Social Media Challenge Damaging Chromebooks

HCPSS is aware of a current social media trend circulating on platforms such as TikTok that
involves students inserting objects into their laptop ports to intentionally cause the device to
short circuit, overheat, or even catch fire.

River Hill HS Student Elected as 2025-2026 Student Member of the Board

Erin Alistar of River Hill High School has been elected Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2025-2026 school year. The election, open to all middle and high school students, was conducted by the Howard County Association of Student Councils (HCASC) on April 30. Alistar focused on several issues in his campaign, […]

Nominate an HCPSS Staff Member for the Gladiator Program

The Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee invites HCPSS families to nominate a staff member for their 2nd Annual Gladiator Program, a special initiative recognizing HCPSS staff who have made a positive impact on a student with an IEP.

Calendar Adjustments for the 2025-2026 School Year

Español | 中文 | 한국어 On April 29, the Howard County Board of Education approved adjustments to the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar. These adjustments provide additional opportunities for staff professional learning and align inclement weather days with historical trends in order to more quickly qualify for State waivers. The recommendations do not make any adjustments […]

New Outdoor Classroom Opens at Swansfield ES

May 3 was a big day for students in Swansfield Elementary School’s (SES) Environmental Interest seminar, as well as the entire student community. Working with representatives from the Community Ecology Institute (CEI) Nourishing Gardens program, the seminar students—who call themselves the “Green Beanz”—helped install a new outdoor classroom at the school alongside other SES students, parent volunteers, and representatives from CEI.

West Friendship Elementary Celebrates 100 Years

WFES 5th graders who researched different decades throughout WFES history for their Gifted and Talented Instructional Seminar. On Friday, April 4, West Friendship Elementary School (WFES) hosted a schoolwide celebration for its 100th anniversary. While many schools in Howard County have hit significant milestones over the years, West Friendship is the school system’s oldest continuously […]

HCPSS Names 2025 English Language Development Teachers of the Year

Cradlerock Elementary School’s (CRES) Natalie Torres and Guilford Park High School’s (GPHS) Karen Bui-Bates have been named Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Elementary and Secondary English Language Development (ELD) Teachers of the Year, respectively.

Canceled: Board of Education Policy Committee Meeting for May 1, 2025

The Howard County Board of Education’s Policy Committee meeting, scheduled for 3:30 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2025, has been canceled. Additional Board information, including upcoming meetings and links to full schedules, is available online.

ARL Greenhouse Plant Sale – April 30-May 14, 2025

The greenhouse at HCPSS’ Applications and Research Lab (10920 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City) will be open to the public and selling plants weekdays from 3-4:30 p.m. between April 30 and May 14, 2025 (excluding Wednesday, May 7), and on Saturday, May 3 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, patio pots, and hanging baskets […]

HCPSS Names 2025 Principal and Teachers of the Year

(left to right) Principal of the Year Lisa Smith and Teachers of the Year Tyrone Page and Natalie Pretzello. HCPSS Superintendent William J. Barnes on April 23 announced the recipients of the school system’s annual principal and teachers of the year award: Principal of the Year: Lisa Smith, Hammond Middle School Teacher of the Year: […]