Today’s Topics
August 5, 2021
Please take a moment to read the email below. It contains important information for the start of the school year. Thank you.
· Important Dates
· Community Message from the Principal
· Scheduled courses available August 6
· Parking Permits
· Update Family File
· 2021 Fall Sports Tryouts
· Golf Tryouts
· Senior Pictures
· Volunteer Opportunity
· School Supply Giveaway
Important Dates:
Friday, August 6 – Scheduled Courses available in Synergy (more information below)
Thursday, August 26 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. New Student Orientation
Thursday, August 26 – 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Open House for Returning Students
Thursday, August 26 – 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Block Party hosted by the PTSA
Monday, August 30 – First Day of School
Thursday, September 2 – 6:30 p.m. Back to School Night
Greetings from the Ridge:
Welcome to the 21-22 school year. We are all so excited to get back to the business of loving, caring for, and teaching your children. We will all get back on track with our bell schedule, our routines, and all the supports that your children have been able to access for their needs.
We are looking forward to seeing all new students and their families at our New Student Orientation on Thursday, August 26th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon. This will be a structured event. We will begin our presentation in the auditorium. There will be plenty of current students around the building to help you find your way.
We are also hosting an Open House on Thursday, August 26th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM for your student to come in and walk their schedule. This will be an unstructured event. All staff will be in their classrooms. All the administrators will be available at a table in the auditorium hallway to help you with any questions. Our student services staff, including the counselors, will be available in the student services office to answer any questions. We will also have current students around the building to help you find your way.
Marriotts Ridge is an outstanding school, and we want to partner with you to create positive experiences for students and families. I encourage to join the organizations that directly support our students. Please consider joining our PTSA, Boosters, and Music Foundation. These parent volunteers work tirelessly to support all our students. We feel very blessed to be working with them to meet the needs of our community.
Our PTSA is sponsoring a block party for all students on Thursday, August 26th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the bus loop in the front of the school. More details to come later.
Our BTSN (Back to School Night) is on Thursday, September 2nd at 6:30 in the auditorium. We would love to see you there.
Our focus this year will be on staying connected with each other. We have all had an unusual year last year, so we want to learn from that and get reconnected to each other and all our students. Our website will show you all the clubs that we offer at MRHS. That list shows you the sponsor’s name and their email address. I ask that you encourage your child to join a club, group, or team of some kind. This allows them to begin to feel connected when they arrive at MRHS. We have plenty of Mustang pride and that includes the importance of meeting all their needs.
Families have the option to apply for FARMS (Free and Reduced Meal Services) each year. Completing the FARMS application, if accepted, provides students with a wide variety of resources beyond just the school meals. Some of these resources include free college applications, free JumpStart Dual Enrollment tuition, free registration for ACT tests, free registration for SAT I and SAT subject tests, discounted registration fees for Advanced Placement exams, discounted internet through Comcast Internet Essentials program, and much more. If your family could benefit from these resources, I encourage you to check out the eligibility requirements and apply here.
In the words of the amazing Harriet Tubman, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
This is your year, this is your chance for a fresh start, and we are all here to help you make that happen. Go Mustangs!!!!!
Tammy Goldeisen
Scheduled Courses Available August 6th
On Friday, August 6th, all HCPSS students will have access to their currently scheduled classes for the 2021-2022 school year. This list will not reflect periods, room numbers, or teachers at this time. All fully scheduled students will have seven credits in their schedule. If you see fewer than seven credits, please email your assigned school counselor.
Course Change Requests:
Families can request a course change through the MRHS Course Change Request Form. Please read the form carefully before submitting and note that changes are based upon availability in courses and not guaranteed. Course Change Request Forms must be completed by Friday, August 20th.
Below you will find the contact information for your designated counselor. Please note, as previously shared out, the changes to counselor caseloads for the upcoming school year.
Mrs. Jessie Little (A-Cha)- Jessica_M_Little@hcpss.org
Mrs. Jodi Dubbs (Chb-Han)- Jodi_Dubbs@hcpss.org
Mrs. Pauline Baek (Hao-Lam)- Pauline_Baek@hcpss.org
Mrs. Katie Tasch (Lan-Od)- Katie_Tasch@hcpss.org
Mrs. Jenn McKechnie-Howe (Oe-Shi)- Jennifer_McKechnie@hcpss.org
Mr. Andrew Johnson (Shj-Z)- Andrew_Johnson@hcpss.org
Parking Permits
Schools will not be hosting the safe driving presentations this year. Students will submit the parking permit application and safe driving contract, along with the $15.00 fee, to get a parking permit. We will share more information, and the parking permit application/safe driving contract, once it has been released for this school year.
