WCPS Summer Update

It is important for students arrive at school on time and ready to learn! Please review the school day start times for the school year.

NOTE: school day times have changed for the following middle schools: E. Russell Hicks, Northern, Springfield, and Western Heights.

It is important that all families using WCPS transportation have a clear plan for student pickup and dropoff locations.

If your child needs to be picked up or dropped off at a location other than their primary home address, you need to complete a Transportation Location Change (TLC) form and submit it to the WCPS Transportation Department. Students can have a maximum of two consistent A.M. pick-up locations and two consistent P.M. drop-off locations.

TLC Forms are processed in the order that they are received. Alternative transportation requests will not be implemented until the parent/guardian receives a copy of the approved TLC form with the student's bus number(s), new bus stop, stop time, and the effective date.

Please contact the Transportation Department at 301-766-2902 with questions or concerns.

Maryland law requires that the parents/legal guardians of students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade provide evidence of required age-appropriate immunizations or age appropriate immunity.

School immunization requirements will be in effect at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Students who do not have the required vaccinations on the first day of school must demonstrate proof of vaccination, positive titer results, or proof of a vaccination appointment that is scheduled within 20 calendar days.

Under Maryland law, students out of compliance with the immunization requirements may not be admitted to or retained in school without the evidence of an appointment. The parent must present evidence of an appointment on DAY ONE of admittance/retention. If students do not have their required immunizations, it may result in your child being excluded from school on DAY ONE.

Parents/legal guardians of students without age-appropriate immunizations should immediately contact their healthcare provider to schedule an appointment for the immunizations.

The Washington County Health Department is also holding back-to-school immunization clinics. For questions regarding school-age vaccinations or help with registering for a clinic, parents should call 240-313-3477 or 240-313-3381.

WCPS’ Food and Nutrition Services staff is looking for your feedback! Parents, together with their students, are invited to complete the School Meals Survey.

Note that questions with an asterisk are required to be completed to submit your responses.

WCPS thanks you for your input to explore how we may better serve healthy meal options to our students!

Official practices and tryouts for WCPS fall sports will begin no sooner than Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Official competitive events will begin no sooner than Friday, September 1, 2023..

All student athletes must have a completed Pre-participation Physical Evaluation. The form can be downloaded online or a hard copy can be obtained from the school’s athletic director.

Schools host voluntary conditioning programs for various sports during the summer months. Parents should contact the school’s athletic director if they have questions about those programs.

WCPS would like to share a few tips regarding the care of your student’s Chromebook over the summer:

• Keep it in a safe location and in the provided case, away from pets, food, drinks, and liquids.
• Do not place foreign objects into the device's ports or openings.
• Use care when inserting and removing cords, cables, and external devices.
• Do not place anything on the keyboard before closing the lid, and never place heavy objects on top of the device.
• Use a soft dry microfiber cloth to clean the screen or keyboard. Do not use liquid to clean the screen.
• Do not add stickers or other decorative items that would alter the appearance of the Chromebook from when your student received it.
• Do not tamper with or remove any WCPS or school tags.