June 2026

Rooted in Relationships. Driven by Learning. Focused on the Future.

At BPES, we show up for each other. Students and staff feel seen, supported, and ready to learn. We work together to create a safe, welcoming environment. Through strong relationships, open communication, and partnerships with families, we continue to build a thriving community where everyone belongs.

June is certainly a busy and exciting month filled with so many special end-of-year activities and celebrations! From our Spring Concert, picnics, and Field Day to the 5th Grade Dance, Family Assembly, Dance Recital, and Promotion Ceremony, our school will be filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

As we close out another incredible school year, I want to thank all of our families for your partnership, support, and trust throughout the year. Together, we have celebrated growth, learning, and so many milestones that made this year truly special.

We are incredibly proud of all that our students have accomplished, and we are grateful for the strong sense of community we continue to build together.

We wish you and your family a restful, joyful, and safe summer filled with fun, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones. We hope our students take time to recharge, explore new adventures, read great books, and enjoy every moment of their break.

We already look forward to welcoming our students back in August for another exciting year of learning, growth, and success!

Thank you again for an amazing school year, and have a wonderful summer!

Dear Brooklyn Park Elementary School Families,

After 15 years at Brooklyn Park Elementary School, I want to share that I will be transitioning to a new elementary school in Anne Arundel County Public Schools beginning July 1st.

Brooklyn Park has truly been home to me throughout my career. Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving this community as a teacher, a behavior intervention specialist, and most recently as assistant principal. Each role has allowed me to build meaningful relationships with students, families, and staff while supporting the growth and success of our school community.

I would like to sincerely thank you for your partnership, support, and trust throughout the years. It has been an honor to work alongside you and to watch your children learn, grow, and develop into amazing young people. The memories, relationships, and experiences I have gained here will always hold a special place in my heart.

I am excited for this new opportunity to learn and grow in my role as an Assistant Principal. I will miss the students, families, and staff who have made this school such a special place. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your children’s educational journey.

I wish each of you continued success, happiness, and many wonderful years ahead at Brooklyn Park Elementary School.

Karyn Chisholm

Assistant Principal

Hello Families,

I am excited to announce that our Pre-K Registration for the 26-27 school year opens up on May 5th! If you, or anybody you know, are enrolling for the first time, and would like some help registering online in our portal, please sign up with the QR code below for a time slot to meet with our school registrar, Ms. Arias. We will meet in person to upload documents together and go over the expectations for our preschool classes. This sign up is not limited to just Pre-K but also to any Kindergarten student enrolling at our school for the first time.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the registrar via EMAIL at aaarias@aacps.org or on our SCHOOL PHONE at 410-222-6590.

We are looking forward to all the new smiling faces we will receive this year!

Please make sure all students have a change of clothes in their locker. We only have a small amount of extra clothes available for students. There is always a possibility of slipping in the mud, ripping your pants, or having an accident. Please try to have extra clothes in your students' lockers.

Thank you!

Pre-K 4

We have made it to June! A huge thank you to all the families that were able to join us for conferences. We enjoy being able to share how much your child has grown, and we are so proud of the progress they have made in Pre-K this year! As we wrap up the end of the year, we will be reviewing the letters/letter sounds, writing a simple sentence and focusing on handwriting. In math, we will focus on subtraction within 5, while reviewing addition. In social studies and science, we will discuss how we have grown and changed and review what scientists do. Thank you for your continued support throughout the entire school year and have a great summer!

- Pre-K team

Kindergarten

Goodbye Kindergarten, Hello First-Grade!

It's hard to believe we've reached the end of our Kindergarten year! What a joyful, busy, and growth-filled time it has been. Your child has worked so hard, and we are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished! We wish our future 1st-Graders the best of luck next school - year!

Highlights From Our Kinder Year

This school - year, your child learned to read and write with confidence, explored math concepts like addition and subtraction, and discovered the world around us through science and social studies.

Literacy Growth!

