Words to the Wise
November
A Word from Our Principal
Dear Families,
Happy Fall from Westowne Elementary! We are well into the Ravens season as they currently stand at 3-5. Halloween has passed, but all the candy is still here, PTA Fall Fest was a success, and we are now cruising towards Thanksgiving! At this time, we are 9 weeks into the school year and the first marking period ended on October 31. Conference Days are sneaking up and will be held on November 17 and 18. December will also be busy as we look forward to the Winter Band, Orchestra, and Chorus concert, Holiday Shoppe, and of course, Winter break!
Please remember to check FOCUS and/or Schoology to ensure your student is keeping up with work and their grades are showing progress/passing. If you have questions and/or concerns, please contact the homeroom teacher to set up a time to discuss student progress via in-person conference or phone call. It is important to address any needs/concerns early and to develop any accommodations or interventions that may ensure student success. Remember, the Quarter 1 Marking Period ended on October 31, and report cards will be distributed on November 13, 2025.
Please remember that American Education Week will be held during the week of November 17 – 21, 2025. A visitation schedule may be found below in the SMORE Newsletter. Pre-K Conference Day will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025…no Pre-School 3 or Pre-K sessions for students. Pre-K and Elementary Conference Day will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025…no Pre-School or Pre-K sessions and schools closed for elementary students. Schools will close 3 hours early on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, through Friday, November 28, 2025, for Thanksgiving Holiday.
As we move into the beginning of November and look forward to Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving, remember that you may also celebrate the following national celebration days!
· National Cinnamon Day—11/1
· Cookie Monster Day—11/2
· National Candy Day—11/4
· Odd Socks Day—11/10
· World Kindness Day—11/13
· National Clean Out your Refrigerator Day 11/15
· National Sardine’s Day—11/24
· Turtle Adoption Day—11/27
Here’s to a great and busy November!
Principal Palmer
November Important Dates
- Tuesday, November 4 (starts at 5:00pm)- Saturday, November 8 (ends at 5:00pm)- Double Good Popcorn PTA Fundraiser **see below for more details
- Thursday, November 13- Report Cards Distributed
- Friday, November 14- Turkey Trot from 9:45-10:45
- Friday, November 14- 3 Hour Early Dismissal (dismissal starts at 12:55)
- Monday, November 17-Friday, November 21- American Education Week **see below for more details
- Monday, November 17- PreK3 and PreK4 Conference Day (no school for PreK) ***SCHOOL IN SESSION FOR K-5
- Tuesday, November 18- Conference Day **NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
- Wednesday, November 26- 3 Hour Early Dismissal (dismissal starts at 12:55)
- Thursday, November 27- Schools Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
- Friday, November 28- Schools Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
We Need Your Help
Westowne Community School Needs Assessment
Now that Westowne is a Community School we need your help in identifying the strengths and needs of the school and community. Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 have already shared their insight and opinion and now we need all family members to do the same. Please take the Community School Needs Assessment Survey. The survey takes about 15 minutes and asks about the school and community. The survey is anonymous and will not ask you for your contact information. This information will be used to identify three strengths and needs in the school. We are asking all adult members of the household to complete the survey. You can even ask your neighbors to complete as a community member. We appreciate your time and willingness to continue making Westowne an amazing school! If you have any questions, please reach out to Rachel Mills at rmills@bcps.org or 443-809-0854.
English Community School Needs Assessment Survey- https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3cPDSRs_g0GOdLONSDpa_W3kyTxr68RFrSrYqCiXP9dUN0YxMzA5QURSVlBJS1Q5WkcxMENMRlYyUS4u&route=shorturl
Spanish Community School Needs Assessment Survey- https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3cPDSRs_g0GOdLONSDpa_W3kyTxr68RFrSrYqCiXP9dURFJPOUlZTUFQNU1QQjQ3T1ZBQ1QwWjI3Ty4u&route=shorturl
We are looking for parents to share their insight and opinion about Westowne and the community. There are two ways to get involved. You can participate in a listening session and/or join the Shared Decision Making Team (SDMT). Listening sessions will occur in-person at Westowne and will last about 1 1/2 hours. There are several different dates and times for you to select the one that works best in your schedule. The Shared Decision Making Team (SDMT) will meet monthly. During this first year, the SDMT will examine the data from the Community School Needs Assessment to identify three strengths and three needs of the school. Please help us by completing the following surveys.
