The Weekly Update #4

Hello EES Families and Community!

We want to give a huge thank you to the incredible families who have already sent in recess donations! If your family would still like to contribute, additional items remain on our EES Recess Equipment Amazon Wishlist. Every item goes straight toward keeping our Elksters active, safe, and engaged during outdoor play!

We also want to give a massive shoutout to our PTA and the amazing community turnout at Friday's Bike Night! The PTA put safety first by providing brand-new helmets to scholars who needed them, and DJ Dr. Swann kept the energy high and everyone moving on the blacktop. It was wonderful to see our school family come together for such a joyful evening.

Mark your calendars for our next big gathering: our Title I Family Kickoff this Thursday, October 1st!

• 5:30–6:00 PM: Complimentary dinner for families (RSVP required)
• 6:00–7:30 PM: Interactive learning and collaborative activities

While adults learn about our School Improvement Plan and how Title I resources support academic growth, students will spend time with staff reflecting on their own commitments to our school community. We'll then come back together to combine our ideas into our shared Title I Compact.

Please take a moment to view the flyer and submit your Title I Family Kickoff RSVP Form by TOMORROW so our team can prepare. We look forward to seeing everyone there as we continue to be 100% ALL In for our scholars!

*Reminder: Wednesday, September 30th is a 1/2 day for students. Dismissal is at 12:55 pm*

Sincerely,

Danielle Shanks, Principal
Jonathan Swann, Assistant Principal
Jayme Brewrink, Assistant Principal

Screening results are used as an indicator of a child’s reading abilities. They help school staff identify students who need extra reading support as well as the type of support that is needed. Parents and guardians will receive a report containing their child’s screening results.

Maryland's Ready to Read Act requires that students at risk for reading difficulty receive timely, targeted intervention. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is putting this into practice through Student Reading Improvement Plans, or SRIPs. Read more about SRIPs HERE.

EES is looking for children’s book donations (new and/or used books) to add to our book-sharing box. All book donations can be dropped off at school to either Jan Raffael or Katelyn Barr. Thank you and happy reading! 📖

Our MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) scholars are gearing up for exciting hands-on STEM challenges, and we need your help gathering materials!

We are specifically seeking recycled, leftover, or gently used items from around your home or garage—please do not go out and buy anything new. If you are cleaning out spaces or have spare materials on hand, our team would love to take them off your hands:

*Jumbo popsicle sticks *Old CDs / DVDs *Large empty spools (thread, ribbon, or wire) *Balloons

*Wine corks *Pool noodles *Mini hot glue gun sticks

Donated items may be sent in with your student or dropped off at the front office labeled "Attn: MESA." If you have any questions, please reach out to our MESA advisors, Sarah Ports (sarah_ports@hcpss.org) or Kelly McNally (kelly_mcnally@hcpss.org). Thank you for supporting our future engineers as they design, build, and innovate!

• Canvas Check: Now is the perfect time to log in and check Canvas for your child's current grades and any missing assignments. If you have questions about specific grades or assignments, please reach out directly to the teacher.

• Standards & Learning Resources: To better understand what your child is learning and how to support them at home, we encourage you to explore the grade-specific Family and Community Resources on Canvas. These links provide overviews, how-to videos, learning goals, worksheets, games and resources for all academic areas:

• Pre-Khttps://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34453
• Kindergartenhttps://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34447
• Grade 1https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/32029
• Grade 2https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34428
• Grade 3https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34429
• Grade 4https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34430
• Grade 5https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/34431

• Homework & Grading: Homework (assigned to all grades except PK/K) reinforces classroom skills. If you notice your child struggling to complete homework in a reasonable time, please contact their teacher. For an in-depth look at how we assess learning, visit our resource on Standards-Based Grading: https://hcpss.instructure.com/courses/208494.

Open, effective communication is vital for student success. You can find all staff email addresses on our website. To ensure our teachers can provide thoughtful and thorough responses while focusing primarily on instruction during the school day, please keep this guideline in mind: Teachers have 24–48 hours to reply to emails during business hours.

We appreciate your understanding. This dedicated time allows our staff to focus fully on teaching during school hours and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Thank you for your continued partnership!

We are now accepting requests for Thanksgiving/December Holiday support. Please complete the form below by Thursday, October 15th if interested.

🌟EES Holiday Assistance 2026🌟

If you have questions, please contact our school counselor, Angie Szalecki (angie_szalecki@hcpss.org)

Link to Flyer

New this year! School policies can be hard to find and even harder to read. Each week, "Have You Herd?" will break down one HCPSS policy into what families really need to know.

