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MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATORS
Hello RBES Families and Friends,
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year! It has been a GREAT first week of school!! We would like to officially welcome everyone back to school and express our appreciation for all of your cooperation, flexibility and support as we opened the 2014-2015 school year!
Volunteers are an important part of our school community. Please consider participating in some of the many volunteer opportunities offered by our PTA and our teachers. Research shows that when parents are involved in a meaningful way in the life of the school, student achievement is enhanced. Even coming to school to eat lunch with your child is a way to be a part of our school community.
Please remember our doors open at 9:05 AM daily. We ask that students do not arrive before 8:55 AM. There is no supervision by staff prior to 8:55. We want all of our students to be safe while waiting for school to begin. In addition, please remember the school day ends at 3:50 and we will not dismiss students in any other way than the normal procedure unless we receive written notice from a parent or guardian. Please make our front office staff aware of any adjustments to dismissal
procedures by 3:15 pm. This gives our dismissing staff members time to make the necessary adjustments.
Thank you for your support with this procedure. The safety of our students is our first priority!
As always, please contact us by phone, 410-313-6893 or email, [email protected] or [email protected] if there is anything you’d like to discuss. We are looking forward to another exciting year and working closely with you and your family. Thank you for your dedication and support to making this school year a success!
RUNNING BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Reaching the Best in Every Student
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL TIMES
BACK TO SCHOOL
NIGHTS
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FORM
MEDICATION FORMS
NEW CLASS LIST PROCEDURES
SCHOOL MEALS: POINT OF SALE
SYSTEM
SCHOOL SYSTEM POLICIES
SCHOOL HOURS
STAY CONNECTED
SCHOOL-WIDE TITLE I PROGRAM
UPCOMING EVENTS
Panther Press Panther Press –August 29, 2014
Troy Todd Principal
Kelli Jenkins Assistant Principal
Mr. Todd and Mrs. Jenkins
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NEW CLASS LIST PROCEDURES With the implementation of the departmentalized curriculum, we made a few adjustments to our procedure for creating and posting class lists. This week, the students were grouped into "color groups" and they were able to rotate to each of the grade level teachers during the week. The teachers used this opportunity to get to know the students socially and academically and create the best-departmentalized groups. Today, Friday, August 29th, you should receive a letter identifying your child's Homeroom/Session 1 and Session 2 teachers. Your child will begin with the identified teachers on Tuesday, September 2nd.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FORM
Due - Friday, September 5
Thank you to all the parents/guardians who have already gone online and completed a 2014-15 Emergency Procedure Card for your child(ren). This information is extremely important, and it is our goal to have information for all of our students by Friday, September 5th. All parents/guardians must complete an online Emergency Procedure Card. Even if you completed one last year, you need to do it again this year.
If you have not yet completed the online form, please read the information below:
Once again this year parents need to fill out Emergency Procedure cards online for all students. There is a new website for you to use for the Emergency Procedure Form - https://epstudentinfo.hcpss.org/.
The school system has created a document to help guide you through the process: Emergency Procedure Card 1pg QRC.pdf.
Here is some important information you will need:
• If you are a family who had a student in any HCPSS school last year then you already have an Aspen Family Portal Account. Please read this section of the email: To complete the emergency procedure card you need to know your log in information for the family portal. Your username is an email address and the password is the password you created. If you can not log in to the Emergency Procedure Form website because of username or password issues please send an email to Lisa Arseneault at [email protected] with the word Portal in the subject. In the body of the email please include: Student's Name: Your Email Address: Phone Number where you can be reached:
We will work to reset your information within 24 hours. We will email you back when it has been reset.
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• If your family is new to Howard County Public Schools please read this section of the email. Before you can access the Emergency Procedure Card you have to create a Family Portal Account. You should have received an email from the school system with a 12-digit code and a link to create a Family Portal Account. In addition to that 12-digit code you need your student's HCPSS student ID number. A version of that number was in the Point of Sale PIN number letter you should have received. In the letter the student ID number was 7 digits, for the Family Portal you need to add two zeros to the beginning of the number to make it 9 digits long. About 30 minutes after you create the Family Portal Account you will receive an email with a temporary Emergency Procedure Card password. At that point you can go to https://epstudentinfo.hcpss.org/ and complete the emergency card.
