Dear Hereford Middle School Community,

This week, as we closed our Spring MCAP assessment window, we received some great news! The proficiency rate for our 8th grade students on the MISA (Maryland Integrated Science Assessment) increased by 5.68%! We congratulate our 8th grade students for their hard work, and we thank their dedicated teachers for preparing them for the critical thinking required.

As we wrap up the 2024-25 school year, I bring you an important update regarding BCPS issued laptop devices. Beginning the week of June 9th, we will collect devices from students. Each math class is scheduled to go to the library with their devices where they will be evaluated and checked in. All students must bring their device and charging cord to school, and devices should be free of stickers. If damage is found, a fine will be issued and communicated to parents via email. You can find more information below about these financial obligations.

Once checked in, students will not take devices home for the summer. At the middle school level, Baltimore County Public Schools will discontinue the practice of students taking a device to and from school. At Hereford Middle School, students will access devices when needed for instruction from a classroom set. In the event a student needs to borrow a device for a home assignment, per teacher request, a limited number of loaner devices will be available.

Please take note of the following important details:

• Devices with stickers or Sharpie writing on their cases will incur a $30 charge for case damage. Please remove all stickers before turning in the device.

• Missing or lost chargers will result in a $30 replacement fee.

• Missing or lost devices, or those with major damage, will be assessed a $200 replacement charge.

• Devices returned with damage such as broken screens, hinges, or touchscreens may result in charges ranging from $30–$80, depending on the severity.

Next week, teachers will perform a cursory check of all student devices in Advisory prior to collection which begins on June 9th. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that all devices are returned in good condition and on time. Your partnership helps us maintain the tools necessary to enhance student learning.

Although our students won't have BCPS issued devices this summer, we know that many have access to computers, iPad and cell phones at home. Our rising 7th and 8th grade students may use their current login to access the iXL platform for practice to prevent the summer slide and to accelerate learning. Below you will find information about our summer iXL practice incentive program and our summer reading program. We're looking forward to celebrating our students' participation in these summer learning incentives at our inaugural "Bull Bash" when return to school.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Moore-German, Principal

Our HMS PTA class tee shirt fundraiser has been extended and is open until Sunday, June 1st. Current 6th and 7th grade students can wear their shirt on Thursday, June 12th as well as spirit days this fall. Current 5th graders can wear their class tee shirts to the 6th grade summer orientation and on class spirit days in the fall. Please use this link and order today! https://west88llc.chipply.com/hms. Each purchase supports the work of our PTA who sponsors exciting events and surprises for our students all year long.

All 8th grade students who are planning to attend Hereford High School and are interested in joining a Fall Sport at HHS are invited to an information meeting on Monday, June 2nd during Advisory. The fall sports include Allied Soccer, Girls & Boys Soccer, Field Hockey, Football, Girls & Boys Golf, Cheer, Badminton, Volleyball, and Cross Country. See the attached letter for more information.

We're excited to welcome 225 current 5th graders to Hereford Middle School this summer! By now, if you registered your 5th grader, you should have received confirmation of your child's registration for our 6th grade orientation. If you haven't, please contact Mrs. Richardson, School Counselor, lrichardson2@bcps.org. We have limited space available, but we must hear from interested families today!

As a reminder, our NJHS Induction Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd at the Hereford High Auditorium. Contact Ms. Kohlenstein via email pkohlenstein@bcps.org with any questions regarding this event.

As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, we are excited to invite you to be a part of our school community by volunteering! Volunteers play a vital role in creating a positive and enriching experience for our students. Whether you can lend a hand before school, during lunch, after school, or at other school-based events, we welcome your support! Please complete this application by Monday, June 16, 2025, to express interest in volunteering in our schools for the 2025-2026 school year.

Volunteer Opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Before School: Assist with student arrivals, help ensure smooth transitions and provide general support.
• During Lunch: Help supervise students in the cafeteria, assist with lunchtime activities, or provide guidance to ensure students are comfortable and safe.
• After School: Support student dismissal, assist with after-school programs, or help with tutoring or extracurricular activities.
• And much more!

