The Fulton Flier
Week of October 4th
While we recognize that Halloween activities held during the school day have been a long-standing tradition in many Howard County schools, including Fulton Elementary, the decision has been made to not hold Halloween-specific activities during the instructional day. Our greater concern for our leadership team was the growing number of Fulton students who have been choosing to opt-out of Halloween celebrations in recent years. Please stay tuned for more information regarding how our teams will be celebrating fall.
One of our wonderful parents, Ms. Bansal, has written a wonderful message to help us better understand upcoming Hindu Festivals, please enjoy....
Fall is an exciting time with beautiful colors around the trees and the start of the Hindu festival season. The interesting fact is that the dates of Hindu holidays change each year, and the reason is that the Hindu holiday calendar is based on the lunar calendar!
Navratri is a Hindu festival that is celebrated for nine consecutive nights. This year Navratri will begin on October 7th. This festival is observed in honor of a Hindu goddess’ “Devi Durga or Kali” victory over evil based on a famous legend. This festival is celebrated in different ways throughout India and neighboring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh. Fasting is how some of the followers celebrate, while in other parts of India, it is celebrated with great pomp and show with garba and dandiya (form of Indian traditional dance).
Dussehra (also known as Vijayadashami) is a Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri. This festival marks the victory of Hindu God Rama over the ten-headed Ravana (an evil king) based on Ramayana, an ancient epic. Each year, on this day, towering effigies of Ravana are burnt with fireworks. People observe the festival through prayers at the temple, enjoying outdoor fairs throughout India and neighboring countries such as Nepal and Sri Lanka. This year, Dussehra will be celebrated on Friday, October 15th.
Diwali (also known as a festival of lights) is a major Hindu festival that symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.” This day is observed by people illuminating the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas (oil lamps), string up lights, and perform worship
ceremonies of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. On this day, people go shopping, buy new clothes, purchase new household stuff, and give presents to their family and friends. This year Diwali will be celebrated on Thursday, November 4th.
Message from FES Health Room:
Thank you, parents/guardians, for keeping your children home when they are experiencing various illnesses. If you are unsure, please do not hesitate to contact the health room by either calling 410-880-5966 or emailing the school health team: christina_toler@hcpss.org or kathleen_wurstner@hcpss.org
If your child has any of the following symptoms, they should be evaluated by a physician and must receive a negative PCR or alternate diagnosis before returning to school: Fever Sore throat Cough Difficulty breathing Vomiting or diarrhea New loss of taste or smell Severe headache Documentation must be provided to the attendance secretary at FESabence@hcpss.org prior to your child's return.
Covid testing sites:
https://www.howardcountymd.gov/covid-19-testing
COVID-19 Testing | Howard County Health Department Testing. The Howard County Health Department provides PCR testing for COVID-19 using the FDA-authorized Azova saliva test kit, which is more comfortable than traditional nasal swab.
From Our Belonging and Culture Team
Thank you for celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Disabilities and Inclusion with us this month! Be sure to keep an eye out for community spotlights!
Here are a few belonging and cultural happenings…
Did you know that Howard County Public Schools has many regional programs for students?
Fulton Elementary School is 1 of 5 elementary schools in Howard County that houses a Regional Program for students with Emotional Disabilities and Other Behavior Related Disorders. Having the program within Fulton Elementary affords students the opportunity to demonstrate the generalization of academic and behavioral skills in a less restrictive setting, while receiving direct instruction and positive behavioral supports in a more restrictive environment.
The Regional Program at Fulton currently consists of 2 self-contained classrooms that can support students from grades K-5. Each classroom has a designated teacher along with paraeducators and student assistants who work together to provide each student with their grade level curriculum, as well as service each student’s IEP. The program has a full time crisis interventionist who supports students and staff with safely managing behaviors, while also teaching self-regulation strategies. All staff members are trained in both verbal and physical de-escalation strategies to ensure students are given the opportunity to safely access their instruction. While the ED Regional Program offers a small classroom learning environment; it is our hope that by arming students with the structure and the skills needed to self-regulate their emotions, they will eventually access instruction in their general education classroom with their grade-level peers. The ultimate goal of Regional Programs are to return students to their home school as soon as possible and to provide support for their successful reintegration. This is accomplished through building students’ social and academic competencies, supporting families, and collaborating with community agencies.
