Principal’s Message

“The power of words is that a life can be launched with as little as a single

phrase, an uplifting word or an act of kindness. Think of the power we wield

and the impact we can make if we become more intentional about encouraging

our children. Our words are often the very things that help create future

dreams. And sometimes those dreams are to be just like us”

Let’s make a pledge that during the month of February which is usually

depicted as the month of “Love” to love on our children and students. Our

words whether positive or negative impact the hearts and minds of young

children. Speak life into our most precious gems and see what a marvelous

impact it will have on them and us.

Mrs. Pamela Crosell

Families now is the time to join our PTA. The cost is $8. The PTA will have a

general meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd beginning promptly at 7:00 pm.

All members and non-members are encouraged to attend. We will be

discussing activities that will benefit our school. We look forward to seeing

you there.

Our officers for the PTA are:

Mrs. Cicely Hooper-Brown, President

Mr. Dion Stokes, Vice-President

Mrs. Bernadette Harris, Treasurer

Mrs. Heather Jones-Stokes, Secretary

Upcoming Events

February 15:

President’s Day- NO

SCHOOL

February 17:

Wolfgang Fundraiser Due

February 18:

McCormick Night @ the

Rosedale Library

6:30-8:00

February 19:

Jump Rope for Heart

2:00 pm

STEAM Fair Forms Due

February 23:

PTA Meeting 7 pm

-------------------------------------

March 2:

Books for Breakfast

7:45 am

March 11:

Black History Program

6:00

THE CHATTER BCPS 2/10/2016 Edition 1, Volume 6

GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING @ McCORMICK ES

Parents each month we will feature highlights from our grade level and special area teachers,

highlighting the wonderful work our students are doing. This month we are highlighting

Kindergarten and Vocal Music.

VOCAL MUSIC SHOWCASE

Vocal music at McCormick is hands on. “The best way to learn about

music is to live in it.” We learn music theory by applying it. We play

recorder, world percussion instruments, and piano and even bucket

drums. We also experience music through singing and simply

listening. Every other Wednesday a select group of students, who

form what I call Mrs. Jackson’s music club, stay after school for 2

hours to enhance their musical skills. Our next big event is the spring concert in May. Soon, I will also

have a date for the Music club to show what they have learned. Stay tuned and come support our talented

students!

“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education, because rhythm and harmony find their way into

the inward places of the soul.” – Plato

Mrs. Rein’s Class

We just completed out ELA theme: Around the Neighborhood. Our Focus

Question was, “How can people, help to make their community better?”

We discovered that one of the ways to do that was to build a community

garden. It’s too cold outside to build a real community garden right now,

but we worked together to create a mural of a community garden.

Everyone created plants, birds, and insects using paper, pencils and

crayons. Our Community Garden is a beautiful example of what you can do when you work together!

Mrs. Hopkins’s Class

Our class is very excited to spend time learning about some very important “Heroes of History”. We read

books and studied the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and learned a very special song about his dream

for us. Now we are learning about our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln and our first president, George

Washington. We spend time each day practicing our letters, letter sounds and sight words. We are

excited to be beginning readers and writers. Keep reading and writing at home!!

African American History Program

African American History Program will celebrate the contributions of African-

Americans. Due to the snow days, we are rescheduling the Black History Program

to March 11th. A fun-filled night of dance, drumming, song and academic

enrichment is planned. While African-American History is usually celebrated in

the month of February, I felt that it was important to have a quality showcase of

the talents of the students of McCormick. Additionally, the contributions of all

Americans can and should be celebrated throughout the year and the date of the show does not lessen

the significance of the program. I am also asking for families to participate as well in out celebration. We

hope that you will join the students of McCormick on Friday, March 11th (time to be decided).

McCormick’s Teacher of the Year Nomination

I am also proud to announce that Mr. Winaker and I have nominated Mr. Joseph

Donnelly as Teacher of The Year at McCormick. Mr. Donnelly will represent

McCormick at the Teacher of The Year banquet for BCPS as well as be in the

running for Maryland State Teacher of the Year. We are very proud to have such

a wonderful and dedicated educator on our staff. KUDOS, Mr. Donnelly for a

terrific job, you make us proud!!!