Listening Session Survey- https://forms.gle/baQxq5Z4QwjryKNz9
Shared Decision Making Survey- https://forms.gle/35aq4wzcZESpEgHC8
During the first year as a community school we are determining the different needs in the school. Please complete the Care Closet Survey to let us know what you would like to see in the WES Care Closet.
Care Closet Survey- https://forms.gle/HsbXBLJe9gz3sFC1A
American Education Week
Monday, November 17- Kindergarten classroom visits from 9:30-11:00
Tuesday, November 18- NO SCHOOL **Conference Day
Wednesday, November 19- 1st and 5th grade classroom visits from 9:30-11:00
Thursday, November 20- 2nd and 3rd grade classroom visits from 9:30-11:00
Friday, November 21- 4th grade classroom visit from 9:30-11:00, AM PreK classroom visits from 9:30-11:00, PM classroom visits from 1:30-3:00
House Day Challenge
Westowne Mathletes Night
Join us for Westowne Mathletes Night on Tuesday, December 9th from 5:30-7:00. Dinner in the cafeteria will be from 5:30-6:00 and from 6:00-7:00 there will be math activities around the school. Please RSVP by Tuesday, December 2nd so we have an accurate count for food. See flyer for more details and to RSVP.
RSVP- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdN6xSSbD41kT1R5-U8fUZd_QmRxSziT3Zw210I-nF4uL8ffQ/viewform
Special Education Focus Areas Survey
The Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) Department of Special Education invites stakeholders to participate in a brief survey to help prioritize focus areas for the BCPS Special Education Staffing Plan for the 2026-2027 school year.
We appreciate your assistance and encourage you to complete the anonymous online survey prior to December 1, 2025. It will take approximately 5 minutes to complete and will provide us with valuable information.
You may access the survey through either the URL or QR Code.
https://edu.sogolytics.com/survey/form?k=RRsTUYQXsTTUsPsPsP&lang=0
Winter Concert
Westowne Elementary is proud to present its Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 16th at 6:00 pm. At the Winter Concert the the 5th Grade Band and Orchestra and the 3rd and 4th grade Chorus students will perform. For questions contact Ms. Johnson-Fennell, Chorus teacher at mjohnsonfennell@bcps.org, or Ms. Sweeney, Band and Orchestra teacher at bsweeney@bcps.org. See flyer for more details.
BCPS is Hiring
BCPS is having a Job Fair on Tuesday, November 4th from 4:30-6:30 at Carver Center for Arts and Technology which is located at 938 York Road in Towson. See flyer for more details.
PTA Corner
Join the PTA
Joining the PTA helps fund different activities for you child such as field trip sponsorships and teacher classroom grants. Last year there were 118 members. Our goal this year is 150 memberships! Join the WES PTA today!
Link to join the PTA- https://westowne.givebacks.com/shop
Link to PTA website- https://westownepta.org/
Holiday Shop Items
The WES PTA will be accepting Holiday Shop item donations on Thursday, November 20th and Friday, November 21st. Donations can be dropped off in the front office.
PTA Clubs
There are two PTA after school clubs that your child can sign-up for. Craft Club will be on Tuesdays from 4:15-5:25 and Gaming Club will be on Wednesdays from 4:15-5:15. You can sign your child up here- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeD00A5cknArynmeli8aLrq5ARDctoolsmPPvDcNJMFLGTfeQ/viewform.
See flyer for more details. PTA Club Flyer.pdf
PTA Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser
The Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser starts on Tuesday, November 4th at 5:00 pm and ends on Saturday, November 8th at 5:00 pm. See flyer for more details.
