Principal's Pen

The routine of the school year is well underway and like the Orioles, our students and staff are knocking it out of the park! I am so proud of the effort everyone is putting forth! Dr. Bedell recently visited Folger and he was incredibly impressed by all he observed! Day in and day out, great things are happening at our school from instruction to learning to friendships and HOOT-ing behaviors. Thank you for reinforcing the basics with your students:

Try your best - Effort is what is within our control; don't worry about the grade or result, focus on trying your best, being prepared, and paying attention.

Be kind - We have a big school community with many students, contribute to making it a positive place to be. Let's make this a place where the Golden Rule is the rule of the day: treat others the way you want to be treated.

Be prepared - Pack your backpack and think of the schedule of the day ("Do I need my media book or sneakers for PE?"); share take home folder items between home & school to stay on top of materials and communications. And of course, being prepared and ready helps to get to school on time and get the most out of the day.

Practice HOOT-ing Behaviors - The basics of these practices matter to make the most of the school day for each and every student! Thank you for reinforcing honesty, owning it, taking action, and regard for others. (See "Be Kind" above and HOOTing Happenings below 😊)

Thank you for your ongoing support of our students, staff, and school community. Thank you to the PTO for the incredible genorosity, with time, talent, and funding to contribute to making this the best possible learning environment it can be. Speaking of gratitude, October 2 is National Custodial Day. Please join me in acknowledging our wonderful and hard-working custodial team of Chief Keemer (Ms. Phyllis), Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Hernandez, and Mr. Trovinger. Their work is integral to our school - simply put, we couldn't do it without them!

I hope to see many of you at the October 16 PTO General Meeting. It will be virtual via google meet at 6pm. (The link will be shared prior to the meeting.) It's a wonderful opportunity to share information and highlight the partnership of school and home. In addition to some general updates that I will provide on behalf of the school team, PTO will present their budget, plans, and programs for the year. Mrs. Meredith, our extraordinary Literacy Teacher, will kick off the meeting with a brief presentation on CKLA, the new AACPS literacy curriculum. Mark your calendar! The link is forthcoming. See you then! And again, thank you for your partnership!

Mr. Jason Otte, Principal

Attendance Matters

Last year Mr. Otte addressed the need for good attendance. To make sure we are well positioned for this year, it's a great time for a reminder!

The state of Maryland codes a student chronically absent if they miss 18 days or more in a school year, regardless of the absences being excused or unexcused, and the school is penalized on its state report card. However, the most important point is the impact chronic absenteeism has on the student’s academic, social, and emotional growth. Please know we understand that students get sick, and that sick students should stay at home. There are times, however, when family moments take precedent. We do appreciate the school community’s help in working toward keeping days missed at 17 or fewer, if at all possible. As always, thank you for your support of our school!

Health Room Reminders

Take a look here for further guidance about how to know when to keep your child home from school because of illness. (Follow the link and see the chart midway down the page.)

Please remember that students are not allowed to carry, bring to school, or take any medications except when properly administered through the Health Room. All medications must be brought directly to Health Room staff by a parent/guardian with a Request to Administer Medication form signed by a doctor. This includes over the counter medications such as Tums, Tylenol, cough drops.

A reminder that students need to visit the health room where illness, injury, and other such needs can be properly assessed. Students are not to reach out directly to parents/guardians to indicate they are not feeling well and want to go home. Please encourage your students to trust in and follow the process. We want what's best for our students and their safety and well-being are our top priorities!

It is also recommended that every student keep a change of clothes in their locker. This makes any accident easy to address quickly - be it a bathroom, cafeteria spill, or recess slip in the mud. Be mindful of the season and change the back-up clothing accordingly.

General Reminders

DISMISSAL CHANGES must be received in writing BEFORE 2pm. Please send a note with your student OR send an email to the classrooms teacher AND folgermckinseyes@aacps.org

Please send a note with your student to alert us to an EARLY DISMISSAL OR send an email to the classroom teacher AND Mrs. Hamlett.

FULL DAY ABSENCES please submit via the Parent Portal. No phone calls or emails needed.

Volunteer Reminders

Recess Volunteers - We are grateful for the responsiveness and help provided by recess volunteers! Extra sets of eyes and support to monitor the playground and all the students is so helpful and much appreciated. Please note that this role is weather dependent. The goal is to have outdoor recess whenever possible; but the weather conditions are, of course, beyond our control. The recent gray skies and varying conditions have caused confusion that we would like to try to proactively address.

