The Pony Express - Sept 23 to Oct 2
October 5-9, 2026
Dear JRR ECC Families,
Happy October! As we welcome cooler days and the colors of fall, we look forward to another month of learning, discovery, and connection at James Ryder Randall Early Childhood Center.
For our little learners, everyday moments offer opportunities to grow. You can extend learning at home by counting leaves on a walk, describing the colors and shapes of pumpkins, or sharing a favorite book. Give your child time to respond through words, gestures, pictures, or their communication device—every way of communicating matters!
Thank you for partnering with us and supporting our school community. Your encouragement, communication, and involvement help us create a welcoming place where every child can learn and thrive.
Please review this newsletter for upcoming events and reminders. We look forward to making more memories together this fall!
With appreciation,
Dr. Reina A. Guartico
Principal
James Ryder Randall Early Childhood Center
We are excited to welcome students from Frederick Douglass High School’s CRI Work Study Program to JRR ECC! Through this partnership, young adults will build workplace skills, independence, and confidence while contributing to our school community. For some, this is a special return to the school they attended as little learners. Below, Ms. Tiasha Christian shares a letter introducing the program and the meaningful opportunities it creates for students and families.
Letter from Ms. Tiasha Christian, FDHS Teacher
Dear James Ryder Randall Early Childhood Center Families,
We are excited to share that Frederick Douglass High School’s Curriculum Reference Instruction (CRI) Work Study Program is partnering with James Ryder Randall Early Childhood Center!
This partnership is especially meaningful because some of our students are returning to a school community they once belonged to—this time in a new role as young adults developing valuable workplace and life skills. Through our Work Study Program, our students have the opportunity to build independence, responsibility, communication skills, and job skills as they prepare for life after high school.
Our students participate in work experiences throughout the community, including within schools and local businesses such as department stores, Walmart, Target, and other community settings. These experiences let students practice real-world skills, build confidence, and discover their abilities while contributing to their community.
We hope this partnership gives families encouragement and hope for the future. A disability does not prevent a young person from learning meaningful skills, developing independence, contributing to their community, and becoming a working individual after high school. Our students continue to show us that with the right opportunities, support, and encouragement, they can accomplish meaningful goals.
We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with James Ryder Randall Early Childhood Center and look forward to the positive impact this experience will have on both our students and your school community.
Thank you for welcoming our students!
Warmly,
Tiasha Christian
Frederick Douglass High School
Curriculum Reference Instruction (CRI) Work Study Program
Please mark your calendars for these October schedule changes: Schools will be closed for students on October 16.
October 30 is an early dismissal day for students; children in the 3-year-old program will not attend school that day. Please plan ahead for any childcare or transportation adjustments.
Early Childhood Centers/Prekindergarten Guidelines
Lineamientos para los centros de primera infancia/prekínder
Full-Day Prekindergarten and Full-Day Preschool Special Education Program
Full-day prekindergarten and full-day preschool special education students will adhere to the normal school system policies for openings, closings, and early dismissals.
Half-Day Preschool Special Education
Half-day preschool special education and toddler students:
When there is a scheduled half day, no half-day preschool special education and toddler students will attend a.m. or p.m. sessions.
When there is a two-hour delay in the morning, no half-day preschool special education and toddler students will attend a.m. or p.m. sessions.
If schools are closed early due to inclement weather, the p.m. half-day preschool special education and toddler students do not attend. The a.m. half-day preschool special education and toddler students stay later (until approximately 1:30 pm) and ride the emergency p.m. buses home. Lunch will be provided.
When there is a scheduled early dismissal, no half-day preschool special education and toddler students will attend.
You can find more information at this link.
🎃 Pumpkin Patch Adventures!
Our 4s and Pre-K students will visit Montpelier Farms on October 28, and our 3-year-old program will enjoy an in-house pumpkin patch on October 29! Permission slips for the Montpelier Farm trip will be sent home on Wednesday, October 7. Please check your child's bookbag today.
We look forward to celebrating fall with fun opportunities to explore and learn. Please look for details from your child’s teacher.
Get ready for a magical celebration of reading, imagination, and school spirit! On Thursday, October 29, JRR ECC students are invited to come dressed as their favorite storybook character and join us for our Storybook Character Parade.
We encourage families to choose characters from books your child knows and loves. Costumes should be school-appropriate, comfortable, and safe for young children to wear throughout the school day.
We can’t wait to see our little readers bring their favorite stories to life! 📖✨🐴
🎃 Join Us for Trunk or Treat! Bring your family to JRR ECC on Saturday, October 31, from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. for treats, games, and activities! Families are invited to decorate a trunk with a family-friendly theme and hand out pre-packaged candy. Trunk participants should arrive by 10:00 a.m. to set up. Food will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting our students through the JRR ECC PTO.
Please complete and return the flyer’s participation/attendance form. Participation slips is sent home today, October 6th. Please check your child's bookbag. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Double Good fundraiser! Whether you purchased popcorn, shared our link, or encouraged friends and family to contribute, your support helped make this fundraiser a success.
Your generosity helps us provide meaningful learning experiences and opportunities for our little learners. We are grateful for your partnership and for the love you continue to show our school community.
Families are an essential part of everything we do at JRR ECC, and we would love for you to be part of our Parent Teacher Association (PTO)!
Joining the PTO is a great way to stay connected, share your ideas, support school events and activities, and help strengthen the partnership between home and school. Whether you have a lot of time to give or can only participate occasionally, every voice and every contribution matters.
Together, we can create even more opportunities for our children, support our staff, and continue building a strong, welcoming JRR ECC community.
We hope you’ll join us and help make this a wonderful year for our Ponies! 🐴💛
Synergy has replaced SchoolMAX as the student information system for Prince George's County Public Schools. Families will now use the Synergy ParentVUE portal, in place of the Family Portal, to access important information about their students.
ParentVUE is the portal that allows parents and guardians to view information about their student, including classroom assignments and scores, attendance, transcripts, graduation status and more. In ParentVUE, families can also update their phone numbers and emergency contact information and access the Online Registration (OLR) Application. Click here to view the ParentVue Guide.