The Fulton Flier

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Dear Fulton Community,

We want to extend a huge thank you to the Lang family and all the other parents who helped put together our Chinese New Year displays. Your hard work is truly appreciated!

As we begin the 3rd quarter, there’s a lot to look forward to. This week, we have our Spelling Bee as well as our Winter Concert. The concert will feature performances from our Band, Orchestra, and Chorus, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the talent and hard work of our students in the music program.

Please also note that school will be closed this Wednesday. Our teachers will be working on report cards and preparing for the upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Wishing you wave of joy,

Dr. Burks, Mrs. Liwosz, & Mrs. Sillers

Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025? Please save the date and join us for an upcoming Road to Kindergarten parent information session. All sessions will run 6:30-7:30 p.m. and cover the same content.

• Expectations for school readiness (and receive a Ready for Kindergarten toolkit;
• Details about the HCPSS kindergarten program;
• Information about HCPSS kindergarten registration and website;
• Ways that families and children can be supported during the transition to kindergarten.

Information sessions will be offered on the following dates:

• January 23, 2025 Centennial High School**
• January 28, 2025, Wilde Lake High School*
• SNOW DATE: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, Hammond High School**

* Spanish interpreter will be present at these sites.

** Chinese, Korean, and Spanish interpreters will be present at these sites

Please note, the session will include information regarding Kindergarten readiness, program components, and registration that is applicable to all HCPSS schools; specific school information will be shared by schools after registration is finalized.

January

• 01/29 School Closed; Professional Work Day

• 01/30 Winter Instrumental Concert

• 01/30 Lime Kiln Middle School Rising 6th Grade Parent Night, 6:00pm (snow date)

• 01/31 Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up Closes 4PM

February

• 02/05 Schools Close 3 Hour Early- Parent Teacher Conferences; No half day Pre-K/RECC
• 02/05 In-Person Parent Conferences
• 02/06 Schools Close 3 Hour Early- Parent Teacher Conferences; No half day Pre-K/RECC
• 02/06 Virtual Parent Conferences
• 02/07 Schools Closed; Teacher Professional Learning Day
• 02/13 Fulton's Reading Night
• 02/17 Schools Closed - Presidents’ Day
• 02/21-02/28 Scholastic Book Fair
• 02/26 PTA Meeting (in-person)

For a complete list of dates and events visit https://fes.hcpss.org/calendar

PTA Happenings

Student Safety Committee

We are excited to be adding a new committee to the PTA! Donna Cruz is the chair of Fulton's Student Safety Committee. Please reach out to her at donnajeen@gmail.com with any questions, concerns or if you would like to join!

PTA Sponsored Events

SAVE THE DATE! A portion of the proceeds will go towards the PTA if you visit the following establishments on these dates. Don't forget to mention Fulton. This Friday is Climbzone!

• Jan 31: Climbzone
• Feb 4: Decadent
• Feb 19: Maiwand Kabob

Falcon Follies Show

April 24 • 6-8pm Reservoir High School

If your student likes to sing, dance, tell jokes, do magic or otherwise perform and entertain - they can start preparing now for the Falcon Follies show on April 24th! Stay tuned for more details!

As we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day today, we reflect on Dr. King’s powerful legacy of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of justice for all people. His work continues to inspire us to stand strong in the face of challenges, promote equality, and foster unity in our communities.

This day is a reminder to all of us, especially our children, that resilience is not just about overcoming obstacles, but also about lifting others up and working together toward a better future. As we teach our children about Dr. King’s life and message, we hope they understand the importance of kindness, perseverance, and standing up for what is right.

We encourage you to take some time today to discuss Dr. King’s vision with your child and reflect on how each of us can make a positive impact in our own communities.

With the three days last week lost to snow, the deadlines for scheduling conferences that need interpreters and making interpreter requests have been pushed back. Due to this, the date that scheduling of parent/teacher conferences will open for everyone at all schools has also been delayed. The sign-up window will now open on Thursday, January 23 at 8AM and will close on Friday, January 31 at 4PM.

On Thursday, January 23, please log in to HCPSS Connect to sign up for a conference time.

We would like to extend a BIG Congratulations to all of our students who participated in this year's Young Author’s Contest! We truly enjoyed reading every single entry, and we are incredibly proud of all the students who took the time and effort to submit their work. Your creativity and passion for writing shine through in each piece!

As you can imagine, it was no easy task for our judges to select just one winner from each category—they had a very challenging job! We are thrilled to announce that the winning entries have now been submitted to compete at the county level. We are excited to see how these students' works will be recognized on a larger scale. Please join us in recognizing our winners:

• 1st Grade Poem- Coralyn R.
• 2nd Grade Poem- Kian A.
• 3rd Grade Poem- Sahib A.
• 4th Grade Poem- Rishika K.
• 5th Grade Poem- Abigail N.
• 1st Grade Short Story- Sebastian T.
• 2nd Grade Short Story- Maeve G.
• 3rd Grade Short Story- Bernice A.
• 4th Grade Short Story- Mithra J.
• 5th Grade Short Story- Floralei R.

