The BULL'S EYE

As we begin this new school year, I'd like to provide a brief clarification regarding grading practices to ensure all families understand how student achievement is reported.

As you may recall from last school year, the LS (Lowest Score) code is no longer used in Schoology. For major assignments and assessments only, if a student attempts the work but earns less than 50% of the available points, the teacher will record a minimum score of 50% and note the adjustment in the gradebook. This practice does not apply to minor assignments.

For major assessments, a score below 50% may only be assigned when a student does not attempt the assignment at all. In those cases, the teacher will enter a zero (0) and include a comment in the gradebook. If a student demonstrates a pattern of missing or unattempted work, the teacher will contact the parent/guardian and document the communication in Focus. While teachers are expected to provide appropriate support and interventions when students do not initially complete assignments, students are expected to make a genuine effort to engage in their learning.

All assignments are expected to be submitted on time except in cases of a lawful, excused absence. In accordance with Superintendent's Rule 5210, students who are absent for a lawful reason may make up missed work when appropriate documentation is provided to the school within five days of the absence. Lawful absences include illness, religious observances, court summons, family emergencies, approved school activities, and other circumstances outlined in the rule. Teachers are not required to provide make-up work for unlawful or unexcused absences, such as vacations and athletics tournaments.

Second opportunities for learning, often referred to as redos, require reteaching and/or additional learning opportunities before a reassessment is provided. A total of four redo or reassessment opportunities for minor assignments are available each marking period (2 before interim and 2 after), and students are expected to participate in both the reteaching activities and the reassessment opportunity when offered. When completed, the reassessment grade replaces the original grade. Please note that certain major assessments cannot be reassessed, including unit assessments, end-of-course assessments, assessments that conclude a unit of study, and culminating projects or performances.

Teachers also provide after-school support through Coach Class for reteaching, assignment completion, make-up work, and assessments missed due to lawful absences. Coach Class is intended to address occasional academic needs rather than serve as ongoing tutoring. Teachers will communicate their designated Coach Class Day to students in class and through Schoology, and this information is also included in course syllabi shared at Back-to-School Night. Students must have transportation available, and parents must notify teachers of their child’s intent to stay afterschool for Coach Class by the evening before the scheduled date. Students may not stay without parent permission and confirmation from their teacher.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting student success. If you have questions about grading practices or academic support opportunities, please contact your child's teacher or school administration.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Moore-German

Principal

Please be sure to check your schedule again before the first day of school. Schedules can change, and we want students to have the most up-to-date information. In particular, please look for any changes to teachers, room numbers, class periods, or other schedule adjustments. Students in grades 7 and 8 will receive a paper copy of their schedule in homeroom. Students in 6th grade received a copy of their schedule at orientation yesterday.

Señora Blevins, Spanish teacher; Mrs. Wagaman, Mathematics teacher; and Ms. Menis, Special Education teacher, and Mr. Denlinger, PE teacher, will have substitutes in their roles during the first few weeks of school. We want to assure families that our students’ learning and support will continue without interruption. During their absence, qualified long-term substitute teachers will provide instruction and support in their classrooms each day. These teachers will work closely with HMS staff to maintain established routines, follow curriculum and pacing expectations, and ensure that students remain engaged in grade-level learning.

We'd like to introduce our temporary teachers:

• Ms. Schanberger, Substitute for Mr. Denlinger
• Ms Whye, Substitute for Senora Blevins
• Ms. Gianelle, Substitute for Mrs. Wagaman

If you have questions or concerns about Mathematics, or would like to schedule coach class, please contact our Math Department Chair, Angela Purpura, at apurpura2@bcps.org. Regarding special education services, you may contact Ms. Benson at mbenson2@bcps.org or Mrs. Bell Bigelow at dbell3@bcps.org. For questions or concerns regarding World Languages, please contact Assistant Principal, Fay Davenport at fdavenport@bcps.org. Any questions regarding Physical Education, should be directed to Mr. Simms, PE Department Chair at msimms@bcps.org.

Please refer to the school wide expectations document below for information about the grading policy, personal belongings, and assignments. Information in this letter has been updated from previous school years and will be discussed at back to school night.

Yesterday, we were thrilled to welcome our newest Bulls on Orientation Day at HMS! Our new students had the opportunity to meet their teachers and classmates, explore the building, practice using their lockers, and get a feel for what life is like at middle school. We are so excited to have them join the HMS family and can’t wait to see all they accomplish this year!

