Words to the Wise

Dear Westowne Families,

Welcome back to a brand-new school year! The faculty and staff of Westowne Elementary are excited to welcome our students back through our doors. Our classrooms are ready, our teachers are prepared, and our entire team is looking forward to another year filled with learning, growth, friendship, and fun.

There is something special about the beginning of a new school year. It is a time for new beginnings, new goals, new friendships, and new opportunities. Whether your child is entering Pre-K or Kindergarten, beginning their final year of elementary school in Grade 5, or returning to a familiar classroom, we are excited to help every student have a successful and memorable year.

At Westowne, we believe that every child can learn, grow, and succeed when students, families, and educators work together. Our faculty and staff are committed to creating a school environment where students feel safe, supported, respected, and challenged to do their very best. We will continue to focus on strong instruction, positive relationships, high expectations, kindness, and helping students develop the skills they need to become confident and successful learners.

This year, we will continue to provide students with engaging learning experiences across all content areas. Our teachers will work collaboratively to monitor student progress, provide meaningful feedback, and adjust instruction to meet the individual needs of our learners.

We also want our students to understand that success is about more than grades. We will encourage them to take risks, persevere when learning is difficult, celebrate their growth, and learn from their mistakes. These are the habits that help students become lifelong learners.

We know that students are most successful when families and schools work together. We encourage you to stay connected with your child's teacher and with Westowne throughout the year. Please read school communications, check your child's backpack and/or digital communications regularly, attend school events when possible, and reach out whenever you have questions or concerns.

We are excited about the many opportunities we will have to bring our Westowne community together this year. From Back-to-School Nights and family events to student performances, celebrations, PTA activities, and special school programs, we hope to see our families actively involved throughout the school year.

As we begin the school year, please remember that attendance matters. Every day of school provides students with opportunities to learn, connect with classmates, and build important academic and social skills. We ask families to make regular attendance a priority and to work with us to address any barriers that may make consistent attendance difficult.

Please also take time to review school procedures and expectations with your child, including arrival and dismissal routines, transportation procedures, school safety expectations, and appropriate use of school-issued technology. When students know what is expected and understand that adults are working together, our school community is safer and more successful.

Most importantly, we want our students to know that we are happy they are here! Our faculty and staff have been working hard to prepare for their arrival, and we cannot wait to see their smiles, hear their stories, and watch them grow throughout the year.

To our students: Come to school ready to learn, be kind, try new things, help others, and give your best effort each day.

To our families: Thank you for trusting us with your children and for partnering with us in their education.

To our faculty and staff: Thank you for the passion, dedication, and care you bring to Westowne each day. I am excited about what we will accomplish together.

As we begin this new school year, let’s continue to make Westowne a place where students feel welcomed, learning is celebrated, kindness matters, and every child is encouraged to reach their full potential. I am looking forward to an incredible year and to all that we will accomplish together.

Join Our PTA!

Our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) plays an important role in building a strong and connected school community. By joining the PTA, you have an opportunity to connect with other families, support school events and activities, and contribute to programs that directly benefit our students. PTA membership is also a wonderful way to stay informed and involved throughout the school year.

We encourage all families to join the PTA and become an active part of our school community. Joining the PTA is one of the easiest ways to support Westowne Elementary! Your membership fee goes directly into the PTA budget and helps fund activities, events, and opportunities that benefit our students.

If you have not already done so, please consider joining the PTA today. Individual memberships are $10.00, and family memberships are $15.00. Memberships are available on the following website: westowne.memberhub.com.

Welcome back, Westowne Owls! Let’s make it a GREAT year!

Sincerely,

Principal Palmer

• Tuesday, September 1- Primary Back to School Night (grades kindergarten - 2nd) from 6:00-7:30
• Tuesday, September 8- Intermediate Back to School Night (grades 3rd - 5th) from 6:00-7:30
• Monday, September 21- Schools Closed for Students for Yom Kippur

• Friday, October 16- Schools Closed for Students for MSEA Convention
• Friday, October 30- 3 Hour Early Dismissal (dismissal starts at 12:55) **last day of quarter 1**

Welcome to our New WES Staff!

