Hollifield Herald
Weekly News - 24th Edition - 3/9/20
Coronavirus - FAQ
Dear HSES Families,
As we have shared in our previous newsletter, we understand that this virus has many of our families worried. As our superintendent has shared, we are taking every precaution to ensure a safe and healthy environment. See the section "Previously Shared Information" for some of the details on our current practices. Please visit the HCPSS website for up to date information. https://www.hcpss.org/health/coronavirus/
Below are a few of the frequently asked questions that we have received.
What is HSES doing to help ensure a safe environment?
- Administration has met with custodial staff and emphasized the importance of consistent best practices.
- Hand sanitizer is being made available in the cafeteria for all students.
- Teachers are providing additional time daily for students to wash their hands, and they are encouraging frequent hand washing.
- Desks are being wiped down daily, as well as door handles.
- Consistent communication between central office staff and administration is occurring.
- Administration and our health room are monitoring student and staff illness. We are encouraging all families to keep their children home when sick. For guidelines, please click on this link.
If I keep my child at home, is it an excused absence?
While we certainly appreciate the concern that families may have at this time regarding the coronavirus, students must attend school as stated in the student parent handbook.
- A student is counted present for a full day if the student is in attendance four hours or more of the school day.
- A student is counted present for half day if the student is in attendance for at least two hours of the school day, but less than four hours.
- A student scheduled for less than a full day is to be counted present based on the amount of time he/she is scheduled.
A note from the parent must be submitted to the school within two school days of the student’s return, indicating the date and reason for tardiness or absence from a regular school session. A doctor’s certificate is required in cases of long-term absence due to illness. A note should also be submitted to request early dismissal or exclusion from activities (e.g., physical education). Chronic absences are referred to the Department of Special Education and Student Services."
At this time, the coronavirus is not considered an excused absence. Please know that all HCPSS schools focus on a healthy physical environment for our students. Best practices are implemented by staff and students for preventing the spread of germs.
One of the alternatives to attending public school is to apply to home school your child. Should you be interested in this alternative, please contact Catherine Chapman at catherine_chapman@hcpss.org.
March
- 3/20 - Spirit Day - Sports Theme - Wear something that celebrates your favorite sport
- 3/23 - 3/25 - 5th Grade MISA testing
- 3/30 - 4th grade Art Museum field trip
- 3/31 - 5th Grade field trip to Mt. Vernon
- 3/31 - 6:30 p.m. PTA Meeting - HSES Media Center
April
- 4/3 - 3 hour early closing - End of Marking Period
- 4/6 - 4/13 - Spring Break - Schools & Offices Closed
- 4/17 - Battle of the Books - 5th graders only participate (Information to come)
- 4/20 - 4/23 - 3rd Grade MCAP Testing - Math
- 4/22 - Walk to School Day (Information below)
- 4/24 - Spirit Day - Culture Day - Wear or bring something that represents your culture
- 4/27 - 6:35 p.m. Orioles Game - Camden Yards - Station Singers sing the National Anthem!
- 4/27 - 5/2 - 4th Grade MCAP Testing - ELA
May
- 5/1 - Spring Picture Day
- 5/4 - 5/7 - 5th Grade MCAP Testing - Math
- 5/11 - 5/13 - 3rd Grade MCAP Testing - ELA
- 5/15 - 3 hour early closing - Professional Work Day/ Articulation
- 5/18- 5/20 - 5th Grade MCAP Testing - ELA
- 5/21 - Field Day
- 5/21 - 6:30 - 8:00 - Imagination Garden - School-wide Enrichment Fair
- 5/22 - Field Day Rain Date
- 5/25 - Schools and Offices Closed - Memorial Day
- 5/26 - 5/29 - 4th Grade MCAP Testing - ELA
- 5/26 - 6:30 p.m. PTA Meeting (Media Center)
- 5/27 - 7:00 p.m. - Spring Band and Station Singers Concert
- 5/28 - Simulated Congressional Hearings
- 5/28 - Spirit Day - Wear Red, White, and Blue
June
6/1 - 3:15 p.m. - Musical Dress Rehearsal
6/2 - 3:15 p.m. - Musical Dress Rehearsal
6/3 - 7:00 p.m. - Spring Musical
6/8 - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - 3rd Grade - Howard County Conservancy Science Lesson - Owl presentation
6/10 - 9:00 a.m. - Kindergarten Program
6/10 - 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Summer Reading Night (Media Center)
6/10 - 7:00 p.m. - PTA Blacktop Party
6/11 - 9:15 a.m. - 5th Grade Closing Ceremony
6/11 - 3 hour early closing
6/12 - 3 hour early closing
6/15 - Last day of school for students
Walking Wednesday
No Walking Wednesdays on the following dates due to staff meetings:
March 11, April 29, May 20.
HSES Website: http://hses.hcpss.org/
PTA Website: https://hsespta.org/
Curriculum for coming weeks (Click Here):
April 22nd - Walk to School Day
Mock Battle of the Books - 5th Graders only
DATE: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
TIME: 3:05 - 4:15 pm
PLACE: HSES Library Media Center
If students wish to attend they will need to bring a note to their classroom teacher from home/parents stating that they can stay after school for the Mock Battle of the Books on Wednesday, March 18th from 3:05-4:15 pm and that the parents are aware that they must provide transportation for their child at 4:15 pm.
