Atholton High School is committed to providing a safe environment for all students. This includes physical safety and security, mental and physical health, and safe driving.

School Resource Officer (SRO)

Atholton, along with all HCPSS High Schools, has a School Resource Officer from the Howard County Police Department who works closely with staff and students. Officer John Martin teaches safety lessons, offers safe driving presentations, and works in classrooms to enhance lessons on student well being.

• Howard County Police Youth Programs
• Collision Avoidance Training Program Information

Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation

Parents, students, and staff can report suspected bullying, harassment, and intimidation using the Maryland State reporting form found here – Bullying and Harrassment Reporting Form. Please complete this form and turn it in to an administrator. Feel free to call any administrator if you have questions or concerns regarding bullying and/or harassment.

HCDrugFree

Atholton High School and Howard County Public Schools have partnered with HCDrugFree, a non-profit organization that is committed to preventing teen drinking and drug use. For more information on this organization and partnership, please visit their website at www.hcdrugfree.org.

Visitor Procedure During School Hours

In order to ensure the safety and security of all of our students and staff members, please note the following safety procedures with regard to entering AHS during the school day (7:50am – 2:35pm). Some procedures are new for this school year.

All exterior doors to the school (excluding some main entrance doors) may/will remain locked during school hours. Upon entering a school, all visitors must check in at the Front Office, regardless of their destination.

Visitors with legitimate school business will obtain a visitors pass by accessing a new computerized entrance system that has been installed at the start of this school year. In order to use this new system, visitors must scan their driver’s license in the computer. Please remember to bring your driver’s license into the school if you wish to have building access for meeting with a teacher, volunteering, picking up your child from the health room, etc. A feature of this new system is that it uses information from a driver’s license to scan law enforcement databases to ensure that visitors do not present a safety concern for our students. Once approved for entry a visitor’s pass is printed on a sticker which must be worn at all times while in the school building.

The visitor must return to the Front Office to sign out of the building. This ensures that there is an accurate record of who is in the building at any given time.

To limit interruptions and distractions to teaching and learning and to maximize safety for all, persons who wish to visit our school campus to meet with a teacher or staff member are strongly encouraged to contact that individual in advance to schedule an appointment. Understandably, interactions between visitors and school staff and students will be limited unless an appointment is made with that individual in advance.

HCPD Collision Avoidance Training

The Howard County Police Department offers monthly collision avoidance training courses for new drivers. These courses teach students how to handle vehicles in emergency situations and include lessons on steering, braking, and cornering. For dates of classes and registration information, please visit the HCPD website.

Building Safety and Security

This is to notify you that periodic drug scans will be conducted on school premises by K-9 teams from the Howard County Department of Police.  This action is being taken to protect you and to work towards a drug free school environment.  You are being given prior notice of this program pursuant to school system policy.

For information on HCPSS building safety and security procedures, please visit the HCPSS Website.