Grasonville Elementary School
Judy Center Early Learning Hub Newsletter
Dear Families,
Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! We’ve had a wonderful first week with your children back in the building. It’s been such a joy getting to know them, and we’re already seeing new friendships forming as they learn more about one another.
Did you know?!?!?
The first six weeks of school are a critical time for building a strong foundation for the year ahead. We focus on creating a positive classroom climate and setting clear expectations that foster a sense of safety, connection, and community. During this time, we teach important social skills and character values that help children grow both emotionally and academically.
One of the key tools we use is Character Counts!, which is based on the Six Pillars of Character:
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Trustworthiness
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Respect
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Responsibility
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Fairness
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Caring
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Citizenship
You can support your child at home by talking about these values and helping them see how they apply in everyday life—at school, at home, and in the community.
Thank you for partnering with us to make this a successful and meaningful school year. We’re excited for all the growth and learning to come!
All About Me!!!
This month, our focus is on Self-Discovery—a fun and meaningful way for children to learn more about who they are, how they feel, and how they relate to others. These early lessons in self-awareness build confidence, empathy, and a strong foundation for social-emotional development.
Our activities are designed to help children explore and express their identity through play, art, storytelling, and conversation. Here are the core concepts we’re focusing on:
Week 1: My Face
Week 2: My Senses
Week 3: Arms, Hands, Fingers
Week 4: Legs, Feet, and Toes
💬 Self-Identification
We’re helping children learn to recognize and take pride in their names, ages, and unique physical features through activities like:
Name tracing and writing
Drawing self-portraits
Creating “All About Me” books
👂 Senses and Body Parts
Using songs, games, and sensory activities, we’re exploring the five senses and learning how our bodies help us experience the world around us.
The Judith P. Hoyer Center Early Learning Hubs, also known as “Judy Centers,” benefit everyone in Maryland by improving the quality of life for families. Through a dedicated staff of early learning professionals, they help prepare children age birth through kindergarten for school readiness. Located at Title I schools in every Maryland county, Judy Centers play an important role in the communities they serve. Judy Centers provide services or connect families with local service providers for some of the following options:
- Adult Education
- Case Management
- Developmental and Health Screenings
- Family Engagement Activities
- Parenting Classes
- Playgroups
- Early Intervention Identification
Each Judy Center is unique in meeting the needs of its communities, thus if there is a service you are in need of please let us know!
Free Programming, Free Programming, Free Programming !!!
- Monthly Themed Activities
- Field Trips
- Home Visits
- Parent Café
- Weekly Day and Evening Playgroups
- Family Engagement Activities
- Home Learning Kits
- Child Care Provider Support
- Gifts
- Snacks
Let's Celebrate - National Hispanic Month!!!! ✨🎉
National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15th to October 15th, 2025. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, celebrated annually from September 15th until October 15th.
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Sleep Recommendations
Summer schedules can be quite different than throughout the school term. Many of our students tend to shift their bedtimes back a few hours during these relaxing months. Sleep is very important to each child’s health and education. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, 2016) issued a Statement of Endorsement supporting the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) guidelines outlining recommended sleep duration for children from infants to teens.
The group recommends the following:
● Children 3 to 5 years of age should sleep 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
● Children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
The group found that adequate sleep duration for age on a regular basis leads to improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health. Not getting enough sleep each night is also associated with an increase in other medical concerns. In addition to these recommendations, the AAP suggests that all screens be turned off 30 minutes before bedtime and that TV, computers and other screens not be allowed in children's bedrooms. For young children, establishing a bedtime routine is important to ensuring children get adequate sleep each night.
This is a summary of the statement from AAP, you can find the entire article here: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AmericanAcademy-of-Pediatrics-Supports-Childhood-Sleep-Guidelines.aspx
We encourage you to consider these guidelines as you begin shifting bedtime back into the school routine. Together we can partner to ensure all students are well-rested and ready to learn!
🌟 What Does a Positive School Climate Look Like?
A positive school climate is essential for students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. It takes the shared effort of students, families, staff, and the broader community to build and sustain a healthy, safe, and engaging school environment.
👧🏽 For Students:
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Engaged in Learning: Students are motivated, participate actively, and take ownership of their schoolwork.
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Supportive Relationships: Strong connections with peers and trusted adults; a sense of belonging and safety from bullying.
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Access to Help: Students feel comfortable seeking support from teachers or staff for academic or personal challenges.
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Fair and Clear Discipline: Consistent application of written policies with learning-based approaches, not exclusion.
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Positive Behavior is Promoted: Everyone in the building – from principals to bus drivers – plays a role in encouraging and rewarding good behavior.
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Individual Support Available: Students facing learning, emotional, or life challenges can access supports, often through partnerships with community organizations.
👨👩👧 For Families:
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Partnership with Teachers: Families are involved in their child’s education, attending events and feeling comfortable communicating with staff.
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Understanding of Discipline Policies: Parents know that school rules are grounded in teaching—not punishing—students.
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Ongoing Communication: Families talk to their children about school and advocate when needed to ensure fair responses to issues.
🍎 For School Staff:
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Strong Student Relationships: Staff build meaningful connections with students and meet their diverse needs.
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Effective Family Communication: Two-way dialogue with families about student success and challenges.
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Supportive Work Environment: Staff have adequate space, supplies, and a physically comfortable setting to teach.
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Training & Protocols: Staff are equipped to identify and respond to academic, behavioral, and emotional needs.
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Access to Resources: Additional support is available through internal teams or external services when students need more help.
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Collaborative Leadership: Teachers and staff have a voice in decisions and communicate with school leaders about student needs.
🏫 For the Whole School Community:
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Safe & Well-Maintained Facilities: A clean, secure, and cared-for building that everyone helps maintain.
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Inclusive Environment: Respect and belonging for all, regardless of race, ability, religion, gender identity, or background.
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Constructive Problem-Solving: Clear and respectful ways to resolve concerns for both students and adults.
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Shared Commitment: Schools, families, and community partners work together to nurture a healthy, engaging, and supportive climate for everyone.
✨ A positive school climate is like renewable energy—fueling joy, learning, and hope throughout the school year. When schools, families, and communities work hand-in-hand, students are better equipped to succeed in school and in life.
Transportation Safety Rules
Thank you for helping keep children safe. Here are a few things to remember:
- Remind your child that showing expected behaviors on the bus helps keep everyone safe. They must stay seated and use quiet voices. Disruptive behavior and shouting distracts the driver.
- Remove excess items from backpacks. Items dangling from backpacks can (and have) gotten caught in bus doors and caused injury to a child.
- Toys must be left at home. Taking toys out on the bus can (and has) led to arguments and other unpleasant experiences for kiddos. Encourage your child to read instead.
- Follow all Parent Drop-Off and Pick-Up rules. Please contact the school or review the school website for updated guidelines.
Parents/Guardians, these rules must be followed for the safety and well-being of our children and staff members.
Always, always, always, yield to buses. If a car blocks their entrance or exit to the parking lot or Main Street, the kiddos on those buses get home later than they should.
Pull all the way up to the very end of the line (within the designated area).
If you need to park in the ‘spillover’ areas, please be sure that your entire vehicle is off of the driving lane and is completely on the sidewalk.
Do not park within ‘No Parking’ areas. There isn’t enough room to clear the driving lane.
Only enter the pick-up circle when there is enough room so that your vehicle’s back-end does not block the driving lane.
Always scoot your car up as close as possible to the car in front of you.
Please make sure you have notified the school to advise if your child is a designated daily car rider.
If a car is in front of you, do not pull to the left of the vehicle to exit the line. Wait until the car(s) in front of you exits and follow behind them.
