Nominations – This Chairperson heads the nomination committee that recruits candidates for the HCMS PTA executive board for the coming school year.

Cultural Arts - This Chairperson works with the school GT Resource Teacher and Administration to select two Cultural Arts events for HCMS in the coming school year. In addition to coordinating the logistics for the selected Cultural Arts events, this Chair also coordinates the Maryland Shakespeare in Residence program.

PARENT NIGHT REMINDER

Tonight - Harper’s Choice Parent Night 7-8:00pm in the Cougar Café.

6TH GRADE PARENTS

Monday, February 6th – World Language Forms due.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

pick A time is now open for scheduling Parent/Teacher Conferences and will close on Monday, February 13th at 11:00pm.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – COMING EVENTS

February 6-8th, Valentine’s Day Dance tickets available during lunch shifts.

February 10th, Last day of Box Tops competition.

February 10th, Valentine’s Day Dance 3:00-4:15pm, Cougar Café

February 13th, Box Tops Drawing

February 20th, Zapata’s Restaurant Night Fundraiser – For more information contact Lory Baird at airdfam6@verizon.net.

February 21, PTA Meeting/Coffee and Conversation 6:15pm, HCMS Media Center, all are welcome.

Volunteers Needed 

The Harper’s Choice PTA encourages everyone to be a part of the school community. We are currently looking for a Nominations Chairperson and a Plant Sale Committee Chairperson. The responsibilities include:

Nominations – This position heads the nomination committee which recruits candidates for the executive board for the coming school year. 

Plant Sale Chairperson – This person works with the nursery to identify the plants to be sold, creates a flier, manages the order process, and works with the committee members to deliver the plants.

We hope that you will consider participating in your child’s school experience by volunteering for one of these positions.

Valentine’s Day Dance – Tickets available next week.

The second annual Valentine’s Day Dance will be held on Friday, February 10, from 3-4:15pm in the Cougar Café. Tickets will be sold for $5.00 during all lunch periods February 6-8th. Students must bring a signed permission slip in order to purchase tickets. Space will be limited to the first 134 students. Chaperones are needed. Please contact Maurita Bowie at mauritabowie3@gmail.com.

HCMS Book Fair Volunteers Needed

The HCMS Media Center is hosting the Scholastic Book Fair in February. The Fair will be open during Parent/Teacher Conferences and will be staffed by the media center specialist. However, volunteers are needed to help cover some of the shifts February 21st-24th and February 27th. The shifts are either 8:15-12:00 noon or 11:30-3:00. Please contact Shari Spearman in the Media Center (410-313-6935) if you can help with any shifts at the Scholastic Book Fair.

January 21, at 9:00 am, to assemble the outside classroom tables. Meet in front of school.

8th Grade Celebration Meeting, February 1st, 7:00 pm, HCMS Media Center

Valentines Day Dance, February 10th, 3:00-4:15 pm, Cougar Café

Boxtops Drawing, February 13th

PTA Meeting/Coffee and Conversation, February 21, 7:00 pm, HCMS Media Center, all are welcome.

Zapatas Night, February 20th, 5-8:00 pm

February 10, Last Day of Box Tops Competition

February 13, Box Tops Due, Fliers to be distributed on 1/20

Setup from 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Chaperones from 2:45 - 4:30 pm

Manage concession stand

Man the concession stand 3:00 - 4:15 pm

Cleanup from 4:30 - 5:00 pm

Please contact Anjani Chandra at acksme@verizon.net<acksme@verizon.net> to volunteer. Contact Maurita Bowie at mauritabowie3@gmail.com for information about the dance.

What: The BSAP-Saturday Math Academy offers mentoring and tutoring in mathematics on Saturday mornings by HCPSS certified teachers.

Who: Students in grades 4 – 12

Where: Oakland Mills High School Cafeteria, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia, MD 21045

When: On Site Registration 9:00am – 11:00am, Saturday, February 11, 2012

FYI: Please bring a copy of your child’s 2nd Quarter Report Card, latest IEP, and/or any other documents that may assist the teachers in working with your child or with the registration process. Registration is not complete until all necessary documents are received.

Questions: Jackie Jenkins at 410.313.1598 or jacquelyne_jenkins@hcpss.org

website: http://bsapsma.weebly.com Spring Session 2012, On-Site Registration - Registration Fee: $35 - Registration fee is non-refundable. Registration is continuous until capacity is reached.

