Falcon Flier

Sandra Anderson, Assistant Principal

Kelly Grenzer, 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۔

Happy Holidays!

It’s hard to believe this is the final Falcon Flier of the year! We still have five full days of school next week. We have a lot of learning and some fun activities scheduled for the week.

As we prepare to wrap up 2024 and head into the winter break, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who contributes to making Phelps Luck Elementary such an incredible place for our children to learn and grow. Our community is truly special—full of unique talents and generosity that enrich the lives of our students every day.

In the spirit of the holidays, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your continued support of our school. May this season bring you joy, peace, and time to connect with loved ones. I hope each of you experiences the blessings and warmth that make this time of year so special.

I also want to share how honored I feel to serve as the principal of Phelps Luck Elementary. It’s a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated and caring community, and my career as an educator continues to be deeply rewarding thanks to the enthusiasm and curiosity of our students.

As we celebrate this season, let’s look to the joy and hope reflected in the faces of our children—they remind us of the bright possibilities the future holds. To the families and friends of the Phelps Luck Elementary community, I wish you a safe, happy, and relaxing holiday season.

Mr. Cosentino, Principal

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

December

• 17 - SPIRIT DAY - Blizzard Day, Wear White
• 18 - SPIRIT DAY - Holiday Sweater Day
• 19 - SPIRIT DAY - Holiday Hat Day
• 20 - SPIRIT DAY - Pajama Day
• 21 - Winter Break Starts through January 1. School reopens January 2.

January 2025

• 8 - PTA Meeting (Virtual), 7:00 p.m.
• 15 - Texas Roadhouse Dine Out Night
• 20 - Schools and Offices Close - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• 21 - Rising 6th Grade orientation for Bonnie Branch Middle School, 6:00 p.m. (snow date 1/27)
• 22 - Rising 6th Grade orientation for Ellicott Mills Middle School, 6:00 p.m.
• 23 - End of Second Quarter - Schools close 3-hours early, 12:15 p.m.
• 24 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Robinson Nature Center
• 28 - School is open a full day (an older version of the calendar had this day as a half day).
• 28 - Winter Concert at Howard High School (Band, Strings, Chorus)
• 29 - Schools closed for students - Professional Work Day

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.

The OMHS Food Pantry will be open Wednesday, December 18 from 3:30 - 5:30pm. If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, please come to our contact free pickup at 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia. Please do not arrive before 3pm to allow for safe bus departure. Visit https://omhs.hcpss.org/student-services/food-pantry for more information. NO PHOTO ID REQUIRED.

La Despensa de Alimentos de OMHS está abierta miércoles, el 18 de diciembre 3:30-5:30pm (9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia). Si necesita alimentos, venga a OMHS para recoger sin contacto. Favor de no llegar antes de las 3pm para que los autobuses puedan salir. Visite a https://omhs.hcpss.org/student-services/food-pantry para más información. NO SE NECESITA IDENTIFICACIÓN CON FOTO.

Online, in-person, over-the-phone and mail-in registration for Recreation & Parks’ 2025 Winter Activity Guide is now open! With hundreds of great programs, activities and events to choose from, there is something for everyone to help chase those winter blues away.

For out-of-county residents, online registration for you begins this Wednesday, December 11th, at 6:00 p.m.; with all other forms of registration opening the follow day.

Hard copies of the activity guide are also available at Recreation & Parks' headquarters at 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia, at any one of our community centers or your local Howard County Library System branch.

Please be mindful of the Children & Company and Kids' Connection co-op daycare center located at the Phelps Luck Neighborhood Center, next to PLES.

This daycare center is not affiliated with our school, and it is not included in our arrival and dismissal plan. PLES families and staff are not permitted to park there, and violators may be towed.

As an alternative, you may park along Phelps Luck Drive and walk to the school. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain a positive relationship with our daycare neighbors.

How Does HCPSS Determine to Close Schools?

Unscheduled Emergency Early School Closing

In the event that schools need to close early due to an unexpected weather event, please be sure to share with your child how he/she will go home if it is different than their normal dismissal routine.
All parents were asked to indicate how children are to go home in the event of an emergency/unscheduled closing when they completed their Family File information in August or September.

Exercise outdoors is healthy and is strongly encouraged. It provides a break from the regular school routine, a chance to get some outside air, and an opportunity to run off excess energy.

If conditions preclude the full recess time, even a five-minute break can revitalize children and prepare them for more sitting and academic learning. Children are expected to wear warm clothing to protect them during cold weather when participating in recess or outside activities.

The decision to go out or stay in for recess is the decision of the Administrator at individual schools. However, the following are to be considered in determining whether recess is to be held outside:

• Temperature and Windchill
  
• Age of students
  
• Length of time outdoors
  
• Adequacy of the children’s clothing
  
• Condition of the playground
  
• Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)
  

Generally, it is assumed that students will be outside for recess when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Children with certain health conditions may need special accommodations during extremely cold weather. Parents of those children should provide medical documentation and may be consulted to determine if other arrangements are necessary.

Please find the Spirit Day Schedule for the year below. We hope this helps in the planning and participation in our fun spirit days this year.

To ensure smooth end-of-day procedures, please plan to pick up your child no later than 2:45 p.m. This helps us maintain a focused learning environment and ensures the safety and smooth dismissal of all students. Picking up students after this time can disrupt classroom activities and interfere with dismissal procedures.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us provide the best possible environment for all students!

If your student is absent or will be absent, please contact us at the following email address to explain the reason: PLESabsence@hcpss.org. In the email, please Include the following information:

• Student First and Last Name

• Grade

• Reason for absence (e.g., illness, bereavement, observance of a religious holiday, lack of transportation)