Tiger Families

Dear Families,

Our Pre-K program has recently completed its self-appraisal using the Maryland Accreditation Standards. Participating in Maryland Accreditation is a way for our Pre-K program to demonstrate its commitment to providing high-quality learning environments and continually making improvements to benefit children, families, and staff. Our self-appraisal team is comprised of teachers, administrators, family, and community members. As a result of our initial self-appraisal, we have developed a Program Improvement Plan that will address the following goals:

• Increase the presence of authentic materials to foster appreciation and support for diversity through texts, arts forms, and cultural music.

• Provide cross curricular learning opportunities at each learning center with various materials, texts, and tools.

• Foster independence through student led exploration by increasing visual cues while decreasing verbal prompts to promote higher level thinking/questioning, student collaboration, and problem-solving strategies.

  
  

Over the next few months, we will collect documentation and artifacts to verify the quality of our program. We’re eager to make program improvements and achieve Maryland Accreditation! Please contact your child's teacher with questions about Accreditation or our Accreditation Program Improvement Plan.

The GES PTA Sneaker Ball is coming soon! You don't want to miss this! Use the link below to purchase your tickets. This event always sells out.

Below is the list of the Howard County Office of Children and Families current workshops and resources for families for January and February. These programs are free and geared for families with children ages Birth - 5. Staff can also sign up to receive the Parent Pages monthly newsletter about ongoing programs.

This information is neither sponsored nor endorsed by HCPSS, but serves to extend resources for students and families.

January Parent Pages Newsletter

Grand Connections series
Introducing the Grand Connections series: Are you a grandparent providing care for a grandchild under five? Want to learn more about how to make the most of your time with your grandchild, connect with other grandparents and catch up on the latest info on raising little ones? Join the Office of Children & Families staff and explore the unique bond between grandparents and their grandchildren! Saturdays starting in February at Elkridge 50+ Center. Workshops cover current caregiving strategies, partnering with parents, bedtime strategies, screen time, mealtimes, behaviors, and routines. To view entire series, visit here

Good Night, Sleep Tight
Sleep is essential for health and well-being, but achieving restful nights can be a challenge for caregivers and their loved ones. This workshop explores practical tips and proven techniques to improve sleep quality, manage sleep disruptions, and create a soothing bedtime routine for you and those in your care.

Saturday, February 22, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Elkridge 50+ Center, Patapsco Valley Room. Free, register here

Synergy online enrollment requests for the following programs is open now through Tuesday, February 18 at 12:00 pm for the following programs:

• BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9)
• Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8)
• Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9-12) - original credit courses only

NOTE: Invitations for eligible HCPSS students for Academic Intervention and Extended School Year Special Education programs will come directly from the school or special education team in the spring.

Families can find up-to-date course information and enrollment directions on the Summer Programs web page (https://www.hcpss.org/summer-programs/).

PreK: 12:40 - 1:00 pm

Kindergarten:

• Leavitt: 1:00 - 1:20 pm
• Dudley: 1:20 - 1:40 pm
• Ramnath: 1:40 - 2:00 pm

1st grade: 3:10 - 3:40 pm

4th grade: 10:00 - 10:30 am

5th grade: 2:30 - 3:00 pm

2nd grade: 3:10 - 3:40 pm

3rd grade: 2:30 - 3:00 pm

Class pictures and Group pictures

PreK: 3:00 - 3:45 pm

Kindergarten: 3:00 - 3:50 pm

1st grade: 2:50 - 3:45 pm

2nd grade: 3:00 - 3:55 pm

3rd grade: 3:00 - 3:50 pm

4th grade: 2:55 - 3:50 pm

5th grade: 1:30 - 2:30 pm

President's Day

Guilford PTA is proud to host our 3rd annual Sweet Heart Dance on February 21st from 7-9pm at Guilford Elementary School. We will again have DJ Dylan.

$5 Donations per student, an adult must accompany their student(s)

Lite snacks and refreshments provided

SNEAKERS MUST BE WORN BY EVERYONE TO ENTER

Please join us Friday, March 21-Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Harriet Tubman Cultural Center for The People's Conference II: Returning to Who We Are

Returning to Who We Are serves as a reminder of the core principles and values that define restorative justice through its indigenous roots. It encourages us to reconnect to our authentic selves, communities, land, and the fundamental human dignity that restorative justice seeks to uphold. This theme underscores the necessity of returning to our shared humanity and inherent worth; reflecting on our personal and collective journeys; and serves as a call to action, inspiring participants to cultivate a more just and compassionate society based on healing and unlearning.

We look forward to seeing you! Register here.

To update your phone number or address, email: GESRegistrars@hcpss.org

To provide a note for an absence, email the child's name, homeroom teacher, and date of absence, along with any images of notes to: GESAbsence@hcpss.org