WES Double Good Popcorn PTA Fundraiser.pdf
What You Need to Do:
- Download the Double Good app (Download the app for free on iOs and Android: dgpopup.app.link/nss
- Enter Event Code: WAIKBE
- Create your students Pop-Up Store
- Share your store link with family and friends.
Stay Connected- Talking Points
Download the Talking Points app to stay connected with your child's teacher. This is a great way to keep an open line of communication between you and your child's teacher. After you download the app, sign-in using the email address on file. You should be automatically connected to your child's teacher. For support with Talking Points, please contact the main office.
If you need to change the language of the messages follow these steps:
1. Download the Talking Points App
2. Click on Settings
3. Click Personal Information
4. Select the language you would like
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Arrival
Arrival time for students is 9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. To help make arrival a smooth process, please follow the car loop around the building. Do not stop in the parking lot by the front doors to drop your child off. Students arriving after 9:15 a.m. are marked late. If your student arrives after 9:15, an adult will need to park in the parking lot and walk your student to the Front Office to sign them in. Please do not park in the service lane.
Dismissal
To support a safe and orderly dismissal, there are no early dismissals or changes to student dismissal after 3:30 p.m. If there is a change to your child's regular dismissal procedure, it should be communicated in writing to your child's teacher and the front office as early in the school day as possible. Please do your best to limit changes.
Car Rider Tags
If your student is a car rider, please make sure his/her car rider tag is displayed everyday at pick-up in the car rider line.
BCPS Bus Locator App for Families
BCPS is pleased to announce the countywide implementation of BusWhere, a location-tracking software that allows subscribers to see bus locations in real time on a mobile phone or computer. Via the BusWhere app, subscribers may receive notifications as the bus approaches a designated bus stop or if there are significant delays.
For more information, check out the BusWhere information sheet- BusWhere information.pdf. If you have additional questions please get in touch with the BCPS Office of Transportation at 443-809-4321 or utilize the BusWhere Assistance Request Form- https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3cPDSRs_g0GOdLONSDpa_bVjgy6GIuVGmGJmus4Mp_NUNllMSjRYWExBNVlQSEUwRFZFNlcyWExBRyQlQCN0PWcu
Attendance Matters- WES SOARS to 94
Research shows that attendance is one of the leading predictors of academic achievement and adult success. Our school attendance goal for students this year is to maintain an attendance rate of at least 94%. Check out this flyer for more information about the importance of having good attendance at school.
Parent Attendance Tips-Elementary.pdf
Parent Attendance Tips-Elementary (SPANISH).pdf
Data from October:
Attendance Rate for all students- 95.00%
PreK- 89.02%
Kindergarten- 91.48%
1st grade- 94.91%
2nd grade- 96.44%
3rd grade- 95.95%
4th grade- 95.42%
5th grade- 96.14%
Did You Know?
Bringing your child to school late or taking your child out before the end of the school day counts as time missed from school per the Maryland State Department of Education. All students participate in learning from bell to bell. When they arrive late or leave early, they miss opportunities for learning, small group instruction, and application of newly learned skills. Minutes add quickly to hours and days! Arriving late and leaving early from school should not be a regularly occurring practice. Help your student SOAR to 94 with bell-to-bell instruction! If there is a barrier to regular and timely attendance, contact an administrator or our Community School Facilitator, Rachel Mills, at rmills@bcps.org.
How can you help your child SOAR to 94?
- Establish a bedtime routine that includes a bedtime (students in elementary school need 9-11 hours of sleep a day)
- Pick out clothes the night before
- Pack backpack with homework the night before
- Establish a morning routine
- Schedule appointments around school hours
- Use the attendance tracker to help you track days absent from school
Absences
We need your help. If you child is absent from school, please send in a note and/or doctor's note explaining the absence. Notes should be dated and signed by a parent or guardian. Please see below for a note template that you can use. These note templates are also located in the front office if you would prefer to get a copy from there. Thank you for helping us with this matter.