The process to become a BCPS volunteer is simple and convenient and can be found on the BCPS Volunteer webpage:

1. Complete the Online Volunteer Application: Visit our volunteer page to fill out the application form: BCPS Volunteer Application.
2. Complete Online Volunteer Orientation (starting July 1) to receive a training certificate.

After July 1, you will receive information on next steps.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back, support our students, and strengthen the school community. We are grateful for all the time and energy our volunteers invest in making BCPS a fantastic place for learning. If volunteer opportunities in your school are filled for the upcoming school year, please strongly consider volunteering in a neighboring school. We look forward to having you join our team of dedicated BCPS volunteers.

The Mental Health Mile was the culminating event for our Mental Health Awareness Month. Thank you so much to the HMS families, staff and students who participated in the the Mental Health Mile! Michelle Benson was our staff participation winner and Fiona McGuire and Harper Davis were our student winners!

As a reminder, damaged device fines are the financial responsibility of the student and their family when that damage is avoidable. Proper care should prevent most damage. If you have received notification of a damaged device fine, please make arrangements to fulfill this obligation prior to the end of the school year.

According to the BCPS Student Handbook (Page 5) and the June 11, 2024, community update, students are responsible for the appropriate use of BCPS technology and may face disciplinary action for violations of the Technology Acceptable Use Policy (TAUP). Students and their parents or caregivers are financially responsible for intentional or avoidable damage, as well as the loss of any Chromebook or device assigned to the student. Families are only financially liable when damage is deemed avoidable, with repair or replacement costs determined by the severity of the damage. The costs range from $30 for minor issues such as missing keys or a broken charger to $200 for total Chromebook loss or severe damage. A detailed breakdown of repair costs can be found in the Device Management One Pager for Parents, which, along with Page 5 of the BCPS Student Handbook, is provided with all mailed correspondence regarding device fees.

Students with outstanding device fees will face in-school consequences until all financial obligations are settled. Students may be prohibited from participating in school events such as field trips, 8th grade celebrations and end of year grade level activities. You may pay with cash or check (made payable to Baltimore County Public Schools) at the main office. Many parents and guardians find it easier to pay online via My School Bucks. This is not the same account used for lunch meals. To pay a device fine with My School Bucks, please follow these directions.

Hereford Middle School invites current 5th, 6th and 7th grade students to take part in our Summer 2025 Reading Incentive Program! Check out the flyer below for more information about the assignment! Consider checking a book out from the HMS library or the Public Library. If you're looking for book suggestions, check out the Black-Eyed Susan Nominees!

We are fortunate to be able to offer our students the opportunity to utilize the iXL platform over the summer for skill practice and acceleration! Students who complete the organizer by August 29th will be invited to attend our Bull Bash and will be eligible for prizes! Please see the instructions below. Students with questions should ask their math, ELA, science, social studies or Spanish teacher.

• Several free websites offer interactive math fact practice for students at home, including XtraMath, MathFactLab, 99Math, Math Drills, and Reflex. These platforms utilize various methods like timed drills, games, and personalized learning to help students master basic math facts.
• www.IXL.com IXL allows students to do free practice problems every day. Current HMS students will have access all summer using their content login information.
• www.khanacademy.com Khan Academy
• https://mathigon.org/ Mathigon

• Returning 7th and 8th should keep their WL notes and refer to them over the summer.
• Listen to music in French or Spanish
• Use the Duolingo app
• Put language subtitles on during your favorite movie
• Practice Spanish skills in iXL

• If a vacation is planned, have the students research about the place they are going by finding articles and reading information about it.
• Set time together to read about current events in the news.
• Choose books and/or audiobooks on topics of their own interest.
• Read directions for recipes or building/creating something.
• Set a family reading "theme" night during the summer and all read about that topic together
• Set up a cozy "Reading Corner" in your home with lots of various reading materials (books, magazines, articles, etc...)
• Read to a younger brother, sister, cousin, friend, dog, etc...
• Encourage reading outdoors, such as at a park, by the pool, the beach, etc...
• Have audio books available to listen to in the car, etc... while traveling.
• Play games such as Boggle, Scrabble, etc... to build vocabulary.

BCPL Summer Reading Program: https://www.bcpl.info/youth/summer-reading

Marking period 4 report cards will be available in the Focus portal on June 16th after 4 PM. Parents may request a paper or emailed copy by contacting Mrs. Terri Francis at tfrancis@bcps.org.

Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance recognition for 8th grade students will be provided at the Awards Ceremony on June 12th. Students in grade 6 and 7 will receive their honor roll and perfect attendance awards in homeroom on Monday, June 16th, the last day of school.

Did you forget to order a yearbook? No worries! With TreeRing, it's never too late. You can still go to the link below and order a school yearbook. The only difference is that the yearbook will be delivered to your home, rather than the school. If you place your order today, there is a possibility that the yearbook could arrive before our "Autograph" Day. Pre-purchased yearbooks will be distributed to our 8th graders on Thursday, June 12th and to the 6th and 7th graders on Friday, June 13th.

Our students Take the Bull by the Horns and are #HereForIt!

Students with perfect attendance for the month of May will receive the limited-edition bull sticker featured here along with a certificate in June. A copy of the June Attendance Calendar is attached below.

With just two weeks to go, our students are focused on upcoming assessments and culminating activities. Thank you to our school community for your commitment to education. Together we can make these last few weeks successful and memorable for all of our students. #AttendanceEveryDay

June 12, 2025 8th Recognition Ceremony

June 13, 2025 Schools close 3 Hours Early

June 16, 2025 Last Day of School - Close 3 Hours Early

Our Student Council is sponsoring and End of the School Year Spirit Week to add some extra fun to the last 6 days of school. I hear that Mr. Splash may make an appearance at HMS on Friday, June 13th to add to our summer fun celebration!

To help prepare for your Algebra 1 Final, we are holding after school study sessions available to all Algebra 1 students on Wednesday, June 4th after school until 3:15pm. If interested, please bring a note that states that you will be staying after school for the final review session. Please report to D6 (Mrs. Sinopoli’s Room) and be sure to have a ride prepared to pick you up at 3:15pm.

If you have any questions, please see your math teacher,

Mrs. Stegmayer, Mrs. Wagaman, Ms. Dempsey, Mrs. George, and Mr. Riordan (Mrs. Sinopoli)

The Eighth Grade Dance was a huge success! A storm could not stop the fun! Our amazing PTA parents set up a photo booth, prize wheel, food and dessert buffet, DJ, games, HMS souvenir bag, and much more. This was a truly memorable event! Thank you to the PTA for providing this opportunity.

A huge thank you to our amazing community that came together and made the 8th Grade Dance a success! We are so grateful to our local businesses who generously sponsored prizes for the HMS 8th Grade Dance Prize Wheel and donations for the students' "Swag Bags"! Thanks to their generosity, every student received a goody bag and had the opportunity to try their luck with the prize wheel and go home with a prize!

Viking Construction

Blevins & Sons Septic Service

Carney Animal Hospital

Casa Mia's Restaurant

Creamery Connection

Hereford Zone Snoballs

The Chill

Hereford Golf Center

The Fill'Er-Up

Sass Resale Boutique LLC (Sass Boutique)

Chick Fil A Hunt Valley Towne Center

Lotus Jewelry Studio

THANK YOU for helping us make this event such a success!

On June 12th, at the 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony, our 8th graders will be receiving their awards and certificates followed by the much-anticipated annual slideshow. The event will be livestreamed/recorded, and a link will be provided for families to view the slideshow. The ceremony will begin at 7:50 am and end at approximately 9:35 am (for students). The livestream will end after the ceremony when students view the slideshow presentation.

This year, each student will receive a completion certificate with award seals attached representing department awards as well as club and extracurricular activity awards. Students with perfect attendance in MP 4 will receive a certificate just as they have for each of the preceding marking periods this year. The five highest-earning student service-learning hours recipients will receive an additional certificate. Students meeting the criteria for the President’s Award for Academic Excellence (3.5 GPA and Proficient as measured by MCAP) and for the President’s Award for Academic Achievement (3.5 GPA) will receive a certificate from the US Department of Education to honor their accomplishments.

Below attached you will find the information and permission slip. Money and permission slip must be submitted to Science teacher by May 30th. Our chaperone list is totally full. See below.

