The Falcon Flier

Sandra McGraw, Assistant Principal

Jennifer Stairs, Assistant Principal

Website: ples.hcpss.org
Location: Phelps Luck Elementary School, Old Stone Court, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: 410-313-6886
Facebook: facebook.com/phelpsluckelementary
Twitter: @hcpss_ples

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Spanish

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Korean

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Chinese

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Urdu

دوسری زبانوں کے لئے ، نیوزلیٹر کا ترجمہ کریں پر کلک کریں اور اپنی پسند کی زبان کا انتخاب کریں۔

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break. The time between Thanksgiving and Winter Break is a very productive period of time with 20 consecutive days of school. It is the longest uninterrupted span of school in the second quarter. We hope to see our students in school each day (unless they are ill) until the Winter Break.

Gratitude

Just around the Thanksgiving Day holiday, I received a link to an article (https://goo.gl/quGNfs) from a colleague, sharing with me the benefits of showing gratitude, and then also highlighting 25 reasons to give thanks to teachers. According to the short article, the following were some scientifically proven benefits of showing gratitude:

1. Gratitude opens the door to more relationships

2. Gratitude improves physical health

3. Gratitude improves psychological health

4. Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression

5. Grateful people sleep better

6. Gratitude improves self-esteem

7. Gratitude increases mental strength
   
   

I wanted to share with parents and families how many amazing things I see the Phelps Luck Staff do with students on a daily basis that, along with your partnership, helps students grow into thriving young people both academically and socially. The work is not always easy, and as our world evolves and becomes more complicated at times, so does teaching and parenting.

As I closely watch the work and commitment of the Phelps Luck Elementary School staff, I can’t help but also extend my gratitude to parents and families in the Phelps Luck Elementary School Community. The amount of support we receive is always unparalleled in regards to time, financial support, commitment and dedication to providing students with the best education possible. As I looked over the list of 25 reasons to give thanks to teachers, I also saw where many of those reasons would be applicable to parents as well.

With the holiday season upon us, I wanted to be sure to take the opportunity to publicly thank ALL of the Phelps Luck Elementary School staff for their work in creating an environment for students to thrive and grow, and at the same time, I wanted to be sure to thank all of our families for their continued support and dedication to our partnership together on behalf of our students. I’m truly grateful to work in such a dynamic school community!

Mr. Cosentino, Principal

For a complete list of dates and events, visit ples.hcpss.org/calendar.

December

• 1 - School spirit day - Wear GREEN
• 4 - Inclusive Schools Week begins
• 4 - Vision and Hearing Screening
• 5 - 11 - Grade 3 CogAT begins
• 6 - PTA Meeting (Hybrid), 7:00 p.m.
• 12 - Dental Clinic
• 13 - Schools close 3 hours early - Professional work and wellness day, 12:15 p.m.
• 13 - Dental clinic
• 14 - Vision and Hearing Rescreening
• 14 - Dental clinic
• 15 - School spirit day - Hoodie Day
• 22 - School spirit day - Pajama Day
• December 23 through January 1 - Winter Break

January 2024

• 2 - School reopens

To subscribe to the PLES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system, click the plus sign + at the bottom right-hand corner of the Google Calendar or click this link.

We truly live in a world surrounded by technology and this technology is growing every day!

It is becoming very clear that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works and/or their career will most likely be affected by technology in some way.

Interestingly however, only a tiny fraction of us who use technology are actually learning HOW our technology works and how creativity fosters the continuing advancement of technology.

This is why our entire school is again joining the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code during National Computer Science Education Week December 4th-8th.

By participating in the Hour of Code, Phelps Luck Elementary School is making a statement that we are ready to introduce these foundational 21st-century skills even to our youngest learners. During our Hour of Code every student at Phelps Luck will be given the opportunity to learn, try and enhance their coding skills.

Be sure to ask your child about their experience with the Hour of Code!

See the link below for more details and a chance to try coding as a family.

https://hourofcode.com/us/learn

We have entered the colder season of the school year. Even though the temperatures get colder, our students still go outside for recess. Recess is a very important time for students to take a break from their academic classes to get fresh air, exercise, and socialize with their peers. Recess is so important that the Howard County Public School System has a policy requiring elementary schools to provide students with 30 minutes of recess daily. Outdoor recess will occur during the

cold months as long as the “feels like” temperature is at least 20 degrees and it is not

raining or snowing.

Please be sure your children are prepared for outdoor recess. They should have coats, mittens/gloves, and hats. Please put your child’s name on these items. Doctors’ notes are required for students to miss recess. The note should list the dates the student cannot attend recess. If a doctor requires a student to stay in from recess when the rest of the students go out, the student will go to the front office. Let us know if your child needs any winter wear. We have some donations for needed items.

The PLES Girls on the Run team has organized a food drive for the month of December. Please consider donating shelf-stable food items (not expired) that can be donated to Columbia Community Cares. A bin will be located at the front of the school for donations.

The Charmery School Scoop Night December 5th

Join us at The Charmery for ice cream on Tuesday, December 5th. Mention PLES at the register or in the order note field when ordering online.

PTA Meeting December 6th at 7:00 PM

Our next PTA meeting will take place on December 6th. Join us in the Media Center or online through Zoom.

DEI Committee Meeting December 12th

We will be holding our next DEI meeting virtually on Tuesday, December 12th at 7:00 PM. Use the PTA Meeting Zoom link to join. Contact: dei@phelpsluckpta.org

Red Robin Dine Out December 13th

On Wednesday, December 13th Red Robin will give 20% of food sales back to the PLES PTA. Show the flyer or mention PLES when dining in or add the “Fundraiser” item to your online order.

If you haven’t heard, Recreation & Parks’ 2024 Winter Activity Guide is now available online! With hundreds of great programs, activities and events to choose from, there is something for everyone to help chase those winter blues away.

Remember, online registration for Howard County residents begins December 6th at 6:00 p.m., with in-person, over-the-phone and mail-in beginning the following day at 8:00 a.m. For out-of-county residents, online registration for you begins the following week, December 13th, at 6:00 p.m.

County residents, be sure to keep an eye out on your mailbox for your print copy. You can also pick up a hard copy at Recreation & Parks' headquarters, located at 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia, at any one of our community centers or your local library branch.

Parenting Apart: Navigating Co-Parenting through the Holiday Season and Beyond

The holiday season is a time of joy and togetherness for many families, but they can also be reminders of who and what we have lost. For those co-parenting during or in the aftermath of divorce, the holidays can bring unique challenges and disruptions to the usual routine. This presentation is tailored to parents who are going through divorce or separation and are eager to create a parenting plan that minimizes conflict and promotes stability and harmony for your children. Explore essential considerations when creating an access schedule that prioritizes your children's well-being throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. Gain insights into effectively managing common co-parenting issues that can arise. Learn valuable communication and co-parenting strategies to navigate this period of transition, and as well as resources for ongoing support and assistance.

Monday, December 4, 7:00 p.m. Free Virtual Workshop. Register here