Pamela Crosell, Principal Matthew Winaker, Asst. Principal

Books for Breakfast and Parent Meeting

Please join us again this year for our annual Books for Breakfast event on Wednesday,

March 2, 2016 at 7:45am. Interested students can dress up as a storybook character

and try to win a prize. Everyone can enjoy juice and donuts. McCormick students will

even get a book! After the school day starts, all of our storybook characters will

parade through the halls for everyone to see. Parents are invited to stay for a parent

meeting on topics of reading, writing, and literacy presented by Mrs. Bondarenko, Mrs. Brook, and Ms.

Tormollen. Look for the flyer coming home soon with all the details. If you’re going to dress up, you’ll need

to see Mrs. Brook for the contest guidelines.

FUNDRAISING

McCormick Elementary School is proud to have teamed up with Wolfgang Fundraising for our Spring Fundraiser. Remember the success of the program depends on you! Thank you for your support!

ORDERS & MONEY DUE: February 17 MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: McCormick E.S. PTA

PICK-UP DATE: Tuesday March 8th

For more information or questions contact: Cicely Hooper-Brown at 443-963-9103, email - cicelymccormick01@gmail.com or Bernadette Harris at 443-963-9481, email – bernadettemccormick01@gmail.com

Pennies for Patients

McCormick Elementary is registered to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Series’ Pennies for Patients. By collecting change and dollars, students will help people touched with blood cancers. With the help of programs like this one, LLS has invested more than $1 billion in research for

advance therapies that save lives. Thanks to you and your child in advance for helping LLS create a world without blood cancers.

Collection Dates: Monday, February 8, 2016—February 26, 2016

Where: McCormick Elementary

Contact Person: Dawn Bouder, School Counselor, 410-887-0500

How: Fill your box and bring it to school

Jump Rope for Heart

Students will be having an assembly on the 19th of this month to learn about the event

and why we are raising money. Our schools goal is $5,000, which all goes to the

American Heart Association. Students can begin raising money now by going online

and registering.

Jump Rope for Heart is here! If you haven’t already, please register for our school team at

www.heart.org/jump or by searching Jump/Hoops in the app store on your mobile device. Our students

are learning all about what they can do to keep their hearts healthy, and how they can help others by

collecting donations for the American Heart Association. We are a healthy and service-minded

community!

PAWSITIVE BEHAVIOR

Here are the names of the PAWsitive Students for January who showed Fairness.

Pre-K AM: Mc’Kenzie Smith, Bryan Jones Pre-K PM: Malaun Muriel, Kennedy Ward

Kindergarten: Julia Harris, Jordan Wilson Grade 1: Aubrey Lee, Amaya Johnson Grade 2: Jonathan Bailey, Maxwell Stonebraker Grade 3: Tyrieke Alford, Olivia Arroyo, Tracey Street Grade 4: Jefferson Salgado, Zeniyah Smith, Jaya Nelson Grade 5: Ava Tormollen, Dayquan Rose

Student Safety – Before and After School Care

Ensuring the safety of our students, and your children, is a

priority of the school. The following considerations are stressed

for each family to help McCormick meet our goal of “safety first.”

Parents please do not drop your children off at school prior

to 8:15 AM. Students will be allowed into the building beginning

at 8:15 AM only and not before unless there is inclement

weather.

Parents/guardians must provide the school with written instructions regarding change of daycare, altered arrangements for student transportation as well as information regarding persons permitted to pick a child up from school. Written statements requesting change must include the name of the student as well as the signature of the legal parent/guardian making the request. A reliable telephone number must be included so that verification from the office can be determined. We ask that students/parents/guardians submit these requests first thing in the morning.

Parents/guardians are discouraged from telephoning the school to make changes in daycare, student transportation and/or unknown persons sent by the family to withdraw a student from school. It is legally impossible for the school to verify if the caller is legally permitted to make such a request. If calling the school is a last resort in an emergency situation, the caller must be prepared to answer questions related to their child’s Student Emergency Form 2015-2016 that families are required to complete annually.

