Our Elmwood Monthly News

Elmwood Families,

What an amazing beginning to our school year! We are so grateful for the energy, patience, partnership, and support you have shown as we welcome our students back to school.

As we move through September, we are focused on strengthening our Nest. A commitment to build strong relationships, establishing consistent routines, and creating a safe, welcoming environment where every child feels that they belong and is ready to learn.

Just as our students become more comfortable and confident each day, our school routines and structures become stronger with practice. The more familiar students become with their classroom expectations, arrival and dismissal procedures, learning routines, and school-wide expectations, the more confidently they can focus on what matters most: learning, growing, and building relationships.

Thank you for being an important part of our Elmwood Nest. When families and school staff work together with consistency, kindness, and high expectations, our students thrive.

Let’s continue to strengthen the Nest, together.

With gratitude,

Jeff

One of the most important ways families can help strengthen our Nest is by making regular school attendance a priority.

Every day of school matters. Every instructional minute matters.

When students are present and on time, they have more opportunities to participate in instruction, practice important skills, work with classmates, receive teacher feedback, and build meaningful connections with their teachers and peers.

Please make every effort to have your child at school every day and on time, unless they are sick or there is another legitimate reason for an absence. Even occasional absences can add up and create missed learning that can be difficult for students to recover.

Early dismissals between 3:50 PM- 4:05 PM should be avoided. Office personnel have already begun internal dismissal procedures and working to eliminate constant disruptions between 3:50- 4:05 pm in the office will help ensure a safe and timely dismissal for all students. Thank you in advance for your immediate cooperation.

Is your student doing something amazing in the community? Volunteering? Crushing it on the ball field? Involved in extra-curricular activities? Won an award?

We would love to feature them here!

Email your amazing student's accomplishments (including pictures, if you can!) to Ms. McGrain - amcgrain@bcps.org to be featured in our student spotlight!

This month, we will continue to:

• Strengthen relationships and build a sense of belonging.
• Practice and reinforce routines and expectations.
• Increase student engagement and ownership of learning.
• Focus intentionally on grade-level standards and rigorous instruction.
• Celebrate students for demonstrating our Elmwood values of Grace, Trust, and Respect.
• Partner with families to support the academic, social, and emotional growth of every child.

Students have already been hard at work showing SOAR expectations and earning lightning loot! This positive behavior system allows students to earn Lightning Loot and then cash in for prizes such as lunch bunch with a teacher, reading to a younger class, or choosing an item from a class prize box.

Students have started cashing in their Lightning Loot! If your student comes home with a prize, be sure to ask them what they SOAR expectation they displayed to earn it!

So proud of our Elmwood Eagles!

Hello, Elmwood Families! My name is Emily Major, and I am so excited to serve as Elmwood’s Community School Facilitator (CSF)! In this role, I work to build connections between our students, families, school, and community partners. I help bring engaging programs to students during and after the school day, connect families with resources and support, and serve as a liaison between Elmwood and the wonderful organizations that partner with us. I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting so many students and families at the crosswalk during arrival and dismissal, and I’ve had a blast getting to know our students in the cafeteria and classrooms this week! 😊

We've had a busy start to the year! So far, we have welcomed our students back in style with a DJ, distributed more than 100 backpacks, and welcomed 10 community partners to our Sneak-a-Peek event.

We’re now gearing up for the launch of our in-school programming in September and after-school programming in October. I’m also looking forward to seeing our families at Back-to-School Night on September 10 and our first Farmer’s Market of the school year on September 23 at 4:30 PM! If your family needs support or you’d like to connect, please reach out to me at emajor@bcps.org or 443-809-5232. You can also use the Elmwood Community Support Request Form or the QR Code below to request resources or support for yourself or your family. I’m so excited to partner with our Elmwood families and community!- Mrs. Major 🙂

Special announcement for 5th Grade Families at Elmwood! Now that your student is in 5th grade, they can receive free small group instruction on the band or orchestra instrument of their choice once a week during the school day! Please look for information packets that will be sent home with your child. Interest forms are due by September 17th . Contact Dr. Yacoub, instrumental music teacher, at ayacoub@bcps.org with any questions.

