Hollifield Herald
Weekly News - 12th Edition - 12/2/19
Dear HSES Families,
We hope you enjoyed your time spent with your family and friends over this Thanksgiving break. At HSES, we have a lot to be thankful for this time of year. We would like to thank our PTA and community for providing our staff with a delicious dinner (and lunch the next day) during conferences. We would also like to thank all members of the community that have joined us in supporting families in need. All of our apples on the giving tree have been taken, and we are already receiving the gifts back. Thank you for your generosity this holiday season.
Yours in Partnership,
HSES Administration
- 12/3 - 12/4 CoGaT Testing 3rd & 5th Grade
- 12/6 Staff, Group and Club Yearbook Pictures
- 12/9 - 12/15 - 6th annual HCPSS Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week (Information below)
- 12/11 Art Assembly 5th Grade (PTA sponsored - Information below)
- 12/12 Art Assembly 4th Grade (PTA sponsored - Information below)
- 12/20 - Brian Curry - Pop Quiz! Assembly K-5 (PTA sponsored - Information below)
- 12/23 - 1/1 - Schools Closed
January
- 1/7 - 6:30 p.m. PTA Meeting
- 1/7 - Kindergarten - Extreme Weather assembly (PTA sponsored - Information below)
- 1/9 - Hearing and Vision Screening
- 1/13 - 3rd Grade Spelling Bee
- 1/16 - 2nd Grade Spelling Bee
- 1/16 & 1/17 - 4th Grade - Beyond Building assembly (PTA sponsored - Information below)
- 1/17 - Spirit Day - Hat Day
- 1/20 - Schools and Offices Closed
- 1/21 - Hearing and Vision Re-screening
- 1/22 - 1st Grade - Cosmic Adventure assembly (PTA sponsored - Information below)
- 1/22 - Grade 2 - 5 - Spelling Bee
- 1/23 - Spelling Bee Snow Date
- 1/24 - End of 2nd Marking Period
- 1/27 - Schools closed for students - Professional Work Day
- 1/30 - 7:00 p.m. Winter Concert II (Evening performance for Beginning Band, Beginning Orchestra, 4th grade chorus and Station Singers)
Celebrations: Inclusive Schools Week #expectAbility
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: What is a PTA? "The main role of the local PTA is to build strong working relationships among parents, teachers and schools, in support of students. This can include recruiting and coordinating volunteers, providing special recognition in awards ceremonies or through other activities, organizing parent education events, planning teacher appreciation activities and much more."
Curriculum for coming weeks (Click Here):
As the school year gets underway, we will provide the standards that each grade level is focusing on for that week. For deeper understanding of the standards, please visit HCPSS.org for links to the curriculum - https://www.hcpss.org/academics/english-language-arts/curriculum/
Redistricting Information
Dear HSES Families,
As I am sure you are already aware, Hollifield Station Elementary is impacted by the redistricting decisions made by the Board of Education on November 21st. We know there are many emotions that our families impacted are feeling at this time. Please know that we will be very thoughtful and caring in our planning for this transition. We will work closely with the staff and Administration of Veterans Elementary School to support our students and ensure a successful and positive experience. We will continue to answer every decision we make with "What is in the best interest of the children?"
Exemption information
The decision included several exemptions. Current 4th, 7th, 10th and 11th graders are exempt, as well as any student with an IEP/504 plan, those with at least one parent who is active duty military, and current River Hill High School and Oakland Mills High School students who are formally enrolled (as of 9/15/19) in either the 30-credit or 60-credit structured JumpStart program. Current 9th graders and trailing siblings are not exempt from the Board decision.
The exemption process is not yet open and will begin shortly. More information is forthcoming.
Additional Resources
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Most Recent Information: www.hcpss.org/school-planning/boundary-review/
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Frequently Asked Questions: www.hcpss.org/school-planning/boundary-review/faq/
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Supporting Students at a New School: https://www.hcpss.org/school-planning/boundary-review/moving-schools/
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Language Supports: https://www.hcpss.org/languages/english/
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Call Center Numbers
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Spanish: 410-313-1591 | Families may also email elisa_montalvo@hcpss.org
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Korean: 410-313-1592
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Chinese: 410-313-5920
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Chin: 410-313-5968
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All other languages contact Monica Ranta 410-313-7102
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Inclusive Schools Week
Inclusion Week December 2-6, 2019
HSES will celebrate our inclusive school community with recommendations from the Department of Special Education on December 2-6, 2019. The National Inclusive Schools Week theme is Charting a Course for Inclusive Schools. We know that we have an inclusive community that values all staff, students, and families. View the website to see some of the ideas that will be used to celebrate inclusion at HSES!
https://inclusiveschools.org/inclusive-schools-week/
Mount Hebron Canned Food Drive!
December 9 -15 - Hour of Code
- The Hour of Code, created by Code.org, is a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that everyone can learn the basics.
- All HCPSS schools will be participating in this event in the capacity deemed appropriate for each level.
