CHS News

We hope to see you on Saturday at the Pancake Breakfast, Parade, JV and Varsity Football games, and the dance!

Last weekend, our mock trial team competed at the Empire Southern Showdown in Atlanta, Georgia! While here, the team competed and won against reigning state champions from several states in four fierce matches, volunteered to serve a meal for and distribute clothing and supplies with Safehouse Outreach (a local center for those experiencing housing insecurity and poverty), engaged in educational programming at local museums (including the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Georgia Aquarium), toured the elite Spelman College (with a mock trial alumna from CHS), and tasted new recipes and traditional ones from around the world at the World of Coca-Cola.

This year's team was led by captains Alice Han, Jada Jackson, Razann Nayfeh, and David Showunmi, and junior captains Ana Paula Gonzalez Garcia and Mason Niblett, and together with 11 of their legally-minded and talented peers claimed 5th place in this international competition with Jada also being recognized as the second-best attorney of the entire weekend!

Coach and English teacher Dr. Kelli McDonough-Johnson would like to add that this is the highest ranking our team has ever achieved and it is due to the large amounts of effort, skill, and heart that the entire team of 17 has shown since preparing for this competition last spring, including the close to 100 hours these students put in over the summer. She is so proud of not only how they did at the competition, but also how they were commended by other coaches and judges for their genuine desire to help others, kindness, and positive energy.

Our Empiring Eagles will enter the courtroom again in a few months at our in-state competition and in the spring at Princeton University for moot court.

The Maryland Winds, under the direction of Col. Timothy Holtan, played a concert at Centennial on Tuesday, October 6. Our Wind Ensemble students played two pieces side by side with the professional players, conducted by David Matchim and Col. Holtan.

Our Chamber Choir sang combined with Guilford Park High School's Chamber Choir on "Dry Your Tears, Afrika" from Amistad and "America the Beautiful", both accompanied by the Maryland Winds.

Congratulations to all involved!

The Scholars Leadership Honors Program held its welcoming ceremony this week for new Scholars. The program is an honors program for female students in grades 10-12 with a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher. The program seeks to promote continued academic excellence, increase African American cultural awareness, and develop leadership skills through participation in workshop presentations, projects, and community service.

Congratulations to all of our talented Senior athletes who are playing their last season of fall sports for CHS. We are so proud of you!

Congratulations to the following Boys Soccer Seniors:

Grayson Crawley, Garrett Duval, Bryan Feng, Andrew Hays, Zachary Herzberger, Ben Jordana, Dax Kayihura, Beck Muma, Justin Plunkett, Beckett Tracy, Matthew Yang

Golf

Congratulations to the following Golf Team Seniors:

Rocco Gargano, Oliver Sadeghi ,Temi Apata, Akshita Sharma, Sabrina Wang

Volleyball

Congratulations to the following Volleyball Seniors:

Joy Dong, Hailey Wang, Marti Anthony, Selina Ouyang, Anna Lesinski, Gayeon Kim

The CHS Speech and Debate Team participated in the BCFL 2 competition held at Marriotts Ridge HS on October 3.

Congratulations to:

• Yukti Walvekar, who won Silver in the Varsity Public Forum
• Shubha Kadari , who won Silver in Original Oratory
• Stella Wang - Honorable mention (not pictured)