English-Attendance Note- English.pdf
Spanish-Attendance Note- Spanish.pdf
WES Attendance Incentive
WES is Tackling Attendance! Will your child SOAR to 94?
We have a new attendance incentive that will run for the entire second quarter. Each class is working to score a touchdown. Classes with 100% attendance will move 10 yards down the football field. Classes with 94% or better attendance will move 5 yards down the football field.
When your class scores a touchdown each student in the class will earn a small prize. If your class is able to score 3 touchdowns, the class will earn 10 extra minutes of recess.
Congratulations to the following classes that have scored a goal during quarter 1 and earned a small prize:
Ms. Freundel
Ms. Lambertson
Ms. George
Ms. Ellsworth
Ms. Burgess
Ms. Garagiola
Mr. Hairston
Congratulations to the following classes that have scored two goals during quarter 1 and earned two small prizes:
Mr. Ball
Ms. Berberian
Ms. Cronin
Ms. Kerrigan
Ms. Singer
Ms. Steele
Ms. Aubin
Ms. Ruppel
Ms. Schooley
Ms. Love
Ms. Stebbins
Ms. Brady
Ms. Huckenpoehler
Ms. Howard
Mr. Landel
Congratulations to 2nd grade for having the best attendance percentage during October. Each class earned outdoor recess equipment.
Congratulations to Ms. Ritzes PM prek class for having the best attendance rate in prek during October. Her class earned bubbles.
Community School Corner
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks while spending time with family and friends. Take time during this busy holiday season to give thanks to the ones you love. It is important to model gratitude for our children. I am thankful to be a part of this amazing school community and to each person that contributes to the success of the school. Thank you for welcoming me to Westowne!
Irvine Nature Center Programs
Irvine Nature Center After School Program- Winter Session
The Irvine Nature Center's after school program, Eco Explorers, will have its winter session for K-5 students. The winter session runs on Mondays from January 5th through March 16th from 4:15 to 5:15 and covers a variety of nature topics with experiments, crafts, animal encounters, and more. The Winter session registration begins on Monday, November 3. See flyer for more details.
Westowne Eco Explorers Winter Session.pdf
For more information click here- https://www.explorenature.org/after-school-eco-fern-club/
Day Off Camps
Irvine Nature Center offers Day Off Camps for children ages 5 to 12 on days when BCPS is closed for students. The camps meet from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. (with aftercare available for an additional fee). Please see the attached flyer and the Irvine website, www.explorenature.org, for more information.
See flyer for more details- Irvine Nature Center Day Off Camp.pdf
National Native American History Month
National Native American History Month is celebrated during the month of November. During this month it is important to celebrate the Native American history and culture in the United States. Check out these different resources that you can learn more about.
- Origins of National Native American Hisotry Month- https://www.infoplease.com/history/native-american-heritage/heritage-month-history
- Native Americans in Maryland- https://www.native-languages.org/maryland.htm
- Native American Facts for Kids- https://www.native-languages.org/kids.htm
- Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian- https://americanindian.si.edu/
- National Endowment for the Humanities- American Indian History- heritagehttps://edsitement.neh.gov/teachers-guides/american-indian-history-and-heritage
- The National Park Service- American Indian Heritage- https://www.nps.gov/subjects/americanindians/index.htm
Create a Parent FOCUS Account
Creating a parent FOCUS account is a great way to stay connected to what your child is doing in school. You can monitor your child's grades and attendance throughout the year. Click the link to create your account- https://baltimore.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth/
Nurse's Corner
Greetings from the Health Suite!
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL:
If your child requires prescription medication at school such as Albuterol inhaler for Asthma or Epinephrine for anaphylaxis from food allergies, please contact Nurse Martin at 443-809-0023 or by email at jmartin13@bcps.org. All prescription medications sent to school must be accompanied by a doctor's order.
Also, students may bring cough drops to school in an envelope with the student's name and expiration date of the cough drops written on the front. ALL cough drops will be stored in the health suite as cough drops are a medication and may only be dispensed every 2 hours as needed. I do have cough drops in the health suite and can administer them to your student if you have completed the pink discretionary medication form that was sent home the 1st week of school.
