Dear Pasadena Elementary Families:

As we wrap up the first semester, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued partnership in your child’s education. It has been a wonderful few months of learning, growth, and achievement, and we are excited for all that the second half of the school year has in store.

Report Cards & Progress Reports
The end of the first semester means that report cards and if applicable, intervention, mClass, and IEP progress reports were finalized and shared. These documents provide valuable insight into your child's academic progress, strengths, and areas for growth. Please check your parent portal for access to your child's report card. If you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher or myself for further discussion.

Upcoming Events – Mark your calendar!
We have several exciting events coming up:

• Unity Day (two-hour early dismissal, too) – February 4
  Students and staff will participate in a required AACPS lesson on BELONGING that includes everyone comes together to stand up against bullying and hurtful words.

• 100th Day of School – February 11
  A great opportunity to celebrate 100 days of learning! Students are invited to join staff and dress to show they are WILD ABOUT LEARNING. Please adhere to AACPS dress code (no weapons, no full face coverings). Students must be able to navigate the school day independently and safely; sit in the classroom chairs or cafeteria bench; walk up stairs if applicable.

• Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA)* – Grade 5 only – March 3-7
  All grade 5 and 8 students in the county will participate in state required assessments. Please avoid scheduling appointments and vacations during this week if possible. *Grade 5 students in the specialty site Autism program will also participate in ALT MISA.

• International Night – March 13, 5:00-7:00pm
  Join us for a fun and educational evening as we celebrate student learning and the diversity in our school community. This is an open event, and all family members are invited. If you would like to share your family’s traditions or meal items, please call the office for more information.

• PTA Scholastic Book Fair -March 17-20
  We will kick off March with Literacy Spirit Week, focusing on Black Eyed Susan Award Nominees (flyer below). For the Scholastic Book Fair, students will be invited to preview and purchase books during Media class. To volunteer, let PTA know!

• VIP Day – April 11
  We will host our annual Very Important Person Day in which students can have up to two important adults participate in school activities. This event is intended to invite Grand-Friends or other important figures in your child’s life. Because of class size, parking, activities, and accessibility, there is a firm limit on two adults only. Siblings (infants to school age) are not permitted. VIPs must be pre-approved by school administration and sign in with our Raptor system. A sign up and schedule will be forthcoming.

School Initiatives for the Second Semester
Literacy: We will continue to focus on expanding vocabulary, background knowledge, and talking and writing about what we are learning. We have awesome units of study coming up in CKLA!

Math: We will continue to focus on critical and logical thinking so that students can model, reason, and problem solve with mathematics.

Green School: We are collecting artifacts and evidence to apply for Green School certification. This initiative began more than 15 years ago, and we wish to remain committed to our community to reduce, re-reuse, and recycle. Our application to renew Sustainability will be submitted in early March.

Wellness School of Distinction: We continue to collect artifacts for our fourth application. This prestigious honor includes our school efforts focused on health education; physical activity; health services; nutrition environment and services; counseling, psychological, and social services; social and emotional climate; physical environment; employee wellness; family engagement; and community involvement.

Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS): We will continue our efforts to support students and staff with wellness and social activities and recognize our students for behavior. This tiered framework support students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. If you have suggestions for the school’s PBIS team, please email pasadenaes@aacps.org.

Yearbook and Sentiment information is below.

The school is closed to visitors during the school day. Please schedule an appointment in advance of coming to the school.

Thank you for your support and involvement in our school community. Please reach out to me if you need assistance. We look forward to an amazing second semester.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Quirino, Principal

Nearly 11% of PES students are chronically absent, meaning they have missed two or more days of school each month, or at least twelve days since August 2024. Attendance is key to your child's academic success. It is important that students show up each and every day. Pasadena Elementary's strategic goal is to increase the number of students who are NOT chronically absent. With your partnership, we can make this happen! Below is the school's Chronic Attendance:

Dear Families,

Erin's Law: Maryland schools must implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. As the school counselor, I will be teaching personal safety lessons in all grade levels beginning February 18.

The lessons will focus on age-appropriate techniques to recognize child sexual abuse. Students will identify trusted adults, both inside and outside of the school, who they can go to for help. Parents will have an opportunity, if they so desire, to review the lesson materials. Lesson materials can be found here.

Please let me know if I can be of assistance,

Michele Noble, School Counselor

We are now working on a layout for Sentiments. You may either purchase a sentiment with or without a photo. Please fill out this order form or the QR code below. If you are paying with cash or check, please send it in an envelope with the student’s first and last name and SENTIMENT. All checks can be made out to Pasadena Elementary. You will also have the option to pay online via the OSP on the school's website. Don’t forget to also order the yearbook if purchasing a sentiment!

