VIKING NEWS

• February 17, 2025 - Schools & Offices Closed, President's Day
• March 14, 2025 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early
• March 28, 2025 - End of 3rd Quarter
• March 31, 2025 - Schools Closed for Students
• April 14-21, 2025 - Spring Break/Schools Closed
• April 26, 2025 - Junior/Senior Prom

Congratulations! The following students have been selected to participate in the 2025 Roundball Classic All-Star Showcase! The Roundball Classic is one of the best postseason events for top basketball players!

• Kenny Akinslosotu
• Tai Akinslosotu
• Cole Willey
• Ezra Yauger

Mohammad Mian, Jake Ferguson, Heidy Tox Chub, Ethan Colburn, Rayla Bankins, Lei Lei, Janis Tox Chub, Julia Koshy, Joseph Jeong, Bryce Noggle, Esther Lim, Noah Pham and Hailey Thompson.

• Business Management: 1st (Caleb, Tani)
• Business Plan: 1st (Rishi, Amogh, Aadi)
• Coding and Programming: 1st (Aarush, Vishva)
• Computer Game and Simulation Programming: 1st (Aadarsh, Sanjay, Daksh)
• Community Service Project: 4th (Devanshi Team)
• Economics: 1st (Jiwoo)
• Hospitality & Management: 2nd (Mahathi’s team)
• Intro to Business Concepts: 1st (Colin Sharp)
• Intro to Public Speaking: 2nd (Saanvi)
• Networking Infrastructure: 1st (Brian Zhang)
• Public Service Announcement: 1st (Selah’s team)
• Spreadsheet Applications: 4th (Rihaan Desai)
• Supply Chain Management: 1st (Shaan Kalyani)
• UX Design: 2nd (Adhya Channashetti)
• Visual Design: 1st (Isha Team)
• Website Design: 2nd (Dylan and Safi)

All Spring sports tryouts start on Saturday, March 1st. All registration paperwork is due into the parent portal in Connect by Thursday, February 27th.

Spring Sports Parent Meeting is on February 27th at 6:00PM in the MHHS auditorium for all Spring Sports Athletes and Parents/Guardians. Click Here to Register

For more information visit our website: https://mhhs.hcpss.org/news/2021/2021-08/viking-athletics-spring-sports-2025

Decide to pick it up and Save a total of 15%! Just use the code PRESIDENT for 10% and PRESIDENTPICKUP for 15% during checkout.

Remember 100% of the net proceeds from the Mulch Sale support our After Prom program, which provides our students with SAFE, fun alcohol-free/chemical-free activities following the Prom. Orders are due by March 2nd, and we have a limited number of bags - so don’t miss out and place your order NOW!

NOTE: We have switched to 2 cu ft brown mulch bags from 3 cu ft to reduce risk of injury during pickup/delivery. So, you will need to order MORE BAGS! Don’t worry, the prices have been adjusted down. Black mulch is still the same 2 cu ft size.

Use the QR code below or click here to access our online store. Mulch Day is March 15, 2025 from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

For a discount on laying your mulch, contact Mt. Hebron alums Ashton D’Alonzo and Jackson Williams, proud owners of AJ's Lawn & Landscape, at 443-520-5258.

DON’T NEED MULCH? Consider making a monetary donation instead. Every dollar donated helps to reduce out-of-pocket cost to attend, and allows us to gift tickets to students who might otherwise not be able to attend.

Thank you very MULCH!
Your parent volunteer MHHS Mulch Sale Committee

MulchSale@MtHebronPTSA.com

Submit an online application and video submission by February 21st to be reviewed by a panel of judges. You will need to sign into your school GAFE account in order to submit.

For speeches, you only need to prepare 1-2 minutes of your speech. It is not necessary to have the entire speech completely written at this time. We want to hear your ideas and see how you perform. If you are selected, you will work with a writing/presentation coach to complete the speech and work on the presentation. We want to hear your personal reflections on school events and special times. Do not list all of the events over your tenure in high school. Address one or two specific events in your speech. Remember that the Farewell Assembly is more relaxed and fun, so this would be the place for the humorous speeches, but of course in good taste! The Senior Awards Assembly and graduation are more dignified events. We still want speeches that are personal and warm, but more formal. Remember that your parents and invited adult guests are present at these two events.

For performers, you or your group will need to prepare a piece that is three minutes or under. You will need to have the piece well-rehearsed. If it is a vocal piece, it will need to be memorized.

