• January 24, 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
• 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

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.

The Mt Hebron PTSA greatly appreciates our community’s long-standing support of our annual Mulch Sale. 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. In 2024, over 600 students attended the After-Prom. Our sale ends on March 2nd, and we have a limited number of bags - so don’t miss out and place your order NOW!

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. 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. We are also offering discount for pickup, just use the code PICKUP during checkout! Details are in the online store.

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

Applications are currently being accepted for students interested in serving as the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) or a delegate to represent their school at the SMOB convention. Applications for both opportunities are available using the following link. 2025 SMOB Portal: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Yg1pMi9vQ7Vr3YqWHiauYKPDt-KnmgMG?usp=drive_link. Applications for both opportunities close on Friday, February 7th at 4 PM. Students must apply using their HCPSS account.

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).

As we reach the midpoint of the school year, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the importance of maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all our students. One of the most critical issues we face as a school community is bullying, which can have lasting effects on children’s well-being, social development, and academic success. We believe that addressing bullying requires a partnership between students, families, and school staff.

Understanding Bullying

Bullying is more than just occasional teasing. It is intentional, repeated aggressive behavior that can be verbal, physical, or social, and it often involves an imbalance of power. While some bullying behaviors can be overt, others are more subtle but just as harmful. Examples of bullying include:

• Physical bullying: Hitting, pushing, or damaging property.

• Verbal bullying: Name-calling, teasing, and hurtful comments.

• Social/Relational bullying: Spreading rumors, excluding others, and social manipulation.

• Cyberbullying: Using digital platforms to harass or intimidate someone.

How You Can Help at Home

Parents play an essential role in preventing bullying and supporting their children through difficult experiences. Here are some steps you can take:

• Talk to Your Child: Encourage open communication with your child about their social experiences, both online and offline. Discuss how they should handle situations where they witness bullying or experience it themselves.

• Set a Positive Example: Show your child how to be kind and respectful toward others. Modeling good behavior in your interactions will teach them valuable social skills.

• Monitor Online Activity: If your child uses social media or online platforms, make sure you are aware of their online interactions. Cyberbullying can be particularly damaging, and it’s important to stay engaged with your child’s digital life.

• Reinforce Respect and Empathy: Remind your child that treating others with respect and kindness is always the right thing to do, no matter the situation. Teach them how to stand up for others in a positive way, not by fighting, but by seeking help and offering support.

• Support School Efforts: Be an active partner in your child’s education and in the school’s anti-bullying efforts. Attend parent meetings, participate in workshops, and reinforce school policies at home.

Together, we can build a culture of respect, kindness, and safety in our school, ensuring that every student feels valued and supported. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students safe. More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. An online version for reporting is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

Applications are available for current sophomores through April 7th, 2025, with interviews taking place in late April/early May and the program commencing in Summer 2025 as students begin their junior year. Interested students are invited to attend upcoming Information Sessions to learn more about the program and hear directly from recent graduates about the LU experience. Our first info session will be hosted on Tuesday, January 28th at the East Columbia Branch Library (6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045, Marvin Thomas Room) beginning at 5:30pm. Additional info sessions to follow in February and March 2025 with updates located on the LHC website.

Attention 10th Grade Students: The Elijah Cummings Youth Program (ECYP) was started 26 years ago by the late Congressman Elijah Cummings. He created ECYP because he had a vision that teens from Maryland's 7th District would have the opportunity to have their young minds and worlds expanded through this program. Through curriculum, dialogue, community service and travel, ECYP imparts the values critical for peaceful coexistence, whether it's here in Baltimore, in Israel, or anywhere in the world. ECYP fellows go on to be "our living messages we send to a future we will never see". They are leaders who aspire to see the future of the world as peaceful and prosperous. They build bridges between cultures and cultivate leadership for generations to come.

ECYP’s application opened on January 2nd and closes on March 31st. Applications can be found online. Students are also able to apply via email and mail.

ECYP seeks students interested in:

· International travel to broaden their worldview and cultural understanding

· Opportunities for networking and building like-minded peer relationships

· Receiving cross-cultural dialogue training

· Show evidence of academic achievement or potential

ECYP selects 12-13 students across Maryland’s 7th district. If selected, students have the opportunity to develop relationships with young people across the district, develop leadership skills, learn about leadership with leaders across the state via meetings in Annapolis and Washington, DC and travel. The program is free and at no cost to students.

If you have questions about the program, please feel free to reach out to Liza Koh, Program Director, via email at lkoh@ecyp.org. You can also learn more by visiting www.ecyp.org.

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!

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

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/

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

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/

• 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