It’s the start of a new school year, Eagles! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am!!! Yesterday’s New Student Orientation, Open House, and Back to School Night were absolutely spectacular!
The CHS Marching Band’s Pass & Review is tonight, Friday, August 25, at 7:30 PM. I hope you’ll join me for this annual tradition to celebrate the new school year! We got a sneak preview of our musical talent yesterday with performances by the Drum Line at New Student Orientation, as well as the fight song performed by the Marching Band, and a string quartet performance at Back to School Night. Good luck to our Varsity Football team, who kickoff tonight at Hammond High School.
The first week of the 2023-24 school year was a celebration of community. Our heartfelt thanks to the following groups who gave our staff a big Eagle welcome:
The PTSA Hospitality Committee for providing an awesome welcome breakfast on August 17
The Jazz Band and Cheerleaders for welcoming staff to the building on August 17
The Performing Arts families and community for providing a spectacular lunch for the staff on August 18
Our SGA for providing a delicious staff breakfast on August 22
The CHS Boosters for providing a fabulous pizza lunch for staff on August 23
This week was a true celebration of community!
Finally, this weekend, please take some time to prepare yourself for the new school year, so that you’re ready to go Monday morning. Make sure you:
Go to bed early on Sunday night.
Wake up with plenty of time to eat breakfast.
Get to your bus stop early.
Bring your fully charged Chromebook (and your charger).
Bring a copy of your schedule. (Student schedules are now available for all families by logging in to HCPSS Connect Synergy.)
If you drive to school, remember that students park in the white-lined parking spaces.
Review the traffic patterns and drop off procedures below. DO NOT drop off students on Centennial Lane.
Food and drink are ONLY allowed outside at the picnic tables or in the cafeteria.
Read all the important back to school information below.
Looking forward to the best year ever!
Dr. Miller
All families must update their emergency contact information annually. We’d like Centennial to be the first high school to have 100% of the Family File information to be fully updated, so visit HCPSS Connect today and click submit on the final screen! Read more.
The HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.
Parents/guardians must submit a new application every school year to maintain their student’s eligibility.
Students who require medication to be administered during the school day need to have new forms (dated on or after July 1st) completed for this fall. For your convenience, you can find these forms on-line at the HCPSS website. Read more.
The official school hours for Centennial High School for the 2023-2024 school year, as set by the HCPSS Board of Education, will be 8:00 AM to 2:45 PM. Bus schedules will be available online.
We believe that the safest way for students who do not drive themselves to get to school is by accessing the transportation provided. However, we do understand that there may be occasions when it is necessary to drive your student to school. When that happens, please follow the procedures listed below to help ensure the safety of all students during school arrival time.
Students who must be driven to school are to be dropped off from the sidewalk next to Burleigh Manor, along the tennis courts, and to the auditorium entrance at the side of the building following the established traffic pattern. Drivers are NOT to use the parking aisles to drop off students.
Students may NOT be dropped off along Centennial Lane. Parents are to refrain from making U-turns on Centennial Lane as it impedes traffic and contributes to unsafe conditions for students and drivers.
Students who are driving themselves to school are encouraged to arrive early to avoid being tardy. Traffic jams occur daily during the morning rush along Centennial Lane. We very much appreciate your partnership to ensure our commitment to student safety.
Students who arrive at/after 8:00 AM are considered tardy and may receive disciplinary consequences.
Students can arrive as early as 7:00 AM, as our cafeteria is open. Between 7:00 AM and 7:40 AM, students are permitted to wait outside or go to the cafeteria. Students enter through the main doors in the bus loop area (they have to walk on the sidewalk at the auditorium entrance to the front) that lead directly into the cafeteria. Students may NOT go to classrooms before 7:40 AM unless they have a pass from a teacher.
The online HCPSS bus locator tool is now available and can be found on the HCPSS Transportation webpage. Bus information also can be found in Family File via HCPSS Connect Synergy. With some overlapping school start times and/or transportation exemptions, it is possible that buses for different schools will arrive at bus stops around the same time. Please review your child’s bus number and be sure they know it and check before boarding the bus.
Walk area maps for some schools recently have been updated. Please consult your school’s map to determine if any changes affect your address. Families can find 2023-2024 student walk area maps for each school on the school’s website under View School Details.
Show your school spirit and rep your class--CHS Class Shirts & Sweatshirts have been part of the CHS tradition for almost 20 years! Get yours in time for Homecoming 2023!
Use the link below to order your Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior shirt/sweatshirt--hurry because our online store closes on Sunday, September 17th at 11:59pm. All shirts will be delivered to CHS during spirit week.
