The Elkster

Hello EES Families and Community,

As we reach the final days of the school year, I want to take a personal moment to thank this incredible community for a truly wonderful first year together. From my very first day at Elkridge, you welcomed me with open arms, and it has been an absolute honor to serve as your principal. Your dedication, warmth, and partnership have made this year unforgettable, and I am so proud of everything our scholars and staff have accomplished together.

With the end of the year also comes some bittersweet transition news for our leadership team. After four wonderful years of dedicated service to Elkridge, our amazing Assistant Principal, Ms. Wright, will be transferring to Ilchester Elementary for the upcoming school year. She has poured so much love and leadership into our school, and she will be missed immensely. Please join me in wishing her all the best in her new chapter! At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome Jayme Brewink from Worthington Elementary as our newest Assistant Principal, and we look forward to introducing her to our community soon.

Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating our bookends — our Kindergartners and our 5th graders — as they moved on to their next chapters. Our Kindergarten scholars celebrated their promotion and will soon make the exciting journey across the hall to the 1st grade pod, while our 5th graders marked a major milestone as they prepare to cross the parking lot to Elkridge Landing Middle School. Both ceremonies were a beautiful reminder of how much our students grow during their time with us, and we could not be prouder of every single one of them.

Finally, I want to extend a huge shout-out to our fantastic PTA. The partnership and collaboration we shared this year have been nothing short of amazing — from beautifying our building's hallways to funding the Kindness Pantry and Book Vending Machine and enriching our students' lives through assemblies and events. And what a way to cap off the year — the PTA-sponsored 5th grade social at the middle school was an incredible send-off and a huge success! We are so excited to continue this strong partnership next year as we work hand-in-hand to support our Elksters. Thank you for a phenomenal year, have a safe and wonderful summer, and remember — we are always 100% ALL In!

Sincerely,

Danielle Shanks, Principal

Jonathan Swann, Assistant Principal

Lashonne Wright, Assistant Principal

As we wrap up our final week, please note the upcoming timeline for fourth-quarter report cards. Our final day for students and staff is Thursday, June 18th, which is also the deadline for grades to be finalized. Report cards will be issued digitally on Monday, June 22nd at 4:00 PM through HCPSS Connect. Please note that students will not receive a paper copy, so be sure to log into your account to view your child's final academic progress.

Before the year concludes, we also encourage you to log into Canvas to review your child's final grades and any outstanding assignments. If you have questions, please reach out directly to your child's teacher, keeping in mind that staff have 24–48 hours to respond during business hours as they balance final grading and packing up their classrooms.

To help combat the summer slide and keep your scholar's mind active over the break, we highly encourage you to explore the grade-specific Family and Community Resources available on Canvas. These digital tools are great for at-home learning and include curriculum overviews, how-to videos, learning goals, worksheets, and educational games. Access the resources for your child's current or upcoming grade level using the links below:

• Pre-K: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34453

• Kindergarten: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34447
• Grade 1: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/32029
• Grade 2: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34428
• Grade 3: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34429
• Grade 4: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34430
• Grade 5: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34431

For a deeper look into how we assess learning throughout the year, you can also review the HCPSS guide on Standards-Based Grading here: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/208494. Thank you for partnering with us to keep the learning going all summer long!

Please take a moment to read the attached announcement confirming Elkridge Elementary's transition to a Title I Schoolwide Program for the 2026–2027 school year.

Following our thorough planning process with the district office, MSDE, and your invaluable survey and in-person feedback, we have received formal approval — and we couldn't be more excited to move forward together. This schoolwide designation gives us far greater flexibility to strengthen supports, enhance educational opportunities, and serve every scholar across our entire community. We are so grateful for your partnership in shaping this path forward for our hive, and we look forward to sharing more details about expanded supports and services at the start of the new school year!

As we head into our final days together, please review these important reminders to help us finish the year safely and smoothly!

• 📚 Library Book Returns: Student book checkout has ended for the year. Please check around the house, under beds, and in backpacks for any library books and help your child return them to the Media Center as soon as possible.
• ⏰ Finish Strong with Attendance: We have so many exciting activities and learning opportunities planned for these final days! Please help your child maintain strong attendance and arrive on time as we close out the year together.
• 🕛 Half Days — Tuesday through Thursday: The last three days of school are half days for students, with dismissal at 12:55 PM. Please plan accordingly and ensure your child's pickup arrangements are in place.
• 🧸 Leave Toys & Cards at Home: Please remind your child that toys, balls, and playing or trading cards should stay home during these final days. A quick backpack check before heading out the door goes a long way!
• 👕 Lost & Found: Don't let those missing hoodies and water bottles spend the summer with us! Please remind your child to check the lost and found, or stop by when you're in the building. Any remaining items will be donated after the last day of school.
• 🪪 Safety First — Photo IDs Required: A valid photo ID is always required when volunteering or checking a student out early. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our building safe and secure!

Families with medications stored in the Health Room will be receiving a letter home as a reminder that all medications must be picked up by a parent or guardian prior to the last day of school. Medications cannot be sent home in student backpacks, and any medication not picked up will be destroyed.

As you plan for next school year, please keep the following in mind:

• Medication orders must be dated after July 1.
• All medications must be in properly labeled containers including: student name, medication name, time and frequency, date of order, prescriber's name, and expiration date. Pharmacy bottles will include all of this automatically.
• Over-the-counter medications should be labeled with the student's name in black marker and brought to the Health Room in new, unopened containers.
• Medication orders must state why the student is taking the medication, include a parent signature, and if "as needed/PRN," list the specific symptoms.

Questions? Please reach out to the Health Room at 410-313-8506. Thank you!

The HCPSS Pre-K Program is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year! The Pre-K Program is offered at no cost to families who qualify and is made available to eligible children in all attendance areas. Children must be four years old on or before September 1, 2026, to be considered for fall 2026 enrollment and must also meet the eligibility criteria.

Please visit the HCPSS Pre-K Program website for information about the program, eligibility criteria, and how to apply. If you have additional questions about the program, please contact the Office of Early Childhood Programs at 410-313-6836.

We frequently receive inquiries from families asking how they can show their appreciation and gratitude to our dedicated teachers and staff members throughout the year. We are fortunate to have such a supportive community!

To help guide your thoughtful gestures, we have compiled a "Staff Favorite Things" list. This Google Form contains specific preferences submitted by our EES staff, which you can use for ideas if you choose to show your thanks! EES Staff Favorite Things List

Please note: Staff members are continuing to submit their information, so check back occasionally for updates!

Take a look below at the upcomming events!

👉The PTA is all about connection—parents, teachers, and staff coming together to make our school a place where every child thrives. Even 30 minutes or an hour of your time can make a big difference!

👉 Join the PTA: Becoming a member helps strengthen our community and gives you a voice. Link to Join the PTA: https://elkridgepta.givebacks.com/shop/items/1205656

👉 Get involved in events: Want to help with planning or volunteering? Send us a quick email at info@eespta.com, and we’ll add you to our event planning list.

• June 15: Last Day for ½ Day PreK/RECC
• June 16-June 18: Schools Close 3 Hours Early - Professional Work Day
• June 18: Last Day for Students
• June 19: Schools & Offices Closed - Juneteenth