VIKING NEWS
January 10, 2025
Important Dates
- January 17-23, 2025 - Mid Term Exams
- January 20, 2025 - Schools & Offices Closed, MLK Jr. Day
- January 23, 2025 - End of 2nd Marking Period
- January 29, 2025 - Schools Closed for Students
- February 7, 2025 - Schools Closed for Students
- February 17, 2025 - Schools & Offices Closed, President's Day
- April 26, 2025 - Junior/Senior Prom
Student Celebrations!
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.
MHHS News
Important Course Registration Information
Please have all your courses for next year requested in Synergy (7 requests, 3 alternates) by Tuesday, January 14th. After the 14th, only your school counselor can make changes. Please take time between now and the 14th to enter in your requests.
Beginning the week of January 27th through Feb. 19th, each 9th, 10th, and 11th grader will meet individually with their school counselor to go over their course requests and graduation requirements. Students, you need to know your meeting time so you can be prompt. Every appointment is listed on this spreadsheet by school counselor.
Course Registration Appointments spreadsheet
Dance Auditions Rescheduled
Dance auditions have been rescheduled for Tuesday, 1/14/25 from 3:30-6:00 pm. Bring your audition form with you on the day of the audition!
Midterm Preparation Guide for Parents
As midterms are around the corner, the 9th Grade Team wanted to provide you the information that was shared with your students in December. Please review the following with your student and have them share with you their plan for preparing for midterms, beginning Friday, January 17th.
January 29 Virtual School Improvement Meeting
We would like to invite you to join us virtually for our Quarter 2 school Improvement Team meeting on Wednesday, January 29 from 9:00 - 10:30 AM. During the meeting we will be reviewing our school data about College & Career Readiness, Attendance and Discipline. There will be opportunities to engage in conversations about the data with teachers, students and administrators. We value your input. If you are interested in attending, please email Allison McCoy (allison_mccoy@hcpss.org).
THE MHHS PTSA and AFTER PROM COMMITTEE NEEDS YOU!
The Mt. Hebron High School After Prom is an exciting tradition for our kids and is rumored to be the best attended After Prom in the county. It is the biggest event that our PTSA sponsors each year and cannot happen without the support of the PTSA, Viking Backers, and parents like you! It creates a safe, alcohol and drug free environment for the kids to play games, socialize, eat, drink and be merry together all while having the opportunity to win amazing prizes. It is a special night that many kids report as their favorite high school memory. We are in full swing with preparations for this years After Prom HOWEVER next year some of our critical committee chairs will be open positions due to their children graduating this year so we are looking for shadows to learn the ropes. Interested in joining us? Please contact afterprom@mthebronptsa.com for details on how you can join us at our next meeting Monday January 13th at 7pm.
EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE AFTER PROM IN 2026 WILL NOT EXIST WITHOUT THE PTSA AND NEXT YEAR EVERY PTSA BOARD POSITION WILL BE OPEN (10 POSITIONS). PLEASE ATTEND THE NEXT PTSA MEETING ON TUESDAY JANUARY 14TH IN THE MEDIA CENTER AT 7PM TO LEARN MORE AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED.
News Worth Repeating...
Register for Courses by January 14th
Course Registration began on December 16th and runs thru January 14th, 2025. At this time, you will be able to review teacher course recommendation and choose elective courses. You will also have the ability to update course recommendations following the Course Placement Review process.
To prepare you for the course recommendation process, please be sure review HCPSS Connect . The process for this year is new for families and students. To assist you, please use these resources:
Once you are up to date with the new process in Synergy, these presentations will provide you with an overview of this year's course registration offerings and additional information on the process. These presentations are translated as well. Here is the resource for the translation : Course Registration Translated Transcripts SY2526 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your student's school counselor for assistance.
Student and Family Resources:
https://hcpss.instructuremedia.com/embed/160822b8-6263-4173-9f16-24a383a2a9e0
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FQ-vTzrt2alBL43t9YfTcvLoOHPBIK1-c5nnLW0VOhA/edit?usp=sharing
High School Semester Exam Schedule January 2025
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
PTSA Staff Appreciation Committee
Please join the Mount Hebron PTSA Staff Appreciation Committee in thanking our amazing staff! Click on the link below to find easy ways to donate items helping the staff know that all of their efforts to care for our kids are seen and appreciated!
Gifted and Talented Advanced Research Courses for 2025-2026
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.
BSAP Saturday Math - Spring 2025 Program
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.
Affordable & Convenient College Prep in Partnership with Mt. Hebron HS PTSA
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.
Class of 2025 Information
Caps, Gowns and Tassels
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.
Class of 2025 Graduation Window: May 19-30, 2025
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.
Families of High School Seniors: Prepare Now for the FAFSA
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).
Graduation Information
Click this link to learn more about the Class of 2025 graduation.
Parent Facebook Groups
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
HCPSS NEWS
2025 Summer Programs Registration to Open Feb 3, 2025
Synergy online enrollment requests will be open Monday, February 3 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, February 17 at 12 p.m. for the following Summer programs:
- BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9)
- Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8)
- Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9-12) – original credit courses only
HC DrugFree
Free Life Skills Classes for HoCo Middle/High School Students
- Classes will be taught by HoCo college students with high school student assistants and adult supervision. Botvin’s Evidence Based Curriculum promotes positive health and personal development for students in grades 6 to 9. (Slightly younger students will be considered especially if joining an older sibling, and students older than 9th grade may be invited to join our high school team to earn Community Service Hours while learning.) If parents/guardians have questions about the appropriateness for students, register the students and HC DrugFree’s team will contact you. Siblings and friends are encouraged to take these classes together.
- Class dates: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 31, April 7, 28, and May 5 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit HC DrugFree’s website for more information and register students at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Spring2025LifeSkills
- HoCo High School Student Leadership Opportunity to Earn Community Service Hours: Join HC DrugFree’s instructional team to assist college students teaching online Life Skills classes – all while serving as a role model and mentor to younger HoCo students. This leadership experience looks good on resumes and college applications. For more information and to register to volunteer, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AssistLS2025spring
HoCo Student Film Festival
Save the date for the 2024-25 HoCo Student Film Festival: Friday, May 2, 2025. (Film deadline: April 1, 2025.) The 2024-25 school year theme of the HC DrugFree Category is: Make the Call: Help Without Hesitation. For more information visit http://www.hcdrugfree.org/hoco-filmfest/
IMPORTANT LINKS
- 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