Dear Pasadena Elementary Families:

Happy March! We've got an exciting month ahead at Pasadena Elementary with some important dates and events to share with you.

A reminder that MISA (Maryland Integrated Science Assessment) testing for our 5th graders will be taking place March 3 - 6. Please ensure your child gets plenty of rest and arrives on time to give their best effort. *Grade 5 students in the specialty site Autism program will also participate in ALT MISA in March.

We're thrilled to celebrate Read Across America Spirit Week from March 3 -7. Each day will be filled with fun reading activities and themed dress-up days to inspire a love of reading in our students.

Please join us for International Night on March 13 from 5:00-7:00pm. This is 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.

To continue Read Across America, PTA will host the Scholastic Book Fair the week of March 17. Students will be invited to preview and purchase books during Media class. To volunteer, let PTA know! Family members may visit the book fair on Tuesday, March 18 from 2:30 - 5:30pm.

Please take note of the two-hour early dismissals on March 18, 27, and 28. Make any necessary arrangements for your child's transportation or after-school care on these days. March 18: Staff will participate in mandatory professional development. March 27 & 28: End of 3rd marking period.

Don't miss out on this year's school yearbook! It's a wonderful keepsake filled with memories of the school year. You can purchase it online through our school website. Sentiment orders will be accepted through the end of March. Yearbook orders will end mid-April. See below for more information.

We are excited to invite 2 special guests to our VIP Day on April 11. It's a special day for our students to share a school experience with (up to) two Very Important Persons in their life. Please RSVP by April 9 so we can prepare for this special event. This event is intended to invite Grand-Friends or other important adults 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. To meet AACPS School Security guidelines, VIPs must be pre-approved by school administration and produce state issued identification at check-in at the designated time.

Did you know?

• Kindergarten Registration begins: Tuesday, April 8th. If you have a student turning 5 years old on or before September 1, 2025, please apply online.

• Pre-Kindergarten Application begins: Tuesday, May 6th. If you have a student turning 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025, please apply online.

Please share this information with your neighbors. Enrolling earlier is key to ensuring Pasadena Elementary is appropriately staffed for the 2025-2026 school year. Click here to enroll NEW to PES students only.

There have been questions about DIBELS assessment and mClass instruction and intervention. DIBELS is a set of procedures and measures for assessing the acquisition of literacy skills. Given three times/year in grade K-3, these fluency assessments are short (about one minute) to detect risk and measure progress of students. mClass instruction and intervention helps school staff to measure and strngthen foundational literacy skills that all students need to become confident readers. Here is a video to learn more. PES staff recently completed middle of year assessments in grades K-3. Personalized information will be sent home for your student.

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.

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 continued support and involvement in our school community. Let's make this month a memorable one!

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 fourteen days (nearly 3 school weeks) since August 2024. Attendance is key to your child's academic success. It is important that students show up each and every day. Attendance also factors into the school's state rating annually.

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,

All grade levels have reviewed the Protect Yourself Rules. A copy of the rules was sent home with each student following my lesson. These lessons focused 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. Materials used for these lessons come from the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center and can be viewed by going to https://fightchildabuse.org/.

5th Grade Families:

• AVID interviews have been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 25th.  They will be held at CBMS in the B side cafeteria. A Sign-Up-Genius will be emailed to families of students who applied for the program.

• 5th Grade students should have put their Middle School course requests in the Parent/Student Power School Portal.  Please confirm with your child that this task was completed and that you have discussed his/her course requests.

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 scan 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! The deadline for turning in sentiments is March 28, 2025. Due to publishing deadlines, requests after March 28 will not be accepted.

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

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

March is National Reading Month. Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2nd and is a great reminder to make reading a fun and interactive experience. PES will be celebrating with a sprit week beginning Monday, 3/3 (Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character)! We can’t wait to see who your student’s have been reading about. Check your email on file with the school for daily reminders.

A Book Scavenger Hunt is a great way to generate excitement about books and reading. Challenge students to search for books that provide mirrors (stories that reflect their own culture and help build identity) and windows (stories that offer a view into someone else’s experience and the range of possibilities in the world). Take a trip to the public library for Read Across America and have students look for two titles that are mirrors and two that are windows. Provide specific criteria to help students narrow in on their search, such as books about families, friends, sports, holidays, etc.

March will also kick off our Bowie Baysox “Read & Hit a Home Run” Reading Program. Students need to read at least 4 books inside or outside of school to receive two free tickets to a Bowie Baysox game. Our school’s night will be May 31st at 6:35pm. Students will receive one student ticket and one adult ticket for participating.

Keep an eye out for the blue parent letter and recording form that was sent home recently. If you need an additional form, please contact me.

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.