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Urdu

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A huge shout out to our PTA. They spoiled our staff this past Monday with a delicious pizza lunch, salad and desserts. It was a great way to start off the week! Thank you for your generosity, PTA!

National Assistant Principals Week is being celebrated from April 3-7 this year; however, since this is over spring break we are going to celebrate this week! I cannot express how much I appreciate Mrs. Sillers and Mrs. Liwosz. They work tirelessly on behalf of students and staff and continuously go above and beyond. Please join me in saying thank you this week to Mrs. Sillers and Mrs. Liwosz.

I can't believe that Spring Break is upon us. I hope that everyone has a restful and fun spring break. As a reminder Fulton Elementary School will be closed from April 3rd-April 10th. School will resume on Tuesday, April 11th.

Warmly,

Dr. Burks

Mrs. Shields and Ms. Horvath, School Counselors, delivered school counseling lessons to each grade in the area of “College & Career Readiness” highlighting the essential curriculum objectives below.

• Kindergarten

1. Define “career,” Identify the importance of brainstorming future career ideas and discuss how current learning and social behaviors connect with future careers.

2. Belinda Baloney Changes Her Mind by Becca Carnahan - In this book, a 6-year old girl struggles to select a future career after brainstorming over thirty different options. Eventually, Belinda realizes the value of exploring her interests, keeping an open mind, and embracing the FUN in career exploration!

• 1st grade

1. Students will define career, identify appropriate and helpful tools to support career-oriented tasks, and discuss how current learning and social behaviors connect with future careers success.

2. Students read Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and identified their future career, what tools they will use and what behaviors they are learning in 1st grade that apply to future success.

• 2nd grade

1. Students will brainstorm future career interests, identify at least one tool that would help them in their future career interest, and identify other people/careers with whom they would work in their future career.

2. Second grade students read Boxitects by Kim Smith then identified their future career, what tools will assist them, and who they will collaborate with in the future.

• 3rd grade

1. Identify the behaviors that lead to school career success.

2. The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey - Students will identify jobs that are obsolete or new, due to technological advancements. Students will also learn about the author Dav, his interests as a child and how his childhood interests evolved into his career as an author of popular graphic novels. By the end of the lesson students will identify a current interest of their own, a potential job that would involve their interest, and learning behaviors to help them achieve their potential career goals.

• 4th grade

1. Students will identify the importance of brainstorming future career ideas and discuss how current learning and social behaviors connect with future careers.

2. Students learned about Dr. Holland’s six different career types and took a photo career quiz to identify their personality type and possible careers that match.

• 5th grade

1. Students will identify their current interests, hobbies, and explore future careers using a guided booklet.

2. Students completed a Career Exploration booklet identifying their hobbies, strengths, and possible career choices.

HCPSS is hosting a community event called Student Drug Use: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore to engage students, parents/guardians, staff and community members regarding the substance abuse crisis that is directly impacting our schools and community.

The event will be held on Tuesday, March 28, from 7-9 p.m., at Howard High School (8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City).

Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano will keynote the event, sharing local and national data about student substance use and behavioral health needs that illustrates the frightening realities our youth are facing, and how HCPSS is responding to those needs. Following Dr. Martirano’s remarks, attendees will have the opportunity to choose one of several breakout sessions led by HCPSS staff and community health partners.

Visit the HCPSS websiteLinks to an external site. for more information about the event. Please note: If you require any language supports, please contact the Office of Multilingual Family ServicesLinks to an external site..

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) wants families to be aware of upcoming changes and processes for the 2023–2024 school year related to start times and transportation. As announced in February, the Board of Education approved shifting start times for the 2023-2024 school year. In the coming weeks, families will receive additional information related to transportation changes for next school year, including completing registration to receive bus transportation for families who live in bus coverage areas. HCPSS staff is currently in the process of developing informational materials, writing responses to Frequently Asked Questions, and preparing resources for school system staff to support families with the changes.

