Folger families,

As we foray into November, it is a wonderful time to show gratefulness and thankfulness! I am tremendously grateful for the partnership between our school community and our staff! Every day we see many examples of this happening across our school, and the difference it makes is truly incredible! The staff works tremendously hard to support students and volunteers contribute daily to assist in a variety of ways. Thank you for all that you do!

I would like to highlight the school's efforts to support the Harvest for the Hungry initiative. This was such a success once again thanks to the community’s generosity. This program provides our kids with such a valuable life lesson! Kudos to all who contributed!

Speaking of partnership, parent teacher conferences are fast approaching. Teachers will be communicating directly with families to ensure all are afforded an opportunity for a conference. Teachers aim to provide feedback for all students, encompassing academic, attendance, and social emotional readiness levels. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and responsiveness to make this vital, annual process possible and productive for all.

Please read this newsletter for details of the many upcoming events and school items. This time of year seems to go even faster than usual as we approach the holiday season. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions! Grateful for all that you do!

Sincerely,

Jason Otte, Principal

Thank you for supporting the Folger HOOTing program during the first marking period.  We are preparing to recognize our HOOTing “Hall of Famers” during lunches on Thursday, November 7th.  These students have been nominated by Folger staff for their amazing contributions to their class and the school as a whole, as well as their attention to HOOTing expectations, particularly with the 1st quarter focus on “Honor”.

Folger staff continue to use HOOT Bucks to recognize students who are meeting HOOTing expectations.  Student “bank accounts” have been expanding rapidly!  Has your student brought home a HOOTing Attitude Award this year?  This is another Folger method for recognizing and encouraging students who are excelling at our schoolwide expectations.  We encourage you to continue the discussion at home and to congratulate and thank your student when they bring an Attitude Award home. Be sure to let them know what a difference they make to creating the school community we all want!

As we begin the 2nd marking period, our focus will be “Other People Matter.”  Our HOOT promise calls attention to this with the words, “I am kind and respectful.”  Please encourage students to share what this expectation means to them and help them to see the many ways they can put these ideas into practice, be it in the classroom, cafeteria, playground, bus, or home!  When students have an “Other People Matter” mindset, they are:

• Respecting others’ thoughts, ideas, and personal space

• Speaking kindly, respecting adults, and practicing allergy awareness (in the cafeteria)

• Sharing equipment and materials

• Being respectful of other grade levels and of student learning

• Respecting the privacy of others

• Showing respect for the bus driver and other students

A big thank you to all of our Folger Families for the support we have received during the first marking period.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Folger HOOT team (PBIS) if you have any questions about HOOTing and the expectations for Folger students.S PBS Committee 2024 - 25

Thank you to everyone who attended the virtual nights about CKLA and DIBELS. It is so meaningful to have engaged families that want to know about what students are doing at school!

If you're still looking for things you can do at home to further your student's literacy, encourage your student to break out their CKLA workbooks and complete the unused pages. The workbooks were designed to intentionally provide additional practice pages that will not be completed in class. 

The District is offering several CKLA Family Engagement nights this month to provide more information about the new literacy curriculum. Use the QR code below to register to attend one of the events which are being offered Nov. 7, 13, 19 - some in person at different locations and one virtual option. Fliers are included in this newsletter as well.

Most importantly, reading a book to, with, or by your child every day for at least 20 minutes makes the biggest impact! Make "D.E.A.R." time part of your family time!

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to more time collaborating on literacy initiatives.

Check out this month's AACPS Family Link! There's much happening this month, including the upcoming Family Involvement Conference.