• October 5 - November 6- Senior Class of 2027 Cap & Gown Order Window
• October 10 - HOMECOMING - PTSA Pancake Breakfast (8 - 11 AM), Parade (10:15 - 11:15 AM), Game (12 PM), Dance (7 - 10 PM). TICKET INFORMATION BELOW
• October 12 - Choir Concert, 7 PM
• October 13 - CHS PTSA General Meeting, 6:30 PM
• October 14 - PSAT Day (Grades 10,11); 9th Grade Field Day: Senior College Day - writing workshop at CHS, college visits off campus
• October 16 - School Closed for Students
• October 21 - Senior Crab Feast, 6 - 8 PM
• October 27 - End of First Quarter
• October 28 - School Closed for Students
• October 29 - Fall Theatre Production: Failure: A Love Story - Opening Preview, 7 PM
• November 1- Fall Theatre Production: Failure: A Love Story, 2 PM
• November 3 - Election Day; Schools and Offices Closed
• November 4 - 6 - Senior Appointments; appointments made with Legacy
• November 5 - Fall Theatre Production: Failure: A Love Story, 7 PM
• November 6 - Fall Theatre Production: Failure: A Love Story, 7 PM
• November 7 - Fall Theatre Production: Failure: A Love Story, 2 & 7 PM
• November 10 - Underclass Picture Retake Day
• November 13 - ASVAB Exam
• November 14 - Winter Athletic Tryouts Begin
• November 23 - 3-Hour Early Dismissal; In-person Parent/Teacher Conferences
• November 24 - 3-Hour Early Dismissal; Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences
• November 25 - School Closed for Students; Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences
• November 26 & 27 -Schools and Offices Closed
• December 5 - Holiday House, 10 AM - 1 PM

• Link to HCPSS Calendar for 2026-27

CHS Athletic Calendar

HOPE TO SEE YOU AT A GAME/MEET!

Fri, 10/2

JV/V Field Hockey @ MRHS 4/5:30PM

JV/V Football Doubleheader v Southern HS 4:30/7:00PM

Sat, 10/10 HOMECOMING DAY!

V Girls & Boys XC to Schawan Downs 9:00AM

JV Football v Northeast HS 9:00AM

V Football v Northeast HS 12:00PM **HOMECOMING GAME**

Sun, 10/11

It’s Academic Tournament 9:00AM

Mon, 10/12

V Golf District V Championship @ Timbers 8:30AM

Allied Soccer v RHHS 3:15PM

JV/V Field Hockey @ Spalding 4/5:30PM

Choir Fall Concert in CHS Auditorium 7PM

Tues, 10/13

FR/JV/V Volleyball @ AHS 4/5/6PM

JV/V Girls Soccer v OMHS 4/5:30PM **Senior Night**

JV/V Boys Soccer @ OMHS 4/5:30PM

PTSA Meeting in Student Services 6:30PM

Wed, 10/14

PSAT & 9th Grade Field Day!

V XC @ HowHS 2:15PM

Allied Soccer v GPHS 3:15PM

V Field Hockey @ AHS 4:00PM

Orchestra Fall Feeder Concert in the CHS Auditorium 7PM

Thurs, 10/15

JV/V Football Doubleheader @ North Harford HS 4/7:00PM

Fri, 10/16

PD Day–No School for Students!

JV Soccer Doubleheader v AHS Boys4/Girls5:30PM

V Soccer Doubleheader @ AHS Boys4/Girls5:30PM

Sat, 10/17

Rotary Club Event 7AM - 3PM

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK…

JV Football had a shutout game last Friday as they took on Southern HS!

The boys played hard and finished with a 24-0 win over the Bulldogs 👏

Congratulations to the team and their Coaches!!

Congratulations to our Senior Athletes on the Varsity Golf Teams, the Varsity Boys Soccer Team

and the Varsity Volleyball Team 🎉 CHS Celebrated their senior nights on 10/7 & 10/8!!

The stands were filled with Future Eagles for Tuesday and Wednesday’s Varsity Boys Soccer

and Varsity Field Hockey Games! Shout out to Mrs. Fritz for organizing these youth nights

for our community athletes! See the schedule below for other Future Eagles Nights.

A big shoutout to our Gameday Operations crew for all their help with our

games this season! Thank you for all you do👏👏👏

Congratulations to the CHS Music Program as they hosted Maryland Winds and Wind Ensemble/Chamber Choir Side-by-Side on Tuesday! Their performances were outstanding!

ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES NEWS

WINTER TRYOUT INFORMATION

The Winter Athletic season is only 6 weeks away and registration is now open! Make sure to register now, so you’re ready for the start of tryouts on Saturday, November 14th! Use these DIRECTIONS if you want to attend tryouts for Allied Bowling, Basketball, Cheerleading, Indoor Track, or Wrestling! You MUST have a current HCPSS Physical Form completed by a doctor/medical professional dated after 11/14/25 if you want to try out–no exceptions! If you don’t have one, call your doc to make your appointment now!

FUTURE EAGLE NIGHTS

Girls Soccer: Thurs, 10/22 at 5:30PM v RHHS (girls soccer registration form)

Cross Country: Sat, 10/24 HoCo Championships 10AM @ CHS (cross country registration form)

Volleyball: Wed, 10/28 at 5:30PM v Crofton HS (volleyball registration form)

Football: Fri, 10/30 at 6PM v Manchester Valley HS (football registration form)

Cheerleading: will be celebrated during the Winter Athletic Season

Marching Band: Fri, 10/23 at 6PM (Contact david_matchim@hcpss.org for more info!)

Be on the lookout for our Future Eagles events for Winter and Spring sports later this school year. Please contact Christine Fritz from the CHS Boosters with any questions at 410-245-8072.

SENIOR NIGHTS

Golf: Wed, 10/7 v OMHS and GPHS @ Willow Springs 3:30PM

Boys Soccer: Thurs, 10/8 v MHHS 5:30PM

Volleyball: Thurs, 10/8 v WLHS 6:00PM

Girls Soccer: Tues, 10/13 v OMHS 5:30PM

Field Hockey: Mon, 10/19 v RHS 5:30PM

Cheerleading, Football & Marching Band: Fri, 10/30 v Manchester Valley HS 6:00PM

BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR JV/V FOOTBALL AND FLAG FOOTBALL THROUGH GOFAN

Tickets are $5 (including the $1 Service Fee) and may be purchased online or by using a credit card at the gate.

GAME DAY OPERATIONS

Calling all students who want to be part of the athletic management team…

If you're interested in the behind-the-scenes operations of athletic events, Game Day Operations is for you! The CHS Athletic Program is looking for responsible students interested in running the game clock, checking in tickets, announcing the games, and setting up and breaking down after events. Complete the application to join our team! Service hours may be requested for this position.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Last year we were able to coordinate with our incredible Performing Arts Team to bring live student performances of the National Anthem to several of our varsity games. I’d love to continue this again this year, and see if we can make it a regular part of Centennial athletic events! If you’re interested in auditioning, please complete this form.

GIRLS BASKETBALL INTEREST FORM

Coach Joe and Coach James are getting ready for the Girls Basketball season. Please complete this form if you are interested in playing or learning more about the program. Winter Sports Tryouts will begin on Saturday, November 14, 2026.

BOYS LACROSSE INTEREST FORM

Coach Gregg Smith is looking forward to our upcoming Spring Season! Please complete this form if you are interested in playing or learning more about the program. Spring Sports Tryouts will begin on March 1st 2027.

Reach out to Centennial's Athletics & Activities Manager, Mrs. Clark, if you have any questions! You can reach her at rebecca_clark@hcpss.org

Let’s Go, Eagles!!

Follow your favorite teams on Fan Hudl

Parents/guardians must verify and/or update emergency information for each child every school year.

Keeping your Family File up-to-date is crucial, so please prioritize updating it as soon as possible.

Follow these instructions:

Family File User Guide - https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-quick-reference.pdf

Family File Guía del Usuario - https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-quick-reference-spanish.pdf

HCPSS 가족 파일 (비상 연락 서식) 작성하기 - https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-quick-reference-korean.pdf

家庭档案 - 用户指南 - https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-quick-reference-chinese.pdf

Homecoming is Saturday, October 10, 2026!

This is the best Saturday of the year! Join the Centennial High School community for a full day of Homecoming activities!

8:00–11:00 AM – CHS PTSA Pancake Breakfast
Start the day with the CHS PTSA Pancake Breakfast! Tickets may be purchased in advance online, with a limited number also available at the door. Buy your tickets today!.

