Dundalk Elementary Newsletter

Email: Principal-Mrs. Pilarski- jpilarski@bcps.org,

Asst. Principal- Ms. Palmisano- apalmisano@bcps.org

Asst. Principal- Ms. Ballard- kballard@bcps.org

Community School Facilitator- Mrs. Ashton- sashton@bcps.org

CARES LIAISON- Mrs. Vasquez- jvasqez@bcps.org

Website: https://dundalkes.bcps.org

Phone: 443-809-7013
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573506225055

Twitter: @TeamDUndalkES

Need ideas?

Click the link below so you can find out what all the faculty and staff at DES like.

Even a homemade card goes a long way!

May 4-8, 2026- Teacher Appreciation Week

May 7, 2026- Food Pantry (Please do not line up before 9:30)

May 7 & 8, 2026- Kids flower sale

May 8, 2026- Spring Flower Sale due to school

May 12-13, 2026- Pre-K Field Trip

May 19, 2026- Spring Concert

May 21, 2026- Grade 5 Field Trip

May 21, 2026- Produce Pantry (Please do not line up before 9:30)

May 25, 2026- School Closed- Memorial Day

May 28, 2026- Spring Flower Pick Up- REC Room- 11am-3pm

May 28, 2026- School Closed for students

May 29, 2026- Field Day

June 1, 2026- New Incoming Pre-K and K Chat N Chew 9am

June 3, 2026- Multicultural Night

June 4, 2026- Food Pantry (Please do not line up before 9:30)

June 5, 2026- Grade 5 Dance

June 8, 2026- BMX Attendance Bike Assembly

June 12, 2026- Grade 5 Promotion

June 15, 2026- Half Day- Dismissal 12:25pm

June 16, 2026- Last Day of School-Half Day- Dismissal 12:25pm

June 18, 2026-Produce Pantry (Please do not line up before 9:30)

As we enter the last full month of the school year, I want to remind all students and families of the value of coming to school and arriving on time, every day. Punctuality ensures that our students are settled, focused, and ready to learn — and this is especially critical during state testing days, when being present and on time from the start of the school day can make a real difference in how our students perform.

Just as important as attendance is behavior. We have so many wonderful activities planned this spring — from Field Day to end-of-year celebrations — and participation in these events is a privilege tied to making responsible choices each and every day. When students demonstrate respect, responsibility, and positive behavior, it reflects the pride we all have in our school.

Let's finish the school year strong — together!

Warm regards, Mrs. Pilarski, Principal

BCPS is excited to announce weekly office hours for Multilingual parents! Join us every Friday from 12–1 PM via Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/gmv-nhnp-ecf. This is an open space for all ML families—no matter your language or school! Come and ask questions about community and school resources. We look forward to connecting with you!

Nurse Shelby is an amazing resource we have here at Dundalk Elementary! She really cares about the health and wellbeing of our students and families. If you are unsure if you should send your child to school please do not hesitate to reach out to her and Ms. Melissa (nurse assistant) for support.

It’s that time of year! Influenza (flu) season is around the corner, and you can help protect your child by getting them vaccinated.

Did you know that your child’s school has a school-based health center? We provide services on Tuesday afternoons and Thursdays. Your child can get their vaccine at school at no cost to you! You do not need to have insurance to use our services and we do not charge for visits or vaccines. If you have insurance, your insurance may be billed.

If you are interested, please complete the online consent form here: https://baltimorecountymd.jotform.com/252364663271054.

You can find more information about flu vaccines and other health questions at www.healthychildren.org.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

- Christina Halley, MSN, CPNP

challey@bcps.org

Food Pantry will be the first Thursday of each month!

Produce Pantry is the 3rd Thursday of each month!

Thursday, May 7, 2026 is the next food pantry date. Truck will arrive between 8am and 12pm. Please do not line up before 9:30 am as we have to have a safe arrival area for our students.

Produce Pantry will be May 21, 2026. Truck will arrive between 9- 11am Please do not line up before 9:30 am as we have to have a safe arrival area for our students.

Everyone in the community is welcome to come!

We look forward to seeing you on the first.

If you would like to volunteer or have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Ashton.

443-456-8876 or sashton@bcps.org

Overall School Wide Attendance Rate

Dundalk Elementary is currently under the BCPS standard of 94%

We still have time to get this number up!

Continue to come to school every day on time. Doors open at 8:25am, Late bell is 8:40am.

Our chronic absenteeism rate has declined! 🎉

If your student has missed more than 10 days of school they are considered at risk, 18 days at the end of the school year students are considered chronically absent (excused or unexcused).

The school has a step by step process we follow to inform/support parents with their students attendance.

Please be sure if your child is missing school it is due to an actual illness.

See nurse Shelbys guide previously mentioned for when to send your child to school or keep them home.

If you have concerns or need help getting your child to school please reach out to the school. Together we can make a difference. We are here to help!

Your child has a chance of winning BINGO every month. Everyday your child is at school on time they will be able to mark it on their bingo card. Bingo winners will be able to pick from our prize cart.

So get to school on time each and every day to get in on this fast track action!

Battle of the Homerooms!!

Everyday your child's homeroom has 94% attendance or better they will get a shout out on the morning announcements, they receive an owl race car to place on the outside of their door, plus a chance to be one the winning homerooms for the month and receive an extra special treat.

December's- Ms. Roeders Class

January- Mrs. Jacobs Class

February- Ms. Roeders Class

March- TWO WINNERS!!!- Ms. Fowlkes & Ms. Roeder

April- Mrs. Becker & Ms. Martinez

This month we are doing a dance party!!!!

Students are working hard on collecting charms. Students who are here 94% of the time for quarter 3 & 4 will received a special charm.

Who will collect the most?

