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HCPSS / NEWS

Welcome to the 2021-2022 School Year!

August 18th, 2021

Jump to: Back to School Info | Staying in Touch | Digital Education Center

A full return to in-person learning is planned for the 2021-2022 school year, with the exception of K-6 students enrolled in the Digital Education Center. Additionally, middle and high schools will return to a 7-period schedule with A/B days.

As previously communicated, masks are required in all HCPSS buildings for all students, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, and all HCPSS employees will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or undergo regular COVID-19 testing for the 2021-2022 school year. Additional health and safety updates were emailed to families and can be found online.

The HCPSS 2021-2022 Reopening Plan may be found online, and details reopening priorities, curriculum and assessment, health and safety, fall athletics, stakeholder feedback, and more.

Additional information related to the 2021-2022 school year can be found online and below.

Back to School Info

Registration

All students new to the school system must be registered prior to the first day of school. Enrollment requirements can be found online. To begin the enrollment process, complete the online registration form and your child’s school will contact you to complete the registration process.

Immunizations

All children must have the required State of Maryland immunizations in order to attend school. Details on immunization requirements can be found online.

Emergency Card Procedures with Family File

HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to complete emergency information. Parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child every year. Details on Family File are available online.

School Calendar

View, download and/or subscribe to the HCPSS academic calendar online at www.hcpss.org/calendar. Please note that the calendar is subject to change and the online calendar reflects the most recent version.

School Start and End Times

With the return to a normalized, fully in-person instructional program, school start and end times will return to the original, pre-COVID times for the 2021-2022 school year. Start and end times may be found online.

School Meals

Breakfast and lunch will be provided at no cost for all HCPSS students throughout the entire 2021-2022 school year. Details on the HCPSS Food and Nutrition Services program can be found online.

While school meals are provided at no cost, eligible families are encouraged to apply for the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs) program, which qualifies students for opportunities including free childcare services, free college applications, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more. Even if you don’t qualify for FARMs, students may be eligible for additional opportunities. Parents/guardians must submit a new application every school year. Families are encouraged to use the online application for faster processing. View FARMs program details and learn how to apply.

Student Schedules

Middle and high school students and their parents/guardians can log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy to view high school courses without detailed schedules.

Beginning Wednesday, August 25, all parents/guardians can log in to HCPSS Connect to view teachers and schedules.

Student Technology Devices

All students have or will be provided with an HCPSS-issued Chromebook with the following expectations:

Learn more about student devices, including care and responsibilities, online.

School Supplies

Elementary and middle school supply lists are available online. High schools do not have general supply lists, as classes may have unique requirements. High school teachers will inform students of any necessary supplies at the start of the school year.

Back-to-School Nights and Student Orientation

Back-to-School nights and student orientation schedules are available online. All dates are subject to change. Please check with your child’s school prior to the event to verify the event date and time.

Using Canvas

HCPSS utilizes Canvas, an online learning management system used by educators and students to access and manage online course learning materials. Canvas is available to families online and via mobile app. Orientation videos for each school level, as well as guides for students and parents are available online.

Transportation

HCPSS has a new bus locator application available online. The new locator has updated features making it easier to navigate and use.

Please note that HCPSS contractors are currently experiencing a severe driver shortage. To provide transportation services to all eligible students by using the existing buses and drivers available, many bus routes and bus stops will look different than what families have experienced in past years, with some buses running double routes, picking up and dropping off students in groups. Details on the driver shortage impacts were emailed to families and posted online.

Inclement Weather

With the 2021-2022 school year, HCPSS will return to pre-COVID weather protocols. These include school closings, delays and early dismissals when necessary due to severe weather, and apply to all schools and students, including those participating in the Digital Education Center.

All announcements of emergency/weather closings or delays will be shared with the community through our website, email and text, Twitter and the HCPSS weather hotline. The current operating status of our system is always identified on the HCPSS status website, status.hcpss.org.

Staying In Touch

HCPSS Online

Parents/guardians can visit the HCPSS websites for details on school system programs and initiatives, news and information, and answers to frequently asked questions. Those sites can be found directly at:

Communications related to the 2021-2022 school year may be emailed to families and can be found online, which also includes links to remarks from the Superintendent at Board of Education meetings.

Families can find additional information specific to their children by visiting school websites. Links to all school sites can be found online.

HCPSS Connect

HCPSS Connect provides access to a variety of student information and classroom instructional tools offering personalized communication and timely, relevant and easily accessible information relating to your student. Parents/guardians may log in via HCPSS Connect to access and update Family File, indicate device/internet needs, view report cards and more.

HCPSS News

HCPSS News emails and text alerts keep families up-to-date on news and events, and delivers real-time notices of emergency closings and information. All HCPSS News subscriptions are generated from the information provided in Family File and have been automatically updated for the 2021-2022 school year. Parents/guardians of previously enrolled HCPSS students do not need to sign up for, or manage an HCPSS News account. Parents/guardians new to the system are automatically enrolled for email notification, and must opt in to text alerts.

Please note! Unsubscribing from any school or district email or text will unsubscribe a user from all messaging, including emergency notifications.

Emergency Notifications

In times of emergency situations (including inclement weather), information will be shared with the community through our website, email and text, Twitter and the HCPSS weather hotline.

HCPSS Mobile Application

The free HCPSS mobile app delivers HCPSS system and school news (filterable to see news only from specific schools), upcoming events, school menus, information from Board of Education meetings, and direct connections to all system social media resources.

Social Media Accounts

HCPSS has active accounts on Twitter and Instagram. Additionally, many of our schools use social media to communicate to their communities. Check with your school for details.

Digital Education Center

HCPSS will offer a virtual option for K–6 students who are unable to receive a vaccine by the start of the 2021–2022 school year due to their age. Students will participate in synchronous (live) instruction every day and have independent work time to complete activities and assignments.

DEC Student Meals

Meals for DEC students must be pre-ordered and will be available for pick up on Mondays and Thursdays only at any HCPSS high school between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Full details are available online.

Virtual Instruction Responsibilities, Expectations and Best Practices

A successful virtual instruction program for the 2021-2022 school year requires collaboration and shared responsibilities among students, educators and families.

Google Meet Expectations

To ensure a positive and productive learning environment during Google Meet online sessions, it is important that students and parents adhere to certain guidelines.