The Raider Nation Newsletter

Dear Raider Nation,

More student accolades to share--woo hoo! Please join me in congratulating the following students on being named Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship program:

• Gaargi Bora
• Siyuan Dai
• Matthew Edelen
• Phoenix Garancheski
• Jonathan He
• Katherine Hoopes
• Samuel Lee
• Sebastian Lee
• Jack Martin
• Melissa Mpuga
• Candace Peavey
• Nicholas Sultan
• Chelsea Sun

These students were in the top 50,000 test takers from last year's PSAT. A noteworthy accomplishment to say the least!

Sincerely,

Nick Novak

Principal

Before the days of Canvas, students used to receive printed interim reports and report cards. These days, students and families can check online whenever they want...yet somehow we seemed to have lost a little of the timing or sense of urgency we had when students received interim reports. To that end, we have decided that we will be sharing an interim report with each student halfway through each marking period.

The first marking period report will be distributed on Friday 9/26. Please use this opportunity to connect with your student about their current progress and discuss areas for improvement. The most important thing to do is develop an action plan--what are they going to do differently the 2nd half of the marking period? Is it just an issue of attending class regularly? Turning in assignments on time? Studying more for major quizzes and tests?

These answers aren't just on you/your student to come up with. We have asked teachers to communicate concerns with students and families and share opportunities for assistance such as Raidertime or after school help. Students aren't locked in to the grade they have at interim time. It's all about maintaining successful practices/routines or changing the action plan to get the desired result. Feel free to reach out to your student's teachers, counselor, or administrator if you have any questions or concerns.

The Model United Nations Club gives students the chance to explore crisis situations, current diplomatic efforts, and historical events. We will be meeting Thursday after school in the Career Center. Students who want to represent Atholton in the upcoming Centennial High School conference, and anyone wanting to learn more, should plan to attend. That's Model UN after school on Thursday in the Career Center.

Love engineering and solving problems? Want to work in teams and win medals at competitions? Want the chance to compete and win medals at regional and state levels? If so, come to the MESA interest meeting on Thursday, September 25 in the Senior Cafeteria, right after school. We hope to see you there!

No flu clinics are being offered at Atholton this year, but you can check the info below to see where you can get a free flu shot.

Did you know that eligible students can earn free CA memberships? Check out the CA Points Program to learn how. Friday 9/26 is the last day to submit an application.

Want to know what HC Drugfree is up to this Fall? Check out their newsletter so you can stay in the know!

Teen Court offers the opportunity to first-time juvenile offenders who live in Howard County to accept responsibility for their misdemeanor crimes without having to incur a criminal record. Teen volunteers serve as jury members for a full school calendar year and will hear cases like theft, disorderly conduct, destruction of property, alcohol possession, and other non-violent offenses. Dispositions for the offenders may include community service, educational programs, essays and apology letters. The program has proven successful in reducing rates of repeat offenders in other jurisdictions.

Students who live in Howard County and are a high school student (grades 9-12 and under the age of 18) and are interested in becoming a jury member, can contact Katie Turner, Teen Court Coordinator, at kturner@howardcountymd.gov.

Click here for the application. The deadline to apply is Sept. 22, 2025. We can only take 2 students from each school depending on how many kids apply. If selected, students will earn service hours.

Atttention Jrs and Srs--If you are parking on the school parking lot HCPSS requires that you have a student parking permit. Please go to the website and log into On line Payments to register for a parking pass. Please make sure you pay AND complete the attached form. You can pick up your parking pass from Ms Rey in the Reception Area.

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).

.

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.

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

9/26- MP 1 Interim Reports Issued

10/2- Schools & Offices Closed (Yom Kippur)

10/11- Homecoming Breakfast/Parade/Football Game/Dance

10/15- PSAT Day

10/17- No School for Students

10/31- 11:35am Dismissal (End of the 1st Marking Period)

Atholton PTSA

Atholton PBSA

Atholton Boosters

Atholton Drama Boosters

Atholton JROTC Boosters

Atholton Music Boosters

Atholton Robotics Boosters