Greetings EES Families,

We hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed some of this amazing fall weather we are beginning to see! We have a few reminders and updates for you below!

Picture Day:

Picture Day is Thursday, October 17, 2024. You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVT2SSM8Z.

Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!

Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day.

Please see the calendar of events for additional information.

Testing Updates:

MAP testing continues this week. The Measures of Academic Progress Test is a local assessment given to all students in Grades 1-5. This assessment is used as a tool for our teachers to understand your child's academic growth. Additional information about MAP assessment and their uses can be found here. MAP Testing runs through October 17. Please refer to your child's Canvas announcements for specific dates and times of MAP assessment.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month:

This week at Elkridge we are happy to celebrate the contributions of some famous Hispanic singers and dancers. We are highlighting Lin Manuel Miranda, Rita Moreno, Carmen Miranda, Selena Perez and Tito Puente. Lin Manuel Miranda is a composer, playwright, actor, rapper, singer, and filmmaker. He is known for his famous musical “Hamilton”. Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer, and actress. Carmen Miranda was a Portuguese born singer and actress. Selena Perez was a singer and fashion designer. She was one of the most famous Mexican-American singers in history. Tito Puente was a musician, songwriter, and record producer.

PTA Fall Festival:

The PTA is getting ready for the Fall Festival. This awesome event will take place on Friday, October 25, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Please see the PTA Newsletter for additional information!

Car Loop:

Please be sure not to have any cell phones in your hands as you move through the car loop, as this is against the law. Moving through the car loop, it is important to stay alert to the staff members guiding you safely in and out of the school in the morning and afternoon. Please support our staff and students by ensuring that we are refraining from using cell phones while driving on campus. Several staff members have almost been hit by cars with distracted driving on campus. Please be aware of the motion path and movement throughout the school campus.

Recess:

We have observed students attempting to play touch football during recess. While we encourage active play and fun, we kindly ask for your support in reminding your child that football is not allowed during recess for safety reasons. Our goal is to ensure that all students have a safe and enjoyable recess experience. Thank you for partnering with us to reinforce this important safety message. We appreciate your support in keeping recess safe for everyone.

Early Pick-up From School:

Please know that on a full day of school, the end time to pick your child up early is at 3:15 PM. Please make sure to have your ID with you when you come in to pick your child early from school.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Kelley Powell, Principal

LaShonne Wright, Assistant Principal

Jonathan Swann, Assistant Principal

Phonological Awareness:

This month at Elkridge Elementary, we will be focusing on phonological awareness. Phonological awareness is the ability to hear, recognize, and play with the sounds in spoken English. Strong phonemic awareness is one of the strongest predictors of later reading success!

Throughout the month of October, teachers at Elkridge Elementary will be taking advantage of phonological awareness activities that will be posted throughout the hallways in our building. During transitions, the teachers will practice these activities with students. For example, in our 1st grade hallways, teachers will say a posted sentence and students will hold up on their hands the number of words that they hear in that sentence. In our 4th grade hallway, students will be asked to change sounds in words to make new words. Ask your child what hallway activities they have enjoyed this month.

You can find out more about phonological awareness and engaging activities that you can do at home or in the car with your child by accessing the following links.

• Primary Grades: Reading Rockets Phonological Awareness

• Intermediate Grades: 20 Phonemic Awareness Activities for Students

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!

On Thursday, October 10th, our school and A Likely Story Bookstore are hosting Colleen AF Venable and Stephanie Yue as they share their newest book in the Katie the Catsitter series. Books will be delivered to the school and signed by the authors. A Likely Story is bringing us this author at no charge to the school, and purchases help support this local bookstore.

If you would like your own copy of the newest Katie the Catsitter book, or any of their previous titles in the series, follow the steps below.

Step 1. Place an order via the link below. You will need to copy and paste the following URL into your browser: https://www.sykesvillebooks.com/search/site/katie%20the%20catsitter. You may also place your order over the phone by calling 410-795-1718.

Step 2. Fill out and submit this Google Form.

If you have any questions, please contact your child's media specialist; contact information is below. Please note that we cannot accept cash for any book orders.

HCPSS participates in the Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMs) program. Qualification. is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential.

Participation in FARMs qualifies students for a wide range of opportunities and resources beyond breakfast and lunch, including free college applications, free or reduced JumpStart tuition, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more.

Families must submit a new application every school year by Oct. 31. During the first 30 school days, students with FARMs eligibility from the prior school year will continue to receive benefits. Any student whose family has not filled out an application by the 30th school day will have their status changed to full pay until a new application is received.

Parents/guardians are highly encouraged to fill out the applications as soon as possible. It is very important that applications are filled out accurately and completely. Families can:

• Apply Online by clicking the link below
• Apply by mail: Paper applications can be picked up in the Food and Nutrition Service Office (5451 Beaverkill Rd, Columbia, MD 21044). Applications can be returned to your child’s school or mailed to: HCPSS Food & Nutrition Service Office, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042.

If you have questions regarding the program, please visit www.hcpss.org/FARMs or call Food and Nutrition Services at 410-313-6743.

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.

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.

Want an exciting after-school activity for your kids? Good News Club is the perfect place for them to have a blast! At our club, your children will enjoy captivating Bible stories, sing uplifting songs, and engage in fun, interactive games—all while making new friends and memories. This club is available for students in grades K - 5th.

Good News Clubs are a trusted, non-denominational organization active in 50 states and 150 countries. It provides a safe, welcoming environment where every child is celebrated as God's unique and precious creation. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for your child to grow, learn, and thrive. Sign up today, and let the adventure begin!

The club meeting on Thursdays starts October 10, 2024, from 4 PM to 5:30 PM in the Art Room 109.

If you are interested in more information, please email Heather Radney at GoodNewsClubEES@gmail.com.