VES Newsletter EAGLE EXPRESS
MARCH 12, 2022 - Vol.15 Issue #27
NO WALK-IN VISITORS DURING THIS TIME
Robert Bruce, Principal - robert_bruce@hcpss.org
Alexcia Redd, Assistant Principal - alexcia_redd@hcpss.org
OFFICE HOURS
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Please call ahead 410-313-1700
SCHOOL HOURS IN-SESSION
9:25 A.M. - 3:55 P.M.
Youmi Jun, Principal Secretary - youmi_jun@hcpss.org
Jane Pak, Teacher Secretary - jane_pak@hcpss.org
Maria Martinez, Teacher Secretary - maria_martinez@hcpss.org
Dulce Boyer, Teacher Secretary .5 - dulce_boyer@hcpss.org
Email: robert_bruce@hcpss.org
Website: ves.hcpss.org
Location: 4355 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, MD, USA
Phone: 443-864-6808
INTERNATIONAL AND FAMILY SERVICE LINKS:
Para información y apoyo adicionales, por favor, llame al
410-313-1591
欲知详情或想获得更多支持,请电 410-313-5920
보다 자세한 문의와 지원을 원하시면,
410-313-1592 로 연락 주시기 바랍니다.
For all other language needs please contact Monica Ranta at
410-313-7102
Perform Daily Health Checks
Parents/guardians should keep their children home if they are experiencing symptom(s) associated with any communicable disease. In addition, parents/guardians are to perform daily health checks for COVID-19 symptoms before the student leaves home.
Weekly Message from our Principal
Next week our fifth graders will take the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment. Now this assessment will allow us to see how much science content is being internalized in our students through fifth grade. We wish our students well.
We would love some feedback on our Related Arts Color Rotation Schedule.
Related Arts Color Day Rotation Survey
HCPSS is seeking feedback on the elementary related arts color rotation schedule. The color rotation schedule was implemented to mitigate loss of instructional time due to school closures for related arts classes scheduled on Mondays and Fridays, sometimes up to nine classes per school year. This feedback will be utilized in conjunction with additional stakeholder input to determine the 22-23 related arts schedule model. Thank you for your time in completing this feedback form by March 25, 2022:
VES Related Arts Color Rotation Feedback
One last thing, we are stressing to students the need for them to slow down and walk in the halls . We always worry about the safety of our students. We have implemented several procedures which were in place, pre-pandemic and now that we are getting back to a normal dismissal we are implementing them once again. We want students to slow down and notice who and what is in front of them. If someone appears to need help, stop and help them. We have so many nice and observant students who do help others but this is our goal for all of our students.
School will close 3 hours early on Wednesday March 16th.
Robert C Bruce
Principal- Veterans Elementary School
410-313-1700
Every Day Counts!
Connectedness Strategic Responsibility Arranger Intellection
Join us in welcoming Ms. White to our school!
I am pleased to announce that HCPSS Central Office has acquired additional administrative help to Veterans ES. We are thrilled to welcome former Baltimore County Principal Ms. Sandra White. Ms. White is a retired administrator who brings with her over 30 years of experience. She can be reached at sandra_white@hcpss.org.
MARCH:
Youth Art Month and Women's History Month
13 - Sunday Reminder - SPRING forward CLOCKS 1 hour!
14 - 17: MISA Testing for Grade 5 at 2:30 p.m.
16 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early/ Dismissal at 12:55 p.m.
25 - Spirit Day - Maryland Day: Wear Maryland colors - red, black, yellow
25 - PTA Virtual BINGO Night - 7:00 p.m.
31 - Spirit Day - Baseball Day: Wear your favorite baseball team colors, jersey, or hat
HCPSS APPROVED CALENDAR SY2021-22 - * Updated 2/25/2022 :
Chinese - Month view & Chinese - Date list view
- Monday, May 2: Schools CLOSED for students. It will be a Professional Learning Day for staff and offices will remain open.
- Tuesday, May 3: Schools OPEN Regular school day.
NEW INFORMATION
Science Assessment for Grade 5 (MISA)
The Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) is administered to all students in fifth grade, eighth grade, and high school every spring. MISA will take place for our 5th grade students at 2:30 p.m. on March 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th. Parents/Guardians do not need to do anything to prepare for this assessment as all preparation will take place at school. Parents/Guardians can help by ensuring their student has a healthy breakfast and a good night's sleep.
Please contact Mrs. Redd at alexcia_redd@hpcss.org or 410-313-1700 if you have any additional questions.
