Husky Families,
It is hard to believe that we are one week away from the start of the 2024-2025 school year. We have several important announcements for you as you plan for the first week of school.
PowerSchool Forms: Please ensure that you have updated the PowerSchool App & Parent Portal forms. You can do this by downloading the PowerSchool app on your phone or device; click on “more” in the lower right corner; click on “forms”; fill out/verify the forms. The “Back to School Info” form will say Pending until our Data Manager approves it. Please Ensure the “Medical Info” and “Military” forms say Submitted. It is so important we have this updated information on file. If you have any questions about any of this or are having trouble logging in or accessing your PowerSchool account, please email Mrs. Lyle, our PowerSchool Data Manager at (Christy_Lyle@abss.k12.nc.us).
Student Schedules: Schedules will be available in PowerSchool on August 19th. We have spent an incredible amount of time working to build schedules for over 850 students based on student needs. Therefore, schedule changes are permitted only for the following reasons:
Holes in schedules (no assigned class period)
Erroneously placed in the wrong class
Administrative and/or teacher decision
Schedule changes are not permitted for switching teachers or personal schedule preferences.
Open House: Open House will be held on Wednesday, August 21st from 4 - 6pm. This is a floating event that will allow you the opportunity to meet your teachers, speak with our Academic Boosters (PTO) representatives, and receive bus route times and information. More details about Open House will be emailed to you on Tuesday.
24-25 Documents: You can find our school supply lists, bell schedules, and student/parent handbook on the HMS website. I have also linked them below. It is very important that you review this information carefully prior to the first day of school.
First Day of School: The first day of school is Monday, August 26. Students may not arrive at school prior to 7:15 AM. Students arriving between 7:15 to 7:55 will be supervised in the gym until homerooms open at 8:00 AM. All students should arrive at school by 8:15 AM. Should a student need to leave school for any reason during the school day, a parent/guardian must present identification to sign the student out of school. Students will not be allowed to be signed out of school between 3:00 - 3:30 pm in order to maintain the integrity of the instructional day. All car riders must be picked up in the front of the school between 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm.
After-School Program (The Husky Den): HMS offers an after-school care program for students until 6:00 pm on school days. The cost of the program is $207 per month and must be paid in advance. Students in the program will have structured time to complete homework, independently read, and/or use computers to access educational websites. The program will not operate on teacher workdays or holidays. If you wish to enroll your child in the program, please use this link: Husky Den Enrollment Form
ABSS Mobile Learning Handbook: Please read the linked ABSS Mobile Learning Handbook. In order to receive a laptop, all students must return a signed Student/Parent Mobile Device Agreement form. That form can be printed off from the mobile learning handbook. We will also have copies of the form at Open House.
Laptop Insurance Plan: To help protect against costly repairs, the Board of Education has approved an optional $25 insurance plan for student laptops. This covers damage that might occur during the school year. Students can bring the $25 along with the signed Mobile Device Agreement form on the first day of school.
Cell Phone Policy: Please review ABSS Board Policy 4813 - Use of Wireless Communication Devices. Although students are permitted to possess such devices on school property, the devices are not allowed to be activated, used, displayed, or visible during the instructional day. Cell phones & Air pods must be turned off and put in backpacks for the duration of each school day. Staff may immediately confiscate any wireless communication devices that are on, used, displayed, or visible in violation of this policy.
Free & Reduced Lunch Application: Breakfast (and lunch) are not universally free for all students. If you would like your child to eat meals at school, you will either need to put money on their online account or you will need to secure a free/reduced lunch status by filling out the required form. The form is available in the HMS main office or you can fill it out online: https://www.lunchapplication.com/ More information is available here. This year, we ask that all families complete and return the form, regardless of whether your student will eat a meal at school.
Vaccine Clinics: ABSS & Alamance County Health Department (ACHD) have collaborated to provide immunization opportunities. These mobile immunization clinics have been arranged in different locations across the school district to promote the ability to attend for those that are in need of additional vaccinations, more specifically targeting the known needs of many of the 24-25 kindergarteners, 7th graders, 12th graders, as well as new students. Please see this document for more information.
Southeast Alamance High School - September 10, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Western Alamance High School - September 19th 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Athletics: All student athletes must complete a DragonFly waiver to play in the 2024-2025 school year. If you have done this in the past, you must do it again for this school year. This must be completed before you are eligible to try out or participate in any athletics this school year. You can find the directions here.
Fall Athletic Schedules are located on the HMS website under the Athletics tab. Athletic tryouts will be held throughout the first week of school.
Football will not have practice on Wednesday, August 21. There is a mandatory Football Parents Meeting at 6:00 pm on Thursday, August 22 in the cafeteria.
Cross Country practice will begin on Wednesday, August 28th from 3:45 - 4:45 pm. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Westbrook at samuel_westbrook@abss.k12.nc.us.
If you have any questions regarding athletics, contact our Athletic Director, Lavar Marsh at lavar_marsh@abss.k12.nc.us.
Upcoming Calendar Events:
Wednesday, August 21: Open House 4:00 - 6:00 pm (floating)
Monday, August 26: First Day of School
Monday, September 2: Labor Day Holiday. No School for Staff & Students
Thursday, October 10 - Fall Picture Day
Friday, October 25 - End of Quarter 1
Friday, October 25 - School Dance - 4:00 - 6:30 pm. More information to come.
Monday, October 28 - Teacher Workday. No school for students.
We look forward to a wonderful 24-25 school year!