Robert Frost ES
2026-2027 September Newsletter No.1
Dear Robert Frost Families,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! A special, warm welcome goes out to all of the new families joining our community this fall. Here at the Home of the Tigers, our students R.O.A.R. every single day by being Responsible, Orderly, Attentive, and Respectful, and we are so excited to embark on another year of learning, growing, and thriving together.
To help your family settle into a smooth routine, please note our updated daily schedule. Our new school hours are 7:30 AM to 1:45 PM. Doors will open every morning at 7:10 AM, and dismissal will begin at 1:40 PM. We are delighted to share that breakfast and lunch will remain completely free for all students this year. To help us maintain funding for this wonderful program here at Robert Frost, we kindly ask every family to complete the Free and Reduced Meals application online as soon as possible.
We are eager to see you all in person at our Student Orientation Day on Monday, August 24, 2026. Families with students in Grades K–2 are invited to join us from 8:30 AM to 9:15 AM, while Grades 3–5 will meet from 9:30 AM to 10:15 AM. During orientation, please be sure to share your child’s daily dismissal plan, food allergies or special information directly with their teacher.
Speaking of transportation, student bus assignments are now available to view in Synergy. We strongly encourage all eligible students to ride the bus, as on-site parking for drop-off and pick-up is very limited. Please ensure your child arrives at their assigned bus stop at least 10 minutes before the scheduled arrival time. To stay seamlessly connected with us, make sure to sign up for ClassDojo for classroom updates and download the Chipmunk: School Bus Tracking App to monitor daily bus routes.
Looking ahead, please mark your calendars for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 5:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our dedicated staff and explore the incredible instructional and extracurricular programs we have in store for the year ahead.
We encourage you to help your child prepare by setting consistent bedtime routines so they can arrive well-rested, on time, and ready to learn each morning. Please take a moment to review the additional dates in this newsletter regarding upcoming first-quarter events and school closures. We cannot wait to fill our hallways with joy, curiosity, and tiger pride!
Dr. Tracie Connelly
Principal, Robert Frost Elementary School
Greetings Robert Frost´s Family!
Look for updates and communications through ClassDojo.
Any suggestions please email me at sofia.ledesma@pgcps.org or send a dojo message!
The Office of Community Schools would like to extend a huge welcome to all of our new and and returning students. May all of you have an successful academic school year. We look forward to working with you to make this possible.
Welcome back for another wonderful school year at Robert Frost Elementary School!
We will be working hard to continue all of the good work we did last year on attendance, behaviors and academics. We will start the year off with classroom lessons about bullying vs. conflict, rules of the school, and how to be a good friend.
I will be doing individual and group counseling on controlling our emotions and ways to calm down when we get upset.
We came close to cutting Chronic Absenteeism in half from SY25 to SY26 and we want to build on that success. It is important for students to not miss 18 days in a school year. If your student misses 2 days in a month they will be considered Chronically Absent. Please send in excuse notes for illness and send your students whenever they are healthy.
We will also be trying to improve student sleep this year. Many children across the country are chronically sleep deprived and not getting enough sleep leads to missed buses, getting sick more often, being sleepy and unfocused in school. Let's get our kids to bed earlier this year and put all screens away an hour before bedtime.
Here's to a great school year!
Kodi Ross - Professional School Counselor
Dear Families,
Welcome to the new school year! I’m excited to begin another year of reading with our students and families. September is a wonderful time to settle into new routines and make reading a regular part of the day.
Reading together can look different in every home. Your child might read to you, listen while you read aloud, or take turns reading with you. Taking a few minutes to talk about what you read can make the experience even more meaningful. Sometimes, one good question is all it takes to get the conversation started.
Grades K–1: What do you notice in the pictures? What do you think will happen next? What was your favorite part?
Grades 2–3: What happened that was important? What did you learn about the character? What makes you think that?
Grades 4–5: What stood out to you? Why do you think the character made that choice? What is something the reading made you wonder about?
Choose just one question and give your child time to share their thinking. They can talk about their ideas, draw a picture, or write about them.
As we begin the school year, I hope your family finds time to enjoy some good books and conversations together. Even a few minutes of reading each day can become a wonderful part of your family’s routine.
I’m looking forward to all the reading adventures this school year will bring!
