November 2025

Rooted in Relationships. Driven by Learning. Focused on the Future.

At BPES, we show up for each other. Students and staff feel seen, supported, and ready to learn. We work together to create a safe, welcoming environment. Through strong relationships, open communication, and partnerships with families, we continue to build a thriving community where everyone belongs.

Dear Families,

As we wrap up the first quarter of the school year, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and partnership. Your patience and flexibility, especially as we’ve transitioned to a new learning management system, have not gone unnoticed.

Over the past few months, we’ve celebrated meaningful academic growth, built classroom routines, and laid the groundwork for a strong learning community. Thank you for being such strong advocates for your children and for trusting us with their growth each day. Your involvement, encouragement, and grace have made a meaningful difference as we work together to build a foundation for the rest of the year.

Here’s to a joyful, enriching, and successful second quarter!

Dear Families,

This year we will offer a series of informal gatherings created to keep you informed about key aspects of our school community, including academic initiatives, student attendance trends, school culture, and overall campus progress. These sessions offer a valuable opportunity to hear directly from school leadership, ask questions, and stay closely connected to the heartbeat of our campus.

Our next Campus Conversations session will be held in person on November 21st at 7:40 AM in the cafeteria. We hope you’ll join us for a coffee, breakfast and a chance to connect with other parents, staff, and school leaders.

Please note: These gatherings are focused on schoolwide updates and initiatives. While we welcome your participation, this is not a setting for discussing individual students or personal concerns. For any student-specific matters, we encourage you to schedule a meeting directly with your child’s teacher or administrator.

Please use this link to RSVP in advance so we can plan accordingly. We look forward to working together to make this year one of connection, clarity, and shared success!

Pre-K 4

We had so much fun exploring the world around us using our senses. We have started unit 2, Our Environment. We began with looking at the environment closest to our home and school with investigations of the outdoors. The focus will then shift to the environment of a coral reef. Our culminating project for this unit is to create our very own coral reef. We will be asking for donations in the coming weeks to help with this project! During this month we will be learning the letters: Bb, Ee, Ll, and Oo. In math, we will be naming and describing shapes and identifying numerals 0-10. Please continue to read to your child daily and check folders / Thrill share for important updates. Thank you for your support! We look forward to speaking with you at your child’s conference.

- Pre-K Team

Kindergarten

It's Fall Ya'll!

Happy November! We continue to build on our foundational skills in Kindergarten - both academically and socially! This month, we are promoting what it means to be a STARR student in the classroom: Safe, Teamwork, Accepting, Respectful, Responsible. Our focus is on "Accepting" - accepting differences, being kind, and including everyone. We are helping students understand the importance of empathy, friendship, and building a classroom community where everyone belongs.

Literacy:

In CKLA, we are working on identifying initial letter sounds and letter names of the alphabet. Students are expected to "tap out" and blend simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words, helping them grow as early readers. We've also started learning Tricky Words and practice reading picture readers to build confidence in their book-awareness skills and memorize tricky words in text.

In Knowledge, we have been exploring Folktales! Students are learning to identify the plot, characters, and setting of stories. We are also practicing sequencing events - focusing on the beginning, middle, and end of each tale. Soon, we will transition into a non-fiction domain about Plants, where students will meet Polly the Honeybee, as she guides us through understanding the different kinds of plants, plants needs for survival, life cycles of plants, pollination, and the process of photosynthesis.

Math:

In Reveal Math, we have begun Unit 4: Classify, Sort, and Count Objects! In this unit, students will learn to classify, sort, and explore different attributes of objects. We will continue to practice recognizing similarities and differences, sorting objects into groups, and comparing objects through counting.

Our Kindergarten PTD (Project-Based Teaching and Discovery) focuses on developing keen observational skills on students critical-thinking with attributes! Students will be encouraged to be communicative, perceptive, and inquisitive as they explore the world of attributes.

Science/Social Studies:

In Science, students will become early researchers as we focus on the needs of animals, their habitats, and how animals can change their environments to survive. Through hands-on activities and research studies, students are learning how animals interact with nature and adapt to their surroundings.

