A Note From The Principal

Dear MHMS Families,

I hope that you are doing well, staying healthy, and enjoying your last days of summer.  As the summer is quickly drawing to a close, and we prepare for this 2020-2021 school year, I wanted to share a several important items with you.  

Important Dates:

Family File:  Family File is currently open for all HCPSS families to update information about their child/children for the 2020-2021 school year.  Please remember that Family File must be updated every school year.  HCPSS uses 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 http://www.hcpss.org/connect/.  Parents who have forgotten their login credentials for Family File may click the View instructions on resetting passwords. link on the sign in page. 

Parents who are new to the Howard County Public School System will receive a welcome email with instructions to activate an account. 

(Please note- change of address may not be made through Family File.  If you have recently moved, please contact our Student Services Secretary, Brenda Ganzermiller, at brenda_ganzermiller@hcpss.org, as soon as possible)

Thank you to the nearly 100 MHMS families who have already completed their Family File for the 2020-2021 school year.  We are striving for 100% Family File completion by the first day of school on September 8th. 

Chromebook/Internet Requests:  All students will need access to a device during the virtual learning that will take place through the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year.  For additional information, please visit the HCPSS website.  Please note the following:

• HCPSS will provide a Chromebook to every student in middle school within the first quarter.

• While devices are being procured, parents/guardians of middle school students currently in need of a device may request one.

• Requests will be prioritized based on students’ access to personal devices meeting the minimum requirements.

Middle and high school families can request a Chromebook using the directions below. (Elementary families do not need to request a device).

In addition to Chromebooks, any family without access to the internet should notify the school system using the directions below. HCPSS is working with the Bright Minds Foundation and Comcast to support families who may be eligible to participate in the Comcast Internet Essentials program. Additionally, HCPSS will prioritize distribution of a limited number of hot spots to families who cannot obtain access to the internet.

• Parents/guardians should log in to HCPSS Connect.

• From the left menu, last choice, select “More Options” then choose “Student Technology” from the center of the screen.

• On the HCPSS Student Technology screen, use the drop down arrows to indicate the Technology Requested for each student. Changes are saved immediately.

• If a device has already been issued, it will appear in the inventory list. If a student already has a device issued, a new request will not be processed.

• Individual schools will communicate a plan for the distribution of devices when they are available.

Middle School Supply List:  The HCPSS Middle School Supply list can be found here as well on the MHMS website.  Please note that the list includes the need for students enrolled in Algebra I or above to obtain the TI-84 Graphing Calculator.  If you need assistance obtaining a graphing calculator, please contact our Math Team Leader, Molly Schaefer at molly_schaefer@hcpss.org. 

Student Schedules:  We have received inquiries regarding accessing student schedules.  We have also heard of families finding ways to unofficially access student schedules.  Please know that we are continuing to make changes and revisions to our student schedules, and student schedules are not finalized.  Families will have official access to finalized student schedules sometime during the week of August 31st, as we get closer to September 8th, the first day of school. 

Memory Books:  At this time, we are still waiting for our Memory Books to be delivered.  As a result of COVID, the company that publishes our Memory Books, is experiencing significant delays.  We have been assured that our Memory Books are still being produced and will be delivered to us as soon as possible.  Please know that once we receive the Memory Books, we will set up a time to safely distribute them in the MHMS parking lot. 

Additionally, if you purchased spring pictures, and missed the distribution that we did early in the summer, we will also have those available to distribute, when we distribute Memory Books.  I thank you for your patience, during these unprecedented times.

Updated Address Information Needed:  As we are preparing for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year, it is imperative that we have accurate addresses on file for all of our students.  If you have moved, and have not provided us with your updated information, we ask that you email the following documents to our Student Services Secretary, Ms. Ganzermiller, at brenda_ganzermiller@hcpss.org:

• A completed a change of address form- FILLABLE_Change_of_Address.pdf  

• A copy of your new lease or deed

• A copy of a current utility bill with your new address

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out to me or to Ms. Ganzermiller.

Sincerely,

Lisa R. Smithson

Principal

Murray Hill Middle School

Murray Hill Middle School | 9989 Winter Sun Road, Laurel, MD 20723 | 410-880-5897 | mhms.hcpss.org