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HCPSS / NEWS

Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year!

August 17th, 2022

Our A-Z guide for the 2022-2023 school year can be found below. Also online is additional information on the 2022-2023 school year and the HCPSS 2022-2023 Reopening Plan.

Athletics

High school fall sport practices began earlier this month. Complete athletics information, including schedules and FAQs, can be found online.

New this year! All students, and guests between the ages of 7-59, are required to purchase tickets for high school gated sporting events using the GoFan website or mobile app (Apple store only) for admission. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets prior to reaching the facility as cash will no longer be accepted at the gate and service may be spotty on site.

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.

Calendar

The 2022-2023 school year is scheduled to begin for K-12 students Monday, Aug. 29. Prekindergarten/RECC students will begin Thursday, Sept. 1. View, download and/or subscribe to the HCPSS academic calendar online. Please note that the calendar is subject to change and the online calendar reflects the most recent version.

Communication

Emergency Card Procedures with Family File

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

Enrollment/Registration

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

Health & Safety

Currently, protective face masks are voluntary in all HCPSS buildings and on school buses. The state does not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination in public school students, nor is the school system providing mass COVID-19 testing opportunities for staff or students.

The most up-to-date health and safety information can be found online and will be continually updated. Please note that health and safety protocols are subject to change, pending guidance and recommendations from federal, state and local health officials, among other sources.

Immunizations

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

Inclement Weather

Any updates to the HCPSS inclement weather protocols will be communicated as soon as possible.

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.

Meals

The federal government did not extend waivers allowing for distribution of free meals to all students. Consequently, for the 2022-2023 school year, students whose families do not qualify for free or reduced lunch will be required to pay the daily meal price.

Many HCPSS families are eligible to participate in the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program, which provides children with a wide range of benefits including free or discounted college tuition, testing and application fees, academic and athletic program fees and many others in addition to free or discounted meals. Families are urged to check their eligibility and complete a FARMs application as soon as possible. Families must submit a new application every school year. Details on the Free and Reduced Meals program, including a link to apply, are available online.

School Start and End Times

School start times for the 2022-2023 school year are scheduled to remain the same, with the exception of Mount View Middle School, which has a new time of 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m. to help ease traffic congestion. Start and end times may be found online and on each school’s website.

Please note! Start times indicate when the school day begins. Students should arrive prior to the start time to avoid being tardy. Check with your child’s school for when doors open each morning.

Student and Parent Handbook

The Student & Parent Handbook can be found online and outlines districtwide practices and policies related to parents and students, including the Student Code of Conduct, school procedures, student responsibilities and more.

Student Schedules

As of Aug. 12, high school students and their parents/guardians can log in to HCPSS Connect to view a list of scheduled courses without details. Beginning Wednesday, August 24, all students and parents/guardians can log in to HCPSS Connect to view teachers and schedules.

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.

HCPSS is aware of the rising costs of school supplies caused by inflation and encourages families to recycle and reuse the previous year’s supplies when possible. In addition, school supplies will continue to be made available for families in need of support.

Technology & Devices

Don’t miss our new webpage for everything technology!

Transportation

The HCPSS bus locator application is now available online. Due to a severe driver shortage, many bus routes/stops are expected to change. Please recheck your child’s transportation prior to the start of school.

Walk Zone Maps

The 2022-2023 student walk zone maps are forthcoming and soon will be posted to each school’s website. Scroll to the bottom of the site and select Walk Area Map in the footer.