THE HALETHORPE ELEMENTARY



THE HALETHORPE ELEMENTARY

|A publication of the Baltimore County Public School District |

|4300 Maple Avenue ( Halethorpe, Maryland 21227 ( (410) 887-1406 – phone ( (410) 887-7407 – fax |

|Jill A. Carter, Principal Russell Pratt, Jr., Assistant Principal |

April, 2013

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break! It’s great to be back and into the swing of things for the fourth quarter. Report cards will be distributed on April 25th. As always, teachers are available for conferences. We look forward to our continued working relationship with our families so that we can end this year on a high note!

Be sure to keep reading the Monday Messages. The fourth quarter is packed with activities and we do not want you to miss out. Following me on Twitter is another way to keep up with events and activities taking place in our school. You may follow me at this Twitter address - @JillACarter1. Also, check the County’s website at to keep up with all of the exciting events taking place throughout the area.

I had the pleasure of substituting in the fifth grade some weeks ago. While I was teaching, we had a creative writing contest. The children had to write about a day that aliens invaded Halethorpe. I promised to include the most creative story in the next Beeline. Attached, please enjoy the original composition by Jacob Slabaugh! Congratulations, Jacob!

Thank you so much for supporting our candy sale! As a result of your efforts, we were able to raise over $5,000 for our boys and girls! Desiree Groomes was the top seller and Jaynie Simpkins won the grand prize. Thanks once again for making the sale a big success.

As you know, cell phones are everywhere. County policy allows children to have cell phones but they are to be turned off and secured in book bags during the day. There may come a time when a teacher may ask the children to use their phones for instructional purposes. Until such an event, please know that cell phone use during the school day is not allowed. If you receive a text from your child during the day, remind your child that phones are not to be used during instructional time. Please know that in any urgent or emergency situation, we will ensure that communication with parents takes place. Thank you so much for your support with this matter.

Have a wonderful month and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Jill A. Carter

Principal

C A L E N D A R

Need to quickly find the date of the next school closing, activity or event? Your Baltimore County Public School Information Calendar can be found in your child’s agenda book and a “Dates to Remember” section can be found each week in the “Monday Message” which is distributed by your child’s teacher.

April 18 Science Fair – 5:30-6:30 p.m.

April 22 Market Day – Paper orders due to school

April 25 Market Day – INTERNET orders must be submitted by 11:00 p.m.

April 26 Student of the Month Assemblies – 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

April 30 Lifetouch Spring Pictures – Individual and Class photos

May 1 Market Day Pick-Up – 5:00-6:00 p.m.

May 1 Citizens Advisory Committee for Gifted and Talented Education –

Topic: Meeting with Dr. Dance, our new Superintendent

7:00 p.m., ESS Room 114, 6901 N. Charles Street, Towson

May 4 PTA “Spring Splash” – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

May 7 Ident-A-Kid Pictures

SAFETY PLAN REMINDER

We continue to have fire drills, severe weather drills, and lockdown drills to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Please remember, in the event of an emergency, it is essential that we have correct emergency information for all students. If you have recently moved or have a new home phone or cell phone number, please submit this information to Mrs. Batchellor or Mrs. Simmonds in our school office.

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Student of the Month

Grade 5

Ms. Brown Brogan Hurd

Ms. Turner Mary Ling

Ms. Tyler En Sian Muan

Grade 4

Ms. Atherholt Bishop Turnquist

Ms. Flynn Danish Mustafa

Mrs. Shaw Abigail Spangenberg

Mrs. Brennan Camron Henson

Grade 3

Ms.Cotham Oliver Alavez Gonzalez

Ms. Keevins Jordan Karn

Mr. Lyles Kaylee DelosSantos

Grade 2

Mrs. Myers Christopher Johnson/Jordan Mitchell Ms. DeVita Talha Khan/Colleen Simpkins

Mrs. Buckingham Taylor Edge/Aidan Johnson

Ms. Cotham I’yanna Nelson

Grade 1

Mrs. Bruck Adam Clontz/Temesgen Tadesse/Eyob Tefera

Mrs. Skirven Ruth Cuai Mrs. Kessler Joseph Dal

Mr. Stearns Macie Call

Kindergarten

Mrs. Miskimon London Durham/Biak Thang Mrs. Gemmell Haris Mustafa/Jae White Ms. Catterton Jada Adams/Suan Mang Sian

