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۔

At Phelps Luck, we believe there’s always room to grow. Did you know that we have a dedicated School Improvement Team working tirelessly to give our students the best learning experience possible? Each year, we set goals to improve teaching, learning, and our school environment based on feedback, test scores, and other important data.

This year, we’re focusing on boosting reading comprehension and creating a more positive culture throughout the school. Our team regularly meets to monitor progress and adjust our plans, ensuring that both our staff and community stay informed about our goals and achievements.

We use our School Improvement Plan and Positive Behavior Interventions and Support strategies to create a safe, positive environment where every child can succeed. Want to know more? Throughout the school year, we will publish a snapshot of our progress along the way with our publication, Measures That Matter. Check out our School Improvement Plan Snapshot here, and let us know how you’d like to get involved!

Mr. Cosentino, Ms. Anderson, and Mrs. Grenzer

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

September

• 15 - National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins
• 18 - Professional Workday and Wellness Day, Schools dismiss 3 hours early, 12:15 p.m.
• 18 - SPIRIT DAY - Wear Phelps Luck ES gear or colors
• 19 - Multilanguage Learner Information Parent Night, 6:00 p.m.
• 26 - Hispanic Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
• 30 - PTA Restaurant Night - Coal Fire

October

• Down Syndrome Awareness Month
• 3 - Schools and Office Closed - Rosh Hashanah
• 4 - 3rd grade Field Trip
• 7 - Dental Clinic through 10/10
• 9 - PTA Meeting (Hybrid), 7:00 p.m.
• 11 - Fall Individual Picture Day
• 16 - Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff, 6:30 p.m.
• 17 - Field Day - Wear Field Day team colors
• 21 - PTA Restaurant Night at Ledo's
• 25 - Field Day rain date
• 28 - SPIRIT DAY - Crazy Hair Day
• 29 - SPIRIT DAY - Hat Day
• 30 - End of 1st Quarter
• 30 - SPIRIT DAY - Wear Phelps Luck ES gear or colors
• 30 - Trunk or Treat, 6:00 p.m.
• 31 - Schools Closed - 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.

Calendario en español

西班牙语日历

스페인어로 된 달력

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th each year in the United States. This celebration honors numerous people from Spanish-speaking backgrounds who have come to the United States. We celebrate their cultures and traditions during this month. September 15th was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of the independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Also, Mexico celebrates its independence day on September 16th and Chile celebrates its independence day on September 18th.

Check out these websites for more information about Hispanic Heritage Month and how you can celebrate virtually and at home!

• Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
• National Hispanic Heritage Month
• September: Civics: Hispanic Heritage Month
• Hispanic Heritage Month - Teaching Tolerance
• Hispanic Heritage Month - NEA
• A Comprehensive List of the Essential Latin Music Genres
• 23 Books By Latinos That Might Just Change Your Life

If you missed Back-to-School Nights or you want to revisit the information presented, please visit the Phelps Luck website. The presentations are located within the School Resources in the menu.

The technology department is no longer able to provide headphones or earbuds for all students. We ask that students bring wired headphones for use in class, especially during testing and technology lessons.

• Important: Bluetooth headphones or wireless earbuds will not work—please make sure the headphones are wired.
• Write your name on your headphones to avoid mix-ups.
• Keep them in your backpack when not in use and take them home daily.

Thank you for your cooperation!

2024-2025 Parent Academy Kick Off, Sept. 25, 2024

HCPSS parents, guardians and family members are invited to join HCPSS Superintendent Willliam J. Barnes, school system leaders and community organizations for this valuable information night to prepare for a successful academic year. The event will also feature various workshop topics which provide access to resources and support.

The 2024-2025 Parent Academy Kick-Off will be held Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 6-8:30 p.m at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia. Dinner will be provided from 5:15-6 p.m. Registration is encouraged.

Workshop topics include:

• College and Career Readiness/Career Exploration

• Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future

• Navigating the School System for Student Success

• Mental Health

• Advanced Programs K-12

• Social Media Safety & Security

• Elementary ELA, Reading, and the Library

• Math Programs

• Financial Literacy

• Immigration Law

• Early Childhood Programs

Flyers for distribution:

• Parent Academy Kick-Off Flyer - English

• Parent Academy Kick-Off Flyer - Spanish

• Parent Academy Kick-Off Flyer - Korean

• Parent Academy Kick-Off Flyer - Chinese

Please contact 410.313.1293 for more information.

