Panther Press

November 22, 2019

IMPORTANT DATES

November

25        Early Dismissal – Students will be dismissed at 12:55 pm
            Parent/Teacher Conferences

26        Early Dismissal – Students will be dismissed at 12:55 pm
            Parent/Teacher Conferences

27        Schools Closed for Students – Parent Teacher Conferences

28-29   Schools and Offices Closed – Thanksgiving Holiday

December

5        5:30 pm - Penguin Patch Holiday Shoppe
          6:30 pm – Parent Learning Lab #2

6        Young Authors Writing Contest Submission Deadline

9        7:00 pm – PTA Meeting
    
11      Dental Clinic

12      5th Grade Family Night
          Dental Clinic

13      2nd Quarter Progress Reports Sent Home
          Dental Clinic

23-31 Schools Closed – Winter Break

January

1        Schools Closed – New Year’s Day    

 

NEWS & EVENTS

RBES Arrival Time
Please be aware that students should not arrive or be let out of cars before 9:05 in the morning, unless staff members are present, assisting, and supervising.  We have many students who are arriving close to or before 8:30 am.  These students are not supervised.  If your child is a walker, please have a conversation about what is the best time to leave the house so they are not arriving too early or too late. Students may enter the building beginning at 9:05 am.

Dismissal Reminders
Dismissal begins at 3:50 PM. If your child is a car rider, we ask that drivers not leave their vehicles as this impedes the movement of all other cars. Please stay with your vehicle and staff will assist your child in meeting you. Please note, students who are not picked up on time will be returned to the Front Office after our school dismissal is complete. A parent/guardian must park and come to the Front Office to sign out the student. Please make our Front Office Staff aware of any adjustments to dismissal procedures before 3:00 pm. This allows time for any necessary adjustments.  Thank you for your support and cooperation with this procedure.  The safety of our students is our first priority!

Cold Weather Reminder
As, the weather turns colder, please be sure to send your child to school prepared for outdoor recess. Please also label your child’s coat, hat, and other belongings with their full name. We have many belongings that are found by staff or students and these items move to our “lost and found” bin in the cafeteria. If items are labeled, it helps us find the owner quickly.

Young Authors Writing Contest
Students in Grades 1-5 are invited to write a poem and/or story for the annual Young Authors' Contest sponsored by the State of Maryland Literacy Association.
The guidelines are:

• Entries must be original work.
• Students may enter a previously unsubmitted short story and/or poem written within the previous or current school year.
• All entries must use no smaller than 12 point font in Times New Roman.
• Short story entry must range between 100-400 words (gr. 1-2) and 300-800 words (gr. 3-5).
• Poem entry will consist of a single poem, any style, and must range between 25-150 words (all grade levels).
• Entries must not include graphics.
• Save an electronic copy of the story or poem. Winners at the school level will be asked to submit the electronic copy for the county and state levels of the contest.
• Each entry must include a completed cover sheet signed by the student author’s parent.
• Entries due to your classroom teacher by Friday, December 6, 2019

Please contact Mrs. James or Mrs. Armellino if you have any questions.

BOOK FAIR IS COMING!!!
The Fall Book Fair will be held in the Media Center on Monday and Tuesday, November 25-26th. See all the new book titles and help raise funds for our wonderful school!

Time: 1.00pm-8.00pm

Any parent who purchases a book for a teacher, will receive a raffle ticket to enter the drawing for a beautiful Book Fair gift basket worth over $100!!!

If you are unable to attend, books may be purchased by student/parents until 11/26/29 between 8.30 -9.00am  (be sure to include tax with your payment) or purchase online.

Attention 3rd Grade Parents
In music class, third grade students will be learning to play the recorder. If you would like to order a recorder through Running Brook, look for a pink order form in your child's take-home folder. Recorders will be sold for $4 each. If you would prefer, you may also purchase a recorder from a music store, or choose to borrow one from the school. Thank you! -Ms. Tevelow & Mrs. Bowling

Bus Safety
The safety of your child/children is of utmost importance to us. Recently it has been brought to the attention of our staff that the behaviors of a number of students on several busses are not conducive to the Howard County Code of Conduct, or the expectations of the students at Running Brook. We have discussed the importance of bus safety with students on each bus. Please talk to your child/children to remind them of their responsibility to keep themselves, and others, safe while riding the bus.  Thank you for your support!

Blessings in a Backpack
Blessings in a Backpack is a non-profit organization that works to support the more than 62% of elementary students in America who qualify for the free and reduced meal program.  Each Friday during the school year, students supported by the Blessings in a Backpack Program are given a certain amount of food to ensure they do not go hungry over the weekend.  The cost per student is $100 for the thirty-eight week school year. 

