Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing weekend! As we move into the final weeks of school, there are many exciting events and important activities taking place. Please be sure to stay informed by regularly checking the Elkster for updates and announcements. It’s a great way to stay connected and ensure you don’t miss anything. Let’s finish the school year strong together!

Kindergarten Field Trip:

The Kindergarten field trip to the Maryland Zoo is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 13th! Please make sure your child arrives to school on time, as students who are late will miss the trip. Be sure your child is dressed for the weather, wears comfortable closed-toe shoes, and brings a labeled water bottle—remember, the trip will take place rain or shine, so a raincoat or jacket may be needed. If your child is bringing lunch from home, it must be packed in a disposable bag labeled with their name; school bagged lunches will be provided for those who requested one. Please do not send money, as students will not be visiting the gift shop, riding the carousel or train, or purchasing food during the trip—thank you for your support in making this a smooth and enjoyable day!

3rd Grade Field Trip:
Rain or shine, our third-grade students will be attending STEM Education Day at the Chesapeake Baysox game on Wednesday, May 14th! Please ensure your child arrives to school on time, as buses will depart promptly at 9:40 a.m. Students should dress appropriately for the weather, apply sunscreen, and bring a water bottle. Lunch will be provided. If you have any questions, feel free to email your child’s teacher.

Field Day:

Our 2025 Field Day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th and the rain date will be Friday, May 23rd. We are looking for volunteers to make the day a success. If you are interested in supporting all or part of the day on Field Day, please fill out the volunteer form that is linked below in General Information and Reminders. Volunteer Training MUST be completed before Field Day. We appreciate any help that you can provide to help our 2025 Field Day run smoothly for our students.

Field Day Volunteer Form

HCPSS Food and Nutrition Services Survey:

HCPSS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) team has launched a customer satisfaction survey designed to gather feedback from students, families, and staff on the food service program at HCPSS. The survey is available online through May 15. Survey results will be used to identify areas for improvement to ensure satisfaction, and to promote a positive experience in the cafeteria.

PTA Elections:

PTA Elections will be held this Wednesday at the PTA Meeting. Only members who have paid their dues will be permitted to vote in person. If you are interested in participating in the process, the next PTA meeting is Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM in the Media Center. There will not be any virtual edition of the PTA Meeting.

MCAP Testing:

MCAP Testing is coming to an end! 5th Grade will complete the MCAP this week. Congratulations to 3rd and 4th Grade students for working very hard on their MCAP Assessments. Please speak with your child about participation in MCAP, getting a good breakfast, and trying their best. For additonal information, please see the expanded MCAP session in the newsletter below.

Student Restrooms:

Recently Elkridge Elementary has been experiencing an uptick in student bathroom vandalization. Our custodial staff works very hard to ensure that the student bathrooms are clean and sanitary for student use daily. We have noticed writing on the walls, destroyed toilet paper dispensers, and trash thrown all over the restroom floors. While we understand that students need to use the restroom, we also need to ensure that our students use the facilities quickly. Please have a conversation with your child at home about proper restroom usage. Thank you for your support!

Lunch Update:

Please be aware of the changes that Howard County Public School System implemented for parents to visit their child during their lunch times. These changes have gone into effect.

1. Go to the HCPSS Web site to review information about the school system volunteer process.
   
   
2. Review the “Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Procedures Online Training” PowerPoint.
   Sign the Certificate of Completion for the “Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Procedures Online Training” form and provide it to the school when signing in.
   
   
3. Review the "Confidentiality Training for Volunteers" PowerPoint
   
   
4. ​​​​​​​Sign the Confidentiality Agreement and provide it to the school when signing in.
   Sign in at the front office using the Lobby Guard sign-in system (a valid photo I.D. must be provided). Before entering the cafeteria, please sign in at the front office to obtain a visitors pass.

Recess Reminders:

Exhibiting safe behaviors at recess helps ensure that all students can enjoy a fun and injury-free break during the school day. We encourage families to support these efforts by having regular conversations at home about making kind, respectful, and responsible choices while playing. Remind your child that physical aggression, rough play, and inappropriate language are not allowed at recess and can result in consequences. By working together, we can help students understand the importance of treating others with care and using equipment appropriately. Your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home makes a big difference in creating a safe and positive environment for everyone.

