Note from Principal
Good Afternoon Running Brook Families,
Mrs. Spivey and I enjoyed meeting with families of our primary students this week to discuss the reopening of schools. Next week we will meet with 3rd & 4th grade families on Monday night and 5th grade families on Tuesday night. Please remember that next Thursday and Friday will be half-days for students. Your child's teacher will post his or her grade level schedule for these half days. As we move closer to the reopening of schools, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Spivey or I if you have any questions.
Have a wonderful weekend! ~ Mr. Esposito
IMPORTANT DATES
February 25 | Early Dismissal – School Closes 3 hours early for students |
February 26 | Early Dismissal – School Closes 3 hours early for students |
March 1 | PHASE 1: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified Students in Group E |
March 8 | 7pm - PTA Meeting |
March 8 | Kindergarten Registration for 2021-2022 school year |
March 15 | PHASE 2: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified A-Day Students in Grades PK-2 |
March 18 | PHASE 2: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified B-Day Students in Grades PK-2 |
March 29 | PHASE 3: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified A-Day Students in Grades 3-5 |
April 1 | PHASE 3: In-Person Hybrid Model Begins for Identified B-Day Students in Grades 3-5 |
April 2 & April 5 | Spring Break – Schools and Offices Closed |
April 6 | Schools Closed for Students |
April 14 | Early Dismissal - End of 3rd Marking Period |
NEWS & EVENTS
CultureNet Virtual Assembly:
Save the date this Wednesday, February 24th at 10:00 am to attend the CultureNet Virtual Assembly: Breaking Stereotypes with Michelle Cann.
Michelle began playing the piano at age 7 and has won top prize at national and international piano competitions. She has performed with various orchestras including the Florida Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the Pennsylvania Philharmonic.
In addition to her performing career, Michelle is also a music educator. Michelle received her Bachelor and Master degrees in piano performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and received an Artist Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Currently, Michelle holds the inaugural Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in piano studies at Curtis becoming only the 2nd woman and the first African-American to teach in the Curtis Institute's prestigious piano department. Watch the video below to see her perform and join her live on Wednesday!
VIdeo Link: https://vimeo.com/509469270/ad3905ec4a
We will send out the Zoom link next week.
Learning Together Program – Prekindergarten
The Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) prekindergarten programs are making preparations for classes for the 2021-22 school year. These classes include children with and without disabilities. The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills. Parents of children who will be 3 by September 1st or are already 4 may learn more about the program by reviewing the . Applications will be accepted starting February 11, 2021 and priority will be given to applications received by April 1st.
HCPSS is committed to providing instruction based on the statewide Early Learning Standards which are in alignment with Kindergarten Readiness. The fees listed in the application will be collected monthly regardless of the learning model determined by HCPSS throughout the upcoming school year (virtual, hybrid, or in person). If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kwon at (410) 313-6893.
February 25 & 26 are Now Early Dismissal Days
With the March 1st transition to a hybrid instructional model, the Board of Education has approved changing Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26, to early dismissal days for students to allow staff returning to school buildings time to prepare. Students will follow THIS SCHEDULE
Hybrid Model Begins March 1st
Prior to the start of each phase, we will provide detailed information for all students and their families.
Is Your Family File Up to Date?
In preparation for the return of students on March 1, please make sure your emergency information is up to date in the Family File. Follow these instructions:
Notes:
Girls on the Run Registration Opens 2/21
Girls on the Run will be back this Spring for girls in grades 3-5! Registration opens on February 21 at noon for the 8-week session, which will begin the week of March 21. The-end-of-season weekend is scheduled for May 22-23, 2021. Running Brook will be offering an in person team which will meet on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 4:15-5:15 pm at Running Brook. In-person teams will adhere to enhanced health and safety policies and will meet outdoors with the ability to transition to virtual meetings (Google Meet) in the event of bad weather or COVID-related meeting restrictions.
Registration is $150 and includes a program shirt, water bottle, 5K registration and finisher’s medal, as a well as a cinch sack with all necessary program materials. Financial assistance is available - for more information contact Susan Michel at 443-864-8593 or susan.michel@girlsontherun.org. For more details and to register, visit gotrcentralmd.org. Teams are limited to 15 girls and registration is first-come, first-served.
Parent to Staff Panther Praise
Ms. Aden and Mrs. Van Osdel– 5th Grade Teachers
"Ms. Aden is very kind and I am happy to be in her class. Mrs. V is very good at teaching math I am happy to be in her math class." – Leah
Mrs. Caffey – 1st Grade Teacher
"Mrs. Caffey has gone above and beyond to help Connor and our family adjust to the virtual learning schedules and emails. For example, she created a consolidated, custom schedule for all of C’s classes, small breakout groups and special education services that was instrumental in our virtual learning success." – The Ferrell Family
Mrs. Hill – Special Education Teacher
"Mrs. Hill is funny, kind and sweet, I really like her and she always sticks around (unless she has a group of course) and she is super – in fact she’s PAWESOME! That’s the end!" – Alyssa Parris
Mrs. Lerner – Gifted and Talented Teacher
"Thank you Mrs. Lerner for being so cheerful! You smile a lot and teach me all about Earth!” – Alena Trent
Mrs. James, Reading Specialist
"Mrs. James, I love coming to group with you and I love coming to group no matter what. Everything that you do makes me smile and laugh inside. Please keep making my heart smile." – Kaya English
RBES is Hiring
We have an opportunity that might be perfect for you or someone you know.
APPLY NOW: https://forms.gle/cLkTBW6wmNSR5LV76
Blessings in a Backpack
Did you know we have a Blessings in a Backpack Program at RBES? Blessings in a Backpack sends additional food resources home to students on the weekend. During a traditional school year, bags are discretely put in a student's backpack on Friday afternoons. Running Brook staff delivered to 125 students over the spring/summer!
Our Blessings in a Backpack Program is entirely funded by individual and community-based donations. This is not funded by HCPSS.
If you are interested in receiving Blessings you must click the registration link below.
Register For 2020-2021 Virtual Learning Blessing in a Backpack
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.
Also, during virtual learning, we were able to use Title I funds to purchase materials to support your child’s at home learning. We hope you were able to pick up the first set of learning materials. If not, please let us know so we can help you make arrangements. There will be opportunities to pick up more Title I learning materials later in the year.
Please view our school parent compact using this link:
We welcome any feedback or questions related to our Title I schoolwide programming, at anytime throughout the school year. Please email Jodi Aikens at Jodi_Aikens@hcpss.org, Kim Filler at Kimberly_Filler@hcpss.org, or our Family Involvement Coordinator, Jane Hartlove at Jane_Hartlove@hcpss.org.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Fully Paid Scholarships Available for HCC Kids on Campus Classes! (ages 8-17)
Fully paid scholarships are available for families who qualify financially (i.e., income of $50,000 or below for family of four). Upcoming available courses, with start times ranging from late-Jan to early-April, can be found here. Classes include art, cooking, virtual reality, language, ROBLOX and more! Families who believe they may be eligible for financial aid, should complete this application and submit it via email to NoncreditFinAid@howardcc.edu.