Rain/weather/temperatures may frequently interfere with outdoor recess. When this happens, recess volunteers will not be needed. Given how much time there is between each grade's recess, one grade may get outside on the same day another grade does not. As such, each grade makes a "recess-time" decision as to whether the conditions allow for outdoor recess. It can vary from one grade to the next! Thank you for doing the same when you are scheduled to volunteer. Since teachers are instructing and will not see emails inquiring about recess status in a timely manner for volunteers, volunteers are to exercise their own best judgement to determine if they should report for recess duty. Please don't worry about calling or emailing. If it works for you to help on your scheduled day, wonderful and THANK YOU! If the weather doesn't cooperate, feel free to stay home and we hope you are able to enjoy the gift of time. If the grade ends up being able to go outside, that is perfectly ok. We will just celebrate that the students got the benefit of playing outside! It will happen.

Again, we appreciate the extra support recess volunteers provide but if no volunteers are available, the good news is that outdoor recess can proceed for our students if the weather allows. We are grateful your support and understanding!!!

Recess & Lunch Volunteers MUST complete the AACPS fingerprint process. Contact Mrs. Ignacio with questions or visit this AACPS info page.

ALL volunteers should review Volunteer Orientation information (which is also available via PTO's Parent Square platform) and MUST complete the AACPS Sexual Harassment Child Abuse Training Video and then submit a completed video verification form to Mrs. Ignacio in the main office.

As always, please be prepared with your license any time visiting the building.

Thank you for all you do to make our school community the best it can be!

Car Loop Safety Procedures

➤ The car loop is for student drop-off or pick-up only.

➤ Students must exit on the passenger/sidewalk side. Students are not to walk in the car loop.

➤ Drivers must stay in the vehicle. Staff will be available to assist, if needed.

➤ Pull all the way forward in the car loop. Do not stop by the front door. This will minimize the traffic line in the parking lot.

➤ Do not pass vehicles in the car loop. Wait your turn and proceed accordingly.

➤ Do not park in the car loop. If you need to assist your child to enter/leave the building or simply want to say good-bye, you MUST park your vehicle in a regular parking space.

➤ Reduce your speed and exercise extreme caution!

➤ Please do not use your cell phone while driving in the car loop. Be alert for our students.

➤ Please do not attempt to drive away as you turn back to wave to your child. We want to keep everyone safe.

➤ For dismissal/afternoon pick-up, display your name tag in the windshield. Let staff know if you need a car visor. This is incredibly helpful for our school team and makes the process more efficient for everyone!

➤ Doors open for students at 7:40am (and close at 7:55am so that students are at their desks for the start of the instructional day at 8am). Dismissal begins at 2:25pm. No need to arrive prior to that.

➤ We are a Maryland & National Green School - Please, no idling.

➤ Also, the bus loop (Sunset Drive entrance) is reserved for buses only during morning arrival (7:30am - 8:15am) and afternoon dismissal (2-3pm). Please do not enter the bus loop during these times. This includes cars and golf carts.

Please understand that this is for everyone's safety!

HOOT-ing Happenings

It has been an incredible first month of school filled with students who know how to HOOT. In case you forget, when students HOOT, this means they:

H – Show HONOR for their learning and school rules;

O – Have an OTHER PEOPLE MATTER mindset, which is kind and respectful;

O – Show responsibility when they OWN IT through their actions, words, & behaviors

T – TAKE ACTION to be the best student and friend they can be.

Thank you for helping to explain, encourage, and model these characteristics and behaviors.

The HOOTing expectation of the first marking period is Honor. Please encourage students to share what this word means to them. Students who HOOT make sure they honor themselves, their learning, their classmates, and their school community. Treating others with respect, doing more than what's expected, having a good attitude, following the rules, respecting school property and belongings, cleaning up and putting things away, being honest, letting someone know you see how valuable they really are, and saying, "please", "thank you", and "I'm sorry", are some specific examples of how our students can show honor.

We will continue to recognize students who excel at displaying this expectation with our HOOTing Hall of Fame at the end of the first marking period.