Check out our Fall GT Recess Seminar Choices - Interest Forms are coming home September 19th in Thursday Folders! They are due by Wednesday, September 25th!

2nd grade - Mon- Thurs: Paper Airplanes and Origami with Ms Jones

3rd grade - Wed: Maze World with Mrs. Fleck

Thurs: Lego Engineering with Ms Jones

4th grade - Wed: Green Team with Ms Jones

Thurs: Weather Watchers for two weeks, then Dash with Mrs. Fleck

5th grade - Tues: Green Team with Ms Jones

Fri: Weather Watchers for two weeks, then Scrabble Mrs. Fleck

Questions? Feel free to contact Lisa_Jones@hcpss.org or Kelly_Fleck@hcpss.org

In accordance with Maryland’s Ready to Read Act (2019) and COMAR (2021), all Howard County Public School System kindergarten students will be screened to identify potential reading difficulties using the Amplify mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition assessment. Please click below to read the full notification.

Our PTA sponsors the Watchdogs. We need Watchdog Top Dog(s) to represent the Watchdogs at the PTA meetings monthly. Here are the PTA Meeting dates for the remainder of the 2024-2025 SY: 10/9; 11/6; 12/4; 1/8; 2/12; 3/5; 4/2; 5/7; and 6/4. If you are interested in being a Top Dog, please complete this form.

The Watchdogs Fall Kickoff will be on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Please look for the registration forms to come home soon."

The Mobile Dentist is coming to PLES October 7th -10th. Please see below link to register.

Save the Date-The annual Flu Clinic will be at PLES on October 15th.

Please contact the Health Room with any questions 410-313-7439

Always Check-In with the Front Office

Please be reminded that it is essential to report to the front office before dropping off any items or visiting your child, even if they have a class in a portable.

This practice ensures the safety and security of our students and staff. By checking in at the front office, we can provide you with the most up-to-date information and assist you as needed.

Food Delivery Not Allowed

Students are not permitted to order food to be delivered during the school day. This includes but is not limited to: using UberEATS, Grubhub, Door Dash or any other food delivery service. School deliveries from outside unknown resources are considered a Student Safety Risk and Violation/School Disruption (Policy 1040). Delivery will be refused as we do not have the capability to process this during the school day. If a parent would like to bring their child’s lunch to the school, we ask that you do so prior to the start of your child’s lunch shift. Please make sure the student's are aware their lunch was dropped off and know to come to the office to pick it up. Parents will need to leave the lunch with our Front Office staff.

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.

School-based clinics are located in 10 elementary, middle and high schools in the Howard County Public School System including Phelps Luck Elementary School. They are made possible through a partnership between the Howard County Health Department and Howard County Public School System. The goal of the program is to keep kids in school, healthy and ready to learn. All student in Phelps Luck are eligible to be part of the School-Based Wellness Center. In order to do that, your child(ren) must be enrolled in the School-Based Wellness Center.

We are very excited that, as a school with a Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC), PLES has been allocated a Learning Together Program (LTP) for this school year!

RECCs provide special education services for preschoolers with disabilities in classes that also include children who do not have disabilities. This program enables all young children to play with each other, develop long-term friendships, and benefit from a diverse and stimulating environment. The purpose of the Learning Together Program (LTP) is to include children who do not have disabilities in the RECC classes located within elementary schools.

We are accepting applications for LTP Peers (students without disabilities) with birthdates from 8/31/2020 through and including 9/1/2021.

A limited number of openings are available for children without disabilities. Children are selected based upon screening information given on the application form and space availability. If necessary, a lottery process is conducted. The fees listed in the application will be collected monthly regardless of the learning model determined by HCPSS throughout the upcoming school year (virtual, hybrid, or in person).

Please click on the link below for detailed information about the program and a link to the application:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLv1R3GIFWJTForGglkqdsBGaSkW0Rb7o5OZLR4OHog/edit?usp=sharing

To qualify for Free and Reduced Meals, families will need to apply for that benefit.

HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, which provides families with significant benefits to help save money. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Those eligible for reduced-price lunch pay $0.10 and breakfast is free.

Free and Reduced Meals eligibility provides discounts for summer programs, SAT, recreation programs, Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and internet programs.