We had a blast at the Orioles game last Friday night. The weather was perfect and the O's won! This event was intended to build community and to raise funds for school activities. We raised nearly $400 which will be used for a grade level activity. We intend to schedule another Orioles fundraiser in the Spring, so we hope you can join us then.

Congratulations to the following winners of the Orioles door prizes!

Grant Eisenklam

Mabel Sulzbach (2 tickets claimed from her group)

Stella Frederick

Leah Knuth

If you have not yet picked up your prize, we'll find our student on Monday.

We're looking for one more winner. If you have one of the raffle tickets shown here, please reach out to Mrs. Moore-German.

Sass, formerly located in Parkton has moved to Cockeysville but owner Rebecca Vest is committed to supporting Hereford Middle. We thank Rebecca for donating prizes for the Orioles game raffle and additional door prizes for teachers distributed this week.

Chick-fil-a graciously donated breakfast for our first staff workday on Monday! What a wonderful treat!

It is the responsibility of all parents and students to review the latest edition of the BCPS Student Handbook by clicking on the picture link. A paper copy will be provided by our Assistant Principals during our Handbook Talks, the week of September 1st. Parents must sign an acknowledgement form electronically in Focus or return the hard copy on page 31 of the paper handbook. Parents and students with questions may contact the Assistant Principal who oversees their child's section of the alphabet.

Lockers:

Students will receive their locker on the first day of school from their mod 1A teachers. 6th graders will receive their lockers on their Orientation Day on August 27th. Locker decor is discouraged because it may not fit due to the varied size of the lockers. We can't wait to welcome everyone back to Hereford Middle School and start a wonderful new school year!

All students will receive a planner to help them record assignments, stay organized, and plan ahead. Learning to manage time and keep track of responsibilities is an important life skill, and we encourage students to use their planners every day. Planners will also serve as students’ hall passes, so students should bring them to school and keep them with them throughout the day. Other types of planners are not permitted due the resources included in the HMS Planner.

Bus Transportation:

We’re excited to share that you can use the BusWhere App to track your student’s bus location in real time! 🚌 This tool helps you know when the bus will arrive. Download the BusWhere App and follow the setup instructions from BCPS to get started today. CLICK HERE for more information.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to AP Mr. O'Connor, boconnor@bcps.org.

• All students have access to Grab-and-Go style breakfast as they enter the building.

• Smart Snack approved items are available for purchase in all schools.
• Cash and MySchoolBucks are accepted.
• Families are encouraged to register for a FREE MySchoolBucks account to monitor meals and set spending limits. (Note: Online funding includes an additional fee.)
• Prepayment forms may be used but are not required.
• For prepayment refunds or transfers see this form.
• Additional Information and Resources: MySchoolBucks Staff Hub

Although Hereford Middle School no longer has a PE uniform, we do have expectations regarding appropriate and safe attire for physical activity. Please keep this information in mind when preparing for school.

Examples of acceptable attire include:

• Athletic t-shirts or sweat-wicking tops
• Comfortable athletic shorts, leggings, or sweatpants
• Supportive athletic shoes (e.g., running shoes, cross-trainers)
• Sweatshirts or light jackets for outdoor activities in cooler weather

Clothing that is not appropriate includes:

• Open-toed shoes, sandals, or boots (This includes Crocs, Sperry’s, and Hey Dudes)
• Jeans or restrictive clothing
• No thin strap tank-tops or cut-off clothing
• Accessories that may pose a safety risk (e.g., dangling jewelry)

Please note that students will have access to a locker, of their own, during PE class to store valuables, keep deodorant, extra socks, shoes, etc. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Mr. Matt Simms, PE & Health Department Chair, at msimms@bcps.org

Students are more than welcome to bring a water bottle each day. There are bottle fillers in the cafeteria and outside the gym that may be accessed before school, during lunch, after school and during PE with permission from the teacher. Bottles should be labeled with student names as they are frequently misplaced! No cups from local restaurants, open cans of energy drinks, soda, etc. are permitted. Sealed bottles or cans as well as reusable bottles are welcome in lunch boxes/bags.

During the first two weeks of school, students will remain with their first-period teacher during Advisory as they learn and review school-wide expectations and procedures. Teachers will help students identify and understand their Advisory schedule, including room locations and assigned teachers for each day. This time will also be used to strengthen students' executive functioning skills, such as organization, time management, and planning for academic success.

Did you know that you can download the Talking Points App to your phone? Talking Points is a great way to stay connected and get updates from your students' teachers. You can send and receive messages from all your student's teachers in one place. Check out this great resource on how to get the Talking Points app for your phone.

