Ms. Hough and Ms. Williams-McKinney

American Education Week:  During the week of November 13-17, 2017, schools all over the country will be celebrating American Education Week.  This year's theme, "Great Public Schools:  A Basic Right and Our Responsibility," focuses on our on-going efforts to build partnerships between home and school, while recognizing the many contributions made by support staff to our schools each day. 

Below, please find the activities that we have planned for American Education Week:

• Monday, November 13, 2017 American Education Week Kickoff
• Tuesday, November 14, 2017 Parents' Day
• Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Educational Support Professionals' Day
• Thursday, November 16, 2017 Community Leaders' Day
• Friday, November 17, 2017 Substitute Educators' Day

On Tuesday, November 14th, families are encouraged to visit BWES and participate in interactive learning with their students.  Below, please find specified times that families are encouraged to visit and participate in student learning:

• Pre-K:  Somebody Loves Me Breakfast (8:25-8:45)
• Kindergarten:  Career Day Writing Activity (9:15-10:15)
• Grade 1:  Interactive Math Games (12:00-12:45)
• Grade 2:  Daily Five Activities in ELA and Interactive Math Games in Math (9:00-10:00)
• Grade 3:  Interactive Math Games and Read to Parent Activities in ELA (9:00-10:00)
• Grade 4:  Interactive Math Games and Kahoot!!! in ELA (2:00-3:00)
• Grade 5:  Kahoot!!! (9:00-10:00)

We look forward to a great week as we celebrate our schools and hope that you can join us for the fun!

November Conferences:  Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Monday, November 20 and Tuesday, November 21, 2017.  Students will be dismissed both days at 12:10 and conferences will be conducted from 1:00-7:30 both evenings.  Conferences are a great way for families to learn about the progress of their students as well as learn new ways to support learning at home.   Families are encouraged to sign up for a conference through Synergy.  If you need any assistance with scheduling a conference, please contact the front office at 410-313-6859.

Quarter 1 Report Cards:  Today (Friday, November 10, 2017) marks the end of the First Marking Period.  Report Cards will be distributed to students on Thursday, November 16, 2017.  Families are encouraged to review and reflect on student progress for the first quarter and establish goals for learning and behaviors for Quarter 2.  All report cards will be sent home in report card envelopes.  After review and discussing the report card with your student, please remember to sign and return the envelope to school.

Guidelines for Physical Education/Activity Restrictions:  In effort to ensure the safety and health of all of our students, HCPSS has established guidelines for physical education/activity restrictions:

• Students are required to participate fully in physical education class unless there is a specific medical reason or condition which requires modification of activities.

• When a student is excused from physical education class, the excuses are also inclusive of all physical activity in the classroom, recess, and before/after school sports and activities.

• A Parent/Guardian note is required to excuse a student for one to three consecutive days of physical education activity.

• Parents should be encouraged to discuss any physical problem that would limit their child’s participation in physical education with the health assistant, school nurse and physical education teacher.

• The health assistant will provide the Howard County Public School System Physical Education/Activity Form for students who miss more than three consecutive days of physical education and need limited or restricted participation.

If you have any questions regarding physical education/activity restrictions, please contact Ms. Jerome or Ms. White in the Health Suite.

Thanksgiving Holiday:  On behalf of the entire BWES staff, Ms. Hough and I would like to offer all of our families a happy, restful, and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.  As a reminder, schools will be closed for students Wednesday, November 22 - Sunday, November 26, 2017.  Schools reopen for students on Monday, November 27, 2017.

Educationally yours,

Ms. Hough, Principal

Ms. Williams-McKinney, Assistant Principal