Homewood Community News #36

Homewood Center Community,

There was so much good this week! We are proud of how hard students and stayed focused and engaged all the way through. Next week is the Rise Fest for students that are eligible. Seniors and Senior Families... check out the Final Exam Schedule in the Senior News Section below.

May 4 - 8 is Teacher Appreciation Week & May 6 is National School Nurse Appreciation Day! Help us celebrate! We invite you to help us take a moment to LOUDLY and PROUDLY thank our fabulous staff and ask you to please take a moment and help us celebrate their impact on student achievement and well-being. Please leave a message for any Homewood Staff members that you want to THANK. We will make sure that they get these messages of appreciation during the week.

Click here to send a note of thanks!

Make it a great one!

Mr. Rattay, Principal

Following the Board of Education’s recent adjustments to the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) 2025-2026 school year calendar, additional adjustments are being made to the 2025-2026 school year calendar. To see the details on changes to the school calendar please click here. Updated HCPSS calendars are available online.

Beginning Monday, May 4, the high school student period 1 will begin at 7:48 a.m., two minutes earlier than the current 7:50 start time. The bus pickup schedule will remain unimpacted.

May 1: National School Principal Day
May 4 - May 8 - MCAP Testing

May 4 - May 8 - National Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6 - National School Nurse Appreciation Day
May 14 - FULL DAY*
May 14 - Senior Celebration

May 18 - June 4 - Graduation Window

May 25 - Schools and Offices Closed

May 27 - Schools and offices closed

June 8 - 15 - FULL DAYS*

June 16 - 18 - 3 hour Early Dismissal*

*Dates adjusted per March 27, 2026 Board of Education Meeting

Click links above for information and access the HCPSS system’s academic calendar here.

Visit Homewood's Community Calendar here.

🎉We are excited to celebrate the completion of Round 1 of our “Attendance Challenge: LEVEL UP!” - A huge congratulations to all of our students who reached Tier 1 (80% attendance) during Round 1! These students earned a Certificate of Achievement and were able to pick out a brand-new fidget prize. We are proud of the effort and commitment our students are showing—this is a strong start!

💡 WHY IT MATTERS - Every day counts. Showing up consistently helps students stay on track academically and build strong habits that will carry into next year. Let’s keep the momentum going into Round 2 and continue building strong attendance habits. We’re excited to celebrate even more students in the next round! Each round is a fresh start, so every student has another chance to improve, earn rewards, and stay on track!

🔁 ROUND 2 IS UNDERWAY!

📅 April 30 – May 13 - ALL Students now have a fresh opportunity to earn even more rewards:

80% Attendance (Tier 1)

• Certificate of Achievement
• Fidget prize

90% Attendance (Tier 2)

• Certificate of Achievement
• 🔋 Homewood portable charger
  
  

🗓️ REMINDER OF ALL CHALLENGE DATES

• Round 1: April 16 – April 29 ✅
• Round 2: April 30 – May 13 🔄
• Round 3: May 14 – May 29

🔥 KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BIG REWARDS! (ALL DATES COMBINED)

Students who stay consistent across all rounds can earn:

90% Overall Attendance (Tier 3)

• Certificate of Achievement
• 🍦 Free treat

95% Overall Attendance (Tier 4)

• Certificate of Achievement
• 🍦 Free treat
• 🎟️ Entry into the Grand Prize Drawing

🎁 GRAND PRIZES

• 🏎️ 2 Winners: Autobahn Indoor Speedway (Free Race + License)
• 🎬 1 Winner: $25 Fandango Gift Card

If you have any questions read full details here or contact Kenny Porritt Assistant Principal for Homewood Center.

From all of us to you Mr. Rattay, we hope your day was great!

We are excited to share that Mr. Sobel and Ms. Hall have been named Teachers of the Year for 2026 at Homewood Center. This recognition reflects their dedication, impact, and commitment to our students and school community. Both Ms. Hall (Gateway, Teacher of the Year) and Mr. Sobel (Bridges, Teacher of the Year) were honored during the County's Teacher of the Year breakfast where their achievements were celebrated alongside other outstanding educators.

Maryland Vaccine Program for adults - the state of Maryland has been able to expand its "vaccines for children" program to adults! Now, any adult over the age of 18 who is uninsured or underinsured is eligible for many free vaccines at the Howard County Health Department located at 8930 Stanford Blvd., Columbia, MD 21045.

Call 410-313-7500 to schedule an appointment. Click here to learn more.

Students ages 12 - 18 are invited to join a fun, interactive six-hour course that provides participants all the tools needed for a professional babysitting business. Hosted by University of Maryland Extension Howard County 4-H. Certificate of Completion will be awarded at the the end of the three sessions.

