SUBJECT: Information Related to Traveling to School This School Year 

Dear Bryant Woods ES Families: 

I hope you have been enjoying your summer. As the 2023-2024 school year quickly approaches, we have several informational items and changes related to transportation to and from school. 

Many changes have been made to school start times and transportation across Howard County schools. This school year, our doors will open at 8:30 am for students to have breakfast. Our school day (instruction) will begin at 8:40 am and end at 3:10 pm.

For families that receive bus transportation, bus stop information for the 2023-2024 school year will be available by mid-August and can be accessed online via the Bus Stop Locator or HCPSS Connect Synergy under More Options and then Homeroom / Transportation / POS. Families will be notified by email and the HCPSS website when the information is available. 

For families that do not receive bus transportation, if your child is walking or riding their bike to school, I encourage you to take time now to familiarize your child with their route to and from school. Map out and walk the route between your home and school to ensure all roads, sidewalks, and pathways are familiar to your child. In addition, review crosswalks and intersections safe for crossing the road if required and review safe pedestrian tips with your student. If you encounter any issues regarding safety as you walk these routes with your student, don't hesitate to contact the HCPSS Office of Student Transportation to make HCPSS staff aware. 

Additionally, we will be sharing more information soon related to drop-off and pick-up procedures at the school if you will be transporting your child by car. We have spent a considerable amount of time this summer evaluating our traffic patterns to ensure a safe and efficient process may occur each day. 

Please view the HCPSS Help Site to see answers to questions related to several topics. Additionally, please check in regularly to the page that will provide updated information for the 2023-2024 school year. Both sites are updated regularly, so check back often for more information. Finally, bookmark our school's website, bwes.hcpss.org, where we post news and information throughout the school year. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact the school with questions about the information provided here or anything related to traveling to and from school. Thank you for your partnership, and I look forward to welcoming students to school on August 28! 

Sincerely,

Danielle R. Shanks

Principal