The Heron

• Monday, September 21st: Mixed-up Monday Spirit Day!
• Tuesday, September 22nd: Open House for Grades PK-2
• Wednesday, September 23rd: Open House for Grades 3-5
• Friday, September 25th: Fun Run!

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS ABOUT EACH.

SEPTEMBER

22 - HES Open House, Grades PK - 2, 5:30 - 6:30

23 - HES Open House, Grades 3 - 5, 5:30 – 6:30

25 - HES Boosterthon Fun Run (See additional information below.)

OCTOBER

1 - 2 Hr. Early Dismissal

2 - Schools Closed for Students

8 - HES FSO Fall Festival, 5:30 - 7:00

9 - 1st Grade CHESPAX Trip - Aris

12 - 2 Hr. Early Dismissal: Parent Conferences

13 - 1st Grade CHESPAX Trip - Brown

14 - 1st Grade CHESPAX Trip - Hawkins

15 - 1st Grade CHESPAX Trip - McKnew

16 - Schools Closed for Students: Staff Professional Learning

21 - Fall Picture Day

22 - FSO Board Meeting, 4:00 PM

26 - Red Ribbon Week Begins

29 - Science for Everyone Assembly

• 9:15 - 10:00 Grades PK, K, 1, 2
• 10:15 - 11:00 Grades 3, 4, 5

29 - End of First Marking Period

29 - HES Family Learning Night, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

30 - HES Harvest Day

30 - 2 Hr. Early Dismissal

Let’s kick off Fun Run Week with a little silliness and a lot of school spirit!

On Monday, students can wear crazy socks, mismatched socks, mismatched shoes, or mismatched clothes. Save time getting ready in the morning... the more mixed up, the better!

We can’t wait to see everyone's creative and colorful combinations as we start an exciting Fun Run week!

.

The schedule for the Fun Run is as follows:

• 9:15 - 10:15: Grades K-2
• 10:20 - 10:40: 4-year-old PK
• 11:00 - 12:00: Grades 3-5

Parents/guardians are welcome to attend but please remember the following:

• All visitors must sign in at the office. A driver's license is necessary to sign in.
• Visitors will view the run from designated areas.

If you plan to attend, please arrive 15 minutes in advance of the run to allow yourself time to sign in.

Students should have water and wear sneakers for the run. Due to the possibility of wet grass, you might consider sending your child with a pair of socks and shoes to change into after the run.

Our HES Open House is scheduled from 5:30 - 6:30 on September 22nd & 23rd as follows:

• September 22nd: PK - Grade 2
• September 23rd: Grades 3 - 5

This is the perfect opportunity to engage with your child's teacher about priorities for the year, provide an overview of curriculum, expectations regarding homework, and learn how you can support literacy and math skills at home, etc.

There are two sessions each evening, 5:35 - 6:00 and 6:05 - 6:30.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be open each night in the cafeteria if you'd like to go shopping for some new books!

CCPS sent out notices earlier this month for Parents/Guardians who live with the student to complete the Annual Student Update (emergency form). Reminders went out recently to those who have not completed the Annual Student Update. One is required for each student. If you got the message or have not done the Annual Student Update for your child(ren), please log into HAC (Home Access Center) to complete these by Tuesday, September 22. Please call the school if you need assistance.

Thank you for joining us for our Military Student Breakfast. It was wonderful to meet our new military-connected students and welcome back our returning students. We had a great time together!

A representative will be available during Open House this week. Please stop by to learn more about the resources, opportunities, and offerings available to our military-connected students and families. We look forward to seeing you!

If there is anything I can do to support your student(s) or family, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at allenc@calvertnet.k12.md.us. I’m looking forward to another wonderful year together!

On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, CCPS' Family Support System is thrilled to present the “Fall in Love With Literacy” Festival at Calvert Middle School!

This fun-filled evening is designed for the whole family and features:

• Interactive games and stations to spark a love of reading
• Free books for children
• Exciting prizes

Registration is encouraged but not required.

Are you looking to get involved at HES? Become a volunteer! As we get into the school year, school trips begin to take place and chaperones will be needed, Tuesday folders need to be stuffed, teachers seek classroom readers, etc. If you have been a volunteer in the past, please remember that volunteer applications must be renewed each year. All you need to know about becoming a volunteer is available on the CCPS website. See the link below.

Become A Volunteer

The document below has been created by CCPS for CCPS families to provide guidance regarding our grading procedures. This document provides a nice summary of the updated elementary grading procedures and may answer questions you may have about grading. Please take a moment to access and review.

Just about a month into the school year and our average daily attendance continues to hover around 97%! Let's work together to maintain this level of attendance all year!

Continue to build positive school attendance habits with your child. Regular and on-time attendance contributes to academic achievement and builds lifelong habits that set our students up for success. Remember, missing school just twice per month over the school year results in chronic absenteeism - absences in excess of 10% of the school year.

See the resource below from Attendance Works for a few quick tips for creating routines that support regular attendance.

🍎 2026-2027 Meal Prices:

• Breakfast: $1.85
• Elementary Lunch $3.00
• Student Milk $0.65.

🍎 Breakfast and Lunch meals are offered daily. Check out the Link to the September Menu

🍎 Meal Benefit Application

The Free and Reduced Meal Program is now available. A new application must be submitted each school year. Complete and submit one meal benefit application per household.

Applications can be completed online at https://LinqConnect.com.

You may also ask for a paper copy of the application from the school's Main Office.

