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News Alert for 1/5/2023

REMINDER: Asynchronous "practice" January 9, 2023

The following message will be sent to all families in our mass communications system Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. via phone, email, and text:

This is an important reminder. In preparation for HCPS to conduct asynchronous virtual instruction on up to 3 inclement weather days, a practice is scheduled for the evening of Monday, January 9, 2023. Students in kindergarten through grade 12 will bring their device home January 9, 2023; as part of their homework, they must log into Canvas and select the inclement weather tile for each of their classes. The HCPS curriculum office has created an assignment for each class that every student will complete to confirm they were able to log in to each class.


Prekindergarten students will receive a bag of supplies to utilize in place of virtual instruction. Prekindergarten students will not participate in the "practice" on January 9, 2023.
Additional details are available on the "Inclement Weather and School Closings" page on hcps.org. This page includes information about where to access asynchronous virtual instruction, what time it will be available, as well as a Parent Academy video for parents and guardians with additional details. Click here to watch the video on our YouTube channel. 
Again, MSDE approved the HCPS application for asynchronous virtual instruction on inclement weather days and we look forward to a very brief systemwide “practice” after school on Monday, January 9, 2023. Following the practice, HCPS plans to utilize asynchronous virtual instruction on the first three (3) inclement weather days that necessitate a systemwide closure.
Please note:
  • The application is only valid for THIS school year, per MSDE's application guidelines.
  • HCPS has six (6) inclement weather days built into the 2022-2023 calendar: June 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, and 23, 2023.
  • If all six (6) inclement weather days are needed, there will be 3 asynchronous virtual instruction days, and there will be 3 in-person make-up days. The last scheduled day of instruction will be June 20, 2023.
  • There is always a possibility that HCPS will need to utilize MORE than the number of inclement weather days built into the calendar. In the past, when the number of inclement weather days exceeded those scheduled, HCPS submitted waiver requests to MSDE regarding the 180-day calendar requirement. If a 180-day waiver request is not approved, HCPS must add make-up days to the calendar.
  • A 3-day window will be provided for all students to submit completed assignments following an asynchronous learning day. 
If your school needs to adjust the systemwide asynchronous virtual instruction plan, they will reach out to you directly with additional information.