The Mustang
Milbrook Elementary School Newsletter | October 2018
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Milbrook Families,
We are now into our second month of school! Believe it or not we will be sending home interim reports the second week of October. Please make sure to review the report with your child and sign and return the form to school the next day, if you haven't already.
Our School Progress Plan is based on three areas: Math, ELA, and Climate. This year we are working on Conscious Discipline Practices and our TRACK system. I am so proud of our students and their on-TRACK behavior. Continue to encourage students to do their best each day and follow our TRACK program. In the area of Reading and Math, we are working on meeting our students’ needs in whole group and small group instruction. Please encourage your child to read each night to increase their reading skills and practice math facts daily. We appreciate your support!
The administrative team will be available to talk with parents for a Chat and Chew on October 11, 2018. We encourage parents and guardians to join us in discussions about school strengths and needs. Your input is important!
The Milbrook Mustang Newsletter will continue to be published once a month. It will contain a calendar of events for that month and the following month as well as other important information concerning our school. We encourage you to read the bulletin, post the calendars on your refrigerator and refer to it throughout the month. In our effort to go a little greener, we continue to send our newsletters home electronically. In addition, all parent bulletins can be accessed through our school website www.milbrookelementary.bcps.org.
Please consider volunteering for our Halloween Dance on October 26, 2018 from 6:30–8:30 p.m.. The PTA could use extra hands that night to run stations and games. It is a great way to support our school and also bring your child for a fun night with friends.
Yours in partnership,
Mrs. Gorman
Important Dates to Remember
October 18: PTA Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the library
October 19: MSDE Convention: No school for students
October 24: BCPS Parent Engagement Session 3:45–4:30 p.m. (flyer)
October 24: First Box Tops Deadline
October 26: Halloween Dance 6:30-8:30 p.m. (flyer)
November 5: McDonald's Fundraiser 5-7:00 p.m.
November 16: Magnet applications due
November 29-December 5: Barnes and Noble Fundraiser (flyer)
Spirit Wear is Here!
Youth T-Shirts (short sleeve) $10 (long sleeve) $12
Youth Hoodies $20
Adult Spirit Wear too!
CLICK HERE FOR SPIRIT WEAR ORDER FORM.
Checks should be made out to PTA at Milbrook Elementary School and handed in with your order form to your child's teacher. A portion of the sales will support your PTA.
Parent Engagement: We Need Your Feedback!
We are very honored to host one of these events! Please consider participating! Read the Flyer HERE.
Counselor's Corner: October is Bullying Prevention Month
October is Bullying Prevention Month. Students will be completing a school-wide activity with Mrs. Jasper during art classes relating to kindness and bullying prevention. Ms. Uhrin will also be going into each classroom to teach lessons about bullying. First graders will discuss how to recognize bullying behavior and strategies that can be used to put an end to bullying, including asking for help. The students in second grade will identify the role of a bystander and what they can do to help someone being bullied. Third grade students will learn the acronym M.O.O. (mean, on purpose, over and over) for bullying to help them identify bullying behavior. Fourth graders will learn strategies on how to respond to teases and put downs in calm manner. In fifth grade students will read and discuss a story about hurtful teasing, a form of bullying, in order to identify strategies to address hurtful teasing.
Thank you,
Ms. Uhrin, Guidance Counselor
American Education Week in November
American Education Week
The second week of November is American Education Week. Parents are invited to visit classrooms to see the wonderful things students are learning. Below is the schedule for visitation:
Times for each day: 9:30 am – 11:30 am and 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
November 12, 2018: Grade 1
November 13, 2018: Grade 3
November 14, 2018: Grade 2
November 15, 2018: Grade 4
November 16, 2018: Grade 5
Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Scott
Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Scott- Grade 4
Mrs. Scott received her Master’s Degree from Goucher College and her Undergraduate Degree from Coppin State University. She has been married 30 years to a wonderful man, William. They have two handsome, bright, and intelligent sons. Their names are Jyuan and Joel. She also has a grandson and his name is Jyuan, but they call him L.J.. Mrs. Scott enjoys photography, reading, crafting and spending time with her family!
Here are some of Mrs. Scott’s favorite things:
Food: Chipotle
Animal: Cat
Store: Macy’s
Color: Coral
Book: The Giving Tree
Drink: Pepsi
Candy: Reese's Cup
Milbrook PTA
NEXT PTA MEETING
10/18 at 6:30p.m. in the Library
We are excited to announce the launch of the PTA's website! Please visit our website for important PTA news and updates!
RAFFLE PRIZES at every meeting!
We will have a raffle at every PTA meeting. Raffles will include gift cards, coupons, and donated items.
Raffle prizes are donated by our community partner, CHAI, our PTA, parents, and local businesses/organizations. If you would like to donate a raffle item, or if your business would like to donate an item, please contact PTA president, Jennifer DeVillasee.
Upcoming Fundraisers & Fundraising News
Our Saver's Fundraiser raised $277.50. A big thank you to everyone who donated for helping us top our last Savers fundraiser in April ($266.56). If you missed it, don't worry, we will hold another Savers Fundraiser in the spring.
