Elkster Examiner

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Hello EES Families and Community!

Tuesday, October 27 marks the end of our first quarter, and our Elksters have worked so hard these first nine weeks! Thank you for everything you do at home to help them grow, from reading together at night to getting them here ready to learn each morning.

As we close out Q1, our schoolwide attendance rate is a strong 96%, right where we were this time last year. But 11% of our Elksters are already chronically absent, meaning they’ve missed 10% or more of school days so far. That’s about 5 or more days this quarter. Every missed day is missed learning, and those days add up quickly.

As we head into Quarter 2, let’s make every day count. If getting to school is a challenge for your family right now, please reach out. We’re here to help!

Sincerely,

Danielle Shanks, Principal

Jonathan Swann, Assistant Principal
Jayme Brewrink, Assistant Principal

We don’t hold Halloween activities during the school day at EES. This helps us respect the many beliefs and traditions of our school community and keep the day focused on learning, so please have your Elkster leave costumes at home.

• A special visit from the Elkster himself!
• Pod parties with friends and teachers
• An Elk Buck trade-in at the school store
• Q1 Awards presented in classrooms, recognizing excellent attendance, math and reading achievement, and students who consistently show the Big 3

Show your grade-level spirit! Students are encouraged to wear their grade-level color, if possible:

PK: White · K: Yellow · 1st: Orange · 2nd: Purple · 3rd: Green · 4th: Red · 5th: Blue

Elk Day is an in-school celebration for students and staff only, but we hope you’ll keep the excitement going at home by celebrating your Elkster’s hard work!

This Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, EES wants to recognize the veterans and service members in our school community. If you, a family member, or a friend has served or is currently serving in the military, we’d love to honor them!

Please submit a photo here along with their name, branch of service, and anything special you’d like to share. Submissions will be featured on our morning announcements in a slideshow.

By submitting, you agree to share this information with our school community.

All submissions are due by Friday, November 6.

Do you know an Elkridge Elementary teacher who goes above and beyond for your child? We'd love to hear from you! Parents are welcome to nominate a teacher for the HCPSS Teacher of the Year award using the form linked below.

We're looking for a teacher who:

• Inspires a love of learning and a desire to achieve
• Understands and nurtures the individual needs of each child
• Knows their content and brings it to life in the classroom
• Builds strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues
• Leads by example through kindness, communication, and adaptability

To be eligible, the nominated teacher must:

• Have at least five years of teaching experience in HCPSS
• Spend at least 50% of their day directly teaching students

Submit your nomination here by Friday, October 30.

Questions? Reach out to Ms. Shanks at danielle_shanks@hcpss.org

Tuesday, October 27: End of Quarter 1

• Thank you for all you do to support your Elkster’s learning at home this quarter!

Wednesday, October 28: No School for Students

• Schools are closed for students so staff can take part in professional learning and work on report cards.

Sunday, November 1: Daylight Saving Time Ends

• Remember to set your clocks back one hour, and enjoy the extra sleep!

Tuesday, November 3: No School (Election Day)

• Schools and offices are closed.

Friday, November 6: Report Cards Available (after 4:00 PM)

• Quarter 1 report cards will be available in HCPSS Connect. You can also check your child’s Canvas page anytime to see their grades and progress.
• Sign in to HCPSS Connect
• How to view grades in HCPSS Connect
• Guides for Synergy, Canvas, and Family File (Emergency Cards)

Fall conferences focus on English Language Arts (ELA) and homeroom; math conferences take place in February. Conferences are one of our best chances to partner together, talk through report cards and reading progress, and celebrate your Elkster’s growth.

• Friday, Nov. 6 at 8:00 AM: Sign-ups open in HCPSS Connect.
• Thursday, Nov. 19 at 4:00 PM: Sign-ups close.
• Monday, Nov. 23: In-person conferences at school, including evening sessions.
• Tuesday–Wednesday, Nov. 24–25: Virtual conferences.
• All conferences are 20 minutes.

Our Boosterthon Fun Run is back! Last year, our amazing community raised over $15,000, and this year our goal is $18,000 for field trips, student activities, and class picnics for our Elksters.

Why we love it:
✅ An easy-to-use fundraising platform
✅ A character-building program for students
✅ A fitness celebration for every student

How it works: Families collect donations on MyBooster.com by sharing their student's page with friends and family. Every share makes a difference! Every student gets to run, whether or not they collect donations, and will earn a fun EES Fun Run bracelet!

Students will also enjoy Global Kitchen Club, a character-building adventure where they'll learn important values through recipes and activities from around the world.

⭐ Key Dates
💻 Tuesday, Oct. 27: Sign-up opens at MyBooster.com
🎉 Tuesday, Nov. 10: In-school kickoff
👟 Monday, Nov. 23: Fun Run Day!

