Dear Elkridge Family,

In times of hardship, even the smallest act of kindness can bring light to someone's darkest moment—let’s uplift each other with compassion and care. When our community suffers, our greatest strength is found in the love and support we share—extend a helping hand, a kind word, or a listening ear. Together, we can heal and rebuild by choosing empathy over division, generosity over indifference, and kindness as our guiding force.

Give yourself grace, celebrate your efforts, and take moments to recharge. Together, let’s make kindness the heart of Elkridge!

Joe Corbi Fundraiser:

Today is the last day for the Joe Corbi Fundraiser. If you are interested in purchasing something, it’s easy! - Go to joecorbi.com and LOGIN - Register your child as a PARTICIPANT (you will need our group’s Organization code 5172) - Once you have your child’s Participant code you can share that code via email or on YOUR Facebook page.

Black History Night:

Thank you everyone who came out to support Black History Night at Elkridge. On Friday evening, attendees were treated to beautiful music by Alyssa King-Lewis who is Ms. Charlene King's daughter, The Legacy Step Team of Howard High School, under the direction of Ms. Jackie Coleman, performed as well as the NiDembaya African Drummers. Families enjoyed presentations from the Living Great Blacks and Wax Museum by our intermediate students and a gallery walk provided by our primary students. Attendees also enjoyed sampling food prepared from the heart. Thank you to all of the staff members who participated and supported this wonderful event.

Belonging Night:

Annual EES Belonging Night is coming up on Friday, March 21st from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Let’s celebrate what makes our community special with food, fashion, and history about our cultures. If you wish to participate, use the link to sign up for what you are interested in: 2025 Belonging Night Family Sign Up

We look forward to seeing you there! Please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

Ramadan 2025:

We acknowledge that for some members of our EES community, Ramadan will begin on Friday, February 28, 2025, and will continue through Saturday, March 29, 2025. We wish a meaningful and blessed month to all who observe.

Ramadan is a time for reflection, family, community, and charity. We understand some students may choose to fast, either fully or partially, during this time. To support their needs, students may choose to spend the lunch shift in an alternate location, engaging in a book or other quiet activity.

If your child is fasting and you would prefer this alternative lunch setting, please email your child's teacher.

Elkridge Elementary School has Talent!

Calling all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders with a talent to share! Auditions for our Annual Talent Showcase are happening on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 from 4:00-6:00 pm in the Media Center.

Students who want to audition MUST turn in a permission form by February 28. Only students with signed permission slips will be allowed to stay after school to audition. Permission slips and more information are available at the Front Office or by using this link: Talent Show Audition Packet

Contact Ms. Loughry at carrie_loughry@hcpss.org with any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you at the auditions! All are invited to the performance on March 28, 2025 at 6:00 pm!

Breakfast Update:

Beginning February 24, 2025, students who participate in breakfast will be eating in the cafeteria. Please note that breakfast will conclude by 9:30 AM. If your child participates in breakfast, please make sure they are at school between 9:10 AM and 9:25 AM.

Lunch Update & Reminder:

Please remember that Elkridge Elementary does not accept student lunches from services such as Door Dash and Uber Eats. If you are bringing outside lunch for your children, please bring lunch to them around their lunch time.

SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Week:

Next week is SEL Week! We have a great week planned for our students to enjoy and share kindness throughout the building. See below for the theme for each day. Participation is optional.

Maryland School Survey - 5th Grade:

State law requires that all public schools in Maryland survey students about school climate. The purpose of the survey is to gain valuable information about the quality and character of each school’s learning environment so that schools can promote a climate that supports student learning.

Students will take the Maryland School Survey during regular school hours on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The survey will ask students about topics such as student engagement, interactions with adults and with other students in the school, the school environment, bullying, and safety. The survey will not ask about a student’s personal experiences, and students will not be asked to provide any information that might violate their privacy.

The survey is confidential and school personnel will not have access to the responses of specific students. The responses your child provides will be combined with the responses from other students in the school, and results will be reported for each school and district. We are eager to receive this very important information about your student’s school and about schools across the state. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Mr. Swann at 410-313-5006.

Cell Phone Policy Update:

On January 30, 2025, the Board of Education approved adjustments to Policy 8080 - Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media that changes the ability for students to use personal devices during the school day. The Board approved the following changes related to the use of personal devices by students at school:

• No students, PreKindergarten-12, will be permitted to use cell phones and other personal technology devices during the student day (first bell to last bell of the day or posted school hours) except for reasons detailed in a student’s IEP, 504, or health plan. Under the prior version of the policy, elementary and middle school students were not permitted to use personal devices during the school day at any time. For high school students, this policy removes access to personal device in between classes and at lunch. For all grade levels, the addition of consequences for violating the policy is new.
  
  

• When a personal device is used in violation of the new policy, the device will be confiscated for the remainder of the student day. Following the first violation, the student may retrieve the device at the end of the student day. For all subsequent violations, a parent/guardian must retrieve the device from the school.
  
