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Dear Laurel Woods Community,

As we wrap up another incredible school year, it is hard to believe that summer is already upon us! June has been filled with joy, celebration, and opportunities for our students to shine. Throughout the month, we enjoyed a fabulous PTO Block Party, Student Congressional Hearings, a fun-filled Field Day, and a wonderful Strings, Orchestra, and Band Showcase that highlighted the talents and hard work of our student musicians. We were also honored to recognize the many volunteers and community partners who support our school through our Partner and Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. Their generosity, time, and dedication help make Laurel Woods a special place for our students and families. Additionally, we are incredibly proud of Skylar L. and Skyla T.-F., who were recognized as Community Schools Student Trailblazers for their leadership and student voice.

Tomorrow evening, we are excited to celebrate Ms. Christine Parker, Ms. Katie Lee, and Ms. Susan Wilmes, who have been nominated as SECAC Gladiators and will be recognized at the 3rd Annual Gladiator Awards for their dedication and going above and beyond for students with disabilities. We have an exciting final week ahead, including 5th Grade Promotion on Monday, June 15th, and our beloved schoolwide clap-out on the last day of school as we celebrate another successful year of learning, growth, and achievement.

As we close the school year, we would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Kahlilah Braxton and Ms. Katherine Lee for their service, leadership, and dedication to the Laurel Woods community. Over the years, they have positively impacted countless students, staff members, and families, and their contributions will leave a lasting mark on our school. While we will certainly miss them, we are excited for the opportunities that lie ahead and wish them every success in their new roles. At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Elissa Andrade and Ms. Mary Geiser to the Laurel Woods family. We look forward to the experience, passion, and commitment they will bring as we continue building a bright future for our students together.

Thank you for your partnership throughout the year. This will be our final official Panther Post of the school year, though we will continue to share periodic updates over the summer. We wish all of our Panther families a safe, happy, and restful summer break!

Warmly,

Tanisha

As the SY25-26 comes to a close, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the staff members who will be pursuing new opportunities during the upcoming school year. Each of these individuals has contributed to the Laurel Woods community in meaningful ways, supporting our students, families, and staff. We thank them for their service and dedication and wish them all the best in their next adventure:

Mr. Tom Bowen, PPW; Ms. Samantha Fenn, .5 media specialist & .5 technology teacher; Ms. Mariela Fregoso Aguilar, .4 ELD teacher; Ms. Julie Metakes, Prinicipal Secretary; Ms. Adriene Rodgers, ELD teacher; Ms. Knetha M. Wallace, ELD teacher; Mr. Kevin Blackwell, 5th grade paraeducator; Ms. Eileen Cordova, 2nd grade teacher; Ms. Francesca Joseph, Special Education Contracted Teacher; Ms. Catherine Koch, ELD teacher; Ms. Alexis Luame, Special Education Contracted Paraeducator; Ms. Emarni Mganga, Special Education Contracted Paraeducator; Ms. Naomi Moore, Special Education Contracted Teacher; Ms. CiCi Thompson, Special Education Contracted Paraeducator; Mr. Jerry Zheng, Band/Strings Substitute Teacher; and Mr. Stephen Whiddon, Band/Strings Teacher.

As we look ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, we are excited to welcome several new staff members to the Laurel Woods family and to share our grade-level teams for next year. We know that many families are eager to see some of the changes taking place across grade levels, and we are confident that our talented staff will continue to provide engaging learning experiences while building strong relationships with students and families.

PreK

• Ms. Lauren Leclercq
• Ms. Taylor Hagerty
• Ms. Amanda Green
• Ms. Teresa Ories

Kindergarten

• Ms. Nisa Morris
• Ms. Gabrielle Fung
• Ms. Clairanne Chairs
• Ms. Jenna Peregoy

Grade 1

• Ms. Ashley Daniels
• Ms. Elizabeth Jay
• Ms. Linda Barkenbush
• Ms. Lauren Hoyson

Grade 2

• Ms. Skylar Gouin
• Ms. Grace Hendricks
• Ms. Nicole Murray
• Grade 2 Teacher (name not being publicly shared)

Grade 3

• Ms. Brianna Federline
• Ms. Emma Cierlitsky
• Mr. John McMahon
• Ms. Jessica Alejandro

Grade 4

• Ms. Sarah Turpin
• Ms. Jessica Preston
• Ms. Rachel Allred
• Ms. Michelle Burdett

Grade 5

• Mr. Timothy McAneny
• Ms. Tanya Yeoman
• Ms. April Williams
• Ms. Ruth Egan

Please Join Us in Welcoming Our New Staff Members:

Ms. Neliya Noble, Special Education teacher; Ms. Kaitlyn Kilcarr, Special Education Teacher; Ms. Evelin Sarmiento, Instructional Paraeducator; and Mr. Stephen Ageyi, Student Assistant.

