School Services

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Menus

Atholton Elementary School's school menu can be accessed through the LINQ Connect portal or mobile app. Families do not need a LINQ account to view menus, which are available to the public.

Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs)

HCPSS participates in the National School Breakfast and Lunch 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. To apply, go to the HCPSS FARMs webpage.

Prices

Breakfast and lunch are free for students who are enrolled in the Free and Reduced Meals program. For all other students, breakfast is $2.00 and lunch is $2.80 per meal.

Payment

Meal payments may be made via credit card using the LINQ Connect portal. On-site payments and prepayments may be made using cash or check. Parents/guardians will need to create an account to make online payments to their child’s meal account, monitor their child’s account, schedule automatic recurring payments, set up low balance alerts, submit a Free and Reduced Meals program application, and more.

Wellness and Quality Commitment

Information on the HCPSS wellness policy and commitment to quality is available online.

Health Room

An absence note is required for every absence, within 24 hours of your child returning to school.  When your child has returned, please send a note to his/her classroom teacher.  The note should include:

• Your child's first and last name
• Your child's grade/homeroom teacher
• The date of the absence
• The reason for the absence
• NOTE: If student was out due to a reportable condition (I.E. strep, influenza, chicken pox, whooping cough (pertussis), etc.) we ask that a note from the childs' physician be provided to the health room for confidential tracking purposes

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

School Health Protocols

• Medication - Students may not carry any medication (prescription or over the counter, including cough drops, Tylenol, inhalers)  Parents should contact the health room should their child require any type of medication.

• General Illness - Students who have fevers should stay home until they are free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. Students should stay home until they are feeling better and are ready to participate in school activities.

• Communicable Diseases - Please see NOTE above

• Head Lice - Head Lice is not a communicable disease. Please notify the health room if your child has been treated for head lice.  Information is kept confidential and only used to track for trends.

School Registration Requirements - Immunizations and Health Survey

Health Forms

• Medication Form - A Medication Form is needed if a child needs to receive medication during school hours. The form has to be completed by the doctor and signed by the parent. Medication must be delivered to the health room by the parent.  Contact the health room for details if needed.
• Auto Injector Form (e.g. Epi Pen/Auvi-Q) - An Auto Injector Form is needed if a child has food allergies severe enough to case anaphylaxis. The form has to be completed by the doctor and signed by the parent.  Medication must be delivered to the health room by the parent.  Contact the health room for details if needed.
• Physical Education/Activity Assessment Form - A Physical Education/Activity Assessment Form is needed if a child needs excused from PE and//or Recess for longer than 5 days. The form has to be completed by the doctor and signed by the parent and returned to the health room.
• Physical Exam Form - A Physical Exam Form must be completed 9 months prior to entering the Maryland Public School System or 6 months after. The form has to be completed by the doctor and signed by the parent and returned to the health room.
• Proof of Immunizations must be provided by your child's health care provider and must be signed and/or stamped.
• Lead Form - A Lead Form is needed for PK-K-1st Grade students if you have lived in specified zip codes in Maryland.  The form must be signed and returned by the parent unless they have lived in specified zip codes and their child will need to be tested.
• Dental Health Form - A Dental Health Form is needed to provide record that the child is receiving dental care.
• Health Survey - A Health Survey is needed to register your child for Maryland Public Schools.

Students in Need of Health Coverage

The Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) gives full health benefits for children up to age 19 and their families. Call the Howard County Health Department at (410)313-5845 extension 111 to see if you are eligible.

 

Before and After School Care

Child care referrals for before and after school programs can be obtained by calling Locate: Child Care  877-261-0060 or go to www.mdchildcare.org and choose "search for providers"   Before and After School Care is available at Atholton Elementary School and provided by:      Columbia Association / School Age Services      Contact information:      410-715-3164     OR     SAS@ColumbiaAssociation.org