IMPORTANT HES INFO
Hollywood Families,
I can't believe that we are heading into the LAST week of school!
Thank you to the families who completed the HES - SY2025 Learning Environment Preference Letter.
PTO News:
The PTO rescheduled the Blue Crabs Spirit Night on June 18th.
FINAL REMINDER: As we approach the end of another academic year, I wanted to take a moment to share some important information regarding the upcoming grade-level celebrations, picnics, and events. Please note that we will not be calling for siblings in other grades to attend celebrations or picnics for their siblings in different grades. We understand that this decision may not be favorable to all families, but we believe it is necessary to ensure schoolwide safety and maintain the integrity and focus of these grade-level events. By keeping the celebrations exclusive to the respective grades, we aim to foster a stronger sense of community and identity within each grade. We strongly encourage you to have your student stay at school and complete the instructional day. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
Take Care,
Mrs. DiRenzo
Important Events and Dates
June 4: Kindergarten Celebration (9:15 – 10:00 am)
June 6: 5th Grade Farewell Celebration (9 am - 10:30 am)
June 6: Last Day of School for Pre-K & 2-Hour Early Dismissal
June 7: Last Day of School for Students & 2-Hour Early Dismissal
June 13: MP4 Report Cards available on HAC
June 18: Re-Scheduled PTO Blue Crabs Spirit Night
June 25: HAC closes for the '23-'24 school year
End of Year Student Laptop Information
Students in 5th Grade will be bringing their laptops and chargers home at the end of this school year so that they can bring them to middle school next year. For students in K-4th Grade, we will be keeping the laptops and chargers here at school over the summer. This will prevent any misplacement and allow us to get a jump start using the laptops next school year. If you feel that your student needs their laptop at home over the summer, please email Ms. Hazuda (sjhazuda@smcps.org) requesting that the laptop and charger be sent home, by JUNE 4th. Please include the following information in your email: Student Name and Grade Level, along with the request.
Pre- Kindergarten 4 Application
St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) will begin to accept Pre- Kindergarten 4 Applications on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future allows for families with children who are 4 years old on or before September 1, 2024, to apply for full-day Pre-Kindergarten. All families are welcome to apply; however, income is the primary qualifier for eligibility. All applications will be screened and identified on a System of Tiers.
The SMCPS website, www.smcps.org, has information and guidance for completing the 2024-
2025 Pre-Kindergarten Application. You may also contact us using the helpdesk form, call 301-
475-5511 ext. 32285, or email Mrs. Charlottis Woodley, Director of Parent & Family Engagement, at cmwoodley@smcps.org. Spanish language assistance is available.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024–2025 school year!
All schools will hold open registration beginning Monday, May 6, 2024, which will continue -throughout the summer. Students who are currently enrolled in SMCPS Pre-K do NOT need to re-register. Current Pre-K students will rollover to kindergarten, unless they are an out of district transfer student.
Parents of children who will be five years old by September 1, 2024, should register at the school assigned to their physical address during the open enrollment period.
Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) may go to the school assigned to their legal address to complete
the registration paperwork. Children are not required to be present for registration. Required
documentation includes evidence of birth, proof of residency, a copy of the child’s immunization record, and any court papers regarding custody of the minor child. Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) must also bring photo identification when registering their child.
Each elementary school will conduct open enrollment for the children residing in their zone.
Information regarding which school serves your residential area is provided by the Department
of Capital Planning at SMCPS - Find a School by your address or 301-475-4256, option 6.
Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey
Attendance Matters
It's true, we are approaching the halfway point of the school year! It's going quickly. HES staff know this can be a challenging time for the students to attend daily because the excitement of the holidays is over and it can feel like a grind to the students. It may be a little more challenging for your student to get out of bed in the morning or they may be feeling overwhelmed because they have already missed a few days of school. We are asking for families to help the students attend school every day, even when it's a difficult morning. We are all here to help and support them if they need some extra attention on those tough days. By attending, even when it's hard, they are growing the muscle of resilience and determination that will help them throughout their lives.
