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December 4, 2015: FROM THE DESK OF THE PRINCIPAL: I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving break. It was great to see so many of you here at school for Parent/Teacher Conferences during the week that led up to Thanksgiving. The opportunity for parents and teachers to talk about the growth that students are making is always valuable. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to be here for a conference. I would also like to thank the PTA Staff Appreciation Committee for sponsoring a delicious dinner for all staff members who were here on Monday night for conferences. The food was excellent and helped everyone make it through the long day!
Second quarter progress report will be sent home Thursday, December 10. Along with progress reports, students in grades 4 & 5, will receive their PARCC tests results. Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions. As we work together to ensure success of every child, your partnership means a great deal to us.
As our weather continues to get chillier, we find that many students arriving to school in cars. Please remember our doors open at 9:10am. Students are not allowed in the building until this time. The final bell rings at 9:25 am, both front doors are closed and students are tardy. Any time after 9:25 am students are required to be signed into the school by a parent or guardian. Please understand this is for both student safety and record keeping. We appreciate your understanding and support.
It’s also a good time for a reminder about recess. The HCPSS Health and Wellness Policy and good common sense remind us that outdoor exercise is a healthy and an important part of each day. It provides a break from the regular school routine, a chance to get some outdoor air and an opportunity to run off excess energy which revitalizes children and physically prepares them for additional learning throughout the school day. Children should come prepared for outdoor recess every day and wear clothing that considers the season and outdoor conditions. HCPSS guidelines are for students to have outdoor recess when the wind chill is at or above 20° F.
Debra Anoff, Principal
The Hour of Code is coming to EES!
The week of December 7 – 11 is National Computer Science Education Week. We are celebrating the Hour of Code along with more than 100 million learners in 180 countries! During this week, your child will be learning the basics of how to program a computer, a skill that is vital to our very digital world.
Elkster is challenging our school to reach 2,500 hours of code between December 7th and December 18th. Every student will be completing one hour in their technology class during Hour of Code week, but encouraged to continue coding at home in order to reach that goal. Primary grades can visit https://sqworl.com/vr0g6p to access beginning level coding games. Intermediate grades can access coding games using the symbaloo page: http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/hourofcodecanvaspk-12 or logged into their Technology Class’s Canvas HomePage.
Information is being sent home in your child’s Friday folder. Please sign and return the tear off sections at the bottom of this page for each hour your child completes. There will be a prize for the grade with the most hours turned in, so please don’t forget to write your child’s grade on the slip. Please see attached file if you need another copy. hour of code.pdf If you have any questions, please feel free to email us.
Mrs. Fortney & Mrs. Wong
laura_fortney@hcpss.org & jennifer_wong@hcpss.org
EES Spelling Bee
This year EES will hold its annual Spelling Bee. The school-wide bee will take place on Thursday, January 21, from 2:45-3:40 P.M. in the cafeteria. Students in grades 4 and 5 are eligible to participate in the bee. Each fourth and fifth grade homeroom class will send two representatives to participate in the school-wide bee; a winner and a runner-up. When we hold the school-wide bee grades 3, 4, and 5 are invited to attend. Students who win at the homeroom level will receive a packet by Thursday, December 17, to help prepare them for the school-wide spelling bee.
FLUMIST CLINIC AT ELKRIDGE ELEMENTARY
On Friday, December 18, 2015 the Howard County Health Department, in cooperation with the Howard County Public School system, will be offering influenza vaccinations to our students. We will need parent volunteers the morning of the school's annual FluMist clinic. If you are available to help or have any questions, please contact Marianne Jones at Marianne_jones@hcpss.org.
December Counselor Corner
Our Character Education focus of the month is Self-discipline (also referred as self-control and self-regulation).
Ms. Coopi and Mrs. Tacka work with students in guidance lessons, individually, and in small counseling groups to help develop self-discipline. Here are a few of the ways we teach about self-control:
· STOP, THINK & DECIDE
· TAKE FIVE when listening to directions
· SELF REGULATE CHANT
· Brainstorming and practicing coping strategies for various feelings
· Learning about the ZONES of REGULATION (See zonesofregulation.com for more information)
As a parent, you can help your child develop self-discipline by teaching them to wait patiently, by modeling how you cope with stress/anger, and to allow them time to “chill out” in a quiet place in your home before talking about their feelings.
Sarah Coppi sarah_coppi@hcpss.org and Kristen Tacka kristen_tacka@hcpss.org
PTA NEWS
EES Holiday Shoppe
Our 8th annual EES Holiday Shoppe is tonight, December 4 from 6:30-9:00pm. Come and get your holiday shopping done with dozens of local vendors selling crafts, jewelry, clothing, baked goods and more! The Penguin Patch Kids’ Shop will also be available for your children to take care of their shopping! Look forward to seeing you there. Scholastic Book Fair – The scholastic Book Fair will be available TONIGHT ONLY, December 4 during the EES PTA Holiday Shoppe. Book Fair will be located on the stage in the cafeteria.
PTA Restaurant Fundraiser
Don’t forget to join us at Tino’s Italian Bistro, Columbia (8775 Centre Park Drive) on Tuesday, December 8. 10% of all sales between the hours of 11:00am – 10:00pm will be donated back to EES. This includes dine-in, carry-out and catering. Please see attached flyer. Tinos Restaurant Flyer.pdf Your support is appreciated.