Your Child is a Star Reader! At the end of Kindergarten, your child is able to recognize and identify their uppercase/lowercase letter names, letter sounds, and high-frequency words. Your child has also developed the necessary CKLA Skills to "Tap Out, and Blend" simple CVC, CCVC, and CVCC words. Your child is able to read age-appropriate, decodable readers, independently!

Handwriting Practice!

Your Child is a Starr Writer! Your child is able to 'Tap Out + Blend' CVC, CCVC, and CVCC simple words, as well as phonemically 'stretch-out' their letter sounds to write unfamiliar words. Your child also able to use illustrations and labels to represent story elements and informational texts. Your child is also able to utilize age-appropriate Sentence Structure to write simple sentences, including spacing between words, capital letters, and punctuation!

Math Milestones!

Your Child is a Star Mathematician! At the end of Kindergarten, your child is able to count, identify, represent, and decompose numerals 0-20. Your child has also developed an understanding of problem-solving and math-reasoning through addition and subtraction! Your child is able to classify, describe, and compare attributes with 2-D and 3-D shapes and tangrams!

Summer Suggestions!

• Read daily! (10-to-15-minute bedtime stories)
• Practice drawing detailed pictures and writing complete sentences!
• Count, solve, and explore numbers 0-100 in everyday life!
• Addition and Subtraction strategies!
• Spend time outdoors and stay curious

Thank-You for your partnership, encouragement, and support throughout this school year. It has truly made a difference in your child's learning and growth!

- Kindergarten Team

1st Grade

Hello families!

It’s the final countdown!! With less than a month of school left, we are hard at work wrapping up our final units. We are learning about the founding of our nation and frontier explorers for our final Knowledge unit. In math we are learning about equal shares, halves, and fourths, as well as how to tell time to the hour and half hour. We will also take our final iReady diagnostic and DIBELS assessments in the coming weeks. Our final Skills unit has us reviewing nouns, verbs and parts of speech/sentences. We also are learning more vowel teams and alternative spellings. Social Studies and Science units are finishing with learning about inventors and inventions. It has been a wonderful year full of fun and learning! Thank you for all your support throughout the school year! We wouldn't have been able to accomplish as much as we did without your help! Have a great summer!

- 1st Grade Team

2nd Grade

It’s finally here! We are We did it! We made it to the end of an amazing school year with lots to celebrate about! This year would not have happened without the love and support of our ~2nd Grade parents/guardians! WE truly appreciate and THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. As we know, summer is right around the corner. Keep in mind that the new school year will approach quickly, so please don’t hesitate to practice any math strategies in your Additional Practice book along with reading, writing and phonics activities in our Skills and Knowledge activity books! This is just a positive way to reinforce all the learning that took place, in preparation for your 3rd grade experience in the fall! It’s been a pleasure taking this educational journey with you. We hope you’ve learned so much and have memories that will last a long time. We look forward to watching you grow and hear all the wonderful things that are in store for you! Have a FANTASTIC SUMMER! We will miss you!

- 2nd Grade Team

3rd Grade

CKLA

We will finish out the school year focusing on student-centered inquiry and research around the Jazz Age in the United States. Authentic texts, trade books, and multimedia resources will be integrated throughout instruction to build background knowledge. Students will generate their own research questions and locate information that aids in their construction of knowledge around Jazz. The unit will include a writing or multimedia presentation as a culminating task. This inquiry and research domain will teach students about the vibrant music, poetry, and culture of the Jazz Age in the United States. Enjoy your summer break and take some time each day to read for pleasure!

Math

It’s hard to believe but our Mathematicians have made it to the final month as 3rd graders. Our Mathematicians will end this year with our final unit with describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes. As we move into the summer months, please ensure that your child is continuing to work on fact fluency. They should still be practicing and mastering the basic multiplication and division facts. Knowing their basic facts fluently (within 3 seconds) will set them up for success as 4th grade Mathematicians.

