Runnymede Elementary
APRIL 2017
Home of the Hawks
Dear Runnymede Families:
Spring is here! It is also a very busy time at Runnymede. We start PARCC assessments in grades 3 – 5, field trips and service projects occur, and planning begins for the
many end of year activities: field day, Pre-K & grade 5 promotions and yearbook distribution. Please be looking for information in the near future about these upcoming events.
The month of April is Volunteer Recognition Month. We are fortunate at Runnymede to have many dedicated volunteers who help us on a regular basis in the classroom!
We would like to thank the following folks for their assistance and generously sharing
their time with us.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
CALENDAR
2
EARLY DISMISSALS
2
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
2
LUNCH VISITORS
2
SUMMER ENRICHMENT
2
KUDOS
3
PARCC TESTING
3
NOTES FROM THE NURSE
3
DRESS CODE REMINDERS
4
STAFF BASKETBALL GAME
4
PTO HIGHLIGHTS
4
GIFTED AND TALENTED
5
COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS
6
BINGO INFORMATION
7
CUPCAKE GEMS FUNDRAISER
8
MENU
9-10
Pat Adair
Jackie Aguglia
Alyssa Bosley
Amy Button
Marie Belgrave
Sharron Bremerman
Keely Barber
Keely Barber
Elizabeth Brilhart
Rae Canan
Pornsuree Caswell
Diana Fritz
Jennifer Farrow
Deanna Geiman
Stephanie Gartland
Jimmy Henderson
Beth Henderson
Jim Hagerty
Sharon Hiner
Alissa Hull
Melissa Helfer
Stephanie Harley
Lorraine Jones
John Kirby
Renee Kirby
Darcie Kaplan
Lynn Kallay
Liz Kies
Jaime LeBrun
Kristy May
Amanda Mechling
Valerie Owings
Diane Peters
Ginger Palmer
Joanne Pfeffer
April Price
Katie Reitz
Melanie Repp
Dawn Roark
Jessica Rhodes
Donna Richmond
Heidi Robertson
Darrell Robertson
Marie Rogers
Jessica Sellman
Amy Smith
Amy Schildwachter
Erin Sipes
Jen Smith
Diane Tracey
Ashley Thomas
Jenn Wood
Deborah Watts
Teresa Zeigler
We would also like to thank our fabulous PTO board for all that they have done this
school year to support Runnymede: Ashlie Strevig, Heidi Eiwen, Lorraine Jones. THANK
YOU!!! Thanks also to those parents that regularly attend PTO meetings and assist with
many of the planned activities.
It is with great pleasure that we congratulate the following Runnymede teachers
who were nominated for Outstanding Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Bloomfield, Mrs. Chaney,
Mrs. Bordner, Mrs. Douglas, Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Fitzgerald, Ms. Gostic, Mrs. Hunsicker,
Mrs. Jonsson, Mrs. Katherman, Mrs. McKenna, Mrs. Mechalske, Mrs. Medlock, Mrs. Ries,
Mrs. Tyler, Ms. Warner and Mrs. Warnick.
April is also when we celebrate our administrative assistants (April 26). If you call
into the office, please remember to say a kind word to our wonderful secretaries: Mrs.
Devaney, Mrs. Hanwell and Mrs. Hiner. Often, you will find Mrs. Patterson helping in the
office as well when she isn’t busy substituting for a teacher. These folks work hard to
keep our school running smoothly and make our office a warm and welcoming place for all
visitors to Runnymede. We thank them for all they do each day to support parents, staff
and students!
