August 21, 2024 | Issue 151

OMHS Spanish Committee: Family support event to help with school digital applications and filling out forms. TONIGHT, August 21, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at OMHS.

OMMS New Student Orientation

August 22, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Back to School Night

September 5, 6:00 p.m.

OMMS New School Hours

• 8:25 a.m. Doors open for students
• 8:30 a.m. Students report to Falcon Nest/1st Period
• 8:35 a.m. Tardy Bell
• 3:15 p.m. Dismissal

New bell schedules

OMMS School Supply List

Supply List

7th Grade Immunizations

Effective the first day of school for the 2024-2025 school year, all students entering 7th grade are required by the state of Maryland to have one dose of the Tdap vaccine AND one dose of the Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4). Many students may have already received these immunizations, but the Health Room may not have the updated immunization record. Please contact your student’s healthcare provider and email an updated copy of your student’s immunizations to Judith Bruce at judith_bruce@hcpss.org.

You can also schedule an appointment for these immunizations at the Health Department. They provide opportunities for kids who are not up to date on school-required vaccinations. Call the Health Department at 410-313-7500 for more information and to schedule a vaccination appointment for your child.

4th grade Community Action Team Bag Collection Project

The SFES 4th grade Community Action Team is working on a project to help the environment by collecting plastic bags. If they collect 1,000 pounds by November 15, the collected plastic will be turned into a bench.

Bring your plastic bags to the large white collection box located in the vestibule outside of the school office, or contact lindsay.m.cox@gmail.com or Valerie Patel at valpatelval@gmail.com to donate. Please check the list of acceptable plastics below before donating, or visit the website. https://nextrex.com/view/educate

Acceptable Plastics: Grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, ice bags, wood pellet bags, salt bags, cereal box liners, ziploc bags, produce bags, product wrap, air pillows, bubble wrap, plastic films labeled with #2 or #4 recycling symbol (polyethylene films).

THES Open House

August 23

Kindergarten: 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

New Student Orientation: 1:15 to 2:00 p.m.

Grades 1-5: 2:00-3:00

Back-to-School Nights

Grades K-2: September 11, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

GT: September 12, 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Grades 3-5: September 12, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

PTA Meeting

September 17, 6:00 p.m.

THES School Hours

9:25 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. Doors open at 9:15 a.m.

THES School Supply List

Supply List

School Closure Dates

August 26: First day of school

September 2: Schools closed

September 18: 3-hr early dismissal

October 3: Schools closed

October 18: Schools closed for students

October 31: Schools closed for students Emergency/weather closings info

Student Medication Forms

HCPSS requires a new medication order form each school year, dated on or after July 1st, for all medications, including both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Over-the-counter medications must be received by the health room in new, unopened containers and be clearly labeled with the student’s name. The links to the order forms are below:

• Physician Medication Form
• EpiPen Order Care Plan

Update Your Student's Family File

Each year, parents/guardians are required to complete emergency information for their students through Family File. This information must be updated to receive the name of your student's teacher for the upcoming school year.  Complete Family File by logging into HCPSS Connect, selecting the More Options tab on the left, and then selecting Family File.

Student Free and Reduced Meal Applications

Apply Here

Families must submit a new application every school year. If you have additional questions regarding the FARMs program, please review the FAQ Section or email foodsvc@hcpss.org. 

Kindergarten Registration: OPEN NOW

Parents/guardians of children who will be five on or before September 1, 2024, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. Current HCPSS prekindergarten students do not need to register for kindergarten. More info and registration

Board of Education Meetings

• August 22, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Regularly Scheduled Meeting
• September 12, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Regularly Scheduled Meeting

Board meetings may be viewed live or on-demand online, and during and after each meeting on Howard County Comcast channel 95 or Verizon channel 42. Upcoming Public Hearings can be found online.

Now through September 15: Vote for an OM school PTA or PTSA to win $5000 in the Highlighter Back-to-School Challenge! Stevens Forest ES, Talbott Springs ES, Thunder Hill ES, Oakland Mills Middle, and Oakland Mills High are all participating.

Volunteers Needed to be Mentors

OhanaHC matches students from OMHS and three other Howard County high schools with adult mentors there to help them reach their chosen goals. More mentors are needed for OMHS students! Interested in helping? Click the button below to find out more.