Good evening RAMFAM! This is your proud Parkside principal, Brian Briggs. We had a wonderful week here at Parkside and here are just a few highlights:
· We had a wonderful first week here with students at Parkside CTE! It was an absolute pleasure to see so many students with smiles on their faces and ready to be back with the RAMFAM and getting to work in their classrooms. Highly effective instruction has already begun here at Parkside CTE, and we will continue to do so for the entire school year!
· We had another amazing Freshmen Transition Day! Thank you to all the RAMbassadors who gave up their last day of summer vacation to come in and make sure that our Parkside High Class of 2028 received the proper welcome to the RAMFAM!
· It was great seeing huge crowds at all our first week games of Parkside Fall Sports! We are extremely proud of our Parkside Sports and appreciate your support of our student athletes!
I am a big believer in communication and making sure that everyone knows what is happening here at Parkside, home of the RAMS. See below for important updates/reminders and dates over the next few months.
Updates/Reminders:
· For the most part our students have done well with the dress code. However, there are still some concerns. Especially with regards to hats, do-rags, and exposed midriffs. This is Wicomico County Public Schools policy. Those found to be in violation will be asked to fix/change and if it continues disciplinary actions will follow.
· Tardies to class/school will start on Monday, September 9th. Please make sure that you are dropping your child off in time for them to make it to their 1st period class by 7:45 AM at the latest. With repeated lateness to class and school, students will be receiving disciplinary actions so please remind your child about the importance of making it to school and class on time.
Reminders about Wicomico County Public Schools policies on several items:
· 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.
Important dates upcoming:
· September 14th – 1st home Parkside Varsity Football game at County Stadium along with PHS Marching RAMS performing at halftime
· September 27th – Parkside Homecoming 24’ Football game
· September 28th – Parkside Homecoming 24’ Dance
· October 3rd – 1st marking period Mid-Term progress reports
· October 23rd – PSAT for 10th graders (and 9th and 11th graders who sign up and pay for it)
· October 28th 4-6 PM – Class visitation
· November 8th – 1st marking period ends
Upcoming testing information:
· PSAT Information for 9th and 11th grade students and families:
The Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) will be administered in person at Parkside High School on Wednesday, October 23rd for any 9th grade student who wishes to experience taking a College Board test or for any 11th grade student who wishes to try to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. Those 9th and 11th grade students who wish to take the test will need to pay the $18 fee through the new payment program LiNQ between September 3rd and September 13th. All 10th graders are automatically signed up to take the test, additional information will be coming to 10th grade families in the weeks ahead.
For more information on the PSAT/NMSQT you can visit the College Board website. If you have questions, please email Marla Schmidt, Parkside High School’s test coordinator at mschmidt@mywcps.org.
LiNQ Connect Flyer (replacing MyPaymentsPlus): https://tinyurl.com/3rzv4rs4
· MAP testing - During the weeks of September 3rd-13th, all students enrolled in Algebra 1, WIN, English 9, and English 10, will take the MAP diagnostic assessment. These are computer based adaptive assessments to be administered at a designated time assigned by your child’s teacher. In accordance with state and local requirements, we will give students this diagnostic to determine their instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year in English and mathematics.
Interested in some new Parkside gear? See our PHS BSN Sideline Store. Prices are reasonable and you can customize the item with several different designs. Typical turnaround time is 3 to 5 weeks. Here is the link if interested:
Thank you again RAMFAM for all you do! I am so proud to work with so many great students, families, and staff.
Thanks,
Brian