In Social Studies, we will transition into Making Choices for ourselves! We will learn about natural and human resources, and how they help meet our needs at school and in our community. Students will explore the differences between wants and needs, positive and negative choices, and discuss the impact of our own choices on the world around us.

- Kindergarten Team

1st Grade

Hello families!

We have made it to the end of the first marking period. So much progress has been made! First graders finished our unit on the Human Body. We learned about our different body systems and how they all work together. We have started Unit 3: Different Lands, Similar Stories. We are looking at fairytales and folktales from different lands. We are using a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast. In Math, we have started learning different addition strategies to add numbers within 20. We are using number lines, connecting cubes, and ten frames. In our Skills block, we have started learning our long vowel sounds and magic e. Science and Social Studies is finishing with looking at our environment and moving into solving problems with our first PTD unit. Please make sure to check your child’s folder daily so that you don’t miss out on fun things happening.

Thanks!

- 1st Grade Team

2nd Grade

Extra, extra hear all about it! The CogAt test is approaching, and 2nd Grade is ready to SHOUT IT! More information about dates will be coming.

Quarter 1 moved extremely fast and we are looking forward to continually working on being positive star students while modeling our school's mission!

Math has been a blast so far! We are learning how to represent and solve Add To and Take From problems. Diving into new skills such as, Put Together, Take Apart, and Compare word problems, too! There’s no time like the present to reinforce and practice your math facts when you can!

Students have been reading about the different Civilizations over the past couple of weeks which has given us insight into different cultures! Looking forward to reading much more.

Quarter 2 is upon us now, we will work extra hard to master many skills we previously learned and practice new ones! Thank you for your love and support!

- 2nd Grade Team

3rd Grade

Reading:

Reading is the foundation for everything we do! This month, we will begin Unit 3 of CKLA. In this unit, students will further their scientific understanding of the human body by learning about the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. Students will review the spelling of regular and irregular plural nouns, as well as adding -s or -es to certain verb forms.

Writing:

Third grade writers are expected to write a lot of sentences using details from the texts they read. Writers need to remember to capitalize the first letter of each sentence, end each sentence with punctuation, and capitalize the pronoun "I" and proper nouns. We have been applying these skills in our daily writing.

Math:

We are ready for our Mathematicians to jump into exploring the idea of area. Area is the amount of space a shape covers. This month students will learn that area is measured with square units. We will build on what they have learned about arrays to make the connection to area. As we begin our unit on area, please have your child practice the basic multiplication facts regularly. This will really support them when they are determining the area of figure. They can use First in Math to help them practice multiplication fact fluency. Thank you for your support.

Science:

We are finishing up our unit of Forces and Interactions as we investigate static electricity and magnetism. We'll use what we've learned and begin applying our findings to real world situations. In our upcoming unit, we will explore Molecules and Organisms, and work to create models that help explain the unique and diverse life cycles of plants, insects, and other organisms. We continue to make predictions and test hypotheses. Encourage your scientist to find ways to explore forces and interactions at home to reinforce the skills they're learning at school.

Social Studies:

As we work through our first unit, we will continue to interpret maps using cardinal directions and use our understanding of geography to discuss how communities are organized focusing on things like landforms and waterways, natural vs. human-made features, and discuss how modifications to the environment affect the ways we live. In our next unit, we'll take a look at the cultures represented in our classrooms, schools, and communities, discuss how to learn about and from other cultures, and determine the ways in which we can show respect and appreciation for all cultures.

- 3rd Grade Team

4th Grade

Reading:

In this unit, students explore the world of poetry through 14 lessons. Over about three weeks, students will read, analyze, and write their own poems while learning important language arts skills.

Poetry can sometimes feel tricky, but this unit helps students discover that poems aren’t about “hidden meanings” — they’re about creativity, imagination, and personal interpretation. Students will learn how poets use language, rhythm, and imagery to express ideas and emotions.

