Instructional Technology Newsletters

The following communication is being sent to families of 3rd - 12th graders on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. via phone call, email, and text:

For over 20 years, Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) school counselors have administered Wellness Needs Assessments. The results of the assessment are used to determine how HCPS staff can provide more direct and specific supports to our students. We hope you will encourage your child to share their true thoughts and feelings as we look to provide as supportive and nurturing a school environment as possible for all students.

Students do not have to participate in the Wellness Needs Assessment with the school counselor and can let their school counselor know if they do not want to participate. You may also send an email to your student’s school counselor to make them aware if you do not want your child to participate in the Wellness Needs Assessment.

The following communication is being sent to all families on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. via email, text, and app push notification:
Good evening,
This is an important calendar reminder.
HCPS schools will close three hours early on Friday, September 22, 2023. Additionally, HCPS schools AND offices will be closed on Monday, September 25, 2023 in observance of Yom Kippur.
Calendar information for the entire 2023-2024 school year can be found on hcps.org.

Click here to see current survey results!

The following message is being shared directly with all contacts via phone, email, and text Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.:

The Board of Education of Harford County is seeking your feedback on the proposed 2024-2025 school calendar.

At the September 18 Board of Education business meeting, two proposed calendars were shared with the Board- one starting before Labor Day and the second, starting after Labor Day. You can watch the presentation on the Board Archive page. A survey has been created to collect your feedback on the proposed calendars. The survey also provides an opportunity for additional comments at the end of the survey.

Your input is vital to ensuring all perspectives are considered when creating the next HCPS calendar. This process is taking place now because it is Board policy to finalize the calendar at least 8 months prior to the first day of school.

We are asking parents and guardians, staff, and community members to provide input for the next 60 days before the Board votes on the final 2024-2025 HCPS calendar on December 18, 2023. Be sure to "refresh" your browser to see the most recent results for the survey!

The following message is being sent to parents and guardians of students in grade 12 via phone, email, and text message at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. All HCPS app users will receive a push notification:

Since 1970, the Maryland Page Program provides an opportunity for high school seniors to serve alongside Maryland legislators during the annual session of the Maryland General Assembly. Each year, only 105 pages and 36 alternates are selected from across the State to represent their schools and counties in Annapolis. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a front-row seat to see government in action and to impact legislation that impacts all of Maryland!

Click Here for the Application

Click Here to Hear from Past Student Pages

Selected pages serve two nonconsecutive weeks, during the thirteen weeks of session. During the 13 weeks of session, which runs from the second week in January to early April, each page serves one week during the first seven weeks and returns for a second week of service during the last six. The duties of the page revolve around the schedule of the chamber. Whenever the chamber is in session, pages must be present. Each page is paid a stipend of $55 per day worked to help defray expenses. Lodging and meals must be paid for by the page. Lodging is arranged by the Page Office for pages outside Anne Arundel County who request housing.

Students interested in being considered to serve as a Page should complete this application Form by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2023.

The following message is being sent to parents and guardians of students in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 via phone, email, and text message at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2023. All HCPS app users will receive a push notification:

Harford County Public Schools invites you to our Magnet and Technical Programs Information Nights.

These meetings have been scheduled from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on September 19th at North Harford High School, September 21st at Aberdeen High School, September 26th at Havre de Grace High School, September 28th at Harford Technical High School, October 3rd at Edgewood High School and October 9th at Joppatowne High School.

The programs that will be discussed are the Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School; the Global Studies/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Edgewood High School; the Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences Program at North Harford High School; Oracle Academy at Havre de Grace High School; Junior Reserve Training Corps or JROTC, Pathways in Technology Early College High School, or PTECH, at Joppatowne High School; Teacher Academy of Maryland, and Harford Technical High School.

Please visit https://www.hcps.org/schools/magnetprograms/ for information regarding HCPS Magnet programs, including Open house details. You can also contact your school of interest directly with questions or for more information.

The following communication is being sent to parents of 8th grade student at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

For the 2024-2025 school year, 8th grade students who are applying to the Teacher Academy of Maryland Magnet may be offered seats in either Edgewood High School or North Harford High School via an established lottery process.

Students currently enrolled in TAM at Harford Technical High School will continue the program at Harford Technical high School through their graduation.

The following communication is being sent to parents and guardians of 5th grade students on August 29, 2023 at 5 p.m.

Dear Parents and Guardians of fifth-grade students,

This school year, your student will take part in an amazing opportunity at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. The Fifth Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program is an overnight program and part of your student’s Environmental Stewardship unit. The hands-on learning opportunities at Harford Glen cannot be replicated in the classroom.

Staff at Harford Glen will host eight Open Houses for you to bring your student, learn about the program and visit the facility.

The Open Houses should take approximately 30 minutes and are self-guided, allowing you to explore the grounds, and facilities, on your own. Harford Glen staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Open House dates:
- Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 19, 2023 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, February 16, 2024 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

If Harford County Public Schools closes schools on any of the above dates, the Open House that day will be canceled.

For more information about the Harford Glen programs, click here.

Thank you,
Jillian Lader
Manager of Communications

The following message is being sent to all staff, parents and guardians via phone, email, and text message as well as HCPS app push notification Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.:

This is the first communication via our new communications platform. As shared in yesterday’s communications, each parent and guardian who is on file to receive information for their student, as well as each HCPS staff member, should receive this communication via phone, email, and text message if you've provided a mobile device. This message will also be sent via a push notification to the HCPS app with this first outreach.

Feel free to opt out of platforms on which you do not wish to receive messages. As we have done in the past, each future message will also contain the opportunity to opt out of future messages.

If you did not receive this communication via one of the modes of communication listed, parents and guardians should contact their school to ensure your information is correct with your school office. Staff should verify their contact information in Employee Self Serve.