If you do not have the 12-digit code you can email Lisa Arseneault at [email protected] requesting that code and we will email it to you. We are not allowed by law to give student ID numbers out via email or phone. Those can only be given out in person. Thank you for ensuring we have this very important information for your child. We truly appreciate your support as we work to get important emergency information for all of our students!
SCHOOL MEALS: POINT OF SALE SYSTEM
We will continue to use the Point of Sale System for purchasing school lunch. Please remember you can add funds to your child’s account electronically or your child can bring money to school to pay for the day and/or to be added to his/her account. Please call the front office at 410-313-6893 if you have any questions. It is our priority for all of our students to have lunch every day! HELP WANTED
We are looking for a volunteer to help us with our sign in front of the school. We are looking for someone who has time during the school day to change the sign (usually about once every two weeks). We will let you know what it should say and we need your help to get the message on the sign. If you are interested and available, please send an email to Anne Drnec, our Principal's Secretary, at [email protected] or call 410-313-6893.
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SCHOOL SYSTEM POLICIES
Each year, school administrators are asked to review school system policies with the members of our community. Below, you will find two of those policies. As we move through September, we will share additional information with you to ensure that we have a successful year with all students and families. ATTENDANCE (POLICY 9010)
Regular daily attendance is vital to the continuity of classroom instruction and participation in school activities. Therefore, students are required to be in school or to be attending a school activity each day school is in session. In recognition that situations do arise that necessitate absence from school, the Board of Education allows students to be lawfully absent for a death in the family, illness, a court summons, hazardous weather as determined by the Superintendent, work release, religious obligation, declared State emergencies, suspension, or for other emergencies or set of circumstances which in the judgment of the Superintendent or designee constitutes a good and sufficient cause for absence.
SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS (POLICY 1040) The Board of Education is committed to providing a nurturing, respectful educational and work environment where the worth and dignity of individuals is valued and their safety and rights protected. Behaviors that compromise this commitment, interfere with school operations, or are otherwise contrary to the basic mission of public schools will not be tolerated. Threats, profanity, defamation, harassment, intimidation, bullying, physical attacks, gang related activities, and hazing are prohibited on school property, on a school bus, at a school bus stop, or in connection with any school-related activity. These behaviors also constitute a violation of policy when they have a direct effect on the order and general welfare of the school, such as negatively affecting the safety or learning environment of a classroom, even when they do not occur on school property or at a school-related activity. Students, employees and third parties engaging in these behaviors are subject to disciplinary and/or legal action. Students who violate this policy may also be subject to appropriate educational interventions and/or counseling. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING At Running Brook we are lucky to have so many generous families who are able to volunteer their time in the school building and as chaperones on field trips. Without your assistance we would not be able to provide our students with so many wonderful opportunities.
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One of our goals in Howard County is to keep our students safe. The law requires any employee of the Howard County Public School System or school volunteer to make an immediate oral report of suspected child abuse and/or neglect. If there is ever a time that you feel that a circumstance calls for a report, your school’s counselor or administrator can help you through the process. If you volunteer in our school or think that you might volunteer or chaperone in the future, please view the slide presentation found on the RBES and PTA websites on the responsibilities of reporting child abuse and neglect and sign the electronic document at the link provided. If you do not have access to a computer, printed slides and a signature sheet will also be located in a binder in the front office. In order to be considered for a chaperone on any field trip or volunteer for any activities, you must have viewed a child abuse prevention presentation and completed the online form or sign the sheet in the front office. This has to be done every school year. Please contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, Deborah Finkelstein, NCC, LCPC
SCHOOL-WIDE TITLE I PROGRAM
Did you know that Running Brook has a school-wide Title I program? Title I is a federally funded program designed to ensure that all children have an opportunity to access a high quality education. The goal of this federal program is to close the achievement gap for all students. As a result we receive additional funds from the federal government that have allowed us to secure additional staff members, funds for family events, and materials of instruction to benefit all of our children.
We value input from our parents, community, and staff. If you have any suggestions, questions, or feedback about our Family Involvement programs or School Improvement Plan, please feel free to contact our Title I contacts:
Jodi Aikens: [email protected] Kim Filler: [email protected]
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STAY CONNECTED
Important school information is sent home electronically through HCPSS News. Please update or register by logging onto www.hcpssnews.com. School information can also be found on our school sign and on our website at http://rbes.hcpss.org.
Running Brook will continue to share news every other week with our families via this newsletter. In order to save paper, we will send out paper copies ONLY to the families that make this request. IF you prefer a paper copy, please complete and send back the tear off at the bottom of this page.
