Piney Ridge

Elementary School

Greetings,

Happy February! We have great news about technology to share. Last month Piney Ridge

received 30 brand new Dell laptops. These computers are part of a CCPS Literacy Grant where each

CCPS elementary school received a computer cart filled with 30 brand new Dell laptops. In

addition, our PTA purchased an additional 14 Dell laptops for the school so we could evenly

distribute computers across all grade levels. Thank you Piney Ridge PTA and our school community

for your generosity in supporting PTA sponsored events and activities.

The first week of March brings another Parent/Teacher Conference on Thursday, March 5th. This

conference is a teacher invite only. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any concerns.

Throughout the month of January, students were assessed to monitor their progress in reading

and math. Students were given a variety of reading assessments as well as the Carroll County Math

Benchmark Assessment. Although it takes time to give assessments, the information we gain from

them will help to guide our instruction so we can better meet students’ needs. This information is

also used to help us monitor progress on our School Improvement Plan. This assessment data will

be shared with parents once the testing has been completed. The Reading assessment data will be

included in your child’s 2nd quarter report card envelope. Second quarter report cards go home on

February 4, 2020.

If you have not already done so, please be sure you have completed Volunteer Training

online. We have many upcoming field trips and special events that require trained volunteers.

Please do not wait until the last minute to do the training; it would be very disappointing to your

child if you were not able to go on the trip. Fifth grade will be going to Philadelphia and fourth

grade will be traveling to St. Mary’s City in the spring!

We continue to use PBIS at Piney Ridge to recognize students who are demonstrating

respectful, responsible, and resilient behavior. Students receive tickets in the primary and

intermediate grade levels. They are able to cash these in for incentives and/or prizes. Our students

do a great job of demonstrating positive behavior. As you can see, we have much to celebrate so

far in 2020. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns at any point, please let us know.

Patricia Reed Greg Raeder Principal Asst. Principal

6315 Freedom Ave

Sykesville, MD 21784

(410) 751-3535

(410) 795-9022

(410) 751-3539 FAX

www.carrollk12.org/pre

SCHOOL HOURS

9:15 – 3:45 pm

OUR VISION

To inspire a

community of caring

independent

individuals who

positively impact our

changing world

NOTICE OF NON-

DISCRIMINATION

Carroll County Public Schools

(CCPS) does not discriminate on

the basis of race, color, ancestry

or national origin, religion, sex,

sexual orientation, gender

identity, gender expression,

disability, or age. CCPS provides

nondiscriminatory access to

school facilities in accordance

with its policies and regulations

regarding the community use of

schools (including, but not

limited to, the Boy Scouts). The

following person has been

designated to handle inquiries

regarding the non-discrimination

policies:

Chantress Baptist Director of Human Resources 125 N. court Street Westminster, MD 21157 410-751-3000

February 2020 Newsletter

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 Groundhog

Day

3 4 5

6 7 Daddy

Daughter Dance 7-9pm

8

9 10 11 12 B.O.E 5:00

PTA Meeting

7:00pm

13 14 Valentine’s

Day

15

16 17 Schools Offices Closed

President’s Day

18 International

Night 5:30pm

19 PTA Math

Night 6:00pm

20 21 22 George

Washington’s Birthday

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Kindergarten Registration is March 9th – March 13th.

Counselors Corner

The Importance of Breakfast

It has recently been brought to my attention by many staff members and students themselves that

they have skipped breakfast in the morning. By 9:30 or 10:00, students will often complain while they

are working with teachers and other instructional staff that they are ravenous because they did not have

breakfast. Others complain of headaches or feel sick to their stomachs because they haven’t eaten.

This is a very big concern and one that needs to be addressed.

Research shows that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. That’s what a study of

100 elementary school kids in Baltimore and Philadelphia showed. Last fall, the students ate breakfast

in school. Experts studied the kids to see if eating breakfast made a difference. It did! The experts

found that the students who ate breakfast did better in math. They were less likely to feel sad or

worried, and they could sit still longer. The research makes sense. If kids are hungry, their minds will be

on food, not on schoolwork. After sleeping all night, children’s bodies need fuel to start the day. A good

breakfast ensures that their physical needs are met so that they are better focused on the academics.

What Makes Up a Healthy Breakfast?