Halloween Dance & Fundraiser!
The annual Halloween Dance is October 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (flyer)
We need volunteers to help out. Please contact Jennifer DeVillasee to volunteer.
Our annual Milbrook Night at McDonalds will be on 11/5 from 5-7pm (no school the next day!). Eat inside or go thru the drive thru! There will be board and card games for you to enjoy family night activities and the PTA will be giving out balloons!
Our Barnes & Noble fundraiser will run from 11/29 - 12/4. The kickoff date is 11/29 at 5pm where we will be showcasing our talented Milbrook Students!
The PTA will be helping to purchase reward items for the TRACK prize cart. Our first donation will include very cool Dr Seuss pencils, erasers and book marks!
Fundraisers for Milbrook: Shoparoo, Boxtops, Savers, and Giant A+ Points
The PTA raised $74.00 this past school year from Shoparoo. All you have to do is get the app and scan in your receipts to help raise money for our school!
Register Milbrook with Giant to raise money for the school. School code: 01388
PTA BOARD FOR 2018-19
President: Jennifer DeVillasee
Treasurer: Chantese James
Secretary: Deborah Carter
DON'T FORGET TO join us on Facebook and check your Facebook feed for important updates!
Box Tops Needed by October 24!
Bring your boxtops to the main office. Print out a collection sheet here. Boxtops are often found on name-brand items like cereal, sandwich bag boxes, food boxes, kleenex boxes, etc. Box Tops For education.
Milbrook earns free money (10 cents) for every Box Top!
Keep a look out for contests throughout the year with great prizes for our highest collectors!
Here are Three Easy Steps:
1. Clip Box Tops from your favorite Box Top Products
2. Send in the Box Tops to your child’s homeroom teacher on the attached Box Tops Flyer or in a labeled plastic bag* (write child’s name & teacher)
3. Become a member by registering on www.btfe.com to receive exclusive coupons and learn about Box Tops Promotions
Emergency Information
It is important that all families return the Student Contact Information sheet that was sent home with children on the first day of school. Without the information on this form we will be unable to contact family members in the event of an emergency. The school will release your children to only the people whose names you have listed on the form.
The emergency forms are essential in the event that Milbrook Elementary needs to close early. In the event that all Baltimore County schools close early, parents will not be contacted individually. As a courtesy to our families a School Messenger call will be sent out from the school to the primary phone number and email listed on your emergency card.
www.wbaltv.com is a great resource for school closings. If you follow their links to “alerts” and enter your email address you will receive an email whenever schools close early.
In the event that only Milbrook Elementary closes early, we will contact parents through a School Messenger call and use the information on the Student Contact Information to determine how the child will be dismissed.
Please help us by returning Student Contact Information as soon as possible. All forms should be returned to your children’s homeroom teachers.
Milbrook Code of Conduct
Our school community recites the Milbrook Code of Conduct each morning during opening exercises, reminding the students of the high expectations set for their behavior at school. This year teachers will be reinforcing the Code of Conduct through our daily TRACK form. We ask that families reinforce this code of conduct at home to support what the children are learning at school. The code reads:
As a Milbrook Mustang,
Today I am going to:
Respect others
Act responsibly
Come prepared
Keep safe
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
ARRIVAL
The Milbrook Elementary School front doors open for children at 8:40 AM., each morning. Supervision of students is not provided before this time. Students arriving to school before 8:40 AM must wait outside the main entrance with adult supervision. If your child is a walker please have your children arrive at school no earlier than 8:40 AM. If you need daycare coverage for your children before school, you may consider enrolling them in our before/after care, ROCK. All students must enter the building through the front doors. Students should never cross between buses, there is staff at the designated cross walk to safely cross students. Thank you for helping us ensure safety for all students.
DISMISSAL
Parents are asked to assist with dismissal procedures by making certain that children are clear about dismissal plans before they enter school each morning. Last minute changes in plans are often confusing to children. All changes in transportation plans must be put in writing with the day’s date and sent to the children’s teachers on the morning of the change. When requesting that a change be made in their children’s dismissal plans, parents will be asked to send in a signed and dated note the day of the change. In the event that a change must be made during the school day, please call the school and let Ms. Cooper or Ms. Fitzgerald know about the change.
Changes made after 3:00 PM cannot be honored by the office. After this time, the secretaries are busy contacting children and teachers about the changes called into the office earlier in the day. Arrival and dismissal times at Milbrook Elementary are busy times. We are asking your help to ensure that all of our students arrive safely at school in the morning and at home in the afternoon
Parking
PARKING AT SCHOOL
We have limited parking spaces in our lots, just enough for our staff, therefore both parking lots are reserved for the staff, so please do not park in these locations. Please remember that the posted speed limit is 25 mph. If you are dropping off or picking up in carpool, please make sure to follow the adults directing and assisting with this task.
FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, DO NOT DOUBLE PARK IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL AT ANY TIME.
