Principal's Message

Dear Pasadena Elementary Families:

As we welcome November, we find ourselves surrounded by the spirit of gratitude and reflection. This time of year provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the growth and achievements of our students, to appreciate the commitment of our staff, and to thank each of you for the support and encouragement you provide at home. It’s through this partnership that we are able to foster a nurturing and positive learning environment for every child.

With the cooler days ahead, we encourage students to dress warmly and come to school ready for both indoor and outdoor recess. We have some exciting events coming up, including picture retakes, American Education Week visitation, PTA's annual fundraiser - a Dance-a-Thon, and parent-teacher conferences. RSVP will be required for classroom visitation and to attend the Dance-a-Thon. Sign-ups for these events along with parent teacher conferences will be coming out soon.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, suggestions, or to simply share in our students’ successes. Wishing each of you a month filled with gratitude, warmth, and togetherness.

At this time, the school is closed to visitors during the school day. Please schedule an appointment in advance of coming to the school.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Quirino, Principal

Federal Impact Aid Survey

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 Survey

Anne 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

PES Handbook

A PES Handbook has been created to provide a more comprehensive guide that outlines procedures and expectations for students, parents, and staff within our school community.

This handbook should serve as a guide to ensure consistency in school rules and routines that promote a positive, safe, productive learning environment.

Please take a moment to review information regarding school routines, academic standards, behavioral expectations, communication protocols, and resources available.

The PES Handbook can be found on our school website in the Newsletter tab. For easy access, click here.

Attendance Matters

Getting your child to school on time, every day can ensure your child has a chance to succeed in school.

Maryland has a Compulsory Attendance Law: Children between the ages of 5 and 18 shall attend public school regularly during the entire school year unless otherwise enrolled in a private school, approved home instruction, or home teaching through the school. Parents may be charged in District Court for failure to see that their children attend school. Parents can be found guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a ne per day of unlawful absence, or imprisonment.

Please contact the Principal or Counselor if your child starts to demonstrate school avoidance behavior.

Counselor's Corner

Dear Families,

During the month of November, I will be visiting classrooms in Pre-K-2nd to teach lessons designed to support students in developing and maintaining positive peer relationships.

Third, Fourth, and Fifth grade should be on the lookout for a letter sent home discussing Start Talking Maryland lessons centered around substance abuse. These lessons will begin the week of November 18th and will be completed by December 12th.

The Start Talking Maryland Act requires public schools to offer drug education that includes the dangers of heroin and other opioids, starting as early as third grade.

Beginning the week of November 18th, I will provide classroom lessons in accordance with the Start Talking Maryland Act. Specifically, students in grades 3-5 will receive lessons which focus on:

Third grade: Recognizing prescription vs. non-prescription drugs - safe use, choices and problem-solving, and an introduction to what opioid drugs are. They will be using a book: Charlie and the Curious Club: Candy or Medicine.

Fourth grade: Learning about the physical effects of drugs, understanding why substance abuse is a problem and what addiction is, and identifying how they can contribute to solving the problem of substance abuse on a community level. They will be working with materials from KidsHealth.com and/or a recent news clips to define the problem and design a PSA, video clip, poster, etc. to address the problem.

Fifth grade: Learning and practicing strategies to deal with peer pressure, using refusal skills to build confidence to deal with situations when they might be asked to do drugs, recognizing the effects opioids can have on the brain. Students develop strategies and receive a pocket card with strategies and resources on it.

These lessons are important because school provides a safe place where children can learn what to do in unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations. Trusted adults provide students with an opportunity to practice handling situations related to substance abuse, so that the first time a young person is faced with an unsafe situation, he or she knows what to do and has practiced doing it.

You can make arrangements to preview the lessons with your child's school counselor, or you can view them on the AACPS website. Go to https://www.aacps.org/documents/services/assistance-for-families/school-counseling/required-elementary-lessons/626222

If you have any questions about the lessons, please contact me at 410-222-6573 or via email at mnoble@aacps.org.

Please let me know if I can be of assistance!

