May 15, 2025
- Message from Admin
- Parent Consideration Form
- Celebrating Student Birthdays at school
- Lost & Found
- Enrichment Fair
- A Note from Music
- Grade 5 Simulated Congressional Hearings
- Field Day is May 30
- Literacy Night at the Ballpark
- Grade 5 End of Year Celebration
- MCAP Testings
- Drug Free Howard County
- Media Center News
- Summer Gardeners Needed
- Attention Future Film-makers
- Gifted and Talented Summer Programs
- Outdoor Recess and Weather Conditions
- Important Dates
A Message from Admin
Dear Hammond Families,
First, we'd like to thank our HES PTA, our community, and especially the HES PTA staff appreciation volunteers who hosted a “Fun and Games” staff appreciation week for our team! We are so grateful for the lunches, snacks, games, and gifts and feel truly lucky to be a part of such a generous and caring community!
This afternoon our teachers will be working on articulation for the 2025-2026 school year. They started the process at the end of April, will continue through the end of the school year, and revisit it again when the teachers return in August. Our teachers and the members of the student and instructional support teams put in countless hours to create homeroom classes. We strive to create balanced and diverse classes to support students’ academic and social/emotional needs. The classes are created first and then later assigned a homeroom teacher based on many factors, including, but not limited to the teachers’ experience in working with students of various learning needs. Due to this process to support all students, we are not able to accommodate requests for specific teachers or placement with specific other students. If you have not yet filled out the parent input form, please feel free to do so. These forms are reviewed by the administration and team leaders to ensure that your input is taken into consideration when crafting classes. The due date for the input form has been extended to May 30th. Should you have any questions about the articulation process, do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you,
Heather Moraff, Principal
Nykia Mapson, Assistant Principal
Parent Consideration Form
Our staff is excited to look ahead and begin planning for next school year. As part of this process, we would like to give you the opportunity to share some information that you would like for us to consider as we begin to make class groupings for the next school year. This consideration form is for you, as parents, to relay specific information about your child that you feel would be beneficial as our teachers meet to determine next year's placements. Class placement changes after class lists are finalized are extremely difficult and often cannot be accommodated.
This form closes on May 30th, 2025 for current HES students. This is your opportunity to voice what you would like us to consider in your child's placement for the next school year. The time, thought, and commitment put into the completion of this form is appreciated, valued, and highly regarded.
When placing students, the staff and administration utilize a wide range of criteria, which are supportive of the Howard County philosophy of heterogeneous grouping. Some of these criteria include, but are not limited to:
• the personality of the child
• the balance of female and male students
• racial and ethnic diversity
• written output
• test results
• reading strengths and needs
• special education requirements; IEP goals
• structured versus non-structured needs
• information from previous teachers and school counselor/Student Services team
There are certain concerns that we cannot consider as part of this consideration form: therefore we ask that you not use this form to propose the following:
• specific teacher requests
• placement based on siblings’ experiences
• grouping based on friends
• grouping based on hearsay about teachers or other children
Your input on this form will be used in our planning for your child rather than a letter requesting a specific teacher. Your response is OPTIONAL but is a very valuable source of information to the school staff and to the next teacher. If a situation arises over the summer that changes the information you write on this form, please email Mrs. Moraff (Principal) as soon as possible.
If you have multiple students, please submit a separate form for each of them. Your time and input is greatly valued! (You may opt to fill in "N/A" for any section of the form.)
This form is only for rising Kindergarten through 5th graders. Current 5th grade parents do not need to fill out the form.
Please access our Parent Consideration Form here.
Thank you in advance for your valuable input!
Celebrating Student Birthdays at school
How are birthdays celebrated at Hammond ES.
Student birthdays are celebrated each morning by announcing the child’s name as part of the morning announcements and then the student comes to the media center for a special birthday pencil. In alignment with the HCPSS Health & Wellness and Food Policies, we ask that families do not send in a food item if you choose to celebrate your child’s birthday in the classroom. In lieu of a food item, you may send in non-edible items such as stickers, pencils, erasers, or your child may wish to donate a book to the classroom library or media center in honor of his/her special day. No balloons or food of any kind may be brought into the classroom.
How are party invitations handed?
Invitations to birthday or other personal events should not take place at school. Please do not send your child to school with invitations for birthdays or parties. Invitations should be delivered outside of school. Each grade level PTA family liaison may have access to a school directory for families who wish to share their contact information. This may be used to contact your child’s classmates during the year for these types of activities.
Lost & Found
Currently, items in our Lost & Found are displayed in the front hallway. You will need your driver's license to sign in to view the Lost & Found. As always, we ask that you label all coats, jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles and other items that your children bring to school so we can easily return lost items. Any unclaimed items will be donated next week.
Enrichment Fair
Did you participate in a seminar this year? Share your experience and expertise at the fair — sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4BACAC28A7F58-56555822-student#/
A Note from Music - Spring Chorus Concert
The Hammond Elementary School 4th and 5th Grade Chorus Spring Concert is on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 7:00-8:00pm in the Hammond High School auditorium (report time is 6:30pm). The concert will feature our 4th and 5th grade Chorus and the Hammond Middle School Choruses. Friends and families are welcome to attend our evening concert. Be sure to stay for the entire concert for a special combined elementary and middle school performance at the end! There will be in-school performances for Hammond Elementary School students and staff during the school day on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Please come out to support our singing musicians!
Grade 5 Simulated Congressional Hearings
Dear 5th Grade Parents and Guardians,
Please join us on Friday, May 23rd here at Hammond Elementary for our Simulated Congressional Hearings (SCH). Hearings will take place from 10:15-1:00 in the 5th grade learning cottages. More specific details about your child's presentation will be provided the closer we get to the hearings.
