As we enter state assessment season, we want to ensure our students are as prepared and confident as possible. One simple but powerful way to support your child is by making sure they eat a healthy breakfast and bring a nutritious snack each day of testing. A good breakfast helps students stay focused, energized, and ready to do their best.

Even when they eat a solid breakfast at home, they may pick up a grab and go breakfast as they enter school. Often the grab and go breakfast includes a healthy cereal bar and a piece of fruit that they could save for a mid-morning snack. Grab and go breakfast is available for all students at no cost.

It's important to be aware that often during testing, students eat lunch later in the day then they typically do, and they've shared with us that they get hungry. A light snack during breaks can also help maintain that energy and keep minds sharp throughout the day.

As always, students are encouraged to stay hydrated! We recently had a water bottle filling station installed in our cafeteria to make it easier for students to refill their reusable water bottles during lunch. Thank you for considering this information and partnering with us to support your child’s success!

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Moore-German, Principal

This week, we celebrated our amazing Administrative Professionals! They handle absolutely everything you can imagine, all with smiles and kindness.

You may have met our young Educator's Rising if you visited HMS during American Education Week earlier in the year. This amazing group of future teacher leaders will be assisting our staff with the upcoming 5th grade visits and our summer 6th Grade Orientation. Thier enthusiasm is contagious and we're so proud that they are interested in a career in education! Check out the shirts they designed together and will wear for at future events.

Our Rising Scholars have demonstrated perseverance, determination and a commitment to learning in marking period 3. We're very proud of their hard work! We're grateful for Ms. Arafat, Ms. Richardson and all of our teachers who volunteered to mentor our students. Go Bulls!

Student Council made the request, and Mr. Parsons made it happen! Students are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle each day and may refill in the cafeteria.

When can students refill their bottles?

• Upon arrival, before 1st period
• During their assigned lunch period
• At dismissal, prior to after school activities

#StayHydrated

If you have a current 5th grade student, please save the date for our annual 6th Grade Orientation! Please share this information with your friends and neighbors too. Registration information will be shared soon.

Our PTA plans to launch a Spirit Wear sale that will include NEW "Class of" designs for each grade level (based on projected high school graduation year). We hope that our students will proudly wear their class shirts on Spirit Days planned later this year as well as next year. Shirts will be available for our rising 6th graders (current 5th graders) as well and we hope that they will wear their shirts to our Summer Orientation. Our first class spirit day is scheduled for June 12, 2025 when we'll celebrate the accomplishments of our 8th graders!

From 5 specific designs, our students voted and choose this option created by Ms. Melissa Barr! See the sample year design below.

All 6th and 7th grade HMS students are invited to apply for our National Junior Honor Society. Please note that simply applying for membership does not guarantee acceptance into our NJHS. The required application is attached to this email. Please print it out and take the time to read over all sections. All parts of the application must be filled out as completely as possible. There is also a place for a parent/guardian signature. In addition, students will need to write a letter of introduction that must be submitted along with the application. If the letter is not included, the student will not be considered eligible for membership, and the application will be labeled void at that point. The letter should either be typed or written neatly on a separate sheet of paper. Remember that this letter should be proofread carefully to fix all spelling and grammar errors. The completed application with the letter attached should be given to Mrs. Kohlenstein, our school’s NJHS advisor, no later than April 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM. This is a firm deadline. No applications will be accepted after this date and time.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Mrs. Kohlenstein. She may be reached via email at pkohlenstein@bcps.org. Thank you.

Marking period 3 report cards became available in the Focus portal on April 24th. Parents may request a paper or emailed copy by contacting Mrs. Terri Francis at tfrancis@bcps.org.

Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance Certificates for marking period 3 will be sent home with students on Monday, April 28, 2025.

Our students Take the Bull by the Horns and are #HereForIt! Students with perfect attendance in the month of April will receive the limited-edition bull sticker featured here along with a certificate in May. A copy of the April Attendance Calendar is attached below.

The Spring attendance slump refers to declining student attendance rates in the Spring. As we head into the spring, we want to remind you how important regular attendance is for your child’s success. The final months of school are packed with critical learning opportunities, and every day counts! Let’s work together to avoid the "spring slump" by ensuring your child is present and engaged. Remember, even a few missed days can add up and impact their progress. Thank you for your partnership in helping your child be Here For It and finish the school year strong! #TeamBCPS #HereForIt! #AttendanceEveryDay

As we approach the end of the school year, our students will be taking the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) tests. These assessments measure student progress in key subject areas and help guide instruction. We appreciate your support in ensuring your child is prepared and confident on test days.

***Feel free to have your student bring in old-style wired headphones for the ELA portion of the MCAP test. If they have a Text-to-Speech accommodation, students can bring them for each test. We also have plenty of extra headphones available for students who need them. Thank you!

