Volunteers can sign up HERE

• October 21st - HCPSS Schools Closed for Students

• October 24th - HCPSS Schools Closed for Students

• October 27th - LoES PTA Trunk or Treat & Chili Cook-Off

• November 14th - 18th - American Education Week

• November 21st & 22nd - Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

Click HERE to access the full HCPSS calendar for the 2022 - 2023 school year

Volunteers can sign-up HERE

Click and scroll on the calendar below for color day rotation information for related arts classes

Attention, writers! If you're in grades 1-5 and interested in submitting an original poem or short story for the Young Authors' Contest, please see the flyer for more information. This information will also be shared on your grade level Canvas page. Happy writing!

Have you completed your Family File for the 22-23 school year? If not, PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR STUDENT(S) FAMILY FILE ASAP!

Did you know that completion of your Family File will:

• allow you to view your child's teacher assignment in Synergy on August 24th

• provide emergency information to the school in case of an unexpected event

• provide the school with transportation information so we know how your child will arrive and dismiss from school

• let you sign up for the PTA directory so that you can connect with other families at LoES

• allow you to sign up to receive messages (email and texts) from HCPSS and LoES

• much more . . .

Please follow the directions below to complete/update your Family File:

ALL Families (returning and those new to HCPSS & LoES) should complete the Family File now.

Only families who have completed the Family File will be able to see their student(s) homeroom teacher during orientation week.

Every year HCPSS parents must complete a Family File for each child. HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to complete emergency information. Parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child, and can do so by logging in to HCPSS Connect PARENT ACCOUNT and selecting the MORE OPTIONS tab on the left, and then clicking on Family File.

Once logged in, you will be asked to update or provide the following information:

• Student Information

• Parent/Guardian Contact

• Emergency Contacts

• Medical Information

• Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

• Photo Approval Data Confidentiality

• PTA/PTSA Directory

https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-quick-guide.pdf

• FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (ENGLISH) - https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-user-instructions.pdf

• FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (SPANISH) - https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-user-instructions-spanish.pdf

LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY will be hosting an in-school dental clinic for students offered by Smile Maryland Program on 11/14/2022. Watch for permission forms to come home with your student. Please fill out the permission form for your student to be seen. Signing up is easy and convenient:

Please return the paper permission form to the health room by 10/24/22 or

Use the QR code below to sign up your student or

Use this link https://www.myschooldentist.com

Please contact the health room at 410-313-6882 with questions.

Check out the events happening within and around our community

Navigating HCPSS

Join HCPSS and the Council of Elders (TCOE) virtually on Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for an engaging session regarding how to effectively maintain communication with your child’s school. HCPSS staff will provide a parent demonstration on how to monitor student performance utilizing school system online resources. Additionally, families will receive strategies to help ensure successful parent-teacher conferences. This session is for families of students in elementary, middle, and high school. To register, please complete the registration form linked here. Please see the TCOE Navigating HCPSS flier for more information.

Spanish Translation

Free Parenting Classes for Parents/Guardians/Grandparents Starting Soon! Adults can learn how to help kids avoid risky behaviors, all while learning how to say NO to drugs and alcohol. HC DrugFree is pleased to present another series of Guiding Good Choices, an evidence-based, interactive prevention program that provides families with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs and alcohol or engage in other dangerous behaviors, for Howard County parents, guardians, and grandparents. This program will meet via Zoom for 5 class sessions (September 21, 28 and October 12, 19, 26) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information or to register visit https://hcdrugfree.org/2022/02/guiding-good-choices-free-classes-for-parents-2/ or email Parenting@HCDrugFree.org

8^th – 12^th Grade Students: HC DrugFree's Teen Advisory Council is open to all Howard County students in grades 8 through 12. This is a great opportunity to help prepare younger students for success in high school while allowing older students to develop their leadership and mentoring skills. The registration form is available at https://hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council/ . Community service hours available. Email your registration to admin@hcdrugfree.org or mail a hard copy the office. To register for the upcoming meetings on Monday, September 19 or Monday, October 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. click on the TAC Registration links next to each date https://hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council/

Medication and Sharps Collection: Clean out your unwanted and expired medicines and sharps! The next convenient drive-thru collection will be held on Saturday, October 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot (near the Swim Center). Community service hours available. HC DrugFree and the Howard County Police invite families, student/adult groups, scout troops, religious organizations, and sports teams, etc. to volunteer to join us. Medically-trained adult volunteers are needed (nurses, EMTs, pharmacists, chiropractors, etc.) to help safely handle the medication and sharps collected. For more information and to volunteer, visit https://hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day-1/ , contact Admin@hcdrugfree.org or leave a message at 443-325-0040.

Stay Informed about What’s Happening in Howard County: Sign up for HC DrugFree’s newsletter at https://hcdrugfree.org/enews-signup/ to get updates on events as well as information to keep your family safe and informed.

Policy 1060 - Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment & Intimidation - All students have the right to be free from bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation. Bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation of any person on school property or at school-related activities is prohibited. The Board of Education is committed to providing a safe, engaging, productive, and supportive school and work environment that values diversity and commonality. The Board is also committed to fostering a climate where individuals are valued and their safety and rights are protected. The Board prohibits acts of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation because they compromise the learning environment and well-being of students, employees, and community. - view the full policy HERE.

• Report incidents of Bullying HERE

Policy 9020 - Students' Rights & Responsibilities - Students may exercise their rights and responsibilities as long as they do not interfere with the rights of others or a school’s ability to provide a safe and supportive environment. Additionally, students are responsible for making choices that affirm a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment, conducting themselves with integrity, and assuring their actions are aligned with the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct. - view the full policy HERE.

Policy 9260 - Student Search and Seizure - The Board of Education of Howard County is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment, free from dangerous or illegal items and those items that constitute a violation of Board policy. In order to ensure safety and security practices consistently across the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), the Board authorizes statutorily designated employees to conduct reasonable searches of a student and of the student’s possessions on school property or during any school-sponsored activity in accordance with Maryland law and this policy. The Board expects that every effort is made to conduct searches and seizures of a student’s possessions in a manner which will minimize disruption to the normal school routine, minimize embarrassment to students affected, and respect students’ rights. - view the full policy HERE.

Policy 1050 - Alcohol, Drug, and Tobacco Free Environment - The Board of Education of Howard County is committed to promoting and providing an alcohol, drug, and tobacco free academic environment for all students that maintains appropriate safeguards for the administration of prescription medication and over-the-counter medication. The Board of Education of Howard County believes that collaboration with parents and the larger community is essential to its success in providing this safe and nurturing environment. - view the full policy HERE.

Policy 10020 - Use of School Facilities - Public school facilities in Howard County are devoted primarily to instructional programs and school-sponsored activities. Nonetheless, the Board of Education of Howard County recognizes that facilities paid for by the taxpayers of Howard County should be utilized to the fullest extent possible. It is the determination of the Board that the interests of the Howard County community merit the use of the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) facilities. Thus, the use of school facilities for community purposes is encouraged by the Board and is in accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland. - view the full policy HERE.