Students may bring a PEANUT FREE snack to eat as they enter the media center at dismissal time. They can bring bottled water or use the water fountain in the hallway across from the media center. We will have hand sanitizer available before and after snack time.
Our Mock Battle will give our students a small "taste" of what the Battle on April 17th will be like with time limits and sample questions.
Congratulations - Caron Scholarship Winner
Coronavirus Prevention and Response Measures
Dear HSES Families,
There has been a lot of attention in the news and on social media related to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19, a new respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This is an evolving situation, and HCPSS will follow the guidance of the Howard County Health Department who will continue to provide updated information and guidance to HCPSS leadership as it becomes available.
The school system has posted information on the website related to the Coronavirus. There was also a community message that was shared via email yesterday.
It continues to be important that we are all doing everything that we can to keep our children and classrooms healthy. The Howard County Health Department officials have shared several recommendations to ensure that we are taking appropriate and effective actions to stay healthy and prevent the spread of all person-to-person viruses. These precautions also have been shared by the CDC, and include:
1. Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
2. Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
3. Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
4. Staying home when you are sick
5. Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
6. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently-touched objects and surfaces
If you have concerns regarding your child’s health, please contact our health room. Thank you for all of your efforts to help us maintain a safe and healthy school. As always if you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Sincerely,
Amanda Wadsworth
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration Information
When: Monday, March 9th through Friday, March 13th -- Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Hollifield Station Elementary School
After March 13th registration by appointment only.
We encourage you to visit https://www.hcpss.org/enroll/ to begin your registration online.
For more information call: 410.313.2550
New Email for Parents to Send in Absence Excuses!
New Quick and Easy Way for Parents to Send in Absence Excuses to Hollifield Station!
While parents can continue to send in a paper excuse note to your child’s teacher when your child returns from an absence, we are launching a new email address to receive and archive absence excuse notes. We are encouraging the use of email over paper notes when possible.
Email hsesabsence@hcpss.org.
- Include your child(ren)’s full name in the subject line.
- Include a parent’s full name and phone number.
- Include the date your child(ren) was absent and the reason.
- Include doctor’s notes or other documentation as attachments if needed.
If there is a health issue you would like the teacher and health office to know about, you can use this email address as well.
DO NOT USE THIS EMAIL to notify us of dismissal changes and early dismissals. It is for full day absences only.
We hope that hsesabsence@hcpss.org is an easier way for parents to provide documentation for student absences.
Important School Information and Dates 2020-2021
First Day of School Next Year is August 25, 2020
Budget Process - Next Steps - See the end for important questions!
If you would like to share your opinions about the HCPSS 2020-21 budget, such as maintaining class size, ongoing support for all academic and operational areas or continuing instructional programs at current levels, please contact the County Executive and the County Council.
Please consider testifying before the County Executive to share your opinions about the HCPSS budget. Registration opens February 27; details linked below. If you can’t attend the hearing, you can submit written testimony. A reminder that the County does not fund specific programs (music, G/T, etc) so it’s important that any testimony relates to County’s overall funding of the Board of Education’s requested budget, not support for specific programs.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Save the date to come to the County Executive public hearing on the budget. March 12 at the George Howard Building 6pm. Online sign ups available February 27th.
COUNTY COUNCIL: The first public hearing on the operating budget will take place on April 22. More details on registration will be available soon.
Some questions to consider:
How can we increase our revenue to support our schools?
How are the developers in Howard County contributing to the sustainability of our school system?
What laws are in place or could be in place that increases the developers' support of our school system?
How are developers influencing our elected officials? (campaign donations, lobbying efforts, etc.)
Concert Schedule for SY 19-20
Spring Orchestra Concert for
Beginning, Intermediate, and
Advanced Orchestras
Station Singers
Thursday, May 14, 7pm
Spring Concert for Beginning,
Advanced and Jazz Bands
Howard County Elementary Jazz Festival
JAZZ BAND
Thursday, May 21 6:30-8:00pm
Enrichment Fair
JAZZ BAND (performs at 7:30)
PTA Sponsored - 2019- 2020 Assemblies
Grades: K-5
Author Visit: Chris Barton
Time: All day 3 shows.
Location: GYM
Description: Chris Barton is the author of picture books including bestseller Shark Vs. Train, Sibert Honor-winning The Day-Glo Brothers, and Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, included on 19 state reading lists. His newest books include Dazzle Ships, the Mighty Truck early-reader series, and What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. Chris and his wife, YA/middle-grade novelist Jennifer Ziegler, live in Austin, Texas, where Chris has advocated for greater diversity in children's literature by cofounding the Modern First Library program with BookPeople. For more information about him, please visit https://www.chrisbarton.info
Reminder - Distribution of community flyers in schools: Community organizations wishing to distribute flyers must have an approval letter from the Public Information Office prior to distribution. Electronic announcements must also be pre-approved, and will be posted on the Community News and Programs webpage. Please include the following statement in your school newsletter rather than individual community announcements: Please visit the Community News and Programs webpage (http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/) for all announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations. Schools should refer any organization requesting distribution to Public Information at 410-313-6682 or publicinfo@hcpss.org.
Hollifield Station Elementary School
Email: amanda_wadsworth@hcpss.org
Website: http://hses.hcpss.org/
Location: 8701 Stonehouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD, USA
Phone: 410-313-2550
Twitter: @hcpss_hses