The Heron

Hello HES Families,

Please take some time to read the information below as you prepare for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 25th. Though much of the information below has been previously shared, it remains important and there are several updates.

See you soon!

Our playground is moving closer toward completion! Late last week, and into this weekend, work is being completed on the poured-in-place surfacing. Weather permitting, this will be completed by August 23rd. However, 3-4 days for curing is necessary following the completion of this process.

What does this mean for use of the new equipment during recess next week?

To ensure we allow the new surfacing the needed time to cure appropriately, we will not be using the new equipment next week. Student will have alternate games/activities available on the field during recess.

What about use of the equipment by the community, after school hours?

We ask our Huntingtown community to remain patient and not use the new equipment until the orange fencing surrounding the playground has been removed. Thank you, in advance, for adhering to this request.

Reminder, teacher assignments are finalized and available to parents/guardians through your Home Access Center (HAC) account. Please make sure you have completed your registration for HAC. See the information below to complete this process if you are new to Calvert County Public Schools or have not previously registered with HAC.

Home Access Center (HAC)

AUGUST

24 - HES Meet & Greet, 2:00 – 3:00 PM (For Grades 1-5)

25 - Students' first day! (Grades 1 - 5)

25 - PK & K Conferences

26 - PK & K Conferences

27 - PK & K Staggered Start

28 - PK & K Staggered Start

31 - ALL Students, PK-5 Attend

SEPTEMBER

7 - Labor Day Holiday, Schools and Offices Closed

10 - FSO General Assembly Meeting, 4:00 PM

11 - 5th Grade CHESPAX Trip - Kozik & Wood

14 - 5th Grade CHESPAX Trip - Beall & Webb

16 - 2-Hour Early Dismissal for Staff Professional Learning

17 - Boosterthon Kickoff!

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

Important dates for Pre-K and Kindergarten Parents:

• August 25th & 26th: Pre-K & K Parent Conferences

• August 27th: ONLY Pre-K & K Students with last names beginning A - M attend

• August 28th: ONLY Pre-K & K Students with last names beginning N- Z attend

• August 31st: ALL Pre-K & K students begin daily attendance

Our Meet and Greet is planned for Monday, August 24th, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM for students in grades 1-5. We are encouraging parents to stagger their visit as there are limits to our parking. Please consider joining us during the following times:

· Last names A – K from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM

· Last names L – Z from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Meet and Greet is a drop-in window to:

· Drop off school supplies.

· See your child’s classroom.

· Meet your child’s teacher.

· Encourage your child to see their class friends.

Meet and Greet is not a drop-in window to:

· Hold teacher conferences.

· Ask teachers who else is in your child’s class.

· Visit past teachers which takes time away from the incoming student.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Students will have the opportunity to meet their teacher during parent conferences, as scheduled on August 25th & 26th.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Staggered start info is available here: STAGGERED START INFO

Important dates for Pre-K and Kindergarten Parents:

· August 25th & 26th: Pre-K & K Parent Conferences as scheduled by classroom teacher

· August 27th: ONLY Pre-K & K Students with last names beginning A - M attend

· August 28th: ONLY Pre-K & K Students with last names beginning N-Z attend

· August 31st: ALL Pre-K & K students begin daily attendance

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.

Please be aware of the following meal price changes for SY 26 - 27:

• Breakfast (all students) - $1.85
• Elementary Lunch - $3.00
• Secondary Lunch - $3.25
• Milk - $0.65

I encourage all families to fill out the Meal Benefit Application (MBA). This can be completed online at LINQ Connect - Making Schools Stronger or via the paper applications that will come home in Tuesday folders. All families are encouraged to apply as it could provide additional benefits to your family. All information on the MBA form is confidential and may benefit your family with meals at no charge.

Please see the attachment below for more detailed information regarding school meals, student meal accounts, parent monitoring of meal purchases, etc.

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.