With our hurried lifestyles, it is no wonder that breakfast time suffers. Here are some great breakfast

ideas for your kids to choose from:

Cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, yogurt, eggs, bacon, ham, toast, any kind of fruit, cheese, Pop tarts,

granola bars. . . the list goes on and on. . . ALMOST ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING!

*And do not forget – our cafeteria offers breakfast for only $1.50! Served from 8:45-9:15 in our

cafeteria.*

Cafeteria Breakfast Menu includes a “buffet” of daily options:

Sausage wrap, a Variety of Cereals, Breakfast Pizza, Cinnamon Toast, Bagel and Cream Cheese, French

Toast Sticks, Pancakes, Breakfast sandwich, Breakfast Bar, Fruit, Juice, and Milk - options may differ

slightly each day – but there is a very nice variety to choices!

Please make sure your child eats before they come to school or eats a healthy breakfast in our cafeteria.

It is another way to ensure that they will be prepared to tackle all the hard work and learning we do

here every day!

2020 CCPS Summer Enrichment Registration Now Underway!

Registration for the 2020 CCPS Summer Enrichment Program is now underway. Unlike other years, you will not receive a printed booklet. To register, please go to the CCPS Website

(www.carrollk12.org) and click on the link located on the main page. All information including course descriptions, instructions for registration and applications are

included in the on-line booklet. We look forward to having your child participate in our summer sessions!

Smile! February is National Dental Health Month

Our Teeth are important for chewing, speaking and our appearance. One part of our teeth is the protective hard covering called enamel. It is important to keep the enamel strong by brushing our teeth. If we do not brush our teeth, the enamel begins to break down from a bacteria germ call plague. Plague likes to attach to our teeth after eating sugary foods. Eventually, if plague is not removed by brushing or by a dental cleaning, a cavity will form. Plague also causes bad breath. You can prevent cavities, plague and bad breathe by: Brushing your teeth twice a day, after breakfast and before bed! Flossing at least once a day. Eating healthy foods, limiting sugary snacks, sodas, sports drinks and see your dentist twice a year.

You have your adult teeth for the rest of your life.

Take good care of them and have a smile to be proud of!

Cold and Flu Facts The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they

are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it

can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is

worse than the common cold with symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry

cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more

likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as

pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Handwashing is the best way to prevent illness, as well as covering coughs and

sneezes.

Treatment for both: get plenty of rest and liquids, some over-the-counter

medications can help, but if symptoms persist see your Physician.

Remember, if your child has a fever above 100 degrees they are not to attend

school until they have been fever free for 24 hours.

“Stomach Flu” is not the Flu, but a virus affecting the intestinal tract. The term

"Stomach Flu" is a misnomer that is sometimes used to describe gastrointestinal

illnesses caused by organisms other than influenza viruses.

Please review CCPS policy regarding medications taken at school or contact the school nurse.

IT’S TIME FOR THE SCIENCE FAIR!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

FRIDAY, MARCH 27th at 7:00PM

This is a great opportunity for students to have a fun, hands-on experience with science! To register your student online, just visit https://pineyridgesciencefair-2020.eventbrite.com until March 6, 2020. Paper sign-ups were sent home the week of January 22nd. More resources to help you complete your project are available on the PTA website: http://pineyridgepta.net/science-fair.html. Parents, if you would like to volunteer to be a Visiting Scientist or just have a question please contact Megan Napor at megan.napor@gmail.com. Thank you!

Camp Invention Summer 2020

Linton Springs Elementary School

Camp Invention is a high-energy, hands-on STEM camp, led by experienced local educators and grouped by grade

level.

Your child will love what is in store for this year:

CREATE - Become a confident entrepreneur as you sketch, prototype, protect and pitch the next great invention!

COLLABORATE - Team up to play hybrid hover ball games, trade inventor playing cards and design the ultimate sports

complex.

PROBLEM SOLVE - Tackle environmental challenges while you compete in zipline races and build parachutes to

airdrop animals!

For children entering grades K-6

Price: $235 (Save $25.00 with promo code ELEVATE25 - offer expires March 31, 2020)

Location: Linton Springs Elementary School 375 Ronsdale Road Sykesville, MD 21784

Program Dates: Monday-Friday 6/22/2020 - 6/26/2020

Program times: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Click here to register: https://invent-

web.ungerboeck.com/programsearch/moreinfo.aspx?event=27040&_ga=2.161849528.522042360.1579650740-

207025504.155136122000