The Magnet EXPO! will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the CCBC Essex Wellness and Athletic Center, 7201 Rossdale Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21237. from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Application Information Meetings for parents will be held on Thursday, September 17 at Kenwood High School (501 Stemmers Run Rd., Essex 21221) and Tuesday, September 22 at Milford Mill Academy (3800 Washington Ave., Windsor Mill 21244). Both meetings will be held in the school’s auditorium and will start at 6:00 p.m.

See flyer for more information- Magnet School flyer 27-28.pdf.

The online magnet school application will be available from the Magnet Programs' Website on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 starting at 12 noon. The magnet application deadline for the 2027-2028 school year is 1:00 p.m. on October 20, 2026.

Please be reminded that it is the responsibility of the parent to submit the application. School staff should not submit an application on behalf of any parent.

For more information, please visit https://www.bcps.org/curriculum/programsandoptions/educational_opportunities_and_services/magnet_programs.

Send "Y" or "Yes" to 67587 to receive BCPS text messages with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts, and more.

Download the Talking Points app to stay connected with your child's teacher. This is a great way to keep an open line of communication between you and your child's teacher. After you download the app, sign-in using the email address on file. You should be automatically connected to your child's teacher. For support with Talking Points, please contact the main office. See Talking Points Overview for more information- Talking Points Overview.pdf

If you need to change the language of the messages follow these steps:

1. Download the Talking Points App

2. Click on Settings

3. Click Personal Information

4. Select the language you would like

Creating a parent Schoology account is a great way to see what your child is doing in school. Follow the directions to create your account today! Directions for downloading the Schoology app- Downloading the Schoology App.pdf.

English- Creating a Parent Account in Schoology.pdf

Spanish- Creating a Parent Account in Schoology- Spanish.pdf

For information about how to navigate Schoology- Parent Navigation of Schoology Desktop.pdf

Creating a parent FOCUS account is a great way to stay connected to what your child is doing in school. You can monitor your child's grades and attendance throughout the year. Click the link to create your account- https://baltimore.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth/

Creating a Parent Account in Focus- English.pdf

Creating a Parent Account in Focus- Arabic.pdf

Creating a Parent Account in Focus- Burmese.pdf

Creating a Parent Account in Focus- Chinese.pdf

Creating a Parent Account in Focus- Nepali.pdf

Creating a Parent Account in Focus- Spanish.pdf

Arrival

Arrival time for students is 9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Students arriving after 9:15 a.m. are marked late. If your student arrives after 9:15, an adult will need to park in the parking lot and walk your student to the Front Office to sign them in. Please do not park in the bus loop.

Dismissal

To support a safe and orderly dismissal, there are no early dismissals or changes to student dismissal after 3:30 p.m. If there is a change to your child's regular dismissal procedure, it should be communicated in writing to your child's teacher and the front office as early in the school day as possible. Please do your best to limit changes.

Car Rider Tags

If your student is a car rider, please make sure his/her car rider tag is displayed everyday at pick-up in the car rider line.

BCPS is pleased to announce the countywide implementation of BusWhere, a location-tracking software that allows subscribers to see bus locations in real time on a mobile phone or computer. Via the BusWhere app, subscribers may receive notifications as the bus approaches a designated bus stop or if there are significant delays.

For more information, check out the BusWhere information sheet- BusWhere information.pdf. If you have additional questions please get in touch with the BCPS Office of Transportation at 443-809-4321 or utilize the BusWhere Assistance Request Form- https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3cPDSRs_g0GOdLONSDpa_bVjgy6GIuVGmGJmus4Mp_NUNllMSjRYWExBNVlQSEUwRFZFNlcyWExBRyQlQCN0PWcu

The Baltimore County Police Department has partnered with BCPS and AngelTrax to implement a school bus camera safety program. Motorists who illegally pass a stopped school bus with activated flashing red lights will be subject to a $250 fine.

BCPS will continue the same cell phone policy during the 2026-2027 school year. Cell phone use is prohibited during the instructional day in all BCPS elementary and middle schools other than for school-sanctioned uses or times.