Science

This month, we will work through Engineering and Design Process: ASK a question about the goal, IMAGINE a possible solution, PLAN OUT a design and draw your ideas, CREATE and construct a working model, EXPERIMENT and test, and IMPROVE and try to revise that model. We have used this process as we focused on the shape of a parachute canopy. Next we will improve our design by testing the materials of the canopy and the length of the suspension lines. I can’t wait to see what variables create the safest landing parachute.

Social Studies

As we work through our Environmental Action Projects, students are preparing to create their action plans. Ask your student what environmental issues they have identified and how they plan to address them. Consider extending the project by finding ways to better your local environment over the summer. You can also record the process in a journal (paper or digital) and by using pictures and videos.

- 3rd Grade Team

4th Grade

In 4th Quarter, students will be engaging in the CKLA Research Unit!

Students will become tomorrow’s problem solvers as they explore how energy shapes life in the United States and around the world. Through reading, research, and collaborative discussions, students will learn about early energy innovators, current energy practices, and young people making a difference through new energy solutions.

Throughout the unit, students will strengthen their analytical reading and writing skills by identifying cause-and-effect and problem-and-solution relationships in texts. They will also generate research questions, investigate different energy sources, and use both primary and secondary resources to develop their own energy proposals. As a culminating project, students will write an opinion essay making their case for what they believe could be the “fuel of the future.” We are excited to see students think critically, collaborate, and step into the role of future energy innovators!

Math- Students have just begun their unit on geometry. Students will learn about quadrilaterals, parallel lines, and angles. Students will take their last checkpoint on June 12th.

Science- Students have been focusing on natural disasters. Students will learn more about tsunamis and engineer a model to protect people from tsunamis in a time of danger.

Social Studies- Students are continuing to build on how our government was formed after the Revolutionary War. Students will create their own government using what they have learned from the Revolutionary War.

- 4th Grade Team

5th Grade

In this upcoming unit, students will learn about the historical significance of Juneteenth and its important place in American history. Students will explore General Granger’s announcement in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, which marked the end of slavery in the United States. By revisiting President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, students will build background knowledge that helps deepen their understanding of why Juneteenth is celebrated today.

Throughout the unit, students will study the many contributions African Americans have made from 1865 to the present day. Using read-alouds, independent reading, partner activities, multimedia sources, and research, students will learn about topics such as The Great Migration, innovators and inventors, education, the humanities, activists, and allies. Students will also participate in a virtual field trip to Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas.

As part of their learning, students will collaboratively generate research questions, gather information from multiple sources, and create their own four-chapter “Beyond Juneteenth” book to showcase their understanding and celebrate the lasting impact of African American history and achievements.

Math- Students will begin the new unit of study algebraic thinking. Students will learn to write, interpret, and evaluate numerical expressions. They will also identify numerical patterns and plot coordinate planes.

Science- Students will continue to be engineers by creating water filtration systems to tackle the pollution issue in the Chesapeake Bay.

Social Studies- Students have begun their final assignment of the year. Students are researching a person, place, or an idea that supports a frontier movement. This is a graded project.

There is a ton still left to accomplish before our 5th graders turn into 6th graders. Please read the following in regard to promotion.

Location: Chesapeake Art Center

Time: Students need to arrive at 5:00 pm. Families will be let in at 5:30 pm.

Date: June 10th

Dress code: Sunday best or nicely dress (NO cap/ gowns)

There is no limit to how many people can be in attendance. NO BALLOONS OR FOOD permitted in the CAC center.

There will still be promotion practice at school on June 10th. Students must be in attendance on June 10th to participate in the promotion. This is counted as a school event and in order to participate, students must be in attendance. They may leave early but they must attend school for part of the day.

There is still school on June 11-12 and 15-16. Please make sure students are still attending as there are activities planned.

5th grade picnic-

June 8th during the school day. No families can attend this activity, but more information will come out in regard to this activity.

- 5th Grade Team

ELD

Hello Families,

It truly has been a pleasure to work with your students this school year! WIDA ACCESS scores have been sent home soon. Please be on the lookout for this envelope as it contains information about how students scored on their English Language Development in January. If you would like more information about what these scores mean for your student, please reach out to your students’ ELD teacher.

