PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER April 4, 2019 Happy THURSDAY, Vikings! I’m sending this week’s newsletter a day early because tomorrow I am going to have the privilege of chaperoning 48 theatre and music students in New York City for 3 jam- packed, fun-filled days! From history tours to behind-the-scenes tours to incredible shows, we are going non-stop for 72 hours, and I am incredibly excited to experience this amazing trip through the eyes of our students. In fact, for over half of the students going, this will be their first time seeing a Broadway show, which, for me, illuminates the very heart of why field trips are so important. They provide real-world application and context for experiences students otherwise only read about in textbooks. Did you know that field trips are not a mandatory part of our curriculum? Any time your student has the opportunity to go on a field trip, it’s because our dedicated staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty, spending countless hours outside the classroom planning and coordinating to give your students a memorable life experience that will enrich their education and broaden their horizons. Field trips are valuable for so many reasons, but one of the things I love best is watching students go from simply sitting beside each other in a classroom to forming lifelong friendships through their shared experience outside of school. The teambuilding aspect of field trips brings diverse groups of students together and helps them form bonds that they take back to school, which further cements and grows our shared community. I spent last weekend at Hunt Valley with Mr. Michael Gorleski and Mr. David Lucania as one of the chaperones for our FLBA (Future Business Leaders of America) students. You can read about their experience below in celebrations, but spoiler alert (in case you haven’t already heard): they won the whole thing!!! And just a few days after I return from NYC, I’ll be traveling with the Marching Unit as one of the chaperones for their trip to Disneyworld. I am deeply honored to be able to connect with our students and share in these experiences as they make lifelong memories. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting all of our students and teachers as we venture beyond the classroom. Joelle
Transcript
PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER
April 4, 2019
Happy THURSDAY, Vikings!
I’m sending this week’s newsletter a day early because tomorrow I am going to have the
privilege of chaperoning 48 theatre and music students in New York City for 3 jam-
packed, fun-filled days! From history tours to behind-the-scenes tours to incredible
shows, we are going non-stop for 72 hours, and I am incredibly excited to experience
this amazing trip through the eyes of our students. In fact, for over half of the students
going, this will be their first time seeing a Broadway show, which, for me, illuminates the
very heart of why field trips are so important. They provide real-world application and
context for experiences students otherwise only read about in textbooks.
Did you know that field trips are not a mandatory part of our curriculum? Any time your
student has the opportunity to go on a field trip, it’s because our dedicated staff have
gone above and beyond the call of duty, spending countless hours outside the
classroom planning and coordinating to give your students a memorable life experience
that will enrich their education and broaden their horizons. Field trips are valuable for
so many reasons, but one of the things I love best is watching students go from simply
sitting beside each other in a classroom to forming lifelong friendships through their
shared experience outside of school. The teambuilding aspect of field trips brings
diverse groups of students together and helps them form bonds that they take back to
school, which further cements and grows our shared community.
I spent last weekend at Hunt Valley with Mr. Michael Gorleski and Mr. David Lucania
as one of the chaperones for our FLBA (Future Business Leaders of America)
students. You can read about their experience below in celebrations, but spoiler alert
(in case you haven’t already heard): they won the whole thing!!! And just a few days
after I return from NYC, I’ll be traveling with the Marching Unit as one of the
chaperones for their trip to Disneyworld. I am deeply honored to be able to connect with
our students and share in these experiences as they make lifelong memories.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting all of our students and teachers
as we venture beyond the classroom.
Joelle
FOLLOW US & STAY CONNECTED Twitter: @hcpss_mhhs
Website: http://mhhs.hcpss.org/
Student Online Newspaper: The Mountain: https://mthmountain.com/
UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS See the calendar on our website for additional dates.
Date Time Event
April 7 8:30am -
4:30pm
Women in Aeronautics & Astronautics Presentation @ UMD College Park, Kim Engineering Bldg.
