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 2026-2027 school year!

Dear Hoover Families,

What a fun Friday night! Thank you to everyone who came out for the Halloween Dance, and a special thank you to the volunteers and chaperones who made it happen. The costumes were fantastic!

Finish Strong: End of Quarter 1 — Friday, October 30

The first quarter ends this Friday. Please encourage your student to check their grades, turn in any missing assignments, and reach out to their teachers with questions. Let’s finish the quarter strong!

NEW: PTA Reflections Program

We’re excited to launch this year’s Reflections program! Inspired by the theme “What My Culture Means to Me,” students can submit original work in visual arts, photography, film, music, dance, or literature, and earn SSL hours. The deadline is December 7. Details below!

Save the Date: Family Portrait Day — Tuesday, November 3

Freed Photography will be outside at Hoover on November 3 from 4–6 PM. Portraits make a great holiday gift, and the event is a fundraiser for Hoover! Sign-up details below. Please note: there is no school on Monday, November 2 (Professional Day) or Tuesday, November 3 (Election Day).

Meeting Minutes Now Available
Minutes from our October 13 General Membership Meeting are linked below. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Warmly,
The Hoover PTA

Important Dates:

• Oct 26 — Winter Basketball Registration Opens (12:00 PM)
• Oct 30 — End of Quarter 1
• Nov 2 — No School for Students (Professional Day)
• Nov 3 — No School for Students (Election Day)
• Nov 3 — Family Portrait Day (4:00–6:00 PM, Outside)
• Nov 6 — High School Center Programs Round 1 Applications Due

Thank you to everyone who attended our first General Membership Meeting of the year on October 13! We voted on this year’s PTA budget and heard a great presentation from Katie Beckett of MCPS on the new regional high school programs.

👉 Read the October 13 meeting minutes

Show our Hoover staff and teachers some love through their Amazon Wishlist, now renamed “Hoover staff and teachers”! Every item purchased helps provide classroom supplies and resources our teachers know their students need.

• Items are labeled by department (switch to list view to see them)
• The list also includes requests supporting after-school club activities
• It’s updated year-round, so it’s always a great time to give!

👉 Shop the Amazon Wishlist

Herbert Hoover Middle School students are invited to participate in this year’s Reflections program, sponsored by the PTA, and earn SSL hours!

Inspired by the theme “What My Culture Means to Me,” original creations can celebrate family traditions, food, music, language, heritage, places, people, and cultural values, in any of these categories:

• 🎨 Visual Arts
• 📸 Photography
• 🎬 Film Production
• 🎵 Music Composition
• 💃 Dance Choreography
• ✍️ Literature

The submission deadline is December 7. After registering, please send a copy of the registration form along with the actual submission to Paula Reible, Reflections Chair, at paulareible@gmail.com by December 7 at 5:00 PM EST.

👉 Register for Reflections here

Questions? Contact the Reflections Chair at paulareible@gmail.com.

Freed Photography will be at Hoover on Tuesday, November 3, from 4:00–6:00 PM for Family Portrait Day! 📸 Photos will be taken outside.

• $35 session fee, which is donated to Hoover Middle School
• Includes a complimentary 5x7 print
• Sign up online and choose an appointment at your preferred time
• All ordering is online. You’ll receive an email with a link to your gallery when it’s ready.

It’s a great gift for the holidays, and a fundraiser for Hoover!

👉 Book your Family Portrait appointment

Please note: there is no school on Tuesday, November 3 (Election Day).

Finish Strong — End of Quarter 1, Friday, October 30

The first quarter ends this Friday, October 30. Students should take time this week to review their current grades, submit missing assignments, prepare for upcoming assessments, and communicate with their teachers about any questions or concerns.

Middle school is an important time for students to develop responsibility, organization, and self-advocacy. Let’s finish the quarter STRONG! 💪

Our Health Room keeps spare clothing on hand for students who need it, and your donations make a real difference! We’re accepting good-condition, laundered items:

• T-shirts (long and short sleeve)
• Sweatshirts
• Sweatpants/leggings
• Socks

Brand-new underwear and socks are especially helpful. You can purchase these directly from Amazon:

• Boys’ Underwear, Kids L (1 pack)
• Girls’ Underwear, Size 12 (1 pack)
• Fruit of the Loom Underwear, Adult L (qty 2)
• Socks, L (1 pack)
• Sweatpants, Adult S (qty 5)

Thank you for supporting our students!

Parents, please remind your child to use scooters safely when traveling to and from school. 🛴 Ride at a reasonable speed, and always give pedestrians the right of way. Scooters should not be ridden in crowded areas or in ways that block sidewalks, entrances, or other walkways. Thank you for your support in reinforcing these safety expectations to help keep everyone safe.

🏫 School Closure/Consolidation Study — Community Conversations Underway

Round 1 public engagement meetings run October 19–November 2. Your questions, concerns, and ideas matter! Round 2: November 30–December 10, including one at Hoover on December 1. The superintendent’s recommendation is expected in February 2027, with a Board vote on April 15, 2027.

🎓 High School Center Programs (Regional Programs)

8th grade families: don’t miss the regional programs showcase at Wootton High School, Wednesday, October 28, 6:00 PM. 

Round 1 applications are due November 6. Zoom Q&A sessions: November 4–6, 6:30–7:30 PM (drop-in, no registration needed). Eighth grade families: see the Counselor Corner in the school’s This Week for Region 4 high school information.

🎭 English, Social Studies & World Language Showcase — November 12

Save the date! More details coming soon.

Help bring Friday Wellness Days to life! Volunteer during lunch to give Hoover students extra time outdoors. Check the signup for available dates and grade-level time slots.

Help keep Hoover families connected! We’re looking for a volunteer to help maintain and update the PTA website. Interested in lending a hand? Join our PTA Committee WhatsApp Community to get connected.

Your generosity helps support student activities, school events, staff appreciation, and more. Every contribution makes a difference!

Donate over $50 and you’ll automatically become a PTA member. Thank you for supporting our Hoover community!

The PTA is here to advocate for you. You can find more information on the PTA, including a list of board members, roles, and contact information on the Hoover PTA website: http://www.hoovermspta.org/

• The PTA board meets in-person on the second Friday of the month at 7:45am 
• The General PTA Meetings (open to the Hoover community) are held three times a year.

PTA connection

Connect on Hoovers Official instagram page 

@herberthooverpta

Herbert Hoover Middle School PTA

8810 Postoak Road

Potomac, MD 20854

hoovermspta.org