RBES Newsletter - Friday, December 6th

IMPORTANT DATES

December

9           7:00 pm – PTA Meeting
    
12         5th Grade Family Night
        
13         2nd Quarter Progress Reports Sent Home
             Dental Clinic

19         Prekindergarten

23-31   Schools Closed – Winter Break

January

1          Schools Closed – New Year’s Day    

20        Schools Closed – Martin Luther King Jr Day

27        Schools Closed – Professional Work 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 still have 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.

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.

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!

Winter Concert
The Running Brook Winter Music Concert for Band, Chorus and Strings will be held at Wilde Lake High School in the Rouse Theatre on Monday, January 13.  The concert will begin at 7:00 pm.  Students should report to WLHS as follows: Strings - 6:30 pm. Band and Chorus -  6:45 pm.  Students should wear the RBES Music t-shirt *** (or a plain purple shirt or other Running Brook shirt) and dark pants or a long dark skirt.

***T-shirt order forms are going home this week and are due to Mrs. Carpenter and Ms. Tevelow by December 11th.

From the Health Room:
The Smile Dental Program will be at Running Brook Elementary School on Friday December 13, 2019.  Please contact the health room at (410) 313-7442 with any questions or concerns.

 

HCPSS Elementary School Counseling Monthly Newsletter
Click Here  for The Advocate, our monthly school counseling newsletter.

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. Donors who give $100 or more will receive a Vera Bradley backpack !

If you are a family who would like to participate in the program please contact Mrs. Frank at Andrea_Frank@hcpss.org.

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

Schoolwide Title 1 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

Date

Friday, December 6, 2019 (All day)