From the Counselor
May is Mental Health awareness month. With how busy life can be, take some time to focus on activities that help bring joy and peace to your family. Use the calendar below to inspire ideas for your family.
Our A4L Team Leaders have picked to support the St. Mary's County Animal Shelter for their community service project. Please see the flyer below if you are interested and able to donate.
5th Grade Parents, This is an exciting time for your students! To help prepare them for their transition to Middle School HES will be hosting LMS on Wednesday, May 15th and EMS on Thursday, May 23rd. These visits help provide our students with detailed information for how their days may look next year.
From the School Nurse
For the 24/25 school year SMCPS will no longer be using the Over the Counter Medication Authorization form. If you will require your student to keep an over the counter medication at school, such as Tylenol, a primary care provider will need to fill out a medication order form. Please let me know if you have any questions.
PreK families please be aware that student are required to have an MMR vaccination as well as a Varicella vaccination for the start of Kindergarten.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Nurse Briggs
KEEP ME HOME IF...
- I have a temperature higher than 100°F.
- I'm throwing up or have diarrhea.
- My eyes are pink and crusty.
SEND ME BACK TO SCHOOL WHEN...
My symptoms have significantly improved or resolved.
I haven't had a fever or fever-reducing medication for 24 hours.
I haven't thrown up, had diarrhea or had medications to control these symptoms for 24 hours.
If antibiotics have been prescribed, I have been taking them for at least 24 hours.
CALL THE DOCTOR IF...
I’ve had a temperature higher than 100°F for more than 2 days.
I've been throwing up or having diarrhea for more than 2 days.
I've had cold symptoms for more than a week and they aren't getting any better.
I still have asthma symptoms after using my asthma medicine (and call 911 if I'm having trouble breathing after using an inhaler).
SMCPS Calendar
2023-2024 SMCPS Calendar. The new calendar is posted online at www.smcps.org/calendar
SMCPS Devices
Please review laptop expectations by sharing this presentation with your child. Classroom teachers will be reviewing laptop expectations with students at school as well. Thank you!
Need to purchase a laptop charger?
You can do one of two things:
1. Email your child's teacher or the Library Media Specialist Miss Hazuda (sjhazuda@smcps.org) that you wish to pay for the missing laptop charger. A fine then can be assessed so that you can pay using My School Bucks, sending in cash, or a check (made out to SMCPS).
OR
2. Go directly to the DELL store. You can purchase directly from their website and have it shipped to your home.
Ensure one of these links is being used:
www.dell.com/mpp/smcps (click Shop Recommended Solutions to get to the discounted power cords)
www.dell.com/mpp/smcps-chargers (leads directly to the purchasing portal)
If you purchase from Dell, please make sure that you label the charger with the student's first and last name before sending it to school. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher or the Library Media Specialist Miss Hazuda (sjhazuda@smcps.org).
SMCPS 2024 Student Handbook, Code of Conduct
My School Bucks
Schoology
Birthday Treats
Birthday treats present the potential for allergic reactions for many of our students. They also interrupt instruction. However, we understand that some students enjoy celebrating their birthday with their friends at school. Because of all of these factors, birthday treats may NOT be edible. Gift bags with stickers, pencils, crayons, erasers, and/or other small toys are acceptable. They can also be shared at recess or the end of the day which doesn’t compromise instructional time. Parents who wish to provide birthday treats to a class are asked to notify the homeroom teacher in advance and to drop them off in the front office as early as possible. All student birthdays (including summer birthdays) are announced on the morning announcements and students receive a birthday ribbon sticker from the front office!
Hollywood Elementary School...
...provides a rich educational experience that focuses on preparing well rounded students that are ready to succeed in their future college and career endeavors. Hollywood educates and inspires our diverse population in a safe and respectful environment. Students are engaged in authentic learning experiences that foster work habits and skills necessary to become collaborative, dedicated, and productive citizens.
Email: eedirenzo@smcps.org
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/hes/
Location: 44345 Joy Chapel Road, Hollywood, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 373-4350
Twitter: @hes_smcps