We look forward to even more students participating next year and continuing to nurture the amazing talent within our school community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this contest a success!

January 22 at 6:00pm (Snow date: January 30 @ 6pm)

LKMS Cafeteria

Parents will get an overview of middle school, our G/T program, and a sense of what the day in the life of a 6th grader will be.

As we reach the midpoint of the school year, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the importance of maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all our students. One of the most critical issues we face as a school community is bullying, which can have lasting effects on children’s well-being, social development, and academic success. We believe that addressing bullying requires a partnership between students, families, and school staff.

Understanding Bullying

Bullying is more than just occasional teasing. It is intentional, repeated aggressive behavior that can be verbal, physical, or social, and it often involves an imbalance of power. While some bullying behaviors can be overt, others are more subtle but just as harmful. Examples of bullying include:

• Physical bullying: Hitting, pushing, or damaging property.

• Verbal bullying: Name-calling, teasing, and hurtful comments.

• Social/Relational bullying: Spreading rumors, excluding others, and social manipulation.

• Cyberbullying: Using digital platforms to harass or intimidate someone.

How You Can Help at Home

Parents play an essential role in preventing bullying and supporting their children through difficult experiences. Here are some steps you can take:

• Talk to Your Child: Encourage open communication with your child about their social experiences, both online and offline. Discuss how they should handle situations where they witness bullying or experience it themselves.

• Set a Positive Example: Show your child how to be kind and respectful toward others. Modeling good behavior in your interactions will teach them valuable social skills.

• Monitor Online Activity: If your child uses social media or online platforms, make sure you are aware of their online interactions. Cyberbullying can be particularly damaging, and it’s important to stay engaged with your child’s digital life.

• Reinforce Respect and Empathy: Remind your child that treating others with respect and kindness is always the right thing to do, no matter the situation. Teach them how to stand up for others in a positive way, not by fighting, but by seeking help and offering support.

• Support School Efforts: Be an active partner in your child’s education and in the school’s anti-bullying efforts. Attend parent meetings, participate in workshops, and reinforce school policies at home.

Together, we can build a culture of respect, kindness, and safety in our school, ensuring that every student feels valued and supported. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students safe. More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. An online version for reporting is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments are computer adaptive achievement assessments in reading and math. As a student responds to questions, the test responds to the student, adjusting up or down the difficulty of the questions presented to the student. MAP assessment items align to objectives in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. This assessment is designed to measure student growth in math and reading, both during the school year and across multiple school years. The assessment allows teachers to see instructional strengths and needs for each student.

At the conclusion of the assessment, each student receives a score that aligns to where he or she is instructionally based on this assessment. MAP in conjunction with other measures throughout the school year help teachers differentiate instruction within their classrooms. Home reports will be sent at the end of the testing window. A reminder will be shared with families for when these reports are being sent home.

Please see the dates below for Grades 1-5 testing dates:

Grades 1 & 4:

Math 1/27 & 1/28

ELA 2/10 & 2/11

Grades 2 & 3:

Math 1/30 & 1/31

ELA 2/3 & 2/4

Free Life Skills Classes for HoCo Middle/High School Students

• Classes will be taught by HoCo college students with high school student assistants and adult supervision. Botvin’s Evidence Based Curriculum promotes positive health and personal development for students in grades 6 to 9. (Slightly younger students will be considered especially if joining an older sibling, and students older than 9th grade may be invited to join our high school team to earn Community Service Hours while learning.) If parents/guardians have questions about the appropriateness for students, register the students and HC DrugFree’s team will contact you. Siblings and friends are encouraged to take these classes together.
• Class dates: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 31, April 7, 28, and May 5 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit HC DrugFree’s website for more information and register students at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Spring2025LifeSkills
• HoCo High School Student Leadership Opportunity to Earn Community Service Hours: Join HC DrugFree’s instructional team to assist college students teaching online Life Skills classes – all while serving as a role model and mentor to younger HoCo students. This leadership experience looks good on resumes and college applications. For more information and to register to volunteer, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AssistLS2025spring

Free Parenting/Grandparenting Classes

• Free! On Zoom and open to parents, guardians and grandparents residing in HoCo or with school-age children/grandchildren residing in HoCo. This evidence-based, interactive prevention program provides families with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs including alcohol or engage in other dangerous behaviors. The curriculum was written for families with children 9-14 years olds, but we believe it is appropriate for K-12 families. Class dates: March 18, 21, 25, 28 and April 1 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit HC DrugFree’s website for more information and register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Spring2025GGC