TRES Retriever Report August 22, 2025

Message from Dr. TRESler and Mr. Hiel:

Dear Retriever Families,

We are excited to kick off the 2025-2026 school year and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone at our open house and new family events this morning! Our school community continues to grow as we open our doors on the first day of school for 640 students! In addition to new families, we have some new staff joining our dedicated team. Please join us in welcoming them!

Teachers: Joshua Stirn (.4 P.E. Mr. Stirn was a P.E. substitute for TRES last school year), Karen Radcliffe (1st grade), Regina McCloskey (2nd grade), Katie Bostic (special education)

Teachers’ Secretary: Gavin Shown

Media Para: Marlene Fonseca (.4)

Student Assistants: Vee Hayes, Natalie Rudolph, Sara Izac

Daily Building Substitutes: Fizza Asad, Riley De Leeuw

Special Education Para Daily Substitute: Carol Khoury

Lunch/Recess Monitors: Tyasia Bell, Rahel Beyene, Hind Chaala, Mariah Laws, Jack Hayden

As you can see, it was a busy summer hiring season here at TRES!

It’s going to be a great school year!

Warm Regards,
Dr. Tiffany TRESler, Principal
Kory Hiel, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Events

Please visit the TRES calendar webpage to view important upcoming dates

TRES 2025 Back To School Events

  • TODAY, Friday, August 22nd
    • 9:00-10:15 a.m.: New Family Welcome for Students in Grades First-Fifth: This event is for families who are brand new to TRES and have not yet had a child who has attended school at TRES. Children are encouraged to attend with parents. Please prepare your child in advance that students will be participating in a getting to know you activity with some current TRES students and teachers while parents will have an information session with the TRES administration in the cafeteria. Parents and children will be reunited at the end of the session for a school tour. New families are then welcome to stay for the first open house session.
    • 9:45-10:15 a.m.: PreK and Kindergarten Students Open House: This event is for children and parents to meet their teacher and you can drop off your school supplies! Due to limited parking at TRES, please join us at your assigned time, and do not stay past your assigned time.
    • 10:15-10:45 a.m.: Open House for the following students: 1st-5th Grade Students with Last Names Beginning A-G, New Tres Families Following the Welcome Program, and Older Siblings of Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten Students Who Attended their Open House ending at 10:15 a.m. This event is for children and parents to meet their teacher and you can drop off your school supplies! Due to limited parking at TRES, please join us at your assigned time, and do not stay past your assigned time.
    • 11:15-11:45 a.m.: Open House for 1st-5th Grade Students with Last Names Beginning H-Z. This event is for children and parents to meet their teacher and you can drop off your school supplies! Due to limited parking at TRES, please join us at your assigned time, and do not stay past your assigned time.
  • Wednesday, September 10th, 7:00-7:45 p.m.: G/T Math Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians of Fourth and Fifth Grade G/T math students. Virtual-Link will be sent to parents via Canvas.
  • Thursday, September 11th, 6:30-8:00 p.m.: First, Second, Third and Fifth Grades Back to School Night (this event is for Parents/Guardians only)

Additional Dates to Note:

  • August 25 - First Day of School for K-5 Students. Doors open at 9:05 a.m. Late bell rings at 9:15 a.m. Parents are not permitted to walk students to class.
  • August 28 - First Day of PreKindergarten
  • September 1 - Schools/Offices Closed
  • September 17 - Early Dismissal at 12:45 p.m.
  • September 23 - Schools/Offices Closed

News and Information

Update Your Student/Family Emergency Information Today!
HCPSS utilizes Family File for families to complete emergency information. Parents/guardians can now access and complete Family File by logging in to HCPSS Connect, selecting Online Registration/Family File at the top right of the page and then selecting Family File Verification. Parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child each school year.

School Schedule
The TRES Daily Schedule including arrival and dismissal times, and lunch times for all grades, can be found on our school website under the “ABOUT” tab. 

Transportation
The online HCPSS bus locator application is now available and can be found on the HCPSS Transportation webpage. Please review your child’s bus number and be sure they know it and check before boarding a bus.

Change of Address   
Please remember that families are required by Policy 9000 to notify us/HCPSS if you move to a new home address. Current residency documentation must be updated each time residency changes. Families now can submit a change of address via Family File, rather than completing a separate form. Full directions and information for families on this new process can be found online.

School Supplies 
You can view the TRES School Supply list HERE. If you need supplies for your student(s), please contact Tiffany Tresler at tiffany_tresler@hcpss.org. We have several filled backpacks available to share as needed. 

