VES Newsletter EAGLE EXPRESS
JUNE 18, 2022 - Vol.15 Issue #4
FINAL ISSUE FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2021-2022
NO WALK-IN VISITORS DURING THIS TIME
Robert Bruce, Principal - robert_bruce@hcpss.org
Alexcia Redd, Assistant Principal - alexcia_redd@hcpss.org
Lauren Slattery, Administrator - lauren_slattery@hcpss.org
SCHOOL HOURS IN-SESSION
9:25 A.M. - 3:55 P.M.
OFFICE HOURS
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Please call ahead 410-313-1700
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, .5 Teacher Secretary - 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
**Perform Daily Health Checks
*SEND Rapid and PCR results directly to VES RN: Brenda_Gregor@hcpss.org
RN will provide you with the most current MD-HCPSS guidelines specific to your health status.
*Parents/guardians should keep their children home if they are experiencing symptom(s) associated with any communicable disease, including COVID-19.
Parents/Guardians are to perform daily health checks for COVID-19 symptoms before the student leaves home.
A student should NOT come to school with any of these symptoms:
- fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
- sore throat
- cough
- difficulty breathing
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- new onset of severe headache (especially with fever), or
- new loss of taste or smell
For persons with chronic conditions such as asthma, the symptoms should represent a change from baseline.
Weekly Message from our Principal
Dear Veterans Families,
As we close out the 21-22 school year, we look back knowing the challenges that this year set for all of us. Our families made adjustments as did our students and staff. We say goodbye to some wonderful staff members; Kelly McCulley- Para, Charyl Miller-Para, Emily Schelz-SpEd, Chanel Sanchez-SpEd, Renuka Hiranandani-SpEd, Kelly Walker-Gr. 1, Mi-ae Stein-Gr. 1, Donnesha Brady-Gr.4, Hana Yi-Gr.4, Beth Singo-RECC PK,
Kay Kim-Achievement Liaison and Dulce Boyer-Teacher Secretary. They will all be missed.
We also say farewell to our fantastic fifth graders. We wish them much success as they go through life. We hope they remember to SOAR to Success !!!
Important Dates for 2022-2023:
Weds. August 24- 22-23 Class Lists to be shared in Synergy
Friday August 26- Kindergarten Orientation-10:00 am
New Student Orientation Gr. 1-5 1:30 pm
Open House- 2:30 pm-4:10 pm
Monday August 29- First Day of School
Back-to-School Night:
Monday Sept. 12- K/1 6:30-8:00 pm
Tuesday Sept. 13- Grades 2/4 6:30-8:00 pm
Weds. Sept. 14- Grades 3/5 6:30-8:00 pm
Lastly, staff is still in transition as we build for next year. For now, the following assignments have been made:
Kindergarten- Deppen, Grassi, Abadir, Park, Bents, and Dorsey
Grade One- Welch, Alizadeh, Nguyen, Seidl , Georgetti, Dixon
Grade Two- Kleinow, Lim, Anderson, Corba, Patel, Becker, and Tong
Grade Three- Menne, Hoffman, Loo, Vacancy, Vacancy
Grade Four- Getsinger, Grady-Johnson, Jaggarsar, Shin, Pozoulakis
Grade Five- Callaghan, Pensiero, Butani, Chong, Graves, Young
We welcome to our school Ms. Lisa Young from Atholton Elementary School and also we welcome back our new Academic Achievement Liaison- Mr. Sung Kim.
Please stay safe and healthy this summer!
Best wishes,
Robert C Bruce
Principal- Veterans Elementary School
410-313-1700
Every Day Counts!
Connectedness Strategic Responsibility Arranger Intellection
HCPSS APPROVED CALENDAR SY2021-22 - * Updated 2/25/2022 :
Chinese - Month view & Chinese - Date list view
JUNE:
17 - Schools Close 3-Hours Early: Dismissal 12:55 p.m. LAST DAY OF SCHOOL SY2021-22
20 - Schools and Offices Closed - Juneteenth National Independence Day (observed)
JULY:
4 - Independence Day: HCPSS buildings and Offices Closed
19- Primary Election Day
2022 - 2023 SCHOOL YEAR
AUGUST:
24- Class Assignments will be available in Canvas/Synergy
26- Kindergarten Student Orientation 10:00 a.m.
26- Gr. 1 thru 5 New Student Orientation 1:30 p.m.
26- Open House 2:30 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.
29 - First Day of School for Full Day Programs
SEPTEMBER:
5 - Labor Day: Schools and Offices Closed
12 - Back-to-School Night: Kindergarten and Gr.1 - 6:30 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
13 - Back- to-School Night: Gr.2 and Gr. 4 - 6:30 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
14 - Back- to-School Night: Gr.3 and Gr. 5 - 6:30 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
Last Day of School
MONDAY, AUGUST 29
First Day of School
New Kindergarten SY2022-2023 Important Dates
NEW INFORMATION
Quarter 4 Report Cards Available June 22
Quarter 4 report cards will be accessible via HCPSS Connect Synergy after 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 22. Instructions for accessing report cards are available online.
