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 FULL 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 working diligently in their classrooms. Highly effective instruction is taking place here at Parkside CTE, and we will continue to do so for the entire school year!
· Yesterday, Saturday afternoon, was a great day for the RAMFAM! I could not have been prouder to see so many RAMFAM out there to support and cheer on our Parkside Varsity Football Team, our Parkside Cheerleaders, and our Parkside Marching RAMS Band! We had amazing performances from each of these groups and it was most certainly…a great day to be a RAM!
· It was great to see so many RAMFAM fans, students, and families coming out to support our Parkside student athletes this week! I love to see the support that our student athletes receive and the positive atmosphere at the games has been outstanding! Let’s continue to support our RAMFAM 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.
Important dates upcoming:
· September 27th – Parkside Football HOCO 24 game 6 PM at County Stadium
· September 28th – Parkside HOCO 24 Dance – 7 to 10 PM at Parkside Andy’s Hall
· September 30th – School Picture Day
· 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
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 are now being counted. 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.
· Parkside is gearing up to meet with college admission’s representatives from all over the country! College Rep Visits are open to all juniors and seniors. Attendance is excused for students who participate. Students are responsible for any work missed or assigned during the visit. Please see the instructions below regarding how to sign-up, as well as the current list of visits already scheduled.
How to sign up for college visits with Schoolinks
· We are looking forward to the first Family Success Night on Monday, Sept. 16 at Prince Street Elementary (400 Prince Street; Salisbury, MD 21804. Please park in the lot on Spring Avenue and enter from that entrance.
This event is free and open to all parents and caregivers. Some of the topics that will be covered include readiness for Prekindergarten and Kindergarten, our new elementary math program, understanding test results and how they are used, and other important topics in your child’s educational journey, such as financial aid and FAFSA.
You can register for the Sept. 16 Family Success Night at one of the following links:
● Klike La a pou Enskripsyon Kreyòl Ayisyen
The second Family Success Night will be held on Thursday, September 26th at Salisbury Middle). This event focuses on creating a healthy environment at home. Some of the topics include how to build a happy and peaceful home, bullying prevention, parenting preteens and teens, understanding gangs, community safety and more. More information will be shared about this event very soon.
At both events, we will provide childcare for children ages 4-12. There will be interpreters for Spanish, Haitian Creole and Portuguese speakers, and a light dinner will be served (first come, first served). Vendor tables will be available to provide additional information for families.
If you have any questions about Family Success Nights, please contact Mrs. Beth Sheller at msheller@mywcps.org. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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.
Testing information:
Score reports for MCAP tests that students took last spring have arrived. These are being distributed to teachers and will be coming home this week. Please be on the lookout for them and review them with your students.
Thank you again RAMFAM for all you do! I am so proud to work with so many great students, families, and staff.
Thanks,
Brian