  
• A device that is confiscated during the final period of the student day will be confiscated for the entire next student day. The student may retrieve the device at the end of the day it was originally confiscated to take home but must provide it to the front office upon arrival on the next student day.
  
  

• Students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced,” meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise. Additionally, devices may not be a distraction.
  
  
• Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction.
  
  
• Personal laptops may be used for instructional activities in high school when permitted by the teacher.
  
  
• A staff member on a school-sponsored field trip may permit the use of a personal technology device by a student in limited situations where capturing a picture or video may be appropriate or contacting a parent/guardian is necessary.
  
  
• School administrators and school administrators’ designees may authorize use of a personal device in rare instances such as an emergency for communication purposes.
  
  

These new expectations will take effect on Monday, March 3, 2025. The complete changes and expectationsLinks to an external site. may be found online. Please take time to review these new expectations with your student to ensure they do not violate the new policy.

Our school will adhere strictly to the policy with hopes that the elimination of the distractions that personal devices cause use will result in healthier and more productive learning and social environments during the school day. More information will be shared before the implementation date.

MESA Matters:

This Friday the 4th and 5th Grade MESA students will be showcasing their projects at the MESA Showcase Night. School closure due to inclement weather has affected students' ability to stay afterschool for MESA, impacting their progress on projects. Understanding these challenges, groups that are unable to physically demonstrate how their projects work will be given the opportunity to present and discuss their designs at the MESA Showcase. Good Luck to all the participants!

2025-2026 School Registration:

If you have a child who is approaching Kindergarten age or will be attending Howard County Public Schools for the first time in Fall 2025, please refer to the HCPSS Enrollment page for valuable information, which can be found here.

Safety Reminders:

Please remember the importance of safety habits while on HCPSS Property. Please remember the following when you are on HCPSS Property:

• Drive slowly (10 mph is recommended) to ensure that in the event something unexpected happens, you have enough time to react.
• Please refrain from (handheld) cell phone use and texting while in a moving vehicle.
• Please ensure that all passengers are wearing seatbelts to ensure their safety.
• Animals, including the walking of dogs, are also prohibited on school system property during arrival, dismissal, recess, and other HCPSS-sponsored outdoor activities. Shared campus hours are 7:50 AM – 3:55 PM, Monday – Friday.
  
  

Outdoor Recess Reminders:
Please ensure children are appropriately dressed for outdoor recess, including wearing multiple layers of loose-fitted clothing, and covering heads, hands, and faces to minimize skin exposure. It may be helpful to pack extra gloves or mittens, scarves and hats in the event gear gets wet or is misplaced. Please see General Reminders below for additional information about outdoor recess.

Cold and Flu Season:

To keep our community healthy, it’s essential to practice good hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water or using hand sanitizer when needed. Always cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, and dispose of tissues properly to protect others. Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs and shared devices, to reduce the spread of germs. If you’re feeling unwell, stay home and encourage others to do the same to help prevent illness from spreading. Supporting a healthy environment also includes staying vaccinated, eating well, staying hydrated, and ensuring good ventilation in shared spaces.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Kelley Powell, Principal

LaShonne Wright, Assistant Principal

Jonathan Swann, Assistant Principal

Saturday, March 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Cedar Lane School
11630 Scaggsville Road
Fulton, MD 20759

The HCPSS Special Education Resource Fair provides families with information available from the community and HCPSS to support their students receiving special education and related services (those who have an IEP or IFSP). Get connected to:
Recreational Activities
HCPSS Speech, OT, PT, Vision, and Adapted PE
Camps
Community Groups
Service Providers
Transition to Adulthood Information
Assistive Technology
Behavioral Health
Howard County Government Resources
And Much More!

For information, please contact FSRC@hcpss.org. Registration is not required. The event will be cancelled if HCPSS has an inclement weather closure. This event is part of the HCPSS Parent Empowerment Series including training sessions related to special education and events for families of students with an IEP or IFSP.

Read Across Elkridge Guest Reader Day is Monday, March 10, 2025!

Elkridge Elementary is celebrating Read Across America Day on Monday, March 10th. We are looking for guest readers to share their favorite children’s book with students! Please sign up below to be a guest reader based on your child's grade. Please complete the volunteer training and bring in your training certificate when you come in to read. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions.

Thanks for volunteering!

PreK 4

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

📚 Book Donations Needed for Literacy Events!📚

We're collecting new or gently used books to support our upcoming literacy events, including our exciting Reading Night in April! If you have books to donate, please drop them off at school in bags or boxes labeled with either Mrs. Cooke or Mrs. Barr's name. Your generous contributions will help foster a love for reading in our community. Thank you for your support! 📖✨

Arrival & Dismissal Reminders:

Student Arrival and Breakfast:

Students will be admitted into the building between 9:10 and 9:25 AM. Breakfast service will end promptly at 9:30 AM. Please ensure students arrive on time, especially if they plan to eat breakfast, as the kitchen doors will close at 9:30 AM.

