Inclement Weather

MSS follows Frederick County, MD public school decisions for all weather related emergency delayed opening, early closing, or cancellation of school. NO radio or TV postings are made by MSS when we follow Frederick County MD decisions. However, if we should deviate for some exceptional reason, we will make media announcements. Click here for a summary of our procedures and media outlets which are notified of exceptional deviation from Frederick County.

Any deviation from this policy is communicated: through postings on the MSS Home Page, email notices through Schools Out/Find Out First for families who have subscribed, and announcements on local radio stations WARK-1490AM, Hagerstown, MD; WHVR-1280AM, Hanover, PA; WYCR-98.5FM, York, PA; WGTY-107.7FM, Gettysburg, PA; WGET-1320AM, Gettysburg, PA;  WFMD-930AM, Frederick, MD and WFRE-99.9FM, Frederick,  MD. 

In the event of a delayed start, Pre-K students will be dismissed at 12:30. Extended day still dismisses at usual time. Please do not call school, but listen to radio and TV announcements, or check the Mother Seton School website.

Schools Out: Mother Seton School has partnered with Schools Out to provide parents with a way to receive emergency and other information via email or text messaging. We will be using this service to send notifications of school closings, important informational updates, and reminders of school events. In order to receive messages and updates from MSS, you must register by visiting the Schools Out website and selecting your preference for notification. Note that email notification is free, but that there is a $14.95 per year fee for the text messaging service.

Find Out First: You may also wish to sign up for inclement weather school closing notices from Frederick County Public Schools' Find Out First service.

Before Care is not open on days when there is a delayed opening

PreK dismisses at 12:30 on days when there is a delayed opening
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No hot lunch is served when school opening is delayed.  Drinks may be purchased

Pre-K Extended Day which usually dismisses at 2:45 will dismiss at the same time as grades K-8 on days when there is an emergency early dismissal.

After Care Pre-K - 8 is open only 2 hours after emergency early dismissal 

In the event that school remains in session until the usual dismissal time, but Frederick County cancels all after school and/or evening activities, the After Care Program (grades PreK-8) will close at 4:30 PM to allow staff and families a reasonably safe travel home.

Call the school office number 301 447 3161 by 4:30 p.m. if road conditions are preventing your arrival by 4:30 p.m.

HOT WEATHER PLAN
A study by Cook Design Group of the mechanical system recommended replacing windows to improve efficiency before taking any steps to renovate heating and install central A/C. Since all of this will take time, perhaps years before sufficient funds can be generated Mother Seton School has designed a Hot Weather Plan.

Details of the plan are as follows:

• Water dispensers placed in locations for students to easily refill their water bottles
• Rotating schedule among non A/C classes to use A/C rooms for class periods.
• Use of shaded areas along rill or Emmitsburg Memorial Park Pavilion
• Recess & PE held indoors when humidity/temperature extreme
• Students wear MSS logo tan PE shirt and gym shorts when announced
• If extreme temperatures persist beyond one week and classroom temperatures reach well above 90 as early as 10 or 11 school will dismiss at 12:30. Announcement made a day prior to early dismissal, posted on WEB, and posted on Find Out First.
• After Care provided only for students already enrolled in PreK or K-8 after care program on these early dismissal days

Crisis Management Plan
Following the directives of the Archdiocese and Frederick County, Mother Seton School has a Crisis Management Plan, communicated to the parents through announcements, bulletins, and available in more detail in the school office. If emergency shelter is required, Mother Seton School students are directed to St. Joseph's Provincial House at 333 S. Seton Avenue.

Emergency Drills
The school conducts monthly fire drills, following the directives of the Frederick County Fire Department. Emergency weather and safety drills are conducted periodically during the school year.