VIKING NEWS

• December 23-31, 2024 - Winter Break
• January 1, 2024- New Year's Day (Schools & Offices Closed)
• January 20, 2025 - Schools & Offices Closed, MLK Jr. Day
• January 17-23, 2025 - Mid Term Exams
• January 23, 2024 - End of 2nd Marking Period
• January 29, 2024 - Schools Closed for Students
• February 7, 2024 - Schools Closed for Students
• February 17, 2024 - Schools & Offices Closed, President's Day
• April 26, 2025 - Junior/Senior Prom

Friday, January 17, 2025 (A Day)

• Period 1 Exam

• Full day of school

• All extracurricular activities are normal

• AM/PM ARL Classes in Session

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 (B Day)

• Periods 5 & 6 Exams

• High schools close 3 hours early

• No extracurricular activities, including practices, rehearsals, events, etc.

• NO AM ARL Students

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 (A Day)

• Periods 2 & 4A Exams

• High schools close 3 hours early

• No extracurricular activities other than 90-minute conditioning practices, which may begin at 2:45 PM

• NO PM ARL Students

Thursday, January 23, 2025 (B Day)

• Periods 3 & 4B Exams

• All schools close 3 hours early

• No extracurricular activities other than 90-minute conditioning practices, which may begin at 2:45 PM

• NO AM ARL Students

We want to celebrate our students! All student celebrations will be shared through our instagram account @hcpss_mhhs. If you would like to shout out your child, team, club that has affiliation with Mount Hebron or HCPSS please click the bar below.

We’re thrilled to invite your student to Elective Exploration Week happening December 9-13! This is a fantastic chance for them to explore the variety of exciting electives available for next school year and get a glimpse into the opportunities that will shape their academic journey.

What’s in store?

- Performing Arts Performances: Experience the incredible talent of our students as they showcase their creativity on stage.

- Technology Showcases: Watch demonstrations of the latest innovations in tech—perfect for students interested in digital tools and emerging technologies.

- Elective Course Information: Your student can learn more about the diverse elective courses we offer, from the arts to sciences and everything in between, helping them plan their academic future with confidence.

This week is all about inspiring your student to explore new interests and discover subjects they’re passionate about for the coming school year.

Encourage your student to sign up today—it’s an opportunity they won’t want to miss! Elective Exploration Week is the perfect way to spark curiosity and help them make informed decisions about their next academic steps.

We look forward to seeing your student there!

We need your support! From 11/11/24 to 12/13/24 we will collect donations. We have a goal of collecting 50,000 items as we serve local families in need. Please consider donating items or financially to the collection.

How and What to Donate:

Food items: (Not just cans!) Canned vegetables, canned fruit, pasta, sauce, beans, rice, jelly, peanut butter, cereal, oatmeal
Other items: Shampoo, toilet paper, soap, paper towels, deodorant

Money:

• Cash donations (give to 6th period teacher)
• Check written to Mt. Hebron High School
• Credit Card (Donation Link)

We appreciate your consideration and contribution!

Did you know that your child can learn college-level research skills in high school? Mt. Hebron offers three advanced research courses – Independent Research GT, Intern/Mentor GT, and AP Seminar. Students in IR and I/M will work through the entire research process while also studying a topic they find personally interesting! AP Seminar is designed to teach students how to do secondary research on selected topics while potentially earning college credit! All of these courses offer weighted credit towards a student’s GPA while developing skills they can transfer to college and beyond! You can read more about all three courses here. You are invited to attend a virtual or in-person information session to learn more about what is available and hear from current students! See the linked flyer for details.

The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Saturday Math Academy (SMA) will offer an in-person enrichment program for Howard County Public School System students in all levels of math for grades 3 through 12 based on course availability. The BSAP Saturday Math Academy has been in existence since 1992. The program was developed in response to parents seeking math enrichment for their students. The priority was to learn instructional mathematical strategies to support their children at home and to accelerate academic achievement.