April 8 5:30-7pm Teen Advisory Council meeting @ The Barn/Teen Center in the Oakland Mills Village Center
April 8 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center
April 8 6:30-8pm Financial Skills Workshop @ River Hill HS
April 8 6:30-8:30pm Youth in Conversation @ Oliver’s Carriage House
April 10 Viking Time Mandatory Junior Assembly in the Auditorium
April 11 5:30-7:30pm SGA Hebron for Hope on the Turf Field
April 12 Last Day Order Senior Banner Sales
April 13-22 Spring Break – Schools Closed
April 23 Last day to turn in your PTSA Scholarship Application
April 23, 25 2:10-5pm AP Pre-Administration Sessions in the Cafeteria
April 24 Report Cards Issued for Quarter 3
April 24 7pm Band Concert
April 25 7pm Orchestra Concert
April 26 7pm Choir Concert
April 27 10am - 2pm Drive-thru EpiPen, Medication and More Collection @ Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot
April 27 8pm-12am Prom @ The Hotel at Arundel Preserves
April 28 12am-3:30am After-Prom @ YMCA in Ellicott City
April 29 NHS Applications deadline to Mrs. Sankey or Ms. Stafford
April 29 6:30-8:30pm Youth in Conversation @ Oliver’s Carriage House
May 3,4 7pm Dance Concert
May 6 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center
May 13 6:30-8:30pm Youth in Conversation @ Oliver’s Carriage House
May 16 Interim Reports Issued for Quarter 4
May 23 8am Senior Awards Ceremony in the Auditorium
May 23 Last School Day for Seniors
May 30 1:30pm Early Dismissal for Graduation
May 30 3pm Graduation @ Merriweather Pavilion
June 3 6:30pm Viking Backers Meeting in the Media Center
June 5 6pm College Night in the Auditorium
June19, 20, 21 Early Dismissal @ 11:10am/Final Exams for HS
June 21 11:10am Last Day of School
September 5 6:30pm Back to School Night for 2019-2020
CELEBRATIONS! **For the most up-to-date celebrations, be sure to follow us on Twitter: @hcpss_mhhs
Huge SHOUT-OUT to our Viking Service Club, Board of Directors: Scarlet Woofter, Clare Smith, Haley Miller, and Rachel Fitzsimmons (and their amazingly dedicated sponsor, School Counselor Ms. Trish Marton). This year they took on a new endeavor, the Pennies for Patients Campaign (read more under New News). Both Ms. Marton and I are beyond impressed by this club’s organization and commitment to the cause. They met with the P4P coordinators, generated ideas and have independently executed a plan for promotion/collections. We have a week and a half remaining and have already earned $2,125!! Amazing!!!!!!!! They are making life better for those in need! We are so proud and wanted to share their incredible success and the devotion to our community thus far in their campaign!
Congratulations to our Math Students of the Month!
Business Calculus GT: Easha Varala
Trig & Math Analysis: Zach Graham
Common Core Algebra II: Ashley Carden
Calculus AB: Will Bates
Trigonometry: Vincent Hillkrick
Calculus C: Pritha Saha
Geometry GT: Mia Draminski
Differential Equations: Jared Shiao
Algebra II GT: Isabel Sumy
PreCalculus GT: Akshay Badrinathan
Common Core Geometry: Bryan Tam
Discrete: Erin Halper
AP Statistics: Avani Rastogi
Math Analysis: Rose Shissler
Common Core Algebra I: Nestor PopXol and
Khushika Shah
These are just a few of our staff members who participated in “Light It Up Blue” day on
Tuesday in recognition of International Autism Awareness Day. Thank you to staff
members, Ms. Lisa Hamlett and Ms. Mitzie Saunders who coordinated getting our
staff T-shirts in support of this very worthy cause.
Blanchette and juniors Wyatt Currie, Aditya Krishna, and Lorelei Loraine, correctly
answered a dominating 89/90 questions on the state championship exam. The lower-
division team (Mt. Hebron Creative Destruction), sophomores Pauline Chang, Smit
Shete, Nick Snyder, and Sudharsan Sundar, scored a similarly impressive 88/90.
