Panther Press
October 30, 2026
Message from the Administrators
Dear Running Brook Elementary Families,
Can you believe we have wrapped up the first quarter of the 2026–2027 school year? Time certainly flies when you're learning and growing!We want to thank our incredible students, staff, and families for helping us start the school year strong! Our students have settled into their routines, and our teachers have been working hard to create engaging, meaningful learning experiences each day. Our administrative team has enjoyed visiting classrooms and seeing the wonderful teaching and learning taking place throughout Running Brook. We are excited about the progress our Panthers are making and look forward to continuing this momentum into the second quarter!
As we look ahead, there are several important opportunities for families to connect with our school community during the month of November. Please see the details below!
A special thank you to our RBES PTA and volunteers for making Thursday’s Trunk or Treat a success! Whether you decorated a trunk, volunteered, or joined in the fun, your support helped create a wonderful evening of community connection. We appreciate all you do for our Panther community!
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Katie Carter, Principal
Dale Allen, Assistant Principal
Jaime Gittleson, Assistant Principal
RBES Open Feedback From
Please use this open feedback form to pose questions, give kudos, or leave comments for the Running Brook Administrative Team. Your response can remain anonymous, or you can provide your name for a follow-up phone call.
Nominate Running Brook Elementary School’s 2027 Teacher of the Year!
Who is a teacher who makes a difference? Who encourages students to reach their full potential, creates a welcoming and supportive classroom, builds strong relationships, and helps make RBES a special place to learn and grow?
Please take a moment to use the nomination form to recognize an exceptional educator whose dedication and commitment make a positive difference in the lives of our students and school community.
Nomination Deadline: November 9, 2026
Who Can Nominate: Current students, staff members, and families
RBES Holiday Help for Families
Could your family use extra support during Thanksgiving and/or the winter holidays? Would you like to help another RBES family? Please complete the survey below to let our Student Support Team (SST) know! SST will review requests and available donations to support as many families as possible. Assistance is based on available resources and is not guaranteed; financial need and prior support may be considered when determining eligibility.
Please complete the survey below. Thank you for helping us care for our RBES community!
American Education Week is Coming Soon - Mark Your Calendar
RBES is excited to welcome families to American Education Week, November 16–20, 2026! This year, we invite families to join us on Monday, November 16, or Friday, November 20, for an opportunity to experience learning at RBES. We hope you can join us for this special opportunity to connect with our school community and support your child’s learning! See all details, visiting requirements, and grade specific times at this link.
Parent-Teacher Conferences ~ Our Goal Is 100% Participation!
At Running Brook Elementary School (RBES), we value the partnership between families and teachers. Parent-teacher conferences are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your child’s progress, discuss areas for growth, and work together to support their success. Our goal is 100% family participation! See all details at this link.
Coffee & Conversations at RBES
Join RBES Administration and Staff for Coffee and Conversations! Coffee and Conversations are informal opportunities for families to connect with RBES administration and staff, learn more about our school, and stay informed about quarterly school-wide topics. Each gathering will include time for families to ask questions, share feedback and ideas, and connect with other members of our school community. We look forward to listening, learning, and building strong partnerships with our RBES families!
Mark your calendars for this year’s dates:
- November 17th, 4:30 pm (In-person)
- January 27th, 7 pm (virtual)
- April 21st, 9:30 am (In-person)
Friendly Reminder:Toys & Fidgets Stay Home
Families, we kindly ask that students leave toys, fidgets, and other personal play items at home. These items can become distractions during the school day and take away from valuable learning time. We recognize that some students may need fidgets as part of their learning supports, and those accommodations will continue to be honored.
Thank you for helping us keep our classrooms focused on teaching and learning!
Lost and Found
Our Lost & Found is filling up, and we would love to reunite these belongings with their owners!We’ll remind students to stop by and look for anything they may be missing. Please encourage your child to take a peek during lunchtime- you never know what familiar treasure they might find!Parents and guardians are also welcome to check for missing items at the start or end of the school day. Please sign in at the front office when you arrive.
The Dentist is Coming to School
The dentist will be at RBES on December 3rd and 4th, 2026.
Services: Exams, cleaning, X-rays, and more.
Cost: Usually free with Medicaid/CHIP. Private insurance and self-pay accepted.
No Insurance? Ask us for a grant form!
Note: Skip this if your child already sees a private dentist.
Also: After you sign up, permission is granted for 1 year!
Sign up now:
👉 Enroll Online Here: https://www.myschooldentist.com/RBHCMD_schsrm
Or return the paper form from your child's backpack. Questions? Call 888-833-8441
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
📸 We're on Instagram!
Stay connected and see all the amazing things happening at Running Brook Elementary! Follow our new official Instagram account @hcpss_rbes for updates, event highlights, and a peek inside our wonderful school community.
Let's share our school spirit -- follow, like, and tag us to join the fun! 💜✨
School Wide Title I Program
Running Brook is a Title I School wide Program school. Title I is a federally funded program designed to close achievement gaps and ensure all children have an opportunity to access a high-quality education by providing funding for supplemental academic services and supports.
Jodi Aikens | Title I Teacher | Jodi_Aikens@hcpss.org
Chelsea Berube| Title I Teacher | Chelsea_Berube@hcpss.org
Lisa Goldberg | Title I Teacher | Lisa_Goldberg@hcpss.org
Shayla Bright| Community School Coordinator| Shayla_Bright@hcpss.org
Jane Hartlove | Family and Community Liaison | Jane_Hartlove@hcpss.org
Help us make our Clothing Swap a welcoming experience for Running Brook families!
Clothing can be dropped off in the front office from 10/23 to 10/28, during school hours. Please bag and label donations if possible. In keeping with our mission of treating everyone with respect and dignity, we ask that all donations are clean and in very good or excellent condition.
We need volunteers to sort donations on 11/2 and assist with setup, welcoming families, organizing clothing, and cleanup on 11/7. Sign up for 1 block or several, every helping hand makes a difference.
We truly appreciate your generosity. Thank you!