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August 27, 2025
Hello, Hollymead Families!
There is a lot of new information in this week's Buzz! Please see below for details on school safety drills, our first School Wide Morning Meeting, and the new Raptor visitor sign-in system.
Mark your calendar for next Thursday, September 4 for our combined Back-to-School Night and Family Literacy Night! Back to School activities will be from 5:00-6:00 and families are welcome to stay from 6:00-7:00 for Literacy Night!
Have a wonderful rest of your week and a terrific Labor Day weekend!
Joe McCauley & Kim Gentry
Hollymead Administrative Team
School Safety Drills for the 2025-26 School Year
In the first weeks of school, we have our students and staff participate in a number of safety practice drills related to a variety of scenarios. While most families are familiar with the common drills such as lockdowns and fire drills, starting this year, all schools in ACPS will be practicing several new drills designed to meet the safety needs of a variety of urgent scenarios. Below is a brief description of the safety drills we will have in our school this year:
Hold - During this drill, students and staff stay in their classrooms. Hallways are kept clear. We may use this if someone needs medical help, or if there’s a specific situation that requires privacy or calm in common areas.
Hold - During this drill, students and staff stay in their classrooms. Hallways are kept clear. We may use this if someone needs medical help, or if there’s a specific situation that requires privacy or calm in common areas.
Secure - Doors are locked and no one enters or exits the building, but school continues as usual inside. This drill is practiced for scenarios such as when there is something unsafe outside the school. For example, we may use this if there is police activity in the area or an animal on school grounds.
Secure - Doors are locked and no one enters or exits the building, but school continues as usual inside. This drill is practiced for scenarios such as when there is something unsafe outside the school. For example, we may use this if there is police activity in the area or an animal on school grounds.
Lockdown - There is a potential violent threat inside or very close to the school. Students and staff take immediate steps to stay safe based on the situation. This is used when there is a threat of violence from a dangerous person, such as an armed intruder, inside or near the school. Note: During a serious threat of violence, our schools follow the ALICE Protocol (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) to help staff and students make informed decisions based on the situation around them and ensure student safety. We will inform you prior to having this drill in September.
Lockdown - There is a potential violent threat inside or very close to the school. Students and staff take immediate steps to stay safe based on the situation. This is used when there is a threat of violence from a dangerous person, such as an armed intruder, inside or near the school. Note: During a serious threat of violence, our schools follow the ALICE Protocol (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) to help staff and students make informed decisions based on the situation around them and ensure student safety. We will inform you prior to having this drill in September.
Evacuate - All students and staff leave the building and go to a designated safe place. This may happen because of a fire, gas leak, or other emergency inside the school. We hold these drills monthly throughout the school year.
Evacuate - All students and staff leave the building and go to a designated safe place. This may happen because of a fire, gas leak, or other emergency inside the school. We hold these drills monthly throughout the school year.
Shelter - Students and staff take cover for safety. This is most often used during severe weather or environmental emergencies. We typically hold this drill in the second semester of school.
Shelter - Students and staff take cover for safety. This is most often used during severe weather or environmental emergencies. We typically hold this drill in the second semester of school.
We recognize the importance of preparing students for these drills in a way that protects their social and emotional well being. Teachers and staff instruct all students on these safety protocols, so the instructions are clear, and the students know that we are doing all we can to ensure they are safe at school.
Please feel free to contact either one of us on the administrative team if you have any questions or concerns regarding these drills.
Reminder - School Wide morning Meeting This Friday at 8:00AM ALL ARE WELCOME!
See information below about signing in ahead of time via the Raptor system. You can also sign in when you arrive at school.
New Visitor Sign-in System for ACPS Schools
You may have noticed that Hollymead, along with all schools in ACPS has begun using VisitorSafe, a new visitor check-in system from Raptor Technologies. This replaces our old check-in system. VisitorSafe helps us keep our school safe and makes check-in faster for families and guests.
How It Works:
How It Works:
When you visit during the school day:
Check in at the front office or kiosk. If you have a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, scan it. The system will take your photo, ask you to choose your reason for visiting, and print a personalized visitor badge.
If you do not have a government-issued photo ID, our front office staff can type your information into the system and print your badge.
How VisitorSafe Helps Keep Our School Safe
How VisitorSafe Helps Keep Our School Safe
VisitorSafe checks all visitor names against sex offender registries in all 50 U.S. states and any safety lists set by the school or division, such as custody orders or banned visitor lists. If a visitor is flagged as a safety risk, school officials are notified immediately.
Additionally, VisitorSafe helps our school by keeping accurate records of who is in the building in real time and making check-in faster and easier for families, volunteers, and guests.