Ms. Rodriguez
Going Back to the Basics in the Library
This school year, our students will be “Going Back to the Basics!” in the library!
We will focus on building strong foundational math skills through hands-on learning, engaging activities, and the use of math manipulatives to help students explore mathematical concepts in fun and meaningful ways.
Students will also have the opportunity to check out books each week, encouraging a love of reading while developing their reading habits and independence.
We are excited for a year of learning, exploring, and growing together in the library!
Ms. Banks
Dear Families,
We are looking forward to another year with our wonderful returning students and welcoming others to our Robert Frost family!
This year there will be a greater emphasis on learning math by allowing students to be more hands-on. Students will have access to manipulatives throughout the school year and students will be challenged as they are encouraged to work collaboratively with others.
As always, please practice basic math skills at home. Encourage your child to add and subtract daily. Older students beginning with third grade should also review their multiplication and division facts daily.
Fourth and Fifth grade students will be taking the iReady RELA diagnostic before September 11th.
- The purpose of the Diagnostic is not to give students a score or grade, but instead to determine how to best support student learning.
All Kindergartners will be taking the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment:
- As required by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (the Blueprint) and COMAR 13A.08.01.02-3, all kindergarten students in Maryland must participate in a Kindergarten Readiness Assessment that is racially and culturally unbiased; evaluates language and literacy skills, academic knowledge, and social development; and enables educators to develop a holistic understanding of each child’s readiness for kindergarten and the supports the child may need.
What is new this year in testing? MSTAR.
MSTAR stands for the Maryland System of Testing Academic Readiness. It replaces the MCAP English Language Arts and mathematics assessments in Grades 3–8 throughout Maryland.
Its purpose is to:
- Measure how well students have mastered Maryland’s grade-level ELA and mathematics standards.
- Provide clearer information about each student’s academic achievement and growth over time.
- Help teachers and schools identify strengths, learning gaps, and areas needing additional instruction.
- Allow PGCPS and the state to monitor the performance of schools and student groups.
- Meet federal requirements for annual statewide testing.
The first testing window will open September 8th.
As always, remember… Math is your friend!
Warm Regards,
Mr. Tamoshunas
Math Resource Teacher & School Testing Coordinator
My name is Larri Stancil, and I am your child's Kindergarten teacher! I am extremely excited for the fun & learning that will take place in Kindergarten! School begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 1:45 p.m.
Students will begin to enter the building at 7:10 a.m. Please remember to send your child to school with a refillable water bottle, backpack, and a change of clothes.
I am looking forward to partnering with you to make your child's kindergarten experience a great one! See you at Back to School Night on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 5:30pm.
Ms. Stancil
Welcome to 1st Grade!
We are so excited to welcome your child to 1st grade! The beginning of the school year is a special time as we adjust to being back in school all day. We will begin learning how to follow classroom rules and routines. Over the next few weeks, we will focus on building a strong, positive classroom community that will support us all year long. Students will be learning routines and expectations in all subject areas-math, reading, social studies, science and health.
Thank you for sending in all of the school supplies. We truly appreciate your support! If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact us anytime through Class Dojo. We’re looking forward to a great year together!
Ms. Jones
We are still working hard and preparing for third grade.
Here is what is store for our second graders:
- We read fiction and nonfiction stories about animals and compare and contrast two similar fairy tales based on a classic story.
- We will solve two-step word problems and collect and represent data on graphs, and identify shapes by their attributes.
- Students will learn about the living and nonliving things that are in different habitats.
- Students will continue to learn the different types of government and what their roles are.
Most importantly, students will get ready to be third graders!
Check my Class Dojo for any updates.
Ms. Rubio
Welcome to 3rd Grade! 🍎
I am excited to begin a wonderful year of learning, growing, and exploring with your child. We have many exciting learning experiences ahead of us!
Math: We will begin the year by exploring data and multiplication. Students will learn to:
~ Read and create scaled picture graphs and bar graphs.
~ Solve problems using information from graphs.
~ Understand equal groups.
~ Use skip counting to help with multiplication.
~ Represent multiplication with pictures, groups, arrays, and equations.
Science: Our first science unit is Playground Forces! Students will become young scientists as they investigate:
Unit 1: Playground Forces
~ Interact with mechanical forces and how balanced and unbalanced forces change the motion of object.
