Message from the Administrators

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATORS

Dear Running Brook Families and Friends,

March has been a busy month for our students and staff! We believe we are finally starting to see signs of spring weather. Please remember HCPSS Spring Break begins March 30th and ends April 6th. All schools will be CLOSED March 30th – April 6th. Schools will REOPEN on Tuesday, April 7th. In addition, 3rd quarter ends on March 27th and we will have an early dismissal at 12:50 pm on this day. Please be sure your child knows his/her dismissal plan for the early dismissal on March 27th.

Our 3rd, 4th & 5th grade students have worked so hard during PARCC administration. We are VERY proud of every student! We are finished the general administration for each grade and we will finish any student make-ups next week. Thank you parents for assisting in the smooth administration by having your child present and on time during testing.

Please remember students will be taking EOY PARCC the last week in April and first week in May. Final dates for administration in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be provided soon. We are currently finalizing these dates.

Our 5th grade students will be administered MSA Science on Tuesday, April 14th and Wednesday, April 15th. Again, we ask for your support during these two days of testing. Please try not to schedule doctor’s appointments on these days. Please be sure your child is well rested and is in school on time (9:05) on testing days.

We hope to see our 3rd, 4th and 5th grades students on Thursday, March 26th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm for an awesome night of fun! Pizza will be served from 6:00 to 6:30 in the cafeteria. What kind of Superhero Reader Are You? Barb Langridge, a public librarian from the Baltimore area, will help our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students and parents determine their reading personalities in order to choose engaging books. Also, former NFL player and author, Trevor Pryce, will speak about his children’s books and autograph them for students. This is a great opportunity for our students!

Have a great weekend!

Mr. Todd and Mrs. Jenkins

NEW ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM – SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Running Brook has created a NEW online payment system for field trips and school activities. This system will allow parents to pay student school fees by debit or credit card online using a secure web browser at their convenience, 24 hours a day. Visit the HCPSS Online School Payment System (OSP) at and select Running Brook from the list of elementary schools to register!

READING PROGRAM: WHAT KIND OF SUPERHERO READER ARE YOU? Grades 3-5

Barb Langridge, a public librarian from the Baltimore area, will help kids and parents determine their reading personalities in order to chose engaging books. Also, former NFL player and author, Trevor Price, will speak about his children’s books and autograph them for students.

Thursday, March 26thfrom 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Pizza will be served from 6:00 to 6:30 in the cafeteria.

MESSAGE FROM THE HEALTH ROOM

As we enter into flu season, this isa reminderthat good hand washing and covering sneezes and coughs with tissues and sleeves are essential steps to preventing the spread of "germs.” Also, remember that despite concerns about school attendance, your children's health (and the health of other children) is most important of all.For this reason, we ask you to please:

• Call the school nurse to let us know if your child is absent with a contagious illness such as strep throat, or the flu.Please provide any documentation from your physician about diagnosis and release to return to school. (Ear and sinusinfections, while often a reason for keeping a child home, are usually not contagious.)
• Keep your child home if he/she has a fever of over 100.0.A fever indicates that your child has an infection that could be passed to other students.If you give your child Motrin or Tylenol, the fever will, of course, disappear but he/she will still be contagious to others.Children must be fever-free for 24 hours (without medication) before returning to school!Students vomiting or with diarrhea should be symptom free, able to eat and drink a regular meal, and resume normal bowel habits before returning.
• Have your children wash their hands properly after using the restrooms and prior to eating.
• If the doctor prescribes medication for your child, please make sure he/she takes it as directed-which means the right amount at the right time and without missing doses.

Thank you very much for helping keep all our students healthy!

LOST AND FOUND ITEMS

Every day we add new items to our “Lost and Found” bin. We have coats, hats, gloves, jackets, sweatshirts, etc. collecting in this bin and waiting for the owner to claim the items. We know these items belong to our students but we are unable to identify the owners. All items remaining after Friday, March 20th will be donated to our local Goodwill. IF your child is missing a coat, hat, gloves, jacket, etc., please come by Running Brook to claim the item(s) before the items are donated!

MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT ORIENTATION

Parents of incoming sixth graders are invited to attend Sixth Grade Parent Orientation, as well as the Gifted and Talented Program Information Night, on Wednesday April 15th. The GT Information Night will be held at 6:00, followed by the general orientation beginning at 6:30. The Sixth Grade orientation will introduce parents of incoming sixth graders to the middle school program, expectations, middle school schedule, and culture of WLMS.

Wilde Lake Middle School

10481 Cross Fox Lane

CONTACT INFORMATION -SPANISH SPEAKING PHONE LINE

A través de la presente comunicación queremos informarles que el colegio tiene disponible para los representantes que hablan español la línea telefónica con el número 410-313.5699. Siéntanse libres de llamar cada vez que tengan una pregunta o comentario sobre su niño(a) y con mucho gusto le devolveremos su mensaje lo más pronto posible. (El buzón de mensajes será revisado 2 veces al día. Si es algo urgente por favor llame a la oficina principal: 410-313.6893)

NATIONAL MATH FESTIVAL

On Saturday, April 18th,experience mathematics like never before when the country's first National Math Festival comes to Washington, D.C! Thisfree and public celebrationwill feature dozens of math-centered activities for every age, from hands-on magic, ascavenger hunt, andHoudini-like getaways,to lectures with some of the most influential mathematicians of our time. Join us for anunforgettable opportunityto learn something new,discover the delight and wonderful power of mathematics, and most importantly,have fun.

