1

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATORS

Hello RBES Families and Friends,

It is officially Fall and the weather this week has been

perfect Fall weather! We know the weather will be

changing weekly and so will our wardrobes. As the weather

begins to change, please remember that students will be

going outside for recess each and every day. Keep an eye

on the weather and make sure your child has a light jacket

just in case!

Thank you to all of our families that were a part of our Back to School Nights! We

had a great attendance each night. We hope you found the evening to be

informative, and you were able to get to know your child’s teacher a little more.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment to your child’s education.

Next week your child/children will bring home the first progress

report of the school year. Please take a moment to read through

the report and celebrate your child and his/her hard work. This

is a great time to ask your child what they are learning in each

subject area. If you have questions about the progress report, please contact your

child’s teacher.

As always, please contact us by phone, 410-313-6893 or email,

troy_todd@hcpss.org or kelli_jenkins@hcpss.org if there is anything you’d like to

discuss.

Thank you for your dedication and support to making this school year a success!

Mr. Todd and Mrs. Jenkins

RUNNING BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Reaching the Best in Every Student

Panther Press

Panther Press –September 26, 2014

Troy Todd

Principal

troy_todd@hcpss.org

Kelli Jenkins

Assistant Principal

kelli_jenkins@hcpss.org

UPCOMING EVENTS AND

IMPORTANT DATES

ARRIVAL AND

DISMISSAL TIMES

CAREER DAY

CHILD ABUSE AND

NEGLECT REPORTING

HALLOWEEN EVENT

HISPANIC HERITAGE

MONTH CELEBRATION

MAP ASSESSMENT,

GRADES 1-5

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

NEEDED

P.E. DEPARTMENT

POINT OF SALE SYSTEM

HoCo 5K RACE

SCHOOL HOURS

SCHOOL MEALS

STAY CONNECTED

SCHOOL-WIDE TITLE I

PROGRAM

WINTER CLOTHING

DISTRIBUTION – FREE

WORLD LANGUAGE

NEWS

COMMUNITY NOTICES

2

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FORM

Thank you to those who have completed the emergency cards on-line. If you created an account last year, please

go to www.hcpss.org and update your child's emergency form. If you forgot your password, please call Lisa

Arseneault at (410) 313-6893 for a password reset.

For those who have not completed the emergency form please have in hand your 12-digit

code (sent to you by email - the email that you originally registered your student with) along

with your child's student ID number. You must first go to www.hcpss.org, click on the

Family Portal icon, then click on the middle top tab of Parent Account Activation. It is here

that you will need the 12-digit code and student ID number. Once the 7 steps are completed

you will be sent an email within an hour confirming your account. It is then that you can log

back onto www.hcpss.org and go directly to the Emergency Card icon. Please remember

that your email is your username.

If you have any questions, please call the front office at (410) 313-6893 or email Lisa_Arseneault@hcpss.org.

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!

MAP ASSESSMENT, GRADES 1-5

As discussed at Back to School Nights, we will be administering the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

assessments in reading and mathematics to all students in grades 1-5 three times this year. The fall

administration will take place in late September and early October. A few weeks after testing you will receive a

score report that has your child’s overall score in reading and math as well as scores in a variety of areas. MAP

assessments measure a student’s growth over time in reading and mathematics. MAP assessments let teachers

know where a student’s strengths are and if help is needed in specific instructional areas. Teachers use this

information, along with the results of a variety of other assessments and their own observation of student

performance, to help them guide classroom instruction.

If you have additional questions please see the school system’s website at

http://www.hcpss.org/academics/testing/map-information/ or contact us at 410-313-6893 or at

troy_todd@hcpss.org or kelli_jenkins@hcpss.org.

3

RBES FALL MAP SCHEDULE

GRADE READING MATH

5 Monday, 9/29 Monday, 9/29

4 Tuesday, 9/30 Tuesday, 9/30

3 Wednesday, 10/1 Wednesday, 10/1

* 2 Thursday, 10/2 (Armellino)

* 2 Friday, 10/3 (Tunkel)

* 2 Monday, 10/6 (Nilles)

* 2 Tuesday, 10/7 (Law)

* 1 Wednesday, 10/8 (Scible)

* 1 Thursday, 10/9 (Butler)

* 1 Friday, 10/10 (Caffey)

* 1 Monday, 10/13 (Jefferson)

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION

Friday, October 3, 6-8p.m.

You are invited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at RBES on Friday,

October 3rd from 6:00-8:00pm. Please return the attendance slips sent home

last week. ¡Hasta pronto!

