4/2 - 4/6 Spring Break – schools closed
4/7 Virtual Parent Orientation for Returning 7th and 8th graders in Group A & B, 7PM
4/12 7th & 8th Graders in Group A return
4/14 3hr. Early Dismissal, End of 3rd marking period
4/15 7th and 8th Graders in Group B return
4/22 Reports Cards posted
If your student is experiencing a login, internet, or power outage issue that is preventing him/her from engaging in virtual instruction, please click here for support in guiding students through the process of getting back online.
Please see flier for more information Mobile_Testing_Site.pdf
A virtual Parent Orientation for Returning 7th and 8th graders in Group A & B is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 PM. We will use google meet for the virtual orientation (PMS-orientation) and you must use your student’s HCPSS credentials.
If you have not received these emails and believe you signed your child up to return to school 2 days a week, please re-check your email (and your spam). If you can’t find the email please reach out to us at 410-313-2848; I want to make sure you are not missing other important information regarding your child’s return to school.
Complete the symptom checker
Bring all materials (wear a mask at all times)
Bus Riders- arrive to bus stop 5-10 minutes early
Car riders should be dropped off between 8:15-8:20AM and picked up between 3:15 – 3:20PM. These times will allow for most of the buses to be cleared for less traffic on campus. Parents will follow the white arrows that take them in the small circle to the drop off/pick up area near the bike rack, which is where car riders will wait (upon arrival and during dismissal). Also, there will be staff outside directing cars and buses.
Breakfast and lunch are free and provided to all students
We will have maps, schedules, and additional masks for each student in first period
Staff will be outside and around building to assist students where to go
Students will come to the front door and ring the buzzer.
Once the student’s name has been verified by the secretaries, only the student will be admitted into the building, and may go directly to their class. Parents/guardians may not enter the building with the student.
Parents/Guardian will come to the front doors and ring the buzzer for early dismissals.
We will ask Parents/Guardian to hold their driver's license up to the camera for secretaries to see.
Information to prepare for In-Person Learning
Video and PowerPoint for families to learn more about In-Person Learning
A/B group designation is available in HCPSS Connect. Parents/guardians may view your child’s group designation at any time by taking the following steps:
Log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy Using parent/guardian credentials.
Select Student Info from the left panel
Scroll down to the Other Data section to see the Student group for the attendance field.
Below are some important upcoming dates for students in Group A & B:
April 12- Grades 7 & 8 students in Group A return (2 days per week)
April 15- Grades 7 & 8 student in Group B return (2 days per week)
If after logging in you do not see the options, please confirm you are logged in with your credentials and not as your child. If you need additional assistance, please contact one of our secretaries at 410-313-2848.
If you are eligible for, and opted into receiving transportation services, you can now log in to the HCPSS Bus Stop Locator for locations and times.
Students attending school in-person should bring their fully charged HCPSS assigned Chromebook and power adapter to school on their assigned days. If your student does not currently have a Chromebook, they may pick up one from our school's Media Center on their first day of in-person instruction. HCPSS has developed a new webpage for students, Chromebook Care, which includes tips on caring for and transporting Chromebooks, as well as student mobile technology duties and obligations and additional resources.
Medication Drop Off
Medication Drop off for all students will be every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 8:30-2:00.
When you arrive at the building, please go to the door and ring the buzzer. Let the front office know that you are dropping off medication and the nurse will come get the medication from you.
Please make sure all medications have a physician order, and that both the physician and the parent have signed the medication order form. All prescription medications must have the pharmacy label on the bottle. All over the counter medications must be in a new unopened bottle. Be sure to check that the medications are not expired. Please have the medications and orders clearly labelled with the student’s name and grade in a zip lock bag.
If you are unable to drop off medications during these days and times please contact the nurse at Megan_Blouse@hcpss.org or 410-313-2848 to make other arrangements.
Here is the link to medications forms:
https://www.hcpss.org/health/medications/
Parents of 6thgrade students…
Reminder that all students entering 7th grade are required by the State of Maryland to have the MCV4 and Tdap vaccines prior to the first day of 7th grade. Many students may have already received these immunizations, but the Health Room may not have the updated immunization record. Please contact your child’s doctor and email an updated copy of your child’s immunizations to Megan_Blouse@hcpss.org.