Spring Session 2012 Dates

February 25

March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

April 4, 21, 28

Donate Prizes for Bingo today?

Our annual Bingo Night is January 13th!! Gather all of your new extra gifts, toys and other items that can be used as prizes. In the past we’ve had a mixture of home and garden items, toys, electronics and anything else you want to donate. Bring them to the office and put them in the PTA room in the box labeled Bingo Night prizes. Gift certificates are also welcomed, as we often hold raffles during the event. Hope to see you there on January 13th. For more information contact Maurita Bowie.

Bingo Night Friday January 13th

Bring your entire family to the PTA’s Family Fun BINGO

night, Friday January 13th 7:00 pm in the Cougar Café. There’ll be snacks, prizes and FUN for all!! All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Support your PTA by Recycling Ink Cartridges/Toner and Cell Phones

Please send in those empty ink and toner cartridges that are cluttering your computer area! We receive $2 for each one we receive and that is paying for all of our paper and supply expenses this year. All sizes and brands are accepted. If you have a large toner cartridge to return, please have your student drop if off at the front office and NOT try to fit it into the small opening in the ink recycling box in the lobby. Contact Rebecca Dietz with any questions.

Support your Child’s Middle School Experience

Did you make a new years resolution to be more involved in your child’s middle school experience. Come and support the PTA. There are many ways to do this. You can:

1. Come to our meetings. We have 90-minute organized, fun, and informative meetings at the school once a month. Everyone is welcome to sit in, listen and let their ideas be heard! Our next meeting is Tuesday, January 10th at 7:00 in the Media Center.
2. Join the HCMS PTA by the Membership, Directory and Volunteer form or on-line. to see more information.
3. Volunteer to help or chair an event! We will take any time or talent you have to give, before, during and after school.
4. Sign up for a Safeway Card and designate HCMS as your selected school! (#6512672). See the fundraising page on our website for more details.
5. Sign up/renew for eScrip online purchasing and then shop. We get a “marketing percentage” every time you order something online through our eScrip lin, See the fundraising page on our website for more details.
6. Click on our PTA website link for Amazon Partners and every purchase you make through Amazon, we receive a percentage.
7. Support our fundraisers. For details go to the Fundraising home page.
8. Join us for social events! Jot down the dates on the PTA calendar and join us for social events, meetings, meet new friends and get connected!
9. Send in your empty ink and toner cartridges from home and your office! We receive $2 for every ink or toner cartridge we recycle. Don't throw them in the trash. Cell phones and batteries are recycled to keep them out of the landfills, reducing our carbon footprint.
10. Save Box Tops for Education labels and turn them in by February 16th. More details to come.

Parent Academy - 01/ 04/12 

All interested parents and community members are invited to attend!

Get Involved: Support Gifted and Talented Education in Howard County

Featured Speaker: 

Dr. Jeanne Paynter, Specialist for Gifted and Talented Education, Maryland State Department of Education, will share resources for parents, advocacy tips, and the most recent information about the status of gifted and talented education in Maryland. 

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

The Homewood School

10914 Route 108, Ellicott City

Sponsored by the G/T Education Program and G/T Advisory Committee.

For more information, view the attached flyer or visit the G/T Advisory Committee website at http://hcpssgtac.wordpress.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Coming Events

PTA Meeting - January 10th 7:00, HCMS Media Center, All are Welcome!

Family Bingo Night - January 13th, 7:00-8:30pm, Cougar Cafe

PTA FORMS/ACTION

The following forms/action (details listed on our website) are due on the dates listed below.

December 22nd Spirit Wear orders distributed (unless otherwise specified by parent/guardian)

January 9th Prize Donations for Bingo Due

January 13th Family Bingo Night , 7:00-8:30, in the cafeteria

Donate Prizes for Bingo today

Our annual Bingo Night is January 13th!! Gather all of your new extra gifts, toys and other items that can be used as prizes. In the past we’ve had a mixture of home and garden items, toys, electronics and anything else you want to donate. Bring them to the office and put them in the PTA room in the box labeled Bingo Night prizes. Gift certificates are also welcomed, as we often hold raffles during the event. Hope to see you there on January 13th. For more information contact Maurita Bowie.

Shop at Safeway to earn money for our school.

