Panther Press

January 17, 2020

IMPORTANT DATES

January

20        Schools Closed – Martin Luther King Jr Day

22        PTA Restaurant Night at Trattoria Amore

23        6:30 pm – Orientation for students transferring from RBES to BWES Fall 2020
            6:45 pm - Parent Learning Lab #2

27        Schools Closed – Professional Work Day for Teachers

28        RECC & Prekindergarten Field Trip to Port Discovery

30        6:00 pm - Black Student Achievement Program Community Meeting

February

 3         2nd Quarter Report Cards sent Home

 4         Schools Closed – Special Primary Election Day

10        7:00 pm – PTA Meeting

13        Early Dismissal – Students Dismissed at 12:50 pm
            Parent/Teacher Conferences

14        Early Dismissal – Students Dismissed at 12:50 pm
            Parent/Teacher Conferences

17        Schools Closed - President'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 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.

Rise & Shine, Get to School on Time
Research is clear that showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic and social success starting from kindergarten and continuing through high school.
Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school or even facing social challenges.

• Missing 10% (or about 18 days of a school year) can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
• By the 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that can indicate if a student is at risk for dropping out of high school.
• In the 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

Beginning in February at RBES, we will periodically distribute special panther points to students arriving on time (before 9:15 am) to school. Our intent is to provide an incentive for students arriving on time to start the school day. We are seeking the support of our parents and families to get our students to school each day before 9:15 am.

Orientation Schedule
Please review the orientation dates and times below. If you are unsure of the school your child is scheduled to attend, please visit School Locator and follow the instructions to find your child's school or visit HCPSS Connect. If you have questions, please call our front office.

Yearbooks on Sale
Yearbooks are on sale now through April 3, 2020. The prices are $20 for soft cover and $25 for Hard Cover. Order online http://runningbrookyearbook.picaboo.com/
Direct questions to Dr. Zimmer at paige_zimmer@hcpss.org

BSAP Saturday Math Academy (Grades 3 - 5)
BSAP Spring Saturday Math Academy Registration Open Saturday!
Certified teachers offer instruction and enrichment in all levels of mathematics to a diverse student population through the academy, offered Saturdays, February 1– March 14. Online and walk-in registration will be available on registration day. Registration for the Spring 2020 session will open Saturday, January 18th. Parents can register online via HCPSS Connect. Click Here  for additional information.
In the event that HCPSS buildings are closed on Saturday (1/18) due to snow. The BSAP Saturday Math Academy registration will be moved to the following week, Saturday 1/25.
Contact: Patricia Andrews at Patricia_Andrews@hcpss.org or 410-313-1598 with questions

Learning Together Program – Peers Needed
We are currently seeking 3 year old peers to enroll in our Learning Together Preschool Program. Please contact Mrs. Kwon at Helen_Kwon@hcpss.org for more information.

RBES Counseling Monthly Newsletter
Click Here to review The Advocate, our monthly counseling newsletter

Young Authors Contest
The Howard County Literacy Association is proud to announce the winners of the 2019-2020 Young Authors' Contest. All of the Grades 1 through 12 poetry and short story winners are listed at  http://hocoreads.weebly.com/inspiring-literacy.html
All are invited to hear these authors read their outstanding poems and short stories at Barnes and Noble on Sunday, April 26th from 12:00-4:00.

Road to Kindergarten
Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2020? Please join us for an information session about Kindergarten in the Howard County Public School System.
At this workshop you will learn:

• Expectations for school readiness (and receive a Ready for Kindergarten tool kit)  
• Details about the kindergarten program
• Information about HCPSS kindergarten registration
• Ways that families and children can be supported during the transition to kindergarten

If Howard County public schools are closed for inclement weather, the session is cancelled. All sessions will begin promptly at 6:30 pm

Snow date will only be held if one of the above sessions is cancelled
*Spanish interpreter will be present at these sites. For other interpreter requests please call 410-313-7102.

G/T Summer Institute
Summer programs are forming now, including the Howard County GT Summer Institutes (Gr 1-8). The G/T Summer Institutes program provides students entering Grades 1-8 with advanced-level instruction and enrichment experiences not regularly available during the academic school year. Please see the attached flier for more information. The GT Summer Institutes course list will be online at https://www.hcpss.org/summer-programs/ so you can view it prior to registration opening Feb 1st.

Attention RBES Alumni
Were you a Purple Panther? Did you or a family member attend RUNNING BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in the past 50 years?

WHAT: "Where Are They Now?"  Video Project to be shown to current and future students as a College and Career lesson.

We are working on creating a video to show to our current and future students to inspire them to set goals for their future and strengthen their connection and pride in their community. We would also love to include some of the footage in a 50th birthday celebration next school year.

WHO: Any person 18 or older who attended RBES at some point in their elementary school years.

HOW:

1. Please help by getting the word out.
2. Please send in a short video of yourself in your current institution of higher learning, or workplace. Please use the following as a guideline, but feel free to improvise keeping in mind the total length to less than 3 minutes.
   1. Introduce yourself (Include when you attended RBES and for what grades.)
   2. Do you have a special memory of RBES? (i e. favorite subject, most loved teacher, school event)
   3. What are you doing now? How did you get there? Coolest/best part of your career/job/studies?
   4. What are your current goals and aspirations?
   5. Advice for current students or positive message.
   6. Please send videos to Deborah_finkelstein@hcpss.org or share via Google Drive. Please include your contact information.

WHEN: Please submit videos by January 31, 2020. If anyone has any questions, please email Debbie Pauletta at deborah_finkelstein@hcpss.org or call 410-313-6893.

School Wide 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).