EARLY DISMISSAL PICK-UP MUST BE By 3:30PM prior to final class transition time
*NOTE: HELP US RELEASE YOUR CHILD SAFELY TO AUTHORIZED ADULTS (HCPSS Policy)
HELP US RELEASE YOUR CHILD SAFELY TO AUTHORIZED ADULTS
- * Please be prepared to present your physical, tangible Photo ID
- ** Bring your phone to scan the QR code to sign out student(s) for Early Dismissal.
- Please plan accordingly. Students are dismissed from class upon parents' arrival after they are signed out from the office.
- ***Make sure FamilyFile is updated to indicate non-parent/guardians who VES staff are authorized to release your child to.
- Dismissal requests AFTER 3:30pm will be dismissed at normal 3:55pm time as Car Riders
It is too difficult for staff and students to locate/notify during the school-wide final classroom transitioning at the end of the day.
At this time, we can't allow students to take a different bus other than their assigned bus due to COVID.
Upcoming PTA Events
March 25 - Virtual Bingo Night*
April 22 - Virtual Trivia Night
May 2-6 - Staff Appreciation Week
May 4 - Helping with Field Day
May 12 - STEM Fair*
May 16-20 - Book Fair
June 9 - Picnic & Popsicles End of Year Party/ PTA Elections*
*Additional information below
NOMINATION TIME - seeking new officers for next year's board. Without officers we cannot run the PTA. We need new volunteers. We will train you. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles are all welcome to volunteer.
PTA OFFICER PROFILE: 1st Vice President
Attends monthly PTA meetings, act as aide to the president, takes over in the president's absence, serves as the reporting contact for all fundraising committee chairpersons and PTA treasurer to ensure the PTA financial deadlines are current, attends monthly PTA meetings Please email Cara if you wish to learn more information at doctorcia@gmail.com.
VIRTUAL GAME NIGHT - BINGO! - March 25 - 7pm
Special Guest Host - Mr. Viets!
Please use the cards you have or use the site in the sign up to print new ones at home. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F094AA5AF23A2F85-ptafamily4
Zoom link will be emailed out on Wed, March 23 by 9pm.
Email doctorcia@gmail.com with questions or if you need a new pre-printed bingo card.
15min Parent Info Session following the game at 8pm if you would like to learn how you can pitch in & volunteer at school or from home.
VES Night of Innovation STEM Fair Thursday, May 12, 7:00-8:00pm.
A registration form for the 2022 STEM fair came home in your child’s Thursday Folder. Your child, alone or with friends, can present a science, technology, engineering, or math project at the fair. Please remember that even if your child is working in a group, each child must register individually.
Registration is available online: https://forms.gle/DkdFD4UwdEsjQRps5 (link corrected)
The handbook is available <here>. It must be accessed by a gmail account for the link to work. You may view the full manual on our PTA website listed below. Turn your paper registration forms into your teacher.
Please let me know if you have any questions - Cara at doctorcia@gmail.com
You can check out details on our website. veterans.memberhub.com We will need volunteers to help with this event. Sign up to come out soon.
JOIN US FOR A PTA MEETING (Virtual) - Tues, April 5 - 7pm
Interested in learning more about the officer positions that help our PTA run? We need new officers for next year. Our PTA is losing board members with their kids moving to middle school. Please join us at our meeting and we will allow time at the end of the meeting for any questions you may have. Or email Cara at doctorcia@gmail.com if you want more info. (meetings are usually 1hr long)
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://discovery.zoom.us/j/98093284149?pwd=QWptQXUxN2xxMWhrRXh2T0c5ZTJtZz09
Meeting ID: 980 9328 4149
Passcode: 094353
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR AN EVENT COMMITTEE!
Email Kim at Kimberlydavis410@gmail.com for more info.
Use this link to see your other volunteer options.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0549A5A62EA4FE3-ptacommittee
VES REMINDERS: Worth Repeating . . .
Registration Opens March 7: Fall 2022-2023 New Kindergarten & New Grade 1 Student
Kindergarten registration for families of children who will be 5 by September 1, 2022, kicks off Monday, March 7. Parents can begin the enrollment process online, after which your child’s school will contact you to complete the registration process.
NOTE: Current HCPSS prekindergarten students do not need to be re-registered for kindergarten because they are already enrolled as an HCPSS student.
PreKindergarten LTP - Learning Together Program:
The Veterans Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) pre-kindergarten programs are making preparations for classes for the upcoming 2022-23 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 3yo by September 1st or are already 4yo may request an application.
LTP PreK Applications will be available and accepted in mid February and priority will be given to applications received by April 1st.
HCPSS LTP PreK Flyers including Chinese, Korean, & Spanish
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, in person, or class quarantine).
If you have any additional questions, please contact Mary Jens at (410) 313-1700
Mary_Jens@hcpss.org
* Regular PreK Program applications will be available on April 19 on the HCPSS website.