Sincerely,
Debra H. Benner
Amanda K. Johnson
RUNNYMEDE ELEMENTARY
PAGE 2
School Calendar
2016-2017 School Calendar
April– May 2017
EARLY DISMISSAL DATES
April 5
April 6
Early Dismissal (1:00 PM)- No Pre-K
Themed Thursday– Crazy Sock Day
April 6
April 7
April 8
April 10-14
3rd Grade trip to the Museum of Industry
Kick off Assembly for Walk for Carroll
County Food Sunday– 2:30 pm
Eisteddfod Concert– WHS– 7 pm
PTO Spring Bazaar/Carnival– 10 am– 2 pm
Assistant Principals Week
April 11
Student Banking– Café– 8:50– 9:15 am
April 11
April 11
Report Cards go home
Spring Instrumental Concert– 7 pm
April 12
April 13-18
April 17-21
PTO Meeting—6 pm—Media Center
Schools/ Offices closed for Spring Break
Public School Volunteer Week
April 19
sweetFrog fundraiser– 4:00-9:00 pm
April 20
Themed Thursday– Career Day
April 21
Kindergarten trip to the Baltimore Zoo
April 21
April 23-29
Battle of the Books at FSK– 6:30-8 pm
Administrative Professionals Week
April 7
April 24June 5
April
April
April
April
25
25
26
26
April 26
April 27
April 28
April 28
May 1-5
May 1-7
May 4
May 4
May 5
May 9
May 9
PARCC Testing–
grades 3-5 reading and math
Student Banking-Café-8:50-9:15 am
th
4 Grade trip to Annapolis
Kindergarten trip to the Taneytown Library
Special Olympics– Westminster High SchoolRain date April 28th
Administrative Professionals Day
2nd grade trip to Gettysburg
Walk for Carroll County Food Sunday–
rain date May 1st
th
5 grade Panoramic Picture
Teacher Appreciation Week
National Physical Education & Sport Week
Themed Thursday– Hat Day
Kindergarten Readiness Fair–
Cafeteria/Gym- 6:00 –7:30 pm
5th grade trip to Philadelphia
Student Banking-Café-8:50-9:15 am
May 12
PTO Meeting-Media Center– 6pm
Designer Bag Bingo– Doors open at 5:30 pm,
games begin at 6:30 pm
May 15-19
May 18
Pupil Personnel Worker Week
Themed Thursday– Athlete Day
May 18
May 19
24 Challenge Tournament– 6– 7:30 pm–
Friendship Valley Elementary
1st grade trip to the Farm Museum
May 23
May 26
Student Banking-Café-8:50-9:15 am
Field Day– rain date: May 30
May 29
Memorial Day– Schools/ Offices Closed
Please take notice of the early dismissals, which are built into
this year’s calendar. The following dates are scheduled to have 2
hour and 45 minute early dismissal:
April 5
System-Wide
June 14
System-Wide
***There will be no Pre-K on these dates
Volunteer Training Sessions
Level II Volunteers (classroom helpers, chaperones, mentors, etc.) are required to attend an annual training session at
least seven (7) school days prior to volunteering.
Allow adequate time so you can arrive at the training location in a timely manner. The training session will begin promptly
at the scheduled time, and those arriving after the starting
time may be asked to attend another session. As always, we
suggest that you contact the training location to confirm the
training session for that day.
April 3
Piney Ridge Elementary
6:30 pm
April 5
William Winchester Elem.
9:30 am
April
April
April
April
April
Carrolltowne Elementary
Mechanicsville Elementary
Ebb Valley Elementary
Spring Garden Elementary
Elmer Wolfe Elementary
6:30 pm
10:00 am
6:00 pm
7:45 am
8:00 pm
6
11
11
12
19
Inclement weather may cause the cancellation of a scheduled training session. Please reference the school system’s
Inclement Weather Policy, located on Page 20 in the 20162017 CCPS Informational Calendar, for specifics.
LUNCH VISITORS
Our stage will be unavailable to accommodate lunch visitors on
the following dates as our stage will be set up for instrumental
rehearsals in preparation for a spring concert.
April 4, 5 & 6
April 10 & 11
SUMMER ENRICHMENT
The 2017 Summer Enrichment Program will re-open for registrations beginning Monday, April 17, 2017 and run until May 5,
2017. Some classes are full but many have available spaces. Please visit www.carrollk12.org to register your child.
Volunteers
Congratulations to all our wonderful volunteers. So far this year, our 511 volunteers have logged in 2,618 hours helping our students
and staff. Thanks for your continued support and assistance!