• All students should have phones OFF and AWAY throughout the school day.
• Headphones/ear buds, smartwatches, or other similar wearable technology are prohibited unless used for a specific instructional purpose.
• Students are not permitted to utilize cell phones or other electronic devices during arrival, dismissal, and on the school bus.

Students and/or their families assume all risk and liability for damage, theft, or loss of personal technology.

Recording students or staff with cell phones or other recordable personal technology may be illegal and violates BCPS policy; students who use devices to record disruptions of any kind are subject to disciplinary action and may be referred to law enforcement.

Consequences for violating school and/or BCPS policy or rules may be either school- or system-based and are to be assessed by school-based staff.

cell phone expectations flyer.jpg

Data from the 2025-2026 school year:

Attendance Rate for all students- 94.83%

Kindergarten- 93.74%

1st grade- 94.43%

2nd grade- 95.84%

3rd grade- 95.33%

4th grade- 94.70%

5th grade- 95.13%

If your child is absent, it is important to communicate about the absence(s) with the school. Please do one of the following so that your child's absence(s) can be coded correctly:

• Fill out the Westowne Electronic Attendance Note- https://forms.gle/62DnbwVSxoPBsm8k6
• Send in a blue note (you can get in the front office)
• Send in a doctor's note, note or obituary from funeral home, court summons paperwork, or note from religious organization

The attendance goal is to be in school for 94% or more of the school year which means your child cannot miss more than 10 days of school (based on 180 school days at the same school). Students are considered chronically absent if they miss more than 17 days of school when enrolled for 180 school days at the same school.

Research shows that attendance is one of the leading predictors of academic achievement and adult success. Our school attendance goal for students this year is to maintain an attendance rate of at least 94%. Check out this flyer for more information about the importance of having good attendance at school.

Parent Attendance Tips-Elementary.pdf

Parent Attendance Tips-Elementary (SPANISH).pdf

What does it mean to be chronically absent?

A student is considered chronically absent if they have missed 10% or more of the total number of school days which means your child has missed 18 or more days of school if attending WES for the entire school year (180 days). Last year at WES there were 95 students or 16.35% of students were chronically absent from school. This was a decrease from the year before but we can do better!

Did You Know?

Brining your child to school late or taking your child out before the end of the school day counts as time missed from school per the Maryland State Department of Education. All students participate in learning from bell to bell. When they arrive late or leave early, they miss opportunities for learning, small group instruction, and application of newly learned skills. Minutes add quickly to hours and days! Arriving late and leaving early from school should not be a regularly occurring practice. Help your student SOAR to 94 with bell-to-bell instruction! If there is a barrier to regular and timely attendance, contact an administrator or our Community School Facilitator, Rachel Mills, at rmills@bcps.org.

How can you help your child SOAR to 94?

• Establish a bedtime routine that includes a bedtime (students in elementary school need 9-11 hours of sleep a day)
• Pick out clothes the night before
• Pack backpack with homework the night before
• Establish a morning routine
• Schedule appointments around school hours
• Use the attendance tracker to help you track days absent from school

Attendance Tracker-Elementary.jpg

Attendance Tracker-Secondary Spanish.jpg

WES HAS WORLD CUP ATTENDANCE

Will your child SOAR to 94?

Each day classes can make moves down the soccer field to score a goal. If the class has 94% or better attendance, the class will make one move down the field. If the class has 100% attendance, the class will make two moves down the field. Once your class has made 20 moves down the soccer field and scored a goal, each child in the class will receive a small prize.

GRADE LEVEL CHALLENGE

The grade level with the highest attendance percentage for the month of September will earn outdoor recess equipment. The PreK class with the highest attendance percentage for the month of September will earn bubbles.

September is Attendance Awareness Month. BCPS will be celebrating with county wide spirit days each Friday during the month of September. See flyer for more details.

