Panther Press - 19th Edition

Note from Principal 

Good Afternoon Running Brook Families, 

Earlier this week, the verdict was announced in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged in George Floyd's death. I speak for the entire Running Brook staff when I say that I hope this outcome has brought some peace of mind to the families of our students. While this is a small step in the right direction there is still plenty of work left to be done, focused on justice for all members of our community. As a staff this acts as a reminder of the importance of our work. This year, the Running Brook staff has made it a priority to focus our professional learning and staff meetings around anti-racist education. This is a multi-year commitment that our staff is dedicated to and will continue to be an integral part of the work that we do for years to come. 

I echo the words of our superintendent, Dr. Martirano, "Please remember that showing love for each other is the most powerful way we can effect change and will prevail through our efforts to build a just and inclusive community and country." 

Sincerely,

Anthony J Esposito, Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

May 5 MAP Testing - Grades 1-5
May 13 School Closed for Students - Articulation Day
May 17 5th Grade Virtual Visit to Wilde Lake Middle School
May 19 MAP Testing - Grades 1-5
May 26 Make Up Picture Day
May 31 Schools and Offices Closed - Memorial Day
June 1 5th Grade Closing Ceremony
June 2 6pm - RBES 50th Anniversary Time Capsule Presentation
June 10 Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed at 1:15
June 11 Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed at 1:15
June 14 Early Dismissal - Students Dismissed at 1:15
June 15 Early Dismissal and Last Day of School for Students

NEWS & EVENTS

Administrative Professionals Day
Wednesday was Administrative Professionals day. Please join us in celebrating our fabulous front office team, Mrs. Barnhouse, Mrs. Kwon and Mrs. Ott! We appreciate everything you do behind the scenes to keep our school running. They truly are the heart of Running Brook!

Quarter 3 Report Cards are Available Now!
To access your child’s report card please follow these steps:
1. Login in to HCPSS Connect
2. Select More Options from the left panel
3. Select Report Cards in the middle
4. Select the report card you wish to access

Attention 5th Grade Parents- Message from WLMS PTSA
If any 5th grade parents are interested in any positions of leadership next year we will be holding elections in May and would really love to have RBES parents involved. Please feel free to reach out to Sarah_Russo@hcpss.org if you have any questions.

MAP Testing
On Wednesday, May 5th and 19th, students in grades 1-5 will take the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The data from the MAP assessment will help schools and teachers measure your student’s academic progress. The MAP test does not affect grades and the difficulty adjusts depending on how your child responds. It is normal for students to only answer about half the questions correctly.  To learn more about the MAP assessment, please visit: https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/common-questions-families/ 

The reading test will be offered on May 5th.  The math test will be offered on May 19th.  If your child is unable to attend, makeup testing will be offered during asynchronous learning times. Teachers will share Google Meet information and your student’s testing group as we get closer to the May dates.

Commit to 2021-2022 HCPSS Digital Education Center by May 5

Español, 中文, 한국어  

The Howard County Public School System is planning for a full-time online option for students entering grades K-12 who wish to learn virtually for the 2021-2022 school year. Once finalized, the Digital Education Center (DEC) program will give students the opportunity to take classes and earn credits virtually, while receiving support services from both the DEC and their assigned home school. DEC students will continue to be enrolled in their assigned home school and will be able to participate in athletics and activities at that school if/as schedules and transportation allows.

Parents/guardians who wish to commit to the DEC should log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy by Wednesday, May 5 at 4 p.m. (see directions below). Families must commit to the DEC for the full 2021-2022 school year. Students who wish to return to in-person learning during the 2021-2022 school year, if that option is available, should not sign up for the DEC. The Superintendent and Board of Education members have stressed that they consider the return to normalized, five-day, in-person learning this fall to be essential for the majority of HCPSS students, however, an official decision on the 2021-2022 academic year has not yet been made.

