October was busy month! We had so many engaging afterschool activities and hope that you enjoyed one or all! We learned more about our new literacy curriculum, CKLA, during our Blast off with CKLA night, we practiced wellness at a Saturday Health Fair, we met for Coffee and Conversations in the Media Center, we enjoyed Trunk or Treat at OMMS and our Halloween Parade here at GBPE! November even started with a celebrating our excellent attendance winners as GBPE took over the Naval Academy Soccer Game in Annapolis on a Friday night and then watched Inside Out that following Monday Night! Whew...I'm tired just thinking about all the fun! Continuing to build our community is important to all of us. Please be sure to mark your calendar and participate in upcoming school events! Our students (and staff too) all benefit from being together beyond academics! Hope to see MANY families join!

The month of November helps us to remember to give thanks for all the good we have in our lives! We have so many great things happening in our school every day. American Education Week is in November too...and we've scheduled time for parents to visit classrooms. A preregistration form will be sent home soon!

GBPE teachers and students will be sharing their thanks throughout November during Community Circle.  We would love to hear from our families as well.  Please take a minute to express your gratitude to our amazing school and staff via Thankful Grams. Your words of appreciation will be shared in our weekly updates and I am certain will make a positive impact to our culture and our Ohana!  I am certainly THANKFUL for all of you!

Just like November reminds us of thankfulness, December brings us Peace and Joy! As we close the 2024 year this December, we will do it with spirited fun and multicultural learning! Holidays are celebrated in many different ways and our students will learn just how via videos, announcements, games, and stories. Investigating other cultures helps us appreciate and deepen our understanding and ability to connect! Share your family traditions with your children so they can share with their classmates! As we do every year, we'll have a fun Spirit Week too! And, be sure to join our PTO at Winter Wonderland on December 12 to see what we've learned and celebrate together.

Thanks for a great start to the school year!

In Kindness,

Mrs. McFarland

Principal

PowerSchool Parent Portal is an important feature to see your child's current attendance and grades. Report cards will not be printed so please be sure you have access. PowerSchool Parent Portal also includes functionality to email updates. To update your notifications in your account, please follow the instructions below.

1. Using a web browser, log into the Parent Portal. This process cannot be done through the mobile app. PowerSchool Parent Portal Link: https://www.aacps.org/page/studentparent-portal

2. In the left margin under Navigation, click on Email Notification.

3. Choose the reports that you would like to receive by email.

4. Choose the frequency you would like to receive these reports (daily, weekly, every 2 weeks, or monthly).

5. You can apply this for all students on your Parent Portal account or just one.

6. Click Submit.

Please note this process could take up to two weeks to finalize before emails begin coming from PowerSchool Parent Portal.

School will be closed on November 25th and 26th for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Conferences can be held in person or virtually. This is a great time to gain insight about your child's progress, share any concerns, and strengthen the home/school connection.

Teachers have shared information regarding signing up for a meeting time. If you have not scheduled a conference yet and are interested in doing so, please contact your child's teacher. We look forward to meeting with you soon!

Rooms makes it easy for teachers and staff to communicate with parents and students. It's fully integrated into our district app so parents and guardians have one app for everything AACPS.

Teachers/Staff will publish classes, post announcements and send messages for parents/guardians and students.

If you have specific feedback on how to IMPROVE the Rooms platform and make communication and behavior points more efficient and easier to use, PLEASE make suggestions via this  Form. The company (Apptegy) is seeking feedback and we have the ability to make changes that families want!

Previously, a paper application was sent home on the first day of school to all students and online applications were accepted. The online process has proven to be faster and more accurate, is available in English and Spanish, and can be completed on a computer or smartphone.

Apply online any time during the school year after August 1, 2024.

Link to Apply for Free or Reduced-Priced Meals: https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/welcome

• All information is confidential

• Once the online application is submitted and validated, the eligibility status of your child(ren) will be sent home.

• Online meal benefit applications are fast, easy and determined within a few days.

To learn more, visit https://www.aacps.org/page/apply-for-free-or-reduced-price-meals.

Throughout the academic year, students will have the opportunity to earn Tiger Points for demonstrating positive behaviors and Caught with Character tickets for exemplifying our monthly focus skill. In November our focus skill is “Kindness,” which involves being willing to help others and celebrate their successes. In December, our focus skill is time-management. Teachers will monitor and record students’ Tiger Points and Caught with Character tickets in Rooms. Families can view their child's total behavior points by clicking on "Behavior" under the Feature list. If you you select "Activity Log," it will also display the behavior your child demonstrated (e.g. Attendance or Safe Actions).

Title I Information: https://www.aacps.org/o/glenburnieparkes/page/title-i-community-schools

Forms went home with every student to join our PTO! Our PTO helps pay for student assemblies, incentives and field trips! We cannot do it alone! Please contact your child's teacher or our PTO Board with any questions: glenburnieparkPTO@gmail.com

Sprit wear was delivered to all who ordered! It was sent home on November 6 with students.

The PTO thanks ALL families who donated to our Trunk or Treat! We had bags and bags of candy that was used for that event, and even some left over for our teachers to provide students during PBIS incentives and during testing! Our families are amazing! Congratulations to the classroom winners: Mrs. Rechtzigel and Mrs. Salama!

Look for information coming home soon about Winter Wonderland and how you can help! Donate time or donate items!