Attendance Awareness Countywide Spirit Days.pdf

Friday, September 4- "Goal Getter Friday"- Wear college or career gear to show off your goals tied to having strong attendance

Friday, September 11- "Show Up & Shine Friday"- Wear neon or bright colors to show that good attendance leads to bright futures

Friday, September 18- "Attendance All-Stars Friday"- Wear a team or sports jersey to celebrate being "on the team" by attending every day

Friday, September 25- "School Spirit Friday"- Wear WES or blue to show pride in being on time and present at school

Soon, all the 1st to 5th grade classes will be back in the weekly library routine and kindergarten class will be introduced to the library and Miss Johnson, the library media specialist. Be on the lookout for this year’s Book Care Pledge: it’ll come home with your student on bright green paper. It will explain the expectations students are asked to follow when borrowing school library books. When parents/guardians complete and return the form, they indicate that they understand what is expected of their student and that they give permission for their student to check out school library books.

If you have any questions about Library Media class, our work and lessons, school library books, and/or book check out, please contact Miss Johnson, the school librarian. The best ways to reach her are via email at cjohnson13@bcps.org or via phone through the school office (443) 809-0854. (Miss Johnson is not on Talking Points.)

A tip for keeping your student’s school library books safe and protected this year! Consider getting a box of 1- or 2- gallon size zipper plastic bags (or another waterproof bag/pouch that size). When students place their school library books in a large plastic bag or waterproof pouch BEFORE putting the book in their backpack that will help protect the book from water bottle spills, snagging/ripping on things in the backpack, and other possible damage.

Thank you to the families who donated pencils, tissues, and wipes to the school library. They are sincerely appreciated and much needed.

WES Families,

Welcome back to the 2026-2027 school year! Here are a few reminders for P.E. class.

Mr. Malecki and Mr. Nowicki

• Wear tennis shoes/sneakers that tie or have velcro straps. Crocs, flip flops, slippers, water shoes, boots, and open toe sandals are not safe for active participation in P.E. class. Safe activities will be provided if students forget safe shoes. Students must also wear tennis shoes/sneakers that tie or have velcro straps for playing at recess. Helpful Hint: Students can leave an extra pair of tennis shoes in their locker or cubby.
• Girls should wear shorts under a skirt or dress. Comfortable play clothes are recommended for all students for class. Post earrings are safe for P.E. class. Large hoop earrings or earrings that hang below the ear lobe are not safe for P.E. class.
• Please send in a note to your child's homeroom teacher if your child will need to be excused from P.E. for a medical reason. The note will be copied for the P.E. teachers and the school nurse.
• See the schedule below for when your child has P.E. class.

Math Matters!

In the coming school year, students will embark on another exciting journey through the world of math! This year, we are diving into a range of engaging and challenging topics that will spark curiosity and build a strong foundation for future learning.

Throughout the year, our math curriculum will be enriched with workplace games, group activities, and projects designed to make learning math an enjoyable and rewarding experience. We are excited to see our students grow and thrive as they discover the many ways math connects to the world around them.

Parent/Guardian Corner: Tips for Supporting Math Learning at Home

Promote a Growth Mindset:

Encourage a growth mindset by emphasizing that learning math is about practice and persistence! Remind your child that mistakes are opportunities to learn and improve.

CLICK THIS LINK FOR GRADE LEVEL SPECIFIC MATH NEWSLETTERS- September

ELA News

Welcome back to school, families! Now is the best time to begin setting up routines with your children that help get them excited about reading and help keep you connected with what they are learning in the classroom. Take a look at the upcoming month's reading modules for your children to explore what topics they will be reading about, what skills they will be learning, and what will inspire their writing. Engage with your children by asking questions about the subjects, seeking their opinions, and sharing your own perspectives. Don't forget to encourage reading at home, too! Have a great time exploring, reading, and connecting with your child!

CLICK THIS LINK FOR GRADE LEVEL SPECIFIC ELA NEWSLETTERS- September

Welcome back for a New and Healthy School Year

I hope you had a safe and relaxing summer. My name is Mrs. Martin, RN and I am pleased to be returning as the School Nurse. I am looking forward to working again with all the children and families at Westowne Elementary School. The Health Suite is open during school hours. Please feel free to contact me at any time regarding your child’s health. Kinyottia Sneed, is the school Health Assistant and will be here on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can reach us at 443-809-0023 or jmartin13@bcps.org. The Health Suite fax number is 443-809-0856.

