Greetings EES Families,

As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we would like to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for each and every one of you. This season reminds us of the power of connection, the beauty of shared moments, and the strength of community.

Thanksgiving is not just about the abundance on our tables but also about the abundance of kindness, love, and support we experience together. In the laughter of our gatherings, the warmth of our conversations, and the acts of generosity that ripple through our community, we find reasons to be profoundly thankful.

This year, let’s take a moment to reflect on all we have accomplished as a community—how we’ve supported one another through challenges and celebrated each other’s joys. Together, we create a place where everyone belongs, where hope is renewed, and where gratitude is not just a feeling but a way of life.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with love, laughter, and the comfort of knowing you are part of something truly special. We are thankful for all of you today and every day.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Kelley Powell, Principal

LaShonne Wright, Assistant Principal

Jonathan Swann, Assistant Principal

Please support our Pencil-Gram Sale! We are using the funds for 5th Grade and other school activities.

November is American Education Month. To celebrate, the Elkridge Elementary staff is inviting parents to volunteer to read to their child’s class during the month. Each grade level will have 1 guest reader per English Language Arts class on a different day during three weeks in November. We ask that you bring your own favorite children's book to read to your child's class. There are limited slots, but we will be looking for more guest readers in March. If you are interested in being a guest reader in your child’s class, please select your child’s grade level link below to sign-up. Before you come in on your chosen day, please complete the Volunteer training and bring in your training certificate on the day you are guest reading.

• Pre-K: Guest Reader Signup

• Kindergarten: Guest Reader Signup

• 1st Grade: Guest Reader Signup

• 2nd Grade: Guest Reader Signup

• 3rd Grade: Guest Reader Signup

• 4th Grade: Guest Reader Signup

• 5th Grade: Guest Reader Signup

Young Author's Contest:

Calling all writers! The Howard County Literacy Association invites students in grades 1 - 5 to submit their original poems and/or short stories to the annual writing contest called The Young Authors' Contest (YAC).

Please see the attached Young Authors’ Contest Guidelines for information about the rules and guidelines. All entries must have a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions may be emailed to Katelyn_Barr@hcpss.org by December 20, 2024. Contact Katelyn Barr with any questions. All Young Authors’ Contest information can be found on the HCLA website.

Howard County Literacy Association welcomes parents as members. Visit the HCLA Welcome Page for information about joining!

📚 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! 📖✨

The EES Instructional Technology teachers are excited to announce that Elkridge ES will again be participating in Hour of Code. If you have a career in coding or computer science and interested in speaking to our students about your career (in person or virtual) one day during the week of December 9 please consider completing the Hour of Code 2024 Presenter Interest Form.

Deadline for submissions is Friday, November 29.

https://forms.gle/fZszx5i7To81uCdU8

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.

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