We are excited about the talents, experiences, and perspectives these new team members bring to Laurel Woods and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our students and school community.

As we reflect on the 2025-2026 school year, we are proud of the growth our students have made and the progress we have achieved together as a school community. Our overall attendance increased from 93.2% last year to 94.0% this year, while chronic absenteeism decreased from 22.8% to 19.1%, moving us closer to our goal of ensuring students are present and engaged in learning every day.

We also saw encouraging growth in our K–5 DIBELS reading data. At the beginning of the year, 54.1% of students were performing At or Above Benchmark. By the end of the year, that number increased to 62.7%, reflecting growth in foundational reading skills across grade levels. Additionally, the percentage of students performing Well Below Benchmark decreased from 30.0% to 24.3%. While we know there is still work to do, these results reflect the hard work of our students, staff, and families and demonstrate our continued commitment to helping every Panther grow and succeed.

If your child borrowed a band or orchestra instrument from LWES this school year, please return it as soon as possible.

All Band and Orchestra Instruments Are Now Past Due and Should Be Returned ASAP

Band Instruments: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion

Orchestra Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and for helping ensure instruments are available for students next school year. 🎶

Registration assistance will be available throughout the school day during the kickoff week. Please consult the HCPSS website for updated information on Enrollment and Registration.

Age Eligibility for Kindergarten:

• Kindergarten is a mandatory grade in the state of Maryland.
• Children must be five years old on or before September 1st to attend kindergarten.
• Children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2026 must have been born between September 2, 2020 and September 1, 2021.
• Students will be enrolled in the attendance area in which they live. Please refer families to School & Bus Locator to confirm the assigned school.

Every child who is 5 years old on or before September 1 must be enrolled in a kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver.

Registration assistance is available throughout the school day. Please call to make an appointment (410) 880-5960. You may find additional supports by consulting the HCPSS website for updated information on Enrollment and Registration.

The HCPSS elementary curriculum offices have compiled several activities and strategies for students to enhance their learning during the summer. These resources include games, strategy instruction tips, field trip suggestions, and much more. Please click on your desired grade level below to access the resources.

• Prekindergarten
• Kindergarten
• Grade 1
• Grade 2
• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grade 5

If you have a Kindergarten through 5th grade student and will be relocating out of the Laurel Woods Elementary School district over the summer, please email Nicole Cestola at Nicole_Cestola@hcpss.org. She will provide you with withdrawal paperwork to enable you to enroll your child(ren) in a new school(s). It is not necessary, but if you have the new school information for next year, please include that information in your email. Thank you for your consideration.

End of Year Medication

If your child has medication in the Health Room at school, please be sure to pick it up during the last week of school. Medication is not able to be kept in the Health Room over the summer and may be discarded if not picked up by the last day of school. Please contact the school Health Room to arrange a time to pick up medication.

Annual Health Checkups

As you schedule your child/ren to have an annual health checkup, please remember to send completed forms to the Health Room.

Immunization Reminder

If your child/ren receive any immunizations, please be sure to provide a copy to the Health Room. Each year we must submit data to the State showing we are in compliance with student immunizations. If all required immunizations are not complete your child/ren may be excluded from school within the first few weeks of returning for the 2026-27 school year until immunizations are updated.

Medications in Health Room for 2026-27 school year

Students who require medications to be kept in the Health Room for 2026-27 school year, both Prescription and Over the Counter Medications will need to have new orders provided to the Health Room. New orders must be dated on or after July 1, 2026. We are unable to use orders from 2025-26 school year for next year (2026-27). Medication orders expire at the end of the school year. ALL MEDICATIONS, BOTH PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER REQUIRE A NEW MEDICATION ORDER EACH YEAR. Please note HCPSS Health Rooms do not provide any medication to students unless provided by Family with proper order form.

Student and parent/guardian observer access to 2025-26 Canvas courses will end at 11:59 p.m. on July 4, 2026. Students who will not be attending a HCPSS school in the fall, should download their Google Drive files if they wish to keep them. Once HCPSS accounts are deactivated, students will no longer be able to access the files in their account.

Looking for ways to keep your child engaged, active, and learning this summer? We've put together a collection of summer events, activities, camps, programs, and family resources for Laurel Woods families!

Whether you're looking for enrichment opportunities, outdoor adventures, library programs, community events, or simply some fun ways to make memories together, there's something for everyone.