Weather Guidelines/Recess
Exercise outdoors is healthy and is strongly encouraged. It provides a break from the regular school routine, a chance to get some outside air, and an opportunity to burn off excess energy. If conditions preclude the full recess time, even a five minute break can revitalize children and prepare them for more sitting and academic learning. Children are expected to wear clothing appropriate for forecasted conditions when participating in recess or outside activities.
The decision to go out or stay in for recess is the decision of the administrator at individual schools. On rare occasions due to extreme weather, a decision may be made at the school system level. The following factors are considered in determining if recess is to be held outside:
- Temperature and humidity
- Wind chill
- Heat index and air quality
- Age of students
- Length of time outdoors
- Adequacy of the children’s clothing
- Condition of the playground
- Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)
- Thunder and lightning
Generally, it is assumed that students will be outside for recess when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit or the heat index reading is less than 95. Children with certain health conditions may need special accommodations during extremely hot or cold weather. Parents of those children should provide medical documentation and may be consulted to determine if other arrangements are necessary. During hot weather, teachers should provide students a water break before and after recess. Additionally, any student who shows signs of heat exhaustion or overheating should be allowed a water break during recess.
PTA Sponsored - 2019- 2020 Assemblies (as of Nov 11.)
December 11 & 12th
Grade 5 on the 11th and Grade 4 on the 12th
London Brass Rubbing Workshop presented by Margaret Lidster
Location: Mrs. Eisensteins Room
Time: All Day
Description: A fun & educational activity for students in 4th and 5th grade to take home a piece of history! The Brass Rubbing Workshop brings history alive and offers the fun of brass rubbing - an age-old English craft. Each session includes an introductory lecture and demonstration and multiple workshops, where the students create their own rubbings. PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FA4A82EA6FD0-london
https://www.facebook.com/lbrworkshops/
December 20
Grades K-5
Brian Curry - Pop Quiz!
Location: Cafeteria
Time: 2 shows: 9am - 9:50, 10am - 10:50 (setup will begin at 8:15, tear down will be complete by 11:10)
Description: Sensational Hit Game Shows like "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader," "Deal or No Deal," and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" have captivated the public and changed the face of television. Now, Pop Quiz brings the same thrills and excitement to your school by challenging your students' knowledge of Math and Science concepts. Student contestants will encounter six challenges involving crazy props like pinwheels, targets, bean bags, and a fog machine. Each challenge reviews mathematical theory or scientific facts in a way that they will remember long after the show!
http://www.briancurryassemblies.com/pop-quiz.htm
January 7
Grade: Kindergarten
Location: Cafeteria
Time: 9-10am (setup will begin at 8:15, tear down will be complete by 10:20)
Extreme Weather presented by the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia Traveling Science Program
Description: Lightning, twisters and hail—oh my! This dynamic show reveals the science of weather—to the extreme. Where does our weather come from, and what factors make it a sunny day or a blustery one? We will discuss the water cycle, explore thunder and lightning, and even make a cloud. We promise a stormy ending to this show as we demonstrate how tornados are formed!
Pre Show Documents for Students and Parents https://www.fi.edu/sites/default/files/documents/resources/Weather_preshow.pdf
Post Show Activities https://www.fi.edu/sites/default/files/documents/resources/Weather_Postshow.pdf
January 16 & 17
Grade: 4
Location: Mrs. Glass’s Classroom
Time: 9-12pm
Beyond Building presented by the Maryland Science Center Traveling Science Program
Description: Students will Participate in three engineering activities designed to engage in the engineering design processes, engage in engineering skills beyond building, including manipulating light with lenses and amplifying sound with different materials, and explore various real-world careers that use engineering to get the job done
January 22
Grade: 1
Location: Cafeteria
Time: 9-11:30am (setup will begin at 8:15, tear down will be complete by 12pm)
Cosmic Adventures Traveling Planetarium presented by Greg Anderson:
Description: We bring the planetarium (a twenty foot dome classroom) to your site and give presentations with our state-of-the-art digital projector that fire students' imaginations while teaching them about the motions of the skies, the wonders of space, and the effects of light pollution.
April 2
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
Yearbook Pictures - Dropbox Links
Yearbook Dropbox links
If you have great pictures of your children that you would love to see in the 2019-2020 yearbook please add them to the dropbox links below for the different school events!
Please upload all/school-wide HALLOWEEN pics here:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/QpSOogjZ1uruYUYAqTpA
Folders for grade-specific various events (field trips, classroom photos, etc) here. These folders will be available all year!:
Kindergarten:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/Z6c8YaWT5bqTt2OKPPpU
1st Grade:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/nCzxqNvbzxu60EhhWjEp
2nd Grade:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/dZo6cdnblk5qaF8IM3Xe
3rd Grade:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/obxuKmgeksjhCIASb94c
4th Grade:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/2RMK9ltkxkzwdfB2keky
**5th Grade:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/8oABk35bTEgN8x7PAWRv
**I will solicit 5th grade annual events (Gingerbread, Mt. Vernon) separately
Box Tops - Super Easy! Makes HSES Money!!!!!
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