Students in the Regional Program at Fulton Elementary are welcomed into the school community and are encouraged to participate in all school wide activities. They are also welcomed into the general education classrooms to work side by side with their grade level peers in order to prepare them for similar instruction in their home schools. Communication with the student’s home school is continued throughout their time at Fulton.
Howard County GT Program Parent Academy, October 13 and 14, 2021
HCPSS families interested in the Gifted and Talented (GT) Program are invited to come learn about the advanced-level offerings available and how their students can become involved. The evening will begin with an overview of GT Education Program offerings followed by a question and answer session with Central Office GT Education Program staff. Elementary and Secondary programs will be covered on separate days. Families may attend one or both nights. Registration is required for these events.
Elementary Focus: Wednesday, October 13, 7 – 8:00 p.m., being held virtually via Microsoft Teams
For more information and to register, please visit the HCPSS GT Program Parent Academy announcement.
Flu Vaccination Clinic at FES on Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Sign-up by October 8, 2021
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Flu vaccinations are coming to your child’s school on October 27, 2021. They will be given at NO CHARGE TO YOU. Now, more than ever, it is important to protect your family through vaccinations.
If you would like your child to be vaccinated, please register BEFORE Friday, October 8:
Fill out the consent form online at:
https://tinyurl.com/HoCPSSFlu2021
1. Type your child’s school name in Search by Name then press the blue Search button.
2. Click on the Sign Up for Flu Vaccinations button for your child’s school.
OR
Paper consent forms available upon request. If needed, please contact the health room staff by emailing: christina_toler@hcpss.org or kathleen_wurstner@hcpss.org
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a serious illness that affects people of all ages. One of the best ways to prevent the flu is through vaccinations. We are pleased to join with the Maryland Partnership for Prevention (MPP) to offer flu vaccinations at our school.
You may give permission for your child to be vaccinated using (1) an online form at https://tinyurl.com/HoCPSSFlu2021 or (2) the hard copy form attached to this message.
We urge you to protect your family from the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu shot. Please visit www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm for more information about the flu vaccine.
Fulton Elementary School is looking for Room Parents for the 21-22 school year!
We are need of Room Parents for the 2021-2022 school year! If you have already touched base with you child's teacher and signed up, don't worry- we have your name. But if you haven't signed up and are interested, please take a moment to read what an FES Room Parent entails.
What is a Room Parent?
A Room Parent is a volunteer who helps out in their child's homeroom class to support the teacher. Room parents help with classroom events and facilitate communication between the teacher and the other parents in the class as well as our PTA.
What does a Room Parent do throughout the year?
Supporting your teacher by providing assistance with teacher needs.
Reaching out to all classroom families to welcome them to the class and encourage interaction
Organizing classroom communication and creating an email distribution list for other parents
Coordinating Social Events for classroom parents/guardians in the Fall – ideally before the end of November. It could be a virtual happy hour, small group meetings, a game night.
Collaborating with the teacher to coordinate social activities for the kids as well, like lunch bunches, play groups
Researching in-school field trips, virtual field trips or other curriculum extensions with curriculum guidance from the teacher
Be a member of the PTA
Communicating with parents about the PTA, meetings, updates and events; forwarding notifications to your class from PTA meetings.
Recruit and coordinate volunteers for PTA events
Manage the classroom hub in PTA MemberHub
Complete the Volunteer Trainings
If you are interested in becoming a Room Parent (YAY!), please complete this form.
We look forward to partnering with you!
INFORMATION LETTER FOR VISION AND HEARING SCREENING
Please take moment to review this document for details.
In case you missed it...
Now is the time to join instrumental music!!!!! Strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass) is available to ALL 3rd 4th and 5th graders. Band (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba and percussion) is available to ALL 4th and 5th graders!
Mr. Twigg will be speaking at each class with more information. He is available for questions at richard_twigg@hcpss.org.
If you already know which instrument you would like to sign up for, you can register at the links below.
- 3rd grade strings: https://forms.gle/HNzesK488Ka7RKz78
- 4th grade strings: https://forms.gle/YBPitGEySoyUTEpc7
- 5th grade strings: https://forms.gle/CgRT8sAu5ZxcMpv9A
- 4th grade band: https://forms.gle/Hsp5ufcmtKrop2qz5
- 5th grade band: https://forms.gle/Wprg9PC2whtgFFCu6
The PTA Perch
We are excited to share: your student will be visiting a pumpkin patch at school and bringing a pumpkin home with them to bake, decorate and enjoy! See below for more details.
