TRES Retriever Report February 6, 2026

Message from Dr. TRESler and Mr. Hiel:

Dear Retriever Families,

This week (February 2–6, 2026) was National School Counseling Week (NSCW). We joined schools across the country to recognize the vital impact our school counselors have on student achievement and well-being. This year’s theme is "School Counselors Amplify Student Success”. Our counselors, Mrs. Wolf and Ms. Diaz, are the "amplifiers" in our buildings—turning student dreams into reality and providing the support needed for every child to thrive. Our school counselors do so much to support our school community and they are an invaluable part of our staff. Click here to read more about the role of the school counselors in HCPSS.

Please join us in giving a big THANK YOU to Mrs. Wolf (debra_wolf@hcpss.org) and Ms. Diaz (amanda_diaz@hcpss.org)! 

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

Upcoming Events

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

  • Now through March 27 - Yearbooks Available for Purchase (see below)
  • February 9 - Report Cards Issued, 4pm
  • February 10 - Vision & Hearing Screening (see below)
  • February 16 & 17: Schools/Offices Closed
  • March 3 - Early Dismissal 12:40pm
  • March 11 - 3rd Grade Field Trip, Robinson Nature Center
  • March 12 - Spring Picture Day
  • March 20 - Schools Closed

News and Information

Vision & Hearing Screening
Initial screening:  Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Re-screening:  Tuesday, February 24, 2026
The Howard County Health Department (HCHD) will be performing Vision Screenings for all Pre-Kindergarten students and Vision & Hearing screenings for Kindergarten and First Grade students. The HCHD will also be screening students 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. Please see the attached HCHD letter for more information. If parents/guardians have questions or wish to opt out, please contact school nurse Kelly Weiss (kelly_weiss@hcpss.org) in writing.  

Hearing.Vision Parent Letter.pdf 

Students Fasting During Ramadan
Ramadan Mubarak to our families who are observing Ramadan. If your child(ren) is fasting during Ramadan and you would like to request they are provided an alternative location from the cafeteria during their lunch period, please email both of our school counselors, Mrs. Wolf (debra_wolf@hcpss.org) and Ms. Diaz (amanda_diaz@hcpss.org).  Please include your child(ren)’s name, grade, and homeroom teacher. 

TRES  2025-2026 Yearbooks are now Available for Purchase Online Through March 27th
TRES families, this is your only opportunity to purchase. There will not be any extra copies available later in the year when they are distributed, usually in early June.  If you would like to purchase, please do not miss this opportunity. Total cost including handling and tax is $30.  Purchase HERE.

Howard County Literacy Association Proudly Announces the Winners of the 2025–2026 Young Authors’ Contest
The Howard County Literacy Association has posted the names of all county winners on its website. Congratulations to all the winners! The writing contest is open to all students in grades 1 through 12 in public and private schools across Howard County. Participating schools submitted their winning poems and short stories to the county level of the Young Authors’ Contest.

Counselors' Corner - A Message From Mrs. Wolf and Ms. Diaz
Happy February!  We've been feeling the cold, but hope to warm things up with kindness, friendship, and showing love to others.  February 17th is national "Random Acts of Kindness Day" and staff/students are encouraged to get in on the RAK Attack (even though we won't be at school that day).  Homeroom classes will be taking action with a random kindness. Feel free to check out the resources below for ways to join in from home, too!

Click HERE for RAK Family Ideas
Click HERE if you are need of free Valentine printables to color

Also, across the United States, this week was acknowledged as "National School Counseling Week" with the theme School Counselors Amplify Student Success.  Mrs. Wolf and Ms. Diaz want to extend heartfelt THANKS for the support they each receive from staff, students, and families.  Things turn out better when we all work together — and we hope that our contributions have made a positive impact on TRES stakeholders, especially our wonderful Retrievers.  Keep taking care of each other, TRES!

