Howard County Public Schools: CLOSED Wednesday

Government officials on 'liberal leave.'

The Howard County Public School System has cancelled school today as the snowstorm dubbed 'Snowquester' began dumping what the National Weather Service predicts will be up to 10 inches of snow on the area. Accordig to a statement released by the school system, in addition to classes, "All evening activities in schools, both school-sponsored and community-sponsored, are canceled. This includes high school athletic practices and games." Howard County government officials are on 'liberal leave,' meaning employees with time off can take the day off. Howard Community College will also be closed, according to its website.   This article has been edited.

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Bullying Forums Scheduled at Howard County Schools

Find out how your teen can participate in a discussion.

The Howard County Public School System is hosting a series of forums next month to let students discuss the impact of bullying on the school climate.  Each of the four events is for high school and middle school students (sign up here). Sessions are limited to 50 students apiece. The forums will be facilitated by student leaders. School officials intend to use feedback from the series to inform an anti-bullying task force. Though the events are for students only, waiting areas will be available for parents. The schedule is as follows:

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Bullying Forums Scheduled in Howard County Schools

Find out how your teen can participate in talks about bullying.

There will be a series of forums on bullying in March hosted by the Howard County public school system to talk about how it is affecting the overall school climate. Each of the four forums are for high school and middle school students, and the sessions are limited to 50 students each. (Students can sign up here.) The forums will be facilitated by student leaders and school officials will use the information to inform an anti-bullying task force. A waiting area for parents will be available at the events; however, they are just for students, school officials said. The forums are scheduled on the following dates and schools: Thursday, March 7, 6:30-8 p.m. - Elkridge Landing Middle School Thursday, March 14, 6:30-8 p.m. - Reservoir High …

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Movement to Change School Times Lands in Howard County

A local father says high school students are sleep deprived.

Can you remember a time when you were sleep deprived? Maybe you couldn’t figure out why your house key wouldn’t start the car, or you misspelled your boss’s name? “Any adult can remember a time when we were sleep deprived,” Mark Donovan said. “ We know how it affected us. Why do we not think that it affects our kids the same way?” In fact, said Donovan, a clinical therapist based in Columbia, it does. Donovan has joined a growing movement to push back the start times of high school in an attempt to fix the “chronic sleep deprivation” that many say is evident in teenagers. He has started the Howard County chapter of StartSchoolLater, a national coalition “concerned that children and teenagers required to start the school [day] too early in …

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Terri McCulley Hicks

2:14 pm on Monday, April 8, 2013

Well Played and Well thought out point, Riverhill High Schooler!!! lol I give you credit for posting this comment. But your Post to reduce homework is just proof Howard County really needs to step up thier game on English and Grammer. Don't know what grade you're in but Good Luck with the rest of your school years and/or college. :)   more ›

2 Hour School Delay at Howard County Schools

A dusting of snow fell on Howard County overnight.

Howard County Public Schools are opening two hours late on Thursday after snow fell overnight.  Half-day morning programs are also cancelled, according to a statement released by the Howard County Public School System. Department of Recreation and Parks and Columbia Association programs that take place at Howard County public schools are also delayed two hours. 

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Howard County Schools Nationally Recognized for Nutrition, Physical Education

Each of Howard County’s 73 schools will receive a plaque and a banner.

Howard County public schools—including those in North Laurel—have received national distinction from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for “outstanding practices in school nutrition programs, physical education and physical activity,” according to the district. Howard County is the only school system in Maryland to earn this distinction for each of its schools and is one of four Maryland school systems honored, district officials said. The award is sponsored by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and is called the HealthierUS School Challenge. Howard County won the bronze level of distinction, district officials said. The national certification initiative is voluntary, district officials said, and is for schools participating in the …

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Howard County Schools Nationally Recognized for School Nutrition, Physical Education

Each of Howard County’s 73 schools will receive a plaque and a banner.

Howard County public schools have received national distinction from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for “outstanding practices in school nutrition programs, physical education and physical activity,” according to a district release. Howard County is the only school system in Maryland to earn this distinction for each of its schools and is one of four Maryland school systems honored, district officials said. The award is sponsored by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and is called the HealthierUS School Challenge. Howard County won the bronze level of distinction, district officials said. The national certification initiative is voluntary, district officials said, and is for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. …

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Nominate a 'Friend of Education' and More: HCPSS Newsletter

The newsletter includes information on G/T programs, student leadership programs and how to nominate a 'Friend of Education.'

De Lacy Says She'll Ask 'Tough Questions' as School Board Member

The former teacher also says redistricting process is 'broken.'

Ann De Lacy has a lot of questions about the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), and she plans to bring them all to the table as a newly elected member of the Board of Education.  “I will continue to work very hard to make sure that things are open, public and that we have a truly world class school system for every single student in Howard County,” she said Wednesday morning. “I’m going to ask tough questions and expect honest answers.” In a race that at times saw candidates separated by less than one percent, De Lacy came in second place, with 16.6 percent of the vote. Incumbents Janet Siddiqui and Ellen Flynn Giles came in first and third place, respectively.  Coming in fourth was Bob Ballinger, with 15.35 percent; David Gertler…

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Mary Z

10:24 am on Monday, November 12, 2012

It doesn't sound like anything was said against DeLacy, just the idea of shuffling kids based on income. I actually like the idea of basic education principles being brought back to the classroom. As far as redistricting though, let's solve the problems, not just re-shuffle them. You want to see improvement? Don't just mix the low test scores in with the high test scores - all that will do is …   more ›

12 Howard County Schools Still in the Dark

The school system will decide by 6 p.m. today whether to cancel a third day of school in response to Hurricane Sandy.

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will announce by 6 p.m. Tuesday if schools will be open on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the school system. Administrators were "assessing all school facilities and road conditions to determine if schools will open Wednesday," according to the statement, released just before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. At that time, there were 12 school stil without power according to HCPSS. At the same time, BGE reported more than 13,000 Howard County customers were in the dark. HCPSS will post on its website after 6 p.m. Tuesday whether schools will be open Wednesday.

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