January 6, 2025 | Issue 157

PTSA Restaurant Night at Red Robin

January 9, All Day

8640 Snowden River Pkwy, Columbia

Oakland Mills Middle School PTSA will receive 20% of fundraiser sales. Make sure to show the flyer! More info & flyer

PTSA Meeting

January 27, 6:30 p.m.

OMMS Media Center

Donate to the PTSA

Support the OMMS PTSA by visiting the OMMS PTSA Givebacks Store to make a direct cash donation.

OMMS School Store

At the OMMS school store, students use the Falcon Dollars they earned for good behavior to purchase items. OMMS is still looking for donations. Very popular items: cosmetics (they love the ELF brand ) and body care products; sporting equipment; small stuffed animals; small hand sanitizers (like from BBW); and snacks. If you'd like to donate, visit the store's Amazon wishlist.

THES is hiring lunch & recess monitors!

Thunder Hill is seeking monitors to support our students during lunch and recess. Lunch and Recess Monitors support, engage, and assist students and paraeducators during multiple lunch and recess shifts. Below, please find some details regarding the position of Lunch and Recess Monitor.

• Lunch and Recess Monitors are considered HCPSS temporary employees
• Lunch and Recess hours are between 10:40 AM - 2:40 PM each day. Applicants would work a portion of this window each day. Monitors can work anywhere from 2 - 5 weekdays. (ex: 5 days, M-F or 3 days, M, W, F). The schedule can be discussed at the interview.
• Compensation is $16.00 per hour.

Communication, initiative, and flexibility are important attributes for those interested in the Lunch and Recess Monitor positions. Interested applicants can use the link below to begin the application process. Please contact Brian McMahon at brian_holcombmcmahon@hcpss.org or call us at 410-313-6922 when you have completed all parts of the application and would like an interview.

https://www.applitrack.com/hcpss/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1

THES Chorus Concert

January 8, 6:30 p.m.

THES

THES Restaurant Night at Pub Dog

January 14, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

8865 Stanford Blvd, #101, Columbia

Be sure to mention THES PTA! More info

THES Winter Band & Orchestra Concert

January 24, 6:30 p.m.

THES

THES Winter Wonderland

January 31, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

THES

Food, games, activities, & photo booth.

PTA Meeting

March 6, 6:00 p.m.

THES

School Closure Dates

January 20: schools closed

January 21 & 22: high schools 3-hr early dismissal

January 23: all schools 3-hr early dismissal

January 29: schools closed

February 5 & 6: elementary schools 3-hr early dismissal

February 7: schools closed

February 17: schools closed

Emergency/weather closings info

Attention Parents of Rising Kindergarteners: Don't Wait for Summer to Address Developmental Concerns!

If you have concerns about your child's development—whether it's their speech, motor skills, social skills, or learning—it's important to act now. Waiting until the summer for a referral can delay crucial support that your child may need before starting kindergarten.

Contact HCPSS's Child Find to schedule a screening. Call 410-313-7046 or email ChildFind@hcpss.org.

Road to Kindergarten Information Sessions

Do you have a child who will turn 5 by September 1, 2025? Come to a parent info session! All sessions run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and cover the same content.

• January 21, Hammond High School*
• January 23, Centennial High School**
• January 28, Wilde Lake High School*
• SNOW DATE: February. 4, Hammond High School**

* Spanish interpreter will be present at these sites.

** Chinese, Korean, and Spanish interpreters will be present at these sites

More info

FY2025 Operating Budget

The Superintendent will present his proposed Operating Budget on January 9 at 4:00 p.m., with the Board then holding hearings and work sessions before putting up their requested budget. Learn more.

Bright Minds Foundation Breakfast with the Superintendent

January 28, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

The Meeting House (OM Interfaith Center)

5885 Robert Oliver Place

Superintendent Bill Barnes will share his vision for the school system and how he is leading the system to become great for every student. HCPSS, Bright Minds, and several HCPSS partners also will host resource tables to highlight some of the important groups working to support Howard County students and our community.

Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased online or by check; details are available online. Proceeds from this event will support Bright Minds programs focused on improving education outcomes for Howard County students.

Questions may be emailed to Bright Minds Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Van Kirk at jennifer@brightmindsfoundation.org.

Class of 2025 Graduation Window: May 19-30, 2025

No graduations will be held on weekends or on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. Specific information regarding the dates and times of each graduation ceremony will be finalized in collaboration with Merriweather Post Pavilion and provided by mid-April. More Info.

Board of Education Meetings

• January 16, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Regularly Scheduled Meeting
• January 30, 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. – Regularly Scheduled Meeting

Board meetings may be viewed live or on-demand online, and during and after each meeting on Howard County Comcast channel 95 or Verizon channel 42. Upcoming Public Hearings can be found online.

Volunteers Needed to be Mentors

OhanaHC matches students from OMHS and three other Howard County high schools with adult mentors there to help them reach their chosen goals. More mentors are needed for OMHS students! Interested in helping? Click the button below to find out more.