MCAP Testing Schedule:

📖 ELA Testing (All Grades): May 1st-2nd & May 5th-6th (WIRED HEADPHONES ONLY)
🌎 Social Studies (8th Grade Only): May 7th, 8th, 12th, and 13th
➗ Math Testing (All Grades): May 19th-22nd

How to Help Your Child Prepare:

✔️ Encourage Practice: Students can familiarize themselves with the test format by using the official MCAP Practice Tests: MCAP | Practice Tests
✔️ Ensure Rest & Nutrition: A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast can improve focus and performance.
✔️ Arrive on Time: Being on time reduces stress and helps students start their tests calmly.
✔️ Stay Positive: Encourage your child to do their best without feeling pressured.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084DAAA823A2FB6-56017096-mcap#/

Please consider donating an item for our MCAP Participation Incentive Program. For seven days, students will be able to earn tickets for being prepared, on time, and showing maximum effort leading up to and during testing. Our students work extremely hard on these assessments and appreciate being recognized. Thank you so much! Any donation can be taken to the office or front lobby desk. The drawings will begin on April 28th.

Students will be receiving a basketball themed diagram with MCAP skills to practice on iXL for both Math and ELA. Teachers will be encouraging students to complete this by shading in each skill once they've completed it. Some Math and ELA teachers will be offering incentives based on who completes the entire diagram! See the samples below for 6th grade classes.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We want to make you aware that our Algebra 1 students will be taking the STARS assessment on Wednesday, April 24th or Thursday, April 25th, depending on their class schedule. This important benchmark helps us monitor your child’s progress and ensures they are on track for success in Algebra 1 and beyond.

Here’s how you can support your student:

✅ Encourage Good Sleep – A well-rested mind performs better!

✅ Eat a Healthy Breakfast – Fueling up helps students stay focused.

✅ Be Positive – A little encouragement goes a long way in helping students feel confident and prepared.

✅ Bring Charged Devices – If your child uses a school-issued device, please remind them to charge it fully the night before.

We’re proud of the hard work our students have put in so far and are excited to see how much they’ve grown. Thank you for your continued support!

April 24, 2025 Report Cards Available in the Focus Portal

May 16, 2025 Schools and Offices close 3 Hours Early and 8th Grade Formal

May 26, 2025 Memorial Day, School Closed

June 12, 2025 8th Grade Awards Celebration

June 13, 2025 Schools close 3 Hours Early

June 16, 2025 Schools close 3 Hours Early

We are excited to announce that the Hereford Middle School sixth graders will be going to the York Revolution baseball game for a field trip on Thursday, May 8th! The trip is a grade level incentive for the 4th quarter. Students will use this opportunity for team building and enhance their mathematical skills by calculating averages for game attendance and game revenues. Permission slips and funds will be collected through Mod 1A class. Permission slips were distributed this week.

We will need chaperones for this trip! Interested in chaperoning? Please plan ahead and be sure to complete ALL required volunteer paperwork to be considered for the trip. Online volunteer training is available at: https://cos.bcps.org/departments/communications/family_and_community_engagement/b_c_p_s_volunteers.

Volunteer applications and the volunteer training completion certificate MUST be submitted to Carrie Johnson (csexton@bcps.org) to be eligible to chaperone!

Mrs. Wagaman's 6th grade students are examining tables, graphs, and real world word problems

to determine if the given relationships are proportional.

The 7th Grade is still looking for volunteers for an upcoming trip to JA. Finance Park! We need approximately 20 volunteers each day to help our students with financial activities at the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland located at 1725 Twin Springs Road in Baltimore. The tentative dates for the 7th grade are as follows:

April 28th – Mrs. Tiburzi’s A day classes

April 29th – Mrs. Tiburzi’s B day classes

April 30th – Mr. Walsh’s and Mr. Endres classes

Although it's too late to sign up for April 28th, there is still time for the other dates.

Volunteers will need to complete training through the JA Volunteer Hub and view the JA BizTown online volunteer training video (18 minutes) and complete the BCPS Volunteer application and orientation. See links below. Volunteers would transport themselves to the facility meeting school group there from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. We need volunteers for each date! See attached flyer for additional information.

· JA Volunteer Hub

· JA BizTown online volunteer training video

· the BCPS volunteer application and orientation

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Eighth grade students in Mrs. Fieden's classes have received permission slips for upcoming canoe trips. Please check these carefully to know the date and location your student will be attending. Below is the schedule:

May 9th: Mrs. Fieden's 4B

May 14th: Mrs. Fieden's 1A

May 15th: Mrs. Fieden's 3B

June 3rd: Mrs. Fieden's 4A

June 4th: Mrs. Fieden's 3A

Mark your calendars! Our fabulous PTA is sponsoring the 8th Grade Dance this year! The cost is $25 and the event is semi-formal. All students who attend will receive a swag bag of amazing items. Tickets are still available and can be purchased from Mrs. Cook at the front desk in the school lobby. Students are expected to report to school on May 16th, regardless of whether they are attending the dance that evening.

On June 12th at our recognition ceremony, the Eighth graders will be receiving their awards and certificates. More specific details will follow in the coming weeks. There will also be a special surprise presentation for them. In preparation for this event, we would like for family members to share any outside activities or awards their student has received and would like to share. Examples include: scholarships, athletic awards, scouts, service-learning projects, etc. Please use the link below. Currently we have 7 responses. This information will be included in the awards program.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffJsFNx8nOg60_E8VVwiTY2BVno5HDym-qCFMWTHmVFAwjKQ/viewform?usp=header

In accordance with Baltimore County Public Schools policy, all students transitioning from Grade 8 to Grade 9 are required to verify residency before the start of the school year. Please note that students enrolled as homeless, under shared domicile arrangements, or in state-supervised care verify residency on an annual basis and are exempt from this process. Letters outlining the residency verification process will be mailed to parents by the end of this week. We will begin accepting documentation starting May 1, 2025.