🎉 Let's celebrate, Elks! As of today, September 28, our schoolwide attendance rate is 96.3%! That's the result of families getting our Elksters to school on time, day after day, and we are so proud of this strong start. Thank you!

Every day counts. HCPSS Policy 9010 describes regular attendance as a shared responsibility among families, students, and school staff, and we're grateful to partner with you to keep this momentum going.

• What Counts as an Excused Absence? Illness (including mental and behavioral health needs), a death in the family, a court summons, hazardous weather, observance of a religious holiday, lack of authorized transportation, and certain emergencies.

• A Number Worth Knowing (10%): A student who misses 10% or more of the school year, whether absences are excused or unexcused, is considered chronically absent. That's roughly two days a month, and it adds up faster than most families expect.

• Late Arrivals and Early Pickups Count, Too: Tardies and early dismissals are recorded as excused or unexcused, just like absences. Missing a large part of the day can count as a partial-day absence. Arriving on time and staying through dismissal helps our Elksters get the most out of every day.

• Planning a Family Trip? Send a written request to administration at least one week ahead. The principal can approve up to three (3) discretionary days per year.

• What You'll Hear From Us: If your child misses two unexcused days in a row or reaches a 5% absence rate, a staff member will reach out with a call of care and concern. Letters also go home at 5%, 10%, and 20%. These check-ins are about support. We want to know how we can help.

• What Families Can Do:

  • Send an Absence Note Promptly: Email eesabsence@hcpss.org with your child's full name, grade, and the reason for the absence within 5 school days of their return so it can be recorded as excused.
  • Reach Out Early for Support: If getting to school consistently is hard right now, please let us know. We're here to partner with you! Contact administration or our Pupil Personnel Worker, Liz Ryan (liz_ryan@hcpss.org). If your child is out for behavioral health reasons, our school counselor can also connect you with helpful resources.

You can review the full details at HCPSS Policy 9010. Thank you for keeping our Elksters 100% ALL In!

We are pleased to share a wonderful local learning opportunity hosted by the non-profit organization Restorative Justice Partnership (led by Executive Director Dwanna Nicole Gilbert).

This fall, they are hosting a free Saturday Freedom School for Black youth in grades 1–5 at the historic Harriet Tubman Cultural Center. Please note that students do not need to reside in Howard County to participate, making this accessible to families across our broader community. If you are looking for enriching weekend programming that fosters empowerment, community, and learning, please see the attached flyer for registration details and additional information!

👉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.

Link to Flyer

As we establish our daily routines, we want to remind all families of district-wide visitor guidelines. Per updated HCPSS policy, parent lunch visits are no longer permitted at any school, joining the HCPSS established policy prohibiting parent visits during recess.

Limiting access during these times is essential for maintaining safe and secure school buildings. It helps reduce disruptions, supports structured student routines, and minimizes non-essential foot traffic in high-density areas.

We deeply value our family connections and encourage parents to stay engaged through regular communication with teachers, attending school-wide family events, or serving as official, certified volunteers within our building. For more comprehensive details on district guidelines, please review the HCPSS School Visitation Guidelines.

Thank you for your understanding, partnership, and continued support in keeping our school environment safe and focused on learning!

As we plan for the school year, your voice matters most! What are your family’s needs? How can we best support you, and what programs and learning sessions would you like to see Elkridge offer this year?

Please take a few minutes to complete our EES Family Needs Survey / Encuesta sobre necesidades familiares. Your input directly shapes our community partnerships, basic-needs supports (such as holiday assistance, food pantry access, coats, and eyeglasses), and our Title I family learning workshops in areas like math, reading, and social-emotional growth. The survey also highlights exciting ways to get involved this year, including our Family School Partnership Team, Coffee & Conversation with Administration, Classroom Coordinators, and Watch D.O.G.S.

The survey is available in both English and Spanish. If you have any questions or need assistance connecting with resources, please feel free to reach out to our Family and Community Engagement Contact, Joanna Paterson (joanna_paterson@hcpss.org), or our Multi-Achievement Liaison, Bawi Tial (bawi_tial@hcpss.org). Thank you for partnering with us to ensure every Elkster and family has the resources they need to thrive!

• September 15-Oct.15: Hispanic Heritage Month

• September 28: Fall Picture Day

• September 30: Schools Close 3 Hours Early; No half-day Pre-K/RECC - Staff Professional Learning/Workday

• October: National Principal Month