Falcon Flier

Sandra Anderson, Assistant Principal

Kelly Grenzer, Assistant Principal

Website: ples.hcpss.org
Location: Phelps Luck Elementary School, Old Stone Court, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: 410-313-6886
Facebook: facebook.com/phelpsluckelementary
Twitter: @hcpss_ples

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Spanish

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Korean

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Urdu

دوسری زبانوں کے لئے ، نیوزلیٹر کا ترجمہ کریں پر کلک کریں اور اپنی پسند کی زبان کا انتخاب کریں۔

We want to wish you a Happy New Year. It was so nice to see everyone back in school yesterday! A new year signifies the ability to make new goals for ourselves, it is always a good idea to set goals with your children, perhaps something that they want to improve on, such as: improving on math, reading more books, using fewer electronics, etc. When goals are set, children can work hard to accomplish their goals and feel good about what they have done! With two and a half weeks left in the second quarter, it is an excellent time to set those goals and end the quarter strong!

As we head into the winter months, families are reminded that in emergency situations (including inclement weather), information will be shared with the community only through the HCPSS website, email and text, Twitter/X, Class Dojo, and the HCPSS weather hotline. Be sure your Family File is up to date and that you have opted into texts to receive emergency messages.

Mr. Cosentino, Principal

Ms. Anderson and Mrs. Grenzer, Assistant Principals

For a complete list of dates and events visit ples.hcpss.org/calendar.

January 2025

• 8 - PTA Meeting (Virtual), 7:00 p.m.
• 15 - Texas Roadhouse Dine Out Night
• 20 - Schools and Offices Close - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• 21 - Rising 6th Grade orientation for Bonnie Branch Middle School, 6:00 p.m. (snow date 1/27)
• 22 - Rising 6th Grade orientation for Ellicott Mills Middle School, 6:00 p.m.
• 23 - End of Second Quarter - Schools close 3-hours early, 12:15 p.m.
• 24 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Robinson Nature Center
• 28 - School is open a full day (an older version of the calendar had this day as a half day).
• 28 - Winter Concert at Howard High School (Band, Strings, Chorus)
• 29 - Schools closed for students - Professional Work Day

To subscribe to the PLES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system, click the plus sign + at the bottom right-hand corner of the Google Calendar or click this link.

Online, in-person, over-the-phone and mail-in registration for Recreation & Parks’ 2025 Winter Activity Guide is now open! With hundreds of great programs, activities and events to choose from, there is something for everyone to help chase those winter blues away.

For out-of-county residents, online registration for you begins this Wednesday, December 11th, at 6:00 p.m.; with all other forms of registration opening the follow day.

Hard copies of the activity guide are also available at Recreation & Parks' headquarters at 7120 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia, at any one of our community centers or your local Howard County Library System branch.

Please be mindful of the Children & Company and Kids' Connection co-op daycare center located at the Phelps Luck Neighborhood Center, next to PLES.

This daycare center is not affiliated with our school, and it is not included in our arrival and dismissal plan. PLES families and staff are not permitted to park there, and violators may be towed.

As an alternative, you may park along Phelps Luck Drive and walk to the school. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain a positive relationship with our daycare neighbors.

How Does HCPSS Determine to Close Schools?

Unscheduled Emergency Early School Closing

Winter is here and with snow in the forecast, it's important that you check your Family File to make sure your child's Unscheduled Early Closing Information is correct.

Exercise outdoors is healthy and is strongly encouraged. It provides a break from the regular school routine, a chance to get some outside air, and an opportunity to run off excess energy.

If conditions preclude the full recess time, even a five-minute break can revitalize children and prepare them for more sitting and academic learning. Children are expected to wear warm clothing to protect them during cold weather when participating in recess or outside activities.

The decision to go out or stay in for recess is the decision of the Administrator at individual schools. However, the following are to be considered in determining whether recess is to be held outside:

• Temperature and Windchill
  
• Age of students
  
• Length of time outdoors
  
• Adequacy of the children’s clothing
  
• Condition of the playground
  
• Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)
  

Generally, it is assumed that students will be outside for recess when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Children with certain health conditions may need special accommodations during extremely cold weather. Parents of those children should provide medical documentation and may be consulted to determine if other arrangements are necessary.

Please find the Spirit Day Schedule for the year below. We hope this helps in the planning and participation in our fun spirit days this year.

To ensure smooth end-of-day procedures, please plan to pick up your child no later than 2:45 p.m. This helps us maintain a focused learning environment and ensures the safety and smooth dismissal of all students. Picking up students after this time can disrupt classroom activities and interfere with dismissal procedures.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us provide the best possible environment for all students!

If your student is absent or will be absent, please contact us at the following email address to explain the reason: PLESabsence@hcpss.org. In the email, please Include the following information:

• Student First and Last Name

• Grade

• Reason for absence (e.g., illness, bereavement, observance of a religious holiday, lack of transportation)