We are thrilled to announce that our school will be publishing a Literary Magazine for the second year in a row! This year’s edition features over 50 outstanding submissions of original writing and artwork created by our incredibly talented students.

We are seeking donations to support the ongoing efforts of our Literary Magazine. Printed copies will be provided to any benefactor who contributes at least $5 so that you can enjoy the creativity of our writers and artists. We kindly encourage you to consider a donation to celebrate and support the amazing work of our students. Thank you for helping us continue to foster a love for writing and the arts in our school community!

Welcome back from spring break! We hope you had a chance to relax, recharge, and maybe even dive into a great book. As we jump into the final stretch of the school year, it’s the perfect time to reconnect with our school community—and what better way than through books that spark conversation and curiosity?

April is a month of many celebrations and this week we celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd. Earth Day is the perfect time to celebrate our planet and the joy of reading! Books can open our eyes to the beauty of nature, inspire us to protect the environment, and show us how even small actions can make a big difference. Earth Day is a great reminder that we all share this world—and stories can help us understand and care for it even more.

On Friday, 4/25, the HMS Steel Band will perform at the annual BCPS Panorama held at CCBC Dundalk. Steel bands from 10 BCPS Elementary, Middle, and High Schools will participate. Each band will perform a few selections individually then the bands will combine to play two selections en masse. Panorama begins at 7:00; there is no charge for admission.

Our spring concert series is almost here, and the students have been working very hard for these performances. Concerts give students the ideal opportunity to publicly demonstrate their achievement in a supportive environment. Concerts are the original performance assessments and showcase the dedication and musical growth of our music students. All students are expected to attend concerts. The dates were announced in August, and performance attendance is a part of each student’s grade. If you have any questions about the important information listed here, please feel free to contact us at school.

Concert Attire Students-- should wear ankle length (or longer) non-athletic black pants (no leggings or jeans), dark socks, dark non-athletic shoes (no flip-flops) and Hereford Music shirt. Shirts will be worn tucked into pants.

The first combined rehearsal will be on Wednesday, April 30th. This is an A-day and for 6th Grade strings during Mod 4.

The other combined rehearsal information will be listed here after Spring Break and also on Schoology.

The HMS Agriscience department will be hosting our annual Plant Sale in May. We plan to have Jalapeño Peppers, Tomatoes, Petunias, Hanging Baskets and much more! The dates for the sale will be May 1st, 8th, and 22nd from 2:30pm-4:00pm each day. If you cannot stop by on one of these dates, please contact Mr. Friend at afriend@bcps.org.

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.

Middle School volunteers should scroll to the bottom of the link to sign up!

Dear HMS Families,

There are so many wonderful opportunities and helpful resources available to support you and your family in learning more about the IEP process and your child's special education journey. We’re here to help every step of the way—take a look at the information below to get started!

MSDE Parent Information Series

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Pages/Special-Education/FSDR/ParentInformationSeries-2.aspx

BCPS Parent Resources and Support

https://cdnsm5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_2744/File/Special%20Education/Special%20Education%20Resource%20Center%20(SERC)/Resources/PARENT%20RESOURCES%20&%20SUPPORT%202023.pdf

BCPS FACE:

https://www.bcps.org/cos/communications/FACE

Warm regards,

Dani (Bell) Bigelow
IEP Chair

dbell3@bcps.rg

Michelle Benson
Special Education Department Chair
mbenson2@bcps.org

**Opportunities for Family of Community Engagement**

Understanding your Child's IEP

April 25, 2025, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Register by emailing)

· B-5 Newsletter

· K-21 Newsletter

When there is a fine put in place for the loss or damages of a Baltimore County Public School Chromebook, parents/guardians can pay these fines in several ways. A cash or check, made out to Baltimore County Public Schools, payment can be made at the school office.

Many parents/guardians may find it easier to pay via My School Bucks. This is NOT the same account used to pay for lunch meals. To pay a device fine with My School Bucks, please follow these directions.

Have you ordered a 2024-25 Yearbook? Yearbook distribution is scheduled for June 12th for 8th grade students and June 13th for 6th and 7th grade students. Deadline to order is May 9th! Order your yearbook today!

Family and Community Engagement, in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC), has launched a CAFÉ Lunch and Learn webinar series for PTA Leaders and school staff.

Please inform your PTA Board members and consider joining the series yourself. Additionally, please encourage staff members, including CARE and FACE liaisons, family engagement committee members, and community participants, who may be interested in attending this CAFÉ. Please register online. If you cannot attend the scheduled sessions, please register to receive a link to the recordings.

Session 5: Setting the Table: How School Funds Are Distributed and What It Means for Families

Tuesday, May 20, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

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.

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.