Eagle Express
November 21st, 2025
Veterans Elementary Newsletter
Calendar Events:
Nov 17-25 Scholastic Book Fair
Mon. Nov 24th Turkey Trot
Nov 24-25 School closes 3 hrs early at 12:55 p.m. - No ½ day PreK/RECC
Mon. Nov 24 In Person Only Conferences
Tues. Nov 25 and Wed Nov 26 Virtual Conferences Only
Nov 26- 28 No School
Tues. Dec 2 Picture Retakes
Wed. Dec 3 PE & STEM Family Night 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Tues. Dec 16 3rd Grade Winter Concert 10:00 a.m.
Wed. Dec 17 4th/5th Grade Strings Concert 7:00 p.m.
Thurs. Dec 18 4th/5th Grade Band Concert 7:00 p.m.
Dec 24-Jan 2 No School
Mon. Jan 19 No School
Thurs. Jan 22 School closes 3 hrs early at 12:55 p.m. - No ½ day PreK/RECC
Fri. Jan 23 End of 2nd Quarter
Mon. Jan 26 No School
Dear Veterans Families,
As American Education Week comes to a close, we want to thank you for taking the time to visit your child’s classroom. Your support and partnership in your child’s learning are truly appreciated. Looking ahead, parent-teacher conferences will be held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. These meetings are an important opportunity for collaboration and help foster a supportive learning environment.
We are also excited to host this year’s Turkey Trot on Monday, November 24th, during your child’s related arts class. The course will include laps around the large field, providing a fun and active way to celebrate the season. Please ensure your child brings a labeled water bottle and wears appropriate footwear, such as sneakers, for comfort and safety.
In the event of inclement weather, the Turkey Trot will be rescheduled for Tuesday, November 25th. Below is your child’s related arts schedule for Monday, November 24th:
4th grade - 9:40 AM
3rd grade - 10:10 AM
5th grade - 10:40 AM
Kindergarten - 11:15 AM
2nd grade - 11:45 AM
1st grade - 12:15 PM
Alexcia Redd, Keri Golibart and Jessica Legambi
Announcements
Spirit's Showcase - a special evening for families to come together and celebrate our students’ hard work and creativity!
Wednesday December 3rd
5:00 - 6:00pm : Grades K-2*
6:00 - 7:00pm : Grades 3-5*
*These are guidelines, not rules.
Families will be able to participate in the PE Fitness Obstacle Course that is designed as a full body workout to strengthen our growing muscles, disguised in fun! Feel free to join or cheer on your children as they show off their moves! As you explore the hallways, enjoy beautiful artwork created by our talented students. Plus, don’t miss the chance to check out our brand-new STEM materials, made possible through the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation grant, where families can explore hands-on learning activities together!
Picture Day Make-up day is on December 2nd!
December 8-12 is Inclusive Schools WeekLinks to an external site. 2025 Theme: “Children First”
COMMUNITY EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
Registration for BSAP Saturday Math Academy: Please share the message below with students and families. Contact Nicole Brown with any questions.
The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program Saturday Math Academy Spring Session is approaching! The BSAP Saturday Math Academy will offer an in-person enrichment program for Howard County Public School System students in all levels of math for grades 3-12, based on course availability. Registration will take place online on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 9:00 am until capacity is reached. Class space is limited. Families can register by accessing the HCPSS Connect Website on the registration date. For more information, please visit HCPSS News.
BSAP SMA Spring 2026 Flyer (English)
BSAP SMA Spring 2026 Flyer (Spanish)
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
Arrival & Dismissal
Student arrival is from 9:10am- 9:25am. Students should not be dropped off or left unattended before 9:10 am. Parent/Guardian is responsible for their child’s supervision until the VES school doors open at 9:00am in the morning.
If your child has a change in their dismissal plans, please provide VES office staff AND the classroom teacher with this information by sending us an email to vestransportation@hcpss.org. We ask that you make your request no later than 2:00 pm. We will not honor a change in dismissal plans without parental approval. Please indicate the student's name, the date of the transportation change and the details of the transportation change in the email. (ie. will be a car rider instead of bus rider)
Early dismissals require you to sign your child/ren out by scanning the QR Code located on the table and near the door bell. Complete the Google Document and be ready to present your ID/License to the secretary. Early dismissals should be requested prior to 3:15pm.
Please bring your cell phone to scan the QR code.
Please be prepared to present your Photo ID.
Please plan accordingly. Students will be dismissed from class upon their parents’ arrival and after they have signed the student out from the front office. We cannot have the student dismissed ahead of parent arrival.
