The Elkster

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

– Henry Ford.

Dear Elkridge Elementary School Families and Community,

Welcome back! Another school year is here, and we couldn't be more ready to dive in alongside you. This year, we're excited to welcome Jayme Brewink to our administrative team as we continue this work together. We're pushing our "100% ALL IN" commitment further than ever — because giving 100% for ALL our students isn't something we can do alone. It takes real partnership between home and school.

You are your child's first and most vital teacher, and that partnership is at the heart of everything we hope to accomplish this year. When we work together — staying connected, sharing what we each see in your child, showing up for one another — that's when students truly thrive. Our goal is for every student to feel a strong sense of belonging and to be empowered to reach their full potential, and we can't get there without you. We're excited to build this year of learning, growth, and success together.

Sincerely,

Danielle Shanks, Principal

Dr. Jonathan Swann, Assistant Principal

Jayme Brewink, Assistant Principal

Last year, EES operated as a Targeted Title I school, meaning our federal funding supported a smaller, targeted group of students working toward specific academic goals. We're excited to share that this year, EES is now a Fully-Funded Title I Schoolwide school — meaning these resources and supports now extend to serve all of our students. Thank you to all the families who shared such positive feedback with us at the end of last year as we prepared for this transition — your enthusiasm and support made a real difference in getting us here.

With this expanded Title I funding, we've been able to add:

• A fourth Reading Specialist, bringing our total to four

• Three Math Specialists

• A full-time Math Coach and ELA Lead Teacher

• A Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Contact

• Additional funding for student tutoring opportunities

• Targeted family workshops and sessions on how to support your child's learning at home — including dinner, materials, and teacher facilitation, all provided at no cost to families

Why the FARMS Application Matters More Than Ever

To continue receiving these vital funds, families must complete the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMS) application — even if you don't think you'll qualify. The more families who complete this form, the more funding and support our school can receive. Eligibility also unlocks additional benefits, like discounts on summer programs, SATs, and recreation programs.

A common misconception is that breakfast and lunch are automatically free for all students at Title I schools. That's not the case — families must complete the FARMS application to be considered for free or reduced-price meals.

Why This Year, Completing FARMS Is Especially Important

Recent federal legislation — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) — changes how families qualify for free school meals. Previously, families enrolled in SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid were automatically certified for free or reduced-price meals with no application needed. Under the new law, fewer families qualify for that automatic certification.

This change is expected to affect roughly 14,000 HCPSS families who were previously auto-enrolled and will now need to actively apply through FARMS. Losing these benefits could be a real hardship for many of our families, and we want to make sure no one falls through the cracks.

Our Call to Action: Please complete the FARMS application as soon as possible, even if you're unsure whether you'll qualify. HCPSS is reaching out directly to affected families, and we're committed to supporting that outreach here at EES. For more information, visit the HCPSS Title I Program webpage.

We understand that you may have specific preferences for your child, and we genuinely appreciate your trust and positivity as we make these important decisions. Thank you for helping your child understand that every teacher at EES is committed to their success and growth. We are confident that they will build strong connections with their new classmates and teacher in the coming weeks.

We're going "all in" on making sure we have the most accurate and up-to-date information for your child. The Family File is how you provide us with essential emergency and contact details. You must verify and/or update this information for each of your children every school year.

Your Family File MUST be completed before you can see your child's teacher and receive the Meet and Greet the Teacher Invitation. You can access and complete the Family File by logging into your HCPSS Connect Synergy account. Just select Online Registration at the top right of the page and then choose Family File Verification. Please note that while you can complete your Family File now, other resources, such as homerooms, teachers, and bus routes, will not be available until closer to the start of the school year.

***IMPORTANT REMINDER*** Even if you do not have or expect any changes to your family file, please be sure to go through all information pages and hit SUBMIT to verify and confirm.

Once logged in, parents/guardians will be asked to update or provide the following information: family details, parent/guardian contact information, emergency contact(s), and student details, including health information, PTA/PTSA directory inclusion, release of information, science agreement, and arrival/dismissal procedures.

• Resources on completing the Family File may be found online. Answers to frequently asked questions on Family File and HCPSS Connect are available on the HCPSS Help site.

The first day of school is Monday, August 24th! We are so excited to welcome our scholars and kick off a fantastic year of learning. Preschool and PreKindergarten/RECC students start on Thursday, August 27th. Here is the link to the 26-27 school supply list, too!

Our bell schedule is as follows:

• School Doors Open: 9:10 a.m. (Breakfast is available for purchase in the cafeteria)

• Late Bell & Instruction Begins: 9:25 a.m.

• Dismissal: 3:55 p.m.

Every minute with our students counts, so please plan to have your child(ren) at school on time each day. If you are dropping your child off by car, we recommend considering morning traffic when planning your route to avoid delays.

To keep our scholars safe and instruction running smoothly, any student arriving after the 9:25 a.m. late bell must be escorted to the front office and signed in by an adult per HCPSS policy.

The first week of school can be chaotic as everyone adjusts to new routines. We highly encourage having your child arrive and be dismissed the same way every day — consistency helps them learn their new routine faster.

On Monday, August 24th, and throughout the first week, staff members will be outside to help direct traffic and greet students. Please follow their directions to help keep things safe and moving smoothly for everyone. Updated arrival and dismissal procedures will be shared as the new school year approaches, so keep an eye out for that information.

Take a look below at the upcomming events!

👉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.