We thank you families for all the support you have provided all year! Enjoy your summer and do not forget to practice reading and math over the long break.

The ELD Team

Ms. Karyli Cedillos

Mrs. Laura Dembeck

Ms. Vanessa Gonzalez

Ms. Brynita Lacey

Title I

"Please be sure if you have not done so already to fill out our lunch forms for the 25-26 school year! Even if your child does not buy lunch, or you do not plan on having your child buy lunch, this is extremely important and helpful for our school. When the lunch forms are filled out, we are able to keep our Title 1 funding and get amazing resources and host events for our school such as Math and Literacy night, extra staff members to support students learning, and materials to help students learn hands on. Please reach out with any questions to Laura Roussey, our Title 1 Math Resource Teacher! Please use this link to fill out your form today: https://www.aacps.org/page/apply-for-free-or-reduced-price-meals"

CSI

Our school has been designated as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) School by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), based on schoolwide performance and other criteria. In partnership with MSDE, Anne Arundel County Public Schools has provided a dedicated team to address the unique needs of CSI schools. This team works to support students and teachers through targeted interventions, data-driven individualized plans, professional development for teachers, and family and community engagement initiatives.

These efforts aim to create a supportive and effective learning environment that accelerates student achievement and enhances overall school performance. If you have questions about the resources and supports available at our school, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can ensure the success of every student.

Counselor

What does a School Counselor DO?

I work alongside teachers and parents to help students develop

socially and emotionally, and to help remove any barriers to learning!

I Provide:

•Classroom lessons teaching social skills, how to take care of strong feelings, study skills, etc.

•Small group counseling

•Short-term individual counseling

•Consultation with parents and teachers

•Parent workshops

•Community resource referrals (including longer term therapy services)

•Schoolwide programming (Kindness Week, Harvest for the Hungry etc.)

Congratulations to our all of featured artists at the All-County Art Exhibit at the Annapolis Mall! The opening reception had a huge turnout, where art and artists, at all levels and schools, were celebrated

Ms. O’Neill would like to thank her students and their families for a fantastic year in art! She wishes everyone a safe and happy summer, and she hopes that students will continue tap into their imagination, so creativity soars.

The world is but a canvas to the imagination. - Henry David Thoreau

Hello Music Families!

The Spring Concert is almost here! We are excited to showcase our talented BPES music students on June 1, 2026 at the Chesapeake Arts Center. Please be sure you have read through the concert letter and understand all of the details.

Thank you!

Mrs. Israel and Mr. Henning

Another amazing year in the Media Center is coming to a close! We have had two very successful Scholastic Book Fairs (December 2025 and April 2026). I am looking to have just one big Book Fair next year so stay tuned for December dates! The yearbook has been selling very well and we know the students and staff have been enjoying looking at the pictures and remembering a great school year.

In April, all BPES students voted for their favorite Black Eyed Susan picture book nominee. The winner was announced at the beginning of May. While there were many students loyal to certain titles of the '25-'26 school year, the ultimate winner for both our school and statewide was Mr. Fox's Game of No by David LaRochelle! Here is a link to the current Black Eyed Susan nominees: BES Nominees. On this page, there is a list of the Picture Book nominees as well as the Chapter Book and Graphic Novel nominees for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders!

The Media Center team appreciates all the returned books and payments for lost books! Students have really done a great job in trying to be responsible for their library books and being honest about their whereabouts.

Information will be sent home regarding the Summer Reading Program with Anne Arundel County Public Libraries. There are all kinds of awesome books to read and amazing prizes to earn or win!

Ms. Velazquez, our Media Assistant, has been weeding out old nonfiction books that are out of date or have started to come apart. This means we will have more room for new nonfiction books to add to our collection in the fall! We know our Star Patriots love to read new books!

