Getting Ready for 2023-2024: Back to School Basics & Required Forms

August 2nd, 2023

Many of our staff have spent the summer preparing to welcome our students, families and staff back for another exciting year. While we still have more summer to enjoy until the first day of school, we wanted to take the opportunity to say hello to our new families and welcome back our returning ones.

Throughout the next few weeks, we will share a series of Getting Ready for 2023–2024 emails on various topics, including new items of importance, system and school communications, technology and devices, and more. Please see below for back-to-school basics and required forms. Additional information related to the 2023–2024 school year can be found online.

Back to School Basics

Academic Calendar

The 2023–2024 school year is scheduled to begin for K–12 students Monday, Aug. 28, and for prekindergarten/RECC students on Thursday, Aug. 31. View, download and/or subscribe to the HCPSS academic calendar online.

Back to School Nights and Student Orientations

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 date and time.

Inclement Weather

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.

For the 2023–2024 school year, HCPSS again will repurpose up to three inclement weather days as asynchronous instruction days, which will be used at the discretion of the Superintendent.

School Supplies

Elementary and middle school supply lists are available online. High schools do not have general supply lists; teachers will inform students of any necessary supplies at the start of the school year. HCPSS is aware of the high costs of school supplies and encourages families to recycle and reuse previous year’s supplies when possible. In addition, school supplies will continue to be made available for families in need of support. Information on technology devices for students is forthcoming.

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

On Friday, Aug. 11, high school students and their parents/guardians can log in to HCPSS Connect to view a list of scheduled courses without details. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, all students and parents/guardians can log in to HCPSS Connect to view teachers and schedules.

Action Item! Required Forms

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.

Immunizations

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