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

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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)

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!

As we reach the end of our first quarter, I am filled with pride and admiration for the incredible start our students have had to the school year! It has been a joy to see their enthusiasm, curiosity, and commitment to learning each day. We’ve seen students grow, try new things, and build lasting friendships, making our school a vibrant and welcoming place to learn.

The end of the quarter is a wonderful time for reflection. Just as our teachers review and give feedback on each student’s progress, this is a valuable moment for students to look back on their own accomplishments, set new goals, and renew their commitment to growth. Every piece of feedback is an opportunity to celebrate successes and to identify ways to keep building on them. We encourage you to use this feedback to help guide your child not just in reviewing where they are but in planning for where they want to go.

As we enter the second quarter, let’s continue to support our children in setting goals that inspire them. Whether it’s working a little harder on a challenging subject, improving study habits, or simply being kinder and more helpful to classmates, each step forward is meaningful. With your continued support at home, we are confident your child will thrive.

Thank you for being such an integral part of our school community. Together, we can help each child reach new heights and develop a lifelong love of learning.

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

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

November

• National American Indian Heritage Month
• 5 - Schools and Offices Closed - Election Day
• 5 - PTA Chipotle Dine Out Night
• 6 - PTA Meeting
• 8 - Parent Teacher conference scheduling window opens in Synergy
• 8 - 1st Quarter Report Cards issued
• 11 - SPIRIT DAY for Veterans Day - Wear red, white, and blue to honor veterans
• 14 - Kindergarten Field Trip to Library (half of the classes)
• 18 - American Education Week begins
• 21 - Kindergarten Field Trip Library (other half of classes)
• 21 - Parent Teacher conference scheduling window closes in Synergy
• 25 - SPIRIT DAY - Wear athletic gear
• 25 - Turkey Trot (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades)
• 25 - Book Fair - 8:40 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• 25 - Parent-teacher conferences - Schools close 3 hours early, 12:15 p.m.

• 26 - SPIRIT DAY - Dress like a... (teachers for kids, kids for teachers)
• 26 - Book Fair - 8:40 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• 26 - Parent-teacher conferences - Schools close 3 hours early, 12:15 p.m.
  
• 26 - Cozy Cafe - Thanksgiving Pie Sale
• 27 - Schools closed for Parent-teacher conferences
• 28 - Schools and offices closed for Thanksgiving
• 29 - Schools and offices closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

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.

HCPSS Calendars in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean

Calendar in English

Calendario en español

西班牙语日历

스페인어로 된 달력

As we reach the end of Quarter 1, report cards will be available for families to access on HCPSS Connect on Friday, November 8th at 4pm. We are also sending report cards home with students that day so we can ensure all families have a paper copy to review the same day.

The PreK-2 report cards were updated last year, and this year students in grades 3-5 report cards will receive report cards that are standards based. These report card shifts are due to HCPSS implementing the Standards Based Instruction and Reporting (SBIR) process, per Policy 8010 – Grading and Reporting: Pre-Kindergarten Through Grade 5. With the shift to SBIR, grades are based on the student's proficiency with grade-level curriculum standards and provides families with a more accurate assessment of how their child is performing.

The Standards Based Instruction and Reporting Family and Community Resources Canvas course provides important information about SBIR.

For more information, download the Understanding Your Child's Report Card document.

• Understanding Your Child's Report Card (PreK-2) - (English)
• Understanding Your Child's Report Card (Grades 3-5) - (English)

Academic Performance Codes represent what has been learned - where the student is in relation to the expectation of the grade level standard. It is intended to reflect the progress toward meeting the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards for their current grade level.

For students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), detailed progress toward IEP goals is provided in the Annual Goal(s) Progress Report that is sent at the same time as the HCPSS report card. A student’s IEP goals address the identified skills that support their progress toward meeting grade level standards.

We are pleased to announce our Parent Teacher Conferences this year, which will be held in 20-minute sessions with your child’s ELA teacher. Conference format depends on the date chosen:

• Monday, November 25th - In-Person Conferences at PLES
• Tuesday, November 26th - Virtual Conferences via Google Meet (link to be provided)
• Wednesday, November 27th - Virtual Conferences via Google Meet (link to be provided)

For virtual conferences, a Google Meet link will be included in your confirmation email, and your child’s ELA teacher will provide additional details.

Virtual Conference Details:
If joining virtually, please enter the Google Meet link one minute before your scheduled time. You’ll be in a “waiting room” until admitted. If you experience any technical issues, your child’s teacher will contact you via email, or you may call the school for support.

Scheduling Instructions (beginning Friday, November 8th, at 8:00 am):
Log in to HCPSS Connect to view and select your time slot:

1. Go to hcpss.org/connect.
2. Select “Conference” from the left menu.
3. Choose “Parent Scheduled Conferences” at the top right.
4. Pick a convenient time slot.

The scheduling window will remain open until Thursday, November 21st, at 4:00 pm. If you cannot access HCPSS Connect, please contact the school at 410-313-6886 for assistance.

WHAT IS A FAMILY SCHOOL COMPACT & PLAN?

A Schoolwide Family Compact & Plan is an agreement between families, students, and teachers that is jointly developed and distributed to all families. It explains how families, students, and teachers will work together to develop a family-school partnership to make sure all students meet with success and get the support they need to achieve grade-level goals.

We're working together to create a positive learning environment for all students. Please review PLES learning compact and share your thoughts on how we can enhance the experience for everyone Your input is crucial to finalizing our school's learning compact. Please review the document and provide your feedback.

School pictures are ready!

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number.

All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card.

More about the Smilesafe program here.

As much as we enjoy seeing family dogs at arrival and dismissal, all HCPSS schools are expected to adhere to the following policy:

Animals in schools or offices, leashed or not, present safety, environmental, and liability issues. Students and staff may be exposed to potential physical hazards, such as bites, and/or allergy related health problems. As a result, animals are prohibited within HCPSS buildings. Animals are also prohibited on school system property during arrival, dismissal, recess or other HCPSS sponsored outdoor activities. Service animals or service animals in training per MD Annotated Code Section 7-705 (Service Animals) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as animals approved for instructional purposes are exempt from this prohibition.

Parents who bring dogs on their walks to school must wait for students off school property. We want to ensure the safety of our students as they arrive and leave school. Thank you for adhering to this policy.

In an effort to improve efficiency during arrival, please help your child be ready to exit the car quickly. Depending on their age, children can unbuckle their seatbelt as you enter the car loop and have their backpack and lunchbox in hand before stopping. There's no need to wait for staff to open the door—your child can safely exit when you stop at the designated point, especially older students. As always, staff will be available to assist if needed.

Parking and Walking

As you know, it is nearly impossible to park in the PLES parking lot during arrival and dismissal. Some people park on Phelps Luck Drive, High Tor Hill, or the cul-de-sacs off those main streets. If you park and pick up your child please remember the following:

• Your child is considered a walker and should be picked up from the rear of the building. In the front of the school, we account for students when they are picked up in their car. It makes it difficult for staff to account for children when parents/guardians/daycare providers take them out of the car loop line.
• In the rear of the building, we account for walkers when parents/guardians/daycare providers are greeted by a staff member there.
• Do not park at the Phelps Luck Neighborhood Center/Pool parking lot. That is for the day care program there.
• Please do not block people's driveways or walk through our neighbor's lawns.

Thank you for your help.

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.