TRES Retriever Report October 4, 2024

Fri, 10/04/2024 - 9:09am

Message from Dr. TRESler and Mr. Hiel:

Dear Retriever Families,

We are excited to share that our Pre-K will be completing the Maryland Accreditation process this year! In December, validators from the Maryland State Department of Education will visit our Pre-K classrooms to conduct our final Accreditation Appraisal.  During the visit, accreditors will observe and assess our classrooms, playground, and instruction for best practices using the Maryland Accreditation Standards. Our Pre-K program at TRES is committed to meeting high standards for quality early education.  We look forward to our visit, and sharing the results with you!

Also, we are excited to begin to plan for Veterans Day and celebrate our TRES family Veterans. Please read the information below in our newsletter if your family would like to recognize and thank a Veteran at TRES this upcoming November 11th.

Warmly,
Dr. Tiffany TRESler, Principal
Kory Hiel, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Events

Please visit the TRES calendar webpage to view important upcoming dates.

  • October 10 - Fall Picture Day (see below)
  • October 14 - Kindergarten Field Trip, Sharps Farm
  • October 14 - Primary Family Night, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. (see below)
  • October 16 - Unity Day (see below)
  • October 16 - Last Day to Register for FLU/Covid Vaccine Clinic (see below)
  • October 18 - Schools Closed for Students

News and Information

Fall Picture Day Is Next Thursday, October 10
Fliers are coming home today, but you can Pre-Order Online by visiting www.schoolpix.com.  Use Pre-Order Code: TRESF24.

TRES Flu & Covid Vaccine Clinic for Students; Registration Closes October 16
TRES students can receive the Influenza and/or Covid vaccine (if available) at a clinic during school hours on Tuesday, October 29th.  Families must register their student(s) by October 16th using THIS LINK.

TRES is Celebrating Veterans Day on Monday, November 11th
We are celebrating Veterans Day on Monday, November, 11th, and are looking forward to thanking those who served our country! We will read information about Veterans Day on the morning announcements and students will have the opportunity to share with their classmates about the Veterans in their family. We are also welcoming our TRES family Veterans to lunch with their student(s)! We will have special tables reserved for our honored guests and their students.

First, if your child is sharing information about the Veterans in their family, please help them to create a mini-poster (8x10 or 11 x17). See Dr. Tresler's sample here. The students can do this electronically with Google Slide, Wixi (access under hcpss.me) or create a hand-drawn poster. Please note that these will be on display and may not be returned, so please do not use original photos. If you do not have access to a color printer, and your child creates via Google Slide or Wixi, please email to denise_snider@hcpss.org AND karen_johnson@hcpss.org. Include your child’s name and homeroom teacher, and email by Wednesday, November 6th, to ensure printing time.

Please RSVP here by November 1, 2024 to join us for lunch. This will ensure that we have enough space and food. Due to space, we are asking that only our TRES Veterans join us for lunch on this day.

Lunch Shifts by Grade:
Pre-K: 12:45-1:15
Kindergarten: 11:45-12:15
First: 11:15-11:45
Second: 12:45-1:15
Third: 10:45-11:15  
Fourth: 12:15-12:45
Fifth: 1:15-1:45

Counselors' Corner - A Message from Mrs. Wolf and Ms. Diaz
Happy Fall and Happy October to everyone! In addition to classroom lessons beginning throughout the grades, as a counseling team, we want to highlight October as "National Bullying Prevention" month.  Through a recent TRESmission video broadcast, students are learning there is a difference between bullying and other behaviors that are NOT okay, but may be better described as conflict (perhaps involving bugging, bothering, or being mean). The difference is that bullying behaviors are often described as Being mean — On purpose — Over and over again, oftentimes with an unequal balance of power and less remorse/reflection shown to improve the situation.  With either, students are encouraged to use a strategy called STOP, WALK, TALK to peacefully take charge of tough situations and get help. Also introduced in this month's video is the importance of being an UPstander to others and speaking up to keep our communities feeling safe and comfortable for everyone.  Check out the links below so similar approaches and strategies can be used at home, around the neighborhood, or with extra-curricular activities.

Link to October's TRESmission video  (14 min)
Link to Bullying Prevention Visuals for TRES Families: Conflict vs. Bullying, STOP-WALK-TALK, "BOO", UPstander visual AND Video

ALL Retrievers are encouraged to WEAR ORANGE on UNITY DAY, Wednesday, October 16th.  It's one way to show that TRES is united in efforts encouraging friendship and belonging. In October and all year long, we say "BOO" to bullying behaviors and YES to choices that show Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, and Care (shown with staff signing our 4 TREaSured Traits)  

It’s Young Authors’ Time!
The Howard County Literacy Association invites students in grades 1-5 to submit their original poems and/or short stories to the annual writing contest called The Young Authors' Contest. Please see the attached Young Authors’ Contest Guidelines for information about the rules and guidelines. All entries must be typed and sent as a Word document, with a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions and questions may be emailed to Lauren Rifkin at lauren_rifkin@hcpss.org by December 20, 2024.  All Young Authors’ Contest information can be found on the HCLA website.

