Students who participated in the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments in the Spring of 2025 will receive their individual score reports the week of October 6, 2025. Reports will be sent home by each student’s school and provide information about student performance. Families with questions about their student’s scores should contact their school directly.
Meal benefit applications may be filed at any time during the year - if your family has been impacted by the Federal Government shutdown and furloughs, please utilize the Free and Reduced-Priced meal application to apply for meal support due to the sudden loss of income. Click here to apply online.
Proposed HCPS 2026–2027 School Calendar Posted for Public Comment
The proposed calendar for the 2026–2027 school year is now posted for public comment. Families, students, staff, and community members have 60 days, from September 22 through November 21, 2025, to review the draft and provide feedback before the Board of Education of Harford County finalizes it at the December 15, 2025, Board Business Meeting.
Click here to review the draft calendar and provide your comments.
October is National Principals Month! This is a time to recognize and celebrate the dedicated leaders who guide our schools each day. Principals play a vital role in supporting students, staff, and families while shaping positive school communities. Join us in thanking our principals for their leadership and commitment to student success.
HCPS schools will be closed to students on Thursday, October 2, 2025, for staff professional development.
Click here to access calendar information for the 2025-2026 school year.
6th Grade Students Showcase Amazing Project Based Learning Artwork
We are proud to announce that our 6th grade students completed their Project Based Learning artwork this past week, and the results are truly impressive! Below are some of the amazing projects students created during this unit.
Mrs. Byrne expertly incorporated our school's PBIS theme throughout the learning experience, reinforcing the values that define us: We Are BAMS. We BELONG. We are Accountable. We are Motivated. We are Supportive.
These student projects beautifully demonstrate how creative expression can reinforce our core values while allowing students to showcase their artistic talents and collaborative skills. We're excited to share their outstanding work with our school community!
HCRASC commUNITY in Motion 5K & Family Fun Run – Saturday, October 18
The Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils (HCRASC) invites families and community members to participate in the commUNITY in Motion 5K and 1 Mile Family Fun Run. This student-run event will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Harford Technical High School in Bel Air. Gates open at 9:00 AM and the race starts at 10:00 AM.
Join HCRASC for a morning of fitness, fun, and community while supporting HCPS student leaders. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Upper Chesapeake Health for Breast Cancer Care.
Registration fees are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Children under 5-years-old are free. Click here to register.
The Board of Education of Harford County will hold Engage for Education listening sessions throughout the 2025–2026 school year. The first session is Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the C. Milton Wright High School auditorium.
These sessions are an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts on the future of education in Harford County directly with Board members. No pre-registration is required to attend or speak.
More information, including how to provide feedback if you cannot attend, is available on the Engage for Education page at hcps.org.
HCPS schools will dismiss three hours early for students on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Please note: half-day Pre-K will not meet on early dismissal days. The full 2025–2026 school year calendar is available by clicking here.
2025-2026 Friday Night Live (FNL) registration has officially opened!
Friday Night Live is Bel Air Rec’s youth center program which meets @ BAMS on select Friday nights throughout the school year. Membership is open to 6th, 7th & 8th grade students registered @ Bel Air Middle School, Patterson Mill Middle School, and Southampton Middle School.
Each event offers a live DJ, dancing, basketball, indoor soccer, volleyball, and a great social environment with friends! There are several Parent Chaperones, whom are background checked and a uniformed police officer in attendance for each event so parents can feel comfortable knowing their child is well supervised. Pizza, soda, and snacks can be purchased as well.
Cost is $90 per student.
FNL DATES 2025-2025
Friday, October 3, 2025
Friday, November 14, 2025
Friday, December 12, 2025
Friday, January 9, 2026
Friday, February 20, 2026
Friday, March 20, 2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
Register your middle schooler(s) today using one of the links below:
https://belairrec.org/friday-night-live/
https://registration.teamsnap.com/form/39545
BAMS New Outdoor Classroom
Ms. Klein's math class enjoyed our newly renovated outdoor classroom this week! The area was paved over the summer to create an even more welcoming environment!
This week, HCPS joins schools across the country in celebrating the power of the arts in education. From music and theater to visual and digital arts, the arts inspire creativity, build confidence, and help students discover their voices.