TEAR OFF AND RETURN TO THE FRONT OFFICE
________ Yes, I prefer a paper version of the Running Brook newsletter be sent home bi-weekly with my child.
____________________________ Student Name _______________________ Teacher
____________________________ Parent Signature ______________________ Date
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BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS
This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about your child’s grade level curriculum and expectations as well as meet the teacher. This year we will host Back-to-School Night on 3 nights! Prekindergarten and Kindergarten will be held on Tuesday, September 16th at 6:30 PM. Grades 1 and 2 will be held on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:30 PM and Back to School Night for Grades 3, 4, 5 will be on Thursday, September 18th at 6:30 PM.
SCHOOL HOURS
Students may enter the building at 9:05 am. Morning announcements begin at 9:15 sharp and instruction will start immediately after announcements. Students arriving 9:25 or later are tardy and must be signed in by a parent/guardian in the front office. Dismissal will begin at 3:50 PM. Please make sure your child has the best start possible. Let’s get them to school on time and ready to learn.
**9:05 - Students may enter the building. Staff members are not on duty until 8:55 am. ** 9:25 – Late Bell for students ** 3:50 – Students Dismissed
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL TIMES
Our doors open at 9:05 AM. ALL STUDENTS will enter through the front of the building. Students that ride the bus will remain on the bus until the first bell rings at 9:05. There will be staff members assigned to the bus lanes to assist with student entry. Dismissal begins at 3:50 PM. Our dismissal runs smoothly and is very uniformed. We ask that drivers not leave their vehicles as this impedes the movement of all other cars. Please stay with your vehicle and staff will assist your child in meeting you. Please note, Parent Pick Up students will be returned to the Front Office after our school dismissal is complete. A parent/guardian must park and come to the Front Office to sign out the student.
In addition, please make our Front Office Staff aware of any adjustments to dismissal procedures by 3:15 pm. This provides our dismissing staff members time to make the necessary adjustments. Thank you for your support and cooperation with this procedure. The safety of our students is our first priority!
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SCHOOL MEALS: BREAKFAST PROGRAM & NEW LUNCH PRICES
Thanks again to the Meals for Achievement program, ALL RBES students can eat a school breakfast free of charge. Every child will have the opportunity to eat breakfast in the classroom. Each morning students may have the opportunity to choose three items: 1 milk, 1 fruit juice, 1 cereal, and 1 whole grain muffin OR bagel. Lunch can be purchased daily for $2.75. Milk can be purchased separately for $.50.
Howard County Public School System’s Food & Nutrition Service Department is very pleased to announce that they are the first school system in Maryland to be able to offer an Online Processing System for Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications at www.hcpss.org/food-services/farms/. This addition to the website will allow parents privacy in completing the application and receiving notification of status. There will also be help in the schools for families who want to use the system but need help with the computer or language assistance.
The online application is divided into sections. Each section must be completed with the requested data before the applicant is allowed to move to the next screen. No more receiving returned applications because they are incomplete or the family missed a line. It should be very helpful to the person filling out the application. The school system currently uses this software to scan the applications they receive through the US mail or from the schools. Parents can continue to complete the paper application and submit it for processing. This new process allows families direct access to the scanning system in complete privacy. Given the current economic downturn this should be very helpful to families.
Please remember, if your child received Free or Reduced Meals last year, a new application must be completed each year. Please call the school if you have any questions.
MEDICATION FORMS Students who require medication to be administered during the school day need to have new forms completed for the new school year. For your convenience, you can find these forms on-line at the HCPSS website by clicking on the link for Physician’s Orders at www.hcpss.org/f/aboutus/physician-medication-form.pdf.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
9/1 Labor Day SCHOOLS AND OFFICES CLOSED 9/17 Student Picture Day
9/4 PTA Ice Cream Social, 6:30-8:00 pm 9/17 Back to School Night, Grades 1-2, 6:30-8:00 pm
9/8 PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm, Media Center 9/18 Back to School Night, Grades 3-5, 6:30-8:00 pm
9/12 Professional Learning Day SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR STUDENTS
9/25 Rosh Hashanah SCHOOLS AND OFFICES CLOSED
9/16 Back to School Night, Prekindergarten and Kindergarten, 6:30-8:00 pm
10/2 Progress Reports Issued
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
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