~World Language Teachers

4

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – FROM THE FRONT OFFICE

We are looking for volunteers to take our print shop orders over to the Board of

Education on Rt. 108 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you would be available to

help on either day, please contact Anne Drnec at 410-313-6893. Thank you!

WINTER CLOTHING DISTRIBUTION – FREE

Saturday, October 11, 10a.m.-12p.m.

What: FREE Winter Clothing Distribution coats, hats, gloves, boots, shoes, sneakers, jeans, dress pants, shirts,

sweatshirts, socks, dresses

When: Saturday, October 11, 2014 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Where: First United Methodist 424 Main Street, Laurel, MD

HCPSS: LET’S GO HoCo 5K RACE

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is excited to

host Let’s Go HoCo, its inaugural 5K race and 1 mile fun run on

Sunday, October 12 in Columbia. The race is a great way to bring

together students, families, staff and Howard County community

members to promote health and wellness. The race will include

beginners, intermediate and professional level athletes. View event information and register today at

www.hcpss5k.com.

CAREER DAY – OCTOBER 23rd

I am excited to announce that we will be having our eighth annual Career Day on October 23rd

as part of our

Career Month. At Running Brook students at all grade levels learn about goal-setting and are taught to set

individual goals. Once again, kindergarten through fifth grade will have the opportunity to participate in

interactive presentations from a variety of professionals. We are hoping to be able to give students a choice this

year of what presentation(s) they want to attend. We believe that it is never too early to get excited about your

future.

5

Career Day is a way to get people from our community to share their careers

with our students and help the students make connections to what they are

learning in the classroom. If you or someone you know are available to share

some of your time with us on October 23rd and are interested in presenting

your career experiences with our students, please fill out the form at the end

of this newsletter and return it to your child’s teacher. We will be in touch as

soon as possible. Career Day Form

We are looking forward to another great Career Day. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Debbie Finkelstein

School Counselor Deborah_finkelstein@hcpss.org

HALLOWEEN EVENT AT SLAYTON HOUSE THEATRE

October 31, 4:30p.m.

Wilde Lake Community Association sponsors an annual Halloween event for the

community. The event, “Wilde Halloween”, includes a puppet show in the Slayton House

Theatre followed by trick or treating in the Village Center courtyard. The event is scheduled

for Friday, October 31 at 4:30pm and the puppet show, “Halloween Hijinx” by Beale Street

Puppets, is appropriate for all ages.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Kristin Shulder/Village Manager/Wilde Lake Community Association

Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, MD 21044

410/730-3987 (office) 410/730-6695 (fax)

6

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!

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/.

7

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.

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!

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.

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.

8

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 Deborah_finkelstein@hcpss.org

NEWS FROM THE P.E. DEPARTMENT

We would like to highlight the many ways our RBES students are staying active

outside of school. Please email us or send your child to school with a picture of him

or her being active and it will be featured on one of our school bulletin boards. This

picture can include organized sports, dance, hiking, swimming, bike riding or even

playing outside.

Also, don't forget to "like" our PE Facebook page, "Running Brook Elementary

Physical Education" for updates on activities you can do to stay active as a family.

Kim Kennedy kimberly_kennedy@hcpss.org

Kory Hiel kory_hiel@hcpss.org

WORLD LANGUAGE NEWS

¡Saludos!

The World Language Department has been very excited to be a

part of every classroom at RBES! Students Kindergarten-5th

grade will be receiving their Descubre workbook texts in the last

week of September. Please encourage your child to share what

she/he is working on in class to reinforce the language at home.

In addition, feel free to visit the RBES World Language website at: xiomararivera.wix.com/rbesspanish.

¡Gracias!

RBES World Language Teachers

9

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: jodi_aikens@hcpss.org Kim Filler: kimberly_filler@hcpss.org

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.

10

UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES

Career Day Form

I would love to participate in Running Brook’s Career Day on October 23rd!

___ I am willing to speak wherever I am needed

___ I am mainly interested in speaking to my child’s grade level.

___ I want to speak to my child’s grade, but I am also willing to go to other grades as well.

I am available during these times: _____ to _____. (Speakers will be scheduled in 20-40min. increments during

the hours of 10:00am-3:30pm.)

