Shout out to Mr. Banyasz! Mr. Banyasz retired last school year, but showed up bright and early on August 19th to welcome our teachers back with donuts, fruit, and candy! Thank you, Mr. Banyasz!

August 26th – Meet and Greet

Our Meet and Greet is planned for Monday, August 26th, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM for students in grades 1-5. We are encouraging parents to stagger your visit as there are limits to our parking. Please consider joining us during the following times:

· Last names A – K from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM

· Last names L – Z from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Meet and Greet is a drop-in window to:

· Drop off school supplies.

· See your child’s classroom.

· Meet your child’s teacher.

· Encourage your child to see their class friends.

Meet and Greet is not a drop-in window to:

· Hold teacher conferences.

· Ask teachers who else is in your child’s class.

· Visit past teachers which takes time away from the incoming student.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Students will have the opportunity to meet their teacher during parent conferences, as scheduled on August 27th & 28th.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Staggered start info is available at the link above, or here: STAGGERED START INFO

Important dates for Pre-K and Kindergarten Parents:

· August 27th & 28th: Pre-K & K Parent Conferences as scheduled by classroom teacher

· August 29th: ONLY Pre-K & K Students with last names beginning A - K attend

· August 30th: ONLY Pre-K & K Students with last names beginning L-Z attend

· September 3rd: ALL Pre-K & K students begin daily attendance

The student instructional day begins at 8:45 AM. We have a 10-minute student arrival window from 8:35 – 8:45. Buses and car riders will begin unloading at 8:35. If your child is a car rider, please plan to have them to HES within these arrival times so that they may begin their day on time. Arriving prior to 8:45 allows your child to get to their classroom, unpack, check-in, and begin their day with their peers.

The student instructional day ends at 3:30 PM. Again, we have a 10-minute dismissal window which begins at 3:30 and ends at 3:40. Separate information will follow regarding our procedures for car riders in the afternoon. All students must be dismissed by 3:40 PM.

If you plan to drop your child(ren) off by car during our arrival window, please review the attached traffic pattern for student arrival before the first day of school. We have designated bus only and car only lanes as you enter the school lot. To minimize traffic build up on Huntingtown Road which creates a traffic hazard, two lanes of waiting cars are created in the back row of our parking lot, as indicated on the graphic. Alternate merge as you drive around the corner and drive along the curb to drop your children off at the sidewalk near the school. Students should exit the vehicle on the passenger side. To keep our car rider line moving, all adults should remain in their vehicles. If your child needs assistance exiting, please park and walk your child to the entrance.

Please review the traffic pattern before arrival on the first day.

Please follow these procedures when picking up your child(ren) each day:

• Complete a Daily Car Rider form, attached below, and return to the office. Copies of this form will also be available at school during the first week of school.
• Park in any available spot in the parking lot, or in the overflow grass lot adjacent to the ball field. Entrance to this lot is just beyond HES. Parking on the hill between HES and Sleepy Hollow Daycare is not permitted.
• Make sure you have an ID to sign out your child before entering HES. When signing-out your child an ID will be requested.
• Enter HES using the back door to the school cafeteria. This door will open at 3:20. IF, you need to sign your child out prior to 3:20 (i.e. early dismissal) use the main office. After 3:20, students must be signed-out in the cafeteria.
• Staff will greet you in the cafeteria to assist with student sign-out. Students will be called to the cafeteria for dismissal at 3:30.
• Parents must follow the direction of staff in the parking as you exit to ensure our buses can enter and exit HES in a safe and expedient manner.

Please login to your Home Access Center (HAC) for the most up to date bus routing information. If you do not have access to HAC, please use this link to establish your account, Login (calvertnet.k12.md.us) .

It is common for buses to run behind schedule the first day(s) of the school year as drivers learn get to know their riders and routes. It is best practice to plan for your child to get to their bus stop early in the morning and wait patiently for the bus in case it is running late. Please plan to do the same as you wait for the bus to return to its designated stop in the afternoon. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to visit the CCPS website for information about the Here Comes the Bus App. This gives you real time information about the location of your child’s bus.

• Students may only bring their cell phone/smartwatch with a signed CCPS Elementary Student Cell Phone/Smartwatch Registration Form on file at the school.
• Registered cell phones/smartwatches must remain completely powered off (not on vibrate or silent mode) and inside the student’s book bag, locker or cubby throughout the entirety of each school day, unless other storage arrangements are made with the teacher.
• Once approved for school, students may use their cell phone/smartwatch on the bus or school-chartered vehicle, but use must not be disruptive or cause a distraction to the driver at any time. Sound must only be audible through headphones. Phone conversations are prohibited.

This past summer, the CCPS elementary principals collectively worked to create an Elementary Parent Handbook. This handbook is a resource that provides a variety of information related to school practices and policies. This does not replace the CCPS Code of Student Conduct, which is available electronically on the CCPS website. The complete handbook is accessible below, but be aware of a few changes:

• While we recognize some parents might like to visit and have lunch with their child at school, we will no longer continue this practice. The lunch period is a part of our students’ school day where they learn and practice a variety of social skills. This time provides them an opportunity to build their independence and confidence in initiating and engaging in conversations with their peers. We appreciate your understanding.
• We are also making a change in our birthday celebrations at school. Due to an increase in food allergies, we will no longer accept food items (i.e. cupcakes, cookies, etc.) to celebrate birthdays at school. If you choose to send in something to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, consider non-food items such as fidgets, pencils, stickers, donating a book to the classroom library, a classroom game for indoor recess, etc.

August 26th: HES Meet & Greet, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

August 27th: Students first day! (Grades 1 - 5)

September 2nd: Labor Day Holiday, Schools and Offices Closed

September 11th: 2-Hour Early Dismissal

September 24th HES Open House, Grades PK - 2, 5:30 - 6:30

September 25th: HES Open House, Grades 3 - 5, 5:30 – 6:30

September 27th: Schools Closed for Students and Staff (10 & 11 month)

September 30th: 2-Hour Late Arrival

Important dates for Pre-K and Kindergarten Parents:

• August 27th & 28th: Pre-K & K Parent Conferences

• August 29th: ONLY Pre-K & K Students with last names beginning A - K attend

• August 30th: ONLY Pre-K & K Students with last names beginning L- Z attend

• September 3rd: ALL Pre-K & K students begin daily attendance

The school supply list is available on the HES website - found in the parent tab. You may also access it in the link below.

School Supply List