Good evening RAMFAM!

I hope you and your family have had a safe and relaxing weekend.  We had another great week here at Parkside.  Our students and staff are working diligently.  The quality of instruction from staff and work effort from students has been outstanding.  The vast majority of RAMFAM are doing an amazing job and helping create a positive environment here at Parkside.  However, there are just a very few students who have decided that they would prefer to provide negativity and disruption to Parkside.  I can assure you that any student who contributes to a disruption here at Parkside, whether it be by fighting, encouraging a fight, or video recording a fight, will be dealt with swiftly and by using the Wicomico County Board of Education Code of Conduct.  We pride ourselves here at Parkside High School on having an orderly and positive environment.  I want to thank each one of the RAMFAM who does that each and every day.  Parents, please speak with your child and remind them that they are at Parkside to receive an education and become a better version of themselves so that they can be more successful in life.  Anything that isn’t positive nor helpful will simply be counterproductive and inhibit them from future success. 

We will have picture day on Friday, September 29th.  We are encouraging all students to have their pictures taken, even those who may not be in the building due to dual enrollment (show up when you can, and we will fit you in).  We want as many of your pictures to be taken so we can make sure that everyone gets their picture in our yearbook.  In addition, these pictures will be used for your student ID that schools check so that you can get student ticket pricing for athletic events. See below for the order form.

PHS School Picture Day

On Wednesday, October 11th, we will be administering the PSAT to all 10th graders and any 9th or 11th grade students who signed up and paid to take the PSAT. All other 9th, 11th and 12th grade students will not attend school that day but will instead complete asynchronous work at home through their Google Classrooms. Teachers will assign work for them to complete at home for that day. If your student has difficulty accessing the internet, please have them request a paper copy of the assignment from their teacher. Students taking the PSAT test that day will be exempt from asynchronous assignments.  More information will be forthcoming regarding pick up times for test takers on October 11th and bus departure times for those students who need to ride a bus home.

At some point in the next couple of days, score reports from last years’ state testing will be passed out in your child’s class.  If your child took Algebra 1, English 10, or any middle school assessments last year, they will be receiving their score report.

Here are some reminders from Wicomico County Public Schools about firearms, weapons, cell phones, and social media.

Firearms and Weapons

Possession of any firearm, other weapon, or look-like weapons (e.g., pellet guns, BB guns, water guns, water pellet guns) by a student on school property, including in vehicles parked on school property, is strictly forbidden.

The school system’s prohibition on carrying or possessing a weapon on school property applies to loaded and unloaded weapons. This prohibition applies to weapons contained within automobiles.

It is a serious offense for students to possess any rifle, gun, knife, or deadly weapon of any kind on any school property in Maryland. Offenders face criminal penalties and severe consequences up to and including expulsion. The Code of Conduct will be applied in all situations involving violations.

 Cell Phones and Social Media

Students may not use their cell phone during class without teacher permission. Phones shall be turned off during class time unless the student is given specific permission to use it by the teacher of the class of which it is being used. 

Restrictions on cell phone usage:  Students are prohibited from using their cell phone to cheat or plagiarize, to bully or haze others, to disrupt the learning environment, the view pornographic, vulgar, or inappropriate content, to post derogatory content on social media sites, to make video recordings at school, without teacher permission or school authorization; or take unsolicited or unwelcome photographs of students, staff, or facilities. 

Students who inappropriately use their cell phone at school will be subject to discipline as stipulated in the Student Code of Conduct.  Additionally, students may lose their privilege of using their cell phone at school for a length of time to be determined by the school administrators.

Thank you again RAMFAM for another amazing week!  Let’s make this week even better!

Thanks,

Brian