Community Cardinal Correspondence

We are thrilled to begin the 2026-2027 school year at Villa Cresta Elementary School! The start of a new school year always brings excitement, opportunity, and endless possibilities, and we cannot wait to welcome our students back into our halls for a year filled with learning, growth, friendships, and memorable experiences.

One of the things that makes Villa Cresta such a special place is the people who make up our school community. This year, we are excited to welcome several new staff members to our team, including educators who are new to Villa Cresta as well as those beginning their teaching careers. New perspectives, talents, and experiences strengthen our school and inspire us all to continue learning and growing together. We hope you will join us in giving our newest team members a warm and enthusiastic Villa Cresta welcome as they become part of our school family.

We also encourage every family to become involved with our outstanding Villa Cresta PTA. Throughout the year, the PTA works tirelessly to support our students, staff, and school community. Their dedication helps create the positive culture and strong sense of community that make Villa Cresta such a wonderful place to learn and grow. Be sure to watch for PTA communications and follow their Facebook page for school updates, staff highlights, upcoming events, and celebrations of our students' accomplishments. Whether you join as a member, attend meetings, or volunteer at an event, your involvement helps make a difference and keeps our PTA strong.

As we prepare for the year ahead, we would also like to introduce the individuals who help keep our school running smoothly in our front office. Our front office team, Ms. Donna Gosnell and Ms. Jamie Vilcarino, are often the first friendly voices and faces you will encounter when contacting Villa Cresta. They are committed to supporting students, families, and staff, and are always ready to assist with questions or help connect you with the information you need. We are also grateful to have Ms. Renee Livingston continuing her important work as our IEP Team Secretary. While transitioning to a part-time role at Villa Cresta, she will continue coordinating SST, 504, and IEP team scheduling to support our students and families. Additionally, joining our front office is our Community School Facilitator, Cindy Sexton. Any questions you need answered, one of these individuals can provide that answer or get you in touch with the right person!

Our administrative team is excited to welcome everyone back for another fantastic year. Principal Jenny Rohrbaugh and Assistant Principal Kelly Lehto are honored to serve the Villa Cresta community and look forward to partnering with students, families, and staff throughout the school year. With years of experience serving Baltimore County schools, we continue to be inspired by the incredible students, dedicated staff, and supportive families that make Villa Cresta such a special place. We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside this amazing community and look forward to seeing everyone at the many events and celebrations planned throughout the year.

Here's to an outstanding 2026-2027 school year filled with learning, achievement, and unforgettable memories. We can't wait to see you soon!

✨📚🖤❤️ Go Cardinals! ❤️🖤📚✨

Classroom assignments are now available in FOCUS.

If you do not already have access to the FOCUS Parent Portal, please use the attached directions to create an account. Remember that you must register using the same email address that was used when enrolling your child.

Access to the FOCUS portal is important, as it is where you will find your child's class assignments, report cards, and other important school information throughout the year.

We are pleased to invite students and families to our

Sneak-a-Peek at Your Seat Open House!

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to visit the school, locate their classroom, and become familiar with where they will go on the first day of school. Parents and caregivers will also have a chance to see the classroom and identify dismissal locations for students who do not ride the bus.

This informal open house is designed to help students feel comfortable, confident, and excited about the start of the school year. There will be no formal presentation, and attendance is completely optional. Families are welcome to stop by at any time during the event to explore, meet staff, and ease any first-day jitters.

Each year, this event helps students build confidence as they prepare to ride the bus, walk to class, meet new classmates, and begin the school year knowing what to expect. We hope you'll join us as we help make the transition back to school a positive and successful one for everyone.

📅 Thursday, August 27

We look forward to welcoming our 1st to 5th grade students at 8:30am on Monday, August 31st for the first day of school. Classroom assignments will be posted to the FOCUS portal on Friday, August 7th. If you do not have a FOCUS account, see below for directions to obtain access. This is where you will find important information throughout the school year.

Preschool, Prekindergarten, and Kindergarten families please follow the gradual entry schedule as your first days of school look a little different as we gradually welcome our youngest learners. This information will be sent soon!

On the first day of school and throughout the first week, staff members will be available to assist students in locating and walking to their classrooms until they become familiar with their schedules and routes. Parents do not need to accompany their child to class.

To ensure a smooth and consistent start to the school year, teachers will be focused on establishing classroom routines and expectations and will not be available for impromptu conferences while they are welcoming students in the morning.