More than likely you have heard about HOOT Loot and students earning HOOT Bucks! There is a lot of excitement around this program! This year Folger students can earn HOOT bucks from staff members when they are “HOOTing” at school. HOOT Bucks can be exchanged in classrooms for awesome school experiences like bring a stuffed animal to school, special chairs, or even lunch bunches with staff members. Please ask your student about how many HOOT bucks they have and what they have “cashed” them in for! Positive reinforcement is what it's all about.

The Folger team also uses HOOTing Attitude Awards daily to recognize students as well. Every student has the opportunity to be recognized for their positive contributions to our school! A big thank you to the Folger HOOTing/PBIS staff team that works very hard to bring positivity to our school!

Kindergarten – Ms. Collins
1st Grade – Mrs. Haughton
2nd Grade – Mrs. Geddings & Mrs. MacQuilliam
3rd Grade – Mrs. Whiteley
4th Grade – Mrs. Radi (team coach)
5th Grade – Mrs. Kogut
Cultural Arts – Mrs. Lawrie
Special Ed. – Mrs. Cain
Student Services – Mr. Kahn (team lead)

Every day begins with the HOOT Promise as part of morning announcements, reinforcing the basics and the priority of these expectations as to how we should treat one another. This sets the stage for what we hope is a positive, welcoming learning environment for everyone!

Calendar Cues

October - Harvest for the Hungry Campaign

Thursday, Oct. 3 - Schools Closed (Rosh Hashanah)

Oct. 14 - 18 - Folger Harvest for the Hungry Spirit Week

Tuesday, Oct. 15 - 2 hour early dismissal & Unity Day

Wednesday, Oct. 16 - 6pm - PTO General Membership meeting via google meet (link coming soon) - includes brief presentation about CKLA (literacy curriculum) by Mrs. Meredith, Literacy Teacher.

Thursday, Oct. 17 - Fall Picture Day

Friday, Oct. 25 - PTO Family Movie Night

Monday, Oct. 28 - 2 hour early dismissal day (end of marking period)

Tuesday, Oct. 29 - 2 hour early dismissal day (end of marking period)

Thursday, Oct. 31 - Halloween Parade 8:30am (weather permitting) and classroom parties (times TBD)

Looking Ahead...

Friday, November 1 - No School for Students (elementary & middle school only)

Monday, November 4 - Friday, November 22 - CogAT Assessment window grades 2 & 5 only (stay tuned for more info at those grade levels)

Tuesday, November 5 - Schools closed (Election Day)

Friday, November 15 - HOOTenanny

Monday & Tuesday, November 25 & 26 - Schools closed for students (Parent/Teacher conferences)

Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday, Nov. 27 - 29 - Schools closed (Thanksgiving holiday)

Picture Day

Thursday, October 17 is picture day! Order forms will soon be sent home with students, for those interested in purchasing photo packages. Purchases can also be made online here via Lifetouch. Please use the school Picture Day ID: EVTKDT4Q2 to access online purchase platform.

All students will be photographed on fall picture day, regardless of whether a purchase is made. These photos will be used for the yearbook.

A make-up day is already scheduled for Tuesday, December 3 for any student who is absent on fall picture day.

As luck would have it, picture day will take place during Harvest for the Hungry Spirit Week and Thursday, October 17 is "dress to impress day" - how fitting for picture day!

Harvest for the Hungry

The month of October is dedicated to the AACPS Harvest for the Hungry campaign. Food insecurity is a reality for 1 in 8 families in Anne Arundel County. The Folger community has historically responded in such a generous way to help with this need, ranking at the top of all schools and garnering awards for many consecutive years. Thank you for considering such support again this year! Monetary donations will be accepted via this link all month long. Non-perishable food donations will also be accepted during Folger spirit week Oct. 14 - 18. (Please, no glass and no expired items.) Thank you for your kindness!

H4H Folger Spirit Week

Folger Harvest for the Hungry Spirit Week Oct 14 - 18 2024

Get in the spirit of the Harvest for the Hungry Kids Helping Kids Campaign during Spirit Week! Show your spirit by dressing in the daily theme. You can also get into the fun of spirit week by donating any of the much-needed non-perishable food items during this week. Every bit makes a difference! Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!

AACPS October Family Link

Take a few moments to read AACPS October edition of Family Link which includes about events, programs, and resources throughout the area and District.

Screenagers - Elementary Edition Free Community Event