The poems in this unit come from a wide range of writers and cultures around the world — from classic poets to contemporary voices. Students will read both rhyming and free verse poems and will have many chances to write their own pieces, building confidence as readers and writers.

By the end of the unit, students will be able to discuss and analyze poetry thoughtfully, understand key poetic techniques, and celebrate the power of words and creativity.

Math:

Students will extend their understanding of multiplication to decompose a number into factor pairs, recognizing prime and composite numbers. This will lead us into understanding and learning multiplication strategies with multi-digit numbers.

Science: Students will learn how rapid and slow changes continually shape our Earth’s features. We will look at plate tectonics as well as understand how it contributes to many of our Earth phenomenon's.

Social Studies: Students will understand the pursuit of freedom for colonist lead to conflict. Students will dive into how colonial life was greatly impacted by conflict for freedom and understand what causes people to deny freedoms to others.

- 4th Grade Team

5th Grade

Reading:

In our Poetry unit, students will spend about three weeks exploring the beauty and creativity of poetry through reading, discussion, and writing. They’ll learn how poets use rhythm, figurative language, and imagery to express ideas and emotions — and they’ll get to write their own poems, too!

Students will read a variety of poems from different time periods and cultures, discovering that poems don’t have just one “right” meaning. Instead, they’ll learn to interpret poetry in their own thoughtful ways and support their ideas with evidence from the text.

By the end of the unit, students will have new tools for understanding and enjoying poetry — and a deeper appreciation for the power of words and imagination.

Math:

Students will work on multiplying multi-digit whole numbers and decimals. Students will practice different strategies including estimation, area model, and use of manipulatives to solve multiplication problems.

Science:

Students will complete experiments to understand that when an object falls to the ground, it is actually falling towards its core. Falling down does not necessarily mean in southern direction. It does not matter where you are on Earth, objects will still fall towards the Earth’s core. When objects fall, it is because gravity is pulling from the Earth’s core. Students will also begin to explore stars and why we can only see certain stars versus how many are in the universe.

Social Studies:

Students will learn how the War of 1812 impacted people in the United States. Students will then move into how the location of Maryland impacted the economy and the people.

- 5th Grade Team

ELD

Hello Families,

It has been wonderful to see so much growth in our students! As January gets closer, we are beginning to prepare for the WIDA ACCESS which is an assessment of students’ English language proficiency. Our focus for the weeks leading up to this assessment will be to practice speaking in complete sentences and writing to answer a question prompt.

We look forward to meeting face to face with families for our parent-teacher conferences this month. Please be on the lookout for invites from classroom teachers! Conferences will take place November 24th and 25th.

Ms. Brynita Lacey

Kindergarten & 1st Grade ELD Teacher

Phone: 601.272.8611

Email: bllacey@aacps.org

Ms. Laura Dembeck

2nd & 3rd Grade ELD Teacher

Email: ldembeck@aacps.org

Ms. Vanessa Gonzalez

4th & 5th Grade ELD Teacher

Email: vlgonzalez@AACPS.org

Title I

"Please be sure if you have not done so already to fill out our lunch forms for the 25-26 school year! Even if your child does not buy lunch, or you do not plan on having your child buy lunch, this is extremely important and helpful for our school. When the lunch forms are filled out, we are able to keep our Title 1 funding and get amazing resources and host events for our school such as Math and Literacy night, extra staff members to support students learning, and materials to help students learn hands on. Please reach out with any questions to Laura Roussey, our Title 1 Math Resource Teacher! Please use this link to fill out your form today: https://www.aacps.org/page/apply-for-free-or-reduced-price-meals"

CSI

Our school has been designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) School by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), based on schoolwide performance and other criteria. In partnership with MSDE, Anne Arundel County Public Schools has provided a dedicated team to address the unique needs of CSI schools. This team works to support students and teachers through targeted interventions, data-driven individualized plans, professional development for teachers, and family and community engagement initiatives.