Your child's teacher will provide you with the form Consent for Administration of Approved Discretionary Medications and Health Contact Information. This year the form is yellow. It is very important that the Health Suite has current contact information in the case of emergencies. PLEASE NOTIFY THE SCHOOL IF ANY OF THESE NUMBERS CHANGE.

Medication Administration

All medications given on a regular basis, both prescription and non-prescription, must be accompanied by a written order signed by a health care provider. Additionally, a parent/guardian must sign the Parent’s Request to Administer Medication in School form giving their permission for the medication to be administered at school. All medication must be delivered/picked up by a parent/guardian or other responsible adult. Please provide any medications with the orders at the same time.

All prescription medication must be supplied in their original container with the original pharmacy label including:

• Name of student
• Name of medication
• Strength of medication
• Prescribed dosage
• Directions for use, including time of administration
• Name of health care provider
• Date of prescription
• Expiration date, as indicated by the pharmacist

Non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications must be supplied in their original, unopened packaging. The student’s name should be written on the box/container.

Special Dietary Needs Request

Parents or guardians requesting meal changes for a student because of a medical condition should complete a Special Dietary Needs Request Form each school year. Include documentation from the student’s medical provider and send the completed form to the school’s health staff. After the form is submitted, school health staff will work with FNS to review the student’s needs and plan appropriate meal changes.

Special Dietary Needs Request Form- https://www.bcps.org/common/pages/GetFile.ashx?key=exFzBPfq

Change of Clothes

Does your child have an extra pair of clothes in his/her locker? All students should have an extra set of clothes that are stored in their locker in case of an emergency, accident, spill, or fall at recess.

Recess Safety

Students must wear tennis shoes/sneakers that tie or have velcro straps for playing at recess. Crocs, flip flops, slippers, water shoes, boots, and open toe sandals are not safe for active participation in recess. Helpful Hint: Students can leave an extra pair of tennis shoes in their locker or cubby.

Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP)

Information from the Baltimore County Department of Health about help with applying for the Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP). Check out the flyer for more information.

Flyer in English- MCHP flyer.pdf

Flyer in Spanish- MCHP Are You Covered flyer_Spanish.pdf

Vaccine Information

Information from the Baltimore County Department of Health about required school vaccines that are offered at low to no cost at various Health Centers around Baltimore County. All students must be current on their vaccinations by September 22nd or your child will be excluded from school until the requirements have been met. See flyer for more details.

Back to School Vaccination Clinics- English.pdf

Back to School Vaccination Clinics- Spanish.pdf

We are looking for parents to join our Shared Decision Making Team (SDMT). SDMT will meet on the following Mondays from 5:30-6:30 in the school library: 10/5, 12/7, 2/1, 4/5, and 6/7. At these meetings we will use the results from the Needs Assessment Survey that was conducted last school year to create three goals that will impact student success. If you are interested, please complete the form below and I will reach out to you. Contact Rachel Mills, Community School Facilitator, at rmills@bcps.org if you have any questions.

https://forms.gle/i3tphrgQLBLwsigU9

Thank you to the following for donating breakfast, lunch, or snacks during teacher week back for staff. The food was delicious and greatly appreciated by staff.

State Fare

Bakery Express

Scittinos Italian Market Place

Epik Home Group

Westowne PTA

Westowne Families

THB Bagerly & Deli of Owings Mills

Thank you to the following for donating school supplies.

Christian Temple

The Beacon Home Team

Catonsville United Methodist Church

Knights of Columbus St. Agnes

Prince Hall 38

Mt. Gilboa AME Church

You can add money to your child's cafeteria account for snacks through MySchoolBucks- https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home. See form for more details.