10:15–11:15 AM – Homecoming Parade
Come out and cheer on the Eagles during the Homecoming Parade! The parade will exit the CHS bus loop and turn left onto Centennial Lane toward Century Drive, turn right on Century Drive, turn right on Maxine Street, turn right onto Centennial Lane, and then turn left back into the CHS bus loop.

Please note that streets and cross streets along the parade route may be temporarily closed for the safety of parade participants. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

12:00 PM – Homecoming Football Game
Cheer on the Eagles at the Homecoming football game! Purchase tickets online at gofan.co.

7:00–10:00 PM – Homecoming Dance
CHS students can finish the day at the Homecoming Dance! The dance is for CHS students only. Ticket information and purchasing will be available through the CHS website.

Pick up last year's memories & preorder our 50th Anniversary edition!

Hello Centennial Student Community,
As we gear up for Homecoming, the Yearbook Committee has two major updates. Whether you are picking up last year’s memories or preparing to celebrate a milestone in our school’s history, here is everything you need to know:

Pick Up Your 2025–2026 Yearbook If you purchased last year's Fly High edition, they have arrived and are ready for you.

• When: Saturday, October 10, Homecoming Day, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
• Where: Media Center
• What to Bring: A form of identification.
If you cannot pick up your book on Saturday, the yearbook team will deliver it to students the following week.

Preorder the 50th Anniversary 2026–2027 Yearbook. The 2026–2027 yearbook will be available for preorder for just 95 DOLLARS!!! This price is for a limited time only on Friday October 9th, and Saturday October 10th. After that, the price goes up to $105. This edition is a pivotal point in Centennial history, as we will begin celebrating 50 years of Eagle Pride. Secure your piece of history today!

Preorders will officially open Friday morning. Go to Order Your School's 2026-2027 Yearbook or find the QR code on the flyers around the school to secure this historic golden anniversary edition before prices increase on Sunday, October 11.

Let’s make this historic year our best one yet!

The Centennial Yearbook Team

We are excited to celebrate our 9th graders with 9th Grade Field Day, next Wednesday 10/14 (PSAT Day for 10th & 11th Grade)! Students will participate in a variety of fun, team-building activities throughout the morning.

Please be aware that many of the activities will take place outdoors, so students should:

• Dress appropriately for the temperature and weather. Layers are recommended if temperatures are cool. (In the event of rain, activities will move indoors)

• Wear comfortable, appropriate footwear that is suitable for walking, running, and participating in outdoor activities.

• Come prepared to be active and have fun!

The Class of 2029 is hosting a Halloween Spooktacular on Tuesday, October 27th from 4-6pm. There will be a Haunted House, arts & crafts, and a costume contest!

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5.00 or during lunches on 10/23 & 10/26.

Join us on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Mt. Hebron High School for an evening of performances by six Howard County high school marching bands!

Performance Schedule:
7:00 PM – Mt. Hebron High School
7:15 PM – Oakland Mills High School
7:30 PM – Howard High School
7:45 PM – River Hill High School
8:00 PM – Wilde Lake High School
8:15 PM – Centennial High School

General admission is $5 per person, with tickets available online or at the gate. Additional donations are gratefully accepted.

Purchase tickets:
https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/mthebronband/hcpss-marching-band-showcase-2026-part-2-wed-oct-21/

Come support our student musicians!

The Scholars Leadership Honors Program and Alpha Achievers are proud to co-sponsor Centennial High School's third annual Holiday House on December 5th.

We are now accepting donations, which may be placed in the Holiday House bin located in the vestibule outside the main office. We are accepting new and/or gently used items such as: toys, games, arts and crafts, books, small household items, picture frames, candles, gift wrap and shopping bags. We are not accepting clothing or footwear.

All Holiday House proceeds will be donated to Grassroots. If you are unsure about a donatable item, please email Stacy Rosuck at Stacy_rosuck@hcpss.org.

• Email: customercare@legacystudios.com

• Phone: 716-512-6336

Did you miss picture day? Make-up pictures will be taken on November 10.