**Symptom Check Daily**
Parents/guardians, please remember to perform a symptom check daily, prior to your child’s departure from home. Please reference the Health Room Updates Google doc for details.
**IMPORTANT** Parent Contact Information
Please ensure your contact information is current and up to date so that we can contact you in the event of an illness or emergency. If possible, have a secondary emergency backup person identified who will be able to pick up your child if you are unable to. All ill students must be picked up from the health room.
Free Parenting Classes: HC DrugFree and the Howard County State's Attorney's Office, partnering with HCPSS and the Health Department, will once again provide evidence-based classes for families to gain skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will engage in risky behaviors including using drugs. This 4-class series for parents of 9-14 year olds will be held on Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, May 4, 11 and June 1, 8. Parents/guardians must register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HCDrugFreeSpring2021. If you have questions, email Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC DrugFree’s Executive Director at Admin@hcdrugfree.org
Drive-thru Medication, EpiPens, Needles, and Syringes Collection in the Wilde Lake Village Center Parking Lot
Bring your expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medication and “sharps” to HC DrugFree's convenient drive-thru collection on Saturday, April 24 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot near the Swim Center and The UPS Store. Medication will be guarded and transported by the Howard County Police and the DEA. Safe distancing. Masks worn. No need to remove labels or get out of vehicle. Sharps must be in appropriate sharps containers. Separate sharps from meds. Looking for adult volunteers to assist at the event and medically-trained adults to assist with the medication collection. Go to https://hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day-1/ Guiding Good Choices Flier final 3-18-21.pdf Med Take Back 4-24-21 (w Adult Volunteer Link).pdf
To receive HC DrugFree's free electronic newsletter packed with information for parents and opportunities for students, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/enews-signup/
HC DrugFree and our partners are presenting another informal hour long online program for parents to learn about substance use in Howard County from the privacy of their homes. This is an easy way to get your questions answered and to learn more. Don’t miss our next program scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15. To receive Zoom link, for more information and to register, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/event/howard-county-drug-alcohol-family-forum-5/
Howard Community College Thursday, April 1st and Friday, April 30th Food Give Away.pdf
The Catholic Community of Ascension and St. Augustine have partnered with Lancaster Foods and received a grant from the US Department of Agriculture to distribute boxes of food that contain 30.5 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and meat every Saturday in April (April 3, 10, 17, and 24).
The boxes of food will be distributed between 10:00 a.m. and noon or earlier if the food is gone. The distribution will take place at Ducketts Lane Elementary School (6501 Ducketts Lane in Elkridge). Click on this English Flyer for schools - April.docx for information in English and this Spanish flyer for food - April.docx for information in Spanish for additional details.
The Catholic Community of Ascension and St. Augustine will continue their Saturday food give-away at Ducketts Lane ES on each of the Saturdays in April 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM or earlier if the food is gone. Please see the updated flyers below or on the Food/Household Products/Personal Products/Children & Baby Products page of the SST Case Resources Canvas page to share with your school communities.
Please join us virtually to learn more about how to be better advocates for the LGBTQ+ Community at our second HoCo Rainbow Conference. With over 24 concurrent sessions and local as well as national speakers, we have a full day of fun and learning lined up for Saturday, May 15, 2021. Session speakers include Jane Clementi and Joshua Patel of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, Rae Sweet of the It Gets Better Project, Maryland House Majority Leader, Eric Luedtke, Kevin Naff of The Washington Blade, Ying Matties and Robyn Page of Community Allies of Rainbow Youth (CARY), and many more! Registration for this FREE conference will go live on Friday, April 2nd. Until then, you can browse our conference website to learn more about the sessions and view the conference schedule here. Middle school students must register/ attend with a parent/guardian. We hope many of you will join us!
All previous newsletters are posted under News at http://pms.hcpss.org/
In response to community requests for resources, HCPSS’ new Community News and Programs website makes it easy for families to find educational and recreational resources, events and after-school programs beyond the school day by non-profit organizations.”
Community organizations requesting their announcements be shared in school newsletters should visit community-programs.hcpss.org for more information. Questions should be directed to the Public Information Office at publicinfo@hcpss.org.