Spirit Wear
EES Elkster spirit wear will be available for ordering online until 12/18 and will ship directly to your home. To order visit: http://elkridgeelementary.itemorder.com/sale.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, December 4
Holiday Shoppe 6:30-9:00pm
Tuesday, December 8
PTA Restaurant Night – Tino’s Italian Bistro, Columbia (11:00am – 10:00pm)
Thursday, December 10
Quarter 2 Interim Reports Issued
Tuesday, December 15
Chorus Concert 7pm
Friday, December 18
Flu Mist Clinic
Wednesday, January 6
PTA Meeting 6:30-7:30 Media Center
Wednesday, January 20
Just For Dads Event (Speaker: Joe Ehrmann)
Friday, January 22
Bingo Night 6:30-8:00pm
HCPSS Public Information Office
The following announcements have been approved by the Public Information Office for school notices and distribution. Please feel free to contact the Public Information Office at 410-313-6682 if you have any questions.
St. Louis Church
Honor Veterans- American Heritage Girls Troop wreath sales to raise funds to support Wreaths Across America and their troop operations. Wreaths are on sale throughout the month of Nov. online at www.wreatsacrossamerica.org. Each wreath costs $15.00. For more information please contact Jennifer Korkosz at 505-918-1582.
Glen Mar United Methodist Church
Walk to Bethlehem, Fri., Sat. and Sun., Dec. 4, 5 and 6 at the church, 4701 New Cut Road in Ellicott City. Drop in anytime between 5 and 8 p.m. for this free event. For more information, visit http://glenmarumc.org/gmcevents/wtb/ or call 410-465-4995 ext. 204.
Oakland Mills Community Association
Jazz in the Mills is proud to present the Holiday Extravaganza featuring Lori Williams on Sun., Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m. at The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, MD. “Light fare” will be included. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 at The Other Barn or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1316398 or call 301-596-5128 or 410-730-4610; manager@oaklandmills.org.
Oakland Mills Village Center
Decorate Your Own Gingerbread House Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m., The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia. All supplies will be provided and you will be able to take your decorated house home at the end of the evening. Tickets are $20/person and can be purchased at The Other Barn beginning Nov. 4-Dec. 2nd. Advance ticket purchase is required. Limited spaces are available. For more information, please contact Brigitta Warren at 410-730-4610 or events@oaklands.org
Columbia Association
Holiday Breakfast, all ages, Pre-registration required. Sat, Dec. 19, 9:30-11 a.m., KidSpace/PPP Mbrs, $10 per family Columbia Cardholder, $12 per family, Non-Mbrs, $14 per family. Enjoy our multicultural holiday breakfast, music, holiday stories, arts and crafts and more. www.columbiaassociation.org/kidspace
Columbia Association
The Columbia Art Center offers a variety of Art Classes for children of all ages. Check out the Fall Brochure on www.columbiaartcenter.org for more information. For inquiries or to register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email art.staff@columbiaassociation.org.
Columbia Association
Visiting Artist Workshops! On Dec. 29-Dec. 30, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. For more information, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or art.staff@columbiaassociation.org
Columbia Association
The Columbia Art Center offers a variety of Art Classes for children of all ages. Check out the Fall Brochure on www.columbiaartcenter.org for more information. For inquiries or to register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email art.staff@columbiaassociation.org.
Healing Dimensions Foundation Offers Stressless Tests
Stressless Tests Winter study skills classes. High School classes start Jan. 27, meeting for four Weds evenings at Centennial High School. Middle School classes start Jan. 19 and meet for four Tues. evenings at Burleigh Manor Middle School. For more information, email Bcaldwell202@gmail.com or www.Stresslesstests.org
Food on the 15th
Volunteer opportunities for students of all ages. We collect, sort and deliver free non-perishable groceries directly to low-income Howard County senior citizens. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at www.foodonthe15th.org/. We are always looking for students and groups to do food drives for us. We can be reached at foodonthe15th@gmail.com.
Elkridge Library
Tween Club, Tues., 6:30-8 p.m., ages 9-12, 90 minutes, Dec 15, 2015: Craft & Create; Dec 29, 2015: "Art Market" - craft supplies with a "cost"; Jan 12, 2016: Scratch Games; Jan 26, 2016: Pop-Ups and More Feb 9, 2016: Design Challenge; Feb 23, 2016: Bubble. Bubble. Toil & Slime Science."
SPORTS
4th Quarter
Spring after school leadership program at Bonnie Branch and Elkridge Landing Middle School (Spring registration ends March 1, 2016). The Fourth Quarter uses fitness and touch football to tackle these MAJOR community issues: 1. Lack of focus 2. Experimentation with drugs and alcohol 3. Childhood obesity 4. Failing to reach ones leadership potential. Become apart of the 4th Quarter TEAM by downloading a 4th Quarter Spring registration form at the4thqtr.org or jguy@the4thqtr.org
Savage Boys and Girls Club
Is accepting registrations for boys and girls ages 7-17 for its recreation basketball program for the 2015-16 season. Visit www.savagebgc.org for more information.
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