If a parent or guardian needs to enter the building, they must first report to the main office and present a valid state-issued photo ID or driver's license to check in for any scheduled meeting. Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work to provide a safe, organized, and positive start to the school year for all students.

Back-to-School Night

Tuesday, September 8

We invite all parents and caregivers to join us for Back-to-School Night, an important opportunity to learn more about your child's classroom experience for the year. During this event, teachers will provide information about curriculum, classroom routines and procedures, communication methods, and grade-level expectations. Families will also have an opportunity to hear important schoolwide updates from the administrative team in a separate session held in the gymnasium.

To accommodate families with children in multiple grade levels, we will offer three identical presentation sessions throughout the evening. This allows parents to attend more than one classroom presentation, as well as the administrative session in the gymnasium.

Please note that this is not an open house format. The evening will consist of structured presentations that begin promptly at the scheduled times. If you miss one session, you are welcome to attend the same presentation during a later session.

Schedule

Doors Open: 5:00 p.m.

Session 1: 5:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

Transition Time

Session 2: 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Transition Time

Session 3: 6:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Please plan to arrive before the start of each session, as presentations will begin promptly at 5:15 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 6:45 p.m. Attending from the beginning of the session will ensure you receive all important information. Families who are unable to attend may contact their child's teacher after the event to receive the materials and information that were shared.

We look forward to partnering with you and sharing the exciting learning experiences planned for the school year! ❤️🖤

Finding Important Information All Year

Visit our school website at villacrestaes.bcps.org for everything you need to know throughout the school year, including:

• School supply lists
• Teacher directory and email addresses
• Administrative correspondence
• PTA information
• School news and updates
• And much more

Informational emails sent to families are also posted on the school website, allowing you to access them at any time. We encourage all families to regularly use this resource to stay informed about school processes, events, and important updates.

It is essential that you have a current email address on file with the front office. Please note that emergency communications, such as early dismissals, delayed transportation, or other time-sensitive notifications, are not posted on the website. These messages are sent directly through phone calls and email.

Website: https://villacrestaes.bcps.org/

Creating a Parent Portal

https://cdn5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_160239/File/Technology%20Info/Creating%20a%20Parent%20Account%20in%20B2C.pdf

FOCUS Screenshots to Navigate this Account

https://cdn5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_160239/File/School%20Communications/Focus%20Screen%20shots.pdf

We want to remind you of some basic logistics of our arrival and dismissal procedures. It is important to understand that Villa Cresta was not built to be a school with a car rider drop off or pick-up loop. We were originally designed to service a walking and bus riding school. Over the years, several administrators have reached out to have the school campus assessed for an addition of a car loop. This is not possible with our landlocked location, so we have created and follow specific arrival and dismissal procedures to aid our families. It should be noted that when everyone works together and demonstrates patience and kindness, we are able to successfully welcome and dismiss our entire school population within the 15 minute schedule. We thank you in advance for working as a school community to safety engage in the arrival and dismissal process for our students.

Arrival

Doors open at 8:30 am for students and doors close at 8:45 am. Students are marked tardy after 8:45 am unless they are on a late bus.

Arrival Locations:

• Prekindergarten/Kindergarteners will enter through the kindergarten doors located in the front of the building near the parking lot by the trees.

• Preschool families should drop off at the teachers back door located near our side parking lot.

• First graders will enter through the front doors.

• Second graders will enter through the front doors or third-grade hallway door.

• Third graders will enter through the third-grade doors or the front doors

• Fourth graders will enter through the side fourth--grade hallway door.

• Fifth graders will enter through the back fifth-grade hallway door.

Any students who walk from the front of our community can enter through our front doors if that is the closest access point but please be aware entering through other access points will help alleviate crowding at any one location. Additionally, any upperclassman walking a kindergarten student to class may enter through the kindergarten doors.

Dismissal

Dismissal will be at 3:30pm with walkers dismissed out their exterior classroom doors. Students should be picked up no later than 3:45pm.

Students in preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten to grade 5 will be dismissed out their classroom doors. Second grade students will all dismiss from the open space doors located in the back of the building. (See map below for visual)

Bus rider families, please be mindful that the first few weeks of school arrival times at the bus stop vary as schedules are worked out in the transportation office. If a bus leaves unusually late, we will send our messenger calls to keep you informed. It is important to have an updated phone number on file.