Health Room Reminder:  Medication Drop-Off & Required Forms

If your child needs to take medication during the school day, please remember to drop off all medications directly to the Health Room. You may begin to drop off medications to TRES Health Room starting Tuesday, August 19, 2025, from 9 am to 3:30 pm and any weekday after. Students may not carry any medications themselves including over-the-counter medications. All medications must be accompanied by the appropriate completed medication form which is available on the school website or in the Health Room. The required medical forms, the medication order form and their policy information can be found on these HCPSS websites:

Medication Order Form

Health Care Forms for Enrollment

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Health Room staff on or after August 14, 2025 at 410-313-2562. Thank you for keeping our students safe and healthy!

Lunch Visitors
To establish routines, we ask that families who may be planning to join their students for a lunch period wait until October to visit. Thank you in advance for your understanding and please remember that all lunch visitors must also complete the Visitor/Volunteer Training (see below). 

Volunteer Training Required Every Year for all Visitors and Volunteers - Take 5 Minutes to Complete Now and You're Set for the 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.

Bullying Policy/Information/Reporting for Parents, Guardians, and Families
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal.  HCPSS Policy 9460 states that bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation are prohibited in HCPSS. Our administration and staff have been trained and made aware of this policy as well as preventative and responsive measures.

We know how important your role is in not only supporting your children, but also reporting possible incidents as you become aware of them. The Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation (BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report all alleged incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation that occur at school or have a connection back to the school setting that create a risk of harm to other students while they are at school, or interfere with the educational environment. An online version is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. Hard copies of this form are available in the main office, staff workroom, school counseling office, media center, and health services office.  If you believe your child has been bullied, please complete and submit this form as soon as possible and/or assist your child in doing so.

Once the form is submitted, school administrators will ensure the parent/guardian of both the alleged target and alleged offender are aware of the report and will begin an investigation within two school days of receiving the report. Parents/guardians can expect a school administrator to reach out to them during the investigation.  Once the investigation is completed, parents/guardians will be provided written notice of the outcome of the investigation within fifteen days of receiving the compaint, excluding extenuating circumstances.

There are times when incidents of peer conflict or code of conduct offenses may occur that may not be bullying, but may need follow up action. If you become aware of something that falls under conflict and/or a code of conduct offense, please notify a school administrator via email or phone call so that they can become aware and follow up as needed.

Lastly, we take a moment to specifically lift up cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying using electronic media like computers, cell phones, and game systems. Our digital interconnectedness makes bullying different and more damaging than it’s ever been before. It allows hatred and publicly humiliating gossip or photos to be instantly far-reaching and inescapable as electronic media is everywhere. It can NOT simply be ignored. In October 2013, the State of Maryland enacted Grace’s Law, making misuse of interactive computer services a criminal offense. Its purpose is to prohibit anyone from using electronic media (computers, tablets, phones, etc.) to maliciously engage in conduct that inflicts serious emotional distress on a minor and/or places that minor in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury. A person who is found guilty of violating this law is subject to imprisonment and/or fines.

While all of this information will be reviewed with students at school, we are asking you to do the same at home. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring all of our students feel a sense of safety and belonging in their school communities! More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

Student Meals & Payments
HCPSS will continue to use LINQ Connect, a secure, online portal that allows families to make online payments to their child’s meal account, monitor their child’s account, schedule automatic recurring payments, set up low balance alerts, submit a Free and Reduced Meals program application, and more. Complete information on the HCPSS Food and Nutrition Services program is available online.

Student Personal Device Use
Parents/guardians should remind students that personal technology devices are to be put away and silenced, and not a distraction during the student day. Some exceptions may apply, including for students whose IEP, 504 or health plan allow for device use. Full details are available online.

HCPSS Family Academy Kick-Off on Friday, September 27th, from 9am - noon at Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia 
The district wide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature an informative session with HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes; resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations; and information on programs, resources and services available throughout the school year. Childcare and language access will be provided.

TRES PTA

JOIN THE TRES PTA TODAY! Your annual membership provides opportunities for academic enrichment, social events, community engagement, and staff appreciation.  Join by October 1st for a chance at winning a Dream Auto Detailing gift certificate and score an extra entry by making an additional donation.

Join or donate HERE. See: PTA FLYER

*Rising Kindergarten Families: Please join the TRES PTA K Class Page

UPCOMING PTA EVENTS AND INFORMATION:

Stay in Touch: Visit www.trespta.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/trespta.

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.