Welcome to the 2021-2022 School Year
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller
August 13, 2021
Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
The staff at Bryant Woods Elementary are excited to begin the 2021-22 school year . . . ALL Together! Your new administration has been busy planning and preparing to greet all students as they return to the building. Students’ recent school experience has been one of uncertainty and change so we are ready to engage, reassure, provide consistency and care for each of our BWES students. At BWES we believe that student achievement is connected to their feeling of safety, belonging, community and love for learning; here are some of our plans for achieving this.
Safety
Your child’s safety is our primary responsibility! On July 30th, Howard County Public School System Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano, outlined several health and safety updates for the 2021-2022 school year. Masks will be required in school buildings for all students, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. Masks also will be required while on school buses. Masks will not be required for any students or staff while eating/drinking indoors. Masks will not be required outdoors, however they are recommended for unvaccinated individuals. Information related to the 2021-2022 school year can be found online. Answers to many frequently asked questions also are available online. Both sites are being continually updated as new information becomes available.
Sense of Belonging
We recognize that the students coming through our doors on August 30th have had very different school experiences. Some students are new to BWES, some just new to the BWES school building, some students have been at BWES but not in the building for over a year and a half. Children are processing varied emotions as a result of the changes brought on by the pandemic. Student support staff are prepared to comfort and support students’ feelings and provide parents with resources on how to help their child work through them. The first few weeks of school will be centered around building community and routines. SEL(Social Emotional Learning) instruction will occur first thing in the morning to set the tone of the day. Positive behavioral interventions and supports are in place to aid in setting learning goals, expectations and routines. Our teachers will do whatever it takes to build a community of learners; however, their number one strategy is having FUN! We want our students to be happy and eager to learn. We are working with our wonderful PTA to plan events that allow students the opportunity to get to know their peers before the school year begins. This year our Open House will be in-person! To ensure everyone has adequate space to move around, our Open Houses and Orientations have been scheduled and listed in the Important Dates section below.
Love of Learning
Our Superintendent often says that “In order to teach a child you must know a child.” Teachers will use various tools to assess student levels in order to meet them where they are, and push them to where they need to be. Technology is essential for our 21st century learners; nonetheless, teachers are eager to engage in person with their students. Having a 1:1 student to technology ratio is amazing so students will continue to bring their device to school. Instruction will not occur on the computer; devices will be used as a tool to enhance learning. Our talented faculty brings a diverse set of approaches to instruction in order to address a variety of student learning styles. At our Open House you will have the opportunity to meet staff, visit your child’s classroom and begin to form a relationship with the classroom teacher. During the Back-To-School events you will be able to learn about the grade level curriculum, related arts, and school activities. We welcome and value your positive energy and dedication to excellence in education, and look forward to working with you and your children.
Community
Like the quote said, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” At BWES, we know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. Your active participation is key to the success of our young scholars during his/her elementary school years. Please know that we highly value home/school communication here at Bryant Woods Elementary. We encourage you to contact us if/when the need arises, and to stay in the know about your child’s studies, assignments, assessments, and school activities. We extend a special, year long invitation to our families to join us at school activities and events whenever possible. We want and value your involvement and support in your child’s education!
Please provide us feedback and let us know what you wish for your child - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdw2korLJdrZbFlpijt48-GO74xh45z7yGDKodzt-TKVoU4Gg/viewform?usp=sf_link . Ask questions, advocate and trust that together, we WILL make this a positive and exciting school year for your child.
Student Placement
A great deal of time, effort and thought has gone into the process of student placement for the 2021- 2022 school year. Careful consideration was given to the input from staff and families as well as considering student learning styles. Classrooms have been balanced academically and socially. Our class lists are structured to provide equitable class sizes at each grade level. HCPSS’ Family File is open for parents to update and complete. The Homeroom/Transportation page will open to parents who have completed the Family File online on Wednesday, August 25th at 9 am. If the Family File has not been completed online, the Homeroom Teacher will not be available to view online. For more information please view flyer: https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-flyer.pdf
Thank you so much for being positive with your child and helping him or her understand that it is impossible to place all students with a preferred best friend or teacher. ALL of our staff work hard to make school a positive experience for ALL students. Bryant Woods is eagerly looking forward to enriching your child’s life. Thank you for understanding that it can take a few weeks for a child to acclimate to a new grade, peer group and teacher.
Facilities Update
We are working to ensure that our building reflects the excellent teaching that occurs within its walls. This summer we worked with our Custodial staff and Central Office to: strip and wax floors, declutter teaching areas, re-brand the school with our updated mascot, and make necessary repairs to teaching portables. In addition, we will have our paint refreshed in late September. Our PTA also partnered with Saint John United Methodist and Frank's Produce to beautify the front of the building with perennials and annuals.
Important Dates - Save the Dates Flyer
Opening School Information
Bell Schedule:
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Every minute with our students count, so we ask that you work diligently to have your child(ren) at school on time. If you are bringing your child to school by car, please take into consideration the amount of morning traffic when making plans. If a child is not with their class at 8:45 AM when we say the Pledge of Allegiance, he/she will be marked late for school. Thank you for your support.