APRIL 2017
PAGE 3
KUDOS!
RUNNYMEDE CONGRATULATES ALYSSA LEISHEAR! Alyssa was recently named a 2017 Carson Scholar. She will receive a
$1000.00 scholarship award, a medal, and certificate, and be honored at the Carson Scholars Fund 21st Annual Awards Ceremony this
month in Baltimore, MD. Congratulations, Alyssa! What a wonderful way to end your elementary education and begin your middle
school experience!
Runnymede students earn kudos at the Penguin Random House Student Writing Contest! Faith Jones (grade 2), Layla Kaplan
(grade 5) and Colin Belgrave (grade 2) all entered the 2017 writing contest and each one was recognized at the Penguin Random House
Book Fair on March 4, 2017. Faith wrote a short story and received second place honors. Layla wrote a poem and received first place
honors. Colin wrote a short story and received first place honors.
Congratulations Faith, Layla & Colin!!!
PARCC Testing Schedule
Hello Parents! This is a reminder that all students in grades 3 through 5 will participate in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) assessments. The PARCC window opens on April 24th and goes until June 5th. During this time,
each class will take the Math PARCC assessment as well as the ELA PARCC assessment. The testing schedule will vary by grade level
and subject area. All students will not be testing on the same day. Specific schedules will be sent home with students as we get closer to the testing window. We ask that families try to avoid scheduling appointments, vacations, and other absences during your child’s
testing dates. Students who miss a scheduled testing session will be required to make it up at a later date, which will result in them
missing classroom instruction. Thank you very much for your support at home. We look forward to a successful testing season!
Parent/Guardian Survey
Runnymede needs your help to make our school the very best it can be!
Please take a few moments to complete an online survey and share your feedback with us. We will use the information we receive to
better meet the needs of our students and families. The site will be open March 31st -April 14th.
A school messenger notice will be sent out on 3/31 with the live link or you can access the survey using the following link, http://
links.carrollk12.org/Checkbox/Survey.aspx?s=51352e14fcf74160892de04f0fb4a321
From The Health Room
Mrs. Sahm
Everyone is looking forward to spring and warmer weather as April arrives. Please be sure that your child is dressed according to the weather each day and is wearing an appropriate coat and shoes. Flip-flops are not adequate shoes for school wear. They
do not provide support or protection for the foot and often lead to injuries in the classroom as well as on the playground. Children
should be prepared with raincoats or umbrellas while waiting for their bus each rainy day.
Spring is also the time that seasonal allergies become more troublesome for students with allergies or asthma. If your child
has allergies or asthma, please be sure that he/she has taken the appropriate medication before coming to school, so that the conditions for learning will be optimal. Continue to encourage the frequent washing of hands and keeping them away from eyes and nose to
minimize transfer of allergens. If your child will need medication during the school day, please remember that medications may not be
transported to and from school by students. Please bring the medication to school in the original container and with a CCPS Medical
Form filled out by the doctor. Medication in baggies will not be accepted! I am seeing a lot of children complaining about chapped lips.
Please send Chap Stick with your child that they may use throughout the day if their lips are chapped.
Carroll County Health Services Department policy requires students be kept home if they have fevers of 100 degrees or
more, until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. If your child is at school and develops a
temperature of over 100 degrees, you will be contacted to pick him/her up. It is also recommended your child remain home if they
have vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, or extreme fatigue that lasts for several hours. Parents know their children best, but should know
that if children are sent to school sick, they may be called to pick them up.
Please send a weather appropriate change of clothing for your child to keep in his/her locker so we will not have to call
you at work. Even older children occasionally have the need to change their clothing, and the clothing supply at school is limited. If
your child has borrowed clothes from the nurse’s office, please wash and return them as soon as possible (except underwear, which we
cannot take back). Thank you to those families who have donated clothing to the health suite. If your child has outgrown elastic waist
pants, please consider donating them to the nurse.