YEARBOOKS
Our Yearbook company has been having printing issues and were trying their hardest to deliver prior to the end of the school year. Unfortunately they were unable to accommodate us and we have asked them to deliver to individual addresses. They have let us know families should expect their book within the next two weeks.
*Books that were ordered after the deadline have been delivered and will be passed out to those students before the end of the day.
If your child did not attend school today (6/17), we will message you and you can come pick it up in the school office at your convenience.
The good news is the book looks great and is full of photos of our wonderful community of students and staff. I hope you all have a fantastic summer!
Welcome Kelly Grenzer, new Leadership Intern effective July 1, 2022
DreamBox Access Ends June 30, 2022
DreamBox Access Ends June 30, 2022
Students will not have access to DreamBox this summer. Access will be turned off on June 30, 2022.
Mathematics Resources for Rising Grade 6 Students
HCPSS has developed online acceleration courses in Canvas to help supplement some of the mathematics content that may be missed when a student skips a course(s). Students can log into Canvas and join the acceleration course by visiting the associated link(s). Students should begin with module 1 of the course they are joining. The expectation is for students to complete each of the modules in the appropriate acceleration course before the start of the 2022-23 school year.
The Mathematics 7 acceleration course is designed for rising 6th grade students who are skipping Mathematics 6. The course contains self-paced Mathematics 6 content. Students can join/access this course by visiting: https://hcpss.instructure.com/enroll/9WYLTP
Rising 6th grade students who are skipping Mathematics 6 and Mathematics 7 to take Pre-Algebra GT should enroll in the Mathematics 7 acceleration course (https://hcpss.instructure.com/enroll/9WYLTP) and then the Mathematics 8 acceleration course ( https://hcpss.instructure.com/enroll/H47PRL).
Additional student and family middle school mathematics course support is available online at the HCPSS Family Math Support Center: http://hcpssfamilymath.weebly.com.
PTA THANK YOUS!
Please join me in thanking the incredible officers and committee chairs this year that helped to make this unique year a little more fun...
Our executive board who met every month to try to brainstorm new ways to help the kids, teachers and school.
Heidi Potter - our VP, 5th grade co-chair, book fair chair, and amazing planner of all the staff appreciation events this year. Heidi is also our past president and is moving onto middle school next year. Her contributions to VES are unmatched over the past 15 years.
Tomi Adebo - our awesome treasurer who helped us budget everything and filed incredible amounts of paperwork to keep us running smoothly
Kimberly Potter - our VP and committees/membership organizer
Nicole Tsang - our secretary who took notes for all of our meetings
Ana Maldonado - our delegate who kept us informed of county issues
Tina David - our 5th grade co-chairperson and staff appreciation co-chair, staff lounge spruce up coordinator
Amie Price - our spiritwear coordinator who ran sales to help us build community this year
Danyette Young - Movie Night and End of year party Chair
Becky Li - Movie Night and Field day lead volunteer
Jamie Fessler - for coordinating our upcoming summer playdates to welcome our incoming kindergartners & coordinated our restaurant nights
Marche' Templeton - for running the Reflections Art Contest this year
Nelly Sai-Palm - for running our Whooo's Reading Read-A-thon
To all the other volunteers who contributed to our teacher appreciation efforts, spiritwear distribution, donations to our school, our end of year party & science fair, and our 5th grade event volunteers, we thank you!
To Mr. Bruce and our amazing staff at VES, it is an honor to work with you to serve the kids of this community. You are the best!
Thank you for allowing me, Cara Adornetto, to serve as your PTA president these last two years, lead your science fair, host virtual trivia nights and be a part of this amazing community. See you next year!
May summer break be restorative to everyone. Cheers to more fun next year!
More News | Event | Reminders
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.
End-of-Year Information Online
Details about the end of the 2021-22 school year, including information about devices, grading and the final days of school, 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.
Summer Meal Site
Summer break is just around the corner! Before we wrap up the year, be sure to check these important updates on where students can receive free meals, returning/keeping HCPSS devices, enrichment opportunities, and more.
LOCAL COMMUNITY POSTINGS & EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY
Ellicott Mills Middle School Welcomes Future PTA Members
Dear Future EMMS Parents:
The PTA is still looking for members to fill spots on the PTA Executive Board for SY 2022-2023. We have the following spots open:
1) President
2) Treasurer
3) Delegate 1 (PTA of Howard Co, PTAHC)
4) Delegate 2 (PTA of Howard Co, PTAHC)
I'd emphasize that the time commitment is manageable. This is a productive way to be a part of the fun activities for the children and also to work with some of the school's staff.
Please e-mail me (Ricky Rambharat, rrambharat@gmail.com) if you have interest as we are trying to fill these spots for the next school year. Again, please consider joining the Board and getting to know our very special EMMS community.
