Message from Dr. TRESler and Mr. Hiel:
Dear Retriever Families,
We would like to highlight two opportunities for students that are happening at TRES. We are excited for the whole school read aloud of The Wild Robot and the culminating open house event at the Glenwood Branch of the Howard County Library next Thursday night (February 13) starting at 5:30 p.m. Thank you to Laura Spangler, TRES media teacher, for organizing the fun! Thank you to our TRES PTA for planning a dress like a storybook character spirit day on Tuesday, February 11.
Thank you to Mrs. Lebowitz, TRES G/T teacher, for sponsoring the TRES Unheard Perspectives Showcase for 4th and 5th grade students. Another thank you goes out to our staff and parent/community judges! We appreciate everyone’s time and support of our students’ learning! Participating students researched and reported about the achievements of diverse inventors, entrepreneurs, and leaders in their careers. Three student groups will move forward to the countywide showcase later in February. We are proud of all of the students who chose to participate and learn more about the trailblazers they researched.
Warmly,
Dr. Tiffany TRESler, Principal
Kory Hiel, Assistant Principal
Upcoming Events
Please visit the TRES calendar webpage to view important upcoming dates.
- February 12 - Kindergarten Field Trip, Glenwood Library
- February 13 - The Wild Robot Reading Celebration, HO CO Library Glenwood Branch, 5:30-7:00 pm
- February 17 - Schools/Offices Closed, Presidents’ Day
- February 21 - 4th Grade Field Trip, Maryland Science Center
News and Information
Vision & Hearing Screening
Initial screening: Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Re-screening: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The Howard County Health Department (HCHD) will be performing Vision Screenings for all Pre-Kindergarten students and Vision & Hearing screenings for all Kindergarten and First Grade students. The HCHD also will be screening students in grades 2-5 who have been referred by teachers, and students who are newly enrolled from out of state who do not have a record of prior vision & hearing screening within the last 12 months. If parents/guardians wish to opt out, please contact school nurse Kelly Weiss (kelly_weiss@hcpss.org) in writing.
Join us February 13th for All School Read Celebration
TRES families are hopefully enjoying The Wild Robot by Peter Brown and sharing the joy of reading together at home. Families are invited to attend The Wild Robot Reading Celebration at The Howard County Library Glenwood Branch and enjoy fun crafts and activities. Mark your calendar to join us Thursday, February 13th between 5:30 - 7:00 pm (open house).
Counselors' Corner - A Message from Mrs. Wolf and Ms. Diaz
With this week's focus on National School Counseling Week, our hearts feel full, and we thank you for the partnerships and collaboration we experience at TRES! We are here to support staff, students, and families…and we appreciate YOUR support, too.
Looking ahead to February initiatives connected to KINDNESS, be sure to watch our most recent TRESmission video to hear the many ways to be a RAKtivist this month (and especially February 17, Random Act of Kindness Day). You'll also have a chance to see and hear about other TRES celebrations/events, including: January's Retriever Award recipients, February 11 Reading Dress-Up Day, and wonderful performances by band/orchestra/chorus groups. Keep spreading the love!
Link to TRESmission Video #6 "Goodbye January, Hello February" (17 min.)
Link to optional student page: February KINDNESS Calendar - Turn this in at the end of the month for special recognition!
Link to Staff Movie Stars, (Urian, Grove, Phamdo, Rifkin) Sharing our 4 TREaSured Traits
Resource: Teaching Children to Be Kind and Practice Compassion (PBS Article)
2025 Summer Programs Registration Now Open
Synergy online enrollment requests for the following programs will remain open through Tuesday, February 18 at 12:00 pm:
- BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9)
- Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8)
NOTE: Invitations for eligible HCPSS students for Academic Intervention and Extended School Year Special Education programs will come directly from the school or special education team in the spring. Families can find up-to-date course information and enrollment directions on the Summer Programs web page (https://www.hcpss.org/summer-programs/). Direct questions to the individual program office.
HCPSS Supports for Immigrant Families
Information is available on the HCPSS website to support immigrant families and students. Resources will continue to be added to the page as they become available.
Help Wanted- TRES in Need of One Lunch/Recess Monitor
Please spread the word. We need one more daily lunch/recess monitor. This is a 3-hour per day position (10:45am - 1:45pm) The pay is $16 per hour. Please email our assistant principal, Kory Hiel (kory_hiel@hcpss.org) if you are interested in learning more.
Attention Parents of Rising Kindergarteners: Don't Wait for Summer to Address Developmental Concerns
If you have concerns about your child's development - whether it's their speech, motor skills, social skills or learning - it's important to act now. Waiting until the summer for a referral can delay crucial support that your child may need before starting kindergarten. Contact us today to schedule a screening. Let's work together to ensure your child has the best possible start in kindergarten! Call 410-313-7046 or email ChildFind@hcpss.org
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.
Special Thanks to Lehigh Mearns and Praneet Randhawa for their work to plan and put on Winter Fest last Friday! Thanks to TRES parents who supported future PTA events by bidding in the silent auction.
Upcoming PTA Events:
- Tuesday, February 11, Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character Spirit Day. Celebrate your love of reading during our All School Read by showing off your best character outfit. See flyer HERE.
- Friday, February 14, 3:45-4:45p.m., TGA Tennis & Golf Winter Session After School Classes Begin. Spring and Late Spring class registration is now open. Register HERE. 10% of the registration fees will be donated to the PTA.
- Friday, February 21, 6:30-8:30pm., KidzArt Parent & Child Art Class Fundraiser (Cafeteria). Join TRES-family owned KidzArt for a fun parent and child art class to benefit the TRES PTA. Registration opens January 24th. Register HERE. See flyer HERE
- Friday, March 7, 6:30-8:30pm, Cultural Night (cafeteria and gym). The TRES PTA invites you to take a tour around the world as we celebrate the cultural diversity of our TRES families! Please use THIS form to RSVP as an attendee and also to submit a request to participate! This year we are making an effort to have different regions of the world represented so performance spots are limited! There are three ways students and families can participate: 1) Family Heritage Tables; 2) Cultural Fashion Show; and 3) Stage Performances - we encourage students and their families to sing, dance, recite a poem, perform a skit/demonstration. **Please note the participation request will close on Feb. 14th to give us enough time to prepare for the event!** See flyer HERE.
- Wednesday, March 12, 7p.m. - PTA Virtual Meeting - Link and agenda to be emailed to members one week before.
- Thursday, March 27, 5p.m. Join TRES friends at Main Event for laser tag, bowling, and arcade games. 20% of all purchases will support TRES PTA. See flyer HERE.
- KidzArt Classes. Register HERE to enroll in after-school sessions. Use the same link to register for summer camp (now open).
- Purchase your TRES spirit wear HERE.
Community News and Events
STEMVillage Leadership Summer Camp: This is the perfect opportunity for rising 3rd–6th graders to explore the exciting worlds of science, technology, engineering, and math, all while building key leadership skills! Through hands-on projects and fun challenges, campers will strengthen their critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and public speaking—all while creating lasting summer memories. This summer, we’re offering two exciting sessions:
- Session 1 (July 7–11, 2025): Dive into the world of simple machines and rockets! Campers will build catapults, design bottle rockets, and work on group STEM pitches. They’ll also boost their confidence with interactive presentations and public speaking activities.
- Session 2 (July 28–August 1, 2025): Get creative with problem-solving challenges, including egg drops, bridge-building competitions, and teamwork exercises. This session focuses on collaboration, innovation, and leadership in group settings.
Early bird pricing is just $350 per week if registered by February 28, 2025!
For more details and to register, visit tinyurl.com/stemvillage25.
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.