RUNNYMEDE ELEMENTARY
PAGE 4
VACATION ABSENCES
It is strongly recommended that parents plan vacation(s) for times when school is not in regular session. It is recognized,
however, that occasionally students are absent for necessary or important family activities. When this occurs, it is the parents’ responsibility to contact the principal in writing in advance to arranged an excused absence. Even though the absence
may be excused, students are required to make up work missed during that time. It is also required that you send in a note
following the absence. Please list the date of the absence, the child’s name, and the reason for the absence to the child’s
teacher.
REMINDER: DRESS CODE
With warmer weather ahead of us, we take this opportunity to remind you of the proper dress code for students attending
Runnymede Elementary. Students are required to dress in a manner that is modest, clean, appropriate for school activities,
and not disruptive to the learning process. We want our students to know that school is a place for learning, not a place for
recreation. We ask that students NOT wear these items to school:
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shorts, skirts, or skorts that are excessively short; please consider the length when the student is sitting or bending
over
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halter tops and tube tops (shirts must have two wide straps, one on each shoulder)
hats, sunglasses, scarves, bandanas, visors, etc. (unless approved for medical or religious reasons)
recreation/beach-type wear
midriff or cut-off shirts that do not cover the stomach
long, baggy pants that drag on the ground (pants must fit snugly around the waist, so that underwear is not showing)
any clothing that advertises alcohol, tobacco, etc.
any clothing that expresses hate or racial slurs
flip flops, spikes, cleats, skate shoes, etc.
PTO Highlights
April has arrived and so has our biggest fundraiser of the year!!
Join us on Saturday, April 8th from 11am - 3pm for our first ever Spring Bazaar. Bring your entire family... there's something
for everyone, the young and the young at heart! There will be activities and carnival games, inflatables, face painting, temporary tattoos, nail polish station, vendors, book and toy room, cake walk, DJ, food and concessions, photo booth and lots more!!
All are welcome, so invite your neighbors, friends and grandparents to take part in the fun!! Spend all day or just come for an
hour or so... it will be truly something special!
Also another fundraising first is our Gem Cupcake Fundraiser with FSK it is currently running now through the week before
Mother's Day. Deliciously made cupcakes from Stone House Bakery in Taneytown will be available for $5 each or 5 for $20
and are randomly filled with real gems (1 out of every 4). One grand prize cupcake contains a 1/2 carat diamond, courtesy of
DK Jewelers of Westminster!! Tickets are being sold now at RUE, Stone House Bakery and DK Jewelers. Redeem your tickets
at DK Jewelers May 10th - 13th. Let's get competitive and see which school can sell the most!! Let's go Runnymede!
The PTO will hold elections for the 2017-2018 school year at the May 9th PTO meeting. We are in need of a Vice President and
Secretary! Please submit your intent to run for an office by submitting the form which will be coming home in April. If you
want to be part of a great group of parents who want to create the best possible environment for learning and fun for their
kids, the PTO is a wonderful opportunity to do that. It doesn't take a ton of time, and the rewards are immeasurable! Contact
any board member for further information.
Join us for our next meeting in the Media Center on Wednesday, April 12th at 6pm. Hope to see you there!
APRIL 2017
PAGE 5
Gifted and Talented Program Information
When students are screened for gifted and talented intervention, outstanding academic ability and certain characteristics and thought processes are observed and documented. Teachers look for students who possess a wealth of information about selected topics and/or are able
to grasp information quickly and remember it with little practice. They observe students who are able to understand general concepts and
make abstractions and connections between seemingly unrelated topics and ideas. If a student possesses some or all of these abilities, he or
she can be screened for identification.
Components of the Gifted and Talented Education Program Individual Student Profile
All data in each of the following areas are rated as strong, moderate, or weak evidence that gifted and talented services are needed or appropriate.