Cell Phones and Texting Are Causing Issues for Some Students in Grades 4 & 5
If your children have nothing to hide they will gladly share the contents of their phone with you. Also please remind them that social messaging can leave a permanent footprint to be copied and shared with others and even school administration.
Other devices such as i-pads and smart watches are also covered by the school system technology policy. These items are to remain in backpacks during the school day.
* CAR LOOP ISSUES:
We still have several parents who insist on pulling their cars into the 2nd or 3rd row of the school parking lot, sometimes blocking traffic from departing. This is an unsafe practice which complicates driver's leaving the car loop lane. Unless you can find an actual parking spot in the 2nd or 3rd row of parking then you must join the car loop lane for parent pick up if you are here to retrieve a child. You may not park or stop in front of parked cars to wait for your child. You also create a dangerous situation for your child and yourself.
Our school is very busy. We are sorry the Parent Pick Up Lane sometimes moves slowly but this is necessary for student safety. Most of our children are bus riders. The pandemic has increased the car ridership at Veterans. Join the Parent Pick Up Lane to retrieve your children. You have someplace to get your child to after school, that is fine, so do many other parents. If this is the case, arrange for an early dismissal before 3:30 pm if you can not wait. Please know that rainy or snowy weather makes this lane move even slower.
BUS STOPS and Riding Privileges
Please understand that if children experience problems on the bus that the driver has the authority to write a bus referral that can result in the denial of bus riding privileges for a given period of time. Parents also need to understand that sometimes children experience difficulties at the bus stop with other individuals who ride the bus. Parents need to supervise their children at the bus stops. Often there are issues which start out as playing then become more serious. Parents may even wish to discuss having rotating responsibilities of supervising their children at the bus stop.
* ATTN: PARENTS/GUARDIANS ARE RESTRICTED FROM BOARDING SCHOOL BUSES *
For the safety and security of the children - parents/guardians are not allowed to board and pull their child/children from a school bus at any time, especially during our dismissal.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS, YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO BOARD SCHOOL BUSES.
See an Administrator or Front Office Secretary for assistance!
Stay Informed via HCPSS News and Text Alerts
HCPSS electronic School Messenger
Once you have created an HCPSS Login Account/ ParentVue upon completing the student registration, you will automatically be part of our email communication, School Messenger.
We are “green” and do not send hard copies of newsletters and other notices, so your electronic connection to the school is important even over the summer.
Email & Text Alerts
HCPSS News emails and text alerts keep families up-to-date on news and events, and deliver real-time notices of emergency closings and information. All HCPSS News subscriptions are generated from the information provided in Family File. Parents/guardians of previously enrolled HCPSS students do not need to sign up for, or manage an HCPSS News account. Parents/guardians who are new to the system are automatically enrolled for email notification and must opt in to text alerts.
Emergency Notifications
In times of emergency situations, information will be shared with the community through our website, social media, text, email and weather hotline. All parents automatically receive email messaging and new parents need to opt in to text messaging (see above). Unsubscribing from any school or district email or text will unsubscribe a user from all messaging, including emergency notifications.
Volunteer/Observer Vaccine Requirements
All volunteers and chaperones who interact with students, as well as current HCPSS students who attend a field trip or volunteer at a different school during the school day, are required to use the PinPoint platform to show proof of full vaccination at least five school days in advance. This requirement does not apply to HCPSS students who are going to another school as part of their academic schedule. Vaccination and testing requirements for other community stakeholders are outlined online.
No Transportation Changes can be accommodated During Dismissal
*Please reserve any last minute requests for
EMERGENCIES ONLY*
~Help us keep your children safe ~
Making these requests causes confusion and leaves a lot of room for errors during the mass exodus!
Any transportation changes made after 3:30pm is disruptive to the VES dismissal process.
Please do not call or enter the school building requesting a staff member to pull your child from their normal dismissal plan.
ARRIVAL DOORS OPEN AT 9:15AM
Late Arrivals by car-riders:
Beginning at 9:25 a.m., Parent/guardian must sign-in the student(s) "TARDY".
* Notify by 2:00PM
** At this time, we can't allow students to take a different bus other than their assigned bus due to COVID.
Please send any dismissal changes for the day no later than 2:00 p.m. to VEStransportation@hcpss.org.
Include
student's name, date(s), and the details of the changes
(ex: will be a car rider instead of the bus, early pick-up, etc).
* cc the homeroom teacher on the email.
VESabsence @hcpss.org
Send Student Attendance-related notifications directly to: VESabsence@hcpss.org
when student will be absent due to illness, appointments, religious, or travel obligations.
Submit copies of doctor/appointment excuse note here as well.