Link to order: CHS ONLINE STORE
Questions: rebecca_clark@hcpss.org
NOTE: This is not the same shirt that is given out when you make a donation to your graduating class! This item can only be purchased using the link above.
To help remove technology barriers and advance equitable student learning outcomes, HCPSS has moved to a 1:1 student-to-device ratio. All students have or will be provided with a Chromebook. These devices are required for all county and state testing and assessments. HCPSS Technology and Devices information
Students who do not currently have an HCPSS issued device should report to the Media Center to have one assigned on Monday, August 28.
Lockers are available to all students throughout the school year.
Students in all grades may stop by the table outside of the cafeteria to request a locker during lunch shifts throughout the first week of school: Monday, August 28 – Friday, September 1. After September 1, students may come to the front office before the school day begins, during their lunch shifts, or during Eagle Time to request a locker assignment.
Permission for students to drive and park vehicles on school system property is a privilege. Parking spaces for students at Centennial High School are limited. Accordingly, in order to be granted this privilege, applications for parking permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis in priority order: 1) Seniors; 2) Students enrolled in Work Study/Intern Mentor Programs; and, 3) Juniors.
Permits will be issued in this order through the end of the third week of school. Beginning September 18th, remaining permits will be issued in the order applications are received. Permits will not be reserved for students who do not yet have a valid Maryland Driver's License. Students ARE NOT required by the school system to attend a ‘Safe Driving’ presentation this school year.
To apply for your permit:
Login to HCPSS.me.
Complete the application packet and save as a pdf.
Take a photo of your driver’s license.
Follow this link to submit the online application. The information collected through the online application is required by HCPSS.
Your submission will be reviewed, and you will be notified via email once it is accepted.
For questions about applying for a parking permit at CHS please contact Kristen Forman at Kristen_forman@hcpss.org.
Please follow these procedures to report an absence:
Absence notes and tardy notes for excused absences are to be emailed to CHSabsence@hcpss.org. Students who bring in physical notes may drop them off in the front office before the start of the school day.
Discretionary absence requests must be completed and attached through email in advance of the absence. The last possible day of school for the 23/24 SY is June 18th. If there are any make-up days added to the end of the year, we need you to be available to take exams on any day from June 7-18. Any requests for Discretionary Absences during that window of time will not be approved. Likewise, Discretionary Absences will not be granted during the week of January 16th, mid-term exam week. For questions about attendance, please reach out to our Attendance Secretary, Diane Howse at diane_howse@hcpss.org.
The CHS PTSA offers programs, services, and supports to enhance the high school experience for all students, teachers, and parents. Join the PTSA now by logging into the CHS PTSA website.
The CHS Boosters serve all student extracurricular activities, including sports teams, school clubs, and student organizations. Join the Boosters now by logging into the CHS Boosters website.
Friends of Music supports vocal and instrumental music at CHS to guarantee the sustainability of these programs and to provide vital support to our music directors. Help our talented musicians thrive by joining us today through the FOM website: http://www.centennialmusic.org/.
It is important to support organizations that do so much for us and our students. We are a community!
Centennial High School’s website is a great source of information at https://chs.hcpss.org.
On Twitter @hcpss_CHS and Instagram @CentennialHS.
CHS PTSA https://www.chs-ptsa.org/and CHS Boosters https://www.centennialboostersonline.com/.
CHS Friends of Music http://www.centennialmusic.org/
Register to receive school system updates and alerts at https://www.hcpss.org/hcpss-news/, click on Subscribe and select Centennial High School.
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Date |
Time |
Event |
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August 28 |
1st day of school for students for 2023-24 school year |
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September 4 |
Schools closed for Labor Day |
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September 7 & 8 |
Underclass picture days |
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September 15 |
Schools closed for Rosh Hashanah |
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September 23 |
Eagle’s Class Golf Tournament - registration is open now! |
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September 25 |
Schools closed for Yom Kippur |
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September 30 |
Emily Scott Memorial Walk at 10:00 AM |
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October 4 |
PSAT - Grade 10 |
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October 9 |
Schools closed for students |
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October 11 |
PSAT - Grade 11 |
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October 13- 14 |
Homecoming Weekend (Pancake breakfast, parade, game, and dance) |
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October 18 |
Senior Tropical Night |
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October 20 |
Schools closed for students |
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October 31 |
3-hour early dismissal; end of first marking period ASVAB Fall administration |
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June 11 |
Last scheduled day of school Last inclement weather day weather day June 18 |