Prekindergarten & Preschool

Mrs. Lakata-a.m. Vishwa Patel Mrs. Lakata-p.m. Cole Shreve

Ms. O’Neill-a.m. Evan Steele

Ms. O’Neill-p.m. Timothy Marsiglia

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

One of my responsibilities as the school counselor is to heighten the children’s awareness of career and work opportunities. Children need time to think and “dream” about the future or “what I want to be when I grow up.” Children also need to see a connection between what they are doing now in school and the world of work. One of the ways to do this is to have a Career Day where children can have an opportunity to meet people in a variety of careers and jobs. We will have a Career Day at Halethorpe on Friday morning, May 17, 2013. We are searching for people who have jobs or special skills to share with the children. We would like to have as much diversity and variety as possible. If you would be willing to volunteer a few hours of your time, or if you know someone who might be interested in participating on Career Day, please contact me. If you participate on Career Day, you will be talking with students in their classrooms, and it would be helpful if you could bring some “tools of your trade” or anything that you use in your work to show the children about your job. The hours of Career Day are 9:30-11:30 am. You may also call or email me (rvernier2@) at school if you have any questions about the event.

--Mrs. Vernier, School Counselor

APPLICATION FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Five years ago, Baltimore County Public Schools adopted a new policy in order to ensure the safety of our children. All volunteers must complete a new Application for Volunteer Services each year. The school will do a background check in order for volunteers to be in the classroom, in the building, or to chaperone a field trip. Please make sure you send in a completed form for yourself, your spouse, a grandparent, etc. so that all can continue to volunteer.

Every volunteer and chaperone must have completed a new application and be cleared for volunteering. Applications are available NOW! Please do not wait to return your application to the school.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING WORKSHOP

All persons wishing to volunteer in the classroom, in the building, or to chaperone a field trip MUST attend a Volunteer Training Workshop. The training video is available to view in the school office.

PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF YOUR CHILD’S FIELD TRIP TO REQUEST TRAINING.

TRAINING MUST BE COMPLETED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE TRIP.

HEALTH TIPS FROM THE HEALTH ROOM

Spring Has Sprung … A Season of Allergies

Maryland’s spring time allergy season is fast approaching. Are you ready? Did you know?

• Tree pollens are released early in the spring, sometimes as early as March.

• Grass pollens begin to increase in late spring and early summer.

• Weed pollens are released in late summer and early fall.

• Allergy symptoms appear as the pollen(s) to which a person is sensitive increase – one person’s bad time may be another person’s good time.

• Outdoor mold spores appear after a spring thaw but don’t reach their peak until summer or early fall.

• Many people are allergic to more than one thing. Many children are allergic to molds and pollens.

• Signs of an allergy include chronic cold symptoms, especially when these cold symptoms come back at the same time each year and last more than a week or two.

• Cough is often a sign of asthma in children.

• People with allergies do best when they work with their health care provider to anticipate the bad times and take simple steps to minimize exposure to their allergens.

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts for allergy season:

DO:

← Keep windows closed at night to prevent pollens or molds from drifting into your home. If needed, use air conditioning to cool the air.

← Minimize early morning outside activity (between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.)

← Stay indoors when the pollen count is high and on windy days when pollen and dust are blown about.

← Shower before bedtime to remove pollens.

← Take medications prescribed by your doctor regularly.

← After being outdoors, wash hands, change clothes, and wash hair to remove pollens.

← Brush pets when they come inside to remove pollen.

← Remain indoors when grass is cut and avoid playing in fields of tall grass if you are allergic to grass.

DON’T:

← Wait until your symptoms are severe to talk to your doctor. If you know you have springtime allergies, contact your doctor today.

← Take more medication than recommended.

← Hang sheets or clothing out to dry. Pollens and molds may collect in them.

← Don’t grow too many, or overwater, indoor plants if you are allergic to mold.

--Mrs. Wells, R.N., School Nurse

A NOTE FROM INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

The next practice calendar is a BLUE April calendar so please help your student to fill it in EACH day with at LEAST 10 minutes of home practice.