• Essential Program Information
• Spring 2025 Registration (Virtual)
• Registration will take place via HCPSS Connect on Saturday, January 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m.- until capacity is reached. Class space is limited. Instructions for registration are linked below.
• HCPSS Connect Instructions (English)Links to an external site.
• HCPSS Connect Instructions (Spanish)Links to an external site.
• HCPSS Connect Instructions (Chinese)Links to an external site.
• HCPSS Connect Instructions (Korean)Links to an external site.
• Spring 2025 Program Sessions (In-Person): Sessions will take place on Saturdays from 9:00 AM -12:15 PM on the following dates: (1/25, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 3/8, 3/15)
• Program Fee: $80.00 Students eligible for FARMs fee: $40.00
• Program Location: Oakland Mills High School- 9410 Kilimanjaro Road Columbia, MD 21045
• Students will participate in math instruction as well as enrichments including chess, choir, STEM, or coding.
• Families who register their child(ren) for the program in HCPSS Connect are requesting enrollment. Notification will be emailed to families whose request was accepted.
• Acceptance in the program will be based on a first-come first-served basis and available space in the specified class.
• Payment Options: Families whose enrollment request is accepted will receive information regarding payment through MySchoolBucks. Additional payment options are available below:
• Online: Payments can be made through MySchoolBucks (4% service fee will be applied).
• Drop Box: Payments may be dropped off at the BSAP Office Drop Box located to the right of the BSAP Office door at the Old Cedar Lane Building. Please download the Registration Payment FormLinks to an external site. and include the completed form with your payment.
• Old Cedar Lane Building (BSAP Office: 5451 Beaverkill Road,Columbia, MD 21044)

• A student is not enrolled in the program until the program fee is paid. If payment is not received by the requested date, the child’s enrollment will be forfeited.
• Families of enrolled students will receive an invitation to a virtual Family Orientation on Saturday, January 18th from noon-12:45 p.m.

Interact Club will be collecting Toys For Tots donations in the theater lobby at the following events:

• Dance Concerts - December 5 & 6
• Indian Dance Invitational - December 7
• Choir Concert - December 11
• Band and Orchestra Concert - December 13

Please bring an unwrapped toy for a child in need. Place it in the big box in the lobby before the event or during intermission. Don't have a physical gift? No worries! Scan the QR Code here and donate funds that Toys for Tots can use to purchase toys for specific age groups. Thank you in advance! Contact Jennifer_Goodwin@hcpss.org with your questions.

SAT Boot Camps at Mt. Hebron HS

**These prep classes will prepare students for March 8, May 3, and June 7 SATs.**

• Sat./Sun., Feb. 1 & 2 from 9 am - 1 pm (in person)
• Sat., April 5 from 9 am - 1 pm + M/W April 7 & 9 from 7 pm - 9 pm (virtual)
• Sat., May 17 from 9 am - 5:30 pm (in person)

Live, Virtual ACT Boot Camps (offered monthly)

**These prep classes will prepare students for Dec. 14, Feb. 8, and April 5 ACTs.**

• Sun., Dec. 8 from 9 am - 1 pm + T/Th Dec. 10 & 12 from 7 pm - 9 pm
• Sat., Jan. 4 from 9 am - 1 pm + Weds., Jan. 8 & 15 from 7 pm - 9 pm

Live, Virtual College Admissions Crash Courses (offered monthly)

• Sat./Sun., Jan. 4 & 5 from 9 am - 1 pm
• Fri., Jan. 31 - March 21 from 5 pm - 6 pm
• See website for the full schedule of monthly crash courses.

A top-level overview of everything high school students need to know about the complicated, confusing, and competitive world of college admissions in order to best support their own application and college success. Recommended for 10th & 11th graders.

Each college prep class is only $199,* or choose a Premium Bundle and save up to $500. MHHS PTSA earns a portion of student tuition! Visit www.theanswerclass.com to view the full class schedule and to register your student.

