Stay Connected! Summer 2024

June 10th, 2024

Here are some ways to stay connected throughout the summer months.

Jump to: Summer Meals | Technology Devices | Summer Learning | HCPSS Communication | 2024-2025 School Year

Free Summer Meal Program

HCPSS will run its free summer meal program weekdays June 24-Aug. 2 (with no meal service Thursday, July 4) at locations around the county. There are no applications, enrollment or fees, however children must be present to receive meals.

Meals will be provided at no cost to any HCPSS students, as well as any children aged 18 and under. In addition, free meals will be provided to all students participating in HCPSS summer programs.

Full details on summer meals, including meal sites and pickup times, can be found online.

Technology Devices

Any student not returning to an HCPSS school for the 2024-2025 school year should return their Chromebook to their home school on or before the last day of school for students, scheduled for Friday, 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.

Summer Learning

Enrichment Activities

Links to enrichment activities for students at all grade levels are provided online. That webpage also includes 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 received 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 2024-2025 school. Prior to that rollover, you will continue to receive communication from your child’s 2023-2024 school. Parents/guardians with a child new to HCPSS in the fall will automatically begin to receive communication from that school in August.

Unsubscribing from any HCPSS or school messages will block you from receiving all future messages from the district and your child’s school, including notifications of emergency closings.

2024-2025 School Year

The 2024-2025 school year is scheduled to begin for most students Monday, Aug. 26. Pre-K/RECC students will begin Thursday, Aug. 29. The calendar is updated and posted online for viewing, subscribing to, or downloading.

Information on preparing for the 2024-2025 school year can be found online. That page will be continually updated as new information becomes available.