In the Parent FOCUS Portal parents will now see a list of all their students’ absences and can submit their excuse notes electronically. Parents will be able to submit a request identifying the type of absence, the times and dates involved, and they can add optional comments if desired. Parents are required to upload an excuse note to submit a request. The Absence Request History tab will allow parents to go back and review all prior requests.

Our Front Office staff will now receive alerts whenever New Absence Requests are submitted by parents. If requests are denied by school staff, the reason and a note will be visible to the parent. ***Please note that the denial is only posted to the Parent FOCUS Portal, it is not sent as an email or other push notification.

Notes for absences due to lawful reasons will be coded as excused.

Welcome to a new school year! As we prepare for a successful and healthy school year, I would like to share a few important reminders for students and families.

Healthy Back-to-School Habits

Establishing healthy routines helps students feel their best and be ready to learn. Encourage your child to:

• Get plenty of sleep each night.
• Eat a healthy breakfast before school.
• Stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Wash hands frequently to help prevent the spread of illness.
• Be physically active every day.
• Stay home when sick and notify the school of any contagious illnesses.

Important Reminder for 7th Grade Families

Maryland immunization requirements include vaccines that are due before entry into 7th grade. If your child is missing required immunizations, you have already received a voicemail from the school nurse. Please check your messages regularly and submit updated vaccination records as soon as possible to avoid any interruption in school attendance.

Medications at School

If your child requires medication at school, either on a daily basis or for an emergency health condition, please make arrangements before or as soon as possible after the start of school to drop off medications.

A healthcare provider must complete a medication order form, and the medication must be brought to school by a parent or guardian in its original labeled container. This includes medications such as inhalers, epinephrine auto-injectors, seizure medications, diabetes supplies, and other prescription or over-the-counter medications that may be needed during the school day.

Discretionary Medication Forms

Discretionary medication forms will be sent home during the first week of school. The form will be yellow this year. Please complete and return the form if you would like your child to have access to approved over-the-counter medications through the health suite.

Health Updates

If your child has had any changes to their health over the summer, such as a new diagnosis, surgery, allergy, medication, or other health concern, please contact the school nurse as soon as possible. Keeping health records up to date helps us provide the safest and most effective care for your child during the school day.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students healthy, safe, and ready to learn. We look forward to a wonderful school year!

Kristen Starling MSN, RN

School Nurse

443-809-6868

kstarling@bcps.org

Hereford Middle School Sports registration opened in FOCUS starting July 1st, so please be sure to get started on registering your student!

To participate in HMS athletics, students must have the following:

• A current SPORTS physical (link below)

• Proof of insurance

• Academic eligibility

PLEASE NOTE: There are strict deadlines throughout the school year for athletics. The last thing we want is for your student to not me able to participate in a sport so please pay close attention to the posted deadlines.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Athletic registration due- September 10

September 14 – Season start date

October 3 – play day (location TBD)

October 17 – play day (location TBD)

October 31 – culminating event (location TBD)

What are BCPS Allied Sports?

BCPS Allied Sports provide students with and without disabilities the opportunity to participate together on the same athletic team. These inclusive programs promote teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, and meaningful social connections while giving all students the chance to enjoy the benefits of school athletics. Hereford Middle School proudly offers Allied Soccer, Bocce, and Softball where students of all abilities work together, compete, and represent our school with pride. Our Allied Sports coaches are William Endres wendres@bcps.org and Ashley Mullinax. amullinax@bcps.org

Hereford Middle School Sports vs. Hereford Recreation Sports

Hereford Middle School offers BCPS-sponsored interscholastic athletic teams, which are school-based programs open only to eligible HMS students. These teams are coached by BCPS-approved coaches, follow BCPS eligibility requirements and schedules, and compete against other BCPS middle schools.

The Hereford Recreation Council (Hereford Rec) Home is a separate community organization that offers recreational and travel sports programs for youth in the Hereford area. While some Hereford Rec teams may use names such as "Hereford Middle School" or include many HMS students, these teams are not affiliated with or sponsored by Hereford Middle School or BCPS. Registration, eligibility, schedules, coaching, and communication for Hereford Rec teams are managed entirely by the Hereford Recreation Council. A current example of this is that there is a Hereford Middle School Soccer Team which is registering now for the fall season. This is run through Hereford Rec which is not to be confused with our HMS Allied Soccer Program (for a description of Allied Sports see above)

If you are ever unsure whether a sport is a BCPS-sponsored school team or a Hereford Rec program, please contact our Athletic Advisor Lilly Richardson at lrichardson2@bcps.org to inquire.