Schools are transitioning from the old communication system through August 31. At that time, all communications moving forward, whether systemwide or school based, will be sent via the new communication platform.

We ask for your patience in advance as we all get used to navigating and utilizing the new system.

The following message will be sent Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. to all parents and guardians in our current communication system:

This is an important message for all parents and guardians about future communications.

As of tomorrow, August 23, 2023, we will transition to a new communications system. This system will utilize the contact information you provide to your school to call, text, email, and identify your home address in situations where a geographic area is used to send communications.

The new communication system will no longer utilize a Parent Portal to set preferences or to ensure all parents and guardians receive communications. Now, each parent and guardian listed on your student’s file and approved to receive communications from the school will receive communications via phone, email, and text message. Please ensure the phone number on file at your school for each parent/guardian is accurate. If you wish to receive text messages in addition to phone calls, or in lieu of phone calls, please ensure you provide that mobile phone number to your school office. Make sure all home addresses are accurate for each parent or guardian in the case of a geographic emergency in which we need to notify you based on your home address.

I will send an initial communication via phone, email, and text message to each parent or guardian tomorrow, when we transition to the new system. At that time, you will have the opportunity to opt-out of any form of communication you prefer not to receive.

School administrators will have use of the previous communications system until August 31. At that time, systemwide and school-based communications will all transition to the new system.

I also want to take this time to remind you of the HCPS app. When we transition to the new communications system, all systemwide communications will be sent as push notifications through the HCPS app, too. You can set your app preferences to receive notifications via the app and then determine whether you also wish to receive phone, text, and email, or any combination of the previously mentioned. We will also continue to post systemwide communications on the green News Alert on hcps.org as well as via social media channels.

We will continue to share this information over the next few weeks via our social media channels to ensure all families have an opportunity to ensure there is no disruption or missed messages moving forward.

The following is being sent to all parents/guardians via EMAIL ONLY at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2023:

If your student is a Medicaid member, their Free and Reduced-Price Meals status could be affected if you don't renew your membership when you receive your notice. If your student is a Medicaid member, be sure to follow up when Maryland Health Connection reaches out. Contact them directly with questions. Click here for their flyer.

Click here for the HCPS Health Center.
Click here to complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals application.

The following message is being sent Thursday, August 10, 2023 to all contacts via email ONLY:

Please be advised that we have been made aware of unauthorized web sites and smart phone apps that accept Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) student credentials, potentially stealing your students’ credentials and or misusing them.

Parents and guardians should check their student's personal devices for apps and web site access to prevent them from unknowingly giving access to their personal information. We use security measures on HCPS devices to ensure this doesn’t happen, but we can’t protect your personal devices. Only you can ensure your student isn’t using an app or visiting a site that may be collecting information in the background!

All HCPS approved apps and platforms are listed on hcps.org; if we haven’t endorsed it, don’t use it. If you want to ask about a specific app/platform, contact User.Support@hcps.org.

The following communication was sent to all Parents and Guardians on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 5 p.m.:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Harford County Public Schools, with support from a generous grant from the Harford County Health Department, is pleased to offer Care Solace to all students, staff, and their family members. Care Solace helps individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their care companion team is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and 365 days per year to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in your community. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances and even options for those without insurance. This referral process is at no cost to you or the school system.

For more information on Care Solace, how to connect someone, or how to utilize Care Solace yourself, please watch this Parent Academy Real Talk video.

Parents/guardians and staff may access Care Solace services by utilizing the Care Solace website or calling (888) 515-0595. Support is available in 200+ languages. Parents/guardians can also call their child’s school to have administration or student services staff complete a referral on their behalf.

Thank you,

Jillian Lader
Manager of Communications
Harford County Public Schools

The following communication was sent to families on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 5 p.m.:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

During the most recent legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly moved the date of the primary election for the State of Maryland. As a result, the primary elections will be held on May 14, 2023, instead of April 23, 2024.

The Board of Education of Harford County (BOE) originally approved the 2023-2024 school year calendar at the Board of Education Business Meeting on December 19, 2022. As a result of the election date change, the BOE voted on Monday, May 22, 2023, to make the following adjustment to the 2023-2024 school year calendar:

HCPS schools and offices will be open on April 23, 2024, and schools and offices will be closed on May 14, 2024, to allow our schools to to function as polling places for the election.

Calendar information can be found here.

Thank you,
Jillian Lader
Manager of Communications
Harford County Public Schools

The following message was sent to parents and guardians on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Harford County Public Schools has launched an app for your phone that is now available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The app is designed to give you a centralized, customizable, easy to navigate resource to get important HCPS information. Using the app, you will be able to check your student’s accounts like MySchoolBucks, GoFan, and School Cash Online and see what’s on the upcoming breakfast and lunch menus, learn about what is going on in our schools, access a school and staff directory, and follow us on our social media platforms.

We encourage all our families to stay up to date with what is going on in our schools, and an easy way to do that is by downloading the app!

To download, click here. Or you can go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, search for Harford County Public Schools, and click on the app with the HCPS logo.

What are you waiting for? Download the app today!

Thank you,
Jillian Lader
Manager of Communications

The following message will be sent to all contacts December 21, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. via phone, email, and text message:

The 2023-2024 HCPS Calendar was presented to the Board of Education at the December 19, 2022 Board Business meeting for final approval. Thank you to the Calendar Committee for their time and consideration, and to those who provided feedback to the proposed calendar online and in person. You can view the calendar presentation and discussion from the Board of Education meeting on December 19, 2022 in its entirety here.

Visit the calendar page on hcps.org to review the Board approved HCPS 2023-24 Color-Coded Calendar. As soon as other traditionally posted versions of the calendar are ready, the calendar page will be updated on the website.