Bulldog Bulletin

May was an absolute whirlwind - much like the rest of the school year! We celebrated the AES Alumni that are soon to be Lansdowne High Alumni, wrapped up testing, had Field Day, and so much more! We can't wait to celebrate our 5th Grade, Kindergarten and PreK as they move onto their next stages! Have a great summer break and stay safe! We will see you in August!

🏫9:00 AM - 4:00 PM🏫

Arrival: Bus riders and walkers will enter through the front doors, car riders will follow the line through the parking lot and enter through the cafeteria. After 9:15, all students must come to the front of the school to be signed in and given a late pass.

Dismissal: Bus riders will wait for their bus in the gym. Walkers will be dismissed from the breezeway (2-5) and library (Prek – 1). Car riders will wait in the cafeteria and be picked up in the same location where they are dropped off in the morning.

In order to keep better track of inventory, please complete this form if you are in need of something. Ms. Zalucki will get it to you within 48 hours of submitting the request. She will also let you know if something is out of stock or there isn't clothing in a specific size. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Zalucki via TalkingPoints or email (ezalucki@bcps.org)

Ms. Zalucki is already plotting and planning for next year! Please complete this form in order to help her create the best learning environment and experiences for our kids next year.

Did you know the library can support you and your student in a variety of ways? Here are some of their opportunities below:

• Homework Help - online databases and learning tools to guide students through assignments

• Assignment Alerts – Let us know about upcoming projects so we can prepare materials in advance.

• Class Visits to the Library – Bring your students for a tour, story time, or research help.

• Librarian Classroom Visits – Invite a librarian to your classroom for a presentation or book talk.

• Teacher Loan Cards – Teachers can check out materials for up to nine weeks to support classroom learning.

• Teacher Collection Kits – Request a set of materials curated for your current unit or theme.

• Study Rooms – Two study rooms are available

🪁June🪁

🪁 8 - Grades 3-5 MCAP Celebration

• 5th Grade Picnic

🪁 9 - 5th Grade Walking Field Trip

🪁10 - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony 10:00 AM

🪁11 - Kindergarten Promotion Ceremony 10:00 AM

• Pre-K Promotion Ceremony - 2:00 PM

🪁 15 - Half Day - 1:00 PM

🪁16 - Last Day of School - 1:00 PM

🪁 19 - Juneteenth - Schools and Offices Closed

🎆July🎆

🎆 3 - Independence Day Observed - Schools and Offices Closed

🎆 6 - Summer School Begins

🎆 31 - Summer School Ends

🦀 August 🦀

🦀 24 - Teachers are Back

🦀 31 - First Day of School

Please be sure to label backpacks, lunchboxes, jackets, etc. with first AND last names!

Please remember to check to make sure your child is dressed properly. The children do have recess unless the weather is extreme. If your child comes home missing any items sent into school, please check out our Lost and Found. It is growing daily!

We are seeing problems at school connected to social media and group chats. Some students are getting into arguments, saying hurtful things, and having friendship problems online that continue during the school day. In some situations, students have made serious comments about hurting themselves or others while talking online.

Children at this age are still learning how to handle big feelings, solve problems, and make safe choices online. They need close adult supervision and support when using social media, games, and group chats.

Parents can help by:

• Monitoring how much time children spend on social media
• Talking openly about online experiences
• Encouraging healthy sleep, exercise, and offline activities
• Helping children think critically about what they see online
• Creating safe and balanced technology habits at home

Social media is not all good or all bad. The goal is to help children use it in healthy, safe, and balanced ways.

If you received a notice about Vision and Hearing, please send in your follow up.

All K-5 students have access to Amira, an AI reading tutor that helps students improve their reading skills through personalized tutoring at school and at home!

In the 2024-2025 school year, students in BCPS who read frequently (30 minutes per week) with Amira all year long outpaced their peers who were in the high usage category for only one semester of the year or for neither semester of the year.

Each week, students who read at least 30 minutes with Amira will be awarded with $5 Bulldog Bucks and a visit from our Spot stuffie! A Top Reader certificate will be distributed to the top boy and girl of each K-5 class who reads the most minutes.

Please help your child learn how to independently type his/her email address and password. Encourage reading with Amira at least 30 minutes each week.

While we are sad to see our current PTA's session come to an end, we are excited to welcome our new crew! Please help them out and complete this Google Form for them so they can tackle the next school year!

his Week's “Mental Health Minute” Take a Micro Pause/Break

Principals: Please share this information with staff members in email or newsletter, students during advisory or announcements, and parents in newsletters.

The CDC reports that “everyone experiences occasional stress; it is a normal part of life, that long-term stress can lead to worsening health problems, and finding ways to manage stress daily can prevent you from developing long-term stress” (CDC, 2025).

Micro-Pauses/Breaks: Take brief, 1–5-minute breaks throughout the day to stretch or simply sit quietly.

Examples of Quick Daily Micro-Breaks (1–5 Minutes):

• Deep Breathing/Box Breathing: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4 to calm the nervous system.
• Movement Breaks: Perform stretches, march in place, or climb stairs to release tension.
• Sensory Reset: Step outside, look at a distant object, or feel cold water on your hands.
• Hydrate/Nourish: Take a moment to fill a water bottle or have a healthy snack.
• "Oasis Moment": Spend 60 seconds in a quiet spot (like a pantry or car) focusing only on your breath.
• Digital Disconnect: Close your eyes for one minute, turning away from all screens.

(CDC, “Managing Stress” June 2025)