In committing to the DEC, parents/guardians acknowledge that:

  • This is a commitment that your child will attend the DEC for the 2021-2022 school year, and that students will need to go through the reassignment process if  they choose to return to their home school for instruction.
  • Not all course requests may be able to be honored in the DEC environment.
  • There are attendance requirements that will apply in the DEC environment.
  • The implementation of the DEC is pending funding from the HCPSS Board of Education. Should funding not be provided, students automatically will be returned to their assigned home school.

Prior to making any decision, we strongly encourage families to review details about the DEC that are available online, as well as answers to frequently asked questions for the DEC in general and student-specific information.

Families who commit to the DEC will be contacted by DEC staff in the coming weeks to review student courses prior to final enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year. This decision has no impact for students on the current school year.

To access the commitment form:

  • Log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy using parent/guardian credentials
  • Select More Options from the left panel
  • Select Digital Education Center Commitment from the middle of the page
  • Complete the questions in the form for each child and select “save”

Please note, families of incoming kindergarten students will not have access to the commitment form. Those families who are interested in committing to the DEC should call the school your child is enrolled in for the 2021-2022 school year.
Email DEC@hcpss.org with any questions about the Digital Education Center. If you need assistance completing the online commitment form, please contact your child’s school.

Daily Health Checks
To ensure students are healthy enough to attend in-person instruction, parents/guardians are to perform a symptom check every day before the student leaves home. A student having any of the following symptoms should not be sent to school and may continue to access their classrooms virtually if they are well enough to do so: 
1 of the following:

  • New onset cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing;
  • New loss of taste or smell; OR

2 of the following:

  • Fever over 100.4 or chills within the past 24 hours;
  • Fatigue;
  • Muscle or body aches;
  • Headache;
  • Sore throat;
  • Congestion or runny nose;
  • Chills or shaking chills;
  • Nausea or vomiting;
  • Diarrhea

Is Your Family File Up to Date?
We are 58% complete. Please be sure that your Family File is updated with your most CURRENT contact information. It is imperative that we have a means to get in touch with you in a timely manner. Since we have reopened, we have had several instances when we attempted to contact a parent and discovered  that the telephone number on file was incorrect.
Also in your Family File, please make sure your emergency contacts are up to date, with current contact information. Please remind those people that you have indicated them as emergency contacts and that if they get a phone call to pick your child up from school, they will need to be able to get there within an hour.
Follow these instructions:

  1. Visit www.hcpss.org/connect
  2. Log in to your account (Username = your email address)
  3. You will see a list of options on the left side of the screen. At the bottom of the list, choose “More Options” and then “Family File.”
  4. Follow the prompts to update the information.
  5. You will receive a confirmation upon successful completion of the Family File

Notes: 

  • If it is not allowing you to click “NEXT” on a particular page, there is information missing.
  • If you have more than one child at RBES, please be sure to update information for all of your children.
  • Please contact Mrs. Kwon (Helen_Kwon@hcpss.org) or Mrs. Ott (Lakesha_Ott@hcpss.org) if you need assistance completing your Family File

Parents/Guardians Can Now Provide Consent for Voluntary Student COVID-19 Testing
Beginning Monday, April 12, HCPSS will offer a voluntary K-12 COVID-19 Testing Program that will provide free COVID-19 tests for students and school-based staff who develop COVID-like symptoms or are identified as close contacts while they are in a school building. Parents/guardians should not send their children to school, and staff should not report to work if they are presenting COVID-like symptoms. The program includes two components:

  • Administration of two types of COVID-19 tests - rapid antigen point-of-care (POC) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specimen collection - as needed, and
  • Sharing test results with the Maryland Department of Health and Howard County Health Department for contact tracing purposes. Disclosure of this information is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act* and requires your consent before it can be shared.

How to provide consent:

  1. Visit www.hcpss.connect
  2. Select More Options from the left panel
  3. Select COVID Testing Permission
  4. Complete the question in the form

In addition, HCPSS will offer free weekly self-collection, saliva-based PCR tests to students participating in organized school sports or club activities for surveillance testing. The program is voluntary and consent is required. Answers to frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 Testing Program are available online.

Notice from Howard County Police Department
Please obey the all traffic signs that are on the property when dropping off or picking up students.

