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

For another language, click "Translate Newsletter" tab and select the language of choice in the upper right-hand corner.

Spanish

Para otros idiomas, haga clic en Traducir Newsletter y elija el idioma que prefiera.

Korean

다른 언어의 경우 뉴스 레터 번역을 클릭하고 원하는 언어를 선택합니다.

Chinese

对于其他语言，请单击翻译新闻通讯，然后选择所需的语言。

Urdu

دوسری زبانوں کے لئے ، نیوزلیٹر کا ترجمہ کریں پر کلک کریں اور اپنی پسند کی زبان کا انتخاب کریں۔

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!

Green School Greatness!

Did you notice some beautiful enhancements in the front of our school? These enhancements are due to the amazing PLES Green Team led by one of our gifted and talented teachers, Ms. Lisa Jones. The PLES Green Team, with the huge help of The Community Ecology Institute's Nourishing Gardens program, planted landscaping next to the main entrance this past weekend. In the spring, our school was awarded a $7,500 Youth Environmental Education grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. With this grant, our 4th and 5th grade Green Teams have been working hard since to assess, plan, and design a place at our school to add beauty and habitat, while also growing food. Our school will be the first in Howard County to plant a "Food Forest!" It will include many traditional-style landscaping plants mixed with perennials, trees, and shrubs that will also produce food. Finishing touches will be added through the end of October. Come check it out! Thank you to all those who helped with this amazing project!

Preparing for the End of the First Quarter

As we approach the end of the first marking period, we would like to remind you of the academic resources available on the HCPSS website. You can select the content you are interested in learning more about to support your child’s learning at home. The mathematics family support center and the English/Language Arts pages by grade include activities and lessons for the major skills taught in each grade. These include how to help your child pick a “just right book” to read at home, and the compensation strategy for addition and subtraction.

Should you have further questions about your child’s progress and learning, please save the date for parent conferences the afternoon/evenings the week of November 25th. Watch for more detailed information in upcoming Falcon Fliers about how to schedule your parent/teacher conference. Thank you for being a partner in your child’s education!

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

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

October

• 18 - Schools Closed for students - MSEA Convention
• 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

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
• 18 - American Education Week begins
• 21 - Parent Teacher conference scheduling window closes in Synergy
• 25 - SPIRIT DAY - Wear athletic gear
• 25 - Turkey Trot (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades)
• 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 - 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

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.

Check-out these pictures from our Green Team and new garden in the front of the school!

Come celebrate Halloween with our PLES PTA at our Trunk or Treat!

DATE:

• Wednesday, October 30

TIMES:

• Pre-K to 2nd Grade: 6 p.m to 7 p.m
• 3rd Grade to 5th Grade: 7 p.m to 8 p.m

If you have students in both groups, pick the time that works for you! Decorated trunks will be set up in the PLES car loop. Children can visit each trunk to get a treat! Children MUST BE ACCOMPANIED by a guardian.

Parking

No parking onsite. Guests are encouraged to walk to the

school. If you are driving, please park along High Tor Hill. Please be respectful of our neighbors’ driveways and properties.

Volunteers Needed

If you are interested in volunteering to decorate your trunk or helping at the event, sign up at:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4FA4AC2CA4FF2-ples3

Donations

If you wish to donate candy or small toys, please send it in with your child to feed the candy monster and/or drop it off at the school’s front office. We need LOTS OF CANDY!

Questions?: trunkortreat@phelpsluckpta.org

**No bathrooms will be available on site**

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.

We are pleased to be able to help our community again this year for Thanksgiving.

Please click the link below if you need food support for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. You may also fill out the form if you would like to help support families in our community.

https://forms.gle/6eW3nCse2u4m22of7

The request for Thanksgiving will close on Friday, October 18th.

Information on the Winter holiday support will follow in a few weeks.

Learn tools to help your children handle stress and setbacks. Join the nonprofit Parent Encouragement Program's free 8-week online program for parents/caregivers of children preK to 12th grade, in English or Spanish. Learn to support your children’s mental wellness and resiliency and connect with other parents. Complete at least 5 sessions and the evaluation to receive a $50 gift card. Classes start the week of October 14, register today: tinyurl.com/2w4k2sxp

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.