Check out our Summer Fun 2026 guide here. Spanish version here.

We hope this resource helps your family make the most of the summer months while staying connected, curious, and engaged. Wishing all of our Panthers a safe, fun, and memorable summer! 🐾☀️

Summer Fun 2026: Events, Activities, Camps, and Resources for LWES Children and Families 🌴📚🎨⚽🏕️

We truly value input from our families and community partners as we strive to grow and improve. Your feedback helps us better serve our students—so please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with our LWES administrative team. Your response can remain anonymous, or you can provide your name for a follow-up phone call.

We are excited to share that since the May PTO meeting, several parents have stepped forward with interest in serving on the PTO Board. As a result, we will hold a special meeting next Wednesday 6/17 at 7pm to vote the PTO back into active status and elect these board positions. We have candidates for the needed positions of President, Vice President and Treasurer and we are still seeking a volunteer for the Secretary role. Please reach out to ptolwes@gmail.com if you are interested!

Wednesday, June 17th - 7pm on Zoom

Meeting ID: 830 9684 2009

Passcode: LWESPTO

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83096842009?pwd=RImp3NM6p2mf4CbmARlahS5ZeQPuaV.1

June

• 06.08: HCPL Summer Reading Presentation; Full Day for Students
• 06.15: 8:50am 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony; Last Day for ½ Day PreK/RECC
• 06.16 12:15pm Early Dismissal
• 06.17: 5th Grade Picnic; 12:15pm Early Dismissal
• 06.18: Last day for students; 12:15pm Early Dismissal

For a complete list of dates and events visit https://lwes.hcpss.org/events

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States and the great experiment of self-governance our Founders set out on, the Office of Congresswoman Elfreth is hosting an America 250 Video Contest. The contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage talented young storytellers in our Congressional District to share what participation in our government means to them and to reflect on the significance of America 250 to our nation. Videos submitted to the contest will have a chance to be featured in a compilation on Congresswoman Elfreth’s social media, showcasing what America 250 means to young people in Maryland’s Third District.

The contest is open to all residents of the Third Congressional District under the age of 18. Students can verify their District residency HERE. There will be two categories for the contest: youth and teen. All applicants under 12 years old will be eligible for the youth category, and all applicants ages 13 to 17 will be eligible for the teen category. A winner will be chosen from each category.

Please find all additional information on the website HERE. The submission period will close on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM.

As part of the A+ Partnership with HCLS, HCPSS is invited to share information and resources about summer reading with all our students and families. Please see the information below from HCLS staff.

Summer Reading 2026 Flyer Teen Summer Reading Flyer

2026 Summer Reading Adventures: Into the Wild

Sponsored by Friends & Foundation of HCLS

June 15 through August 15 read, listen, learn, connect and celebrate all summer by participating in one of our summer reading programs. For book lists, classes, events, and summer fun, visit us in person or online at hclibrary.org/summer

How to participate:

Visit one of our branches to select your Summer Reading program. Return completed gameboards by August 15 for a prize or a chance to win a prize, while supplies last.

We have a unique summer reading program for every age!

Ages birth – 4

Color in one butterfly on the gameboard for every 10 minutes you enjoy a book OR for each library class you attend. There are 10 butterflies to finish.

Ages 5-10

Color in one print on the gameboard for every 15 minutes you read or listen to a book OR for each library class you attend. There are 15 fish to finish.

Teens 11-18

Earn raffle tickets all summer long when you read, attend classes, borrow library items, or complete fun challenges. Use your tickets for chances to win awesome gift cards, with multiple winners selected at branches each month all summer long.

And there’s more—once you earn 10 tickets, you’ll automatically qualify for a chance to win a special Grand Prize! Stop by your local branch to check out what grand prizes are up for grabs.

Beyond Words

Beyond Words is designed to spark joy and ignite the imagination of young people and adults with developmental, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities. Complete ten or more activities and receive a prize! (While supplies last).

Adults 18+

Complete 3 or more reading challenges or read 3 or more books by August 15. Complete a finisher’s card to enter into end-of-summer prize drawings. All finishers receive a limited edition prize while supplies last!

Summer Reading Adventures: Into the Wild

For everyone.

Go wild at one of Howard County Library System's Summer Reading Celebration events! Activities may include crafts, games, live animals, and more. Sponsored in part by Friends and Foundation of HCLS.

To find more adventures, classes and events all summer long go to bit.ly/SummerReading26.

Questions? Contact

Cari Gast | Head of Children's Curriculum

410.313.7755 office | 410.313.7675 fax

cari.gast@hclibrary.org