UPDATE FAMILY FILE:
It is that time of year again when all Emergency information in our school system needs to be updated and/or verified prior to the new year starting.
Please go to your Connect (aka Synergy) account to log in and complete the Family File at your earliest convenience.
If you need help signing into your Connect account or completing the Family File, please go to
https://www.hcpss.org/connect/guides/ for more information.
If you are still having difficulties, please contact Lori Miller at lori_a_miller@hcpss.org or, after 8/17/21, at 410-313-5568.
Thank you in advance for completing this vital task prior to your child(ren) reporting to school this coming year.
2021 Fall Sports Information
The following information will help parents and incoming 9th graders as you prepare for the fall sports season:
The following is a list of all fall varsity head coaches. It includes their email address and first practice date and time. Please refer all questions to the coaches, and do not mail information to the school. It may get misplaced.
Sport Coach email Start
Volleyball Jamie Bullock jamie_bullock@hcpss.org 8/11 @ 8am
Field Hockey Molly Milani molly_milani@hcpss.org 8/11 @7:30am
Cross Country Jason Conley jason_conley@hcpss.org 8/11 @ 8am
Football TJ Welsh Thomas_welsh@hcpss.org 8/11 @7:30am
Cheerleading Sugene Shin sugene1@gmail.com 8/13 @ 8am
Girls Soccer Darius Qualls darius_qualls@hcpss.org 8/11 @9:30am
Boys Soccer Quinn Khouri Quinn_khouri@hcpss.org 8/11 @11:30am
Golf Mark Dubbs mark_dubbs@hcpss.org 8/17 & 8/18, see below
Allied Soccer Kim Burke kimberly_burke@hcpss.org TBD
Golf Tryouts
We have a date and time for golf tryouts. They will take place at Waverly Woods golf course on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 17th and 18th at 7:30am. It will consist of two nine hole rounds. Your aggregate score will determine the cut line for the team.
In order to appear on the tryout roster, you must have all medical forms and permission slips to Mr. Reagle by August 11th. You must be on the tryout roster in order to tryout.
Once you have all of your paperwork in, contact me to reserve a tryout time at mark_dubbs@hcpss.org. Once given a tryout time, I will send you detailed instructions about the tryout.
Please email me if you have any questions.
Coach Dubbs
Senior Pictures
Appointment cards were mailed several weeks ago to rising seniors. If you did not receive one, please email Lori Miller at lori_a_miller@hcpss.org for assistance.
Students are asked to log onto the website to "self-schedule" their appointment using their unique ID number (located on the appt. card) to select a date/time convenient for them. Or they can enter onto the PrestigePortraits.com, click the "Locate My School" link, enter the city and state where the school is located. Once they find the school, they click the school's name, and it will take them to the account to schedule an appointment.
Seniors are welcome to contact our Customer Care Dept. at 800-736-4775 should they have any questions regarding sitting fees or photography.
Pictures are being taken at MRHS on August 5, 6, and 9. Make up dates will be available in November for students who were unable to make an appointment during August.
Volunteer Opportunity
Event Name – DCRS Free School Supplies Giveaway
Date: August 21, 2021
Event Time: 10:00 am
Volunteer Arrival Time: 9:00 am (will assist with set-up)
Volunteer Departure Time: 1:00 pm
Number of Volunteers Needed: 20 volunteer helpers; 4 Spanish speaking volunteers (total of 6 volunteers at each site)
Location: Four different locations
Location Address: (Distribution will take place in the parking lots of the following locations)
· Elkridge 50+ Center: 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge
· North Laurel 50+ Center: 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel
· Howard Crossing Apartments: 8732 Town & Country Blvd., Ellicott City
· Long Reach Village Center: 8775 Cloud Leap Court, Columbia
Responsibilities: Assist with set-up; clean-up; and distribution of supplies. Also need Spanish interpreters (which will also assist with the above duties in addition to translating – 1 needed at each location)
Split shifts available: 9:00-1:00 pm
Food available for volunteers: Water and light refreshments
What to wear: Comfortable clothes
NHS/SSL Hours Available: Yes
Deadline to register: August 16, 2021
Registration deadline: August 16, 2021
Website to Sign-Up: Have students go to DCRS Free School Supplies Giveaway to select desired location
Event Coordinator, email: Valerie Mathis, vmathis@howardcountymd.gov or Sharee Campbell, scampbell@howardcountymd.gov
Phone: 410-313-6325