Summer 2023 – Free Meals, Reading Programs and More!

June 5th, 2023

We hope all our students, families and staff have a relaxing and fun summer. Here are some ways to stay connected throughout the summer months.

Jump to: Summer Meals | Technology Devices | Summer Learning | HCPSS Communication | 2023-2024 School Year

Free Summer Meal Program

Meals will be provided at no cost to HCPSS students, and any children aged 18 and under at the identified meal sites. There are no applications, enrollment or fees to participate in this program. Meals will be served weekdays, June 21-Aug. 4, on days schools are open. There will be no meal service Tuesday, July 4.

In addition to the summer meal service for the public, free meals will be provided to all students participating in HCPSS summer programs.

Please note, effective June 15, 2023, HCPSS no longer will use NutriSlice for school menus. Menus for summer meals instead can be found online. Users may select their summer meal site of choice and select the arrows to advance the calendar to an applicable week. If menus are not displayed for a particular school, that school is not a summer meal site.

Full details on summer meals can be found online.

Technology Devices

Any student not returning to an HCPSS school for the 2023-2024 school year should return their Chromebook to their home school on or before the last day of school for students, scheduled for Wednesday, June 14. Grade 12 students attending HCPSS Summer Programs may keep the Chromebook for summer use and return the device to the media specialists at their summer school site by the last day of their summer program.

Any student currently assigned a computer can keep them over the summer as long as they are enrolled next school year. Students assigned a Chromebook and attending a summer program should bring it to the summer program.

More information is available online.

Summer Learning

HCPSS Summer Programs

Summer programs include BSAP Summer Institute, Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development, Innovative Pathways High School, STARTALK Chinese Language Summer Camp, and the Summer Math Scholars Program.

Enrichment Activities

Links to enrichment activities for students at all grade levels are provided online. At the same webpage is information regarding volunteer and activism opportunities, as well as family and community resources.

Reading Lists and Programs

Recommended summer reading lists for students in all grade levels, developed by HCPSS library media specialists and Howard County Library System staff, are available online. Students are encouraged to read other books by the authors included, as well as explore additional book topics.

Children, teens, and adults are invited to participate in the HCLS summer reading program. All HCPSS students receive an A+ Student Card account number at the beginning of the school year. With it, they have access to all HCLS eContent by using their account number to login via hcpss.me. Using their A+ Student Card, students can take advantage of all the library’s digital and physical resources.

HCPSS Digital Tools

All students will have access to their school’s digital MackinVIA eBook and audiobook collection all summer long by logging in through www.hcpss.me.

Communication

Emails/Text Messaging

All parents/guardians are in our system to receive HCPSS and school emails/text messages. Our systems will update in early August, at which point parents will automatically receive communication from your child’s 2023-2024 school. Prior to that rollover, you will continue to receive communication from your child’s 2022-2023 school. Please do not attempt to create a new account with your child’s 2023-2024 school. Additionally, unsubscribing from any HCPSS or school messages will block you from receiving all messages from the district and your child’s school.

Please do not unsubscribe!

Parents/guardians with a child new to HCPSS in the fall will automatically receive HCPSS and school communication beginning in early August.

Social Media

HCPSS has active accounts on Twitter and Instagram. Families are encouraged to follow the school system for updates and information throughout the summer.

2023-2024 School Year

The 2023-2024 school year is scheduled to begin for most students Monday, Aug. 28. Half-day pre-K/RECC students will begin Thursday, Aug. 31. View, subscribe to, or download the academic calendar online.

Information on preparing for the 2023-2024 school year, including adjustments to school start times and back-to-school details, can be found online. That page will be continually updated as new information becomes available.

Have a wonderful summer break!