Fulton Flier

Dear Fulton Family,

In our final edition of our newsletter before the winter break and the last one in 2020, I wanted to wish all in our FES family a happy, peaceful, and healthy holiday. Over this break, please find some time to disconnect and enjoy time with your family.

On behalf of the entire Fulton staff, I wish you an enjoyable winter break and look forward to seeing everyone in 2021.

Warmly,

Dr. Burks

Is your child caught up on all assignments for ELA, math, science, social studies, health, art, music, PE, media, and technology? With no asynchronous work assigned during the week of December 21, this is a GREAT time to catch-up on any missed work. Students can check-in with teachers to ask questions or for support during the short week. Students can submit assignments throughout the Winter Break, but teachers will not be able to check their work or respond to email until January 4. Please do not wait until the end of the quarter to complete asynchronous work.

Our Gifted and Talented team will be hosting the synchronous 4th and 5th grade Spelling Bee this year. The optional Spelling Bee will be open to students in 4th and 5th grade and will take place in January. What to know more? Check out the Spelling Bee Interest Form to learn more and sign up to participate! If your child is interested, please have them sign up by December 23rd.

Howard County public schools will be closed for winter break from Thursday, December 24, 2020 through Friday, January 1, 2021. There will be no meal service during this time. To ensure children have access to essential nutrition during the holiday period, families may pick up additional meals in advance of the break.

The following adjustments will be made to meal services:

• There is no meal service Thursday, December 24 through Friday, January 1. Meal service will resume on Monday, January 4, 2021.
  
• Meals for December 23–27 will be available for pickup at any HCPSS meal site on Wednesday, December 23.
  
• Pre-ordering will not be available for meals picked up December 21–23 or January 4–6. Walk up (non-pre-ordered) meals may be picked up those and other days schools are in session.
  
• Pre-ordering services will resume Monday, January 4 for meals to be picked up beginning Thursday, January 7. Meals are provided at no cost to any HCPSS student or any child under age 18. More information about 2020-2021 meal services is provided online.

Cycle 3 of our Related Arts ends this week. To help prepare your students for the first week in January, please review your child's grade level schedule using the links below. Please ensure you click on "Related Arts Schedule- Cycle 4", which will run from January 4th- February 5th.

• Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade
• 4th Grade
• 5th Grade

*Our RECC schedule remains the same and is not impacted by the Related Arts rotation. We have included the RECC schedule here, just so you can have it handy.

• December 21st: Countdown to Winter Break: GoNoodle

• December 22nd: Countdown to Winter Break:Five Senses Scavenger Hunt

• December 23rd: Countdown to Winter Break: Go Birdwatching

• December 24th-December 31st: Winter Break

• January 1st: New Year's Day - Schools & Offices Closed
  

• January 4th: School Resumes

• January 6th: FES Coffee House Opens 8:00-9:00am

• January 12th: PTA Meeting 7:00pm

• January 13th: Black Student Achievement Program 6:00pm

• January 14th: Hammond Middle School 6th Gr Orientation

• January 18th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Schools & Offices Closed

• January 28th: End of 2nd Marking Period

• January 29th: Schools Closed for Students- Professional Work Day for Staff

As an FES staff, we are committed to partnering with you throughout your child's educational journey to ensure your child achieves his/her fullest potential. An essential component of our partnership is empowering you with a wide variety of topics to support the academic, social and emotional development of your child. Please complete this short survey to help us plan sessions that would be most beneficial to you.

This is the season when people of all faiths and cultures are pushing back against the planetary darkness. We string bulbs, ignite bonfires, and light candles. And we sing.

- Anita Diamant

Our school community is rich in many different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Our knowledge about other cultures, languages, and traditions is extremely important to foster understanding and mutual respect.

During this time of the year, our Fulton families celebrate a variety of different traditions. As a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, we have created slide shows that you can share with your child at home or use as a starting point to teach your child about different holidays. Once you click on the powerpoint link below, be sure to move into "present" mode. Once you are presenting, you can click on the different objects on the slide to take you to videos, arts and crafts, recipes and much more. Enjoy!

December Holiday Slides RECC- 3rd Grade

December Holiday Slides 4th & 5th Grade

Here are some other resources that you may want to review.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Caitlyn Gudenius @ caitlyn_gudenius@hcpss.org.

The holiday season is upon us. Families are dealing with stress from multiple sources, including COVID-19, and may not be able to celebrate the holidays as usual. Although parents/caregivers may feel the need to do more to “makeup” for such a difficult year, remember, more is not always better. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network shares strategies for supporting children this holiday season.

Sharing Student Mental Health Supports: Please find resources for mental health and wellness information and supports that are included on the HCPSS website.

Recently we came together as a community to grieve the loss of one of our first grade students, Minaal Ahmed. We have been working with Minaal's family to honor her in a special way.In honor of Minaal Ahmed, please consider making a donation to the John Hopkins Children's Center, which is an organization close to the Ahmed's hearts.

If you would like to consider a contribution in Minaal's memory, visit https://secure.jhu.edu/form/children and choose “Child Life” in the list of designation options. All contributions made through this site are tax deductible, as allowable by law. In the comments section, please write “On behalf of Fulton Elementary School” or "In memory of Minaal Ahmed."

To donate gifts for the children at JHCC, individuals can purchase them through http://www.myregistry.com/organization/johns-hopkins-children-s-center-baltimore-md/2602166 or purchase any of the items on the attached Wish List , and ship them to:

Brian Parkinson, Child Life Department

Johns Hopkins Children’s Center

1800 Orleans Street, Suite 7217

Baltimore, MD 21287

Our PTA continues to keep the fun coming! Be sure to check out PTA's Countdown to Winter Break calendar to see how you can join in the fun! This week, we will:

• 12/21 Have some fun with Go Noodle
• 12/22 Engage your 5 senses in a Scavenger Hunt
• 12/23 Bird Watch- use your sense of sight and hearing to observe the birds in your neighborhood.

In January, our PTA will be hosing a martial arts fundraiser. Mark your calendars nows!

1/9: American Academy of Martial Arts

K-2: 10-11am

3-5: 11:15am-12:15pm

https://app.memberhub.gives/aamaclass

During the week of December 21st, no asynchronous assignments in content, ELA, math, or related arts should be assigned to students. This includes Dreambox and LexiaCore.

Students will have synchronous related arts as scheduled but no asynchronous related arts assignments. Likewise, synchronous social studies instruction will occur on Monday, December 21 for grades K, 2, and 4 and on Tuesday, December 22 for grades 1, 3, and 5; however, there will not be social studies asynchronous follow up lessons.

Tanisha Burks, Principal

Molly Caroland, Assistant Principal

Leslie Brickner, Assistant Principal

Email: tanisha_burks@hcpss.org
Website: https://fes.hcpss.org/
Location: 11600 Scaggsville Road, Fulton, MD, USA
Phone: 410-880-5957
Twitter: @hcpss_fes