We are looking for donations of gently used or new PE equipment to keep and use for SGA and class-sponsored activities throughout the school year.

We have a 9th-Grade Field Day coming up on October 14th, and are hoping to build a PE equipment closet with materials we can lend out for special events and activities that happen throughout the year.

We are currently looking for:

• Badminton racquets and nets
• Frisbees, including heavy frisbees

• Kickballs

• Tennis racquets

If you have any of these items that you would like to donate, please send them in with your child and have them drop them off with one of the PE teachers. or main office.

Thank you so much for helping us build our collection and support fun activities for our students!

The beautiful grounds at the Shrine of St. Anthony on Folly Quarter Road in Ellicott City, between Clarksville and Glenelg, are a popular spot for taking homecoming pictures.

Due to events being hosted at the property, the Shrine grounds will be closed to the public and students and their parents will not be able to take photos on the property on the following dates:

• Saturday, September 19
• Saturday, October 3
• Friday, October 9
• Saturday, October 10

Thank you for your understanding.

Parents/Guardians - We need your help!

In an effort to begin to expose students to the wide range of careers in today's society, we are looking for in-person speakers to partner with us to engage students. We also want to leverage the resources within our own community.

If you are interested in helping to broaden student exposure through your career journey, please take a few minutes to complete this form.

We’re looking for careers that students can access from any of the post high school pathways (Military, Job, 2yr/4yr, Trade school, Apprenticeship). Thank you.

Ms. Clearfield, Career Readiness Advisor and Ms. Kochanski, Career Coach

Order your cap and gown graduation package today!

The ordering window is open now thru November 6! All orders are done online.

If you are planning on wearing a cap and gown from a sibling or friend, please stop into Student Services and let Mrs. Wormley know your plans.

SENIOR PASSPORTS ARE ON SALE UNTIL OCTOBER 15!

Once again we are offering a “passport” incentive for senior activities throughout the year. If you purchase the passport now, you will get discounted rates on all of the fun events planned for this school year. Tickets for individual events will go on sale prior to each event.

Senior Crab Feast: October 21, 5:30 - 7:30 PM (time change!)

• Cost Per Student: $50

• Discounted Passport Price: $30

Senior Luau: February 17, 6 -8 PM

• Cost Per Student: $30
• Discounted Passport Price: $20

PROM at Martins West: April 10, 7 - 10 PM

• Cost Per Student: $90 (early bird) or $100
• Discounted Passport Price: $80

Senior Sunset Cruise (with transportation): Friday, May 14, 2027, 5 - 10 PM

• Cost Per Student: $130
• Discounted Passport Price: $70

By purchasing early, you will not only secure a spot for our events but also save $100!! What a deal!! If you are interested,the deadline to purchase is October 15, and can be purchased here:

Senior Passport OSP Link

If you are able to donate any amount extra to go towards helping other students participate in our activities please donate here: Donation Link

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Teri Stevens at Teri_Stevens@hcpss.org

Senior Portraits are available through Legacy Studios. Photo session are available at our school on the following dates:

• November 4
• November 5
• November 6
• December 2

Please go to www.seniors.legacystudios.com to book your appointment today (make sure you select "Centennial High School - Ellicott City" when you type in your name in the search bar).

Numerous packages are available, so please review all of your options!

Questions? Please contact Mr. VanWestervelt (VW), CHS yearbook sponsor, directly at rus_vanwestervelt@hcpss.org.

Are you a 9th-11th grader with at least a 3.75 unweighted GPA and strong community service? The $1000 Carson Scholarship recognizes U.S. students in grades 4–11 who demonstrate academic excellence and a strong commitment to humanitarian service. The scholarship not only encourages students to pursue higher education but also celebrates their contributions to their communities.

Let your school counselor know if you are interested in being nominated or have questions. You will need to provide a short essay about the service you have participated in and the impact you have made. You must not have been a Carson Scholarship recipient in the past. Give your name to your counselor no later than October 12th. Good luck!