Support your child's reading journey by accessing Amira at home! Directions are linked below for how to log on from your home device.

The federal government shutdown and impending funding halt for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is impacting families across Baltimore County and the state. BCPS remains committed to providing comprehensive resources and support to students and families impacted by the government shutdown.

BCPS Food and Nutrition Services

BCPS continues to serve breakfast and lunch at all schools, free of charge, every day. Snack and Supper programs are also available in many schools, reaching students that participate in after-school activities. Families can contact the school directly to learn about snack and supper programs or visit https://www.bcps.org/foodandnutrition.

BCPS Community Schools

Individual Community Schools within BCPS provide access to food and other essential resources for students and families. If your school is a Community School, please contact your Community School Facilitator for details on what support and services are available in your area. You can find contact information for all Community Schools here: BCPS Community Schools Contacts

Students Identified as Experiencing Homelessness

Students identified as experiencing homelessness can access food, housing, and other essential resources by emailing hep@bcps.org or contacting the Homeless Education Programs Office at 443-809-6311.

BCPS Student Support Services
Students and families can access support and services by connecting with counselors, social workers, pupil personnel workers and psychologists at the school to identify school specific resources. Additional information on resources can be found at Department of Student Support Services - Baltimore County Public Schools and Resources - Baltimore County Public Schools.

Additional Community Resources:

Baltimore County Food Bank Locator

Capital Area Food Bank

Maryland Food Bank

211 Maryland

Customer Service and Benefits for Maryland

State of Maryland:

State Resource Page-Impacted by Recent Federal Actions

Cornerstone Franciscan Ministries- Housing Assistance for students in Community Schools

Resources from the Baltimore County Government

Baltimore County Government has gathered resources to help with essentials like keeping the lights on, applying for unemployment benefits, finding housing assistance or connecting with services for people experiencing homelessness. Whether you’re looking for help for yourself, your family or a member of the community, the collection of linked resources can guide you to programs and organizations ready to assist.

State Resources and Information

SNAP and School Meal Programs

10.01.2025 - MD DHS - Federal Government Shutdown Update.pdf

LBHAs_Fed ShutDown Update 10.6.25.pdf

Federal Government Shutdown Resources 10.2025.pdf

Fact Sheet- Maryland Resources During a Federal Shutdown (Accessible) 10.2025.pdf

For updates from BCPS, check out parent news in the bi-weekly FACEtime newsletter. Available in multiple languages.

Click the link below to see the latest FACETime Newsletter

https://app.smore.com/u/parentuniversity

Parent University is a comprehensive resource provided by BCPS, designed to empower and support families in their child's journey through education. They offer a variety of tools including videos, workshops, and system updates to help you stay informed and engaged in your child's learning experience. Whether you're looking for strategies to support academic growth, navigate school systems, or foster social-emotional development, we're here to provide guidance every step of the way.

The program aligns closely with the Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) strategic goals, working to strengthen the partnership between families, schools, and the broader community. Through these efforts, the aim is to create a collaborative environment where families are well-equipped to help their children succeed academically and thrive personally.

Click the link below to see all the resources available.

https://www.bcps.org/cos/communications/face/parent_university

It's never too early to see how your student is doing in their classes! You can always check on your student's progress through Schoology and Focus.

Not sure how to get an account? Check the links below!

• 9/11: Back to School Night
• 9/21: Professional Development Day: Schools closed for students
• 9/23: Elmwood Community Farmer's Market

Email: amcgrain@bcps.org
Website: https://elmwoodes.bcps.org
Location: 531 Dale Avenue, Baltimore, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-5232
Twitter: @elmwoodes