PTA Corner
April 30th - Glow Crazy with RBES PTA

Join us VIRTUALLY on Friday, April 30th at 7 pm as DJ Shris Styles brings the beats for a dance party! Glow party bags will be distributed to Group A, B and E students the week of the event. Virtual students can do a drive up pick-up Wednesday, April 28th 5:30pm - 7pm 

Join via Zoom

Meeting Code: 639 731 3607

Passcode: RBESGlow

 

Don't Forget to Order Your 2020-21 Yearbook!

A lot changed this school year but we still managed to keep the "cool" in school. Each student, teacher, parent set new precedents with managing life during a modern day global pandemic there's no better way to commemorate Running Brook's ability to pivot than with a yearbook to highlight the students' achievements.

The yearbook not only celebrates our virtual year but also the school's 50th birthday!

Ordering your yearbook is a breeze this year with an online ordering system. Follow the simple 4 steps listed in this flyer to get your book today!

PTA Meeting
Mark Your Calendars -- Monday, May 10th at 7pm join the RBES PTA for their monthly meeting.

Parent to Staff Panther Praise
Mrs. Tunkel – 3rd Grade Teacher
"Mrs. Tunkel is a nice teacher and Mrs. Tunkel is funny!”- Marcos

Mrs. Nilles – Kindergarten Teacher
“Mrs. Nilles is always prepared. She knew March would bring some rainy days and her kids would have indoor recess. Mrs. Nilles had already prepared a cool box of fun things to play with for each of her students. They had so much fun with their own box of toys"Mrs. Aikens 

Mrs. Jenkins– 4th Grade Teacher
"Mrs. Jenkins is an awesome teacher! She always reminds us if we have something to do . I'm so happy that your're my teacher!”Lorena Jones

Mrs. Choi – 5th Grade Teacher
”Is always making sure that everyone is engaged and is always making the lessons enjoyable. She will help the students with any problems they have with the work and will go over it until they understand what they are doing. We are grateful that Abby has her as a teacher.”The Manzanares Family

Ongoing News and Events

Kindergarten Registration Week for SY 2021-2022
You can begin the online registration process for students new to Howard County!
It is recommended that you work on a laptop or desktop to complete registration. Cell phone registration is not recommended. For details about registration and enrollment, visit www.hcpss.org/enroll/. Please call our RBES front office at 410-313-6893 or email Mrs. Ott (lakesha_ott@hcpss.org) if you have any questions.
Please make certain you are on the screen for 2021-2022 if registering for the next school year. Please read this message in its entirety.
All children who will be five years of age by September 1, 2021 must register for Kindergarten or have an approved waiver. Parents or guardians are to register students at the school serving the address where the child’s parent or guardian resides.  Information on neighborhood schools can be found through School Locator (links to an external site) .
Complete registration online by providing the documents listed below. The registration process is easier if you upload them during online registration. Otherwise, you will be asked to submit them via email as pdfs. I-phone users can scan documents through your notes app. (Images must be clear.)
The following documents are needed for registration:

  • Child’s evidence of birth (ie: birth certificate)
  • An authorized record of immunizations
  • Proof of residency in the form of your entire signed lease or deed including signature pages
  • Current utility bill (issued within the last 45 days)
  • Photo ID of parent/guardian
  • Proof of custody (if applicable)

If you have a child currently attending an HCPSS PreK program, there is no need to re-register your student for Kindergarten. Also, if your child is a current HCPSS student at RBES or any other HCPSS school, please DO NOT re-register your student.

Learning Together Program – Prekindergarten 
The Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) prekindergarten programs are making preparations for classes for the 2021-22 school year.  These classes include children with and without disabilities.  The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills.   Parents of children who will be 3 by September 1st or are already 4 may learn more about the program by reviewing the Learning Together Program (LTP) Flier .  Applications will be accepted starting February 11, 2021 and priority will be given to applications received by April 1st.  CLICK HERE to complete LTP Application

  • Learning Together Program (LTP) Flier (Spanish)
  • Learning Together Program (LTP) Flier (Chinese)
  • Learning Together Program (LTP) Flier (Korean)

HCPSS is committed to providing instruction based on the statewide Early Learning Standards which are in alignment with Kindergarten Readiness. The fees listed in the application will be collected monthly regardless of the learning model determined by HCPSS throughout the upcoming school year (virtual, hybrid, or in person).  If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kwon at (410) 313-6893.