HCPSS Special Education Resource Fair
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Cedar Lane School (11630 Scaggsville Road, Fulton)
HCPSS will host a Special Education Resource Fair on March 14, providing families with information from the community and HCPSS to support their students receiving special education and related services. Registration is not required.

HCPSS Summer 2026 Program Information
Information for Summer 2026 will be updated on the Summer Programs webpage on January 23 for the following programs:

  • BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9)
  • Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8)
  • Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9-12) 

HCPSS Family Empowerment Academy
The HCPSS Family Empowerment Academy is designed to equip parents and guardians with practical strategies, resources, and insights to support their children’s academic, social, and emotional success. The academy will take place on four consecutive Saturdays- March 7 through March 28, 2026, from 9:00-10:30 AM- and will feature interactive learning experiences, guest speakers, and opportunities to connect with other HCPSS families. Participation is limited to 30 participants, and registration is first-come, first-served. Attendance is encouraged for all four sessions. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Please complete the application form to be considered for participation. 

Dismissal and Attendance Notification Information
Please read HERE for important information regarding school notification of dismissal changes and student absences.

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.

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

TRES PTA

JOIN THE TRES PTA TODAY!  

PTA TRES Directory: All PTA members now have access to a TRES Directory that can be used to plan events, playdates, and more. Email TRESPTA1@gmail.com if you have not received the directory.

Join or donate HERE. 

NEW UPCOMING PTA EVENTS AND INFORMATION: TRES PTA FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER and TRES PTA EVENTS CALENDAR 25-26

  • RESCHEDULED to February 23rd: Reflections Awards Ceremony, 6:30PM School Cafeteria
    • Students who participated in this year's Reflections competition, and their families, are invited to the school-level awards ceremony. Light refreshments will be served.
  • 5th Grade Activities Update: Survey response needed by February 14th
    • The 5th graders have all received their special signature 5th grade shirt! Shout out to Sarah McConnell and Mrs. Determann for their hard work in organizing that tradition. Thank you to everyone who contributes to the PTA in membership or donations for making this a tradition we can continue year after year. Students will wear these shirts to the 5th grade end of year picnic June 5th.
    • We are considering a TRES night at Camden Yards but would like to see if there is enough interest. Please indicate your response on this survey link by February 14th!
    • Simulated Congressional Hearings (SCH) will be May 21st! We will be looking for volunteers to help with this event. More to come!
    • We are hard at work making sure this 5th grade year is a fabulous one for our TREaSures!! We will be looking for volunteers to help set up the 5th grade end-of-year picnic on June 5th as well as to contribute to making the event a success! Please keep an eye out for more information, or reach out to Lisa (lgpaddy@gmail.com) or Sarah (scmcconnell@gmail.com) if you are interested. 
    • 5th grade yard signs - We are looking for a sponsor willing to ensure that ALL 5th grade students get a yard sign this year! This group of students started at TRES during COVID and we just want to be sure ALL students get a special recognition at the end of the year that families can display with pride. If you or your business would be willing to sponsor, please reach out to Lisa Paddy (lgpaddy@gmail.com)
  • TRES Yearbook Pictures Needed by February 15th
    • We have an album set up in the Yearbook Software for people to submit photographs for consideration for the yearbook. Thank you for the Boo Bash pictures already!
    • Please submit pictures from Pajama Days, Orchestra Concerts, Holiday Celebrations, etc. Use TRES Yearbook Pictures Link
    • Password: TRESYearbook1!
  • February 24th, Barrington Tap & Table Fundraiser 11am-9pm
  • SAVE THE DATE! TRES Spring Read-A-Thon
    • The TRES Read-A-Thon will be April 17 - May 1. Stay tuned for details!
  • Seeking PTA Sponsors: The TRES PTA is looking for businesses or individual sponsors to augment our operating budget. If interested, email TRESPTA1@gmail.com.  See: TRES PTA Sponsor Letter

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.