It is so easy to sign up and it does not cost you anything as the money is donated by Safeway. All you have to do is sign up and choose Harper's Choice Middle School. So, Renew or sign up with your Safeway Club Card today!

To Renew, go to

eScrip.com 

Click on “YES RENEW!”

Enter either your phone number, email, or Club Card number if you participated last year

To sign up as a new member, go to eScrip.com

Click on “1-Sign Up” Enter your Club Card number

Your participation can mean hundreds of dollars for our school. For more information please contact Setareh Shemali. 

Give the Gift of Appreciation – Nominate a Staff Member for the Above and Beyond Award

Above and Beyond is a new PTA award that recognizes staff members who go above and beyond their responsibilities to encourage students to reach their potential. The recipient can be nominated by parents, students and staff and is given monthly. The winners are announced on HCTV and also on the school’s bulletin board in the foyer. . “Above and Beyond” nomination forms, along with a box to collect them, are available on the table between the two doors in the front office of HCMS, or on the PTA Website.

Weatherization Assistance Program

Weatherization Assistance Services are available for low and moderate income households through the Community Action Council of Howard County Applications can be submitted at either the Columbia office at Gateway Drive or the North Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center. For questions, please contact Kathy True at 410-313-1181.

Landfill, Trash and Recycling pickup Holiday Schedule

The Alpha Ridge Landfill will close at 2pm on Saturday, December 24, 2011 and will reopen Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 8am. There will be no curbside collection on Monday, December 26, 2011 in observance of Christmas Day. ALL trash, recycling and yard trim collections will slide and be made one day later that week.

The HCMS Thursday Blast, 12/15/11

PTA News

The Thursday Blasts are meant to be a quick summary of the PTA events occurring during the week.  For more detailed information, people to contact, the PTA event calendar and other great resources, check out the PTA website at http://www.harperschoicepta.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Coming Events

PTA Meeting  January 10th 7:00, HCMS Media Center, All are Welcome!

Bingo Night - January 13th, 7:00-8:30, Cougar Cafe

PTA FORMS/ACTION

The following forms/action (details listed on our website) are due on the dates listed below.

December 22nd, Spirit Wear orders distributed (unless otherwise specified by parent/guardian)

January 9th,  Prize Donations for Bingo Due

CURRENT NEWS

Donate Prizes for Bingo today?

Our annual Bingo Night is January 13th!! Please gather new items, we need gifts, toys, and other items which can be used as prizes. In the past, we’ve had a mixture of home and garden items, toys, electronics and anything else you want to donate.  Bring them to the office and put them in the PTA room in the box labeled Bingo Night prizes.  Gift certificates are also welcomed, as we often hold raffles during the event. For more information contact Maurita Bowie.

Shop at Safeway to earn money for our school. 

It is so easy to sign up and it does not cost you anything as the money is donated by Safeway.  All you have to do is sign up and choose Harper's Choice Middle School. Renew or sign up with your Safeway Club Card today!

To Renew, go to eScrip.com 

Click on “YES RENEW!” 

Enter either your phone number, email, or Club Card number if you participated last year

To sign up as a new member, go to eScrip.com

Click on “1-Sign Up” Enter your Club Card number 

Your participation can mean hundreds of dollars for our school

For more information please contact Setareh Shemali.

Holiday Shopping

Do your Holiday Shopping Early on-line with Amazon and eScrip and HCMS will receive at least 4% of your sale. Click on the icons on our website.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Board of Social Services needs members willing to serve a three year term. The Board provides advice on state policies, procedures and programs that apply to Howard County and evaluates the local director of the Department of Social Services. For more information about the Board of Social Services, call 410-872-8767.

Animal Matters

Hearing Board seeks members for five year terms. The Board is responsible for hearing appeals, making recommendations for the operation of the animal control facility, and reviewing its budget annually. For more information about the Animal Matters Hearing Board view their webpage or call Animal Control at 410-313-2780.

Commission on Aging seeks committed members to serve five year terms. The Commission works with the Office on Aging to plan activities, researches legislation and provides testimony when appropriate. For more information about the Commission on Aging visit their webpage or call 410-313-6410.  Applicants must at least 18 years of age & a resident of Howard County.

Weatherization Services

Weatherization services are available for low and moderate-income households through the Community Action Council of Howard County.  Applications can be submitted at either the Columbia office at Gateway Drive or the North Laurel- Savage Multiservice Center. For questions, please con-tact Kathy True at 410-313-1181.