The BULL'S EYE

Dear Hereford Middle School Community,

We are halfway through the third quarter and want to share important safety reminders to ensure all students complete the marking period strongly! We want to thank our students and staff for the work they do each day to build positive and supportive spaces and acknowledge that most of our students come to school ready to learn and engage with their peers and adults.

When we work together and commit to upholding our roles, we create safe and welcoming spaces where students can maximize learning and experience all that our schools have to offer. Across the state and nation, we continue to see concerning trends in student behaviors. It is essential that every member of our community understands the role they play in supporting student and staff safety and well-being.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Moore-German, Principal

Our students Take the Bull by the Horns and are #HereForIt! Students with perfect attendance in the month of March will receive the limited-edition bull sticker featured here along with a certificate. In addition, all students with perfect attendance in March will be entered into a drawing to receive a prize! A copy of the March Attendance Calendar is attached below.

Relationships, recognition and incentives are positive ways to help our students internalize the value of showing up every day! #HereForIt

Marking Period 3 ends on Friday, April 4th! That's just 7 school weeks away if you consider Spring Break. Parents and care givers are encouraged to sign up for the Schoology Weekly Digest to keep up to date on current grades. Students who need to make up assignments or need assistance are encouraged to contact their teachers regarding coach class. See the flyer attached below for more information.

As in previous marking periods, report cards will be available via the Focus portal on April 24th after 4 PM. Parents may request a paper or emailed copy by contacting Mrs. Terri Francis at tfrancis@bcps.org.

Did you know that you can receive a weekly (or even daily) email that includes the following?

• the current marking period grade for each course
• recent posts and/or submissions by your student in each course
• overdue submission information for each course

Log in to Schoology and use the instructions attached below. You can choose the day of the week and the time of day you wish to receive the report.

The Baltimore Ravens and M&T Bank are inviting nominations for their 12th annual Touchdown for Teachers program, which recognizes local teachers who provide outstanding service for their schools and communities.Beginning today, anyone may nominate an outstanding educator via the online application form through Friday, April 4.

Three finalists – including the eventual grand prize winner – will be selected from a panel of community members and school officials, with the assistance of Baltimore Ravens and M&T Bank staff. The finalists will be chosen based on involvement in their school and/or community, their degree of positive impact and a demonstrated commitment to education.

The grand prize winner will receive the following:

· $5,000 in grant funds, payable to his/her school or district

· A classroom visit by a Ravens’ coach or player, accompanied by mascot Poe

The two remaining finalists will each receive $1,000 in grant funds, payable to their school or district. Every nominated educator will receive a certificate of recognition from the Ravens and M&T Bank.

“Touchdown for Teachers honors the dedication and impact of educators who go above and beyond for their students and communities,” said Augie Chiasera, M&T Bank Executive Vice President. “As the son of a former teacher, I know firsthand the profound influence they have. We’re proud to partner with the Baltimore Ravens to celebrate their hard work and commitment.”

To nominate a teacher for Touchdown for Teachers, please complete the online nomination form at www.baltimoreravens.com/teachers by April 4.

Parents and care givers who received letters about outstanding fees associated with damage to a BCPS issued device are encouraged to pay fees using My School Bucks. Instructions are attached below.

Our Student Council leadership attended the annual MASC Convention in Ocean City this Week! We look forward to hearing about what they've learned and hopefully share some photos! Thank you, Mrs. Comber, for all of your support!

Now that the temperatures have moderated, we've noticed an increase in the coats and jackets in our lost and found. Please encourage your child to check the lost and found when leaving the cafeteria at lunch or before or after school. We would like these items to find their way home soon. Lost items that remain will be donated over Spring Break in April. Photos were updated on 3.12.25.

This month’s BEST Digital Life campaign focuses on helping our students learn to use technology in the right places. Having good habits about the use of technology will help students with decisions and behaviors in this area. Parents of students in elementary school are encouraged to use the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guide on Establishing Healthy Relationships with Media: Essential Skills for Children 10 and Younger. Parents of teens may find these conversation starters helpful as they support their students in middle and high school with setting and keeping healthy media use habits

MARCH 31, 2025 Professional Development Day, School Closed for Students

April 4, 2025 End of Marking Period 3, School dismisses 3 hours early

April 12-21, 2025 Spring Break; School Closed for Students

April 24, 2025 Report Cards Available in the Focus Portal

The HMS PTA hosted an assembly for all 6th graders on the morning of March 10th. Officer Joe Dugan, an Internet Safety Specialist with the Maryland State Police ICAC Task Force, presented students with an informative and helpful lesson on how to use the internet. All students received wristbands to remind them to make smart choices online!