Michele Noble, School Counselor

mnoble@aacps.org

PBIS News

We celebrated the end of the 1st marking period with special fall activities. Students were able to select an activity that interested them and work with other students in their hallway. Projects ranged from literacy based activities, art projects and STEM or science projects.

As students demonstrate our schoolwide CARE expectations they fill up their CARE cards to be redeemed for classroom rewards. At the end of each month completed CARE cards are entered in a drawing for special stage seating in the cafeteria with Ms. Noble and Ms. Quirino. Check in with your child(ren) to see what rewards they are earning for following our CARE expectations to Care, Achieve, Respect and Engage.

Weekly, students will be selected for the "Panther Spotlight," highlighting the students in the classroom and broadcasting on morning announcements.

Positive Behavior Referrals are distributed during lunches on Fridays. Students are recognized by their peers and pictures are posted on the school's Instagram page.

Attendance

When students are absent from school, AACPS sends messages to families to ensure student safety and open communication. For convenience and equity, messages are sent through two communication tools:

Alerts - the AACPS automated contact system provides one message per day for elementary students and two messages per day for middle and high school students. A morning message is sent to families of all absent students via phone, email, and text at 11 a.m. The second message is sent via email and text to families of absent middle and high school students at 5:30 p.m.

Parent Portal sends notifications in real time when a student is marked absent for the school day or a specific class period. In order to receive Parent Portal notifications, parents/guardians must have proper accounts and notifications turned on in their settings. Access to Parent Portal is available for families of students in grades K-12. Parents/guardians can also send attendance notes directly to their student's school via Parent Portal. Visit www.aacps.org/parentportal to sign up or learn more.

For information on how to support student attendance, visit www.aacps.org/attendance.

The Panther Pledge and image of school mascot

Cellphone Policy

Please be aware the cellphone policy is that phones are to remain off and away all day at school. If there is an extentuating circumstance and you need to communicate with your student, please call the Main Office at 410-222-6573.

Parent Teacher Association

The Pasadena Elementary Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is looking for new members! All current families are invited to join. Visit the PTA website to sign up. Be sure to follow Pasadena Elementary PTA Facebook page and enable notifications.

- PTA school store Tuesdays Gr PK - 2; Thursdays Gr 3-5.

- PTA meeting is November 14 @ 5:30pm.

- The PTA Dance-a-Thon fundraiser is just around the corner.

You may have an expired or expiring background check, or you may need to complete one to be a volunteer/chaperone. Please visit the chaperone volunteer website for more information.

Stay connected with the new AACPS App. Download today!

As a reminder, we post newsletters on the school website.

Resources to answer your questions on Academics & Programs, Wellbeing & Growth, and Navigating AACPS.

Recess Reminder!

Please send students to school dressed accordingly for the weather. We will continue going to recess as long as temperatures are appropriate, students may want to keep hats and gloves in their backpack and dress in layers! Thank you for your support!

Literacy

The AACPS elementary literacy curriculum is a knowledge building curriculum intentionally designed to build a deep and wide knowledge based in the various fields of science, history, literature, and the arts, starting in kindergarten. It includes sound reading instruction grounded in the science of reading, teaching students to read through systematic foundational skills instruction until word recognition is automatic and students are fully fluent. A knowledge building curriculum affords every student access to focused, close communal reading of content-rich complex texts to empower students to become capable, effective, and motivated readers and writers. Please join a CKLA Family Engagement Night to learn about how you can support your child's learning at home. Two nights are in person and there is also a virtual option.

Cathryn Nash, Literacy Teacher

cnash@aacps.org

Physical Education

We have lots of fun and engaging Physical Education lessons throughout the month of November. Our 5th grade will be participating in a week-long Dancing through the Decades residency the first week of November. Students in all classes will be exploring rhythms and patterns while combining them with body movement and fitness. We hope you can join us for parent visitation during American Education week. As the colder weather is coming soon, please make sure your child wears sneakers/tennis shoes. Boots, crocs, etc. are not a safe choice for P.E. class.

Our November Mind and Body Calendar is a great way to add movement into each day. Click here for the November calendar.