Recent changes in federal assistance means that many families who previously automatically qualified for Free & Reduced-price Meals (FARMs) may now need to complete the FARMs application to access benefits. Please find that information below and apply prior to the 10/31/26 deadline.

https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/farms/

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming College Visits

Admission representatives from the following colleges will be in Student Services at CHS on the days listed below. Only 11th and 12th grade students may sign up for the visits in Naviance (click on COLLEGES and then VISITS, and click "SIGN UP" for visit). Passes will be given to student during Period 1 the day of the visit.

Monday, 10/12

• 8:15 AM – Jacksonville University
• 9:10 AM – Shenandoah University
• 10:10 AM – Miami University – Oxford
• 1:10 PM Loyola University Maryland

Tuesday, 10/13

• 8:15 AM – University of Mary Washington
• 9:10 AM – Marymount University
• 10:10 AM – Rider University
• 1:10 PM – Christopher Newport University

Thursday, 10/15

• 8:15 AM – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 9:10 AM – Columbia University
• 10:10 AM – Case Western Reserve University
• 1:10 PM – Dickinson College

The CHS Pantry is a free resource that ensures our students have access to essential food and personal hygiene supplies. To keep our shelves stocked for the school year, we are inviting our community to support us!

The easiest way to help is through our Amazon Wishlist. You can shop directly online, and all items will ship straight to Centennial High School: https://a.co/00gp0cKP

Looking for a great driver's ed program for your student? Please consider signing them up for driver's ed through Greg's Driving School. You can sign up for either in person lessons after school at Centennial or virtual lessons from home. Included is 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of in car lessons. Friends of Music earns money for every student that signs up for either option!

In person classes at Centennial start Sept 28th and run throughout the year. If you sign up for virtual classes, please be sure to indicate Centennial HS for your "Fundraising Code" when checking out. Check out http://www.gregsdrivingschool.net for more information.

Join the PTSA and make a BIG impact with a small commitment. Your membership supports students, teachers, and our school community. We encourage all parents, teachers, and students to join.

Join or donate by 9/30 for a chance to win Pancake Breakfast tickets in our raffle. Find more details at the link below:

PTSA Membership and Donation Drive

It's a Tradition!

Join us on Saturday, Oct 10th, from 8-11 AM for the Homecoming Pancake Breakfast!

All you can eat pancakes, sausage, drinks, and fruit!

Click Here to purchase tickets.

The next PTSA General Membership meeting is October 13, 6 - 7:30 PM in Student Services.

Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/czu-xcdc-qof
Or dial: +1 559-528-8452 PIN: 547477568
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/czu-xcdc-qof?pin=7689589133971

All are welcome!

Donate unwanted clothing in the CHS-marked receptacles near side entrance of BMMS. Your donations support the CHS PTSA,

1. Apply for Financial Aide

The HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Parents/guardians must submit a new application every school year to maintain their student’s eligibility.

2. Update Your Medication Forms

Students who require medication to be administered during the school day need to have new forms (dated on or after July 1st) completed for this fall. For your convenience, you can find these forms on-line at the HCPSS website. Medical Forms.

3. Parking Permits

Permission for students to drive and park vehicles on school system property is a privilege. Parking spaces for students at Centennial High School are limited. Accordingly, in order to be granted this privilege, applications for parking permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis in priority order: 1) Seniors; 2) Students enrolled in Work Study/Intern Mentor Programs; and, 3) Juniors.

Permits will be issued in this order through the end of the third week of school. Beginning September 18th, remaining permits will be issued in the order applications are received. Permits will not be reserved for students who do not yet have a valid Maryland Driver's License. Students ARE NOT required by the school system to attend a ‘Safe Driving’ presentation this school year.

To apply for your permit:

• Login to HCPSS.me.
• Complete the application packet and save as a pdf.
• Take a photo of your driver’s license.
• Follow this link to submit the online application. The information collected through the online application is required by HCPSS.
• Your submission will be reviewed, and you will be notified via email once it is accepted.