Dismissal:

Student dismissal begins promptly at 3:55 and is completed by 4:15. Recently, we have noticed an increase in students waiting to be picked up at 4:30 and beyond. Late pickups can disrupt school operations and create unnecessary delays for staff and administration. We kindly ask for your cooperation in ensuring students are picked up on time. Thank you for helping us keep our dismissal process efficient and ensuring the safety of all our students. Please call the front office by 2:30PM if you are changing the way your child is being picked up from school. Also, only students who are car riders are dismissed from the gym. If you are walking up to meet your child at the car rider door, you will need to go to the main office to pick them up.

The Howard County Public School System welcomes visitors to our schools. To limit interruptions and distractions to teaching and learning, and to maximize safety for all:

• Anyone wishing to visit a school is asked to contact school administration or the appropriate staff member to establish a convenient time for both the visitor and the school.
• The school will arrange for an escort for the visitor.
• To avoid interrupting instruction, no students are allowed to shadow HCPSS students.
• Understandably, interactions between visitors and school staff and students will be limited.
• If a follow-up meeting with school staff is desired, the visitor will schedule it for a mutually convenient time.
  
  

Safety Protocols for Visitors

Please be aware of the following procedures for any visitor to a school/office:

• The front door is the only entrance point for all visitors.
• Please ring the bell and look into the camera.
• Be prepared to state your name and purpose for visiting.
• All visitors must walk directly into the front office with a valid photo I.D. and sign in using our LobbyGuard system.
• A visitor’s sticker will be given to visitors following the above procedures and must be worn and prominently visible.
• Any visitor in the school without a visitor sticker will be escorted directly to the front office by a staff member.
  
  

In some cases, it may be more convenient for a prospective visitor to acquire information in other ways. The following may be helpful:

• Information about the Howard County Public School System is available on the HCPSS website and the HCPSS News site.
• Visit our Schools page to find school locators (attendance areas), school profiles, bus stops and much more.

We thoroughly enjoy when parents come in to enjoy lunch with their child. We ask that you remember the following when visiting:

1. Before entering the cafeteria, please sign in at the front office to obtain a visitors pass.
   
   
2. Food may not be shared with other students in the cafeteria. Food that is brought in from outside sources (fast food lunch, cupcakes, etc. etc.) cannot be guaranteed to be allergen free. Therefore, to protect students, any food that is brought into the cafeteria may only be shared with the child you are visiting.
   
   
3. When dining with your child, please sit at a table that is either empty, or that has a few students at it.
   
   
4. When having lunch with your child, please refrain from interacting with any other children. If you need assistance, please request to speak with an administrator before you attend lunch.
   
   
5. If you choose to eat a school lunch with your child, you may not use your child's account to purchase a lunch for yourself. Adult lunches are $4.50, payable in cash (preferably exact change) at the time of purchase.

As a general reminder for our students who sit at the allergy table, it is important that the same student(s) should sit at this table everyday. If two friends are going to sit at the table with a friend who has a peanut allergy, it should be the same students. If one student brings lunch that day they will not be able to sit at the allergy/peanut table that day.

As we move into the colder months of school, we would like to send a few reminders about students and recess. Per HCPSS policy, students will be outside for recess when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature combined with the wind chill is below 20 degrees, students will have indoor recess. Please send your children prepared for outdoor recess.

If you have concerns about your child's development - whether it's their speech, motor skills, social skills or learning - it's important to act now. Waiting until the summer for a referral can delay crucial support that your child may need before starting kindergarten.

Contact us today to schedule a screening. Let's work together to ensure your child has the best possible start in kindergarten!

Call 410-313-7046 or email ChildFind@hcpss.org

The After School Belonging Group will be meeting on the following days after school. Please reach out to Ms. Harmon for additional details.

March 18, 2025

April 22, 2025

May 20, 2025

AAU Tryouts are coming March 3 - 6! We are a year round program with intense training, mentorship opportunities, and winning mentality. This program is looking for student-athletes that are serious about the game of basketball and have the skills to play on a competitive level. Complete the registration form and we will see you there!

LIFE Elite Athletics is an organization that caters to the youth and young adults. We foster the development of leadership qualities through a commitment to education and community involvement. We aim to provide our constituents with versatile experiences through scholastic empowerment, athletic conditioning, and cultural exposure. We believe in guiding our youth to Seeing Obstacles as Lessons Understanding Trials Induce Opportunities for Next Steps (SOLUTIONS) mentality.

We create opportunities for youth and young adults to achieve their dreams by providing them with resources, instilling work ethic, and building the confidence needed to be successful adults.

Teaching the game of basketball is an avenue used to achieve said goals. We believe in using basketball as a tool to prepare the players for real life; by instilling discipline, dedication, teamwork, leadership to name a few. In addition, we work on the fundamentals of basketball and enhance the basketball IQ of each player. Lastly, we aim to win, to build confidence in our kids, and learn from losses.