January 6th is the final day for seniors to have their senior yearbook portrait taken in-school. After that, you must go to a studio if you would like to have your formal senior portrait taken and included in the yearbook. The sitting for the yearbook pose is FREE! Tux and drape are provided. We would love to have all seniors represented in the yearbook. See the attached flyer for details on how to register for an in-school appointment. The appointment slots are for seniors who have not had pictures taken yet, not for students who need retakes. Contact the number on the flyer if you need to have retakes before March 1st. See Mrs. Goodwin in room 228 with your questions.

HCPSS today announced the window for the Class of 2025 high school graduations as Monday, May 19-Friday, May 30, 2025. No graduations will be held on weekends or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

HCPSS makes the early announcement of the graduation window to accommodate planning by parents, students, schools and community members. Specific information regarding the dates and times of each graduation ceremony will be finalized in collaboration with Merriweather Post Pavilion and provided by mid-April.

Ceremonies will be held in person at Merriweather Post Pavilion, except for Cedar Lane School, which will hold its graduation ceremony at the school.

Full HCPSS commencement information can be found online.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is NOW available. We strongly encourage all families to complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the primary tool for determining a student’s financial need, enabling access to federal, state and local grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study opportunities. You can complete the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov.

For students ineligible for federal aid via the FAFSA, the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) offers the MHEC One App. This application allows qualified children of undocumented immigrants, who meet in-state tuition requirements, to apply for Maryland state need-based financial aid. The MHEC One App can be found on the [Maryland Higher Education Commission website (https://mhec.maryland.gov).

• Click here to order a cap and gown unit (which includes a tassel) or use the QR code to the right.

• Order by February 1, 2025.

Click this link to learn more about the Class of 2025 graduation.

Freshmen 2028

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538298930108508

Sophomores 2027

https://www.facebook.com/groups/132631256538950/

Juniors 2026

https://www.facebook.com/groups/474264264531291/

Seniors 2025

https://www.facebook.com/groups/403498247520261/

Current 8-11 grade students and their parents/guardians are invited to attend in-person information sessions on HCPSS career academies on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at the Applications and Research Laboratory, 10920 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD. The evening will include two 15-minute information sessions beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Participants will learn how Career and Technical Education (CTE) career academies provide high school students with opportunities to earn college credit, scholarships, and industry-recognized credentials, participate in worksite and mentorship experiences, and become creative problem solvers by participating in hands-on project-based learning.

Complete information on all career academies is available online. Students/parents are encouraged to review the Career Academies Overview.

Schedule-Agenda

• 6:15-6:40 pm Walk about to explore academies and find first session
• 6:45-7:05 pm Session I
• 7:10-7:30 pm Session II

As we head into the winter months, families are reminded that in emergency situations (including inclement weather), information will be shared with the community only through the HCPSS website, email and text, Twitter/X and the HCPSS weather hotline. Be sure your Family File is up to date and that you have opted into texts to receive emergency messages.

Free Newsletter: Stay up to date with HC DrugFree's free events offering Community Service Hours, resources, and a variety of substance use and behavioral health information! Sign up for HC DrugFree's free digital newsletter: https://hcdrugfree.org/enews-signup/.

HoCo Student Film Fest 2025: The 2025 theme of the HC DrugFree Public Service Announcement (PSA) Category is Make the Call: Help Without Hesitation. This theme serves as a PSA about Maryland's Good Samaritan Law. Middle and high school students who live in Howard County are eligible to create and submit videos, which are due by midnight on April 1. See the attached flyer for more information and guidelines or visit: http://www.hcdrugfree.org/hoco-filmfest/

• Mount Hebron High School Website
• HCPSS Calendar 24-25SY
• HCPSS Student and Parent Handbook
• Mount Hebron PTSA
• Mount Hebron Viking Backers
• ​​​​Follow us on Instagram: @hcpss_mhhs