Come Be an SCH Judge
The 5th Grade Team would like to invite you to be a judge in Hammond Elementary’s 2025 We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Simulated Congressional Hearings (SCH). This is a great opportunity for you to be involved in an inspiring and uplifting event that showcases what our students have learned. It would be an honor to have you judge in-person for our 2025 SCH.
Our SCH is scheduled for Friday, May 23rd from approximately 8:30-1:30. A finalized schedule will be sent out to those who elect to participate.
This event is a performance assessment that culminates our fifth-graders’ year of social studies instruction. The students will serve as experts on issues related to the constitution. Your role will be to simulate the role of a congressperson by listening to students, asking questions, and providing feedback. For those that have judged before, this year we have made several improvements to ensure what you see and hear is truly what the students have learned. The responsibility is on the students to compile their speech and research the follow-up questions.
You do NOT need to be a constitutional scholar to be a great judge. It will be the students’ job to teach you. We will provide all the training you need on the morning of the event prior to the start of the hearings. The civic participation of community members like you is critical to the success of the program.
To respond to this invitation, please RSVP online at: http://tinyurl.com/2025-SCH-RSVP .
Field Day is May 30
Field day is two weeks away, Friday May 30th! We still have some volunteer spots left. Please click the link if you are able to help. Email Ms. Serpico if you have any questions.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DA5A728A2F58-56651762-2025#/
Literacy Night at the Ballpark: May 30
Thanks for having your child(ren) participate in Hammond's "Literacy Night at the Ballpark" event! All student tickets, adult tickets, and information about upgrading your seats have been distributed. We look forward to you joining us for a fun and engaging evening where we'll celebrate the joy of reading while enjoying a baseball game.
Event Details:
- Date: May 30
- Time: 7:00
- Location: Prince George's Stadium
What to Expect:
- Family-friendly baseball game
- Glow in the Park Dance Party
- A chance to connect with other families who love reading
5th Grade End of the Year Celebration 2025 - Save the Date
Please join us on Tuesday, June 17th from 9:45am - 10:45am in the Hammond Middle School Gym for an end of year ceremony to honor the 2024-2025 5th Grade Classes. Beginning at 9:30am families may enter the HES front doors to proceed to the HMS Gym. Due to capacity limitations, we are asking that each student invite a maximum of 4 guests. After the end of year ceremony the HES PTA will be hosting all families and students in a celebration on the HES blacktop from 10:45am - 11:45am.
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP)
Students in grades 3-5 will take the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) during the month of April and/or May. The MCAP assessments measure student achievement on the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards in English language arts and math. To learn more about MCAP, please visit HCPSS Maryland Comprehensive Assessment page.
Students in grades 3-5 are encouraged to bring in their own corded headphones (if possible). Wireless or bluetooth headphones are not permitted during the MCAP Assessments.
Before testing, make sure your child gets a good night’s rest and eats a hearty and filling meal before testing.
Updated MCAP Testing Dates
***Makeup testing will take place during the testing window.
Students who are absent on the testing dates will participate in a makeup session during the April 7th-May 30th
Drug-Free Howard County
Teen Advisory Council - Open to Howard County students in grades 8-12. Earn Community Service Hours and make meaningful contributions to the community. Next meeting: Monday May 19, 2025, from 5:30-7:00pm on Zoom. For more information, visit: https://hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council/
Media Center News
The final day for book checkout in Media classes will be June 4. Then, we have to start getting all those books back to complete our full inventory for the summer. Books cannot stay with students for the summer. All books must be returned to the HES Media Center on or before June 10.
As part of our partnership with the Howard County Public Library, we will be doing a summer reading lesson with the librarians from the Savage Branch on June 9. All students are encouraged to keep reading and using library resources through HCPL throughout the summer!
Summer Gardeners Needed
Summer gardeners are needed to tend to the bountiful school garden. Click here for all of the details.
Attention Future Filmmakers! Video Production Camp
Summer Meal Program
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!
For more information on how to register, please see this registration guide.
Contact: GTSummer@hcpss.org or 410-313-6671.
Outdoor Recess and Weather Conditions
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 weather appropriate 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.
Important Dates 
5/16 3-Hour Early Dismissal Day- Professional Learning Day
5/20 Enrichment Fair
5/21 Spring Chorus Concert 7pm at HMS
5/23 Gr 5 Simulated Congressional Hearings,
5/23 School-wide Spirit Day: Wear Red, White & Blue
5/28 2nd Grade Read & Refresh Event with Kona Ice
5/29 Gr 5 visits Middle Schools and 3rd Grade Tie Dye Day
5/30 Field Day and Bowie Baysox Game
6/4 Cultural Arts Assembly: Japanese Drumming; Last day to checkout books in media
6/5 Gr 5 In-house Field Trip with HoCo Conservancy: OWLS
6/6 Schools dismiss three hours early
6/9 Gr 3 In-house Field Trip with Science Guys; HCPL Summer Reading Program visits during RA
6/9-6/13 Full school day
6/10 All books due back to media
6/11 Gr 1 Celebration (refer to Canvas for information)
6/12 Gr 2 Celebration (refer to Canvas for information)
6/13 Kindergarten Perfomance and Celebration; Grades 3 & 4 Celebrations (refer to Canvas for information)
6/16 Gr 5 Picnic (refer to Canvas for information)
6/16 -6/17 Schools dismiss three hours early
6/17 Gr 5 Ceremony & Celebration
6/18 Last day of school; schools dismiss 3 hours early