BWES BEAR FACTS August 28, 2026
Food Pantry @ BWES
Did you know that Bryant Woods Elementary is one of 14 food bank locations in Howard County?
Bryant Woods is a community-based school, so we are partnering with the Community Action Council of Howard County & MD Food Bank to provide our students and families with as many resources as possible. Our food pantry is free and accessible to the entire community on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM.
If you want to visit the food pantry, please contact the front office or our
Family & Community Engagement liaison.
Lauren Slattery at lauren_slattery@hcpss.org.
🚨 ACTION REQUIRED: Complete Your Family File & FARMs Application
Every Bryant Woods Elementary family must complete a new Family File and submit a FARMs application for every student each school year.
Family File
Updating your Family File ensures we have current emergency contacts and medical information if your child becomes ill or there is an emergency. It is also required for students to participate in field trips.
FARMs Application
Even if you don’t think your family will qualify, please apply. The application may provide eligible families with benefits such as:
- Free or reduced-price meals
- Discounted internet service
- College application fee waivers
- Reduced JumpStart tuition
- And other valuable resources
Just as importantly, every completed FARMs application helps Bryant Woods maintain critical funding for programs that benefit all students, including free breakfast, Title I services, Community Schools programming, and other state and federal resources.
Please complete both items as soon as possible.
FARMs Application: https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new?identifier=GA4UME
SIGN UP FOR TALKING POINTS HERE!
LINK TO SIGN UP: https://families.talkingpts.org/welcome
TalkingPoints is a free communication tool and app that connects families with their children's teachers and schools. It translates messages into over 150 languages so parents can read and reply in their home language.
Key Features for Families
- Two-Way Translation: Receive school updates in your language and reply in that same language.
- Flexible Access: Use standard text messaging (SMS) on a basic phone, the mobile app, or the web.
- No Cost: The platform is free for families, though standard carrier text rates may apply.
What Families Can Do
- Get direct updates from teachers about classwork and events.
- Track student progress and learning goals.
- Respond to school polls, alerts, and announcements.
NO Food Deliveries to the School:
We do not accept food deliveries from DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, or any outside vendors. We have received a high volume of student lunch deliveries, and we are unable to manage them without risking students missing lunch. In addition, frequent deliveries create safety and security concerns.
Bryant Woods Elementary provides free breakfast and lunch for all students. If there is an emergency regarding your child’s lunch, please contact the front office to discuss your situation.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
New Practice for ALL HCPSS Schools
Parent lunch visits are no longer permitted at any HCPSS school. Limiting access during the school day ensures safe and secure school communities by removing unnecessary access to students and school buildings, reducing disruptions, supporting student routines, and minimizing non-essential traffic in student areas. Parents are encouraged to communicate with school staff to stay engaged in their child's learning and seek opportunities to volunteer in an official capacity at the school. See HCPSS Administrative Operating Rule https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2026/08/getting-ready-for-2026-2027-new-this-year/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Parents continue to not be permitted to attend or visit during any recess blocks.
Room Parents Needed:
✏️We're hoping for one Room Parent per classroom this year, and one Room Parent per grade who'll also take on the Grade Coordinator role.
To apply email: membership@bwespta.org
Classes currently in need:
Ross (K)
Eley (1)
Batman (3)
Winder (3)
Wilson (4)
Clancy (5)
📢 BWES PTA Meeting - SEPTEMBER - IN PERSON
Join us THURSDAY, 9/10, at 6:15 PM in-person for our first PTA meeting of the year.
Learn about our upcoming events and programs, and discover fun ways YOU can get involved in supporting our school community.
This is a family friendly meeting. No RSVP needed. You don’t need to be a PTA member to attend—everyone is welcome!
📈We are happy to announce as of this week our PTA is 75 members strong!!! Last year, we had 71 members with a larger population.
🚨Due to PTACHC meetings being moved to Tuesday evenings we are in NEED of one more PTACHC Representative. This is a once a month meeting if you are able to attend. If you are interested please email: president@bwespta.org
If you would like to join our BWES PTA please use the QR code or visit: bryantwoods.givebacks.com/shop