IMPORTANT DATES
| November 22 & 23 | Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 12:55 pm |
| November 24-26 | School Closed for Students |
| December 13 | 7pm - PTA Meeting |
| December 15 | Early Dismissal - Students dismissed at 12:55 pm |
| Decemeber 23 & 24 | School & Offices Closed |
| December 27-31 | Winter Break - Schools Closed |
| January 3 | Students Return |
NEWS & EVENTS
PTA News & Events
Next PTA Meeting: December 13th at 7pm via Zoom
PTA Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/c6v25
Last Call for RBES Spirit Wear orders today:
It's a great way to show your school spirit and support the PTA. 15% of your orders will be donated to the PTA for programs for the students.
All orders will be delivered to Running Brook Elementary so you don't have to pay shipping costs!
Please keep a few things in mind when ordering:
To place your order visit: https://rbesfall21.itemorder.com/sale
Toys for Tots - Donations Needed
Running Brook is excited to become a Toys for Tots collection site this year!
If you’d like to contribute, please bring a new, unwrapped, toy and place it in the box in the lobby. All donations must be received by December 14th
Rainbow Representatives
Rainbow Representatives ensure that schools are allies and advocates for LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and families. The school Rainbow Representative attends quarterly meetings; receives and disseminates information regarding LGBTQIA+ topics of interest to the school and school community as appropriate; and provides instructional support for educators. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Running Brook Rainbow Representative, Joanna Carpenter, at joanna_carpenter@hcpss.org.
Around our school, you will see some "Safe Space" posters. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a person, or certain group of people, might feel unsafe to show their true colors for fear that others might treat them differently, or refer to them in an unkind way. At HCPSS, it is our priority to make sure every student not only is safe, but also feels safe to be their authentic and true selves. We hope our Safe Space posters serve as a reminder that there is a trusted adult you can go to who is an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, who will affirm a student's chosen name and pronouns, and who will not disclose information to others about identity and orientation if a student shares that information. Teachers who have this poster in their classrooms have declared their space a safe space for ALL students.
Read the Rainbow with Justin Richardson and Peter Parnel
Join us virtually on Saturday, January 8th 2022 at 1:00pm to meet author team Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, who will read and discuss their book, And Tango Makes Three
This is a FREE bookclub and open to ALL (students, parents, educators, and community members). The first 50 families registering with preschool and/or elementary aged children will receive a free copy of the book!
To join, please complete the following registration form: https://forms.gle/Q7W1tcH1eNUbNsKUA or for more details.
Counseling Corner with Ms. Pauletta
for the HCPSS monthly counseling newsletter
COVID-19 Self Screening Symptoms Reminder
Parents/guardians should keep their children home if they are experiencing symptom(s) associated with any communicable disease, including COVID-19. In addition, parents/guardians are to perform the following COVID-19 health check every day before the student leaves home.
A student should NOT come to school with any of these symptoms:
For persons with chronic conditions such as asthma, the symptoms should represent a change from baseline.
Family File (Emergency Form)
As of today, there are still 40 students without an updated emergency form. We are so close to 100% completion. The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to submit emergency information. Parents/guardians must complete a Family File each school year.
Access the Family File (Parent Guides can be found HERE)
Interest Survey 2021-2022
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.
School Wide Title I Program
Running Brook is a Title I School wide Program school. Title I is a federally funded program designed to close achievement gaps and ensure all children have an opportunity to access a high-quality education by providing funding for supplemental academic services and supports. A Family-School Compact & Plan is an agreement between families, students, and teachers that is jointly developed and distributed to all families. It explains how families, students, and teachers will work as a team to make sure all students meet with success and get the support they need to achieve grade level goals. The Running Brook Family School Compact and Calendar of Events can be found HERE:
RBES Title I School-Family Compact and Calendar of Events
RBES Title I School-Family Compact and Calendar of Events (Spanish)
RBES Family Engagement Calendar of Events 21-22
It can also be found on the Running Brook Title I website RBES website. If you have any questions, please ask your child’s teacher at your upcoming parent teacher conference. If you have any input or feedback, please contact:
Jodi Aikens | Title I Teacher | Jodi_Aikens@hcpss.org
Katie DiCarlo | Title I Teacher | Katherine_Dicarlo@hcpss.org
Kim Filler | Title I Teacher | Kimberly_Filler@hcpss.org
Jane Hartlove | Parent Liaison | Jane_Hartlove@hcpss.org
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:
Visit the https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/farms/ for more information and to apply.
Family Institute Workshops
Worries, Concerns and Apprehensions
In the early years, schoolwork, friends, reactions to negative experiences, or just the anticipation of something happening can overwhelm a child. In addition, the changes, stress and uncertainty of COVID has increased children's worries. Many parents report about the anxiety that affects children and the entire family. Attend this workshop to: Review the signs and the symptoms of worry in children. Understand how to identify what is causing your child stress. Learn techniques to teach and demonstrate strategies to help your child process and work through their worries. This interactive workshop allows time to ask questions to a mental health professional on how to help your family. For preschool through elementary.
Tuesday, November 9, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Free Virtual Workshop, Register here
DIY Toy Making
Use what you have…Make DIY Toys to promote early learning. Do you have some empty toilet paper rolls in the house? Don’t throw them out! Did you know that using household items to make DIY toys can be beneficial for promoting early learning skills and fostering parent-child attachment? Learn how to make some simple DIY toys for your little ones in this fun and engaging 60-minute workshop. Using materials commonly found around the home, these simple yet fun toys are sure to spark creativity and keep your little ones engaged! This workshop will be geared towards caregivers with children zero to 5 years old.
Tuesday, November 16 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Click here for registration to virtual workshop
Nothing I Do Works: A Parent’s Guide to Challenging Behaviors
The Pyramid Model is a comprehensive, research based approach that considers all of the factors that impact a child, family and a child's behavior. Learn how to help decrease negative behaviors from happening and/ or what to do when they do occur. Ask questions and leave with skills and resources that you can use immediately to help you feel more confident in your parenting. For children ages two to eight.
Tuesday, November 16, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Click here for registration to virtual workshop
¡El poder del juego! (The Power of Play)
¿Alguna vez se ha preguntado qué está haciendo realmente su hijo mientras juega? ¿Qué significa cuando dicen que los niños aprenden a través del juego? En palabras de Albert Einstein, "el juego es la forma más elevada de investigación". Sumérjase en la mente del niño pequeño en este atractivo taller que proporcionará información sobre por qué los niños deben jugar, cómo el juego afecta el desarrollo infantil y aprenda cómo debería ser el juego.
Martes 14 de Diciembre a las 7 p.m. Este evento es virtual. Por favor regístrense aqu
Nothing I Do Works: A Parent’s Guide to Challenging Behaviors
The Pyramid Model is a comprehensive, research based approach that considers all of the factors that impact a child, family and a child's behavior. Learn how to help decrease negative behaviors from happening and/ or what to do when they do occur. Ask questions and leave with skills and resources that you can use immediately to help you feel more confident in your parenting. For children ages two to eight.
Wednesday, December 8, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Click here for registration to virtual workshop