See Ms. Carlsen in room 136 with any questions or email kcarlsen@hcpss.org. Application link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2nxI_Gr1CXTBwUi19r5FSPYyOotS2jWK7g4YdSGbyxKSeHQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

They are a local non-profit out of Columbia, MD. They serve MD, DE, NJ, OH & FL. They fundraise to help the families of critically ill children. They send them to experiences like Disney on Ice, concerts, and events. Casey Cares is committed to helping provide families with comfort when their children are hospital or bed-bound.

I have been volunteering with Casey Cares for 15 years and can confidently say that there is no mismanagement of money, they run on a skeleton staff and provide so many great opportunities for critically ill kids & their families.

Casey Cares makes care baskets to drop off at the hospital. They always include comfy pj's so kids don't have to wear hospital gowns.

How can you help? We will be collecting NEW TEEN-SIZED PJ's from March 1st - April 4th. If you want to donate a pair, just put them in the collection box next to the giant Viking wearing PJ's in the main lobby. OR, drop them off in room 121, Mrs. Johannes' room. They always get baby and toddler-sized pj's and their biggest need is teen-sized, so basically, smaller adult pj's.

Questions? Contact Jen Johannes. Together we can make a difference for critically ill kids!

As we approach February, we are excited to announce a series of events in celebration of Black History Month. This year, our school will be hosting three major events:

• Black History Month Assembly: Friday, February 28th (during the school day)

Each event aims to educate our students, honor the contributions of Black individuals throughout history, and foster a deeper understanding of the culture and experiences that shape our community.

Along with these events, the Mt. Hebron school community will be holding the 3rd Annual Black History Month Door Decoration Competition. Staff and students will collaborate to decorate their classroom door following the National Black History Month theme, "African Americans, and the impact they have made on labor and the workforce."

The week leading up to the Black History Month Assembly will be a school-wide Spirit Week. Theme days are to be announced. We encourage you to support and participate in these events, as they provide a valuable opportunity for our students to engage with history in meaningful ways. We especially need your support in encouraging your students to participate in the Black History Month Assembly.

Moving Foward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations

This year’s theme celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship and leadership. Through their efforts, they have served as an inspiration for all generations — both past and present. Submissions must be received no later than 5PM on Friday, February 21, 2025.

RULES and SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Support Mt. Hebron HS Theatre's spring musical "The Drowsy Chaperone" by buying gourmet popcorn delivered directly to your home! https://supporter.goldathletics.net/campaigns/3820/users/167529

Mount Hebron PTSA presents an opportunity to celebrate the Class of 2025 with congratulatory banners. These banners, designed for graduating seniors and school groups, will be directly delivered to the school and prominently showcased in the hallways of school. Students will receive their banners to take home at their graduation rehearsal (date TBA), perfectly timed for commencement festivities. Crafted from durable 36”x24” vinyl with a welded finish and grommets, these banners are suitable for both indoor and outdoor display. Flexible, tear-resistant, and weather-proof, they feature vibrant, fade-resistant ink for a lasting impression

$35 EACH *An additional 6% MD Sales Tax will be added at time of order

ORDER DEADLINE MARCH 11, 2025

ORDER ONLINE AT VARSITYGRAPHICS.NET/HEBRON-BANNERS

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/

On Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, the Howard County Board of Education approved adjustments to Policy 8080 – Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media, and the Student Code of Conduct that is intended to reduce the use of personal devices by students during the student day. The policy changes will take effect on Monday, March 3, 2025.

While more information will be provided to students, staff and parents/guardians prior to the March 3rd implementation date, here are the highlights of the adjustments that were adopted by the Board:

• No students, PreKindergarten-12, will be permitted to use cell phones and other personal devices during the student day (first bell to last bell of the day) except for reasons detailed in a student’s IEP, 504, or health plan.
• Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction.
• When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, the device will be confiscated for the remainder of the student day.
• Students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced”, meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise.
• Personal laptops may be used for instructional activities in high school when permitted by the teacher.
• A staff member on a school-sponsored field trip may permit the use of a personal technology device by a student in limited situations where capturing a picture or video may be appropriate or contacting a parent/guardian is necessary.
• School administrators and school administrators’ designees may authorize use of a personal device in rare instances such as an emergency for communication purposes.

More information will be provided related to the expectations and consequences from now through implementation, so students and parents/guardians are fully informed and prepared for policy implementation on March 3, 2025.

Message From the Superintendent: New Student Personal Device Policy Takes Effect on March 3

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

• 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

• 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