Backpacks include easy-to-prepare, shelf stable food items (juice boxes, mac and cheese, fruit snacks, and oatmeal). One hundred percent of funds donated directly feed the children of the program.  Online donations are accepted at http://www.blessingsinabackpack.org. (Please be sure to check the “other” box in the dropdown section of the “Designation” section and type “Running Brook Elementary School”).  Checks should be made out to Blessings in a Backpack, with Running Brook Elementary School on the memo line.

Checks can be mailed to: BIB Lockbox, PO Box 950291,Louisville, KY 40295.  Donors will receive a thank you letter containing the Blessings in a Backpack Federal Tax ID Number, which serves as a charitable gift receipt.

Would You Be a Spotlighted Mathematician at RBES?
Help our students see how math is utilized in our community.
Do you have a job that involves a lot of math?  Would you be willing to be a spotlighted mathematician?  This would require completing the survey below and sending a picture to our math support teacher.  We want our students to see themselves as part of our community and to understand that mathematics is a powerful subject from parents' perspectives.  Should you have any questions, please contact our math support teacher at sorsha_mulroe@hcpss.org. Thank you!
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7NHP6QT

Health Room News
The Smile Dental Program will be at Running Brook Elementary School on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, Thursday December 12, 2019, and Friday December 13, 2019. Smile Dental Program consent forms have been sent home with students. Please return completed and signed forms to the health room if you would like your student to participate in the Smile Dental Program. Contact the health room at (410) 313-7442 with any questions or concerns.

Penguin Patch Holiday Shoppe
The Penguin Patch Holiday Shoppe is coming to Running Brook! Save the date for our annual Penguin Patch and Parent Holiday Shoppe on Thursday, December 5th from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Students will be able to shop for their families and choose from reasonably priced gifts that range in price from $.50 to $5.00. More information will be sent home in the coming weeks!

Online Directory Now Available in HCPSS Connect
Parents/guardians who have completed their Family File can now access their school directory in HCPSS Connect. The directory will display only the information that parents select when completing Family File. The directory will update daily as families complete Family File or change their information.
To access the directory for your school, log in to HCPSS Connect and select Family File/School Directory in the left menu, and then School Directory.
Information in the directory is for personal use only and may not be distributed, sold or shared in any way. Parents who do not wish to be included in the directory should update their Family File permissions. 

Please fill out the 2019-2020 RBES Interest Survey
Running Brook values parents and families as partners in education and we look forward to working together to provide the resources necessary for your students to be successful.  
Many resources, opportunities and programs are available at Running Brook, both during and beyond the school day.  Please select all of the items that you are interested in receiving information about.  All information will remain confidential.
Click here to complete:  https://forms.gle/ExGQu7oLMB7EYSoj7

School Wide Title I Program
Did you know that Running Brook has a school-wide Title I program? Title I is a federally funded program designed to ensure that all children have an opportunity to access a high quality education. The goal of this federal program is to close the achievement gap for all students. The goal of this federal program is to close the achievement gap for all students.   As a result we receive additional funds from the federal government that have allowed us to secure additional staff members, funds for family events, and materials of instruction to benefit all of our children.

We value input from our parents, community, and staff.  

If you have any suggestions, questions, or feedback about our Family Involvement programs or School Improvement Plan, please feel free to contact our Title I contacts Jodi Aikens at (jodi_aikens@hcpss.org) or Kim Filler at (kimberly_filler@hcpss.org).

COMMUNITY NEWS

Parent Workshop Series

The Council of Elders and the Howard County Public School System have partnered to sponsor the following 2019–20 parent workshop series at:

• January 25
  • Social Media
• March 7
  • Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships

All sessions will take place at Oakland Mills High School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia 21045. The session is free to attend. Those interested are asked to register online. Childcare is available. Please call 410-313-1598 to arrange childcare and interpreting services.

Free & Discounted Benefits for Qualifying HCPSS Families
Did you know FARMs is much more than just breakfast and lunch: The Free and Reduced-Priced Meals (FARMs) program provides access to an array of services for qualified families including free and reduced-priced breakfasts and lunches, free SAT and ACT registration, free tuition to take college courses at Howard Community College while still enrolled in high school, free college applications, reduced AP exam fees, reduced costs for a number of services provided by Howard County Rec and Parks, Columbia Association and Comcast, and much more.
Visit the https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/farms/ for more information and to apply.