Prepayment form Cafeteria English.pdf

Prepayment form Cafeteria- Spanish.pdf

Joining the PTA helps fund different activities for your child such as family events, field trip sponsorships, and teacher classroom grants. Membership is $10 for an individual and $15 for a family. Our goal is 150 memberships. If you join the PTA by September 12th, you will be entered into a raffle to win a TV. Join the WES PTA today! See flyer for more information.

PTA flyer.pdf

Join PTA- https://westowne.givebacks.com/shop

The first virtual PTA meeting will be on Wednesday, September 16th at 7:00 pm. More details to follow.

If you would like to volunteer or attend a field trip, you must complete the BCPS Volunteer Training.

Step 1: Complete a BCPS Volunteer Application- https://cdnsm5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_9046799/File/Updated%20Documents/Application%20for%20Volunteer%20Services%20ADA.pdf or get a paper copy from the school.

Step 2: Complete the Online Volunteer Orientation- https://bcpsvolunteers-md.safeschools.com/register/0c626573

Step 3: All Volunteer Applications and Certificate from the online training must be given to Rachel Mills or emailed to rmills@bcps.org.

For more information- https://www.bcps.org/cos/communications/FACE/b_c_p_s_volunteers

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th through October 15th. During this month it is important to celebrate the Hispanic and Latino communities history and culture in the United States.

Check out more information about Hispanic Hertiage Month with the Smithsonian- https://latino.si.edu/learn/teaching-and-learning-resources/hispanic-heritage-month-resources

For additional resources about Hispanic Heritage Month- https://www.hispanicmonth.org/

BCPS Parent University- https://www.bcps.org/cos/communications/face/parent_university

Resource website from Towson University for teachers and families of Multilingual Learners- https://wp.towson.edu/tesol/

BGE Customer Relief Fun- BGE Customer Relief Fund.pdf

Catonsville Emergency Assistance- CEA's mission is to provide neighbors in need in the Greater Catonsville area with emergency food, eviction prevention, utility assistance and service referrals. For more information click here- https://catonsvillehelp.org/ and/or Catonsville Emergency Assistance.pdf

Women's Center West- Women's Center West offers counseling and medical services to help meet the needs of women who find themselves in a unplanned pregnancy. For more information click here- https://www.womenscenterwest.com/ and/or Women's Center West.pdf

Additional Food Assistance Resources

The Baltimore County Department of Social Services offers programs and services designed to help residents in financial need who meet income-eligibility requirements, as well as resources to provide food assistance for Baltimore County families, including:

• Senior Food Assistance- Seniors experiencing food access needs may call 410-887-2594 or email aginginfo@baltimorecountymd.gov
• Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) Food and Nutrition Services—Learn more about the food assistance programs offered through BCPS.
• SNAP Emergency Allotments—The Maryland Department of Human Services has been approved to issue SNAP emergency allotments to all current SNAP households. Learn more about SNAP to see if you qualify for monthly benefits to help purchase food.
• Pet Food Assistance—Learn how to receive pet food assistance from the Baltimore Humane Society or make donations to their Bmore Kind Pet Food Bank.

The Food Pantry Locator is available here.

Resources: Partners in Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Substance Use

The Department of Health and Human Services offers a wealth of resources for parents, teachers, and students alike:

• Parenting and Caregiver and Youth Mental Health Resources — a collection of resources on parenting and addressing mental health needs of young people.
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Concerns: Signs and Symptoms — a comprehensive guide for symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders in children and youth.
• Back to School Resources for Success — a collection of resources for children, parents, and educators on ensuring a safe return to school by caring for both body and mind.
• "Talk. They Hear You."® Campaign — a national youth substance use prevention campaign that helps parents and caregivers, educators, and community members.
• Early Childhood Mental Health Programs — as a part of its mission to reduce the impact of substance use and mental illness on our communities, SAMHSA funds programs that promote and support the health and wellness of young children and their families.
• StopBullying.Gov — parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.
• SchoolSafety.Gov — provides schools and districts with actionable recommendations to create a safe and supportive learning environment where students can thrive and grow.
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a confidential, free, 24/7, 365-day-a-year information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
• FindSupport.gov — a user-friendly website, designed for the general public, to help people identify available resources, explore unbiased information about various treatment options, and learn how to reach out to get the support they need for issues related to mental health, drugs, or alcohol.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — If you or someone you know needs support now, you can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Simply call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

The Family Literacy ESOL program is designed to help parents learn English language skills for life, work and to help their children in school. Classes will run from September through November. The closest course sites are Arbutus Middle on Monday and Wednesday mornings and the Catonsville Public Library on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. See flyer for more information.

