Dear Clarksville Middle School Community,
I hope you are having a great summer wherever you are and whatever you are doing! It is with tremendous gratitude that I write this first message to you from my principal’s desk here at Clarksville Middle.
Over the past few weeks, I have been taking time to learn about Clarksville Middle by reviewing school data and talking with staff and community members. One thing that has become abundantly clear to me is our shared commitment both to excellence and to building strong, supportive relationships. I want to thank Dr. Scaife for her leadership at Clarksville Middle, and I look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence.
Education has been the driving force in my life. I began my career in 2000 as a middle school history teacher in my hometown of Birmingham, UK, after graduating from Oxford University with a bachelor's degree in Ancient and Modern History. In 2003, I moved to Howard County and taught social studies at Oakland Mills High School. After earning my master's in Educational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University, I have had the opportunity to lead as an administrator at a number of HCPSS high schools, and most recently served as the principal at Patuxent Valley Middle.
The Howard County community is very important to me; I am proud to live here and to be raising two young people who attend school in HCPSS. My core beliefs have been shaped by my 22 years here, and consequently I lead through my values of Integrity, Dignity, and Empowerment, putting relationships and people at the center of every decision. I’m looking forward to meeting our young people and families, and learning more about Clarksville Middle.
In conjunction with the PTA, I’m hosting two meet-and-greets—or “Popsicles with the Principal”—on July 22 and August 5 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please RSVP via this link if you are interested in attending. If you are unable to make it, we would still love to connect another time; please don’t hesitate to email or call the school if you have any questions or important information to share.
Check out the information below for news items. Let me know if you have any questions or if there is something you’d like to see in the newsletter. All of this information is also posted on our website at http://cms.hcpss.org/ .
There is nothing too big or too small for us to work on together, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Regards,
Richard Smart
Principal, Clarksville Middle School
richard_smart@hcpss.org
Front Office Moving to Cafeteria from July 13, 2026
Due to work on the roof the Clarksville Middle School office will be moving to the cafeteria for approximately 2 weeks beginning on July 13. Look out for signs at the front of the building directing visitors and deliveries to the cafeteria door.
Quarter 4 Report Cards
Quarter 4 report cards will be available in HCPSS Connect Synergy after 4 p.m., Monday, June 22. Directions on how to access them are available online.
From the Health Room
Vaccines: The Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene requires all incoming 7th- and 8th-grade students in the state of Maryland to have one Tdap and one meningococcal (Meningitis) vaccine before entering school. Letters have been mailed home to parents of students who still need to provide proof of vaccination. Failure to provide proof of updated immunizations by the first day of school, August 25, 2025, will result in your student being excluded from school.
See flyer for details: English Version and Spanish Version
HCPSS Summer Meal Program
To continue meeting the growing need to feed hungry children and families in Howard County and fill the nutritional gap over the summer months, the Howard County Public School System announces its free summer meal program, which will run weekdays Wednesday, June 24-Friday, July 31, 2026. Meals will be served only on days schools are open and there will be no meal service Friday, July 3.
Summer Reading
Recommended summer reading lists for students in all grade levels, developed by HCPSS library media specialists and Howard County Library System staff, are available online. Children, teens, and adults are also invited to participate in the HCLS Summer Reading Program. All HCPSS students received an A+ Student Card account number at the beginning of the school year. With it, they have access to all HCLS eContent by using their account number to log in via hcpss.me.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please visit the Community News and Programs page on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.