August 28, 2025
- A Message from Admin
- Bookmark the School's Website
- 4th & 5th Grade Band, Orchestra & Chorus Sign-Up
- Music Back-to-School Night
- Update Your Student/Family Emergency Information Today!
- How to Report Student Absences
- Volunteering Requirments
- Car Loop Protocol
- HoCo Recreation & Parks - Fall 2025 Before & After School Classes
- Important Dates
A Message from Admin
Dear HES families,
What a fantastic start to the school year! It truly feels as if we never left. We are so impressed with how quickly our students have settled in and embraced the school routines—it’s a testament to their resilience and readiness to learn.
It has been a joy to see so many familiar faces return and to warmly welcome many new ones into our Hammond community. We’re excited for all that this school year has in store and look forward to growing and learning together.
This year, we continue our commitment to fostering a school environment that is safe, warm, welcoming, and productive for all. Over the course of this week and next, Ms. Mapson and I will be meeting with all students to review our roles as administrators, and go over Hammond Elementary’s expectations and policies in a kid-friendly way. We are truly excited to have face time with every student and to build strong, supportive connections from the very beginning.
As always, please remember that we are a team. We are here to support you as you navigate your child’s school experience and partner with us to ensure their success. Communication is key, and we encourage you to stay connected through our school newsletter, Tiger Tales, which is sent out every other Thursday. Be sure to read each issue carefully to stay informed about important updates, events, and happenings throughout the school.
We’re looking forward to a great year ahead!
Warmly,
Heather Moraff, Principal
Nykia Mapson, Assistant Principal
Bookmark the School's Website
This is a valuable tool for up-to-date information, calendars and absence reporting. Check this resource before calling the school as you may find the answers to your questions.
4th & 5th Grade Band, Orchestra & Chorus Sign-Up
This year, band, orchestra and chorus will be offered in 4th and 5th grade. Please use the links below to register your student. Mrs. Jacobs will continue as our orchestra teacher, and we are happy to welcome Mrs. Yeager as our new band teacher. Our choral teachers are Mrs. Sanders and Mr. Burrows.
Band: bit.ly/hesbandregistration25
Orchestra: bit.ly/hesorchestraregistration25
Chorus sign up https://forms.gle/h8VCDrMumU4PToiv6
Music Back-to-School Night
All Orchestra and Band families are invited to attend our Music Back to School Night on Thursday, September 18 from 6:00-6:30pm in the Media Center. This will be an informational session for those families in 4th Grade and 5th Grade whose children have signed up to participate in Orchestra or Band this year. Please contact your child's orchestra or band teacher for more information.
Mrs. Jacobs (Orchestra): brittany_jacobs@hcpss.org
Mrs. Yeager (Band): elizabeth_yeager@hcpss.org
Update Your Student/Family Emergency Information Today!
Every year it is important for parents/guardians to verify and/or update emergency information for each child. At this time only 59% of our parents have updated the Family File. This is completed online in Family File, which has several new updates, including how and where to access. Full details on updating your Family File are available online.
It only takes a couple minutes now to save time in case of an emergency later!
How to Report Student Absences
Please complete the Absences Reporting Form found on our school website to report your child's full day absence. (Early pick-ups and late arrivals will be entered on the forms at school; not on this online form.) This form will alert the school of your child's absence and will serve as an absence note for your child's return. You are not required to send a separate note after completing this form. If your child has been absent for five or more days due to illness, a doctor's note is appreciated.
You do not need to call the school to report an absence, simply use this form.
Is your child arriving late to school? Your child must be in their classroom by 9:25am
Tardiness should be a rare occurrence and avoided to the best of your ability. Let’s work together to give your child the best start to their day possible. Please do your very best to have them in their classroom by 9:25. You may need to look at your morning routine if you are noticing a trend of being tardy. Perhaps set your alarm a few minutes earlier. We appreciate your attention to this very important issue.
Late Arrival Procedure: . You will need to park and escort your child into the building. Parents must sign any tardy students in on the appropriate sheet It is not necessary to call nor do you need to use the absence reporting forms. Simply come to school and sign them in. Children dropped off without a parent signing them in will be given an unexcused tardy.
Volunteering Requirements
As opportunities become available to volunteer, it is required that all volunteers complete a multi-step training prior to entering the school building. Certifications must be renewed each school year. Once the certificates of completion have been filed at school, they are valid for the remainder of the current school year. Please follow this link for all of the details: https://forms.gle/Yv8NtkmRm6D7Lre46
- Child Abuse Training
- Confidentiality Training Course
- Please FILL OUT THIS FORM to confirm that you have completed all trainings: https://forms.gle/Yv8NtkmRm6D7Lre46
- E-mail your completed certificates to Melissa_Verna@hcpss.org, or bring hard copies to the front office.
Car Loop Protocol
- Car Loop Arrival for Pickup: Do not arrive in the car loop for elementary pickup before 3:20 PM. The middle school dismissal is still in progress at that time. If you arrive early and attempt to enter or park in the loop, you will be asked to exit the campus and return after 3:20 PM. Arriving early causes delays in the middle school’s dismissal process.
- No Parking in the Car Loop: Cars should never be left parked and unattended in the car loop, including the entire top loop of the parking lot. Doing so causes backups, traffic congestion, and unsafe situations as cars attempt to pass one another.
- Stay in Line, Do Not Pass: Please remain in the car loop line and do not attempt to pass other vehicles. Passing creates dangerous conditions and increases the risk of accidents.
- Follow Staff Directions: Our staff are outside each day to ensure the safety of students, families, and one another. We ask that you listen to and follow their directions at all times.
- Car Loop Signs: All families using the car loop for dismissal must display their car loop sign in the windshield or passenger-side window. This helps staff quickly and safely match students to the correct vehicle.
We sincerely thank you for your cooperation and for partnering with us to keep arrival and dismissal safe and smooth for everyone. Your support makes a big difference in protecting our students and maintaining an efficient process.
Howard County Recreation & Parks - Fall 2025 Before & After School Classes
These classes provide fun, structured, educational, and enriching activities for students on site at Hammond ES, benefitting both the child(ren) and parents! families can register for before/after school classes offered at Hammond ES by HCRP: Hammond ES Registration Page.
Important Dates
Mon. 9/1 Labor Day - Schools and Offices closed
Wed. 9/17 Schools close 3 hours early. HES will dismiss at 12:35pm
Thur. 9/18 Music Back to School Night 6:00-6:30pm in the Media Center
Tue. 9/23 Schools and Offices closed
Thur. 10/2 Schools and Offices closed