Guilford Elementary School
410-880-5930/Fax: 410-880-5935 www.hcpss.org/ges
Issue 9: December 19, 2014
Greetings Guilford Families,
Winter Break is fast approaching. Our students and staff are gearing up for this break and
the opportunities it brings for fun and festivities. Don't forget to include moments for
your child to read and time for your child to practice math facts using their DreamBox
account. Such practice can only be beneficial to them.
This week we had the pleasure of seeing students perform in the Winter Choral concert. As usual, it was a treat!
We thank you for your partnership and wish you a safe, enjoyable break.
Genée Varlack, Principal
Connie Stahler, Assistant Principal
Guilford’s
January is Reading Month and a great month to begin our reading incentive. This year’s
incentive will run from January through March. As students read for at least 20 minutes
each night they can record the title of what they have read on their Reading Log. They need
to record 20 nights of reading or 20 books to reach their goal. They will return their logs,
signed by a parent, to their teacher to earn a Pizza Hut certificate. Look for these logs in
Friday folders.
Be on the look out..... Yearbook Sales are starting early this year.
Be sure to look in your Paw Prints after the winter break regarding information
on buying your 2014-2015 yearbook!
Getting Ready for School Closings, Delays - When inclement weather or other events
result in school closings or delays, the HCPSS website, www.hcpss.org, is the first and most
complete source of information. Notifications are also made via email and text message
services, social media and more. Learn more
Title I News Thank you to the parents who came out for conferences.
We had a great turn out and
hope that you had a chance to review The Family-School Compact for Achievement with your child. If
you have any questions about the compact please contact your child’s teacher.
December can be an exciting and stressful time of year. Thinking about how to keep your children
academically engaged while taking a break from school is just one more thing to pile on your already full
plate. Now that you are familiar with the school, grade level expectations, and your child’s individual
goals (as stated in the Title I Compact and discussed at conferences), you know what skills to target at
home. Howard County School System has made things a little bit easier for you by developing their SMART pages. These pages,
available through the HCPSS website ((https://smart.wikispaces.hcpss.org/SMART+Pages), are a place to find math games and
activities for every grade level. Also, Guilford has purchased DreamBox Learning’s Math Program, an online, Intelligent Adaptive
Learning program that helps all students achieve better, faster math proficiency. Your child can access DreamBox Learning from any
computer, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using think link: https://play.dreambox.com/login/tzck/guilfordes. As far as reading over the
Winter Break, visit your local library to find books at every reading level. Ask the librarian to help you find a “just right” book.
Mission Statement: Guilford Elementary will ensure excellence in teaching and learning so that each student will participate
responsibly in our diverse and changing world.
The Glenelg United Methodist Church (GUMC) Food Pantry is open
every third Saturday of the month (this month it’s December 20th) 9-11am to serve
those in need of grocery assistance. GUMC is located at 13900 Burntwoods Road,
Glenelg. Call 410-489-7260 or email glenlgumcpantry@gmail.com. GUMC is
accepting cash donations. Contact by phone or email.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December
December 24th – January 4th - WINTER BREAK, SCHOOLS CLOSED
January
5 School Re-Opens for Students
9 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY, Backwards Day
13 Chat and Chew, 6:00-7:00 pm
PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm
19 SCHOOL AND OFFICES CLOSED, Martin Luther King Jr Day
21 No Pre-K classes, Early Dismissal for High Schools ONLY
22 EARLY DISMISSAL, 12:50 PM (No Pre-K classes)
Jump For Heart for Kindergarten and 1st Grade, 12:55 – 3:00 pm
23 EARLY DISMISSAL, 12:50 PM (No Pre-K classes)
End of Marking Period, Quarter 2
Jump For Heart for Grades 2nd – 5th, 12:55 – 3:00 pm
SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY, Tie Day
28 Student Banking Day, 9:25 am
MAP Assessment Window
12/15/14 – 1/30/15
COMMUNITY EVENTS
For a listing of upcoming Community Events access GES Paw Prints online at ges.hcpss.org .
PAWPRINT SUBMISSIONS
are due (in writing) in the office to Teresa Johnson every Wednesday by 12:00p.m. Submissions can be emailed to
teresa_johnson@hcpss.org
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Mission Statement: Guilford Elementary will ensure excellence in teaching and learning so that each student will
participate responsibly in our diverse and changing world.