Events will take place in several Smithsonianmuseums in downtown Washington, D.C., including:

* The Enid A. Haupt Garden

* The S.Dillon Ripley Center

* The National Museum of Natural History

* The National Air and Space Museum

* The National Museum of African Art

* The Freer and Sackler Galleries

YEARBOOKS - ON SALE NOW!

Yearbooks are now on sale! Yearbook order forms were sent home today, March 20th, in Friday folders with youngest and only students. Yearbooks ordered before March 27th will be sold at a discounted price of $18.00. Yearbooks ordered after Spring Break will be sold for $20.00. Yearbook orders are due by Friday, April 10th. Email Kristen Mangus at mailto:ith any questions about ordering yearbooks.

DREAMBOX LEARNING - SPRING BREAK CHALLENGE!

If your child has a Dreambox Learning account, we are having a Spring Break Challenge! Any student with a Dreambox Learning account who spends 120 minutes or more on Dreambox over Spring Break will receive a fun prize after we return from Spring Break.

PreK REGISTRATION

What is the Pre-K program?

The Pre-K program is a high-quality, full-day prekindergarten program. Students must be four years old by September 1, 2015 to be considered for enrollment. The curriculum supports early learning and school readiness and provides experiences that fosters children’s academic, social, emotional and physical development.

Is my child eligible for the program?

Per Maryland regulations, Pre-K is provided to any child who meets first priority criteria, which includes income eligibility, homelessness, and foster care. When space allows, as determined by countywide enrollment projections, additional children who meet second priority criteria (i.e. English Language Learners, health concerns, learning difficulties) may be enrolled.

How do I apply?

2015-16 Pre-K applications will be available starting in mid-March 2015. Applications may be downloaded from or picked up at your districted school – no appointment necessary. Applications should be submitted to the Pre-K site that serves your attendance area. All application information will be kept confidential and reviewed only by school staff. The school will review applications and then invite students to be enrolled according to the criteria described above. If your child is invited into the program you will need to register (please see Kindergarten registration for the documents needed).

Learning Together Program (LTP)/Preschool-Kindergarten Program:

The LTP at Running Brook Elementary is a program that has been developed for children ages three and four, who demonstrate a disability and are determined eligible for a comprehensive special education program and related services. The purpose of the LTP is to include children (peers) who do not have disabilities. Applications for LTP peers will be available after February 25, 2015 until March 20, 2015 for the 2015-16 school year.

If you are interested in applying for an LTP peer slot, please come into the front office at Running Brook Elementary School and see Mrs. Alisha Brackney for a peer application and questionnaire. Our LTP is half-day. A $25 deposit is due with each application. Please call Mrs. Brackney at (410) 313-6893 with any questions or concerns.

SPRING CONCERT

Our Spring Concert will be held at 7:00 pm on May 20th at Wilde Lake High School. We will send home more details in the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!

UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES

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.

HCYP

Spring Recreational Baseball. Our recreational baseball program is one of the largest in Maryland with almost 1500 kids participating each Spring. We offer programs for all ages and skill levels, from instructional coach pitch to kid pitch programs.Rookie (Ages 5-6) - $105 early bird; Pinto (Ages 7-8) - $165 early bird; Little League (Ages 9-12) - $200 early bird; Pony (Ages 13-14) - $200 early bird; Colt (Ages 15-18) - $200 early bird.

Recreation and Parks

Spring Egg Hunt at Rockburn Elementary School. Collect eggs and enjoy prizes, games, and fun for the whole family. Saturday, March 21st, 10:00 a.m., for children ages 2 to 10 years. Registration is required by March 9. Click on the “events” tab to locate the EAAA Spring Egg Hunt link for a copy of the Registration Form. For more information, please contact Dave Grabowski at .

Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run® is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls grades 3-8. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts.The girls will meet after-schooltwice a week for 10 weeks with the season ending 5k to be held on May 30, in Howard County, MD. The program begins the week of Mar. 15, and will end the week of May 31.To register your daughter, go to .

Columbia Association Art Center

Columbia Art Center School's Out Spring Break program for grades 1-8. Mar. 30- Apr. 3 and Apr. 6, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., $50 per child drop-off begins at 7:30; art activities beginning at 9 a.m. To register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or email

Elkridge Youth Organization

The EYO 12U Baseball Teamis hosting a Bingo Night, April 11, 7 p.m., at the OLPH Gym located at 4801 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City. There will be Designer Purses filled with great prizes for each bingo winner and also Special Bingo card rounds. Tickets are $20.00 in advance or $25.00 at the door.Tickets may be bought online at

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