Hoover Notes will be sent out weekly to help you keep track of important school community news and events.  New items will be bolded. Links are blue.

We look forward to a fantastic 2025-2026 school year!

Dear Hoover Families, 

One of our traditions at Hoover are Wellness Fridays where students have the opportunity to go outdoors during lunch, but this is only possible with parent support! This is also a great way to be involved in the school, and get a glimpse into the happenings during the school days. We've received some questions about Wellness Fridays so please see below for more info on this amazing program. 

What are Wellness Fridays? 

We have a weekly opportunity for students to go outside during their grade level lunch period to get some fresh air and exercise.  

Why can't they go outside anytime? 

Due to student safety and limited staffing, we cannot allow students to go outside during lunch anytime.  In fact, we are asking for parent volunteers on Fridays to help provide the extra sets of eyes to ensure students are safe, stay within campus boundaries, and are aware of timing so they get to their next class on time. 

Why does Hoover rely on parent support for wellness days? 

Each school in the county has a different layout. For Hoover, our priority is student safety and because of the location of our outdoor spaces, our policy is to require additional parent/staff volunteers to be available for supervision. 

This sounds like a great idea! How can I get involved?  

We are seeking 2-4 parent volunteers per grade level for each week. Click here to sign up for the week and time that works best for your schedule. Feel free to sign up for multiple weeks! 

Thank you again for your support.  Wellness Fridays will only happen with your support so please sign up today! 

Thanks,

Your Hoover PTA 

Every year, MCPS surveys parents, students and staff about the calendar for the next school year. If you haven't weighed in, now's your chance. The MCPS survey is available in a variety of languages so be sure to share it with your school communities. Please respond by September 30th!

• For the 2026-27 school year, note that Labor Day occurs later (9-7-26) in September than it did this year (9-1-25). MCPS asks whether to start school 1, 2, or 3 weeks before that holiday. 
• Another key question asks about the length of winter break. 
• Finally, be sure to weigh in on the timing of spring break, which is usually aligned with Easter.

The Board of Education will review survey results and discuss options at its October 16th meeting. There will be a chance for more public feedback after that, with the Board of Education expected to adopt the 2026-27 calendar before the end of December.

For more background, see the calendar presentation at the Board of Education Policy Management Committee on September 16th:
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DLBSGL729F05 

On Tuesday, October 14 and Wednesday, October 15, eighth-grade students and their teachers/chaperones will travel to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture for an informative field trip. We are looking for parent volunteers to chaperone. If you are interested, please click here or scan the QR code on the chaperone flyer. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Madison Swan, the 8^th grade team leader, at Madison_A_Swan@mcpsmd.org. 

We are also seeking snack donations for the field trip including small bottles of water, granola bars, peelable oranges, etc. Please click here to sign up. 

We are hoping to resume Friday Wellness Days (allowing students to spend time outside during lunch) in the next couple of weeks; however, we need parent support to make it happen.  We need at least 4 parent volunteers each week to help supervise the grades outside during lunch. To learn more or to sign up for a Friday lunch period, please click here to sign up. 

This is a great way to support your student and the school and to get a glimpse into the school day at Hoover! Thank you for your support. 

Important Dates: 

• October 8th - Walk & Roll to School Day! Join the Hoover Community at the Churchill High School track on Wednesday, October 8th to walk to school together. 
• October 14th - The first PTA General Meeting of the year will be held in the Media Center at Hoover from 6-6:45 pm.  
• October 14th - Hoover Theater is hosting an interest meeting for their upcoming play, Annie Jr. Interested families should save the date - October 14th at 7pm at Hoover. 
• October 22nd - Spirit Night at Chipotle on River Road in Potomac Village. Order using the code GZJLZTC between 5pm and 9pm and 25% of sales will be donated to Hoover. 
• October 30th - Hoover Halloween Dance. More details to come. 

Tips for Parents:

• 6th grade parents - Agenda books have arrived and handed out to all 6th grade students. If your child has not received their agenda book, please have them contact their counselor. 
• Fall Sports Tryouts are Over - Stay Tuned for Info on Winter Sports: Registration for boys and girls basketball will open on October 27, 2025 at noon (tryouts begin December 9th). As a reminder, middle school athletics are open to 7th and 8th graders only. 

Community Notes: 

• 2026-27 MCPS School Year Calendar Survey: Every year, MCPS surveys parents, students, and staff about the calendar for the next school year. If you haven't weighed in, now's your chance. The MCPS survey is available in a variety of languages so be sure to share it with your school communities. Please respond by September 30th! . 
• Boundary Study Options Meetings: The next round of public meetings for the MCPS Boundary Study have been announced.  Click here to see the times, dates, and locations. 

PTA connection

Connect on Hoovers Official instagram page 

@herberthooverpta

Herbert Hoover Middle School PTA

8810 Postoak Road

Potomac, MD 20854

hoovermspta.org