Injuries
If your child has an orthopedic injury, please bring a note from the doctor stating accommodations required at school, i.e., no PE/recess, use of elevator, etc. Students must provide a doctor's note for accommodations.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease is a common viral illness in children. We have recently seen an increase in cases throughout Baltimore County as often occurs in late summer and fall.
Here is some information about Hand, Foot, & Mouth (HFM) Disease:
- It is caused by a virus.
- People infected with HMF often have tiny blisters in their mouths and on the palms of the hands and bottom of feet. These blisters often last for 7-10 days. Most people with HFM have very mild symptoms, but some can develop a fever.
- It's most common among younger children.
- It is easily spread between people. Virus can be found in feces, as well as saliva. If the blisters break, the fluid in the blisters is also infectious.
- People are most contagious at the beginning of the infection, but sometimes they can spread the infection for several weeks.
Fortunately, HFM disease is usually very mild. Children with HFM disease may attend school unless:
- They have a fever of 100°F or greater. They may return to school when the fever is gone for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
- They are drooling, havea "uncontrollable hand to mouth" behaviors, or have draining sores that cannot be covered with a bandage.
To reduce the spread, parents students, and staff should:
- Wash their hands often and thoroughly with soap and water, including after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, arriving home, and before eating or feeding a child.
- Wash objects that are contaminated with saliva with soapy water.
- Cover all coughs and sneezes.
If you or your child exhibits symptoms listed above, such as a fever (100°F or higher) or has unexplained blisters on the skin, please consult your health care provider.
Cold and Flu Season is Coming!
Students and staff who develop a respiratory infection (e.g., fever with cough, sore throat, and/or runny nose) should stay home until the fever is gone for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and their symptoms are improving. Health officials recommend that people with respiratory infections consult with their health care provider.
BCPS When to Stay Home (English): When to Stay Home - Baltimore County Public Schools (bcps.org)
BCPS When to Stay Home (Spanish): HERE IS A GUIDE TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL_Spanish.pdf (sharpschool.com)
Health Department Free Flu Clinics:
The Baltimore County Department of Health is now taking registrations for their annual free flu clinics. See the attached flyer or click on the links below for more information:
2025 BCDH Fall Flu Clinics.pdf
For more information regarding the flu and measures you can take to protect yourself and your family. Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist regarding new updated vaccine recommendations for this season.
English: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/media/pdfs/2024/09/flu-guide-for-parents-2022.pdf
Spanish: Información sobr e la in fluenza (cdc.gov)
Change of Clothes
Does your child have an extra pair of clothes in his/her locker? All students should have an extra set of clothes that are stored in their locker in case of an emergency, accident, spill, or fall at recess. A complete change of clothing includes: underwear, pants, socks, and shirt.
Recess Safety
Students must wear tennis shoes/sneakers that tie or have velcro straps for playing at recess. Crocs, flip flops, slippers, water shoes, boots, and open toe sandals are not safe for active participation in recess. Helpful Hint: Students can leave an extra pair of tennis shoes in their locker or cubby.
Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP)
Information from the Baltimore County Department of Health about help with applying for the Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP). Check out the flyer for more information.
Flyer in English- MCHP flyer.pdf
Flyer in Spanish- MCHP Are You Covered flyer_Spanish.pdf
Curriculum Resources
Math Matters!
We have officially wrapped up Quarter 1! Please take a moment to check the Focus Parent Portal for your child's math achievements.
In November, students will be diving into Unit 3, exploring new concepts and skills. Don't forget to check out the Bridges Parent Newsletters for details on what your students will be learning!
Parent/Guardian Corner: Tips for Supporting Math Learning at Home
Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage your child to explain their thought process. Questions like "How did you arrive at that answer? " or "Can you show me another way to solve this?" promote deeper understanding.
At WES we use the story problem solving routine to solve math problems:
Step 1- Imagine- picture the story in your mind.