HCPSS EXTENDED or DISCRETIONARY STUDENT ABSENCE FORM
ADDRESS CHANGE FORM: FILLABLE_Change_of_Address.pdf
MOVING into VES: FILLABLE_VES RequestforRecords.pdf
We can assist you to obtain student records from their prior school by filling out the
Request for Records form and emailing it back to the registrar.
MOVING AWAY/ Withdraw from VES: FILLABE_Withdrawal form
Please initiate the process by filling out the HCPSS Withdrawal Form and email it back to the registrar.
More News | Event | Reminders
The Board-approved calendars are available online.
Celebrating School Social Workers
March is Social Work Month, and March 6-13 is School Social Work Week. School social workers connect students and their families with mental health supports, community services, and other essential resources. At HCPSS, they also provide positive behavioral and school climate support, professional development, and consultation with teachers, parents, and administrators to promote student success. Thank you for all you do!
2023-2024 Redistricting Materials Online
In January, the Board of Education directed that HCPSS initiate the boundary review process for the 2023-2024 school year, including establishing an attendance area for the new HCPSS High School #13. Spring Community Input Workshops are being held in early March (see Reminders below). Meeting materials and a survey are available online for those unable to attend.
Redistricting Community Input Workshops
March 8, 9 and 14, 7-8:30 p.m., various locations
Community members may learn about the scope, timeline and process of the 2023-2024 school year redistricting, and provide input on the redistricting process. Details and a link to register are available online.
Health & Safety Reminders
Families are reminded to follow all HCPSS health and safety protocols and conduct daily at-home health checks. Answers to health and safety frequently asked questions are available online.
Updated Mask and Health & Safety Measures
Face masks now are optional in HCPSS buildings and on buses, with the exception of health rooms where they are required. Schools and offices will continue to have masks available for students and staff. Updated information on contact tracing, quarantining, and isolation and other COVID-19 mitigation strategies is available online.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Please visit the HCPSS website Community News and Programs site for upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.
HCPSS COUNSELING SERVICES for Students, Families, and Staff
The COVID-19 pandemic has made this an especially stressful time for many, especially those already impacted by mental health concerns. Find information about local and online resources for counseling and mental health supports for you and your family on our website.
LOCAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES & EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY POSTS
3/29: WLHS JAZZ ENSEMBLE & STEEL DRUM BAND CONCERT
Please join us for a toe-tapping evening on March 29 for a
Jazz Ensemble and Steel Drum Concert. Music starts at 7:00p.m. in the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School.
Also, you won't want to miss Jazz Cabaret on May 7 so save the date! More details to follow.
Essay Contest to Celebrate Ellicott City’s 250th Anniversary!
In honor of the 250th Anniversary of Ellicott City, students are invited to participate in an essay contest.
There will be three divisions:
· High School- students in grades 9-12
· Middle School- students in grades 6-8
· Elementary School- in grades PreK-5
· Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, April 19th.
· Entries should be submitted at: https://tinyurl.com/250-essay
To learn more about Ellicott City’s 250th Anniversary celebration, visit: https://ec250.com. For additional questions, please contact Kim Eggborn at KimEggborn@gmail.com with any questions you may have.
After our past two COVID-canceled summers, we're back in action!
Our MHHS Summer Camp registration website is open!
Okinawan Karate
Girl Scouts
For more information, contact Lauren Oviatt at VeteransGS@gmail.com
Cub Scout Pack#305
For information, please contact Heidi Potter at heidi@shmoo.com
EE ARCHIVE - Previous Issues SY2021-22
Issue #24 - February 19, 2022
Issue #23 - February 12, 2022
Issue #22 - February 5, 2022
Access complete archive on the main school website: VES.hcpss.org
We are seeking substitute teachers to work with our students *RATE REVISION
We are seeking substitute teachers to work with our students when teachers are absent. Below, please find some details regarding the position.
The Substitute Teacher instructs students during the absence of a regular teacher. Substitute Teachers are expected to maintain a professional attitude toward their work and support the mission and goals of the school system. Substitute Teachers are assigned on an as needed basis and are temporary employees.
Substitute Teachers hours are 9:05 AM - 4:10 PM each day.
Daily Rate of Pay
Non-degreed (Minimum of 60 credits) $125.00 per day
Degreed (Bachelors or higher) $138.00 per day
Retired Teacher (Must provide verification) $157.00 per day
Long-Term Pay
Non-degreed (Minimum of 60 credits) $157.00 per day
Degreed (Bachelors or higher) $169.00 per day
Retired Teacher (Must provide verification) $169.00 per day
Communication, initiative, and flexibility are important attributes for those filling the position(s).
Interested applicants can go to the following link below to begin the application process. Contact Alexcia Redd at alexcia_redd@hcpss.org when you have competed all parts of the application.