These efforts aim to create a supportive and effective learning environment that accelerates student achievement and enhances overall school performance. If you have questions about the resources and supports available at our school, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can ensure the success of every student.

Counselor

What does a School Counselor DO?

I work alongside teachers and parents to help students develop

socially and emotionally, and to help remove any barriers to learning!

I Provide:

•Classroom lessons teaching social skills, how to take care of strong feelings, study skills, etc.

•Small group counseling

•Short-term individual counseling

•Consultation with parents and teachers

•Parent workshops

•Community resource referrals (including longer term therapy services)

•Schoolwide programming (Kindness Week, Harvest for the Hungry etc.)

Come join us for a really sweet math night on November 19th from 5:30-7. We will start our night with some fun games and pizza and move into some awesome math strategies to help you and your children at home. There will be math materials and resources for all, along with a raffle for families that attend. Be sure to come out and learn some new math strategies to try out at home!

Hello Music Families!

Please add December 17th to your Calendars! Our BPES annual Winter Concert will be held at the Chesapeake Arts Center on 12/17/25 and will start promptly at 6:00 p.m. This is not a ticketed event; any family members or friends may attend. However, concerts at BPES are mandatory for all Band, Strings, and Chorus students.

Please reach out to Mrs. Israel or Mr. Henning via Thrillshare or email with any questions.

STEM has begun! These are the titles of the projects by grade level.

Kindergarten: Saving Norman

1st grade: Senses in Nature

2nd Grade: Inclusive Playgrounds

3rd Grade: Zoo Habitats

4th Grade: Animal Bionics

5th Grade: Fair Flight

🎃 Thank You, BPES Families and Staff! 🎃

The PTA is incredibly grateful for all of our supportive BPES families and staff! Our annual Trunk or Treat event was a huge success — it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves!

📅 Upcoming PTA Meeting

🗓️ November & December Events

11/7 – Donuts with Grown-Ups

11/12 – Bubba’s Dine & Donate

12/6 – Donuts with Santa

📢 Stay Connected

Thank you for being a part of our amazing school community! 💙

Here is a website for anyone in need of some community resources: www.aacps.org/community

Change of Clothes!

We kindly ask that all students in PreK through 5th grade keep an extra change of clothes at school. Spills, playground accidents, and unexpected mishaps can happen at any age, and having a clean set of clothing on hand helps your child feel comfortable and ready to continue learning without interruption. Please include a shirt, pants, underwear, and socks in a labeled bag, and be sure to update the clothing as the seasons change and your child grows. Thank you for your support in helping us keep students comfortable throughout the school day!

Leading by Feeding

We are excited to announce that this month’s Leading by Feeding Food Giveaway will take place on Thursday, October 9th, beginning at 4:00 PM in the back parking lot. Families are invited to come and receive free food items to help support their household needs. This monthly event is part of our commitment to serving and caring for our community, and we welcome everyone to join us. Supplies are limited, so we encourage you to arrive early.

Background Checks for Volunteers at Brooklyn Park Elementary School

Anne Arundel County Public Schools is committed to providing safe and secure learning environments for all students and employees. Successful completion of a background check is required before any person has access to students, either on or off school property. The Office of Investigations has continued to work closely with the Office of School Security to review AACPS protocols for conducting background checks.

Background investigations are divided into two categories: fingerprint-supported background checks and commercial background checks. Once a fingerprint-supported background check is performed, applicants no longer need to submit an electronic background check. Anyone applying to be a chaperone or volunteer must be at least 18 years of age.

Fingerprint-supported background checks must be scheduled through the Fingerprinting Office at 410-222-5045. The Fingerprinting Office is located at the AACPS Central Office on Riva Road and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, during the school year. The cost of fingerprinting is $63.00 and it includes the commercial background check. Fingerprint-supported background checks for chaperones should be completed at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled field trip.

Each applicant requiring a fingerprint-supported background check is provided with a pink Fingerprint Verification Card. This card should be kept with the applicant while on school grounds and should be displayed to an administrator upon request. Each school should keep a running list of chaperones and volunteers that have been fingerprinted.