2025-2026 School Registration:

If you have a child who is approaching Kindergarten age or will be attending Howard County Public Schools for the first time in Fall 2025, please refer to the HCPSS Enrollment page for valuable information, which can be found here.

Safety Reminders:

Please remember the importance of safety habits while on HCPSS Property. Please remember the following when you are on HCPSS Property:

• Drive slowly (10 mph is recommended) to ensure that in the event something unexpected happens, you have enough time to react.
• Please refrain from (handheld) cell phone use and texting while in a moving vehicle.
• Please ensure that all passengers are wearing seatbelts to ensure their safety.
• Animals, including the walking of dogs, are also prohibited on school system property during arrival, dismissal, recess, and other HCPSS-sponsored outdoor activities. Shared campus hours are 7:30 AM – 4:15 PM, Monday – Friday.
  

As a final reminder, there is a 3-hour early release of students on Friday, May 16, at 12:55 PM. If you plan to pick your child up before school is over, early releases will end at 12:15 PM.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Kelley Powell, Principal

LaShonne Wright, Assistant Principal

Jonathan Swann, Assistant Principal

To support in preparing for the End of Year 5th Grade activities, all information for 5th grade functions will be provided here.

Thursday, May 29, 2025: 5th Grade Student Visit to ELMS

All students will visit ELMS on this day. Students will receive a tour of the learning areas and an overview of the activities they will have the opportunity to participate in when they go in the fall. There are no chaperones necessary for this visit. ELMS will reach out about parent visitation at a later time.

Friday, May 30, 2025: SCH

Our 5th Grade students are hard at work preparing for the Simulated Congressional Hearings. Please check back for more information as the date comes closer.

Wednesday, June 11, 2025: 5th Grade Picnic

Please check back for additional information as the date comes closer.

Friday, June 13, 2025: 5th Grade Promotion

The 5th Grade promotion will take place at 10:00 AM. Each child will receive two tickets for the ceremony. Additional information will be available as the time comes closer.

The MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) is an important opportunity for students to show what they’ve learned and how well they are meeting grade-level standards. Doing their best on the MCAP helps teachers understand each student’s progress and identify areas where additional support might be needed. It also provides valuable information to schools and districts for improving instruction and academic programs. Encouraging your child to take the assessment seriously and give their best effort shows pride in their learning and helps build confidence. With a positive mindset, preparation, and support from both school and home, students can approach the MCAP with focus and determination.

Test Taking Tips and Reminders:
As we begin the testing season, please remind your children of the following:

• Please try to have students here and on time on testing days so they do not need to be pulled out of class instruction for make-up sessions.
• Please avoid coming to sign students out early during testing sessions. Once a student leaves, they are not about to restart the test session.
• Personal electronic devices (cell phones, iPads, smart watches, etc.) are not permitted in the testing areas.
• Routine is important when calming any nerves when it comes to testing. Keeping to normal routines both at home and at school helps the students do their best.
• Students need plenty of sleep to maintain the stamina needed to do their best.

Please see your child's schedule below. Additional and more specific information will be provided by classroom teachers.

Here you will find all of the upcoming picnic and promotions for EES Students.

Pre-School:

Picnic: May 27 at 9:30 AM (AM & PM Classes)

Pre-Kindergarten:

Picnic & Promotion: June 4 at 10:00 AM

Kindergarten:

Picnic & Promotion: June 9 at 9:45 AM.

1st Grade:

Picnic: June 6. Time to be announced later.

2nd Grade:

Picnic: June 13. 10:40 AM - 11:10 AM

3rd Grade:

Picnic: June 12 at 11:40 AM.

4th Grade:

Picnic: June 2, at 12:40 PM.

Please remember that if you are planning to have lunch with your child you MUST complete the Volunteer Training, per the updated Parent/Child Lunch Guidelines. Information in how to access that can be found below in Lunchtime Visits.