Sign-In for School Wide Events -
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for our first SWMM on Friday, 8/29 at 8am
In addition to regular sign-in, VisitorSafe technology allows for an efficient and secure sign in for school events where multiple families arrive at the same time. Families will be provided a link in a school communication that allows you to register in advance for an event. Once signed up for the event, you will be provided a barcode. When arriving at the school the day of the event, families will simply scan their barcode to sign and and sign out. This process will allow for continued safety of our school community, even during larger school wide events such as morning meetings, concerts, and assemblies when families are invited. Be on the lookout for your first event invite for our first School Wide Morning Meeting! Here is a Digital Walkthrough of how registering for an event works!
School Family Lunch Visits
At Hollymead, we have a practice that allows families to come to school from time to time and have lunch with their children. Below is an outline of the essential procedures for a positive experience for you, your children and their peers:
Make sure to sign in at the Front Office and get a Visitor’s Badge
Please wait for your child’s class to come to the Cafeteria
Be sure to sit with your child(ren) at the cafe tables along the side
Please refrain from any cell phone use (taking pictures, sharing videos, etc) due to the privacy needs of students
At the end of lunch, please have your child line up with their peers and then exit the cafeteria.
Please do not walk your child to their classroom as this causes a disruption to the transition and to their classroom environment.
Hollymead Lunch Schedule:
11:10-11:35 - Kindergarten
11:15-11:40 - 3rd Grade
11:40-12:05 - 1st Grade
11:45-12:10 - 2nd Grade
12:20-12:45 - 4th Grade
12:15-12:40 - 5th Grade
Family Lunchtime Visit FAQs:
Q: Can I have lunch with more than one of my children?
A: Yes! If they are in the same grade, or in grades that eat at the same time, you certainly may. If not, we ask that you eat separately and keep with the lunch schedule above.
Q: Can I invite one of my child’s friends to join us?
A: We ask that you take this as an opportunity for special time with your child. Inviting peers can often leave other peers feeling left out.
Q: Can I sit with my child at their table?
A: Please sit at the high cafe tables with your child along the side of the cafeteria.
Q: Can I bring birthday treats to lunch?
A: We do allow modest treats to be shared by parents. Please check with your child’s teacher about any potential allergies of any students in the classroom and avoid foods that may contain them.
When all are in keeping with these practices, it truly helps make lunchtime a fun and orderly time for all of our learners. We look forward to seeing you throughout the school year!
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
Families can go to the Child Nutrition Page to fill out the application (linked here). To apply for the free and reduced lunch program, you must submit a new application each school year. This is required even if your child qualified in the past. Applications, both online and in paper form, can be found on the ACPS Child Nutrition webpage.
Student Lunch Accounts
To put money on your students lunch account, use this site to monitor and add funds as you need: www.mySchoolBucks.com
School Wide Morning Meeting Calendar
SWMM Schedule - Last Friday of Every Month
August 29 - Hosted by the Administrative Team
September 25 - Hosted by 5th Grade
October 24 - Hosted by 3rd Grade
November 21 - Hosted by 4th Grade
December 18 - Thursday Dec 18th SWA(fternoon)M - Collaborative Winter Holiday Sing-Along
January 30 - Hosted by 1st Grade
February 27 - Hosted by the Specials Team
March 27 - Hosted by 2nd Grade
April 24 - Hosted by Kindergarten
May 28 - Hosted by the Intervention Team
Other Important Updates
Morning Drop Off
Families who do car drop off, please use the car line, and do not park in the Hollymead parking lot. We have a number of families who need accommodations for drop off and need access to the visitor and the disabled parking spots. Thank you!
Important - Car Pick-Up at Dismissal
Families, please be sure to keep your car plate with your family name on it on the passenger's side of your dashboard every day for pick up. This will help all of our staff members identify your vehicle and get your child to you more quickly.
From the Hollymead Health Office
Many of our children at Hollymead require health plans and support for a variety of needs. Linked below are a number of forms that families may need for health care plans and medication administration forms. Forms and any should be filled out by both families and physicians and any necessary medications sent in prior to the start of school!
Asthma Action Plan Allergy Action Plan
Seizure Action Plan Diabetes Management Plan
Please reach out to our School Nurse, Ms. Ashleigh Wright with any health related questions or concerns. You may contact her via e-mail at awright5@k12albemalre.org
Click on the link above to view our list of recommended school supplies by grade level.
Click on the link above to view the wish list of essential supplies for classrooms.
Click on the link above to view the wish list of snacks for classrooms.
Calendar Dates
Labor Day Holiday NO SCHOOL - September 1
Back to School Night and Literacy Night - Thursday, September 4, 5:00-7:00PM
Teacher Workday NO SCHOOL - Friday, September 26
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