Eagle Express
November 7th, 2025
Veterans Elementary
Calendar Events:
Fri. Nov 7 Conference Scheduling open at 8:00 am
Thurs. Nov 20 Conference Scheduling closed at 4:00 pm
Tues. Nov 11th Vision and Hearing Testing
Wed. Nov 12th Schools close 3 hrs early at 12:55 p.m.-No ½ day PreK/RECC
Nov 17-21 Scholastic Book Fair
Mon. Nov 24th Turkey Trot
Nov 24-26 School closes 3 hrs early at 12:55 p.m.-No ½ day PreK/RECC for
-Mon. 11/24 In Person Only Conferences
-Tues. 11/25 and Wed. 11/26 Virtual Conferences Only
Dear Veterans Families,
As we bring our first quarter to a close and continue working together to support the success and well-being of every student, we want to take a moment to highlight the importance of kindness and mutual respect in our school community. The Howard County Board of Education’s Civility Policy (Policy 1000) sets clear expectations for civil behavior among all stakeholders, including parents, staff, students, and community members. This policy emphasizes that a culture of civility is essential to creating a safe, engaging, and supportive environment for learning and growth.
As a school, we are committed to establishing and maintaining a culture of mutual respect, one in which every voice is heard, every individual is valued, and differences are approached with empathy and understanding. This shared commitment strengthens our relationships and models the character we hope to instill in our students.
We kindly ask that all interactions with our staff, whether in person, by phone, or online, reflect the values of respect, patience, and understanding. Our educators and support teams are deeply committed to your children’s success, and your partnership makes a meaningful difference.
Thank you for helping us maintain a positive and respectful atmosphere where everyone feels valued, supported, and safe.
Alexcia Redd, Keri Golibart and Jessica Legambi
Announcements
Report Cards - Quarter 1 report cards will be available online November 10, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Please watch the following screencast to access your student's report card. HCPSS utilizes the Standards Based Instruction and Reporting (SBIR) process, in accordance with Policy 8010 – Grading and Reporting: Pre-Kindergarten Through Grade 5. Under SBIR, grades reflect a student’s proficiency in meeting grade-level curriculum standards.
To support families in understanding these updates, the Standards Based Instruction and Reporting Family and Community Resources Canvas course provides essential information, including guides to Understanding Your Child's Report Card for Grades PreK-2 and Grades 3-5.
Academic Performance Codes represent what has been learned by indicating where the student stands in relation to grade-level standards and progress toward Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards for their current grade level.
For students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), detailed progress on IEP goals and objectives is provided in the Annual Goal(s) Progress Report, which is sent at the same time as the HCPSS report card. These IEP goals address skills that support progress toward grade-level standards.
If you have any questions about your student's report card, please reach out to your student’s homeroom teacher.
November Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences provide teachers and parents with an opportunity to discuss progress made through the first quarter and identify areas for growth. Conferences will be scheduled in 15-minute increments, focusing on ELA and scheduled with your child’s homeroom teacher. Please note that if your child is in 5th grade they may have a November math conference as a result of departmentalization. Below, please find the dates that teachers will be hosting in-person and virtual parent-teacher conferences:
Monday, November 24, conferences will be hosted in-person
Tuesday, November 25, conferences will be hosted virtually
Wednesday November 27, conferences will be hosted virtually (based on teacher schedules)
Beginning Friday, November 7, at 8:00 a.m., and continuing through Thursday, November 20, at 4:00 p.m., you can log on to HCPSS Connect at www.hcpss.org/connect to access the Synergy Conference Management System. You can then select your desired 15-minute conference time based on the teacher’s availability. Click here for directions to schedule your conference. Parents needing assistance with scheduling a conference should contact the front office staff at 410-313-1700..
More information will be forthcoming including virtual conference Google Meet Codes for virtual conference days. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the front office at 410-313-1700.
MAP Assessment - MAP scores are available now for parents to access. Linked here are directions for parents on how to access their students’ Fall MAP score reports.
Spirit's Showcase - a special evening for families to come together and celebrate our students’ hard work and creativity!
Families can join in the fun by trying out the obstacle course or cheering on their children as they show off their moves! As you explore the hallways, enjoy beautiful artwork displays created by our talented students. Plus, don’t miss the chance to check out our brand-new STEM materials, made possible through the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation grant, where families can explore hands-on learning activities together! Come see some of the amazing things happening at Veterans Elementary!
VES RELATED ARTS NEWS!
Go to the link below to view our Related Arts Newsletter!
November Related Arts newsletter COMMUNITY EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
TECHNICA 2025
Registration for Technica 2025 is now open! Technica is the world's largest hackathon celebrating underrepresented genders in tech, hosted on November 15-16 at the College Park Marriott Hotel and online on Gather!
Whether it's your first hackathon or 100th, come join us for a weekend of spooktacular coding and fun! There will be skill-building workshops and mentors to help you bring your creations to life, and fun events, free food, swag, and prizes as a treat 🎃
For more information, visit gotechnica.org/. Register today at gotechnica.org/register, and follow Technica on Instagram at @gotechnica for updates!
This is also a reminder that next week, on Thursday, November 6, we'll be having our third TechGirls lesson. It'll be about the organelles of our cells, also known as biology!
Girls should report to the art room (C24) after school.
Please pick up your child promptly at 5:30 p.m. at the school's front entrance. If your child has permission to walk home, an email reply or fill out the note template below is all we need to confirm this.
Please dismiss my child, [Child's Full Name] (Grade [Number]), at the conclusion of the TechGirls program.
They have standing permission to walk home immediately and should not wait for the car line or a parent pick-up.
