behavior interventions, strategies, and a tiered system of supports to address student behaviors and keep students safe and free of harm

2. to minimize the practice of exclusion from the classroom environment

3. to minimize the use of physical restraint (which may only be used when necessary to protect a student or other person from imminent, serious, physical harm and only after other less intrusive, nonphysical interventions have failed or been determined inappropriate).

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It is the expectation of the Board that HCPSS employees will be knowledgeable of and implement proactive positive behavior interventions in an effort to reduce the need for exclusion or physical restraint.

Additional information can be found at HCPSS Policy 9400 - Student Behavior Intervention. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

Just a reminder that we have two drop-off areas. If your student is entering the front lobby area, you should use the drop off area along the fence. If your student is entering the auditorium lobby, you should use the drop off area closest to Grassroots. Please do not drop off on the corner near the handicapped spaces. This clogs up the traffic flow in the parking lot. Thanks.

Our media specialists are focusing only on getting devices to students new to HCPSS devices these first few days. Then they will move on to broken/missing devices...and finally, the dissemination of new 9th grade devices once the county sends us a spreadsheet of eligible students (based on year of issue). Students should go to the media center before school, after school, during lunch, or between classes.

Schedule changes will occur in phases starting the first day of school. Students can pick up schedule change request forms in student services. Please note, schedule changes for elective courses may not be granted. All students have had the opportunity to review course selections with their counselors on several occasions since January. The Master schedule was built based on these choices.

Phase 1 - August 25th - August 29th

• Holes in schedule

• Missing a graduation requirement

• Dropping your ARL classes

• Error in schedule (already taken class, wrong placement)

• Aiding and release time (Aiding can only occur during the same period as the dropped course.) - Aiding is for seniors only.

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Phase 2 - September 2nd - September 12th

• All Phase 1 reasons

• Elective Changes - May only occur if the new desired course falls in the same period as the dropped course.

• Student and teacher driven Level changes (Paper forms are available in Student Services)

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Phase 3 - September 15th - September 19th

• There will be no more elective changes.

• Student and teacher driven Level changes (Paper forms are available in Student Services) What process do we want to use? Paper form, fillable form, Google form?)

• Aiding and release time (Aiding can only occur during the same period as the dropped course.) - Aiding is for seniors only.

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal. HCPSS Policy 9460 states that bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation are prohibited in HCPSS. Our administration and staff have been trained and made aware of this policy as well as preventative and responsive measures.

We know how important your role is in not only supporting your children, but also reporting possible incidents as you become aware of them. The Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation (BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report all alleged incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation that occur at school or have a connection back to the school setting that create a risk of harm to other students while they are at school, or interfere with the educational environment. An online version is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. Hard copies of this form are available in the main office, staff workroom, school counseling office, media center, and health services office. If you believe your child has been bullied, please complete and submit this form as soon as possible and/or assist your child in doing so.

Once the form is submitted, school administrators will ensure the parent/guardian of both the alleged target and alleged offender are aware of the report and will begin an investigation within two school days of receiving the report. Parents/guardians can expect a school administrator to reach out to them during the investigation. Once the investigation is completed, parents/guardians will be provided written notice of the outcome of the investigation within fifteen days of receiving the compaint, excluding extenuating circumstances.

There are times when incidents of peer conflict or code of conduct offenses may occur that may not be bullying, but may need follow up action. If you become aware of something that falls under conflict and/or a code of conduct offense, please notify a school administrator via email or phone call so that they can become aware and follow up as needed.

Lastly, I want to take a moment to specifically lift up cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying using electronic media like computers, cell phones, and game systems. Our digital interconnectedness makes bullying different and more damaging than it’s ever been before. It allows hatred and publicly humiliating gossip or photos to be instantly far-reaching and inescapable as electronic media is everywhere. It can NOT simply be ignored. In October 2013, the State of Maryland enacted Grace’s Law, making misuse of interactive computer services a criminal offense. Its purpose is to prohibit anyone from using electronic media (computers, tablets, phones, etc.) to maliciously engage in conduct that inflicts serious emotional distress on a minor and/or places that minor in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury. A person who is found guilty of violating this law is subject to imprisonment and/or fines.

While all of this information will be reviewed with students at school, we are asking you to do the same at home. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring all of our students feel a sense of safety and belonging in their school communities! More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

9/3- NHS Application Information Meeting

9/9- Back to Music Night

9/10- Senior College Information Night

9/17- 11:35am Dismissal

9/17- Senior Crab Feast

9/23- Schools & Offices Closed (Rosh Hashanah)

Students viewed multiple presentations the first week of school. Check out what they saw so you know the info too:

• AHS Day 1/Day 2 Slides
• Emergency Operations Student Overview
• Administrative Assembly

Atholton PTSA

Atholton PBSA

Atholton Boosters

Atholton Drama Boosters

Atholton JROTC Boosters

Atholton Music Boosters

Atholton Robotics Boosters