Our Media Center itinerant, Ms. Cico, has established excellent relationships with our Brooklyn Park students while also working as a Media Specialist at Glendale ES and Hilltop ES. While she has enjoyed her time with our Brooklyn Park Star Patriots, Ms. Cico applied for the available full time position at Hilltop ES and has been hired there! She will be the Media Specialist at Hilltop ES starting in August 2026. We will miss her but we are also VERY excited for her next chapter!

Thank you so much for another excellent year with the Brooklyn Park Elementary School Media Center!

Yours in all decimals Dewey,

Ms. Williams, Ms. Cico, and Ms. Velazquez

🎓☀️ It’s hard to believe the end of the school year is already here! We hope everyone has enjoyed the many PTA events and activities throughout this school year.

The PTA would like to thank all of our families, staff, and supporters for helping make this year so special. Your support, participation, and dedication mean so much to our school community. ❤️💙

Interested in getting involved next year? We are always looking for new members and volunteers! If you would like to be part of the PTA or are interested in holding a position, please email us at bpes_pta@yahoo.com.

We hope everyone has a safe, relaxing, and wonderful summer break. See you in August! ☀️📚

Hello Brooklyn Park ES Families and Friends,

As the Brooklyn Park Community Schools Program Manager, I want to thank you and all our community partners for supporting our program this school year. It’s hard to believe that we have less than six weeks before the end of the 2025-2026 school year. It’s been amazing to meet many of you and your children. In my daily interactions with parents, it’s evident to me that you care deeply about your children’s education and wellbeing. The Community Schools Program wants to continue to partner with you and your children to bring meaningful and engaging events to our school. During the last few months of this school year, the Community Schools Grant will help to fund several activities that are educational, entertaining and enriching. There are in school assemblies- the Planetarium and PreK STEM Science; field trips to the Baltimore Zoo and Ft. McHenry; the Brooklyn Park ES Carnival, Game Night, A Taste of Brooklyn Park and many more. As the Community Schools Program continues to grow and expand, it’s my hope the resources, programming and enrichment activities will always align with our school’s core mission statement- Rooted in Relationships, Driven by Learning, Focused on the Future.

Thank you,

Kevin Randolph

krandolph@aacps.org

Here is a website for anyone in need of some community resources: www.aacps.org/community

Change of Clothes!

We kindly ask that all students in PreK through 5th grade keep an extra change of clothes at school. Spills, playground accidents, and unexpected mishaps can happen at any age, and having a clean set of clothing on hand helps your child feel comfortable and ready to continue learning without interruption. Please include a shirt, pants, underwear, and socks in a labeled bag, and be sure to update the clothing as the seasons change and your child grows. Thank you for your support in helping us keep students comfortable throughout the school day!

Leading by Feeding

We are excited to announce that this month’s Leading by Feeding Food Giveaway will take place on Thursday, October 9th, beginning at 4:00 PM in the back parking lot. Families are invited to come and receive free food items to help support their household needs. This monthly event is part of our commitment to serving and caring for our community, and we welcome everyone to join us. Supplies are limited, so we encourage you to arrive early.

Background Checks for Volunteers at Brooklyn Park Elementary School

Anne Arundel County Public Schools is committed to providing safe and secure learning environments for all students and employees. Successful completion of a background check is required before any person has access to students, either on or off school property. The Office of Investigations has continued to work closely with the Office of School Security to review AACPS protocols for conducting background checks.

Background investigations are divided into two categories: fingerprint-supported background checks and commercial background checks. Once a fingerprint-supported background check is performed, applicants no longer need to submit an electronic background check. Anyone applying to be a chaperone or volunteer must be at least 18 years of age.

Fingerprint-supported background checks must be scheduled through the Fingerprinting Office at 410-222-5045. The Fingerprinting Office is located at the AACPS Central Office on Riva Road and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, during the school year. The cost of fingerprinting is $63.00 and it includes the commercial background check. Fingerprint-supported background checks for chaperones should be completed at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled field trip.

Each applicant requiring a fingerprint-supported background check is provided with a pink Fingerprint Verification Card. This card should be kept with the applicant while on school grounds and should be displayed to an administrator upon request. Each school should keep a running list of chaperones and volunteers that have been fingerprinted.