Classes will be held Wednesdays (May 6, 13, & 20), 5:30 - 7:30 PM at HCLS East Columbia Library
Register Here.

The Office of the Local Children’s Board invites #HoCo high school students (grades 9–12) to this hands-on workshop exploring how history, institutions and bias shape today’s world—and how they can champion social change and build more equitable communities. Through interactive activities and engaging videos, participants will:

• Examine systems of inequity and learn how to challenge them
• Develop skills for inclusive leadership
• Gain confidence to drive change in their communities
  
  

Additional Perks: Daily $25 gift card plus a chance to win an additional raffle prize, lunch & refreshments provided (please note dietary restrictions upon registration).

Monday & Tuesday, June 22-23, 2026 | 10 am to 3 pm (with an option to arrive at 9:30 am, for Breakfast) | The Meeting House 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia 21045.

Parent or guardian permission is needed to attend. Please complete and sign the Permission Form. Register here: Youth Leadership Development for Equity

March2Future is hosting an in-person Class of 2027 Night at HCC May 6 Register Here.
Workshops include:

• Inside the College Admissions Maze
• Financial Aid 101
• The College Search Process with CollegeSwipe
• HCC Academic Program Overview- Why HCC and Transfer Process
• Building a College List, Who and What is Merit Aid, and Strategies for Application
• The Scholarship Search
• HCC Skilled Trades
• Getting Started on the College Application Process

• Establish channels of collaboration between students and school administration to co-create cultures of belonging.
• Provide access to professional training to level up student driven outcomes.
• Expand student definition of leadership to encompass key concepts of equity through strategic HCPSS partners.

The application for student participation is an open invitation to any student who will be in high school during the 2026-27SY. Application (open until May 8, 2026).

FREE Caregiver Wellness Workshops by Backpack Healthcare 2nd & 4th Thursday of the Month 6:00 - 7:00 PM - Virtual Sessions via Zoom - Register here.

• May 14th: Healthy Friendships and Boundaries
• May 28th: Mental Health Resources
• June 11th: Cyberbullying and Safety
• June 25th: Parent Support Networks

Our books and media materials have loved spending time in your homes and backpacks but it's time for them to return back to the Homewood Media Center!!

Parents and guardians of children receiving special education and related services were mailed the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services. Parents are asked to complete the survey and return it in the postage paid envelope by Friday, June 5, 2026. The survey can also be completed online. Your feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in HCPSS. Your voice can make a real difference for your child and many other children across the state of Maryland. Complete the survey here.

NAMI Howard County MD is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Together, NAMI advocates for better lives for those individuals who have a mental illness, and offers support, education and advocacy.

The mission of NAMI Howard County MD, MD, Inc. (NAMI HC) is to improve the lives of individuals with mental illness and their families through education, advocacy and support, and to increase awareness of mental illness throughout the community.

As a Community School, Homewood Center serves as a resource to support student success. One way we do this is through the operation of our Phoenix Pantry. Due to limited supplies, Homewood Families can request support monthly using this form. Please allow 3-5 school days to fulfill an order and arrange pick-up/drop off. Contact Kelly Kesler, Community School Site Coordinator if you have a more immediate need. All items are subject to availability. At this time, we cannot stock items that require refrigeration.

As a Community School, Homewood Center, can offer financial support for eligible Homewood Center students to access an MVA-certified, 36-hour Driver's Education course through Greg's Driving School. This opportunity is limited to the availability of funds. Please contact Ms. Kesler in the Community Suite for questions or more information.

To apply for Class Funding: families will need to complete the form here: Driver's Education Support Request Form. and provide documentation demonstrating eligibility. For students under the age of 18, the form must be completed by a parent or legal guardian. Students are able to begin the classroom (virtual or in-person) prior to having their learner’s permit; however, to complete the driving portion that is required for the provisional license, they must have their state issued learner’s permit.

Howard County has a network of food pantries that provide essential supplies to those in need. Locate the nearest pantry by visiting the Howard County Food Connection Map.

The Community Action Council of Howard County provides five critical services: early childhood education, energy assistance, food assistance, housing assistance, and weatherization assistance. Applications for support can be done online!

Looking for resources for clothing? Success in Style provides interview and work clothing and the Grace Clothing Closet provides gently used clothing.

Free Cell Phones are available through the Lifeline program which provides free phones and plans for SNAP, Medicaid, SSI participants. Multiple carriers available.

The Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) is launching the second phase of the Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program (GBI2), in partnership with Howard County Government. The GBI2 Pilot Program will provide selected households with $500 per month for 12 months. In addition, $500 per month will be set aside in a savings account and released in July 2027 upon completion of a financial literacy program delivered by a CAC partner. This flexible financial support is designed to help families meet their most pressing needs, including housing, food, transportation, education, and healthcare. Learn more about the Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program (GBI2) here.

Visit the HCPSS Family Resources webpage, a one-stop hub for essential support services, including food assistance, shelter, and financial aid.

Visit the HCPSS resource webpage dedicated to supporting immigrant families.

Visit the HCPSS resource webpage for military families.

Missing 10% (or about 18 days of a school year) can drastically affect a student's academic success. When an absence is necessary, please send all attendance notes to HWCAbsence@hcpss.org from the e-mail address on your Family File. Notes should be received within 5 school days of the absence. Discretionary Absences requested by a parent and approved by a school administrator can be requested in advance using this form. We appreciate your help in this process. For more information, read HCPSS Policy 9010-Attendance.

Here is a reminder for how to access the parent portal in HCPSS Connect. HCPSS Connect provides access to a variety of student information and classroom instructional tools offering personalized communication and timely, relevant and easily accessible information relating to your student. https://www.hcpss.org/connect/guides/

Brainfuse HelpNow is available on the HCLS website, and video and written instructions on how to use the resource are available here. First-time users will need to create a username and password.

Education, Enrichment, Internship, Employment Programs School Year 2025-2026 This database introduces a curated collection of opportunities for students looking to grow academically, professionally, and personally. The spreadsheet linked contains organized tabs for each category, making it easy to explore options based on your interests and goals.

The 2025-2026 Scholarship Resource introduces a curated collection of scholarships and grants that students can apply for to help decrease their out-of-pocket expenses for colleges and trade schools.

For families of senior students about to graduate, congratulations on your student’s accomplishment! One more step toward higher education! Stay informed about important upcoming dates, announcements and opportunities here.

Friday, May 8 - Period 1 Exam

Monday, May 11 - Period 2 & 3 Exam

Tuesday, May 12 - Period 4 & 5 Exam

Wednesday, May 13 - Period 6 & 7 Exam

Thursday, May 14 - Completion of 6/7 exams; Make up of missed exams; Extended time for exams

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Class of 2026 graduation ceremony schedule is now available. All ceremonies are scheduled to take place at Merriweather Post Pavilion, with the exception of Cedar Lane School, which will be held at that school. Graduations will be available for viewing live online and on-demand following each ceremony, and will be rebroadcast on the HCPSS local cable channel in Howard County (Comcast 95, Verizon 42). Read more here.

Seniors, have you received recognition or an award from an organization outside HCPSS? Tell us! We want to hear from as many students as possible so that we can honor you and your award/recognition during Senior Awards. Please fill out the Google Form no later than April 24, 2026. Parents/guardians are also welcome to fill out the form.

It's a time of celebration, reflection, and looking forward to the bright futures ahead. Imagine the joy of personally handing your graduating senior their diploma – a moment you'll both cherish forever!

If you are an HCPSS staff member and would like to present your graduating senior with their diploma at the upcoming graduation ceremony, please reference the Staff Hub email published on 2/27 to sign up. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to add a touch of magic to your senior's special day. Let's make this graduation an unforgettable experience filled with pride and excitement.

Sales will run through May 2, 2026. Purchases can be made directly here, and flyers for sarape sales are linked here. Select the tab “Hispanic Achievement” to initiate the order, the cost is $22.25, or see the Hispanic Achievement Liaison at Homewood, Ms. Orris. The stole will be delivered to your student prior to graduation. If you have questions or need financial assistance, contact Homewood Center's Hispanic Achievement Liaison, Ms. Orris.

The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) is selling Kente cloth graduation stoles to families for graduating students. Sales will run through May 1, 2026. The flyer for the stole sale can be found linked here. Kente is a traditional African textile that the Ashanti people in Ghana and West Africa first weaved. Today, it is worn to pay homage to African ancestors and to show pride in the heritage of the Diaspora during ceremonial occasions. If you have questions or need financial assistance, contact Homewood Senior Class Advisors, Ms. Hall or Ms. McKenna.

• Homewood Senior News
• HCPSS Class of 2026 College Application Google Site
• HCPSS School Counseling Canvas Page
• HCPSS College Application Checklist
• Start a 2026–27 FAFSA® Form

Student Responsibilities and Behaviors Policies

HCPSS Student AI Guide: Using Generative AI Responsibly

HCPSS News

*Community programs are not sponsored or endorsed by HCPSS