~ Explore electrical charges and how like and unlike charges exert forces on each other.
~ Explain magnetic forces and magnetic fields.
I look forward to partnering with you to make this a fun, successful, and exciting 3rd grade year!
Welcome to our 3rd Grade Family! ⭐
Mrs. Watson
Looking ahead to September, we’ll dive into HMH Into Reading Module 1, where students will strengthen comprehension strategies such as recognizing “Aha Moments.” We will also be preparing for our upcoming writing assignment by learning narrative elements.
In social studies, we’ll continue deepening our understanding of communities and how they connect to our daily lives.
Families, please note that students will also take their i-Ready diagnostic this month, which helps us tailor instruction to each learner’s needs.
We’re off to a strong start and can’t wait to keep growing together
Ms. Turner
Welcome back to another exciting year.
In the month of September in Health we will be learning about Community Safety.
As for science we will be learning about waste Diversion. We will also be learning about speed, motion and and what happens when cars collide.
In math we have a new curriculum and we start off with factors and multiples, followed by fraction equivalence and comparison.
Ms. Bechtold
Ms. Glover | Reading, Writing & Social Studies
Hello, Families! 💛 We are off to a wonderful start in 5th grade! Students are learning our classroom routines, building our literacy community, and getting ready for a great year of reading, writing, thinking, and learning together.
📚 What We’re Learning: Cycles 1 & 2
Our first reading unit is Module 8: A New Home, where students will explore the question: How do people adapt to new experiences and make a new place home?
Students will read a variety of texts while practicing important fifth-grade skills such as theme, making inferences, text structure, character analysis, comparing and contrasting, and using text evidence to support their thinking.
🏠 How Families Can Help
Encourage your child to:
📖 Read for 20 minutes each day 💭 Tell you about what they are reading 🔎 Use evidence from the text to explain their thinking ✏️ Practice writing in complete sentences 📚 Visit the library and explore both fiction and nonfiction books
💛 A Note from Ms. Glover
I am excited to partner with you this year as we help our students grow into confident readers, writers, thinkers, and learners.
Thank you for your continued support!
Your Partner in Learning, Ms. Glover 🍎📚💛
Welcome back!
I can't wait to get started learning science and math!
We will begin by learning about volume in math and we will begin learning about different types of scientists.
I'm looking forward to an awesome year!
Ms. Stimson
Hello SEAD Families!
Welcome once again to the 2026–2027 school year! We are excited to begin another wonderful year of learning, growing, and working together with our SEAD students and families.
During the month of September, our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons will focus on building relationships, getting to know one another, establishing positive routines, and understanding classroom and school expectations. These lessons will help our students begin the year feeling welcomed, supported, and prepared for success.
A few important reminders for families:
Please check your child’s backpack daily for important information and assignments. Encourage your child to complete and return homework as assigned. Please review and sign your child’s Daily Behavior Chart each evening and return it to school the following day. Your participation helps us maintain consistent communication between home and school.
Stay Connected with ClassDojo! ClassDojo invitations have been emailed to all parent/guardian email addresses currently on file. Please join your child’s ClassDojo classroom to stay connected and receive important classroom updates, school announcements, reminders, and celebrations throughout the year.
We are looking forward to a positive, productive, and successful September! Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we can make this a great school year for our SEAD students!
Brandi Watts
SEAD Coordinator
Hello
Welcome, Welcome Welcome to Ms. Credle's Kindergarten, Social, Emotional , and Academic Development Program class.
I am so excited to welcome your child and your family to our classroom. Kindergarten is an important year filled with new experiences, friendships, learning, and growth. My goal is to create a safe, caring and supportive environment where every child feels valued confident, and ready to learn.
Let's work together and have a wonderful year. Teamwork makes the dream work.
Ms. Credle
2nd Grade Content Focus Academic Growth:
- In Reading, we are diving into foundational phonics, context clues, and building reading stamina with short chapter books.
- In Math, our focus is on place value up to 1,000 and mastering basic addition and subtraction strategies.
Social & Emotional Development:
Students are learning:
- Classroom routines
- Active listening
- Building emotional regulation skills to work independently and collaboratively.