Communication with Teachers
Teachers are busy in the mornings preparing for their instructional day. Students begin arriving in their homerooms at 8:40 AM, and teachers have the responsibility of assisting, monitoring, and supervising the arrival of the children. Our teachers’ first priority must be their students. If a parent needs to speak with a teacher, it is requested that the parent leave a note with one of the secretaries, contact the school by phone, or send the teacher an email message. Teachers are busy teaching during the school day and may not have the opportunity to check email until the end of the day. You should expect a response within 24 hours.
Field Trips
Students will participate in fieldtrips that are connected to the curriculum in their grade. Teachers will provide you with plenty of advanced notice of the trips. Please remember to sign and return the permission forms as soon as they come home with your child. Please also remember that field trips are not optional activities. The knowledge gained from the trip will be used during follow-up lessons in the classroom. If the cost for the trip is ever an issue, please contact the office and funds will be made available. We never want a child to miss a trip because they do not have the money to attend. All students must ride the bus both to and from a field trip even if their parent drives separately as a chaperone.
Student Behavior Handbook
During the first several weeks of school, your child will be bringing home a copy of the Baltimore County Public Schools’ Student Handbook. Mrs. Gorman and Mrs. Brinkley will review the handbook with all students. Students and parents are required to sign and return the form in the back of the handbook, indicating that the student and parent have reviewed the handbook. These forms need to be returned to school within five school days of distribution. The signed acknowledgment form also authorizes the students’ use of telecommunications. Your support is appreciated as we work together to create a safe and orderly learning environment for the children attending Milbrook Elementary School.
Bus Safety and Rules
The school day starts at the bus stop for many students. We have the same expectations for students when they are on the bus as when they are in the school building. Milbrook Elementary School students need to follow these bus rules:
1. Follow directions from the driver the first time they are given.
2. Stay in your seat at all times while the bus is in motion.
3. Keep all parts of your body inside the bus.
4. Keep hands, feet, legs, arms, personal property, and your voice to yourself.
5. No eating, drinking, cell phones, or vulgar language at any time on the bus.
Please reinforce the rules and importance of following the rules with our children. Parents are reminded to report any concerns regarding student bus behavior to the bus drivers or to the school administration. Parents are not allowed to get on a bus to confront the bus driver or other children.
SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN
All Baltimore County Public Schools are required to have a detailed School Emergency Safety Plan. These plans will help to ensure the safety of all Baltimore County Public School students, staff members, and visitors. The plans are updated each year and copies are sent to the local police and fire departments. During the school year, a variety of drills, including fire, evacuation, lock down, and severe weather will be conducted. One important aspect of the plan includes detailed procedures necessary for accounting for all members of the school community in the event of an emergency.
This is one reason that it is critical that all visitors sign in and out, as they enter and leave the school. If visitors happen to be in the school building during an emergency, we need to be able to account for everyone in the building. The goal of the plan is to keep all members of the community safe and secure. Your assistance with the procedures is greatly appreciated.
MEDICATION POLICY
As in previous years, a doctor’s note is required for all medications that need to be given in school (both prescription and nonprescription). Included in the doctor’s note should be the child’s name, the name of the medication, dosage, time of administration, how long the medication should be given, and any possible side effects. Parents also need to give written permission for the school nurse to administer the medication. All medicines should be in a properly labeled bottle. No medicine in baggies will be accepted. All medicine is to be kept in the nurses’ office – not with the child. Finally, the medicine should be brought to school by a parent or other responsible adult. As in the past couple of years, the discretionary medication policy is being offered. Unlike the above policy, this allows the regular school nurse to administer designated over-the-counter medications provided by the Health Department. This program is for occasional use only and not for a child with a chronic health concern. Each year, consent forms must be renewed. If you have more than one child in the school, a separate form must be completed for each child. If you have any questions regarding either of the medication programs, the please contact Ms.Rachel Levy, School Nurse.
Celebrating Birthdays
If you would like to send in a small treat for your child to share with his classmates in honor of their birthday, please follow the following procedures:
· Prior to the treat being sent to school, let your child’s teacher know the date that the treat will be provided.
· We no longer allow food to be brought in as a birthday treat, unless it is purchased through our cafeteria. They do provide this with several weeks’ notice. Please contact Ms. Bauer in the cafeteria for further information. If you do not utilize this service from our cafeteria, you are welcome to bring in a small token, such as a pencil or fun eraser, for the birthday child to distribute to the class.
· Please drop off the treats in the office. The teacher will pick up the treat and the special child will pass out the treat to their class.
Birthday party invitations may only be distributed through school if every student in your child’s class is being invited. We never want to hurt children’s feelings.
Milbrook Elementary School Vision
Milbrook Elementary School Mission
Today I am going to
Respect Everyone
Act Responsibly
Come Prepared
Keep Safe
About Us
Assistant Principal Mrs. Brinkley
Other Important Numbers:
Office: 410-887-1225
School FAX: 410-887-6744
Guidance: Ms. Uhrin
Nurse: Mrs. Levy
Email: afitzgerald@bcps.org
Website: https://milbrookes.bcps.org/
Location: 4300 Crest Heights Road, Baltimore, MD, USA
Phone: 410-887-1225
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/539807133022310/
Twitter: @milbrookschool