Ilchester Cheetah Chatter

LaShonne Wright, Assistant Principal

Website: ies.hcpss.org

Location: Ilchester Elementary School, 4981 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City, Maryland 21045
Phone: 410-313-2524

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Report cards will be issued today at 4:00 p.m. This is an excellent time to pause, reflect on your child’s progress during the first quarter, and set goals for the second quarter and beyond.

Please see the information below for details about report cards, including how to access them in Family File and how to interpret the information they provide.

Information About Report Cards

A discussion with your child about grades can be an effective conversation starter that leads to a broader discussion about school in general. Allowing your child the opportunity to share thoughts and feelings not just about academics but also about social issues and their teachers is just as important as a conversation about grades. Families can use these tips to talk to kids about grades in a positive and effective way.

Take Time One on One

Select a quiet time and place to have a conversation with your child and give ample time and your full attention, without interruptions. Choose a place to talk that is free from the distraction of electronics and other people in the house. It helps to make a “statement of intent” prior to the conversation so your child can prepare.

Start Positive

Reviewing grades is a chance to give credit where your child is excelling. Highlight their strengths with a positive opening statement like "I see you're doing really well in spelling. That's great!" to help build motivation. Assure your child that there is time for improvement and that you are here to help come up with a plan for success.

Read The Teacher Comments (Not Just The Grade)

In many cases, comments written by the teacher can be more helpful than the actual grade. These comments give you a better idea of the specific areas your child is struggling with (or excelling in) as well as how your child is performing overall.

Focus on Effort

Combined with grades and teachers’ notes, effort marks help you understand your child’s attitude toward learning. Giving credit and encouragement for effort is especially important for kids who have trouble academically. If your child is trying their best and feels their efforts are seen, they'll be more enthusiastic and resilient learners.

Make a Plan

During the discussion, you and your child might have identified areas that need attention. Set learning goals and identify actionable steps to address concerns or progress toward achieving them. To keep on top of the plan, set aside time each week to check in on your child’s progress. Talk about what your child learned in class, what assignment they are working on, and any new things that require help.

Outline Solutions

Encourage your child to share their thoughts and worries. Kids who are struggling the most in school often have a lot to say. Address challenges that come up in the discussion and outline possible solutions as a team.

Book A Parent-Teacher Conference

If less-than-stellar grades have you worried, book a meeting to talk with your child’s teacher. The teacher has spent hours a day observing and working with your child in the classroom. Often, he or she can paint a better picture of where your child may be struggling as well as suggest ways to focus on improvement.

Mr. Cosentino, Principal

For a complete list of dates and events visit https://ies.hcpss.org/events.

November

• Native American History Heritage Month
• 6 - Parent-Teacher Conference Scheduling opens
• 6 - Report Cards Issued today at 4:00 p.m.
• 3 - Election Day - Schools and Office Closed
• 11 - Veterans Day (school is OPEN)
• 11 - Talent Show, 6:30 p.m.
• 12 - Talent Show, 6:30 p.m.
• 12 - PTA Restaurant Night at Pazano, 3-9 p.m.
• 16 - American Education Week
• 19 - Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling Closes
• 20 - Picture retakes
• 23 - School close 3 hours early - Parent/Teacher Conferences, 12:55 p.m.
• 24 - School close 3 hours early - Parent/Teacher Conferences, 12:55 p.m.
• 25 - Schools closed for students - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 26 - Schools and offices closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
• 27 - Schools and offices closed - Thanksgiving Holiday

To subscribe to the IES calendar on your smartphone, electronic device, or email system, go to the bottom of the IES calendar page and subscribe to the calendars of your choice.

HCPSS Academic Calendar

How can I access my child’s report cards online?

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Parents/guardians may view/download report cards by taking the following steps:

1. Log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy using parent/guardian credentials
2. Select More Options from the left panel
3. Select Report Cards from the middle
4. Select the report card you wish to access

While we love our furry friends, HCPSS policy prohibits animals on school property, with the exception of guide dogs. This includes arrival, dismissal, recess, and other school-sponsored outdoor activities.

