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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.