🍎 Sign up for LINQ Connect today (see info flyer)

🍎 Student Lunch Deposits

Calvert County Public Schools no longer accepts ACH payments directly from your bank account. At this time, you have the following options to add money onto your child's meal account:

1. Online using a credit or debit card through LINQ Connect - LINQ connect charges a convenience fee when making online payments.

2. Send in cash, a check, or a money order to the school's cafeteria with your student. This provides a fee-free option for families who prefer not to use a credit or debit card. If you choose this option, the funds will be deposited directly into the student's meal account that day by cafeteria staff.

If you are not familiar with where to find transportation information for your child, please access the attachment below. While this includes some information specific to 6th & 9th grade orientation on Monday, August 24th, it also includes transportation information relevant for all CCPS families.

Transportation information is available through your student's Home Access Center (HAC). Families are also encouraged to register for Here Comes the Bus (HCTB) to receive the most current transportation information and real-time bus notifications. See the attachment for more information.

If you plan to drop your child(ren) off by car during our arrival window, please review the attached traffic pattern for student arrival before the first day of school. We have designated bus only and car only lanes as you enter the school lot. To minimize traffic build up on Huntingtown Road which creates a traffic hazard, please do the following:

• Form two lanes of waiting cars in the back row of our parking lot, as indicated on the graphic.
• Alternate merge as you drive around the corner and drive along the curb to drop your children off at the sidewalk near the school.
• Cars should pull all the way to the end of the sidewalk, or continue moving forward, until the line of cars has stopped, prior to unloading.
• Students should exit the vehicle on the passenger side - the side of the car close to the sidewalk.
• For student safety, students should not exit the vehicles before HES staff are on duty at 8:35. Doors to the school do not open prior to 8:35. Students forming a line at the front door prior to staff on duty are not supervised, as staff are in meetings, planning with peers, or prepping for the day.
• To keep our car rider line moving, all adults should remain in their vehicles. If your child needs assistance exiting, please park and walk your child to the entrance.
• Staff will assist in unloading students from the cars along the curb. Cars that have been unloaded remain in line until the line is released to exit the drop off lane. Please do not pull out of the lane to go around cars in front of you, unless directed by a staff member.

Please review the traffic pattern before arrival on the first day.

The student instructional day begins at 8:45 AM. We have a 10-minute student arrival window from 8:35 – 8:45. Buses and car riders will begin unloading at 8:35. If your child is a car rider, please plan to have them to HES within these arrival times so that they may begin their day on time. Arriving prior to 8:45 allows your child to get to their classroom, unpack, check-in, and begin their day with their peers. If you will be driving your child to school daily, please read the information above.

The student instructional day ends at 3:30 PM. Again, we have a 10-minute dismissal window which begins at 3:30 and ends at 3:40. Separate information will follow regarding our procedures for car riders in the afternoon. All students must be dismissed by 3:40 PM.

Please follow these procedures when picking up your child(ren) each day:

• Complete a Daily Car Rider form, attached below, and return to the office. Copies of this form will also be available at school during the first week of school.
• Park in any available spot in the parking lot, or in the overflow grass lot adjacent to the ball field. Entrance to this lot is just beyond HES. Parking on the hill between HES and Sleepy Hollow Daycare is not permitted. Please do not double park, as this prevents other vehicles from exiting the lot.
• Make sure you have an ID to sign out your child before entering HES. When signing-out your child an ID will be requested.
• Enter HES using the back door to the school cafeteria. This door will open at 3:20. IF, you need to sign your child out prior to 3:20 (i.e. early dismissal) use the main office. After 3:20, students must be signed-out in the cafeteria.
• Staff will greet you in the cafeteria to assist with student sign-out. Students will be called to the cafeteria for dismissal at 3:30.
• Parents must follow the direction of staff in the parking as you exit to ensure our buses can enter and exit HES in a safe and expedient manner.
• If your child is not a daily car rider, but will be a car rider on occasion, then they are a "surprise car rider." Follow the procedures above for pick-up, but the completion of a Daily Car Rider form is not necessary.

The school supply list is available on the HES website - found in the parent tab. You may also access it in the link below.

School Supply List

At HES, we deeply appreciate and honor the military families who are an important part of our school community. We understand that frequent moves and new assignments can bring unique challenges for both students and parents, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way. If your family is connected to the military, we invite you to complete the brief survey below. Your feedback will help us continue strengthening the services and care we provide.

Thank you for your service and for being part of our HES family.

Military Family Survey – Fill out form

The Elementary Parent Handbook was created through the collaborative effort of CCPS elementary principals. This handbook is a resource that provides a variety of information related to school practices and policies. This does not replace the CCPS Code of Student Conduct, which is available electronically on the CCPS website. The complete handbook is accessible below. Feel free to contact the school with any questions or concerns.

To ensure you stay connected to districtwide news and updates see the "Districtwide Community Emails" information below.

Districtwide Community Emails – Make Sure You’re in the Know!

• Community members (non-guardian and non-staff) who would like to receive districtwide email messages may contact Christy Mullins mullinsc@calvertnet.k12.md.us and provide their name and email address to be added to the distribution list.
• Guardians and Employees - Calvert County Public School District
• Guardians - Calvert County Public School District (non-employees)
• Employees - Calvert County Public School District (non-guardians)

Nondiscrimination Statement

Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth programs.

Calvert County Public Schools does not refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, or prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Calvert County Public Schools does not discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

• Director of Student Services

• Director of Human Resources
  443-550-8000

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.