For everyone’s safety, animals can pose risks related to bites, allergies, and fear, especially for younger children. Please share this policy with family members who may walk students to and from school to help avoid misunderstandings.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone!

We have seen an increase in incident reports from our bus drivers regarding students not following bus expectations. Please review these important safety rules with your child:

1. Follow the driver's directions the first time.

2. Remain seated while the bus is moving.

3. Keep all body parts inside the bus.

4. Keep hands, feet, and belongings to yourself.

5. Use respectful language. No eating or drinking on the bus.

Thank you for reinforcing these expectations and helping keep all students safe!

American Education Week

American Education Week is November 16-20. Each year, we look forward to honoring public education and the many individuals who help ensure every student receives a quality education.

American Education Week is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our collaboration and partnership with families. We invite parents and guardians to visit the Ilchester during this special week. Grade-level teams will share additional information about their schedules and a recommended time to visit for spotlight activities.

Due to school security, student confidentiality, and limited space, we ask our parents/guardians to follow these guidelines:

• Only parents/guardians are allowed to visit.
• All parents/guardians sign in at the front office with Lobby Guard or the Raptor System.

• Visitors must bring a scannable driver’s license to access Lobby Guard or Raptor System.

• Visitor stickers are always worn in a visible location.

• Be mindful of confidentiality while visiting. Visitors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all private, sensitive, and personally identifiable information they may see or hear while visiting HCPSS schools. Please click here for more information.
• No photos/videos, please.
• Please silence your phone throughout your visit.
• There is no visitation during lunch and recess.

Parking Reminders:

• Parking will be limited, so please consider carpooling or alternative parking options!
• No cars can be parked in the bus loop before 9:25 AM
• All cars must leave the bus loop no later than 2:45 PM (because of middle school dismissal).
• Please do not park in the fire lane at any time.

We look forward to welcoming you to our school to see the outstanding teaching and learning!

HCPSS is no longer offering the in-school flu vaccine clinics.

Please use this link to see a schedule of free flu vaccine clinics in the area if you're interested.

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/health/flu-respiratory-illness

Parent-Teacher Conference time is quickly approaching. Conferences with Homeroom/Language Arts teachers will take place on November 23-November 25. For your planning purposes, please note the schedule below:

• In- person conferences will be held on Monday, November 23rd only.
• Virtual conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 24th or Wednesday, November 25th only.

Families will sign up for conferences using Synergy beginning November 6th. The sign up window will close on November 19th. After November 19th, families must call the front office secretaries directly to schedule a conference. More information will be shared in a separate email as the date approaches. We look forward to seeing you.

The Howard County Literacy Association invites students in grades 1-5 to submit their original poems and/or short stories to the annual writing contest called The Young Authors' Contest. Please see the attached Young Authors’ Contest Guidelines for information about the rules and guidelines. Stories and poems must be typed and saved as a Word Doc or Google Doc. All entries must have a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions may be emailed to Laura_Cohn@hcpss.org by January 13, 2027. Contact Laura Cohn with any questions. All Young Authors’ Contest information can be found on the HCLA website.

Howard County Literacy Association welcomes parents as members. Visit the HCLA Welcome Page for information about joining.

Mabel’s Labels makes personalized labels for clothing, shoes, water bottles, lunch containers, school supplies, and more.

When you shop through our school’s fundraising link, a portion of eligible purchases is donated back to our school. It’s an easy way to support our students while getting labels your family can use all year long!

Why labels?

✔️ Help prevent lost belongings ✔️ Great for school, camp, sports, and daycare ✔️ Dishwasher- and laundry-safe options available ✔️ Personalized with your child’s name ✔️ A simple way to support our school!

Parents can email IESabsence@hcpss.org to report a student’s absence. Please include your child(ren)’s full name, parent’s/guardian’s full name and phone number, the date your child(ren) was absent and the reason. Parents may instead choose to send in a paper excuse note to their child’s teacher with the same information when the student returns to school.

For families requesting local discretionary absences, please complete a Local Discretionary Absence Request Form and submit it to the front office at least one week in advance.