The Falcon Flier

Dr. Holden, Principal

Dr. Anderson, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Grenzer, Assistant Principal

Website: ples.hcpss.org
Location: Phelps Luck Elementary School, Old Stone Court, Columbia, MD, USA
Phone: 410-313-6886
Facebook: facebook.com/phelpsluckelementary
X: @hcpss_ples

Thank you for joining us for this year’s Back to School Nights! It was wonderful to welcome so many of our families into the building and share more about the exciting learning ahead for our students. Your partnership is an important part of helping our students thrive, and we appreciate your continued support.

If you missed Back to School Night, missed any information during your child’s presentation, or would simply like to review what was shared, each grade level team will share their presentation and they will also be posted on our school website soon.

We also captured some wonderful moments from our Kindergarten and Grades 3–5 Back to School Nights! You can view photos from the evening here.

We are excited to announce our inaugural PLES Beautification Day on Saturday, October 24, from 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

We invite our students, families, and staff to join us as we come together to spruce up our school grounds, build community, and show our PLES pride!

PLES Beautification Day

Saturday, October 24

9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

For now, please save the date and plan to join us! More information about how you can participate will be shared soon.

September 15 marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month! During this time, we honor and celebrate the rich history, culture, heritage, and contributions of individuals and families with roots in Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

We will highlight Hispanic Heritage Month by featuring Hispanic American individuals and their accomplishments during our morning announcements. Students will also have opportunities to deepen their understanding of this rich culture through conversations, read-alouds, books, and videos.

Thank you to our amazing PLES staff for designing and organizing our beautiful display case in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month! Your creativity and thoughtfulness help enrich our school community while promoting awareness, appreciation, and celebration of Hispanic cultures and contributions.

Cleaning out closets? Please consider donating to our Clothing Donation Bin located in the school parking lot!

We accept clean, gently used clothing, shoes, bedding, towels, handbags, backpacks, and accessories. Please place all items in bags and tie them securely.

Every pound donated helps raise funds for our school! Thank you for your support!

• September 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month Begins
• September 15 – Hearing and Vision Screening
• September 17 – SPIRIT DAY - Represent a Hispanic country by wearing or bringing your flag colors
• September 21 – Schools and Offices Closed – Yom Kippur
• September 24 – SPIRIT DAY - Favorite Hispanic Figure Day – Dress like your favorite Hispanic figure
• September 25 - Title 1 Information Meeting at 9:15 AM
• September 28 – Hispanic Parent Meeting from 6 PM - 7:30 PM
• September 30 – Schools close 3 hours early – Staff Professional Day
• October 1 - SPIRIT DAY - Wear a traditional hat or accessory
• October 8 - SPIRIT DAY - Wear a typical outfit from your country
• October 8 - Title 1 Information Meeting from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
• October 9 - National Walk and Roll to School Day
• October 13 - Virtual PTA Meeting at 7:00 PM
• October 15 - SPIRIT DAY - Wear your country's favorite soccer or baseball team jersey/shirt
• October 16 - Schools Closed for Students
• October 21 - Dental Clinic
• October 22 - Dental Clinic
• October 22 - ELD Parent Information Night from 6 PM - 7 PM
• October 23 - Dental Clinic
• October 23 - Fall Picture Day

As a reminder, our school doors open at 8:30 a.m., and instruction begins at 8:45 a.m.

Students who arrive after 8:45 a.m. will be marked tardy. A parent or guardian will need to escort the student into the building and sign them in at the front office before the student reports to class.

We appreciate your partnership in helping our students start each school day on time and ready for learning. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation!

Please remember to label all of your child’s belongings with their first and last name. This includes jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles, lunch boxes, backpacks, instruments and any other items they bring to school.

If your child forgot an item at home, please make sure to clearly label it and place on the shelf in the vestibule.

Thank you for helping us keep track of everyone’s belongings!

Innovators impact the lives of people all over the world. Technology we use each day, methods of travel, the music we love, the health and beauty products we rely on, and even some of our favorite foods have come from individuals who aren’t always well known or recognized for their groundbreaking ideas.

Interested 5th graders are invited to join Ms. McNamara for an Instructional Seminar where they will investigate the life of an American innovator who has had a significant impact on our lives today. Students will work in groups to research an innovator of their choice and develop a creative project or exhibit to showcase their life and ideas.

Students will meet with Ms. McNamara each Tuesday during recess. Students will also be expected to do some of their research and preparation outside of school.

Interested students received an application on Friday, September 11. The application can also be found by clicking this link.

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal. HCPSS Policy 9460 prohibits bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, including hate/bias incidents, and intimidation.