Community Events
The following events are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Howard County Public School System.
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code is excited to bring our FREE 7-week Summer Immersion Program to Washington, DC. In the program, rising juniors
and seniors are embedded inside a technology company daily. To learn more, visit http://girlswhocode.com/programs/ HS
Columbia Association
CA's Youth and Teen Center (YTC) is collecting clothes for community members in need. Items for the entire family are needed,
clothes, shoes, coats, etc., YTC is also seeking student and parent volunteers for this project. Folks interested should contact Safire
Windley at 410-992-3726. ES, MS, HS
Young Mens Service League (YMSL)
Young Men’s Service League is a non-profit organization that initiates and encourages young men and their mothers to pursue
philanthropic involvement in their community and provides an opportunity to enhance mother/son relationships. A new chapter is
starting in Howard County for young men grades 8-12 and their mothers. Please contact wendy@duffield.us to become involved.
Learn more about YMSL at www.ymslnational.org MS, HS
Harper’s Choice Community Association
Presents Pizza with Santa. Sat., Dec. 20, at 11a.m. at Kahler Hall. This holiday tradition is especially for Harper's Choice residents.
Space is limited. Tickets are required. Tickets are available NOW at Kahler Hall. Guests will enjoy pizza, special holiday crafts,
and hearing Santa read Twas the Night Before Christmas. We encourage attendees to bring one non-perishable food item per ticket.
Donations will be given to the Howard County Food Bank. Please contact Susan at 410-730-0770 or events@harperschoice.org for
more information. ES
Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club
1st Annual Lighting of the Museum Christmas tree, Sat. Dec. 20, 5-7 p.m., Lighting of the exterior tree at 5:15 p.m. Howard County
Living Farms Heritage Museum, 12985 Frederick Road, west Friendship, Md. www.farmheritageorg ES, MS, HS
CrossLife Community Church
Christmas Season Sunday Brunch, Dec. 21, 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Rockburn Elementary School, 6145 Montgomery Rd., Elkridge, Md.,
410-960-6301 crosslifeonline.com ES, MS, HS
CrossLife Community Church
Christmas Eve Candle Light Service, Dec. 24, 6-7 p.m. Grace Episcopal Parish Hall, 6725 Montgomery Rd., Elkridge, MD, 410-9606301crosslifeonline.com ES, MS, HS
Rebuilding Together Howard County
Free Home Repairs Available, Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Howard County work to repair homes for low-income
homeowners and their families. All types of free repairs are provided to include plumbing, electrical, carpentry, new appliance
installation, painting and the list goes on. A simple application is all you need to apply. Call 410-381-3338 or go on line at
www.rebuildingtogetherhowardcounty.org to get your application. Since 1992, over 700 Howard County homes have been repaired
free of charge. The deadline for applying is Dec. 31.
ES, MS, HS
University of Maryland
Registration is now open for students, adults and volunteers for the FREE Annual Women in Engineering (WIE) DREAM
Conference Sat., Feb. 14, 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Adele H. Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park. All high school
students, grade 9-12. Parents, teachers and community members are invited to attend or volunteer, but MUST REGISTER. Each
student may be accompanied by one adult chaperone. We also encourage community college students with an interest in the A. James
Clark School of Engineering to join us. For more information and to REGISTER, please visit http://www.wie.umd.edu/k12/dreamconference HS
SPORTS
SuperSquads
Join Superquads Cheerleading today. Practices are once a week after school for 1.25 hours. Contact supersquadsinfo@verizon.net,
www.supersquads.org or 410-796-2244 to register online or by mail and start next practice.
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Mission Statement: Guilford Elementary will ensure excellence in teaching and learning so that each student will
participate responsibly in our diverse and changing world.
Soccerdome
Attention All Soccer Enthusiasts - It's Time for Winter Indoor Soccer - Register Your Youth Soccer Team Now with Maryland Sports
Services at Soccerdome. U7 through HS teams can choose from two sessions. See all the details at www.soccerdome.com or call Jody
Boyer at 443-668-6019 for assistance. MS, HS
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Mission Statement: Guilford Elementary will ensure excellence in teaching and learning so that each student will
participate responsibly in our diverse and changing world.