February 13, 2025
- Message from Admin
- Upcoming Winter MAP Assessments
- Last day for the Book Fair
- Diversity Equity and Inclusion
- Career Day
- A Note from Music
- Spring Lacrosse
- Literacy Night for Grades 3, 4, 5
- Fifth Grade Baby Pictures Needed
- Gifted and Talented Summer Programs
- Spring Break Basketball Camp
- Outdoor Recess and Weather Conditions
- PTA Meeting Dates
- Important Dates
A Message from Admin
Dear HES Families,
Our teachers sincerely appreciated the chance to meet with families to discuss student progress in Math last week. If you could not schedule a conference last week, or if it was canceled due to bad weather, please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher to set up a meeting at a mutually convenient time.
We're thrilled to celebrate both Black History Month and Kindness Week! This month, students will explore the stories of remarkable African Americans whose lives exemplify kindness and make a difference. As a school we strive to practice kindness daily, but this week highlights the hard work and effort students and staff dedicate to kindness each and every day. Tomorrow is Friendship Friday and will wrap up our Kindness Week. Students can participate by wearing red, pink, or hearts.
With recent weather impacts, students (and staff) have suffered from a lack of routine and consistency. We appreciate families continuing to support routines and structures at home, ensuring students limit screen time, have time to read or review math facts, and practice healthy sleeping and eating habits.
Lastly, we wanted to provide some updates on our school wide goals. Students are continuing to work on the following:
- Safe & Peaceful hallways (Tuffy continues up the trek!)
- Self-to-Self Students work to use alternative strategies rather than physicality to solve conflicts.
- Organized and Clean Learning Environments (Congratulations to Ms. Lee’s Classes and Mrs. Wethington’s class. They are our “Golden Trash Can” winners for the month of January!
- Using Kind and Respectful Language
We appreciate your continued partnership and value the discussions you have with your children at home about our school wide goals! Thank you for being an integral part of the HES community!
Sincerely,
Heather Moraff, Principal
Nykia Mapson, Assistant Principal
Reminder: Monday, 2/17 Presidents’ Day - Schools and Offices closed
Upcoming Winter MAP ASSESSMENTS
Students in grades 1-5 will take the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) assessment during the month of January or February. The data from the MAP assessment will help schools and teachers measure your student’s academic progress in the areas of Reading and Math. The MAP test does not affect grades and the difficulty adjusts depending on how your child responds. It is normal for students to only answer about half the questions correctly. To learn more about the MAP assessment, please visit: https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/common-questions-families/
Teachers in grades 1-5 will administer the assessment during the following testing window dates. If your child is absent, makeup testing will be offered when they return to school. Grade Level Teams/Teachers will share specific dates or changes to dates with you via Canvas announcements.
Grades 1-4 Testing Window: January 27th-February 27th
Friday is the final day of the Book Fair
Parents and students are permitted to shop the Book Fair early Friday, 2/14 at 8:30am before school opens. Students must be accompanied by an adult. Once finished shopping students will wait outside until the school doors open at 9:10am
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Here is the February newsletter from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. There are resources and information for Black History Month and the Lunar New Year.
Prepare to Celebrate Women’s History Month
The Howard County Women’s Commission is holding a student essay and poster contest to celebrate Women’s History Month. Prizes will be rewarded.
Link to contest info: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/sites/default/files/2025-01/CFW2025ContestEntryPacket.pdf Entries are due February 21, 2025.
Career Day
We are still looking for volunteers to speak to classes for Career Day on Thursday, March 13th. Please fill out this form if you are interested in coming in to share more about your career. You will be asked to share about your career for about 15-25 minutes (depending on grade) and answer questions students may have. We will reach back out once we gather responses with sign-ups for specific times.
https://forms.gle/Cj6bysvXvyKGPNeU6
A Note from Music
Attention all Orchestra, Band, and Chorus students! The HCPSS Solo and Ensemble Festival will be held on Saturday, April 5 at Long Reach HS. This is an optional, yet exciting, performance opportunity for students! The deadline to sign up is Friday, February 21. Please contact your music teacher for more information:
Orchestra: Mrs. Jacobs
Band: Mr. Obrigewitch
Chorus: Mrs. Sanders and Mr. Burrow
Spring Lacrosse
Literacy Night for Grades 3, 4, and 5
Fifth Graders: Baby Pictures Needed
Gifted and Talented Summer Programs
Gifted and Talented (G/T) Summer Institutes for Talent Development
The Gifted and Talented (G/T) Summer Institutes for Talent Development offers additional advanced-level instruction and enrichment experiences not regularly available during the academic school year for students entering grades 1-8. Rigorous instruction focusing on talent development is offered in mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, technology and fine arts.
No testing nor prior G/T coursework is required for enrollment in these enrichment offerings.
Location: Burleigh Manor Middle School
Session 1: June 30 - July 11 (no class July 4)
Session 2: July 14-25
Hours: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Cost: $330 per session (Financial assistance is available for students participating in the Free and Reduced Meal Program.)
Students may attend Session 1, Session 2, or both sessions. While the program is half-day, after care is available on site via Howard County Recreation and Parks. Snack is provided.
A few highlights ---
- Bus transportation to area collector stops!
- Exciting courses in Humanities, STEM, and the Arts!
Registration is now open for families of HCPSS students through HCPSS Connect. The first registration request window will close on February 18 at 12 p.m.
For more information on how to register, please see this registration guide.
Contact: GTSummer@hcpss.org or 410-313-6671.
SPRING BREAK BASKETBALL CAMP
Outdoor Recess and Weather Conditions
Cold weather has arrived!!! We wanted to remind you that students will still be going
outside for recess each day. Please make sure you send your child to school with warm
clothes. All clothing needs to be labeled with your child's name. Below you will find the
HCPSS criteria we consider when having outdoor activities.
• Temperature and humidity
• Wind chill
• Heat index and air quality
• Age of students
• Length of time outdoors
• Adequacy of the children’s clothing
• Condition of the playground
• Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)
• Thunder and lightning
Generally, it is assumed that students will be outside for recess, physical education, or
any other outdoor activity when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less
than 20 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index is less than 95.
Future PTA Meetings
March 11th All begin at 7:15
May 13th
Important Dates 
2/10-2/14 Book Fair
2/10-2/14 Kindness Week
2/17 Presidents’ Day - Schools and Offices closed
2/27 Talent Show
3/3 Kindergarten Registration begins
3/13 Career Day
3/13 PTA Restaurant Night: Shake Shack
3/19 Literacy Night Grades 3, 4 and 5 at 6:30pm
3/27 Spring Pictures: Class photos and individual photos if elected
3/28 End of Quarter 3
3/31 No School for Students: Professional Work and Development Day for staff
3/14 Professional Work and Wellness Day: Schools close 3 hours early