Name: _____________________________ Job Title: _______________________________

Brief description of your career: _______________________________________________________

Student’s Name and Homeroom Teacher: _________________________________________

The best way to reach me is by: __ email _____________________________________

__ phone ___________________

10/2 Progress Reports Issued 10/31 End of First Quarter

10/3 Hispanic Heritage Celebration, 6:00-8:00 10/31 Dress for Success Parade at 2:30 pm

10/13 PTA Meeting, 7:00pm, Media Center 11/3 Professional Learning/Work Day SCHOOLS CLOSED

FOR STUDENTS

10/17 MSEA Convention, Professional Work Day

SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR STUDENTS

11/4 Election Day SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR STUDENTS

10/23 Career Day 11/10 PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm, Media Center

10/24 PTA Trunk or Treat, 6:30 pm 11/11 Family Reading and Math Night, Grades PreK-2,

6:30-8:00 pm

10/28 Family Reading and Math Night, Grades 3-5,

6:30-8:00 pm

11/12 Report Cards Issued

11

COMMUNITY NOTICES

For more information or questions regarding the “Community Notices” below, please use the contact

information provided within each notice. These events are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Howard

County Public School System or Running Brook Elementary School.

Columbia Association

Columbia YouthFit gives your family the tools to create and stick with a healthy lifestyle. This 8-week program

is endorsed by The American Academy of Pediatrics. At least one family member must be between the ages of 9

and 16. Families who have completed the sessions consistently give the program high ratings. Spaces fill up fast.

For more information, contact Shawni Paraska, Community Health Director, at

shawni.paraska@columbiaassociation.org or 410-715-3128. ES, MS, HS

Columbia Association

Columbia YouthFit gives your family the tools to create and stick with a healthy lifestyle. This 8-week program

is endorsed by The American Academy of Pediatrics. At least one family member must be between the ages of 9

and 16. Families who have completed the sessions consistently give the program high ratings. Spaces fill up fast.

For more information, contact Shawni Paraska, Community Health Director, at

shawni.paraska@columbiaassociation.org or 410-715-3128. ES, MS, HS

Healthy Howard

Door to Healthcare, a project of Healthy Howard and we provide FREE help in choosing affordable, quality

health coverage. The Door provides practical answers about new changes in health care, personal support for

making the right choice and assistance with signing up for health insurance. Our certified Navigators and

Assisters are available for in-person assistance and to guide you and your family through the process of

becoming insured. To learn more, visit www.doortohealthcare.org or call us at 855-288-3667. ES, MS, HS

Maryland Judiciary

Judiciary Contest for Young Artists Helps Promote Peacemaking

The Maryland Judiciary is asking young artists to help promote peacemaking in its annual Conflict Resolution

Student Bookmark Art Contest. The contest, for Maryland students, grades K-8; helps celebrate Conflict

Resolution Day, which is Thursday, Oct. 16. For more information contact Alecia Parker, 410-260-3540, or

alecia.parker@mdcourts.gov. ES, MS, HS

Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Dept Ellicott City Fire Dept. Open House, Oct. 4, 1-4 p.m., 4150 Montgomery Road. For further info please call 410-

313-2600. ES, MS, HS

Orthodox Church of St. Matthew St. Matthew Multi-Cultural Festival on Oct. 4, 11a.m. - 8p.m. and 5,11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., featuring hand-made

international foods, free live entertainment, hand-made crafts, and an amazing themed children's area with

games, prizes, moonbounce, and a dunk tank. Located in the Kings Contrivance Village Center. For more

information, visit www.stmatthewfestival.org. ES, MS, HS

12

Howard County Recreation and Parks

Jewelry Design at the North Laurel Community Center, design your own earrings using professional tools,

supplies, and techniques. Class is on Sat., Oct. 4, 3:30-5:30 p.m. To register by phone, please call Recreation and

Parks at 410-313-7275. For more information, please contact Kori Jones at kjones@howardcountymd.gov or

410-313-4609. ES, MS, HS

Howard County Recreation and Parks

Rock School: Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, or Vocals, this class meets Sat., Oct 4. To register by phone, please call

Recreation and Parks at 410-313-7275. For more information, please contact Kori Jones at

kjones@howardcountymd.gov or 410-313-4609. ES, MS, HS

Columbia Chamber Orchestra

37th season in grand style, Sat., Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m. Baltimore Symphony Concertmaster Jonathan Carney returns

for the warmth and brilliance of the Brahms Violin Concerto. Then Robert Schumann leads us on a journey

down the Rhine in a thrilling Romantic Symphony. First, Mary Howe's short tone poem paints a ravishing

picture of a brilliant night sky. Visit www.columbiaorchestra.org/hcpss or call 410-465-8777. ES, MS, HS