Kind regards,
Ricky Rambharat
Summer Camp: Computer Science Coding at HoHS
Week 1 - July 11 to 15
Week 2 - July 18 to 22
Learn how to program with click or drag coding or python! Program a Robot to complete challenges throughout the week!
For more information or to register visit: https://thecsacademy.com/
June 19: HoCo Family Wellness Day
Lions’ Pride Booster Club Summer Camps
The Lions' Pride Booster Club is proud to announce their summer camp lineup for the summer of 2022. We have boys' and girls' basketball, lacrosse, track and field, cross country, and soccer. We also have boys' baseball, girls' softball, and girls field hockey. New this year we have boys and girls Intro to Programming through Scratch and Robotics.
Registration and details of each camp can be found here:http://www.howardlionspride.org/sports-camps.html
Come out and learn about your favorite sports from the Howard H.S. athletic coaches. We look forward to working with you!
After our past two COVID-canceled summers, we're back in action!
Our MHHS Summer Camp registration website is open!
Troop and Pack 305
For our rising 6th graders, Scout Troop 305 is accepting new members, boys and girls! We meet on Wednesdays at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Frederick road. Camping and hiking are only some of the fun activities we do, join us today! Please e-mail or call Dave Maas (davidleemaas@gmail.com, 443-867-7714) for more information.
If any rising kindergartners through rising 5th graders are interested, our Cub Scout Pack is also accepting members. Please email Kristine Moreno (kristine.quinto@gmail.com) for info.
VES REMINDERS: Worth Repeating . . .
VES Messenger: Email Communication for 2022-23
Email Communication for 2022-23
All parents/guardians are in our system to receive HCPSS and school emails/text messages. HCPSS systems will update in early August, at which point parents will automatically receive communication from your child’s 2022-2023 school. Prior to that rollover, you will continue to receive communication from your child’s 2021-2022 school. Please do not attempt to create a new account with your child’s 2022-2023 school. Additionally, unsubscribing from any HCPSS or school messages will block you from receiving all messages from the district and your child’s school. Please do not unsubscribe!
** NOTICE: supervision by HCPSS Staff NOT available before school **
Parent-Guardian is responsible for their child's supervision until the VES school doors open 9:15 a.m. in the morning.
Do not leave your child unattended prior to 9:15 a.m.
*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.
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
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
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.
* 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!
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.
* 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.
Policy 1050 – Tobacco-Free Environment
The purpose of this policy is to specify criteria for the HCPSS to maintain a tobacco-free, smoke-free, and nicotine-free environment, to help prevent the use of tobacco and nicotine products by students, employees, and visitors. The HCPSS also supports cessation efforts, and delineates the consequences for violations of this policy. This policy includes the use of ENDS products including but not limited to; e-pens, vaping pens, e-pipes, etc. Please know that any student in violation of this policy shall be subject to the Student Discipline Policy.
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.
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.
Fall 2022-2023 New Kindergarten & New Grade 1 Student - Online Registration
Kindergarten registration for families of children who will be 5yo by September 1, 2022.
Parents can begin the enrollment process online, after which your child’s school will contact you to complete the registration process.
NOTE: HCPSS Current Pre-Kindergarten students do not need to be re-registered for kindergarten because they are already enrolled as an HCPSS student.
PreKindergarten Enrollment Information
PreKindergarten Program Information guidelines
The HCPSS prekindergarten program is a high-quality, half-day prekindergarten program. Students must be four years old by September 1, 2022 to be considered for enrollment in fall 2022. The comprehensive curriculum taught by certified staff supports early learning and school readiness and provides experiences that foster children’s academic, social, emotional and physical development.
Is my child eligible for the program?
Students must be four years old by September 1.
The Maryland State Department of Education requires that the pre-K program be made available first to students who meet first priority criteria: income eligible, homelessness and foster care.
At this time, families that qualify for first priority criteria are placed first into pre-K and second priority applicants are placed on the waitlist. The Office of Early Childhood Programs will monitor countywide enrollment trends and space availability at pre-K sites to determine if the second priority criteria applicants can be considered for placement into pre-K.
Step 1: Complete the fillable application - * Regular PreK Program applications (*available Apr. 19) and upload along with all other required documents including proof of family income (refer to application form) during the online registration process;
Step 2: Register Online starting April 19 - Pre-K Registration Opens on the HCPSS website.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Mary Jens at (410) 313-1700
Mary_Jens@hcpss.org
HCPSS News and Text Alerts - Stay Informed
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.
HCPSS Visitors and Volunteers
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 comply with by the HCPSS policies in place by complete the following:
HCPSS Volunteer link Information steps:
1. Confidentiality Training Course
2. Certification of Completion
3. Register to Volunteer
EE ARCHIVE - Previous Issues SY2021-22
Issue #38 - June 4, 2022
Issue #37 - May 28, 2022
Issue #36 - May 21, 2022
Issue #35 - May 14, 2022
Access complete archive on the main school website: VES.hcpss.org
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