Marriottsville/ Sykesville /Woodstock

Can you believe that children and teachers must already think about returning to the classroom? Luckily, our schools offer student orientations beforehand to help minimize any back-to-school jitters.

West Friendship Elementary School invites parents and students to meet Carol Hahn, the new principal, at an Open House Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 3-4 p.m. The regular student orientation runs from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on August 28. For more information, call 410-313-5512.

Waverly Elementary School offers a new student orientation at 9 a.m. on August 27, a kindergarten orientation Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. and a Sneak Peek for all other students at 2:30 p.m. Call 410-313-2819 for more details.

Mt. View Middle School orientation also takes place Aug. 28, from 9-9:30 a.m. for all new seventh- and eighth-graders and from 10-11 a.m. for incoming 6th graders. Call the school at 410-313-5545 with any questions.

Marriotts Ridge High School has scheduled its new student orientation Aug. 27, at a yet-to-be-announced time. The school phone number is 410-313-5574.

Mt. View Middle School band director, Shelly Williams, proudly announces that French horn player Anna Rimlinger has earned acceptance into the Junior All-State Band, and tuba player Ku Min Kim has been selected as an alternate. Newly accepted members of the Honors Band include flutist Gloria Nam, bassoonist Emily Ingalls, baritone saxophonist Alexandra Peaco, and trumpeter Daniel Park.

Congratulations to the Mt. View Middle School students who earned acceptance into the Howard County Middle School Gifted and Talented Band! These hard-working individuals include flutist Sara Kim and alternate flutist Gloria Nam, clarinetists Allie Berges and Richard He, alternate bassoonist Emily Ingalls, alto saxophonist Mac Robertson and alternate baritone saxophonist Alex Peaco, French horn player Anna Rimlinger, trumpeter Jordan Lee, trombonists Dana Koehler, J.D. Fishman and Jonathan Wu, tuba player Ku Min Kim, and percussionists Jon Schonfeld and Jon Kahl.

Principal Kathryn McKinley and Assistant Principal Debbie O’Byrne proudly announce that the State of Maryland has recognized Mt. View Middle School as a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Initiatives & Supports) Banner School.

PBIS is a team-based approach that helps schools teach and support positive behavior in all students by focusing on areas such as expectations, rewards and building leadership.

In keeping with its Falcon mascot, Mt. View encourages its students to “SOARRR,” where the three Rs stand for “Respectful, Responsible and Ready.”

The PBIS Committee at Mt. View consists of school psychologist and PBIS coach Jeff Leard, science teacher and PBIS Team Leader Tim Guy, reading teachers Carolyn Young and Jim Ford, data clerk Kathy Anderson, and O’Byrne.

The Committee delightedly notes a decrease in discipline referrals as a result of PBIS and aspires to earn the even higher “Exemplar” designation next year.

The administration at Mt. View Middle School asks you to support the school by eating at The Waverly Grill (formerly Mangia Italian Restaurant) in the Waverly Woods Village Center Aug. 19.

If you order lunch, dinner or carryout from the Waverly Grill that day and mention Mt. View, the restaurant will donate a percentage of your bill to the school. Everyone wins through this partnership – The Waverly Grill fills its seats, Mt. View Middle School receives extra money for its PTA and you get to enjoy a delicious meal without the preparation and clean up!