Park Hall's Weekly Newsletter

Our goal for attendance this year is to reach 94%. Below are the top classes for each grade level and their percentage of attendance for the week:

Pre-k: Ms. Liston at 89%

Kindergarten: Ms. Scrom at 94%

First grade: Ms. Chase at 95%

Second grade: Ms. Wise at 96%

Third grade: Ms. Hood at 96%

Fourth grade: Ms. Read at 98%

Fifth grade: Ms. Thomson at 92 %

Third grade was the top grade level at 91.7%. Way to go 3rd grade!!

Our current attendance rate for the year is 90.55%.

Park Hall families,

Pre-k applications are now open for school year 2025-2026. Here is a link to the application page: https://www.smcps.org/offices/department-of-equity-engagement-and-early-access/application-guide

A Middle School STEM Virtual Open House will be held on Wednesday, April 10th. Learn more about the SRMS STEM program and have your questions answered. For more information, please visit our Google Site.

As we enter into April and the fourth marking period, we begin planning for the 2025-2026 school year. We are now accepting parent requests for teacher preferences, and the need to separate students from one another, or to put students together. While we will do our best to honor all requests, this is not a guarantee. We ask that if you are requesting a specific teacher, please give us your first and second choice. The deadline to make a request is May 16, 2025. All requests are to be emailed to the principal: jddirenzo@smcps.org.

Please join us for a 6-part series of Virtual Conscious Discipline Workshops, with 1 In-Person Session, with Lead Conscious Discipline Instructors Amy Speidel and Lety Valero. Please see the flyer: Conscious Discipline Parent and Family Workshops. Please feel free to share this information with your families.

Please contact the office by 2:30 pm if your child is needs to go home a different way than usual. This will help us notify staff and ensure that everyone gets to where they need to be. Thank you in advance for this!

The St. Mary's Sheriff is looking for Campers and Counselors for their summer program. Please click here for more information, or see the flyer below.

If any families are in need of food, please click the link below for a list of local food pantries.

A Week

Monday - April 21

• Last day of Spring Break

Tuesday - April 22

• Regular day for students 8:45-3:30

Wednesday - April 23

• Regular day for students 8:45-3:30
• 5th grade field trip to St. Mary's College of Maryland

Thursday - April 24

• Regular day for students 8:45-3:30
• Kindergarten FASSTT at 12:30

Friday - April 25

• Regular day for students 8:45-3:30
• Character Tea by invitation only Pre-k to 2nd at 9:15 and 3rd to 5th at 10:00

4/28-5/9: MCAP Testing grades 3-5

4/28-5/2 1st grade fieldtrip to Greenwell State Park

4/29: Strings concert

5/2: 2nd grade FASSTT

5/2: Pre-k VIP day

5/5-5/9 TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

5/13: 1st grade to Calvert Marine Museum

5/14: 1st grade to Calvert Marine Museum

5/15: Liston's class to Imaginarium

5/16: Career day

5/16-5/23: Book Fair

5/22: Spring band and chorus concert

5/22: Book Fair family night

5/23 PTA Game Night

5/30: Pre-k library trip

6/6: 5th grade pool fieldtrip and cookout

6/9: Kindergarten end of year FASSTT

6/10: Pre-k end of year gathering

6/10: Last day for pre-k students

6/11: Last day for students and 5th grade moving up celebration

Kindergarten Registration will open May 5, 2025.

Kindergarten is a full-day program available in each elementary school. Kindergarten curriculum information is available at http://www.smcps.org/dci by selecting Mathematics–Elementary or English Language Arts–Elementary.

Important: Under Maryland law, children must be five years old on or before September 1, 2025, to enter kindergarten in the 2025-2026 school year.

Please contact the school to register your student. If you have further questions, they can be directed to Kate Weaver, Supervisor of Student Services, at keweaver@smcps.org or 301-475-5511 extension 32150.

See the attached Title IX updated information below.

Many citizens are concerned about reports in the media relative to ICE Raids and want to know how their local school systems plan to handle the issue. SMCPS will adhere to the guidance provided by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Please read A Guide for Students, Families, and Local Education Agencies on the MSDE website. Our actions are bound by law, and our administrative staff consistently ensures compliance.

Park Hall Elementary has also been identified as a community school. A community school is a public school that establishes strategic partnerships between the school and other community resources. These partnerships promote student achievement, positive learning, and seek to promote the well-being of students, families, and the community by providing services. Community schools address the whole child, with a comprehensive focus on academics, social and emotional well-being, and developmental needs.

This year we will be conducting a needs assessment, to identify what our students, families, and community needs. If you would like more information on how to get involved, or would like to receive services please contact:

Madison Mansfield

Community School Coordinator

mrmansfield@smcps.org

(240) 913-5404

Park Hall Elementary is a Title I School. The purpose of Title I is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps. Title I provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging academic standards.

Here are some of the important Title I documents that pertain to Park Hall Elementary School:

• PHES Comprehensive Needs Assessment 2024-25

  PHES Parent Involvement Plan 2024-25

  PHES Parent Involvement Calendar 2024-25

  PHES School-Family-Learning Compact 2024-25

  PHES Title I Parent Right to Know Letter

  PHES Principal Attestation Letter 2024-25

  PHES Attestation and Qualifications for Teachers and Paraeducators of Title I Schools 2024-25

• All families and extended families are encouraged to join our fantastic PTA. Membership is $5.00 and families can join by clicking this link: https://phespta.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true
• Stay current with the PTA by visiting the PHES PTA Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/ParkHallPTA
• The PTA sponsors movie nights, spirit nights, Trunk or Treat, the spring dance, teacher appreciation week, spring and fall outdoor clean-up days and much much more. Your support is much appreciated!!!

Park Hall Elementary School provides a rich educational experience that focuses on preparing well rounded students that are ready to succeed in their future college and career endeavors. Park Hall educates and inspires our diverse population in a safe and respectful environment. Students are engaged in authentic learning experiences that foster work habits and skills necessary to become collaborative, dedicated, and productive citizens.

Email: mlbell@smcps.org
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/phes/
Location: 20343 Hermanville Road, Park Hall, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 863-4054
Twitter: @phes_smcps