Let’s make 2026-27 a great year for athletics- Go Bulls!!

Link for a copy of a blank sports physical:

https://cdnsm5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_3705853/File/Physical-Examination-Form-REVISED-May-2024_%20(1).pdf

* NEW Athletic Registration information for Parents

launchbcps.org

Use the link below to find apparel for your new or returning Bulls! Check out the graphic options using the drop-down menus on each item. In addition to the Class of 2033 (32 and 31) design, you'll find a variety of logos including athletics and music. Get your HMS gear now and support the HMS PTA! https://www.getgearnow.com/HMSpta/.

Please see the attached PTA newsletter to stay informed with all PTA news at HMS. You can join the facebook group, follow on instagram, see when the first PTA meeting is, and learn information about how you can help support the PTA for the 2026-2027 school year.

We are excited to invite you to be a part of Team BCPS by serving as a volunteer! 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, chaperoning field trips or assisting with other school-based events, we welcome your support and thank you for offering your time and expertise!

BCPS Volunteers - Baltimore County Public Schools

As part of our ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of all students and staff, HMS regularly conducts emergency drills. These drills are essential in preparing students to respond quickly and safely in real emergencies. Please review the attached information about Standard Response Protocols (SRP).

Free gun locks will be available at Back-to-School Night curtesy of the Health Department. Take as many as you need.

Check out this link from "Attendance Works" for Tips on Keeping your Child on Track with Attendance

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:8bbb6e4e-215a-477c-8e4d-3dcd95c9b275

During the first week of school, students will receive a copy of the attendance pledge. Students and families pledging to be #HereForIt will be entered in a raffle for a great prize!

Thank you for partnering with us to make this a fantastic school year. We cannot wait to welcome our HMS Bulls Back soon!

Thursday, August 27 -

Monday, August 31 - First Day of School

Wednesday, September 2 - Back to School Night (6:00- 8:00)

Friday, October 1 - 1st Marking Period Interims

Friday, October 30 - Fall Fest (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)

All families must review the 2026-2027 Student Handbook and Transportation Handbook before the start of the school year.

Our cell phone use and expectations plan remains firmly in place for this school year. Off and Away, Every School, Every Day means cell phone use is prohibited during the instructional day in all BCPS elementary and middle schools, and cell phone use is restricted during the instructional day in all BCPS high schools.

BCPS will continue to send attendance and grade reports home each Friday morning. The attendance report will be sent via Focus, and the grades summary will be sent via Schoology. These reports assist families in supporting their children's academic progress throughout the school year.

Daily attendance is crucial for student success. We encourage all parents and caregivers to support their child in being Here for It! Our attendance initiative is in its fourth year and offers students, parents, and educators valuable tools.

The 2026-2027 school year begins on August 31! Here are some tips to prepare and support your elementary and secondary students.

· Create a my BCPS account for parents/guardians' access to the Focus parent portal and Schoology. Focus is a web-based system that allows parents to monitor their child’s grades and assignments and stay in touch with teachers.

· Complete your child’s Student Emergency Information Form in Focus or at their home school so you’re contacted about school closings, illnesses, and important updates. Notify the school if your information changes during the school year.

· View, print, or download the school year calendar to stay informed on important dates and events.

· Review the Student Transportation Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, and Student Handbook before the first day of school.

· Plan to attend back-to-school activities at your children’s schools.

· Attend Curriculum Night on September 16. More details to come.

· Find more useful resources in the Parent University online resource library.

Please check the updated school supply list for materials you need. In case you do not know, Project Lead the Way (also known as PLTW) uses hands-on, project-based learning to help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world career skills.

If you have questions about summer assignments, please contact your child's Math or ELA teacher.

This year our goal was $500 and we have earned nearly $50. We're grateful for the contributions but we would love to raise $500 in order to pay for at least one grade level assembly next year.

What does a box top coordinator need to do? This volunteer would gain access to the app and the website for our account and simply send us flyers that we should post in our newsletter or send out through our communication channels. Box Tops creates a number of flyers for each month and season that highlights food items that extra points for schools as well as just general themed flyers to remind folks to sign up and scan receipts. In this model, there's generally no in person school visits necessary.

If a volunteer would like to take this to next level, they could set up a table at Back to School Night and our other school events to help families connect to the app and begin earning points for school. If in person volunteer opportunites don't work with your schedule, you could send us flyers you would like displayed at events and we'll take care of the rest.

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.