Tiger Families

Family Connect provides access to a variety of student information and classroom tools. If you do not already have an account, create an account today.

Within Family Connect you can update your Family File. Family File is your emergency form and we ask that you update it each year. It is important that we are able to reach you in the event of an emergency.

We use a variety of platforms to communicate.

Newsletter

We send a schoolwide electronic newsletter (this platform) weekly. It comes through the school systems messaging platform. All parents/guardians are automatically enrolled to receive HCPSS and school emails. Subscription information comes directly from the Family File information parents/guardians complete in the HCPSS Connect system. Please note! Unsubscribing from any school or district email or text will unsubscribe a user from all messaging, including emergency notifications.

Canvas

Teachers send announcements through their class Canvas pages.

Class Dojo

Is a platform where teachers and the school can share what's happening, photos, events, and quick messages and reminders.

All students at Guilford Elementary will receive free breakfast and lunch. It is so important that ALL families fill out and complete the meals application (green link below- Meals Application). This form is used to provide the school with additional federal funding that is determined, as part of us being a Title I school

Current Title I funding has provided our school an additional teacher and two math specialists. We have also received additional funds to provide curriculum materials and resources.

Participation in the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program qualifies students for the following opportunities:

• Access to HCPSS Pre-K program.
• Free registration fees for SAT and SAT I subject tests
• Free registration for ACT tests
• Reduced AP exam registration fees.
• College application fee waivers
• Reduced tuition for HCPSS Summer Programs (High School, G/T Summer Institute, CTE, Summer Institute)
• Reduced tuition for HCPSS Innovative Pathways Program which offers an evening and summer program
• Free or reduced JumpStart tuition offered through our dual enrollment partnership with Howard Community College
• Free access to participate in the Outdoor Education Program for 6th graders. Contact the sixth-grade team leader at your child’s school for more information.
• Free registration for the NCAA Clearinghouse for DI or DII athletics
• Discounted internet through Comcast Internet Essentials program (Español)

Students may be eligible for these additional opportunities:

• Reduced health insurance coverage through Maryland Children’s Health Programs
• Reduced Columbia Association (CA) membership fees and access to the CA Youth and Teen Center
• Tuition-based scholarship at Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts
• Reduced Howard County Rec and Park Program fees (applies to before- and after-care; after-school clubs; sports leagues)
• Reduced YMCA fees (applies to before- and-after- school enrichment; preschool; summer camp)
• Free Head Start classes or Pre-K through the Community Action Council (CAC) of Howard County
• Access to the Judy Center which serves families with young children (birth through 5) who live in the Cradlerock Elementary School attendance area, have children who attend Head Start or who have 4-year-old children attending HCPSS Pre-K and/or Regional Early Childhood Center program.
• Access to Child Care Subsidy program through the Maryland State Department of Education
• Access to Bridges to Housing Stability
• Access to CAC Housing Assistance and CAC Energy Assistance
• Disability resources, food supplement applications, and medical assistance applications through the Maryland Department of Human Resources

Reach out to the PPW office to inquire about the following resources:

• Help-A-Child vouchers through the Howard County Education Association
• Prepare for Success – School Supplies for Students

Arrival: Doors open at 9:10 am, Late bell rings at 9:25 am (Students are late at 9:25 am). Breakfast is served 9:10 am - 9:25 am. Instruction begins at 9:25 am.

We ask that if you are dropping off a student, that you do not arrive before 9:00 am. The drop off line blocks in parked cars.

Dismissal: Dismissal announcements begin at 3:55 pm, Dismissal ends at 4:05 pm (you are late at 4:05 pm)

We ask that if you are picking up a student, that you do not arrive before 3:45 pm. The pick up line blocks in parked cars.

Before and After Care at GES is provided by Columbia Association. Please visit their website for details. We do have a few childcare providers that drop off and pick up at GES. Please stop by the front office for that information.

The front office is open 8:30 - 4:15 pm

Teachers work 8:40 - 4:15 pm

Below is a PDF of the 2024-2025 School Supply List

If you need assistance with securing school supplies, please complete the link below.