Students enjoyed team building activities this week by competing in Minute to Win It Games with thier Mod 1A class. A final class competition was held on the stage during lunch. Our big winner was Max H from Mr. Deen's homeroom!

Congratulations to our 6th Grade Students of the Month!

The 7th Grade is looking for volunteers for an upcoming trip to JA. Finance Park! We need approximately 20 volunteers each day to help our students with financial activities at the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland located at 1725 Twin Springs Road in Baltimore. The tentative dates for the 7th grade are as follows:

April 28th – Mrs. Tiburzi’s A day classes

April 29th – Mrs. Tiburzi’s B day classes

April 30th – Mr. Walsh’s and Mr. Endres classes

Volunteers will need to complete training through the JA Volunteer Hub and view the JA BizTown online volunteer training video (18 minutes) and complete the BCPS Volunteer application and orientation. See links below. Volunteers would transport themselves to the facility meeting school group there from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. We need volunteers for each date! See attached flyer for additional information.

· JA Volunteer Hub

· JA BizTown online volunteer training video

· the BCPS volunteer application and orientation

Congratulations to our 7th Grade Students of the Month!

With this honor, they will receive a $1,000 scholarship award that will be invested for their college education, along with a medal and certificate. Phoebe was chosen because they demonstrate the highest standards of academic achievement, integrity, and civic and social responsibility. Way to go Phoebe!

We expect our students back at HMS around 3:30 PM (depending on traffic). Look for pictures in our newsletter next week!

As part of the BCPS comprehensive health education program, students receive substance use prevention education. As an extension of this program, Hereford Middle School will receive brief, individual conversations with personalized education and support from trained school staff. This provision aims to strengthen student relationships with school staff, which is a significant factor in the prevention of adolescent substance use.

This is a voluntary extension of the Health Education program. If you do not wish for your child to participate in this opportunity, please contact the school nurse, Kristen Starling at 443-809-6868 or kstarling@bcps.org by Monday March 10th.

For additional information about substance use prevention education in BCPS, please contact:

Deborah Somerville, Director of Health Services, at 443-809-6368.

HHS is excited to announce that summer tryouts for all HHS fall sports will take place on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. All students interested in participating in fall athletics are expected to attend, as there will not be a makeup date.

To ensure everyone has the opportunity to try out, please plan vacations and summer schedules accordingly. We look forward to seeing our student-athletes in action and kicking off another great season!

Students are invited to add their original artwork and writing to our Literary Magazine! Ms. Arafat and students in the Literary Magazine club are compiling work from 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to be showcased in the Literary Magazine. Each ELA teacher has a link on their Schoology page for students to add their creations.

Our Scholastic Book Fair has been a huge success, thanks to the incredible support of our students, parents, and staff! Throughout the week, students explored new books, fueling their love for reading and expanding their imaginations. The fair not only helped fill our students’ bookshelves at home but also contributes to new resources for our school library. We are grateful to our amazing parent volunteers, whose time and dedication made this event possible. Thank you to everyone involved for creating a fun and engaging experience for our students, and we truly appreciate your support in fostering a lifelong love of reading!

This month explore the nonfiction book Born to Fly by Steve Sheinkin. This exciting book tells the incredible true story of women who dared to defy expectations in the early days of aviation. The book focuses on the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, the first all-female cross-country airplane race, featuring daring pilots like Amelia Earhart and Louise Thaden.

Sheinkin brings history to life with thrilling storytelling, highlighting the courage, determination, and skill of these pioneering women who faced challenges both in the sky and on the ground. Born to Fly is a fantastic way for young readers to learn about perseverance, teamwork, and breaking barriers—important themes that continue to inspire us today!

Have you ordered a 2024-25 Yearbook?

Check out the Hereford Middle School website! https://herefordms.bcps.org/ We continually update our 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, an updated staff directory, links to important and useful information and so much more! We look forward to the redesign of our website which will make for a more user-friendly experience.

Mrs. Moore-German

Principal

Hereford Middle School

712 Corbett Road, Monkton, MD 21111

443-809-7902

cmooregerman@bcps.org

Hereford Middle School is committed to providing a safe and supportive community in which students celebrate diversity, demonstrate integrity and develop mutual respect and responsibility in order to pursue academic excellence.

Hereford Middle School empowers every learner, every day through rigorous, diverse, educational experiences to become productive global citizens.