Help Keep Schools Pest-Free

August 15th, 2025

As students prepare to return to school for the 2025-2026 school year, HCPSS is asking families to take the following steps to help decrease possible rodent infestations. Since food is one of the main reasons rodents try to get inside a building, please consider the following guidance:

• Send snacks and lunches in sealed, hard plastic or metal containers rather than loose in bags. Rodents can easily chew through paper and thin plastic.
• Use reusable lunchboxes with zipper closures, and make sure the zipper fully closes.
• Send foods with strong odors like peanut butter and sweet treats in airtight containers.
• Remind your child to bring home any uneaten food daily—don’t store snacks in desks, lockers or cubbies overnight.
• Make it a routine to empty and wipe down lunchboxes every day.

Thank you for partnering with HCPSS to keep our schools clean and safe all year long.