If you have any questions, please email PES-Yearbook@aacps.org or you may call 410-222-6573.

The deadline for turning in sentiments is March 28, 2025.

To order a yearbook, please scan the QR code in the flyer, or visit this website: https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/pasadenaelementary

AACPS screens students in accordance with the Ready to Read Act. All kindergarten - grade 3 students are screened three times per year. This aligns with the recommendations of the DIBELS 8th Edition screener.

At PES, we are currently in the middle of year testing window for DIBELS. All students in K-3 will be screened. Families will receive a report containing the screening results in March. Students who are identified as at-risk according to the screener will participate in one of the following programs:

• mCLASS Instruction
• mCLASS Intervention
• Wilson Reading System

Progress Monitoring Reports for students in mClass or Wilson groups will be sent home at the end of each marking period. Please be on the lookout for your child’s report if they are in one of those programs. AACPS monitors student progress to ensure students make adequate growth. All programs have built-in opportunities for teachers to monitor student growth and progress.

Cathryn Nash, Literacy Teacher 

Did you know?

• To promote water safety and foster physical fitness and emotional health in children and adults with special needs, the S.E.A.L.S. program offers comprehensive adaptive aquatic lessons and training from basic swimming skills through competitive swim team. All S.E.A.L.S. programs are provided through grant funding and are free to qualified participants. For more information, visit: https://www.spcommunitycenter.org/s-e-a-l-s/.
  

• Anne Arundel Education Citizens’ Advisory Council (AA-SECAC) is a partnership between parents, families, community leaders, advocates, educators and administrators. The committee works to enhance services available to students with disabilities and to advocate for positive changes in special education in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Active, involved parents and supporters of children receiving special education services comprise the Anne Arundel Special Education Citizens' Advisory Committee (AA-SECAC). AA-SECAC meeting information can be found here.

  
  

• The Developmental Disabilities Administration's Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) Program serves children living at home with their family and adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities living in their own home in the community who are not receiving any support services from the DDA. For more information, or to apply, visit this site: https://health.maryland.gov/dda/pages/liss.aspx

• The Autism Waiver (AW) is a partnership between Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). The AW is designed to provide community-based, long-term, person-centered therapeutic services and support to eligible children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to enable home and community living as an alternative to institutional care. For more information on the Autism Waiver call Autism Waiver Helpline Office at (866) 417-3480.

In case you did not know…there are many ways to earn money for the school. The funds are used to purchase equipment, technology, training, supplies, and incentives for your child’s classroom and teachers. Please consider helping and/or supporting in the following ways.

Office Depot: While shopping for school supplies at the store or online, please designate the school number 70047113.

Harris Teeter: Every time you shop at Harris Teeter, using your bonus card, Pasadena Elementary will earn money for our school. Be sure to designate Pasadena Elementary School.

Weis: Every time you shop at Weis, using your bonus card, Pasadena Elementary will earn money for our school. Be sure to designate Pasadena Elementary School.

Clothing to Cash Recycling Bin: Please drop off gently used clothing, shoes/sneakers, textiles, and towels to the recycling bin in the front parking lot. The school is paid for EVERY pound collected. Help support the school and our environment. Clean out your closets!

FYI - The Paper Retriever Bin will be removed from PES in the coming month. Unfortunately we can no longer accept paper for recycling.

Parents who are active military or who live or work on Federal Property in Maryland are asked to complete this year’s Federal Impact Aid Survey that became available on September 30, 2024. You will be asked to verify your home address and identify if it is located on federal property. You will also complete sections identifying if a family member is in the military or works on federally owned property in Maryland. The survey should only take a couple of minutes to complete and, be assured, all data collected is kept completely confidential.Why Complete This SurveyAnne Arundel County Public Schools, like many local school districts across the United States, include within our boundaries parcels of land that are owned by the Federal Government or that have been removed from the local tax rolls by the Federal Government. Federal property is exempt from local property taxes. By submitting an application to the Department of Education each January, AACPS receives approximately $2 million to assist in educating all our students.To complete this survey, please visit: https://secure.aacps.org/webapps/SEFP/OOF/Federal

Anne Arundel County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for injuries to students that occur while the student is at school or when off of school property while they are involved in a school-related activity. However, AACPS has selected Bob McCloskey Insurance to provide several student accident insurance coverage options that parents/guardians may purchase. If you do not have health insurance, this insurance may be a resource to consider. To learn more, visit www.aacps.org/studentaccidentinsurance.

Text START to 98900 to ensure you are receiving the latest communications from PES and AACPS.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools prohibits discrimination in its educational programs, and in employment, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or disability.