HCPSS recently launched a new Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation (BCHI) Reporting Form that allows students, staff, and families to easily and confidentially report concerns. The BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report known or suspected incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, and hate/bias incidents. These may include physical aggression, threats, retaliation, teasing or name-calling, rumors, exclusion, threatening gestures, online/social media behavior, or conduct related to a student's identity or characteristics.

What happens after you report?
The school will address any immediate safety concerns. The targeted student's parent/guardian will be notified as soon as possible and an administrator will begin the investigation within two school days. Both families will receive written notice of the outcome within 15 calendar days, excluding extenuating circumstances.

A Note About Cyberbullying
In today's digital world, bullying can extend beyond the school day. Cyberbullying can occur through social media, text messages, group chats, gaming platforms, apps, and other digital spaces. Online behavior that occurs outside of school may still require school intervention when it has a connection to the school setting and impacts a student's safety or educational environment. Families are encouraged to talk regularly with their children about responsible online behavior and to save screenshots, messages, posts, or other evidence when concerns arise.

Not sure if it's bullying? Please still tell us. Peer conflict or other concerning behavior may not meet the definition of bullying but may still require school support and follow-up. Students and families do not need to decide whether something “counts” as bullying before asking for help.

For additional information or to submit a report, visit the HCPSS Stop Bullying website or review HCPSS Policy 9460.

Starting the week of September 8th, our students will begin taking the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The MAP assessment is designed to measure academic achievement and growth over time in reading and mathematics. Together with classroom-based observations and assessments, MAP results provide teachers with valuable insights to make instructional decisions that match the unique needs of each child.

Understanding the MAP Assessment:
MAP is a computer adaptive assessment. As a student responds to questions, the test adjusts the difficulty level up or down based on their performance. This dynamic process creates a highly personalized assessment experience for every student, pinpointing their exact learning level.

Currently, the MAP assessment is used in all elementary and middle schools across the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS). To monitor academic growth throughout the school year, student participation varies by grade level:

• Grades 1, 2, and 3: Students take the Mathematics MAP three times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring).
• Grades 4 and 5: Students take both the ELA (Reading) MAP and Mathematics MAP twice a year (Fall and Winter).
• Grade 4 (Spring): Students take the Mathematics MAP a third time in the Spring.

Fall MAP Schedule:
Please find our Fall testing schedule below

Many HCPSS families may be eligible to receive benefits through the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program.

Qualifying families can take advantage of a wide range of additional resources and discounts, including free college applications, free or reduced JumpStart dual enrollment tuition, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more.

Families must submit a new application every school year. During the first 30 school days, students with FARMs eligibility from the prior school year will continue to receive benefits. Any student whose family has not filled out an application by the 30th school day will have their status changed to full pay until a new application is received.

Parents/guardians are highly encouraged to fill out the applications as soon as possible. It is very important that applications are filled out accurately and completely.

• Apply online
• Apply by mail: Paper applications will be available at all school front offices. Applications can be returned to the school or mailed to HCPSS Food & Nutrition Services, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Additionally, I want you to know that there are school staff available to support you and your child. We have numerous supports in place, and I encourage you and your child to take advantage of them whenever they are needed.

Here are a number of administrators and support staff available at our school who can provide supports along with your child’s teachers:

Dr. Holden, Dr. Anderson, Mrs. Grenzer, Ms. Garcia-Hedges, and Ms. Stremmel.

Answers to frequently asked questions on HCPSS meals and additional meals/nutrition assistance programs can be found on the HCPSS Help site. If you have questions regarding the program, please visit www.hcpss.org/FARMs or contact Food and Nutrition Services at 410-313-6743 or foodsvc@hcpss.org.

• Please read the attached letter regarding your PreK, K, and/or 1st grade students upcoming hearing and vision screening at PLES on Tuesday, September 15, 2025. The re-screen is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2025. If your child wears glasses, please remember to send them to school on that day. If your child fails their hearing and/or vision screening, they will receive a referral form that will be sent home after the re-screen 9/23/2025. Please note that if your child passes both the hearing and vision screening, you will not receive any referral form/notification.
• If you have any questions, please reach out to the health room at 410-313-7430.

• For your planning needs, please see the link below which details dates/holidays for HCPSS this coming year, including Winter break, Spring break, and professional learning days. Click here: https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/#print

• HCPSS Related Arts Calendar

Please complete this form to let us know what you’d like information about.

Thank you for considering helping!

(Please note: by completing this form you are not committing to volunteering, you are requesting information about opportunities to help.)

PTA Volunteer Interest Form:

https://forms.gle/zDEN9999RHErVyEG7

These classes provide fun, structured, educational, and enriching activities for students on site at Phelps Luck ES, benefitting both the child(ren) and parents!

1. Please see the Attached PDF flier Phelps Luck ES Spring 2026 Before & After School Classes Flier

2. Families can register for before/after school classes offered at Phelps Luck ES by HCRP: Phelps Luck ES Registration Page.