Prior to spring break, families will receive new non-transportation area (walk area) maps. For many schools, these areas have been expanded based on changes made to Policy 5200 – Student Transportation, which increases the allowable distances students can walk to school. Once these changes are communicated, families will be able to check their school’s updated walk area map to see if their eligibility for bus service has changed for next school year.

After spring break, families will receive instructions to register for bus service for the 2023-2024 school year. Policy 5200 implements mandatory bus registration, which will take effect for the first time this year, and will then become an annual process.

We know that many families are eager to learn about the impact of the policy changes and school start time adjustments. HCPSS is working through the impacts to school schedules, services and all other related items and more information will be available in the coming weeks. In the meantime, families can consult these FAQs regarding transportation.

As a reminder, these changes take effect for the 2023–2024 school year beginning in August 2023.

The Fulton Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) prekindergarten programs are making preparations for classes for the upcoming 2023-24 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, applications are available and being accepted currently. Additional information can be found in this flyer.

In alignment with Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future, new applications for students turning 4 by September 1 will not be available or accepted for the Learning Together Program. The Howard County Public School System continues to offer a prekindergarten program for income eligible children who will be four years old by September 1. For additional information contact the school or visit: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/pre-k-programs/

Please visit or subscribe to the FES Calendar Webpage to view important upcoming dates.

• March 31st: Early Dismissal, 12:55pm, End of Quarter 3

• April 3-10th: Spring Break

• April 12th: PTA Meeting

• April 14th: Falcon Follies

**Save the Date for Beautification Day**
Saturday, April 28
We will need ALL HANDS available to help make this year’s school improvements a success. More details and sign-up coming soon!
~Please note we had previously shared a different date, though a scheduling conflict arose so we changed the date~

**Falcon Follies is here!!**
Does your student have a passion? Love to dance? Make balloons animals? Tell jokes? Do a karate demonstration? If so, consider joining the Falcon Follies Talent Show!!
For the rest of us - save the date to watch our talented friends. (admission is free of charge)
Interested? See flier below and please complete the form found here: https://forms.gle/71FDn7QbVJakGSFh7.

**Sign-ups for International Night are now OPEN!**
One of Fulton Elementary School’s favorite events: Friday, May 12th from 5:30-8pm.

Please help make this event successful by signing up to set up country booths, put on performances, walk down the runway for an international fashion show, and volunteer to help ensure the event is successful. We want our students and families to teach each other about their rich cultures. Sign-up today to help us represent areas from all over the world: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0b4fa8a82babff2-international

**Kidz Art FUNdraiser Thank You!**
This sold out event was so much fun for everyone! The kids enjoyed getting together in the art room “after hours” and loved their take home art project. We are pleased to share that through this program, the FES PTA made nearly $400! Thanks so much to Ebbie Art from Kidz Art and Greta Luhar for organizing and chaperoning!

We are halfway through March into Reading. SGA has received over 500 reading coupons. We have two weeks left to reach our goal of 1,600 coupons. Please keep reading Falcons! If you need additional coupons, please see Mrs. Ciliberti.

There will be two more Spirit Days in the month of March. The first is Maryland Day, which is this Friday, March 24th. If possible, please wear something related to Maryland like a crab or colors related to Maryland like yellow, red, or black. The second Spirit Day is Friday, March 31st, which is Comfy, Cozy Day. Wear comfy clothing, bring a blanket or stuffed animal, a favorite book, and get ready to read. Remember all the Read-a-thon coupons are due on this day!

We are striving for 100% participation by our FES families to help shape the next steps for our school. Currently we are at 2%. Let's see this percentage increase- your voice is important in helping to improve our efforts!

In Howard County, all schools will be partaking in the Educational Equity Survey. This is part of our school improvement process, and we are asking families to provide input about their equity priorities at FES. Please use the link below to complete the HCPSS Indicators of Educational Equity Survey. We use this data, along with other school data, as part of our school improvement process. This survey is anonymous and available in multiple languages. If you have children at more than one school, please complete one survey per school.

• English survey

• Spanish survey

• Chinese survey

• Chin survey

• Korean survey