Our Elmwood Monthly News

Dear Families,

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed a restful and joyful holiday season filled with meaningful time with family and friends. We are excited to welcome our students back to school and recommit ourselves to our shared purpose as we begin the second half of the school year.

Research consistently shows that high-achieving schools are built on strong partnerships between schools and their communities, grounded in a shared vision and common goals. When families and educators work in harmony, schools flourish. Through collaboration, trust, and mutual support, we are better positioned to provide high-quality teaching and learning experiences for the students entrusted to our care.

As principal, I want you to know how much your partnership matters. Your support, engagement, and belief in our school community are invaluable. I look forward to continuing our work together as we elevate educational experiences and create meaningful success for every student.

With appreciation and optimism,

Jeffrey S. Hogan

There is direct positive influence on student achievement when students attend school 94% or more of the time.

We understand that there are some absences that are unavoidable. Students should remain home if they are:

• Running a fever over 100 degrees

• Vomiting

• Experiencing diarrhea

• Under the direct care of a doctor

If you would like support on whether or not to send your child to school, please contact Nurse Daniels in our health suite at 443-809-7396.

If your child is unable to come to school, please send in a note, letter from the doctor, text message, or call the front office at 443-809-5232 to ensure your child's absence is documented accordingly.

Check out what our Elmwood Eagles are doing in PE this month!

Fifth grade flute, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets and trombones had their first public performance just before winter break! They had a blast performing Jingle Bells for some of our PK, Kindergarten and 1st grade classes!

The Winter Concert will be held on Thursday, January 22nd at 6 pm in the gymnasium. The concert will showcase the performances of 5th grade Band, Strings and Chorus! A concert information letter will be sent home in the coming week.

Please reach out to Mrs. Ciganek at eciganek@bcps.org or Dr. Yacoub at ayacoub@bcps.org with any questions.

Dear Parents,

Vision & Hearing Screening Program will begin at Elmwood January 5th through 9th. Screenings are routinely conducted by Baltimore County Department of Health technicians for students in Pre-K, Grades 1 and 4, as well as kindergarteners who were not screened in pre-kindergarten. Also:

• Students with a suspected vision or hearing concerns as reported by school staff or parent/guardian.

• Students new to Baltimore County Public Schools.

• Students who were absent during last year’s screening.

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!

CCBC FAMILY LITERACY ESOL CLASSES: CCBC is holding another Family Literacy ESOL class registration! The classes are free and will be held beginning of December - February the Winter semester. In-person classes will take place at the locations shown on the back of the flyer.

If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please email Family Literacy ESOL esolfamilyliteracy@ccbcmd.edu or call 443-840-3456.

The federal government shutdown and impending funding halt for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is impacting families across Baltimore County and the state. BCPS remains committed to providing comprehensive resources and support to students and families impacted by the government shutdown.

BCPS Food and Nutrition Services

BCPS continues to serve breakfast and lunch at all schools, free of charge, every day. Snack and Supper programs are also available in many schools, reaching students that participate in after-school activities. Families can contact the school directly to learn about snack and supper programs or visit https://www.bcps.org/foodandnutrition.

BCPS Community Schools

Individual Community Schools within BCPS provide access to food and other essential resources for students and families. If your school is a Community School, please contact your Community School Facilitator for details on what support and services are available in your area. You can find contact information for all Community Schools here: BCPS Community Schools Contacts

Students Identified as Experiencing Homelessness

Students identified as experiencing homelessness can access food, housing, and other essential resources by emailing hep@bcps.org or contacting the Homeless Education Programs Office at 443-809-6311.

BCPS Student Support Services
Students and families can access support and services by connecting with counselors, social workers, pupil personnel workers and psychologists at the school to identify school specific resources. Additional information on resources can be found at Department of Student Support Services - Baltimore County Public Schools and Resources - Baltimore County Public Schools.

Additional Community Resources:

Baltimore County Food Bank Locator

Capital Area Food Bank

Maryland Food Bank

211 Maryland

Customer Service and Benefits for Maryland

State of Maryland:

State Resource Page-Impacted by Recent Federal Actions

Cornerstone Franciscan Ministries- Housing Assistance for students in Community Schools

Resources from the Baltimore County Government

Baltimore County Government has gathered resources to help with essentials like keeping the lights on, applying for unemployment benefits, finding housing assistance or connecting with services for people experiencing homelessness. Whether you’re looking for help for yourself, your family or a member of the community, the collection of linked resources can guide you to programs and organizations ready to assist.

State Resources and Information

SNAP and School Meal Programs

10.01.2025 - MD DHS - Federal Government Shutdown Update.pdf

LBHAs_Fed ShutDown Update 10.6.25.pdf

Federal Government Shutdown Resources 10.2025.pdf

Fact Sheet- Maryland Resources During a Federal Shutdown (Accessible) 10.2025.pdf

BCPS is partnering with Backpack Health to offer free virtual caregiver wellness and mental health literacy workshops on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from 6 - 7 p.m. These sessions are open to all BCPS families and provide valuable tools and strategies to support the wellbeing of both caregivers and children.

This initiative is made possible through the support of the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission and the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports.

Please see the flyer linked below for information from one of our mental health partners, Tidemark Behavioral Health.

Early dismissals between 3:50 PM- 4:05 PM should be avoided. Office personnel have already begun internal dismissal procedures and working to eliminate constant disruptions between 3:50- 4:05 pm in the office will help ensure a safe and timely dismissal for all students. Thank you in advance for your immediate cooperation.

Is your student doing something amazing in the community? Volunteering? Crushing it on the ball field? Involved in extra-curricular activities? Won an award?

We would love to feature them here!

Email your amazing student's accomplishments (including pictures, if you can!) to Ms. McGrain - amcgrain@bcps.org to be featured in our student spotlight!

For updates from BCPS, check out parent news in the bi-weekly FACEtime newsletter. Available in multiple languages.

Click the link below to see the latest FACETime Newsletter

https://secure.smore.com/n/g75hq-facetime-newsletter

Parent University is a comprehensive resource provided by BCPS, designed to empower and support families in their child's journey through education. They offer a variety of tools including videos, workshops, and system updates to help you stay informed and engaged in your child's learning experience. Whether you're looking for strategies to support academic growth, navigate school systems, or foster social-emotional development, we're here to provide guidance every step of the way.

The program aligns closely with the Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) strategic goals, working to strengthen the partnership between families, schools, and the broader community. Through these efforts, the aim is to create a collaborative environment where families are well-equipped to help their children succeed academically and thrive personally.

Click the link below to see all the resources available.

https://www.bcps.org/cos/communications/face/parent_university

It's never too early to see how your student is doing in their classes! You can always check on your student's progress through Schoology and Focus.

Not sure how to get an account? Check the links below!

The Home School Compact is an agreement that all stakeholders (teachers, families and students) hold to ensure success as a school community. The compact is linked below. We love to hear from you! If you have any suggestions, please complete the family feedback survey linked below as well!

• 1/5: Schools re-open
• 1/16: End of the 2nd marking period; schools close 3-hours early for grading and reporting
• 1/22: 5th grade Winter Concert, 6:00 pm
• 1/19: MLK Day: Schools and Offices Closed
• 1/29: Report cards distributed

Email: amcgrain@bcps.org
Website: https://elmwoodes.bcps.org
Location: 531 Dale Avenue, Baltimore, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-5232
Twitter: @elmwoodes