For questions about applying for a parking permit at CHS please contact Jill Cipriano at jill_cipriano@hcpss.org.

Skyward Theatre is back and ready to showcase our students in performances and productions on the stage! Check out the Newsletter from Skyward Theatre — Centennial's Theatre program — for information about shows, auditions, merch, and more!

Here is the link to our August Newsletter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17CZhQ3vS-nRaFjxscOdDxD3XNxUtGZJaYtYpEZit1a0/edit?usp=sharing

Keep current on news and events throughout the school year by checking the CHS website: https://chs.hcpss.org. We have added an A to Z Reference Guide to the website as your one-stop information finder: attendance policies, parking permit applications, food and nutrition services, student technology support, and much more.

Thanks to a continued partnership between HCPSS, Howard County Government, and Regional Transportation Agency (RTA), all HCPSS middle and high school students have access to free RTA bus passes through summer 2027. Students have full access to the RTA system and are not limited to transportation to and from schools or to school-related activities.

If your child is interested, they can visit Student Services to request a free pass. To obtain the free student bus pass, students must agree to: ​

• Provide name/student ID, address, and grade to school staff​

• Maintain possession of the pass ​

• Not transfer or share the pass with others​

• Abide by Howard County Public School System rules while on-board.

Note: If the pass is lost or misplaced, only one replacement pass will be provided to the student.

Howard County government and the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland also have a digital bus pass program, enabling students to access free RTA bus passes directly from their phones or smart devices using a mobile app. Students who do not have access to a smart phone may still receive a free, printed bus pass from their school office.

For more information on RTA and detailed schedule information, please call 1-800-270-9553 or visit Transit RTA.

Howard Community College is thrilled to be hosting our fourth annual FREE Fall for All event on Friday, October 16, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on our downtown Columbia campus. With HCPSS schools being closed, it's a great day for fun, family-friendly, fall activities.

From inflatables to crafts, to games and activities, the event has been structured with community members of all ages in mind. Food will be available for purchase from a variety of local food trucks.

We are also highlighting our dedicated public safety professionals, connecting guests with representatives from Maryland and Howard County law enforcement, fire departments, and other local agencies.

We truly mean Fall for All, so we’d love to invite everyone to join in on the fun! More information about the event is available at HowardCC.Edu/FallForAll or on our HCPSS Community Program Listing.

In Howard County, addressing substance misuse among youth, including opioid use, remains a critical public health priority. Fatal overdoses have been steadily declining since 2022, a success largely driven by widespread naloxone distribution and acceptance. Yet, substance misuse among our youth is still an ongoing risk. According to the 2024 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey, almost 10% of middle school students and 12.5% of high school students in Howard County reported taking prescription pain medication without a prescription or differently than prescribed.

As a parent, you play a vital role in protecting your children and your community. Scan the QR code on this flier or use this link [https://www.howardcountymd.gov/health/opioid-overdose-response-program] to access our free, on-demand naloxone training. In just 10-15 minutes you can gain the skills needed to respond to an opioid overdose. You can take the training alone, with your child or with the whole family. After you complete the training, you can receive a free naloxone kit.

It’s never too early to learn to save a life!

Know what's happening in Howard County. Sign up for HC DrugFree's free newsletter at tinyurl.com/HCDFNews or follow us on social media to get updates on events as well as information to keep your family safe and informed:

• Facebook: facebook.com/HCdrugfree
• X: twitter.com/chdrugfree
• LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/ch-drugfree

• Centennial High School’s website is a great source of information at https://chs.hcpss.org.
• Instagram @CentennialHS
• Facebook @www.facebook.com/chs.hcpss.org
• Read the Wingspan, CHS student newspaper
• CHS PTSA https://www.chs-ptsa.org/
• CHS Friends of Music http://www.centennialmusic.org/
• Register to receive school system updates and alerts at https://www.hcpss.org/hcpss-news/, click on Subscribe and select Centennial High School.