Blessings in a Backpack
Did you know we have a Blessings in a Backpack Program at RBES?  Blessings in a Backpack sends additional food resources home to students on the weekend.  During a traditional school year, bags are discretely put in a student's backpack on Friday afternoons. Running Brook staff delivered to 125 students over the spring/summer!    
Our Blessings in a Backpack Program is entirely funded by individual and community-based donations.  This is not funded by HCPSS. Visit https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/ways-to-donate/ to make a donation.

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. 
Also, during virtual learning,  we were able to use Title I funds to purchase materials to support your child’s at home learning. We hope you were able to pick up the first set of learning materials. If not, please let us know so we can help you make arrangements. There will be opportunities to pick up more Title I learning materials later in the year. 
Please view our school parent compact using this link:

We welcome any feedback or questions related to our Title I school wide programming, at anytime throughout the school year. Please email Jodi Aikens at Jodi_Aikens@hcpss.org, Kim Filler at Kimberly_Filler@hcpss.org, or our Family Involvement Coordinator, Jane Hartlove at Jane_Hartlove@hcpss.org.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Free Food Give Away
There will be a free food giveaway on April 30th at Howard County Community College Friday, April 30th  from 11am-2pm! Please click the link below for more information!

Food Giveaway at HCC April 1st and 30th 

Boxes of Food Available Saturday

The Catholic Community of Ascension and St. Augustine has partnered with Lancaster Foods, and we have received a grant from the US Department of Agriculture to distribute boxes of food that contain 30.5 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and meat.  The boxes will be distributed on Saturdays in April beginning at 10:00 am and ending at noon, or earlier if the food is gone.  The distribution will take place at Ducketts Lane Elementary School, 6501 Ducketts Lane, Elkridge, MD 21075, on the following dates:  

  • Saturday, April 24, 2021 

Each vehicle or walker will be eligible to receive two boxes of food, and all participants must wear a face mask during pickup.  There are no income or documentation restrictions.  We have requested over 2,000 boxes of food, but once the food is gone it is gone.  You are welcome to come each week that the program is available to receive food. 
Questions? Please contact ccastafooddistribution4@gmail.com

 

Internet Access

  • Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone: Xfinity WiFi hotspots located in businesses and outdoor locations across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser.
  • Families who do not have internet access may be eligible to participate in the Comcast Internet Essentials program. Those in areas without high speed internet service may want to consider activating their smartphone's hotspot feature. Families are not required to submit their social security number to apply for the program; you can skip that question in the application.

Howard County Conservancy Nature Preschool

COVID-19 Mobile Testing Sites
Howard County is dedicated to expanding COVID-19 testing to residents in our community who many not have adequate access. First Call Urgent Care and Centennial Medical Group are implementing four mobile testing units in the following locations: 

  • Long Reach Village Center (Monday, 3pm-7pm)
  • North Laurel Community Center (Tuesday, 3pm-7pm)
  • Recreation and Parks Headquarters (Thursday, 3pm-7pm)
  • The Elkridge 50+ Center (Friday, 3pm-7pm)

Rapid testing and PCR testing will be available to residents at no cost. These new testing sites will help us promote more equitable healthcare and ensuring our most vulnerable populations have access to COVID-19 testing

Virtual Parent Cafe
Please see the flyers linked below for the dates and times. At the Parent Café, we share ideas that can help us take care of ourselves and our families and raise strong, happy children. We’d love to have you join us!
At the Virtual Café you can 

  • Virtually meet new people from your area
  • Share ideas
  • Get new ideas about how to keep your family strong
  • Share your hopes and dreams for your family

Virtual Parent Café – April 26, 2021 

Date

Friday, April 23, 2021 (All day)