Harford County Public Schools will host Magnet and Technical Programs Information Nights for families of 7th and 8th grade students. Each event begins at 6:00 p.m., and presentations are identical, so you only need to attend one.
Dates and Locations:
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 – Magnolia Middle & Patterson Mill Middle
Thursday, September 25, 2025 – Havre de Grace Middle & Southampton Middle
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 – Aberdeen Middle & North Harford Middle
Programs highlighted include: International Baccalaureate (IB) and Global Studies, Harford Technical High School Career Programs, IT Oracle Academy, JROTC, Natural Resources and Agricultural Science (NRAS), P-TECH, Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), and the Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM).
Click here for more information on the Harford County Public Schools Magnet and Technical Programs.
Join the Harford County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) for their monthly meeting on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Networking begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
The agenda includes a Co-Chair Election, Meet Your SECAC, and an HCPS Special Education presentation.
This meeting will be held virtually.
Click here to register.
The following is being shared with families who have Kindergarten students in HCPS, on behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE):
This fall your student will take the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). The KRA is an assessment that measures a student's knowledge, skills, and abilities in literacy, mathematics, and social and emotional development. It is given to all kindergarten students enrolled in public schools in Maryland by October 10th each year. The purpose of the KRA is to provide teachers and caregivers with information about what students know and can do, as well as to identify areas where they might need additional support. The assessment has three components:
• Star Early Literacy - 10-minute computer adaptive assessment of early literacy skills
• Star Math – 15-minute computer adaptive assessment of math skills
• SAEBRS (Social Academic Emotional Behavior Risk Screen) – 19-question survey completed based on
teacher observation
Most students will take the literacy and mathematics components of the KRA on a computer or tablet. The test will be read out loud to students who will use a mouse or touchscreen to select answers. Paper tests, ASL interpretation, and other accommodations are available for students who need them. Teachers will complete the social and emotional component of the assessment after spending the first few weeks of school getting to know students and completing observations.
Caregivers will receive information about how their student performed after the assessment has been administered. The results provide information about a student's mastery of the content and skills that will support their success in kindergarten. Performance on the KRA does not prevent a child from entering or remaining in kindergarten. The KRA results are only one piece of data, and scores should be understood in the context of other information, including feedback from a student’s teacher.
If you have questions about the KRA please speak with your student’s teacher.
Sincerely,
Erika McCrea
Executive Director of State Assessments
Welcome Back to Panthersl!
The excitement was evident as students returned to Bel Air Middle School for the first day of the new academic year. Bright and early Tuesday morning, September 2nd, students streamed through the front entrance with backpacks slung over shoulders, some clutching new supplies while others walked confidently with friends they hadn't seen all summer.
The hallways buzzed with energy as sixth-graders navigated their new surroundings, seventh and eighth-graders reunited with classmates, and everyone adjusted to fresh schedules and lockers. Teachers stood ready at classroom doors with welcoming smiles, greeting both familiar faces and new students joining the Bel Air Middle School community.
From the administrative team and faculty to the custodial and cafeteria staff, everyone at Bel Air Middle School is thrilled to welcome our students back for another year of learning, growth, and achievement.
Reminders and important info to start the 2025-2026 school year:
The Back to School Checklist includes links to all the required and optional documents to start your school year!
The Student Handbook is a great resource for students, parents, and guardians.
The new webpage, Stay Connected with Your Student’s Learning, was made to help parents and guardians connect directly to their student’s curriculum and understand options to support their child’s learning. This includes the process to follow for opting out of specific elements of the curriculum.
HCPS parents are their child’s first and best teachers! The HCPS Parent Academy is here to support you with resources, tools, and newsletters designed to keep families informed and engaged.
Check out the Parent Connection newsletter archive here: https://www.hcps.org/parents/parentacademy/parentconnectionarchive.aspx
Click here to visit the Parent Academy webpage for even more parent resources.
The first day of school is September 2, 2025, for most students and September 4, 2025, for Prekindergarten. Be sure to review the HCPS Back to School Checklist, complete required forms, and get important updates before the first day. Click here to view the full checklist and resources.