Bus stop information is located in the parent portal. Please be sure you have set up your account to view this information.

In September parents will receive detailed information regarding expectations for bus riders. Until then, if your child is a bus rider, please review the following bus rules with them so they are prepared for the first day of school.

• Remain seated while the bus is in motion.
• Keep all body parts inside the bus.
• Use inside voices and appropriate language.
• Keep hands and feet to self.
• No eating snacks and drinking beverages while on the bus.
• No throwing objects.
• No vandalizing the exterior or interior of the bus.
• Follow all directions given by the bus driver.

Universal Breakfast

Again this year all students will be served a universal breakfast in the classroom upon entering each day. Breakfast will be free for all students. Students are not required to take breakfast, but it will always be offered. As students arrive, multiple breakfast stations will be set up for students to grab breakfast and go to their classrooms.

Lunch

All students will receive free lunch again for the 2026 - 2027 school year. Students will receive their PIN numbers the first day of school and are able to go through the lunch line daily and make their lunch selection. Encourage your students to take advantage of receiving lunch. Our cafeteria staff prepare some wonderful selections including salad boxes, fresh subs, and of course we still have pizza days!

Lunchtime for students is an important social time of the school day for our students to develop friendships, learn socialization skills, and to engage in lunch bunches with teachers, support staff, and various school staff. While we do have cafeteria rules and staff to monitor student safety, we do hope that students find this time to engage in the social aspect of lunchtime.

Due to our capacity limits, parents/guardians are NOT permitted to have lunch on site with their child. We cannot host visitors in our cafeteria or other locations in the building. At times families want to have a birthday lunch with their child, stop by as a surprise, or check in when the student had a difficult morning. Please know that to maintain the safety of all students these visits are not permitted.

Hi VCE Community!

I am your school nurse, Ms. Amanda. I hope you have all had a safe and fun summer! As we get ready for school return, please keep the following health related notes on your mind if they apply to your student.

• Prescriptions medications to be given at school must be dropped off PRIOR to the first day of school. Nurse Amanda will be in daily August 24-28th during school hours to recieve medications. They MUST be in a prescription labeled container and have the completed medication form with them. See https://villacrestaes.bcps.org/for_parents/forms_for_the_nurse to print a blank form.

  
  

• Updated vaccinations are required by BCPS. Please see the attached BCDH immunization flyer if you were notified that your student needs updated vaccinations prior to the upcoming school year. There are many opportunities to go if you cannot get to your pediatrician! The deadline is Sept 22nd. If the required vaccines are not completed by this date, your student is in danger of being excluded from school. (SEE IMAGES for info)

  
  

• Please email akisser@bcps.org, or call the health suite at 443-809-5285 with any questions during the week of 8/24-8/28.

The staff at Villa Cresta Elementary School are excited to welcome you to a new school year filled with opportunities for learning, growth, and engagement!

This year, we will continue our focus on ensuring that every student has the support they need to be successful, including maintaining strong attendance. Regular school attendance is essential for academic achievement and social development.

A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) attendance expectation is 94% attendance or higher. Based on research regarding chronic absenteeism, both BCPS and MSDE count all days missed toward the identification of chronic absenteeism, regardless of the reason for the absence.

To help ensure attendance records are accurate, please send a written note when your child returns to school following an absence.

Why Daily Attendance Matters

Developing the habit of attending school every day helps students:

• Reduce stress and maintain routines
• Build and strengthen relationships with friends and teachers
• Stay engaged in learning and academic progress

We're Here to Help

Our staff is committed to partnering with families to support regular attendance. If your family is experiencing challenges that may affect your child's attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are happy to meet with you, discuss concerns, brainstorm solutions, and connect you with resources that may be helpful. There are many staff members that can assist such as your child's school counselor, our school nurse, or our Community School Facilitator. Communicate with us so we can provide you with support!

Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed throughout the school year.

In the elementary and middle school years, birthdays are exciting milestones and very special days for children. At Villa Cresta Elementary School, we enjoy recognizing students on their birthdays by announcing them during the morning announcements. Many teachers also celebrate students in simple ways, such as providing a birthday sticker, crown, special helper responsibilities, or other classroom acknowledgments.

