The Fulton Flier

Dear Falcon Families,

We can't wait to see our First Grade - Fifth Grade Families this week. Please take a look at the Back to School Night Schedule below.

• Wednesday, September 9, 2026
  • 5:00- 5:30 Related Arts Presentation in the Cafeteria
  • 5:35-6:05 1st & 2nd Grade visit Homeroom
  • 6:10-6:30 1st & 2nd Grade visit Math
• Thursday, September 10, 2026
  • 5:00 – 5:30 Related Arts, Band & Orchestra Presentations in the Cafeteria
  • 5:35 – 6:05 3rd & 4th visit Homeroom; 5th Grade visit Math
  • 6:10 – 6:40 3rd & 4th Grade visit Math; 5th Grade visit Homeroom

Debbie Holmes, Principal

Meaghan Liwosz, Assistant Principal

Erin Coleman, Assistant Principal

September 7

School & Offices Closed (Labor Day)

September 9

Back to School Night- Grades 1 & 2: 5:00 - 6:30

September 10

Back to School Night: Grades 3 -5: 5:00 - 7:00

September 21

Schools & Offices Closed

September 30

Early Dismissal: School will close at 12:55 pm

October 1

Picture Day!

October 16

School closed for students: Staff Workday

October 28

School closed for students: Staff Professional Learning/Workday

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Families should plan to have their children who walk to school or arrive by car to be on campus starting at 9:10. Staff members are not present prior to 9:10 to supervise children. There has been a group of students who arrive at school before 9:10 and gather near the picnic tables outside of the portables. Students should not walk down the path towards the portables until the bell rings. Thank you for helping our students follow the arrival procedures and come to school between 9:10-9:25.

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.

HCPSS Seeks Advisory Committee Members by Sept. 11: HCPSS is seeking community members to serve on curriculum advisory committees, which provide a forum to share ideas and support continuous academic excellence. Interested stakeholders should submit an online interest form by September 11. Please click hereLinks to an external site. for more information and to submit your application.

Please visit the Fulton PTA website for more information: https://www.fespta.org/

Falcon Spirit Shirt

Show your Falcon pride and help your students represent their class in style! Spirit shirts are just $20 and are available in each class spirit color, plus a neutral option. Order by September 13 to have shirts delivered directly to your student’s classroom in early October!

Let’s show our Falcon spirit! https://fulton.givebacks.com/shop

Become A Year-Long Sponsor

The deadline to become a Fulton PTA Year-Long Sponsor has been extended through this Friday, September 11th! We’re just shy of our sponsorship goal and would love your help getting across the finish line — and getting your logo on the Fulton spirit shirt!

Sponsors are promoted throughout the school year at events like Fall Fest, International Night, and more, while supporting amazing programs and experiences for our Fulton students and community.

Interested? Email Jade Swanson at vp2@fespta.org for details! Thank you for supporting Fulton Elementary!

Become a Member
Please consider joining the PTA! Joining is a tax-deductible donation (that requires zero commitment or time) but will help make an impact on our school, our students, and our teachers. Every little bit helps!

Volunteer Training Required for Volunteers and Visitors

Anyone volunteering at school in any capacity and parents joining their children for lunch must complete volunteer training before their first visit. Please visit this HCPSS site for more information. Thank you in advance for your gifts of service and time!

Parent Lunch Visits *New from HCPSS 26-27

Parent lunch visits are no longer permitted at any HCPSS school. Limiting access during the school day ensures safe and secure school communities by removing unnecessary access to students and school buildings, reducing disruptions, supporting student routines, and minimizing non-essential traffic in student areas. . Parents are encouraged to communicate with school staff to stay engaged in their child's learning and seek opportunities to volunteer in an official capacity at the school.

Student Reading Improvement Plans

In alignment with the State’s Comprehensive PreK-3 Literacy Policy, HCPSS students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 who demonstrate difficulties in reading will receive a Student Reading Improvement Plan (SRIP), a personalized plan that includes assessment information, reading goals, targeted instruction, and progress monitoring to support a student’s continued literacy growth. If an SRIP is implemented for a stu

Universal Screener Notification

In accordance with Maryland’s Ready to Read Act (2019), COMAR (2021) and the direction from the Howard County Board of Education, all Howard County Public School System students in kindergarten to grade 5 will participate in the 2026 - 2027 administration of the Amplify mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition universal screener to identify potential reading difficulties during set windows throughout the school year. Please review the details at this link.

Emergency Information

HCPSS utilizes Family File for families to complete emergency information. Parents/guardians can now access and complete Family File by logging in to HCPSS Connect, selecting the Online Registration/Family File at the top right of the page and then selecting Family File Verification. Parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child, each school year