At GES we focus on positive behaviors and focus on 5 core values:

R- Respect- Be Respectful

O- Ownership- Take ownership for your actions

A- Attitude- Have a positive attitude

R- Responsible- Be responsible

S- Shows empathy

Below is the link to the HCPSS Code of Conduct for students.

Please note- This applies to smart watches, too.

Below is a link to the HCPSS policy on adult behaviors.

Expectations:

Students are expected to be at school, every day, on time, and for the full day. There are several allowable reasons for late arrivals, early dismissals or absences.

Allowable (Lawful) Absences:

• death of immediate family
• illness of student
• court summons
• observance of a religious holiday
• suspension
• state emergency
• work approved or sponsored by the school
• hazardous weather conditions
• other emergencies approved by the superintendent or principal

Steps for absences:

When a student is absent, it is important for you to email GESabsence@hcpss.org with the doctor's note or reason for the absence.

Types of Absences:

An excused absence is when a student is out for an allowable reason the family informs the school (front office) of that reason. An unexcused absence is when a student misses school and either the family does not provide the reason to the front office or the absence is not one of the allowable reasons.

Make up work:

Make up work can be requested if the absence is excusable. Remember, a note must be turned in to the front office for one of the allowable reasons, in order to be considered excused and be eligible for make up work. Work missed for an unexcused absence will receive a 0 in the gradebook, if a graded assignment was missed.

Chronic absenteeism and Habitually Truant:

Students who miss 10% or more school days are considered Chronically absent. These include excused and unexcused absences. Students who miss 20% or more school days, all unexcused absences are Habitually Truant.

Grade levels may plan field trips. Chaperones must complete the volunteering process.

All medication, over the counter and prescription, needs to have the physician's form completed and the medicine kept in the Health Room. Please call the school for information.

You can visit the school at anytime. You are required to complete the two HCPSS presentations and two forms. You can eat lunch with your child. Teachers are required to receive at least 24 hours notice of a visit, in writing.

Click the link below and complete the steps.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM OR CONCERN

Please know that we understand that your child’s safety and emotional well-being is your number one priority. We want you to know that your child’s safety and emotional well-being is our priority as well. We understand that problems, whether small or large, will occur throughout the year. We want you to know that we will listen to all those involved, complete a thorough investigation, and look for a solution that is in alignment with the HCPSS Code of Conduct. Below are specific steps and strategies, if a problem arises:

Conflict between classmates and/or other GES Students:

• Listen to your child’s version of the incident while maintaining an open mind about the “other” side.

• Contact your child’s teacher and let them know about the incident, while giving them as many details you can about the incident. Note: If the incident happened in Related Arts, please contact that teacher - NOT the homeroom teacher. If the incident happened at lunch or recess, please contact that staff member- NOT the homeroom teacher.

• After contacting the appropriate teacher or staff member, please remember to give them some time to look into the incident and allegation. It may take one to two school days, depending on when they received the information and attendance of the other student(s) involved.

• Be open to the solution or conclusion offered by the teacher/staff. It is important to remember that our job is to teach students how to be great students, but also valuable and respectful members in the community.

• If you are not comfortable with the solution or resolution to the problem, you may contact administration.

Conflict or Problem with a Guilford Staff Member:

• Contact that staff member to express your perspective. Share your thoughts and feelings in a respectful way.

• Work with the staff member to reach a mutually agreeable solution to the problem.

• If a solution cannot be reached between both parties, then leave a message for a school administrator. The school administrator will return your call to gather additional information as their earliest convenience.

Other Conflicts/Concerns/Issues:

• Guilford Elementary school administrators truly value and appreciate the opportunity in helping to solve problems, regardless how big or small they are or seem to be.

• Please give us the chance to have a conversation or face to face meeting before taking further action such as calling the Board of Education or to Ms. Smith, our Director of Schools. They will make sure that we had a conversation first and that we were not able to reach a mutually agreeable solution together. We need to have a conversation first before they will become involved in helping to find a solution.

Remember, we as adults need to model the conflict resolution strategies we are teaching our students/children to use.