- RECC/K- week of 10/4
- 1st/2nd- week of 10/11
- 3rd/4th- week of 10/18
- 5th- week of 10/25
Did you see our awesome new banner?! We have just about 3 weeks to get as many people signed up for our Falcon Trot! Behind the scenes, we have a whole squad of parents helping with setting up the registration site, designing the shirts, asking our awesome local businesses to be some of our sponsors, promoting this run and getting our families excited about it — and all because our PTA wants to give our children and teachers the BEST year ever!
👟 Sign up here
We have a goal of raising $10,000 (and with business sponsors and runners we will get there)! This year we would like to be able to fund several events and we need the support of all of our families!
Did you know that the PTA sponsors Field Day, the 5th Grade Promotion, Falcon Follies, International Night, and Teacher Appreciation luncheons - among many many other events! So, bottom line, we need YOU to sign up for our Falcon Trot!
Upcoming Dates
Please visit or subscribe to the FES Calendar Webpage to view important upcoming dates:
October 4th: RECC & Kindergarten visit the PTA Fall Pumpkin Patch
October 8th: PTA Kidz Art 4:00pm
October 11th: 1st & 2nd Grade visit the PTA Fall Pumpkin Patch
October 12th: PTA Fundraiser @ Maiwand Kabob
October 15th: No School-Professional Learning Day
October 17th: PTA Fundraiser @ Pure Barre
October 18th: 3rd & 4th Grade visit the PTA Fall Pumpkin Patch
October 25th: 5th Grade visit the PTA Fall Pumpkin Patch
October 27th: FES Flu Clinic
Worth Repeating
#SOCKTOBER
Did you know socks are one of the most needed and least donated items to homeless shelters? Winter is coming! Everyone needs warm socks!
Fulton Elementary is collecting socks for the homeless in ‘Socktober’! Donations of new socks, adult sizes preferred, are greatly appreciated! Socks will be collected from October 1st until October 31st, in a box in each grade level's pod area. The thicker the socks, the better. Donations will be given to Grassroots Day Resources Center in Jessup, MD on November 1st. Thank you for helping others! #Fultonhascaringhearts
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE TEXT MESSAGES YET?
Parents have the option to receive text messages. Texts are sent for urgent/emergency announcements (school closings and delays, etc.) as well as when buses are delayed.
New parents are sent a text message to opt-in for text alerts. If you didn’t receive this, visit www.hcpss.org/hcpss-news/ to troubleshoot.
Text alerts will be sent to the mobile phone number identified in Family File.
If you were opted-in to receive text messages last year, and your phone number has not changed, you do not need to opt-in again.
FROM OUR BELONGING AND CULTURE TEAM
In the month of October we are going to be celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Disabilities and Inclusion!
Please take note of a few things:
All teachers will have these interactive slides linked on their Canvas pages by Friday, October 1st!
At the beginning of the year, all classroom teachers received new books from our team! These slides show you which books align with October’s celebrations!
Please use this link to fill out a google from about Hispanic Heritage and Disabilities and Inclusion if you would like to be spotlighted!
RAPID & PCR MOBILE TESTING
Rapid testing and PCR testing will be available to residents at no upfront cost through a partnership with First Call Urgent Care and Centennial Medical Group at the following sites each week. These testing sites will help promote more equitable healthcare and ensure all populations have access to COVID-19 testing in Howard County.
Type of Test: Nasal Swab
When & Where: Seven days a week, 12pm - 7pm (unless otherwise noted) Click here for the complete schedule and locations.
Price: No upfront costs. Contact your insurance company for coverage limits.
Appointments: Appointments are not necessary
Phone: (443) 351-7301
Fulton Elementary School
Molly Caroland, Assistant Principal, molly_caroland@hcpss.org
Leslie Brickner, Assistant Principal, leslie_brickner@hcpss.org
Email: tanisha_burks@hcpss.org
Website: fes.hcpss.org/
Location: 11600 Scaggsville Road, Fulton, MD, USA
Phone: 410-880-5957
Twitter: @hcpss_fes