The Falcon Flier

Dr. Holden, Principal

Dr. Anderson, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Grenzer, Assistant Principal

Website: ples.hcpss.org
Location: Phelps Luck Elementary School, Old Stone Court, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: 410-313-6886
Facebook: facebook.com/phelpsluckelementary
X: @hcpss_ples

We had a full house, and it was wonderful to see so many of our families in the building. Back to School Night provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with teachers, learn more about classroom routines and expectations, and hear about the exciting learning experiences planned for our students this year.

Thank you for showing up, staying connected, and partnering with us. We are off to a great start! See pics here.

As a reminder, our school doors open at 8:30 a.m., and instruction begins at 8:45 a.m.

Effective Tuesday, September 8, students who arrive after 8:45 a.m. will be marked tardy. A parent or guardian will need to escort the student into the building and sign them in at the front office before the student reports to class.

We appreciate your partnership in helping our students start each school day on time and ready for learning. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation!

Please remember to label all of your child’s belongings with their first and last name. This includes jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks, instruments and any other items they bring to school.

If your child forgot an item at home, please make sure to clearly label it and place on the shelf in the vestibule.

Thank you for helping us keep track of everyone’s belongings!

• September 7 – Schools and Offices Closed – Labor Day
• September 8 – Virtual PTA Meeting at 7 PM
• September 9 - Kindergarten Back to School Night from 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
• September 9 – AAP Information Session at 5:45 PM
• September 9 – 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades Back to School Night at 6:15 PM
• September 11 – PTA Back to School Picnic from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
• September 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month Begins
• September 15 – Hearing and Vision Screening
• September 17 – SPIRIT DAY - Represent a Hispanic country by wearing or bringing your flag colors
• September 21 – Schools and Offices Closed – Yom Kippur
• September 24 – SPIRIT DAY - Favorite Hispanic Figure Day – Dress like your favorite Hispanic figure
• September 25 - Title 1 Information Meeting at 9:15 AM
• September 28 – Hispanic Parent Meeting from 6 PM - 7:30 PM
• September 30 – Schools close 3 hours early – Staff Professional Day

Kindergarten

• Wednesday, September 9, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Grades 3-5

• Wednesday, September 9, 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Advanced Academic Programs/GT

• Wednesday, September 9, 5:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Please see the linked Hispanic Heritage Month Newsletter for more information.

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal. HCPSS Policy 9460 prohibits bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, including hate/bias incidents, and intimidation.

HCPSS recently launched a new Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation (BCHI) Reporting Form that allows students, staff, and families to easily and confidentially report concerns. The BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report known or suspected incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, and hate/bias incidents. These may include physical aggression, threats, retaliation, teasing or name-calling, rumors, exclusion, threatening gestures, online/social media behavior, or conduct related to a student's identity or characteristics.

What happens after you report?
The school will address any immediate safety concerns. The targeted student's parent/guardian will be notified as soon as possible and an administrator will begin the investigation within two school days. Both families will receive written notice of the outcome within 15 calendar days, excluding extenuating circumstances.

A Note About Cyberbullying
In today's digital world, bullying can extend beyond the school day. Cyberbullying can occur through social media, text messages, group chats, gaming platforms, apps, and other digital spaces. Online behavior that occurs outside of school may still require school intervention when it has a connection to the school setting and impacts a student's safety or educational environment. Families are encouraged to talk regularly with their children about responsible online behavior and to save screenshots, messages, posts, or other evidence when concerns arise.

Not sure if it's bullying? Please still tell us. Peer conflict or other concerning behavior may not meet the definition of bullying but may still require school support and follow-up. Students and families do not need to decide whether something “counts” as bullying before asking for help.

For additional information or to submit a report, visit the HCPSS Stop Bullying website or review HCPSS Policy 9460.

Starting the week of September 8th, our students will begin taking the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The MAP assessment is designed to measure academic achievement and growth over time in reading and mathematics. Together with classroom-based observations and assessments, MAP results provide teachers with valuable insights to make instructional decisions that match the unique needs of each child.

Understanding the MAP Assessment:
MAP is a computer adaptive assessment. As a student responds to questions, the test adjusts the difficulty level up or down based on their performance. This dynamic process creates a highly personalized assessment experience for every student, pinpointing their exact learning level.

Currently, the MAP assessment is used in all elementary and middle schools across the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS). To monitor academic growth throughout the school year, student participation varies by grade level:

• Grades 1, 2, and 3: Students take the Mathematics MAP three times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring).
• Grades 4 and 5: Students take both the ELA (Reading) MAP and Mathematics MAP twice a year (Fall and Winter).
• Grade 4 (Spring): Students take the Mathematics MAP a third time in the Spring.

Fall MAP Schedule:
Please find our Fall testing schedule below

Please click here for more information and to submit your application.

All families should complete a FARMs application, available online or via paper form TODAY!

• Please read the attached letter regarding your PreK, K, and/or 1st grade students upcoming hearing and vision screening at PLES on Tuesday, September 15, 2025. The re-screen is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2025. If your child wears glasses, please remember to send them to school on that day. If your child fails their hearing and/or vision screening, they will receive a referral form that will be sent home after the re-screen 9/23/2025. Please note that if your child passes both the hearing and vision screening, you will not receive any referral form/notification.
• If you have any questions, please reach out to the health room at 410-313-7430.

• For your planning needs, please see the link below which details dates/holidays for HCPSS this coming year, including Winter break, Spring break, and professional learning days. Click here: https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/#print

• HCPSS Related Arts Calendar

Date: Friday, September 11

Time: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Location: On the Blacktop

There will be a DJ, free popcorn and snacks. Feel free to bring your own blanket and dinner.

Hope to see you there!

These classes provide fun, structured, educational, and enriching activities for students on site at Phelps Luck ES, benefitting both the child(ren) and parents!

1. Please see the Attached PDF flier Phelps Luck ES Spring 2025 Before & After School Classes Flier

2. Families can register for before/after school classes offered at Phelps Luck ES by HCRP: Phelps Luck ES Registration Page.