Every month your child is here 94% or better they will receive another key chain charm to show off.

Mays charm is a sun!

Students with 94% attendance for the quarter will get a special charm!

Will your child receive a charm?

Students must have 94% attendance from March 2-June 5th in order to attend the show!!!

Come to school everyday so you don't miss out!

If you would like to volunteer at school or attend any field trip with your child then you must complete the volunteer training! BCPS has made it even easier, you can do everything online and will not have to print anything.

Click the link below to complete the volunteer process.

If you have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Vasquez DES CARES Liaison

jvasquez@bcps.org

Please use the link below from the Office of Food & Nutrition for information on menus, MySchoolBucks account for snacks, pin numbers, and much more.

Pre-K will be finishing up our unit entitled Exploring Museums. During this unit, we read stories about dinosaurs, castles, and fairy tales. After spring break, we will be starting a new unit entitled Growing our Garden. We will read stories about gardens, seeds, and planting. In math, we discussed how to make different sets with a number. For example, 6 can be made by combining 0 and 6, 1 and 5, etc. We have started working on reading our pre-decodable books. We will start spending more time outside. It is imperative that your child wear tennis shoes each day. This is for safety reasons. If your child is NOT wearing tennis shoes, they will NOT be allowed to play on the playground equipment.

In math, we continue to develop deep understandings of numbers to 120 as they estimate, count, compare, add, and subtract two-digit quantities using familiar models: sticks & bundles; dimes, nickels, and pennies; and the number line.

In reading, will discover that we can learn lessons from the stories we read and hear. We will read a variety of literature, and we will discover why people have enjoyed listening to and telling stories.

In health, we will soon begin a meaningful unit in the health education curriculum that has lessons related to keeping our bodies safe. This approved unit is aligned with the Maryland State Health Education Framework and the National Health Education Standards.

ELA: This month, we will be working on our animal habitat unit. Students will complete a research project about habitats at the end of the unit. We are continuing whole word blending in phonics also.

Math: This unit focuses on adding and subtracting within 1000. Students will learn different strategies like counting up and back, place value rules, and using number lines. We will begin recognizing unit fractions like 1/2,1/3, and 1/4. Please help your students by practicing making 10 and skip counting by tens and hundreds.

Students had a blast learning about how to grow their own vegetables on our field trip. They were very excited to plant their seeds. We just completed a reading module about how to grow plants so this was a great culmination to this unit!

5th grade math is completing MCAP review. We are practicing a number of skills that we have gone over all year, fractions, multiplication, division and many more. We highly encourage students to work on their math fluency and get great rest on MCAP days.

In content, we are finishing up our final unit in social studies that goes over how the US Government was formed.

5th Grade ELA is about to begin their 9th module! This one is all about mysteries and unexplained phenomena! Students will become detectives to help solve mysteries and will even get to write their own!

Important 5th grade dates:

· Zoo Trip: May 21st (permission slips due May 8th)

· Dance and Picnic: June 5th

· Farewell: June 12th

More information will be coming home in the coming weeks about those activities!

Reminder:

Fifth grade students will be preparing for their end of year activities. As we approach these events, students need to keep in mind that their behaviors will impact if they can attend these activities. Students are expected to follow the school promise and expectations set for them.

Starting March 9th and running through March 19th, fifth grade will be doing a penny wars fundraiser! All money raised will be going toward their end of year events.

As we approach the end of the school year, we are asking for your help in ensuring that all library books are returned.

Please take a few moments to check at home for any school library books and send them in with your child as soon as possible. Returning books now helps us complete our inventory and ensures all students are able to enjoy our library resources.

If you have any questions or believe a book has been misplaced, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you for your support and cooperation!

Mrs. Hammerbacher and Mrs. Cunningham

Thank you to everyone who came out to support our students at our annual DES Art show! We hope you enjoyed all the wonderful art work the students worked on this year!

Spring Art Shows

The art department is pleased to announce it is Art Exhibition Season! Please save these dates:

Dundalk Arts & Culture Festival: May 7th, 5PM - 7PM at Dundalk High School

(Students will be notified if artwork is selected)

The event will be a celebration of the different cultures and artistic achievements of the Dundalk community. We hope to highlight visual artwork, music and dance performances, and cultural displays of students from all our feeder schools.

Artists are working on…

5th Grade: Ceramic Owls & Artist Trading Cards

4th Grade: Mini Clay Meals and abstract chalk portraits

3rd Grade: Pop Art Stuffies & Ceramic Cupcakes

2nd Grade: Spring Garden Painting

1st Grade: Printmaking and Collage

Kindergarten: Ceramic Letters & Primary Colors

PreK: Assemblage using liquid glue

Dear Families and Loved Ones,

We are excited to share that Dundalk Elementary Field Day will take place on Friday, May 29, 2026!

Field Day will be split into two sessions:

• Primary Grades (PreK–2): 9:00 AM – 11:50 AM
• Intermediate Grades (3–5): 12:15 PM – 3:00 PM

To ensure your child has a safe and enjoyable experience, please have them bring:

• A bag
• Tennis shoes (required for participation)
• A hat
• Sunscreen
• A towel (if needed)

Please note the following important reminders:

• There are no dogs or cats allowed on school property during this event.
• If you choose to sign out siblings during the morning session, they may not return to school property for the afternoon session.

Behavior Expectations:
We want all students to enjoy Field Day. Students who receive a major referral between April 27 and May 27 will have 5 minutes deducted from their Field Day carnival time for each referral.

We are looking forward to a fun and active day for our students! Thank you for your support in helping make Field Day a success.

Dundalk Elementary P.E. Team

Mrs. Rodgers and Mrs. Gaphardt

We have had a lot of support from different organizations/companies. We really want to say thank you! We could not do what we do at school without your help and support.