The Panther Post

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Dear Laurel Woods Community,

We are off to a fantastic start — students are already settling into routines, embracing learning expectations, and showing great readiness to dive into learning. A big thank you to our staff, families, and community for helping make the first week such a great success!

We are looking forward to seeing you at our PTO Back to School Picnic this Friday from 5:30-7:00 on the LWES Blacktop!

With Pride,

Dr. Burks, Ms. Braxton, & Ms. Lee

In accordance with Maryland’s Ready to Read Act (2019), COMAR (2021) and the direction from the Howard County Board of Education, all Howard County Public School System students in kindergarten to grade 5 will participate in the 2025 - 2026 administration of the Amplify mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition universal screener to identify potential reading difficulties during set windows throughout the school year. Please review the details at this link

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe, engaging, and supportive school environment that fosters the social and emotional safety, dignity, and well-being of all students. HCPSS acknowledges the need for employees

1. to use an array of research-based positive behavior interventions, strategies, and a tiered system of supports to address student behaviors and keep students safe and free of harm

2. to minimize the practice of exclusion from the classroom environment

3. to minimize the use of physical restraint (which may only be used when necessary to protect a student or other person from imminent, serious, physical harm and only after other less intrusive, nonphysical interventions have failed or been determined inappropriate).

It is the expectation of the Board that HCPSS employees will be knowledgeable of and implement proactive positive behavior interventions in an effort to reduce the need for exclusion or physical restraint.

Additional information can be found at HCPSS Policy 9400 - Student Behavior Intervention. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact Tanisha Burks at tanisha_burks@hcpss.org.

Please visit HCPSS Connect to update your Family File for this school year. Parents must complete the Family File every year to ensure that we have the most current and accurate information for each and every student.

Parents must complete the Family File every year to ensure that we have the most current and accurate information for every student. Parents/guardians will be asked to provide or update the following information:

• Student Information
• Parent/Guardian Contact
• Emergency Contacts
• Please list multiple emergency contacts!
• Medical Information
• Arrival/Dismissal Procedures and Transportation Options
• Photo Approval
• Data Confidentiality
• Student Creative Work Approval

Resources:

• FAMILY FILE QUICK REFERENCE CARD (ENGLISH)
• FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (ENGLISH)
• FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (SPANISH)
• HOMEPAGE FOR HCPSS CONNECT GUIDES & TUTORIALS

Stay in the loop with all the exciting events hosted and organized by our Family Resource Center — you won’t want to miss what’s coming up! 👀📅

Click on the link below! 👇

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our annual Back to School Picnic this Friday, 9/5 on the blacktop from 5:30-7pm. Bring a blanket and/or chairs and your picnic dinner! Frozen treats will be available for purchase.

Don't forget to join the PTO for the 2025-2026 school year! Membership is annual and is $10 per family. We are 30% of the way to our goal of 100 members this year - join today!

Upcoming Dates:

• Non-Event Fundraiser 9/5-10/3
• Chipotle Dine Out 9/23 4-8pm
• PTO General Membership Meeting @ Title 1 Night 9/25 4-6pm
• PTO Ice Cream Social 9/30 6-7pm

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at our annual Back to School Picnic this Friday, 9/5 on the blacktop from 5:30-7pm. Bring a blanket and/or chairs and your picnic dinner! Frozen treats will be available for purchase.

Don't forget to join the PTO for the 2025-2026 school year! Membership is annual and is $10 per family. We are 30% of the way to our goal of 100 members this year - join today!

Upcoming Dates:

• Non-Event Fundraiser 9/5-10/3
• Chipotle Dine Out 9/23 4-8pm
• PTO General Membership Meeting @ Title 1 Night 9/25 4-6pm
• PTO Ice Cream Social 9/30 6-7pm

September

• 09/01:Labor Day - Schools and Offices Closed
• 09/02: 11:00am Farmers Market; 11:00am-12:30 Family File Support @ LWES Family Resource Center
• 09/04: 5:00-7:00pm Roving Radish
• 09/05: 8:45-10:00am Family File Support @ LWES Cafeteria; 5:30-7:00pm PTO Back to School Picnic on the Blacktop
• 09/17: 12:15pm Student Early Dismissal
• 09/23:Rosh Hashanah - Schools and Offices Closed
• 09/25: 4:00-6:00pmTitle 1 Night w/PTO
• 09/30: 6:00-7:00pm PTO Ice Cream Social (Cafeteria)

October

• 10/02: Schools & Offices Closed, Yom Kippur
• 10/17: Schools Closed for Students, MSEA Convention/Professional Work Day
• 10/20: Schools & Offices Closed, Diwali
• 10/31: 12:15pm Schools Close 3 Hours Early - Professional Work Day, End of 1st Quarter
  

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

Any change of residency must be reported through Family File within 10 school days of the move. Current residency documentation must be provided to the school each time residency changes.

The HCPSS Student and Parent Handbook is a helpful resource for navigating the school year. It contains a wealth of information about school system practices, policies and services available to support and enrich learning.

Please familiarize yourself with the Arrival & Dismissal process for SY25-26.

The HCPSS Bus locator will be updated before school starts. Please be sure to check your child's bus stop location, bus time, and bus number as they may have changed from last year. Please be sure to arrive at your bus stop at least 10 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time. https://www.hcpss.org/schools

Parents/guardians must verify and/or update emergency information for each child every school year. This is completed online in Family File, which has several new updates, including how and where to access. Full details on updating your Family File are available online.

If you have recently moved, please contact LWES at 410-880-5960 as soon as possible as we need to update your address in our files as well. Parents who have forgotten their login credentials for Family File may click the “Forgot Password” link on the sign-in page. If you need additional assistance, please call the school at 410-880-5960.

Click on this link to update your Family File!

The Mental Health Advisory Council (MHCAC) is a group of community members who seek to remove barriers and build awareness for behavioral health support in Howard County for our children and families. Check out this flyer for more information.

New Date: Friday, Sept. 27, 9:00 am–12:00 pm

Location: Oakland Mills High School

This districtwide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature:

• A session with Superintendent Bill Barnes

• Resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations

• Information on programs, resources, and services available throughout the school year

• Childcare and language access provided

For additional information, please visit the Family Academy Kickoff HCPSS News Post

Flier: English | Spanish| Chinese | Korean

This annual Howard County Library System program will help incoming kindergartners ease into school with stories and activities, including boarding a real school bus. Registration is required. Each session lasts one hour. Check the HCLS website to register and for additional details.