Mt. Hebron’s four competing teams swept the state-wide opposition, taking the first and
second place spots in both competitive divisions. These are Mt. Hebron’s 12th and
13th collective state championships since 2010. Last year, both of Mt. Hebron’s “Econ
Challenge” squads competed in the national finals against the other top US and
Chinese teams. The senior team finished first in all competitive categories, finishing
second in the US only after losing in a winner-take-all final quiz bowl on national
television. The junior squad placed third in the nation in their division.
Additionally, on an individual level, juniors Aditya Krishna and Wyatt Currie and senior
Nitin Reddy, all earned a berth at FBLA nationals after sweeping the FBLA state
championship in economics, placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in Maryland, respectively.
Congratulations to Mt. Hebron FBLA STATE AND REGIONAL CHAMPS!!!! Mt. Hebron's Chapter of Future Business Leaders of America traveled last weekend to
compete at states against 1,300 other students and had tremendous success. Of the
90 students who attended, we had 21 First Places, 11 Seconds and 8 Thirds. We also
had several students: Rohan Samy, Khiem Doan, Tyler Lizzo, Ashmitha Julius-
Aravind and Shresta Obla who placed in the top 3 in multiple events. Tyler and
Shresta also helped our region triumph over the other four regions in the battle of the
regions.
All of the success of our competitors allowed us to capture the Region 5 trophy for the
second year in a row! And, for the first time in Mt. Hebron history also allowed us to
capture first place in the State! Brilliant job by our students and sponsors Mr. Mike
Gorleski and Mr. David Lucania!
Our clever and creative PTSA
Staff Appreciation Committee
was at it again – this time with
Goldfish & Swedish Fish for the
staff! We’re the ones who are
grateful to be a SCHOOL with
you!! Thank you for making us
smile and filling our tummies with
yummies!
NEW NEWS
Graduation is May 30th @ 3pm
Last day of school for seniors is May 23rd. Seniors will have a mandatory meeting during 3rd period on April 10th in the auditorium to receive important information regarding the final exam schedule and graduation rehearsals and activities. Early dismissal for all students at 1:30 on May 30th. More information to follow soon. The complete graduation schedule is available on the HCPSS website at https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/03/2019-high-school-graduation-schedule/ Hebron for Hope On April 11th, SGA will host this year's Hebron for Hope fundraiser in the form of a powderpuff football game. Each grade has recruited a girl's football team, and intermissions will feature a performance by the Breakdancing club, a burrito-eating contest, a male cheering contest, and a Mancers vs. Lancers competition. Tickets will be sold during all lunch shifts from April 3rd - April 10th for $2. All proceeds will benefit local charities that support cancer research.
Staff Participates in International Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd Did you know that, "in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network determined that approximately 1 in 59 children (1 in 37 for boys, and 1 in 151 for girls) is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States." (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html) From the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html) "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less".
"A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder."
Mandatory Junior Assembly
JUNIORS! Future Seniors in the Class of 2020!! Next Wednesday April 10th during
Viking Time is a mandatory Junior Assembly in the auditorium about your senior portrait
schedule. You need to attend to learn about portrait dates at school and the process for
submitting. Please see Ms. Fischetti with any questions.
Pennies for Patients/Leukemia and Lymphoma society Campaign Thank you for your continued support for Mt. Hebron’s Pennies for Patients/Leukemia and Lymphoma society Campaign! LLS is at the forefront of the fight to cure cancer. Compared to other blood cancer nonprofits, LLS is the largest funder of cutting-edge research to advance cures. They have invested more than $1.2 billion in research Want to learn more about this wonderful organization? Video -- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h6SzI2ZfPd4 Thanks to the wonderful support of the Viking Community, we have earned $2,125! There is still time to donate! 9th Grade - https://events.lls.org/pages/md/MtHebronHighSchool-2019/NinthGrade 10th Grade - https://events.lls.org/pages/md/MtHebronHighSchool-2019/TenthGrade 11th Grade - https://events.lls.org/pages/md/MtHebronHighSchool-2019/eleventhgrade 12th Grade - https://events.lls.org/pages/md/MtHebronHighSchool-2019/twelfthgrade
Thank you for your support! The Viking Service Club!