Carrie Deaver, P.E. Teacher

cdeaver@aacps.org

Art

As we head into the 2nd marking period many grade levels will be focusing on the theme of winter-such as winter landscapes, snowflakes, and winter animals. The Art Department will hold a 'Winter Wonderland' exhibit at the Annapolis Mall starting December 4th through January 2nd. The exhibit will feature artwork from all elementary schools in the county. I will select two pieces to go in the exhibit before Thanksgiving break. Artsonia update-I have upload most grade levels artwork onto our website, there are just a few more classes that I'm working on! Please be patient with me as the process of taking pictures of each student's artwork & uploading them takes some time! Students can earn online ribbons & awards for their participation. It's a great way to share your child's artwork with friends and family members. Artsonia offers a gift shop with many different items that can have your student's artwork printed on them which make great gifts and keepsakes! Pasadena earns 20% in profits from the items bought from the gift shop. Funds will be used to purchase art supplies for our students. If you have any questions about Artsonia please email me!

Please click here to check out our Artsonia web page.

Karen O'Boyle, Art Teacher

koboyle@aacps.org

Media Center

There are lots of exciting things happening in the media center in November!

Students in PreK and K will be identifying the elements of a story, focusing on characters and setting.

First Graders will identify problem and solution in a story, and compare and contrast physical traits and character traits.

Students in Second Grade will complete an animal research mini-project using PebbleGo.

Third, Fourth and Fifth Graders will explore the features of our online databases.

Students in all grades will continue evaluating this years Black Eyed Susan picture book nominees.

Julie Bradshaw, Media Specialist

jbradshaw@aacps.org

Music Notes

In late October, we started a new incentive in music class called Mystery Musician. If the class as a whole is following the Panther Way as well as the mystery musician, at the end of class that student either gets to pick from the prize box or sit in a special chair during the next music class. All students will have the opportunity to be the Mystery Musician.

PES Chorus Performance Dates Tuesday, December 17, 2024- PES Winter Concert Location: Pasadena Elementary School

Monday, January 6, 2024- Chesapeake Choral Cluster Concert (5th Grade Only) Location: Chesapeake High School

Saturday, May 17, 2025- Bowie Baysox Game Location: Bowie Baysox Stadium

Monday, May 19, 2025- PES Winter Concert Location: Pasadena Elementary School

Anna Gavrilov, Music teacher

agavrilov@aacps.org

Band/Strings

Hello Pasadena families!

We are working hard learning the different sounds our instruments can make while also learning how to read music and play new notes! We will hopefully begin working on our concert music in the upcoming lessons. Speaking of concerts, our REQUIRED after-school winter concert is going to be Tuesday, December 17th (more specific details to come later). I ask that you check with your student every night whether or not they have a lesson the next day and prepare; there were a lot of students who forgot their instrument and/or book this week. All schedules can be found on my website at jcallison.weebly.com.

If you would like a paper copy, please let me know and I can send another home with your student. This is also affecting some students' grades in my class as well because attendance is the majority of their grade. As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Jacob Allison, Band & Orchestra Director

jcallison@aacps.org

jcallison.weebly.com

EEE Global Studies

In Global Studies, Pre-K is starting a unit on Marine Animal Models. Kindergarten will be finishing up with their mindfulness strategies before getting into their next unit, Tinkering with Tools. First grade will be completing their African-Style Mask designs and second grade will wrap up the creation of personal flags. The third graders are transitioning from Explorers of the World, to the next unit, Fantastic Contraptions. Fourth graders are designing chairs for clients in Take a Seat. Fifth graders will be finishing Travel Posters and creating travel pitches.

Ryan Peters, EEE Teacher

rpeters@aacps.org

Earn $ for PES

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 Harris Teeter, 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!

Student Accident Insurance

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.

Values: Panthers C.A.R.E.

Care, Achieve, Respect, Engage

Mission: Pasadena Elementary is dedicated to preparing students for college and career readiness, promoting academic excellence and citizenship for all students.

Vision: We envision Pasadena Elementary to be a school where we maintain high expectations for academic standards through rigorous instruction. We will continue to foster a positive, caring school climate where we respect and value diversity and prepare individuals for success in higher learning and careers.

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.

The PEN