Key Highlights:
- We are establishing strong daily habits, encouraging active participation, and developing independence as problem solvers.
3rd Grade Content Focus Academic Growth:
- In Reading, we are transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn, focusing on main idea, key details, and vocabulary in complex informational texts.
- In Math, we are introducing multiplication concepts, array models, and word-problem strategies.
Social & Emotional Development:
Third graders are building:
- Self-advocacy
- Conflict resolution
- Teamwork skills: learning how to offer constructive feedback and support their peers.
Key Highlights:
- Students are taking ownership of their learning responsibilities, adapting to higher academic expectations, and practicing project-based collaboration.
Mr. Nleya
Check for any updates on Class Dojo.
Mr. Boyd
Check for any updates on Class Dojo.
Mr. Njabebuh
ELD (English Language Development) Team
Welcome, ELD Families! 2026–2027
Welcome to Robert Frost Elementary School!
We are excited to begin another wonderful year of learning and growing together. Our ELD program supports your child in developing English language skills while building confidence, making friends, and succeeding in every classroom.
Families are an important part of your child’s success! Please encourage your child to read, talk, ask questions, share ideas, and practice English at home in fun and meaningful ways.
Helpful ELD Family Resources
PGCPS ELD Family & Community Resources – School and district information, programs, and family supports.
Reading at Home – Read books together in English or your home language. Talking about the story in any language helps children build vocabulary and understanding.
Talk, Talk, Talk! – Encourage your child to describe experiences, explain ideas, and tell stories. Every conversation is an opportunity to learn language.
Vocabulary Practice – Choose a few new words each week. Discuss their meaning, use them in sentences, and look for them while reading.
Stay Connected – Please communicate with your child’s teacher and ELD teacher whenever you have questions or need support.
Below are the ELD teachers' grade assignments and email for SY 2026-2027:
- Magdalena Scarato- magdalena.scarato@pgcps.org
- Lina Dasher-linateresa.dasher@pgcps.org
- Mark Levine-mark.levine@pgcps.org
- Lucia Constantino-lucia.constantino@pgcps.org
Together, we can help every child feel welcomed, confident, and ready to learn!
Robert Frost ELD Team
Your involvement, encouragement, and open communication have played an important role in helping our students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. It has been a privilege to work alongside you in supporting your children’s success. We are proud of the progress our students have made and appreciate the trust you place in us each day.
We wish you and your family a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer break. We look forward to continuing our partnership and working together again this fall for another successful school year!
Please complete this IEP Parent Survey to help us improve the quality of our services and better support our students and families. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will assist us in continuing to strengthen our programs and collaboration efforts.
Remember,
Click: We Are Here to Help You!
Hello, Welcome back to the 2026-2027 school year!
I am happy to be back as a second-year teacher at Robert Frost.
This year, I am looking forward to teaching all our students new and exciting art. We will be exploring drawing, painting, watercolor, and much more. Also, we will be looking forward to our annual end-of-the-year art show.
I am looking forward to an amazing year with all of you. Have an artistic day!
Ms. Andrews
Mr. Porter
I wanted to take this opportunity to say welcome back!
I’m very excited to be back at Robert Frost Elementary and I am looking forward to another exciting year teaching your children. We are going to have a wonderful year.
If you have any questions for me during the year, please do not hesitate to contact me through class dojo.
Respectfully,
Miss Fortunato/Physical Education Teacher
Robert Frost Elementary
Your CIRT Ms. Thorlie here.
I'm excited to be starting the new school year with you all.
I'm looking forward to supporting our students and working together throughout the year.
Here's to a great school year! Looking forward to working with you all!
Important Dates
September 3rd ...Back to School Night 5:30 PM
September 7th ....Labor Day- Schools Closed
September 16th...Professional Development~School Closed for Students
September 17th...Second Cup of Coffee at 8:30 AM
September 21st ..Yom Kippur~Schools Closed for Students
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October 2nd.........Early Dismissal for Students (Teacher Professional 1/2 Day)
October 16th........Professional Development~Schools Closed for Students
October 30th........Early Dismissal @ 11:00 AM (Teacher Planning 1/2 Day)
October 30th........End of First Quarter
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November 3rd......Schools Closed (Election Day)
November 11th....Schools Closed (Parent~Teacher Conferences)