Arbutus Side by Side Concert: The Side by Side Concert with Arbutus Middle School will take place on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. with the following rehearsal schedule:

Band Rehearsal: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 – 4 - 5 p.m. in the Arbutus Middle School GYM

Orchestra (Strings) Rehearsal: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 – 4 - 5 p.m. in the Arbutus Middle School Cafeteria

We are working on transportation if that is an issue. Arbutus Middle has asked that if you can pick your child up at 5:00 and COME BACK at 7:00 for the concert. If you cannot do this, Ms. Trumpler will be at Arbutus Middle School the entire time. Please EMAIL or CALL me ASAP to let me know and we can work something out! (ktrumpler@ or 410-887-1406)

Band, Chorus, Orchestra and Drama Club Concert: This will be Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at 7 p.m. All 5th grade students are expected to attend and wear black bottoms and white tops.

We will continue with lessons until June with a final performance at the 5th grade graduation. . .date pending.

Thank you again for all of your support and encouragement for your students in music!

-- Ms. Trumpler, Instrumental Music

REQUEST FOR SPECIAL TRANSFER

We wish to inform Halethorpe Elementary parents/guardians and members of the community who would be interested in the Baltimore County Public Schools Application for Special Transfer Form. The Application for Special Transfer must be completed and submitted to the requested school between April 1, 2013 and June 1, 2013, for the 2013-2014 school year. Parents interested in the transfer process must stop by the school office to pick up a form. They are NOT sent to parents.

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EARLY KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Our Kindergarten Round-up Registration will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2013, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the 2013-2014 school year. Under Maryland law, children may be registered for the Kindergarten program

if their birthdates are in the range of: September 2, 2007 to September 1, 2008.

Please Note: Kindergarten is mandatory in the State of Maryland. Please call the school office to request a registration packet.

NEW EARLY CHILDHOOD 3’S PROGRAM

In the 2013-2014 school year, Halethorpe Elementary will have a new Early Childhood 3’s (3 year old) program. There will only be 5 children accepted into this program. Baltimore County Public School guidelines only allow us to accept up to 5 children for this program

The screening will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. Children may enter the Early Childhood 3’s program if their birthdates are in the range of: September 2, 2009 to September 1, 2010.

Approximately 2 weeks in advance of the screening, an informational packet will be sent to parents who have called the school to request appointments for screening. Please call the school office to have your child’s name placed on the screening list. Appointment times will fill quickly!

POP TABS

We collect pop tabs from aluminum beverage cans to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. For the past seven years, we have been able to send the Ronald McDonald House a check in the amount of $50.

Our pop tabs redemptions for this school year already exceeds $50! The current total is $76.00!

Please continue to deposit them in the collection bin in the school lobby.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION and CAMPBELL’S LABELS – ALL FOR EDUCATION!

April showers bring May flowers with Box Tops for Education! Please have fun completing the box tops on this sheet! We will be using this sheet for the months of April and May. If you need another sheet, please let us know! Thank you for your continued support.

--Mrs. Simmonds, Coordinator

GIANT'S A+ BONUS BUCKS

The program has ended. Our current total is $304.57 with only 16 bonus cards registered. Thank you for your support!

“BEE” INFORMED

GOOD SEARCH: Over 13 million people are searching and shopping through Good Search to support more than 100,000 schools, organizations and charities. Go to to register using our school as your designated school. Each time

you use Good Search as your search engine, Halethorpe will receive $.01 for each search.

THANKS A “BUZZILLION”

. . . for your generous contribution to our school during the 2012-2013 school year. Our thanks go out to our contributors:

• Mr. Harry McCrory for the $75 donation toward the Math 24 Challenge.

• Mrs. Heather Brown-Simons of Hubbard Funeral Home, Inc. for the 21 bookbags filled with supplies.

• Mrs. Jennifer Culver for her donation of supplies.

• Rotaract (Rotary Club of Howard Co.) for their donation of school supplies.

BEE-A-WINNER

Congratulations to Michael Schwinn, and his parent, for helping him be our March winner in the “BEE” A Winner drawing. We thank the 10 students and parents who returned their tear-off to school. See the tear-off in this issue for your chance to be April’s “BEE” A WINNER.

Attachments to this newsletter:

1. April, 2013, Learning Calendar

2. Creative Writing Contest: Jacob Slabaugh

3. Our Business Advertisers

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“BEE” A WINNER!

Read the Beeline with your child, BEE Informed and BEE a Winner by returning this tear-off on or before April 30th. One lucky student will receive a coupon to receive 3 ice cream treats from our cafeteria!

Student Name: __________________________________________ Teacher: __________________________

Parent’s Signature **: __________________________________________________________________________

**Not valid without parent signature.

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