HCPSS News HCPSS News Recent News Building a Data-Driven Support System That Works for All → HCPSS Partnership Supports Mental Health and Well-Being → HCPSS Names 2026 Principal and Teachers of the Year → Agricultural Awareness Day Exposes 7th Graders to Career Possibilities → HCPSS Hosts Inaugural Countywide Cultural Showcase → HCPSS Food and Nutrition Services Survey Open Though May 15, 2026 → Running Brook ES Teacher Named Maryland’s Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year → Understanding the New PreK–12 Maryland Mathematics Policy → Get to Know Shelby Winpigler, Speech-Language Pathologist → New HCPSS 2025-2026 School Year Calendar Adjustments → Finalists Selected for 2026-2027 Student Member of the Board → Students Bond, Learn, and Grow Together in Unified Visual Arts and Leadership Class → HCPSS Partners with South Korean School District to Facilitate Cultural and Educational Exchange → Reservoir High School Student Curler Finds Opportunity on Ice → HCPSS Students Named 2026 Carson Scholars → Free County Transit Options for HCPSS Students → Dates to Remember! Enjoy the Arts at HCPSS → Free Caregiver Wellness Workshops, January-June 2026 → An Evening on Adolescent Mental Health, April 20 → Spring College Fair, April 29 → Cedar Lane School to Host Plant Palooza: April 30-May 2 → ARL Greenhouse Plant Sale April 27-May 28, 2026 → HCPSS Class of 2026 Graduations, May 26-June 3 → System Emergency Closing Procedures In emergency situations, information will be shared with the community through the HCPSS website, email and text, and the HCPSS hotline. Parents/guardians are automatically enrolled for email notification, however all users must opt in one time to receive text messages. Text the word YES to 67587. 中文 한국어 System 2026-2027 School Year Board of Education Finalizes Attendance Area Adjustment Plan for 2026-2027 School Year Additional information on the 2026-2027 school year will be shared as it becomes available. Community Grant Supports HCPSS Apprenticeship Program A $130,000 grant from the Columbia (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated will be used to expand access to high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for students and help cover apprenticeship-related costs. Celebrations Howard HS Student Gains Hands-On Experience Through Teacher Academy HCPSS student Ryan Schwab has worked with Lime Kiln Middle School chorus teacher Caleb Lee and Lee’s students this school year through the Teacher Academy of Maryland, which affords students interested in teaching the opportunity to take teaching courses and participate in a field experience with a mentor teacher. Murray Hill AP Receives National Recognition Murray Hill Middle School Assistant Principal Dr. Rhoda Nuñez-Donnelly was named National Assistant Principal of the Year for Middle Level by the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Elementary School Principals for her outstanding leadership and strong record of service to the school and community. Staff Focus: Greg Knauf, Music Teacher, Reservoir High School Dr. Greg Knauf has directed choral activities at Reservoir High School since the school opened its doors in 2002. Throughout his time there, Knauf has sought to provide a place of belonging and community for his students, a shared sense of purpose and an appreciation for the power of music. Additional HCPSS Staff Focus Features→ Additional Get to Know Features→ Students New Options for Reporting Hate Biases Recent updates to the HCPSS Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation form allow users to report hate bias incidents as a type of harassment, and provide space for greater description of the type of hate bias to help inform HCPSS staff decisions on how to best support students and staff members. Students Excused Absences for Religious Observances In alignment with Howard County Board of Education Policy 3000 Religious Observances, a student absence for observation of a religious holiday is considered a lawful absence. Additionally, the HCPSS Student and Parent Handbook details the accommodations for religious observances. Families Canvas Features Support Families HCPSS Connect is made up of several tools, including Synergy, Canvas and Family File, all of which provide access to a variety of student information and classroom instructional tools. Learn more about Canvas, HCPSS’ Learning Management System, through which parents/guardians and students can find upcoming assignments, grades, announcements and more.