Dear HES Families,
We are excited to welcome you to Hammond Elementary School for American Education Week, November 16–20, 2026! This special week celebrates public education and the dedicated educators who make our schools thrive. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to visit your child’s classroom and take a glimpse into their learning at HES!
To help manage parking and classroom space, we have suggested grade-level visitation days. These dates are encouraged, but not required. If your personal or work schedule doesn’t allow you to visit on your child’s designated day, we welcome you to join us whenever you can!
Suggested Grade-Level Visit Days
- Monday, November 16: Kindergarten & 5th Grade
- Tuesday, November 17: 1st Grade
- Wednesday, November 18: 2nd Grade
- Thursday, November 19: 3rd Grade
- Friday, November 20: 4th Grade
Visitor Guidelines
- Visits are for adults only; younger siblings may not attend.
- Please sign in at the front office before entering the building.
- Families are welcome to visit throughout the school day! Ask your child which part of the day they’d most like you to experience. Some grade levels will share invitations for special activities.
Parking Reminders
- The bus loop is closed to cars from 8:20–9:30 a.m. and 3:15–4:10 p.m. to accommodate HES and middle school arrival and dismissal.
- Do not park in fire lanes, reserved spaces, or spaces marked with cones.
- Please be respectful of our neighbors and avoid parking in no-access zones.
We look forward to opening our doors and sharing the wonderful learning happening every day at HES. Thank you for being valued partners in your child’s education. We hope to see you during American Education Week!
Please also take time to review information shared by HCPSS below:
Due to safety concerns, parent lunch visits are no longer permitted at HCPSS schools. Given the number of parents/guardians and guests who visit schools during American Education Week (Nov. 16-20), HCPSS can only accommodate classroom visits and cannot make exceptions to allow for visits during lunch. In addition, parents/guardians are not permitted to attend recess.
Please plan American Education Week visits accordingly based on your child’s school and/or class schedule.
Thank you for your understanding. HCPSS looks forward to welcoming families during your child’s class time for American Education Week.
Warmly,
Heather Moraff, Principal
Nykia Mapson, Assistant Principal
Important Upcoming Reminders
- October 27th- 1st Quarter ends
- November 6th at 8 am- The scheduling window for P/T conferences opens
- November 6th- Families can view report cards in Synergy
- November 12th- Families will receive hard copy report cards in Thursday folders
- Review SBIR (Standards-Based Instruction and Reporting) information here to understand how your child is graded.
- November 19th- Scheduling window for conferences closes for parents at 4 pm
Directions on How to View Report Cards
Directions on How to Sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Halloween Costumes
As Halloween approaches, we want to remind families of HCPSS expectations for elementary school students. Students may not wear Halloween costumes to school, including costumes, capes, masks, or hats worn as part of a costume. If a student arrives at school in a costume, we may contact home to have a family member bring a change of clothes. If a change of clothes is unavailable, the student may be provided with a donated clothing item from the health room.
We also ask families to review our expectations for Halloween candy. Students may bring a single-serving amount of candy for themselves, but they may not bring large quantities of candy to school or share candy with others. We have students with food sensitivities and allergies, and we want to ensure that everyone remains safe and healthy.
Please take a moment to review these expectations with your student before Halloween. Thank you for your partnership in helping us maintain a safe, comfortable, and inclusive learning environment for all HES students. If you have questions, please contact an HES administrator.
Nominate HES 2027 Teacher of the Year
We invite current students, staff members, and families to nominate an outstanding educator for Hammond Elementary School’s 2027 Teacher of the Year.
Bullying Prevention
HCPSS recently launched a new Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation (BCHI) Reporting Form that allows students, staff, and families to easily and confidentially report concerns.
Young Authors' Contest
The Howard County Literacy Association invites students in grades 1-5 to submit their original poems and/or short stories to the annual writing contest called The Young Authors' Contest
Outdoor Recess and Weather Conditions
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 30 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index is less than 95.
Label Your Child's Items
Please label ALL items your child brings to school.
Clothing to Cash! Support HES by cleaning out your closets
Great news! Now you can clean out your closets, fill the bin by the baseball field, and benefit HES. The average school makes $1,000 a year by having a Clothing for Cash bin at their schools.