Veterans Elementary Newsletter

Calendar Events:

• Mon & Tues Oct. 13th & 14th Individual Pictures

• Fri. Oct. 17th Schools Closed for Students

• Mon. Oct. 20th Schools and Offices Closed

• Tue. Oct. 21st PTA Meeting via Zoom at 7PM

• Fri. Oct. 24th PTA Trunk or Treat 6:30 PM

• Fri. Oct. 24th Spirit Day~ College Day: Wear your favorite college gear

• Fri. Oct. 31st School closes 3 Hours Early at 12:55 p.m.-No ½ day PreK/RECC

Dear Veterans Families,

Once again, thank you to all the community members who were able to join our administrators and staff at our recent Coffee and Conversations event! It was wonderful to have the opportunity to connect with so many of you in person and hear your thoughts and feedback. Several of the topics discussed during our time together prompted follow-up conversations with staff, and we wanted to share some additional information related to those discussions.

One topic raised was lunch, specifically that students sometimes face challenges getting through the lunch line in a timely manner, which can leave them with less time to finish eating. This can occur, particularly when one of the lunch lines is closed. At Veterans, our goal is to remain fully staffed in the cafeteria so both lines can stay open and move efficiently. We have shared this concern with our lunch and recess monitors, as well as our paraeducators, to ensure that transitions move more smoothly. We also recognize that younger students or those new to Veterans may take a bit longer to enter their lunch number at the start of the year, but this typically improves as they become more familiar with the routine. Parent volunteers are always welcome and greatly appreciated during lunch. If you are available or interested, please consider joining us to help support students during this busy part of the day.

Another topic of discussion centered on recess, specifically around certain sports or activities being restricted. When a sport or activity is temporarily suspended, it is typically due to students not following the HCPSS Code of Conduct while participating. In some cases, certain sports may not be permitted because of staffing or space limitations. For example, soccer is a great option when the field is available and properly supervised, but we do not always have the staff coverage to open the field every day. Additionally, activities such as tag and football are not permitted at recess due to the increased risk of pushing and injuries.

We truly appreciate the thoughtful feedback shared during Coffee and Conversations and value the ongoing partnership between our school and families to make Veterans a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for all students.

Warm regards,

Alexcia Redd, Keri Golibart and Jessica Legambi

Announcements

Parent Teacher Conferences: Parents will be able to sign up for parent teacher conferences starting November 7th. This can be done through Synergy.

Meeting with Students: This week, our administrative team visited each grade level to talk with students about the importance of kindness, safety, and responsibility. As part of these conversations, we reviewed the Howard County Public School System’s policies on bullying and weapons. Our goal was not to alarm students, but to empower them and help them understand how to recognize unsafe or unkind behavior and, most importantly, how to seek help from a trusted adult.

We encouraged students to speak up if they ever see or experience bullying or if they ever have knowledge of something that could affect the safety of others. We emphasized that reporting concerns is an act of care and responsibility, and that our school is a safe place where adults are always ready to listen and support them.

We invite you to continue this conversation at home. A simple talk about kindness, empathy, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right can go a long way in reinforcing what we shared at school. As always, thank you for your partnership in creating a positive and safe learning environment for every child.

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.

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.

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:

1. Download the app

2. 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

3. Verify your access by entering the one-time code sent to your device

4. Check the notification settings to ensure you’re receiving Zum notifications, if desired, so you’ll know when the bus is