You Matter / Minority Teacher Event Diversity in the Teacher Workforce Event An interactive discussion with panelists from HCPSS and UMBC Wednesday, April 10th, 2:10-3:30pm, Media Center, RSVP REQUIRED.
The lack of diversity in the teaching force has a long history, and research shows that diversity in teaching matters. The panelists at this event will discuss the potential impact this lack of diversity has on all students, the barriers to increasing diversity in the teaching profession, avenues for overcoming those barriers, and what everyone can do to support teacher diversity no matter what your background or what you plan to study and do as a profession in the future. All citizens can support local, state, and federal legislation that can promote a more diverse teaching force! This event is for everyone who believes it's important to have more minority teachers (not just for future teachers) RSVP HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A48A9AF2BA5FE3-youmatter Email Mrs. Grimes, Mt. Hebron's BSAP Liaison for details: [email protected] or drop by to see her in Student Services. Teen Advisory Council
HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC) meets one Monday evening a month from
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Barn/Teen Center in the Oakland Mills Village Center and
is open to all Howard County high school students. Community service hours are
available for all meetings and events. TAC will meet on Monday, April 8. To register,
please visit www.hcdrugfree.org and go to the Teen Advisory Council page.
Refreshments provided at meetings, so must RSVP to [email protected] or call
443-325-0040.
WORTH REPEATING
Values at Hebron
What Values do you have when you think of the learning environment at Mt. Hebron
High School? Answer this 2-question survey and let your voice be heard! Parent
responses will be combined with feedback from students and staff to create a theme for
the 2019-2020 school year. Click here to take the short
survey: https://forms.gle/e1w3a3cLaXWx5oyT9
Save the Date: College Night An informative evening with special presenters to speak about the admission process, financial aid, scholarships, colleges and more! Wednesday June 5th at 6pm in the Auditorium. Participants will be able to rotate through multiple information sessions!
Making Change Offers Financial Skills Workshop
Does your student want to learn practical finance skills? Making Change is a personal
financial literacy conference where students as well as professionals will be presenting
workshops on Monday, April 8th from 6:30-8:00pm. Parents are also welcome!
Making Change will feature workshops from a variety of areas for students and parents
Screening of “Angst” and Discussion Around Anxiety in Youth Students and families are invited to a free documentary screening and panel discussion around anxiety in youth. There are 4 screenings, and you are invited to attend any of them, but the screening on Wednesday, April 10th will be held at Mt. Hebron. Click below for more information and to register for this FREE event. https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/03/attend-a-free-screening-of-angst-and-discussion-around-anxiety-in-youth-april-2-4-9-10-2019/
Update to the Academic Calendar
Howard County public schools have been closed due to inclement weather on four days
this school year: November 15, January 14 and 30, and February 11. As a result, all
four of the inclement weather make-up days reserved on the school calendar will be
used. The last day of school is now scheduled to be Friday, June 21. The final
three school days, June 19, 20 and 21, will dismiss 3 hours early. The updated HCPSS
calendar is available online at https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/.
Drive-thru EpiPen, Medication and More Collection Howard County's next convenient drive-thru collection for over-the-counter and prescription medication and “sharps” (needles, syringes and EpiPens) will be held on Saturday, April 27 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot near the Swim Center and The UPS Store. HC DrugFree and the Howard County Police urge you to clean out your medicine
cabinets. Teams, clubs, students, PTAs/PTSAs, families, scouts, etc. are welcome to volunteer at the event and receive community service hours. Please visit HC DrugFree’s website at www.hcdrugfree.org and go to the Events/Drug Take Back Day page for more information about medication disposal, or let us know you plan to volunteer by emailing [email protected] or calling 443-325-0040. Change in Vaping Law A recent change to the law regarding Vaping now allows police to issue a civil citation to
juveniles for possessing an electronic smoking device. This is very important for both
parents and students to be aware as it is illegal for juveniles to possess any type of
electronic smoking device.
Photography Supplies Donations Needed Do you have any 35MM film cameras not being used? Any old photo equipment, supplies, or other cameras that you no longer need? The Mt. Hebron Photo Department wants to grow the program for our students, so they have more opportunities to improve their photography skills. Please contact photo and art teacher Caroline Creeden [email protected] for more information or donations. Thank you for your support!
