Veterans Elementary Eagle Express
February 20, 2020 - Volume 13, Issue 22
Soar to Excellence!
School Mission
Veterans Elementary School promotes life-long learning by embracing its diversity, providing students with dynamic classroom experiences and exposing them to the cultural arts in a climate that is rigorous, safe, nurturing and respectful.
Veterans Elementary School
Amy Green, Assistant Principal
Derek Lewis, Administrator
School Start and Dismissal Times: 9:25 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Email: robert_bruce@hcpss.org
Website: ves.hcpss.org
Location: 4355 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, MD, USA
Phone: 410-313-1700
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
2020-2021 Budget
The Board of Education has submitted its budget to County Executive Calvin Ball. The budget set at $ 947.8 Million is certainly not a pipe dream budget but it does address certain key issues for the school system. It is crucial that the community support the needs of the school system. The Board of Education did decrease the Superintendent's proposed budget by $16.2 Million. The Board of Education budget will increase class size by one and decrease the amount of money that can fund much needed improvements to Special Education staffing. Howard County continues to have one of the best school systems in the State of Maryland as well as in the country. This is only because of the community support for education. Our hardworking staff continue to do a phenomenal job despite not having every dollar necessary to address system needs. The Superintendent works tirelessly to acquire the resources to do our job. The County Executive will now review the budget to ascertain how much money the county can afford to fund and the County Council will then have to approve the budget as well. As a principal, I want to encourage you to support the school system budget and my staff as they make every attempt to address the needs of your children. Together, we can and will ensure that your child becomes college or career ready.
Redistricted Students:
Students who were either redistricted to Veterans Elementary or to Northfield Elementary for the 2020-2021 school year will have an opportunity to visit their new schools. On Thursday April 2nd from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., students will have an opportunity to visit their new schools. This visit will be arranged during the school day in the form of a field trip. Please let your children know about this trip. Of course, if you decided to remain at your current school and received an exemption, you will not go on this trip. We look forward to meeting our new students on April 2nd. If you have any questions, please email me. This is not a trip for parents, all schools have held orientations for parents.
Important Upcoming Dates
FEBRAURY
- 26 - National Wear Pink T-Shirt Day, Campaign for Anti-Bullying
MARCH
- 6 - 3rd Quarter Interim Reports Issued
- 8 - Daylight Savings Begins (1 hour forward)
- 9 thru 13 - Registration SY2020 - 2021 Kindergarten and In-coming New Grade1
APRIL
- 3 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early, 12:55 p.m.: Professional Work Day
- 3 - End of 3rd Quarter
- 4 thru 13 - SPRING BREAK
- 14 - School Reopens
- 23 - National Take Your Child to Work Day Observance
- 28 - Schools and Offices Closed: Primary Election Day
2019-20 HCPSS Calendar - Monthly Format
Click to download and print the HCPSS calendar in a monthly format. The calendar will no longer be distributed in first day folders. The 2019-2020 School Calendar is available to be printed online: https://www.hcpss.org/calendar/
CURRENT NEWS
Pink Shirt Day is an anti-bullying initiative that began a few years back in Nova Scotia when a boy was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school. Two other boys who witnessed the bullying organized the first Pink Shirt Day in support of the bullied student. Everyone they knew came to school wearing pink to show that they take a stand against bullying. We will be celebrating Pink Shirt Day for the third time at VES by wearing pink on Thursday, February 26!!
Centennial High School Friends of Music Annual B-I-N-G-O Night
Join the Centennial High School Friends of Music for our annual B-I-N-G-O Night on Saturday, February 22, 7:00-9:30 p.m. in the CHS cafeteria. We have AMAZING themed prize baskets, INCREDIBLE raffle prizes, EXCITING silent auction and AWESOME live music! Our Silent Auction items include:
Greg's Driving School - Driver's Ed class valued at $360
Union Jack's Pool Room Party valued at $375
Sergio's Jewelers Necklace valued at $150
Taste of India Basket
Clark's Ace Hardware Basket
Discounted gift certificates on sale for local restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses at 10% savings. Examples are: Wegman's, Sakura, Bippy's Pub, Glory Days, White Oak Tavern, Zen Garden, Sprouts, Shannon's, Bagel Bin, Beef Brothers, Bare Bones, Tea Top, Toby's Dinner Theater and lots more! Don’t miss this opportunity! All proceeds supporting our FANTASTIC music programs! Please spread the word and invite your friends. Only $10 at the door ($40 for a family of 5), with 12 chances to win one of these amazing gift baskets. All funds from these donated items will go directly to support our music programs. Bring your checkbook or credit card for our awesome auction items! Pizza and snacks available for purchase. You must be present to win, so don’t miss out on this fun family event!