All questions regarding this process, or to confirm the results of a fingerprint-supported background check should be directed to the Office of Investigations at 410-222-5287.

Commercial Background Check

All chaperones and volunteers without one-on-one unsupervised or unrestricted access to students must complete the online request for a commercial background check. This group is inclusive of PTA and PTO officers, CAC officers, Booster Club officers, and chaperones or volunteers who work with children in the presence of an approved AACPS representative (e.g. daytime field trip to the zoo). These background checks are at no cost to the applicant and are valid for 2 years. All applications should be submitted electronically at least 3 weeks prior to the intended school event.

*Persons without personal computer access may access this process on a school computer or use computers in a public library.

https://onboard.screenid.net/gen/inquiries/

Last year we introduced our Appreciation Station Snack Cart to our staff! The cart will be filled every Wednesday full of sweet and salty snacks and drinks to show our BPES staff just how much we appreciate them. This school year we are looking for families to sponsor a week by either purchasing snacks or making a $40 donation so the snacks can be purchased. We ask that donations are dropped off to the school by Monday of the sponsored week. Please consider signing up below! Thank you for helping our staff know how much we appreciate them!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D4BABAA2CA0FB6-appreciation

Five Star Parent

1. Builds a positive relationship with all staff members.

2. Dedicated to the BPES community.

3. Builds a partnership with their child's teacher. This partnership is based on trust, communication, and student growth.

4. Dedicated to preventing chronic absenteeism and chronic tardiness.

5. Respects and honors our community of diverse learners.

Emergency card verification emails have been sent. Please make sure you check and update your emergency contact information. The links are only active for 10 days. If you need assistance, please contact the main office at 410 222 6590.

Doors open at 7:40.

Students are dismissed at 2:25.

Late arrival/Early Dismissal

If your child arrives at school after 8:00, they are considered late. Please make sure they are at school prior to this time. Students need to be in their classrooms by 8:00 in order to be marked on time. If your child is late to school, or is getting picked up early, an adult MUST come into the building to sign them in or out.

Early dismissals must take place before 2:00 pm. The office is busy after 2:00, preparing for dismissal procedures, and will not be able to call any kids for dismissal after that time.

Below is the link for Before/After Care for families who need childcare.

School start times:

The doors will open at 7:40am for breakfast and community building. Instruction will begin at 8:00am. It is EXTREMELY important that all kids arrive on time ready to learn!

Walkers

Walkers will be dismissed at 2:25

Bus-Riders

To access BPES bus schedules, please click HERE

Car-Riders

We will dismiss car riders car by car. Please have your child's name on the hang tag so we can quickly call them to your car. Please do not park on 13th Ave during dismissal or arrival. It can make it challenging for people to enter and leave the lot.

Arrival

When students arrive they will pick up their breakfast and report to their homeroom. Teachers will greet students as they arrive.

Dismissal

At dismissal, walkers will be released. Following the release of walkers, car riders will be escorted to the cafeteria. Bus riders will be called as buses arrive.

Visitors

We will be planning several events this year where we will be inviting parents into the building. Unfortunately, we will not be able to allow parents to have lunch with their children in the cafeteria.

Student Birthday Celebrations

• Each student will receive a Birthday pencil and be acknowledged by the whole school on the morning announcements.
• We will celebrate all students' birthdays each month.
• It is very important to understand that food cannot be shared to celebrate. Please do not bring food to share with the class for your child's birthday. We have students with allergies and food sensitive health conditions.

Families can pay for their student’s meals online by going to www.mypaymentsplus.com.

At schools this year, breakfast will be free, and lunches will cost $2.75 for full price students.

Students will need to log in with their student ID in order to get their lunch. Please work with your student at home to help them memorize their ID.

Apply for Free or Reduced-Price Meals: Online Meal Benefit Application (MBA) (English and Spanish) - Link to online MBA – www.aacps.org/mealapplication. Applications must be filled out each school year, even if you qualified the previous year.