Multiple Data Points
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Teacher Observation Checklist – includes characteristics of gifted students
Parent/Guardian Observation Checklist – includes characteristics of gifted students as seen by parent
Primary Thinking Skills (PTS) Individual Checklist – includes data from second grade thinking skills instruction
Content Specific Checklist – observations from teachers on content specific behaviors of gifted students
Production Data – work samples provided by teacher and/or parent
Cognitive Ability Test – aptitude test given to all second grade students
PARCC – achievement test taken by 3rd , 4th, and 5th grade students
Academic Instructional Reading Level
Academic Instructional Mathematics Level
Report Card Grade and Work Habits
Once all of the data have been reviewed by the Gifted and Talented Referral and Review Team, one or more of the following recommendations are made in order to differentiate instruction:
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ELA/Math Enrichment Services
Provisional Placement in ELA/Math Enrichment Services (reevaluation of placement to occur after each unit or mid-year)
Differentiated Support Services (classroom teacher receives resources from GT resource teacher to help meet needs of student
in regular classroom)
Monitoring and annual review (student is reviewed again mid-year and end-of-year or when new data is available)
No GT interventions needed at this time
The Referral and Review Team convenes 3 times a year – fall, winter, spring or as needed.
GT Program Referral and Review Team
GT Teacher collects test
data, report card grades
and PTS information
The Referral and Review
Team consists of school
based professionals,
which may include an administrator, the GT teacher, a school counselor, and
classroom teachers.
Evaluation for gifted and talented intervention begins in the spring of second grade and continues throughout the school year for grades 3, 4,
and 5. The chart above illustrates the sequence of steps involved in the screening process.
Should you have any additional questions, please contact your school’s Gifted and Talented Resource Teacher, Mrs. Carey Sneska.
PAGE 6
RUNNYMEDE ELEMENTARY
Moment of Silence
It is the policy of the Board of Education of Carroll County that all schools are required to have a moment of silence or meditation for approximately one minute each school day. During this moment of silence, the Carroll County Public Schools shall
neither advance nor inhibit silent religious activity. Following the pledge of allegiance to the flag and before the completion
of the opening exercise, all students will observe approximately one minute of silence, before continuing with the day’s activities. In exercising his or her individual choice, each person may meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity which
does not interfere with, distract, or impede others in the like exercise of their individual choice. The following is a list of
inappropriate activities: (1) talking or any audible sounds, and (2) gesturing, using sign language, or writing notes for the purpose of person to person communication. Administrators shall enact appropriate administrative procedures in the event that
individuals do not follow the established policy.
CARROLL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ADA ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
The Board of Education of Carroll County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or provision of services, programs or activities. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communications should contact the Office of
Community and Media Relations at 410-751-3020 or [email protected], or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125
North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, use
Relay or 7-1-1. Please contact the school system at least one (1) week advance of the date the special accommodation is
needed.
Information concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act is available from the Director of Facilities or the Supervisor of
Community and Media Relations. Raymond Prokop, Director of Facilities, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, MD 21157,
(410)751-3177, Carey Gaddis, Supervisor of Community and Media Relations, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410)751-3020.
Asbestos Notice
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) management plans for all buildings owned or leased by the Board of
Education of Carroll County are available for review at the individual Carroll County school locations and at the Office of
Plant Operations, located at 191 Schaeffer Avenue, Westminster, Maryland 21157.
Management plans are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and depict the location, amount, condition, and
response action projected for any asbestos-containing materials, if any are located in the school building.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) is firmly committed to creating equal employment and educational opportunities for
all persons with regard to its employment practices and in the provisions of services, programs, and activities.
The CCPS does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability,
ancestry or national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. The CCPS provides non-discriminatory 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: Gregory J. Bricca,
Director of Research and Accountability, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410)751-3068.
It’s Easy to Win – GEMS
1 IN EVERY 4 CUPCAKES HAS A GEM AND
THE GRAND PRIZE IS A ½ CARAT DIAMOND
Delicious cupcakes baked by Stone House Cakery & Café, Taneytown, MD
Pick up your cupcakes at
DK Jewelers
15 S. Cranberry Rd. Westminster, MD
May 10 & 11: 10 AM – 6 PM
May 12: 10 AM – 8 PM and May 13: 10 AM – 5 PM
TICKETS ARE $5 EACH OR 5 TICKETS FOR $20
Questions or to purchase tickets call Runnymede Elementary 410-751-3203