This permission applies to the following dates: 10/23,... or every TechGirls session for the remainder of the fall semester.
Parent Signature: _________________________
Best Phone Number: [123-456-7890]
CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO REGISTER…
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
Arrival & Dismissal
Student arrival is from 9:10am- 9:25am. Students should not be dropped off or left unattended before 9:10 am. Parent/Guardian is responsible for their child’s supervision until the VES school doors open at 9:00am in the morning.
If your child has a change in their dismissal plans, please provide VES office staff AND the classroom teacher with this information by sending us an email to vestransportation@hcpss.org. We ask that you make your request no later than 2:00 pm. We will not honor a change in dismissal plans without parental approval. Please indicate the student's name, the date of the transportation change and the details of the transportation change in the email. (ie. will be a car rider instead of bus rider)
Early dismissals require you to sign your child/ren out by scanning the QR Code located on the table and near the door bell. Complete the Google Document and be ready to present your ID/License to the secretary. Early dismissals should be requested prior to 3:15pm.
Please bring your cell phone to scan the QR code.
Please be prepared to present your Photo ID.
Please plan accordingly. Students will be dismissed from class upon their parents’ arrival and after they have signed the student out from the front office. We cannot have the student dismissed ahead of parent arrival.
Student Absences
Send absent notes to vesabsence@hcpss.org including the child's full name, teacher name and explaining why your child will or was absent. If your child is ill for 5 days or more, you must provide a doctor’s note.
Lunch with your child
You must complete the Confidentiality Training Course and Child Abuse and Neglect Training. Return the 2 signed certificates to school. Once completed, sign-up to have lunch with your child using the Reservation Form. No siblings are allowed.
Family to Staff, Feel-good Feathers
Have you been impressed with the efforts of a VES Staff member? If so, take a moment to send them a Feel-good Feather to brighten their day! Some Family to Staff shout outs will even be highlighted in each Eagle Express and shared with staff. Thank you for the encouragement! Click here to give a shout- out!
Military-Connected Families at VES
We are looking to identify any active-duty or recently retired military-connected families. Our Purple Patriots, a student-led group, will be offering support and building connections for our military students. Some activities may include quarterly get-togethers and other opportunities to celebrate and support our military community.
If you are a military connected family, please complete this form. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy_Lane@hcpss.org.
Discretionary Days
HCPSS students are granted 3 days a year to use at their discretion for scheduled interviews with prospective employers, visits to post-secondary institutions, family trips, civic engagement, and other special events.
Such absences may not occur during exam or state-mandated testing periods unless authorized by the principal/designee.
A written request for such absences to be lawful/excused should be submitted at least one week in advance to the principal/designee. Please download the PDF fillable Discretionary Absence Form and email it to vesabsence@hcpss.org. The form is also available in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish
If you are requesting a day for a religious holiday not identified by the Howard County Public School System school calendar, please download the PDF fillable Religious Obligation Form and email it to vesabsence@hcpss.org
Safety Protocols for After-School Hours
We ask for your cooperation in maintaining a safe and secure environment after school hours by adhering to the following protocols:
Classroom Access:
After school, classrooms are closed to students and parents. If an item is forgotten, students and parents must first seek permission from a building administrator and the Night Chief Custodian before entering a classroom.
After-School Programs and Parks and Recreation After Care:
Once after-school programs have concluded (such as Girl Scouts), an adult or staff members will escort students to the front door for pickup. For students in Parks and Recreation aftercare, parents are asked to enter the building from the blacktop, ring the bell, and wait for authorization from staff before entering.
Students on School Grounds:
Students not involved in a supervised activity are expected to leave school grounds at the end of the school day.
Rodent Control In Schools
We are reaching out to ask for your help keeping our school pest-free all year long and want to share a few things to keep in mind as you send your child to school each day. Since food is one of the main reasons rodents try to get inside a building, please consider the following guidance:
Send snacks and lunches in sealed, hard plastic or metal containers rather than loose in bags. Rodents can easily chew through paper and thin plastic.
Use reusable lunchboxes with zipper closures, and make sure the zipper fully closes.
Send foods with strong odors like peanut butter and sweet treats in airtight containers.
Remind your child to bring home any uneaten food daily—don’t store snacks in desks, lockers or cubbies overnight.
Make it a routine to empty and wipe down lunchboxes every day.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for helping to make this a great year for your child.
Animals on School System Property & Service Animals
Animals in schools or offices, whether leashed or not, present health, safety, environmental and liability concerns. Students and staff may be exposed to potential physical health hazards, such as bites and/or allergy-related health problems. As a result, animals are prohibited from HCPSS building (there are a few exceptions). Animals are also prohibited from school system property during arrival, dismissal, recess and other Howard County Public School System sponsored events.
Use of Tobacco or Electronic Smoking Devices on School System Property
As a reminder, when attending events on school property, adults and visitors are expected to follow HCPSS policy. This includes smoking cigarettes or the use of electronic smoking devices, such as vapes, within the building and on the school grounds.
Policy 1050 states: The use, sale, promotion, or distribution of any tobacco product, cigarette rolling papers, or electronic smoking devices by students, HCPSS employees, and visitors is prohibited at all times and on all property owned, leased, or under the control or sponsored by HCPSS at all times.
Zum App
Using the app will allow you to track your child’s bus in real-time, receive pick-up notifications if you choose, and view the driver for each ride.
To start using the Zum app, please follow these instructions:
Log in to your account with the phone number or email address you have listed on your child’s record in Family File in HCPSS Connect
Verify your access by entering the one-time code sent to your device.
Check the notification settings to ensure you’re receiving Zum notifications, if desired, so you’ll know when the bus is arriving.