Bunker Hill Chaperones please be at school on Thursday, June 5th by 8:15am. You can park in the over flow lot by the tennis courts. You will need to bring water, comfortable shoes, hat, bug spray, and sunscreen depending on weather. We do go rain or shine unless it is a severe storm warning. If you would like stay after we return around 12:15 to help with the crab feast it would be greatly appreciated!

Below is the current list of chaperones:

Jennifer Doyle

Eva Bailey

Cara Wilt

Gabrielle Flowers

Francis Tiralilla

Michelle Stutz

Danielle Verderaine

Anneil Plantholt

Erika Rayburn

Jessica Rinehimer

Stacie Jendrek

Velmar Ramos

Jennifer Albert

Messla Long

Allison Pierce

Bridget McDonie

Samara Ensor

Jennifer DeSantis

Michelle Ripple

Laura Blizzard

Ashley Baker

Christopher Fox

Christine Lerner

Johanna Swanson

Christa Speicher

Suzi Ford

Christina Ziegler

Lynn Bryson

Nathan Arnold

Jennifer Wood

Bradley Mitchell

Christopher Smith

Celeste McClure

Shannon Cimino

Lisa Summerlin

Thank you for your support of our annual Plant Sale! We still have plenty of plants available, including petunias (both individual and hanging baskets) and tomatoes. We will be open Thursday after school until 4pm. If you would like to stop by another time to view our selection, please email Mr. Friend at afriend@bcps.org.

Please encourage your students to check for any novels that have been forgotten at home from this year! Teachers are sending emails to parents of students who need to return a book so be on the lookout for that. Thank you from the ELA department!

Over the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of working with a 6th grade parent and educator so I thought I would ask her to share her thoughts on books, reading, and the change from elementary school to middle school. She has some amazing thoughts and ideas that I could not have said better had I tried.

“As a parent, I’ve noticed how quickly middle school shifts into high gear—earlier mornings, longer school days, more homework, and a calendar that fills up quickly. Our kids are growing more independent, which is exciting… but it also means we have to be more intentional about the habits we want to hold on to.

What’s one habit we’ve chosen to keep front and center in our home? Reading. Reading isn’t just for tests or homework—it’s a life skill. It builds our kids’ knowledge, imagination, empathy, and confidence. Here’s why our family is making reading a priority, even in the middle school years:

1. At home, our kids get to read what they want—not just what’s assigned. And that freedom matters. It helps them fall in love with learning and feel more in control of their own interests and ideas.

2. At home, our kids get to read what they want—not just what’s assigned. And that freedom matters. It helps them fall in love with learning and feel more in control of their own interests and ideas.

3. We’ve learned not to stress about what they’re reading. Remember- All Reading Counts! Magazines, comics, audiobooks, articles—it all helps build the habit of reading. The important thing is that they’re reading for enjoyment, not just assignments.

4. We’ve learned not to stress about what they’re reading. Remember- All Reading Counts! Magazines, comics, audiobooks, articles—it all helps build the habit of reading. The important thing is that they’re reading for enjoyment, not just assignments."

Happy reading,

A Fellow Middle School Parent

Matt Pin would like to forget: war torn Vietnam, bombs that fell like dead crows, and the terrible secret he left behind. But now that he is living with a caring adoptive family in the United States, he finds himself forced to confront his past. And that means choosing between silence and candor, blame and forgiveness, fear and freedom. By turns harrowing, dreamlike, sad, and triumphant, this searing debut novel, written in lucid verse, reveals an unforgettable perspective on the lasting impact of war and the healing power of love.

From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she's the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she's not very smart. If you've ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be.

When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to "sing" to him! But he's three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him?

To help prepare for your Geometry Final, we are holding after school study sessions on Wednesday, June 4th after school until 3:15pm. If interested, please bring a note that states that you will be staying after school for the final review session. Please report to D4 (Mrs. Stegmayer’s Room) and be sure to have a ride prepared to pick you up at 3:15pm.

If you have any questions, please see your math teacher,

Mrs. Stegmayer and Mr. Riordan (Mrs. Sinopoli)

To help prepare for your Algebra 1 Final, we are holding after school study sessions available to all Algebra 1 students on Wednesday, June 4th after school until 3:15pm. If interested, please bring a note that states that you will be staying after school for the final review session. Please report to D6 (Mrs. Sinopoli’s Room) and be sure to have a ride prepared to pick you up at 3:15pm.