Friends of Music Annual B-I-N-G-O Night!
Saturday, Feb 22, 2020, 07:00 PM
Centennial High School, Centennial Lane, Ellicott City, MD, USA
The VES Staff Social/Wellness Committee invites students to join in a few activities
Wellness Wednesdays
We invite students to join their teachers in wearing athletic clothing on Wednesdays to help promote movement into our school day.
On Thursdays in February, please send your child wearing shirts with positive sayings on them. Please join us in spreading encouraging words and good vibes all around our school!
School Spirit Fridays
Starting Friday, February 28th, we will have school spirit days on the final Friday of the month. Please send your kids wearing red/white/blue or in any spirit wear you have purchased.
Mark your calendars for Feb 28th, March 27th, April 24th, and May 29th.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
HCPSS SCHOOL GUIDE RULES
New HCPSS Website and System for Emergency Closings:
Effective December 1, HCPSS is launching a color-coding notification system for emergency and other non-scheduled school closings, including for inclement weather. The new system standardizes the school system’s operational status to five possibilities to enhance consistency while promoting the safety of HCPSS students and staff, and adhering to negotiated agreements on staff availability.
If Howard County public schools open two hours late, there is no morning Pre-Kindergarten/RECC.
The HCPSS operating status will be identified on a new website: https://status.hcpss.org/. The HCPSS operational color code options are:
- Code Green – Normal Operations (in accordance with the HCPSS calendar)
- Code Red – Schools and Offices Closed
- Code Orange – Schools Closed; Offices Open with Liberal Leave in Effect
- Code Blue – Schools Open Two Hours Late
- Code Yellow – Schools Dismiss Early
All notifications regarding emergency closings will include both the code and operating status.
The emergency notification sources are:
- HCPSS status website
- HCPSS homepage
- Email/text alerts
- HCPSS Information Hotline (410-313-6666)
Please note: HCPSS cable TV is no longer a source for inclement weather closings.
Inclement Weather Information:
I am sure that inclement weather puts a strain on most of our families as we try to ensure that our children are cared for during needed times. Please understand that the school system determines closings based on weather forecasts and the safety of children is our number one concern. If we are closed, that is self-explanatory, we are simply not open for business. When we delay opening by an hour or even two hours, then all business is delayed by one or two hours. Therefore if the announcement is a Code Blue and we are delayed in opening for two hours then school opens at 11:15 a.m. Bus pick up is delayed by two hours as well. So if your child is picked up normally at 8:45 a.m. then a two hour delay moves this to 10:45 a.m. Refer to your bus normal pick up time and delay by the announced delay. If we are one hour late then delay it to one hour. If we are two hours late then delay it by two hours.
Early closings can occur as a two hour early closing or a three hour early closing. Count on your child arriving home two hours earlier or three hours earlier than the usual time. When school closes early, there is no after care program because their use of the building would also be unsafe. When school closes early everyone must leave the premises and after school activities are canceled. Any delay in picking up your children delays my ability to send all staff home. It is crucial we get students home before the conditions of the roads get worse.
Volunteer Information
This is an annual requirement and only takes 5 minutes per training.
Food Services
https://hcpss.nutrislice.com/menu/veterans?mode=browse
Please keep your child’s lunch/breakfast accounts up to date:
https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home
For information related to setting up your child’s lunch account and how to apply for Free or Reduced Priced Meals, please go to:
https://www.hcpss.org/food-services/