All students who participate will be invited to a Young Authors’ Tea in the spring, where they will have a chance to celebrate their story/poem and be recognized for their hard work!

The Howard County Literacy Association welcomes parents as members.  Visit the HCLA Welcome Page  for information about joining.  

Volunteer Training Required for all Visitors and Volunteers - Must Complete Every Year
NEW THIS YEAR, COMPLETE THIS GOOGLE DOC (no paperwork required). Anyone volunteering at school in any capacity, and parents joining their children for lunch, are required to complete volunteer training prior to their first visit every school year. Thank you in advance for your gifts of service and time.

TRES PTA

Join the TRES PTA today! Sign up at Givebacks (memberhub.com)Learn more about what PTA does by visiting our website, https://www.trespta.com/which includes a Google Calendar feature to easily add all events to your phone. TRES PTA is seeking a second PTACHC Delegate; email TRESPTA1@gmail.com if interested.

Walking Wednesdays is a PTA-sponsored walking/running program that gets our K-5th graders' hearts beating faster as they run/walk for prizes during recess. This is 100% volunteer-led; please sign up HERE.
Thank you to PTA Community Outreach Chair, Lisa McGovern, for organizing the PTA Coat Drive. Thank you to every TRES community member who donated! 
Special thanks to iCode, for their PTA donation following their workshop. To sign up for their camps when school is closed, or weekly classes, visit their website HERE

Upcoming PTA Events:

  • Today, Friday, Oct. 4th, 3:45-5:15pm, KidzArt Fall Workshop at TRES (Art Room). This 75-minute workshop will feature a fall-themed drawing, and all materials are included. 20% of every registration will go directly to the PTA! Register here: ACTIVE | KidzArt Maryland
  • TWO DAYS - Wednesday, Oct. 16th and Thursday, Oct. 17th, Nora's Kabob Ellicott City Restaurant Fundraisers. Order from Nora's Kabob at their Ellicott City location (9338 Baltimore National Pike) to support the PTA. See Nora’s website HERE. Mention TRES and Nora's will donate 10% of sales to the TRES PTA. PLUS, they'll make a second donation that matches the total raised from this restaurant night. See the flyer here
  • Saturday, Oct. 26th, 2:30 - 4:30pm, Boo Bash & Trunk or Treat. Get ready for a spooktacular time at Boo Bash, our annual TRES Trunk or Treat event (see flyer)! Adorn your costumes and explore an enchanted lineup of themed trunks as you trick or treat along the trail. Join us for an event full of magical adventures and hauntingly good fun! NEW: A Boo-tiful pumpkin contest (see the flyer), a BOO-tastic magic show, StoryBOOk walk, BOO-licious eats (free popcorn) and more! Sign up HERE to volunteer or donate.
  • DEADLINE EXTENDED - Monday, Nov. 4th, Reflections Arts Competition Submission Deadline. Students can create original art including dance choreography, visual arts, music composition, photography, film production, or literature based on the theme “Accepting Imperfection.” All works are created at home and submitted electronically. See PTA Reflections webpage HERE.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 6th, 7pm, PTA Meeting (Cafeteria). The PTA will be offering childcare in the gym at no cost for a limited number of children. Pre-registration is required; sign up for child care HERE.
  • Retriever Run: The STEAMazing Race, Saturday, Nov. 16th, 11:00am-2:00pm Register for the Retriever Run: The STEAMazing Race HERE! For more information, see the flyer. After the 1-mile fun run/walk, participants can attend a STEAM Spectacular (see the flyer), including a performance by Eric Energy. This year’s registration giveaway includes custom Treasure and TRES Paw Print Crocs Charms (see the flyer).
  • Wednesday, Dec. 4th, 3:45-4:45pm, TGA Tennis & Golf Winter Session After School Classes Begin. Register HERE. 10% of the registration fees will be donated to the PTA. 
  • Purchase your TRES spirit wear HERE.

Community News and Events

The HCPSS Community News and Programs website makes it easy for families to find educational and recreational resources, events and after-school programs beyond the school day by non-profit organizations. Community organizations requesting their announcements be shared in school newsletters should visit community-programs.hcpss.org for more information. Questions should be directed to the Public Information Office at publicinfo@hcpss.org.