If you have any questions, please see your math teacher,

Mrs. Stegmayer, Mrs. Wagaman, Ms. Dempsey, Mrs. George, and Mr. Riordan (Mrs. Sinopoli)

It was truly a great week for the Music Department! Three full nights of HMS students displaying their musical talents in instruments and voice!

On Wednesday night, the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choruses shared their wide vocal range, enthusiasm for the song choices, and encouraged audience interaction. The 6th grade chorus performed a phenomenal rendition of “Hakuna Matata” with a special clarinet accompaniment by Gilad Weisberg. The 7th grade chorus knocked it out of the auditorium (and put us right back into the movie “Grease”) with their rendition of “We Go Together” with the audience doing an excellent job on their interactive portion of the song. And the 8th grade chorus’s final farewell to the middle school, “Joy to the World,” was the perfect ending to their middle school chorus career. The BEST news of the night was that Mr. David Soebel, the chorus teacher at Hereford High, will be splitting his time with Hereford Middle next year, so out middle school students will have a jump on their choral futures by having such a fabulous teacher bridge them between the programs.

On Thursday night, our amazing grade level and steel drums bands stole the show! The Steel Drum band took us back in time to the tunes of “Shake Senora” and “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” The 6th Grade band made us as happy as a pig in mud with their animal noises during their rendition of “Barnyard Bagatelle.” The 7th grade band had us all dreaming of Africa with their version of “Serengeti Dreams.” And who couldn’t stop dancing in their seats with the 8th grade bands break down of the music from “Aladdin.” However, the star of the night went to Mr. Chris Bennett, who is retiring from HMS at the end of the school year. The current students and some alumni celebrated his accomplishments of his career and created quite a send off to him as this was his very last band concert. We wish him all the best in the future!

Tune in next week for a recap of our Orchestra concert.

Hereford Middle School has partnered with Children's Mental Health Matters, the Maryland Public Awareness Campaign. We will be sharing information on Mental Health and resources highlighted by the campaign throughout the month of May. Click below to download a very comprehensive Mental Health Family Information and Resource Kit. https://www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org/files/2019/11/FRK_ALL.pdf

Dear HMS Families,

If your child has qualified for Extended School Year (ESY) services through their Individualized Education Program (IEP), as determined by the IEP team, this message is for you!

An letter regarding extended school year was sent home with your child the first week of May. This notice outlines the specific services your child is eligible to receive and the duration of the program during the summer break.

To assist us in planning and providing the best support for your child, we kindly ask that you review the letter and confirm your child’s attendance by returning the letter signed.

If you have any questions about the ESY program, the services being offered, or if you need another copy of the letter, please do not hesitate to contact us!

We look forward to supporting your child’s continued growth and learning during the summer months.

Warm regards,

Dani (Bell) Bigelow
IEP Chair

dbell3@bcps.org

Michelle Benson
Special Education Department Chair
mbenson2@bcps.org

MSDE Parental Involvement Survey

Due date: May 30, 2025

https://www.mdparentsurvey.com/

Post-Secondary Transition Resource Fair

June 5, 2025

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

CCBC Catonsville, Center for the Arts Building

800 S. Rolling Rd., Catonsville, MD 21228

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Family-Support-Newsletter-May-2025.html?soid=1126214089648&aid=_F_jXM_mj5w

Check out the Hereford Middle School website! https://herefordms.bcps.org/ We continually update our website so that it serves as valuable resource for our school community. There you'll find past editions of the Bull's Eye, our principal's weekly newsletter, an updated staff directory, links to important and useful information and so much more! We look forward to the redesign of our website which will make for a more user-friendly experience.

Mrs. Moore-German

Principal

Hereford Middle School

712 Corbett Road, Monkton, MD 21111

443-809-7902

cmooregerman@bcps.org

Hereford Middle School is committed to providing a safe and supportive community in which students celebrate diversity, demonstrate integrity and develop mutual respect and responsibility in order to pursue academic excellence.

Hereford Middle School empowers every learner, every day through rigorous, diverse, educational experiences to become productive global citizens.