Arrival and Dismissal
All forms of transportation during the first week of school can be chaotic. We highly encourage you to allow your child to arrive and be dismissed from school the same way EVERYDAY. It is imperative that our students learn their arrival and dismissal procedures first thing! There will be several staff members outside directing traffic and greeting students so please follow staff directions when arriving on Monday, August 30th. Finally, please be advised that HCPSS recently updated families on school bus transportation for the upcoming school year. In short, the entire state of Maryland is experiencing a school bus driver shortage. To accommodate the shortage in drivers, buses will run double routes for some schools, picking up and dropping off students in groups. To read more detailed information on school bus transportation, please visit THIS LINK.
Update Your Family File TODAY!
If you have not already, please log in to www.hcpss.org/connect to complete or update your Family File. This will ensure we have accurate emergency and contact information on file and will allow you (on August 25th) to view your child’s teacher for the 21-22 school year. Please use this HCPP resource to help you complete your Family File: https://youtu.be/CQGq7M-uGTY
Best Wishes,
Ms. Shanks & Mr. Morton-Ortega
Together, We WILL!
Introducing the 2021-2022 BWES Staff!
Each year brings positive change which includes some additions to our staff and changes in roles. At the same time, we send warm wishes to our teachers who ventured out of the Woods for new opportunities.
We are delighted to present our staff for the 2021 –2022 academic year:
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Pre K – Ms. Taylor Hughes (ITL) Pre K – Ms. Christie Cioffi PK Para – Ms. Stacey Halpern PK Para – Ms. Jackie Stanton PK Recc – Ms. Julia Allen PK Recc/K Para – Ms. Jessica Hennesey |
Kindergarten – Ms. Noel Morrisey (ITL) Kindergarten – Ms. Kayleigh Shaul Kindergarten – Ms. Teresa Jefferies K Para – Ms. Dinah Harrison
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Grade 1 – Ms. Katie Winder (ITL) Grade 1 – Ms. Molly Ross Grade 1 – Mr. Chris Miskiewitz G1 Para – Ms. Crystal West
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Grade 2 – Ms. Tara Brown (ITL) Grade 2 – Ms. Katie Ringer Grade 2 – Ms. Khalia Clancy G2 Para – Mitch Bernabe
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Grade 3 – Ms. April Wilson (ITL) Grade 3 – Ms. Kara Hale Grade 3 – Ms. Lydia Williams G3 Para – Ms. Lee Hart
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Grade 4 – Ms. Katelyn Brehm Grade 4 – Ms. Hillary Jones Grade 4 – Ms. Esther Chon G4 Para – Ms. Monica Butler |
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Grade 5 – Mr. Jerome Pickens Grade 5 – Ms. Monique Dickens G5 Para – Ms. Kadisha Johnson |
Ms. Stephanie Allen - Technology Ms. Amanda Hendershot - Art Ms. Michelle Melencio - Media Ms. Ashley Kitchelt - Vocal Music Mr. Jason Monjes - Phys. Ed. Mr. Zachary Mitchell - Phys. Ed. (.6) Ms. Karen Zepp - Inst. Music Ms. Janice Laswell - Media Para
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Student Services Ms. Asheley Sylvestre - Counselor Ms. Dorothy Hearn - Psychologist Ms. Kimberly Simpson - Alt. Ed. Tchr Ms. Kiera Cothorne - Alt. Ed. Para Mr. Kyron Walker - BSAP Liaison Ms. Melissa Grady - PPW
Student Support
Ms. Tracy Jerome - Nurse Ms. Tyris White - Health Assistant Ms. Kim Dustin - .5 Rdg. Sp./ .5 ESOL Ms. Tamara McCoy - Rdg. Sp. Ms. Kourtni Chairs - Rdg. Sp. Mr. Darryl Nicholson - Title I Ms. Ann-Marie Bruchey - Title I Ms. Michelle Hinkley - .5 Title 1/.5 GT Mr. Tom Dewees - .5 Math Interv. Vacancy - G/T Ms. Jessica Kelly - Math Specialist
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Special Education Ms. Tracy Graham - Tchr (ITL) Ms. Kim Morales - Tchr Ms. Nicole Doetsch - Tchr Ms. Jennifer Fenzel - Tchr Mr. Andrew Diltz - Tchr Ms. Vicki Johnson - Tchr Ms. Kristin Townsend - Speech Path. Mr. Cimarron Ludwig - .2 Speech Path. Ms. Kim Tippie - OT Ms. Sapna Pillai - Para Ms. Annie Plummer - Para Ms. Katie Harper - Para Mr. Justin Phillips - Para Ms. Donna Bryan - Para Mr. Clayton Cochran - Para Ms. Sonja Crosland - Para Mr. Randal Holloway - Stu. Assistant Ms. Shawnita Cureton - Stu. Assistant Ms. Alicia El - TE Mr. Alex Levine - TE Vacancy - TE
Staff Support Ms. Kellie Frey - Reading Support Tchr Ms. Kendra Johnson - Math Support Tchr |
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Cafeteria/Custodial Ms. Jean Witt - Cafeteria Ms. Amy Dell - Cafeteria Ms. Madeira McCory - Day Chief Mr. Darryl Thompson - Night Chief Ms. Beatrice Boateng - Night Custodian |
Front Office
Ms. Danielle Shanks - Principal Mr. Jason Morton-Ortega - Assistant Principal Ms. Gay Cornwell - Administrative Secretary Ms. Debra Eleam - Teachers' Secretary Ms. JoMika Tatum - .5 Teachers' Secretary |