All questions regarding this process, or to confirm the results of a fingerprint-supported background check should be directed to the Office of Investigations at 410-222-5287.

Commercial Background Check

All chaperones and volunteers without one-on-one unsupervised or unrestricted access to students must complete the online request for a commercial background check. This group is inclusive of PTA and PTO officers, CAC officers, Booster Club officers, and chaperones or volunteers who work with children in the presence of an approved AACPS representative (e.g. daytime field trip to the zoo). These background checks are at no cost to the applicant and are valid for 2 years. All applications should be submitted electronically at least 3 weeks prior to the intended school event.

*Persons without personal computer access may access this process on a school computer or use computers in a public library.

https://onboard.screenid.net/gen/inquiries/

Last year we introduced our Appreciation Station Snack Cart to our staff! The cart will be filled every Wednesday full of sweet and salty snacks and drinks to show our BPES staff just how much we appreciate them. This school year we are looking for families to sponsor a week by either purchasing snacks or making a $40 donation so the snacks can be purchased. We ask that donations are dropped off to the school by Monday of the sponsored week. Please consider signing up below! Thank you for helping our staff know how much we appreciate them!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D4BABAA2CA0FB6-appreciation

Five Star Parent

1. Builds a positive relationship with all staff members.

2. Dedicated to the BPES community.

3. Builds a partnership with their child's teacher. This partnership is based on trust, communication, and student growth.

4. Dedicated to preventing chronic absenteeism and chronic tardiness.

5. Respects and honors our community of diverse learners.

Emergency card verification emails have been sent. Please make sure you check and update your emergency contact information. The links are only active for 10 days. If you need assistance, please contact the main office at 410 222 6590.

Doors open at 7:40.

Students are dismissed at 2:25.

Late arrival/Early Dismissal

If your child arrives at school after 8:00, they are considered late. Please make sure they are at school prior to this time. Students need to be in their classrooms by 8:00 in order to be marked on time. If your child is late to school, or is getting picked up early, an adult MUST come into the building to sign them in or out.

Early dismissals must take place before 2:00 pm. The office is busy after 2:00, preparing for dismissal procedures, and will not be able to call any kids for dismissal after that time.

Below is the link for Before/After Care for families who need childcare.

School start times:

The doors will open at 7:40am for breakfast and community building. Instruction will begin at 8:00am. It is EXTREMELY important that all kids arrive on time ready to learn!

Walkers

Walkers will be dismissed at 2:25

Bus-Riders

To access BPES bus schedules, please click HERE

Car-Riders

We will dismiss car riders car by car. Please have your child's name on the hang tag so we can quickly call them to your car. Please do not park on 13th Ave during dismissal or arrival. It can make it challenging for people to enter and leave the lot.

Arrival

When students arrive they will pick up their breakfast and report to their homeroom. Teachers will greet students as they arrive.

Dismissal

At dismissal, walkers will be released. Following the release of walkers, car riders will be escorted to the cafeteria. Bus riders will be called as buses arrive.

Visitors

We will be planning several events this year where we will be inviting parents into the building. Unfortunately, we will not be able to allow parents to have lunch with their children in the cafeteria.

Student Birthday Celebrations

• Each student will receive a Birthday pencil and be acknowledged by the whole school on the morning announcements.
• We will celebrate all students' birthdays each month.
• It is very important to understand that food cannot be shared to celebrate. Please do not bring food to share with the class for your child's birthday. We have students with allergies and food sensitive health conditions.

Families can pay for their student’s meals online by going to www.mypaymentsplus.com.

At schools this year, breakfast will be free, and lunches will cost $2.75 for full price students.

Students will need to log in with their student ID in order to get their lunch. Please work with your student at home to help them memorize their ID.

Apply for Free or Reduced-Price Meals: Online Meal Benefit Application (MBA) (English and Spanish) - Link to online MBA – www.aacps.org/mealapplication. Applications must be filled out each school year, even if you qualified the previous year.