After-School Bus Dates Added
The following are the after-school bus dates for the remainder of the school year. Since we have had school closures on past bus dates, we have rescheduled the bus for the dates highlighted in red – they are Mondays. The bolded dates are Wednesdays. Apr: 8, 9, 11, 23, 24, 25, 30 May: 2, 7, 9, 14, 16 If there are any more school closures on the dates above, we will add another Monday as the make-up day.
Pick up time is approximately 4pm. The bus will stop at the following locations: 1) Liter Court and Liter Drive 2) Hollifield Station Elementary Station 3) Town and Country and West Springs Drive 4) Worthington Elementary 5) Brunswick Zone/Dunkin Donuts
ATTN: Current and Former MTH Band Students We are looking for any MTH band instruments that might be lying around your house. It seems that several instruments have been borrowed over the years and not returned to the band program upon graduation or leaving the program. If you have an instrument that belongs to Mt. Hebron, please kindly return the instrument to the front office or directly to Mr. Fischer in the Band Room. No questions asked. Thanks for your assistance as we work together to ensure the success of the band program for years to come.
Do you play a Woodwind, Brass or Percussion instrument? If YES, I have just the thing for you… JOIN BAND! I wanted to reach out and let you know how excited I am to be joining the Mt. Hebron community as the new Band Director. I know that for many of you, band was once an important part of your daily schedule, and I am reaching out to encourage you to consider joining band again. The Mt. Hebron Band Program has a storied history that dates back to 1964 when the band first performed as an integral part of the Mt. Hebron Community. I am looking forward to building on the tradition of excellence that has become the cornerstone of the program. I recognize that there are many reasons why students choose not to participate in band in high school. I respect that band may no longer be a top priority or even an interest, however I want you to know that I would love to speak with you to discuss ways that you might enjoy band in high school. You can find me in the band room before school or during lunch (4A). There is a place for everyone in our band family. So… If you currently play, used to play or wish you could play an instrument, stop by to see me or feel free to contact me directly at [email protected]. I look forward to meeting you and building an even greater band program together.
Elevator Keys – Health Room Throughout the school year many injuries occur. Because the elevators require a key for use, students are issued a temporary key if they are on crutches, in a wheel chair or a boot. Unfortunately, some of the students have not promptly returned the keys even though they have been released from the doctor. If you have a child who was issued an elevator key and no longer needs it, please check with them to make sure that the key is returned to the health room. The health room is almost out of keys. Youth in Conversation Youth in Conversation is a group of high school students who want to “talk about the things no one talks about.” The goal is to build community by having conversations about identities we have in common and issues that separate us, such as race, culture, religion and gender. All HCPSS high school students are welcome & free dinner will be provided by #OneHoward and the Columbia Association each evening we meet We will meet the second and fourth Monday of every month from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Oliver’s Carriage House, 5410 Leaf Treader Way, Columbia, MD 21044 (also known as Kittamaqundi Community Church)
Meeting Dates in 2019: 4/8 and 4/29 (In April we will meet the 5th Monday instead of the 4th Monday because of Spring Break), 5/13. Please see the FRONT OFFICE for a form if you would like to participate.
Parent Support Group
Mount Hebron has a parent group. The purpose of this group is to provide a voice and
tools that will assist parents of students who have needs in the areas of social
communication, social regulation and executive functioning skills - whether in a
Mount Hebron parent, Michelle Im, along with members of our special education team,
have volunteered to lead this amazing discussion and support group. Ms. Im also
serves as the Vice President for Howard County's Special Education Citizens' Advisory
Committee (SECAC).
The remaining meeting will be held in Mt. Hebron’s Media Center from 6:30-8:00. All
are welcome! Please join us!
Wednesday, May 8th - SI + SR = 😎
Group discussion designed to foster an understanding of the relationship between social interaction and self-regulation; to prompt parents to implement strategies at home.
Your next VALHALLA VOICE will be published April 8th with the latest