Student Absences
Send absent notes to vesabsence@hcpss.org including the child's full name, teacher name and explaining why your child will or was absent. If your child is ill for 5 days or more, you must provide a doctor’s note.
Discretionary Days
HCPSS students are granted 3 days a year to use at their discretion for scheduled interviews with prospective employers, visits to post-secondary institutions, family trips, civic engagement, and other special events.
Such absences may not occur during exam or state-mandated testing periods unless authorized by the principal/designee.
A written request for such absences to be lawful/excused should be submitted at least one week in advance to the principal/designee. Please download the PDF fillable Discretionary Absence Form and email it to vesabsence@hcpss.org. The form is also available in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish
If you are requesting a day for a religious holiday not identified by the Howard County Public School System school calendar, please download the PDF fillable Religious Obligation Form and email it to vesabsence@hcpss.org
Lunch with your child
You must complete the Confidentiality Training Course and Child Abuse and Neglect Training. Return the 2 signed certificates to school. Once completed, sign-up to have lunch with your child using the Reservation Form. No siblings are allowed.
Family to Staff, Feel-good Feathers
Have you been impressed with the efforts of a VES Staff member? If so, take a moment to send them a Feel-good Feather to brighten their day! Some Family to Staff shout outs will even be highlighted in each Eagle Express and shared with staff. Thank you for the encouragement! Click here to give a shout- out!
Military-Connected Families at VES
We are looking to identify any active-duty or recently retired military-connected families. Our Purple Patriots, a student-led group, will be offering support and building connections for our military students. Some activities may include quarterly get-togethers and other opportunities to celebrate and support our military community.
If you are a military connected family, please complete this form. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy_Lane@hcpss.org.
Safety Protocols for After-School Hours
We ask for your cooperation in maintaining a safe and secure environment after school hours by adhering to the following protocols:
Classroom Access:
After school, classrooms are closed to students and parents. If an item is forgotten, students and parents must first seek permission from a building administrator and the Night Chief Custodian before entering a classroom.
After-School Programs and Parks and Recreation After Care:
Once after-school programs have concluded (such as Girl Scouts), an adult or staff members will escort students to the front door for pickup. For students in Parks and Recreation aftercare, parents are asked to enter the building from the blacktop, ring the bell, and wait for authorization from staff before entering.
Students on School Grounds:
Students not involved in a supervised activity are expected to leave school grounds at the end of the school day.
Rodent Control In Schools
We are reaching out to ask for your help keeping our school pest-free all year long and want to share a few things to keep in mind as you send your child to school each day. Since food is one of the main reasons rodents try to get inside a building, please consider the following guidance:
Send snacks and lunches in sealed, hard plastic or metal containers rather than loose in bags. Rodents can easily chew through paper and thin plastic.
Use reusable lunchboxes with zipper closures, and make sure the zipper fully closes.
Send foods with strong odors like peanut butter and sweet treats in airtight containers.
Remind your child to bring home any uneaten food daily—don’t store snacks in desks, lockers or cubbies overnight.
Make it a routine to empty and wipe down lunchboxes every day.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for helping to make this a great year for your child.
Animals on School System Property & Service Animals
Animals in schools or offices, whether leashed or not, present health, safety, environmental and liability concerns. Students and staff may be exposed to potential physical health hazards, such as bites and/or allergy-related health problems. As a result, animals are prohibited from HCPSS building (there are a few exceptions). Animals are also prohibited from school system property during arrival, dismissal, recess and other Howard County Public School System sponsored events.
Use of Tobacco or Electronic Smoking Devices on School System Property
As a reminder, when attending events on school property, adults and visitors are expected to follow HCPSS policy. This includes smoking cigarettes or the use of electronic smoking devices, such as vapes, within the building and on the school grounds.
Policy 1050 states: The use, sale, promotion, or distribution of any tobacco product, cigarette rolling papers, or electronic smoking devices by students, HCPSS employees, and visitors is prohibited at all times and on all property owned, leased, or under the control or sponsored by HCPSS at all times.
Zum App
Using the app will allow you to track your child’s bus in real-time, receive pick-up notifications if you choose, and view the driver for each ride.
To start using the Zum app, please follow these instructions:
Log in to your account with the phone number or email address you have listed on your child’s record in Family File in HCPSS Connect
Verify your access by entering the one-time code sent to your device
Check the notification settings to ensure you’re receiving Zum notifications, if desired, so you’ll know when the bus is