Eligibility:

You must have a child aged 0–16 living in your home who is attending a Baltimore County Public School. You must be at least 18 years old and not enrolled in or planning to attend high school. F-1 or J-1 visa holders are not eligible.

Cost:

No cost for class. Grant-funded.* You will need to purchase a student textbook and workbook set, available at any CCBC campus bookstore. ATTEND AN IN-PERSON REGISTRATION SESSION!

You must attend an in-person registration session. The closet registration sites to Westowne are Arbutus Middle on Wednesday, September 2nd at 9:30 am or the Catonsville Public Library on Thursday, September 3rd at 9:30 am.

See flyer for additional in-person registration sites and more information about the class.

English- CCBC Family Literacy ESOL Fall 2026 Flyer.pdf

Spanish- CCBC Family Literacy ESOL Fall 2026- Spanish Flyer.pdf

If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please email us at Family Literacy ESOL esolfamilyliteracy@ccbcmd.edu or call 443-840-3456.

These materials are neither sponsored by nor endorsed by the Board of Education of Baltimore County, the Superintendent or this school.

Christian Temple is hosting many family fun events this fall. Christian Temple is located at 5820 Edmondson Ave.

• Pumpkin Patch- Pumpkins for sale from October 11 - 31
• Harvest Festival on Saturday October 17th from 10 am - 3 om
• Trunk or Treat on Sunday October 25th from 1 - 3 pm

Fall Events at Christian Temple.pdf

Irvine Nature Center's afterschool program, Eco Explorers, will return to Westowne this year for K-5 students. They will meet on Mondays, from 4:1 to 5:15 and cover a variety of nature topics with experiments, crafts, animal encounters, and more. The Fall session begins on Monday, September 28. Registration is now open on Irvines' website - enroll for the fall only or for the entire school year. See the flyer for more details.

Irvine Nature Center- https://www.explorenature.org/after-school-eco-fern-club/

Eco Explorers- Westowne ES fall and year.pdf

The Baltimore County Public Library has different events throughout the month for all age groups. Check out the offers at the Catonsville Branch during the month of September- Baltimore County Public Library Catonsville September Events.pdf

Are you looking for different programs for your child this fall? This is a guide to programs offered by the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks. Details, registration and any changes or updates are online at https://baltimorecountymd.gov/civicrec

Recreation and nature councils, non-profit and independent volunteer-led organizations, provide information on their offerings, which for convenience are also listed on CivicRec. To locate a program from this guide in CivicRec, scan a QR code, search by the four-digit session code, or search by program title.

Did you know the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum is located in Catonsville?

The Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum is a 126.6-acre site dedicated to telling the inspiring story of the life and times of Benjamin Banneker, often considered the first African-American man of science.

Museum Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on County holidays, see Main Offices closures.

Location: 300 Oella Ave. Catonsville, MD 21228

Park Hours: Open sunrise to sunset.

Features:

• Exhibitions—In history, art, culture and science, and a permanent exhibit on the life of Benjamin Banneker
• Split log colonial cabin—Furnished with reproduced artifacts like those Banneker could have used
• Gardens—Colonial herbs, vegetables and an orchard
• Restored 19th-century farmhouse
• Onsite trails—Including conservation paths and the historic Number 9 Trolley Line Trail.

Cub Scouts is for boys and girls in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. See flyer for more information about Cub Scouts.

Cub Scout Recruiting.pdf

Do you have a 4th grader? Did you know that all 4th graders can get into National Parks for free? The Every Kid Outdoors program can sign up to get a pass to visit our National Lands and Waters for free. For more information click here- https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.