While we are happy to recognize students' special days, school is not the appropriate setting for parties or large birthday celebrations. Such events can disrupt the learning environment and may not be inclusive of all students. Additionally, we must be mindful of student allergies and respect families who choose not to participate in certain celebrations.

For these reasons, balloons, flowers, cupcakes, pizza, candy, and other food or party items are not permitted in classrooms or cafeterias for birthdays or other celebrations.

Alternative Ways to Celebrate

Many families have chosen to honor their child's birthday by making a small donation to the classroom, such as:

• A book for the classroom library
• A game for indoor recess
• A ball, hula hoop, or other item for the classroom recess bin

If you would like your child to share a small token with classmates, non-food items are encouraged, such as:

• Pencils
• Erasers
• Stickers
• Notepads
• Other small school-appropriate items

Planning Ahead

If you wish to send a non-food item for your child's class, please contact the teacher in advance to ensure the item is appropriate and to allow time for scheduling. Families may not bring items to school for distribution without prior approval from the teacher.

Thank you for helping us create a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment while still making birthdays meaningful for our students.

Below is a list of BCPS-approved non-food celebration and reward ideas to help celebrate your child's special day!

*Please note that this does not apply to the snack/lunch you pack for your student to eat at lunch or assigned snack time in our early childhood classrooms.

If generic invitations are provided for all students, teachers will do their best to place one in each students take home folder.

We welcome and encourage parent and guardian volunteers throughout the school year! Teachers often seek volunteer support in the classroom, on field trips both within the school building and at off-campus locations, and during a variety of special events and activities. To ensure the safety of all students and compliance with BCPS guidelines, any parent or guardian who wishes to volunteer in any capacity must have completed volunteer paperwork on file before participating.

Volunteer opportunities may include:

• Assisting in classrooms
• Chaperoning field trips within the school building
• Chaperoning off-campus field trips
• Supporting school events and celebrations
• Helping with special activities and programs throughout the year

To become an approved volunteer, you must:

• Complete the BCPS Volunteer Application
• Complete the required Volunteer Training and obtain a training certificate
• Submit both documents to the Villa Cresta Elementary School front office

The link below will direct you to the Baltimore County Public Schools Volunteer webpage, where you can access all required forms, training information, and instructions.

Important Reminder: All volunteer requirements must be completed and approved at least two weeks prior to any event, field trip, or classroom volunteer opportunity. If you think you may want to volunteer at any point during the school year, we strongly encourage you to complete the process now rather than waiting for a specific opportunity. Having your paperwork on file in advance ensures that you will be eligible to participate when volunteer needs arise.

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

Each year, all Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) students receive training on the Student Handbook. At Villa Cresta Elementary, school administrators provide this training during the first two weeks of school.

After the training, your child will bring home a printed copy of the handbook for your family to keep and reference throughout the year. We encourage all families to review the handbook together and discuss expectations for:

• Student rights and responsibilities
• Appropriate behavior at school
• Self-advocacy and problem-solving
• Respectful interactions with others

Our presentations are tailored to each grade level and include important information about:

• Student rights and responsibilities
• Schoolwide expectations
• Bus rules and transportation safety
• The BCPS Cell Phone Policy
• Creating a safe and positive learning environment

Working Together for Student Success

Maintaining a safe, orderly learning environment requires a partnership between students, staff, and families. All students are expected to follow BCPS rules and expectations, while adults work together to support student growth and address concerns as they arise.

At the elementary level, teachers, school counselors, and administrators help students develop important life skills, including:

• Managing big emotions
• Regulating their behavior and actions
• Resolving conflicts appropriately
• Communicating needs and concerns respectfully
• Expressing themselves in safe and productive ways

We value our partnership with families and believe that working together helps students build these critical skills for success in school and beyond.

Reporting Concerns

If your child shares concerns about another student, a peer interaction, or a situation at school, please contact your child's teacher as soon as possible. Early communication allows school staff to investigate concerns, provide support, and often resolve issues before they become larger problems.

We encourage families to reach out whenever questions or concerns arise so we can work together to support each student's success and well-being.

Resources

The following resources are attached below for your reference:

• BCPS Student Handbook
• BCPS Cell Phone Policy
• BCPS Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation Reporting Form

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a safe, supportive, and successful school year for all students.

Website: https://villacrestaes.bcps.org/
Location: 2600 Rader Avenue, Parkville, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-5275
Facebook: facebook.com/VillaCrestaPTAparkville