Step 2- Think- What do we notice? What do we wonder? What are we trying to figure out?
Step 3- Plan- Write and label a number sentence that represents the situation.
Step 4- Solve- Use manipulatives, pictures, and mental math to find your unknown.
Step 5- Share Your Strategies- Does your answer make sense? Share your strategy for solving the problem with the class.
CLICK THIS LINK FOR GRADE LEVEL SPECIFIC MATH NEWSLETTERS- November
ELA News
This month, all grades will be working on Module 3. Check out your child's specific grade level newsletter to explore what topics they will be reading about, what skills they will be learning, and what will inspire their writing. Have conversations with them related to the topics they are learning in reading to build background and make connections to their lives. Be sure to check Schoology weekly to support your child's learning!
CLICK THIS LINK FOR GRADE LEVEL SPECIFIC ELA NEWSLETTERS- November
Amira At Home
Amira is a reading system that supports your child at their instructional level. She provides early literacy as well as more advanced literacy skills across a variety of areas. Students in grades 1-3 can use Amira at home. This is option for kindergarten students. See flyer for directions for how to log your child into Amira.
For the Bookworms From the School Library
School library books should be brought in each week to return or renew. Overdue book notices will be given out to students once or twice a month starting in November. If your child gets a notice about a book, please return the book(s) to the school library as soon as possible.
Here is the schedule for Library Media classes this year:
Physical Education Corner
P.E. reminders from Mr. Malecki and Mr. Nowicki:
WES students in grades K-5 will be able to climb on indoor playground equipment in the gym, (Movement Education Equipment) throughout the month of November 2025! The students will be able to climb on ladders, cargo nets, curved bridges, and more!
To climb safely the students will need:
- Tennis shoes that tie or have velcro straps, any closed toe tennis shoes/sneakers will need to be secure on the student's feet.
- Students will not be allowed to climb in Crocs, slippers, slides, open toe shoes, or any type of boots. Shoes should not have a heel.
- Students should wear comfortable clothing. Girls will need to wear shorts under a skirt or a dress. Girls should have a hair tie for very long hair.
- Students should not wear jewelry during this unit.
- All students can bring a water bottle to the gym.
- Please send in a note to your child's homeroom teacher if your child will need to be excused from P.E. for a medical reason. The note will be copied for the P.E. teachers and the school nurse.
- See the schedule below for when your child has P.E. class.
Partner Spotlight
Internet Safety Specialist with the Maryland Department of State Police Joe Dugan
During October, Joe Dugan spoke with students in 4th and 5th grade about how to stay safe on the internet. Students learned about their digital footprint and ways to stay safe while on the internet. He also presented to families about how parents can help their children stay safe on the internet. A huge thank you for providing our students and families with important information.
BCPL Catonsville
Thank you to the Catonsville Branch of the Baltimore County Public LIbrary for hosting Kindergarten Night at the library. Families were able to tour the library, hear their teacher read, and complete a scavenger hunt to learn about the different areas in the library. There are many services that the library offers besides books. I encourage you to check out what the library offers. The Catonsville Branch is located at 1100 Frederick Road. You can also check out the different offerings through their website- https://www.bcpl.info/
Volunteer Training
If you would like to volunteer or attend a field trip, you must complete the BCPS Volunteer Training.
Step 1: Complete a BCPS Volunteer Application- https://cdnsm5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_9046799/File/Updated%20Documents/Application%20for%20Volunteer%20Services%20ADA.pdf or get a paper copy from the school.
Step 2: Complete the Online Volunteer Orientation- https://bcpsvolunteers-md.safeschools.com/register/0c626573
Step 3: All Volunteer Applications and Certificate from the online training must be given to Rachel Mills or emailed to rmills@bcps.org.
For more information- https://www.bcps.org/cos/communications/FACE/b_c_p_s_volunteers
Do you have a 4th grader? Did you know that all 4th graders can get into National Parks for free? The Every Kid Outdoors program can sign up to get a pass to visit our National Lands and Waters for free. For more information click here- https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.