We'll celebrate with a Fun Run at school during the half day on Monday, November 23, before conferences. It replaces our traditional Turkey Trot. This is a students-and-staff event, so no parent volunteers or spectators are needed. Stay tuned for more details!

Our Little Free Library needs some TLC! The door recently came off, and replacement parts aren’t available, so we’re looking for someone handy with woodworking to help us repair it before the weather turns.

Our library was built a few years ago by a local Eagle Scout as his service project, and it’s been a favorite spot for Elksters and families to share books ever since. We’d love to get it back in shape so the books stay protected and ready for new readers.

If you have carpentry skills and would be willing to help, please contact Katelyn Barr (katelyn_barr@hcpss.org). Thank you!

American Education Week is a chance to celebrate public education and everyone who helps our Elksters learn and grow, and we’d love for you to be part of it! Families are welcome to visit EES during this special week.

Each grade level will be inviting families to specific activities, so watch for details from your child’s teacher about dates, times, and what to expect.

A few reminders for visitors:

• Please bring a photo ID and sign in at the main office when you arrive.
• Lunch and recess visits are not permitted during American Education Week, so please plan your visit around your child’s grade-level activity.

We can’t wait to welcome you into our classrooms! 🦌

New this year! School policies can be hard to find and even harder to read. Each week, "Have You Herd?" will break down one HCPSS policy into what families really need to know.

Families are our partners, and HCPSS policy says so too! Policy 10000 describes how schools and families work together to help every student succeed. Here’s what it means at EES.

What you can expect from us:

• Two-way communication. We share information and listen to yours, with support for families who face language or technology barriers.
• A voice in decisions. Families help shape our School Improvement Plan and our Title I Family-School Compact.
• Learning opportunities for families, like workshops and resources to support learning at home.
• Ways to get involved, including volunteering in classrooms and at school events.

How you can partner with us:

• Attend conferences. Sign-ups open November 6!
• Keep an eye on progress through homework and Canvas.
• Stay in touch. Let us know about anything that will help us best support your child.
• Get involved by volunteering, joining the PTA, or serving on a school team.

Planning a visit? Please contact the school ahead of time so we can set up a time that works for you and your child’s teacher. Visits are arranged with at least 24 hours’ notice. All visitors must bring a photo ID and sign in at the main office.

Full details: HCPSS Policy 10000. Thank you for being 100% ALL In with us!

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

• Elkridge ES Fall 2026 Before & After School Classes Flier).

👉The PTA is all about connection—parents, teachers, and staff coming together to make our school a place where every child thrives. Even 30 minutes or an hour of your time can make a big difference!

👉 Join the PTA: Becoming a member helps strengthen our community and gives you a voice. Link to Join the PTA: https://elkridgepta.givebacks.com/shop/items/1205656

👉 Get involved in events: Want to help with planning or volunteering? Send us a quick email at info@eespta.com, and we’ll add you to our event planning list.

Register Now

Link to Flyer

• Canvas Check: Now is the perfect time to log in and check Canvas for your child's current grades and any missing assignments. If you have questions about specific grades or assignments, please reach out directly to the teacher.

• Standards & Learning Resources: To better understand what your child is learning and how to support them at home, we encourage you to explore the grade-specific Family and Community Resources on Canvas. These links provide overviews, how-to videos, learning goals, worksheets, games and resources for all academic areas:

• Pre-Khttps://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34453
• Kindergartenhttps://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34447
• Grade 1https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/32029
• Grade 2https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34428
• Grade 3https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34429
• Grade 4https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34430
• Grade 5https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34431

• Homework & Grading: Homework (assigned to all grades except PK/K) reinforces classroom skills. If you notice your child struggling to complete homework in a reasonable time, please contact their teacher. For an in-depth look at how we assess learning, visit our resource on Standards-Based Grading: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/208494.

Open, effective communication is vital for student success. You can find all staff email addresses on our website. To ensure our teachers can provide thoughtful and thorough responses while focusing primarily on instruction during the school day, please keep this guideline in mind: Teachers have 24–48 hours to reply to emails during business hours.

We appreciate your understanding. This dedicated time allows our staff to focus fully on teaching during school hours and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Thank you for your continued partnership!

• October 27: End of 1st Quarter
• October 27: Grade 3 Fieldtrip
• October 28: Schools Closed for Students - Staff Professional Learning/Workday
• November: Native American Heritage Month
• November 1: Daylight Saving Time Ends
• November 2-6: National School Psychology Week
• November 3: Schools & Offices Closed - Election Day
• November 6: Report Cards Issued @ 4:00 pm
• November 11: Veterans Day
• November 13: World Kindness Day
• November 16-20: American Education Week
• November 18: Educational Support Professionals Day
• November 20: Substitute Educators Day