Arrival & Dismissal Reminders:

Student Arrival and Breakfast:

Students will be admitted into the building between 9:10 and 9:25 AM. Breakfast service will end promptly at 9:30 AM. Please ensure students arrive on time, especially if they plan to eat breakfast, as the kitchen doors will close at 9:30 AM.

Dismissal:

Student dismissal begins promptly at 3:55 and is completed by 4:15. Recently, we have noticed an increase in students waiting to be picked up at 4:30 and beyond. Late pickups can disrupt school operations and create unnecessary delays for staff and administration. We kindly ask for your cooperation in ensuring students are picked up on time. Thank you for helping us keep our dismissal process efficient and ensuring the safety of all our students. Please call the front office by 2:30PM if you are changing the way your child is being picked up from school. Also, only students who are car riders are dismissed from the gym. If you are walking up to meet your child at the car rider door, you will need to go to the main office to pick them up.

The Howard County Public School System welcomes visitors to our schools. To limit interruptions and distractions to teaching and learning, and to maximize safety for all:

• Anyone wishing to visit a school is asked to contact school administration or the appropriate staff member to establish a convenient time for both the visitor and the school.
• The school will arrange for an escort for the visitor.
• To avoid interrupting instruction, no students are allowed to shadow HCPSS students.
• Understandably, interactions between visitors and school staff and students will be limited.
• If a follow-up meeting with school staff is desired, the visitor will schedule it for a mutually convenient time.
  
  

Safety Protocols for Visitors

Please be aware of the following procedures for any visitor to a school/office:

• The front door is the only entrance point for all visitors.
• Please ring the bell and look into the camera.
• Be prepared to state your name and purpose for visiting.
• All visitors must walk directly into the front office with a valid photo I.D. and sign in using our LobbyGuard system.
• A visitor’s sticker will be given to visitors following the above procedures and must be worn and prominently visible.
• Any visitor in the school without a visitor sticker will be escorted directly to the front office by a staff member.
  
  

In some cases, it may be more convenient for a prospective visitor to acquire information in other ways. The following may be helpful:

• Information about the Howard County Public School System is available on the HCPSS website and the HCPSS News site.
• Visit our Schools page to find school locators (attendance areas), school profiles, bus stops and much more.

We thoroughly enjoy when parents come in to enjoy lunch with their child. We ask that you remember the following when visiting:

1. Go to the HCPSS Web site to review information about the school system volunteer process.
   
   
2. Review the “Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Procedures Online Training” PowerPoint.
   Sign the Certificate of Completion for the “Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Procedures Online Training” form and provide it to the school when signing in.
   
   
3. Review the "Confidentiality Training for Volunteers" PowerPoint
   
   
4. ​​​​​​​Sign the Confidentiality Agreement and provide it to the school when signing in.
   Sign in at the front office using the Lobby Guard sign-in system (a valid photo I.D. must be provided). Before entering the cafeteria, please sign in at the front office to obtain a visitors pass.
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
6. When dining with your child, please sit at a table that is either empty, or that has a few students at it.
   
   
7. When having lunch with your child, please refrain from interacting with any other children. If you need assistance, please request to speak with an administrator before you attend lunch.
   
   
8. If you choose to eat a school lunch with your child, you may not use your child's account to purchase a lunch for yourself. Adult lunches are $4.50, payable in cash (preferably exact change) at the time of purchase.
   
   
9. Elkridge Elementary does not accept student lunches from services such as Door Dash and Uber Eats. If you are bringing outside lunch for your children, please bring lunch to them around their lunch time.

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.

If you have concerns about your child's development - whether it's their speech, motor skills, social skills or learning - it's important to act now. Waiting until the summer for a referral can delay crucial support that your child may need before starting kindergarten.

Contact us today to schedule a screening. Let's work together to ensure your child has the best possible start in kindergarten!

Call 410-313-7046 or email ChildFind@hcpss.org

The After School Belonging Group will be meeting on the following days after school. Please reach out to Ms. Harmon for additional details.

May 20, 2025