NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL
211 PYLESVILLE ROAD, PYLESVILLE, MD 21132
410-638-3650
VOLUME 43 ISSUE 1
October 1, 2021
New assistant principal welcomed to North Harford GRACE FELDBUSH Social Media Coordinator After her previous job as vice principal at Aberdeen Middle School, Ms. Erin Mock has joined North Harford High School as its newest administrator. She explains she feels like she is working with mini adults who know how to walk around and behave rather than children. “I was excited to work with high schoolers over middle schoolers when I moved to the high school,” Mock said. “Middle school to high school is a huge change in general, but my favorite thing is that the high schoolers don’t walk into the cafeteria throwing food like middle schoolers do,” Mock said. “Understanding high school life is important. I went to the football game Friday[Sept 10] which was amazing,” Mock said.
She explained she loved seeing who have been breaking rules as the student pride and how much well as upset parents. “I wasn’t sure what to expect students get involved. at all going from middle to high She added that talking to the school, but I did exkids at lunch and getpect students to ting a warm rework harder sponse to saying “Middle school to here since good morning high school is a huge there is a are things purpose change in general, but my she apto pass preciates. favorite thing is that high classMock also schoolers don’t walk into the es to enjoys get out athletics cafeteria throwing food like of high and the middle schoolers do.” school,” school spirit Mock said. -Erin Mock, shown in the The combrief time she Vice principal munity suphas been at the port has also come school. into play since she had Hall duty, cafeteria duty, and observing teachers and kids heard nothing but good things are her main responsibilities, but from the community around she says her job does not stop just North Harford. “The communithere. She works with students ty assured me it would feel like
home here,” Mock said. Mock believes that it is important to get to know the kids you are working with to see why they might be doing what they are doing. Mock attended an all-girls Catholic school for high school, “I spent quite a few times in the assistant principal’s office for violating the dress code, and sometimes my mouth got me in trouble,” Mock explained. She said there was not a lot of wiggle room when it came to dress code at her school, and she got dress-coded countless times for her socks or skirt. “My high school vice principal was an old lady with a grey bun that sat on her head like a beehive, and she would walk in and just stare at you,” Mock said. She felt like her assistant principal did not care why she was in the
office, and that she just wanted to give her a detention or an in-school suspension. Mock explained that she felt like she never wanted to get to know her as a person, she just wanted to punish her. Mock states she wants kids to understand she will never judge them for their past behavior, and will only take their pressent behavior into consideration when it comes to punishments. She explains she hopes to have the respect of the students here so she can work witht hem to get through their problems. “I will always listen to you, 100 percent, just do not lie to me,” Mock says. She explains she will help you work through it if you are truthful about what you did. The administrator says she hopes to get to know students and get involved at school.
Psychologists work their way into Hawks Nest; Vancampen, McCabe join staff for first year GRACE FELDBUSH Social Media Coordinator
North Harford High School has added two psychologists who have plans to provide support for the Hawk’s community. Psychologist Mrs. Kristen McCabe came from her previous job at a school in North Carolina where she worked as a psychologist at both an elementary and high school. The transition from one state to the next has challenges but she said she is “excited for the opportunity to work with new people and gain new professional skills and experiences.” “I have had to adapt my thinking to fit the environment here,” McCabe said. She explains there are many policies from school to school that need to be followed for students to be able to learn and grow. McCabe added she enjoys learning about other fields of work and getting other input on why students could be struggling and how to help them. She “really enjoys working with other support staff like Speech-Language Pathologists.” “I have more experience working with younger children,” McCabe said. She explains that coming to a high school she must shift her mindset to work with teenagers. She “enjoys talking to students about their plans for the future.”
“I am considered a floater for the county and will be providing support to other psychologists who will be going out on maternity or medical leave,” McCabe said. She will be working with
Sometimes McCabe meets with students to work on emotion regulation, behavior management, relaxation techniques, and coping skills. “We have a wonderful team of
McCabe received her bachelor’s degree at Stevenson University in psychology. She went on to get her Masters of Advanced Study from East Carolina University. She “completed a 1,200-
McCabe and Vancampen are settling into their new office space. They both say they look forward to making their offices feel more homey for students. Photo Credit: Grace Feldbush
a lot of special needs students on their course loads. Her main responsibility is observing students to see how teachers can help them succeed academically and socially.
intelligent and passionate school psychologists,” McCabe said. She explains her expectations of being an HCPS staff member have been succeeded as she has many resources for professional development.
hour practicum placement and a full-time, year-long internship in an elementary school.” “I love school psychology because it’s like being a detectivethere are so many reasons why a student could be struggling in
school and it’s up to me and other educators to get to know the whole student and come up with a plan to help them succeed and meet their full potential,” McCabe states. Mrs. Sheila Vancampen is also a school psychologist. She has been a school psychologist since 1999 and has worked in three other school districts in Upstate New York. Vancampen says the transition here will take her a year or two to get completely settled even though a lot of aspects are similar to this job as her previous job. She “will be spending a lot of time learning the new rules and policies Maryland has.” Vancampen is also employed at Harford Tech meaning her time is split between the two schools. She is in North Harford on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at Harford tech the remaining days. “Just having a real office is a big step up from my previous jobs,” Vancampen says. To better help her students she explains she tries to reflect on her teenage years to relate to students better. “Sometimes high school can be one size does not fit all,” Vancampen states. Vancampen looks forward to dealing with students one on one and settling into this new environment. She is, “very thankful for this opportunity and the support from the community.”