Student Emergency Forms, 2015-2016, must be updated by the parent/guardian as telephone numbers (work/home/cell) and contacts change throughout the year. These forms can be sent home at your request.

Parents/guardians are discouraged from withdrawing students at the end of the day just prior to walker/bus rider dismissal. This is a hectic time of day for students, teachers and office personnel. It is possible that vital information could be lost to the teachers, and ultimately your child, could be lost in the various announcements made at the end of the day.

If an adult’s arrival at school is the only option in an emergency situation, this request can only be made at the office and after proper identification has been verified. Teachers will not permit a student to leave their classroom unless verification has been received from the office.

Emergency Forms/Early Dismissal Forms

It is imperative that all families return the emergency forms to the school. This information must

be available to staff in the event of a critical situation involving your child. It is equally important that this

information be updated as family situations change throughout the school year. Remember, students

may not be released into the custody of any individual without their name appearing on the student’s

emergency form. Any person withdrawing a child from the school must prove identity using a driver’s

license or other form of identity.

Absence Notes – When a child is absent from school, it is mandatory for the

parent/guardian to submit a note to the teacher explaining the reason for the

absence. These notes should be presented on the day the student returns to

school. If your child is absent for more than three days in a row due to illness, we

ask that you contact the school nurse, Ms. McGuirk. Please note it is not necessary

to call the school the day of the illness.

Custody Issues

Please be reminded that the school must have copies of all current court ordered custody

arrangements on file in our office. Without these documents, the school is unable to comply with some

requests made by families. If you have any questions regarding legal documents, please contact Ms.

Bouder, McCormick’s guidance counselor.

As Maryland weather is unpredictable, the following are reminders regarding early dismissal

procedures:

Early Dismissal Due to Inclement Weather

As we know, the Baltimore region of Maryland is known for fast

traveling winter storms. Sometimes, they come when least expected. The

following policy is provided to you as we plan for every contingency

throughout the winter months.

Should it be necessary to close schools early due to inclement

weather, the procedures outlined below will apply for one, two and three-hour early dismissals when all

schools are closing early. Dr. Dance recognizes that a decision to close two-hours early poses problems in

some schools with the dismissal of morning Pre-Kindergarten children and the resultant need to serve

food to these youngsters; additionally. Lunch schedules and vocational-technical center transportation

are affected in the secondary schools. It is recognized that bus drivers, whose jobs depend on accident-

free driving records, are concerned about transporting children on potentially dangerous roads for an

extra trip on days when driving should be limited rather than expanded. In view of these concerns, the

decision to close schools two-hours early will be made only in emergency situations such as those

involving sudden or violent storms or road conditions requiring treatment more extensive than that which

can be completed for a three-hour early dismissal. When possible, one and three-hour closings will be

used.

One-Hour Closing

Student Dismissal – students, grades pre-kindergarten through 12, in all schools will be dismissed

one hour earlier than normal. Afternoon pre-kindergarten students will be dismissed with students in

grades kindergarten through grade five and will travel home on the same buses as these students. For

McCormick students, dismissal will be at 2:10 p.m.

Lunches – Lunches will be served to students as usual.

Media Announcements – The following message will be given to television and radio stations: “All

Baltimore County Public Schools will close one-hour earlier than normal closing time.”

Two-Hour Closing

Student Dismissal – Students in grades kindergarten through 12 in all schools will be dismissed

two-hours earlier than normal. There will be no afternoon pre-kindergarten. Morning pre-kindergarten

students will remain at school until dismissal for students in grades kindergarten through five and will

travel home on the same buses as these students. For McCormick students, dismissal will be at 1:10 p.m.

Lunches – Every effort will be made to serve lunches to all students who normally eat lunch at

school; thus, some adjustments to lunch schedules will be necessary. Morning pre-kindergarten students

will be fed a snack using the normal procedures. Pre-kindergarten students will not be served a full lunch.

Media Announcements – The following message will be given to television and radio stations; “All

Baltimore County Public Schools will close two-hours earlier than normal closing time. There will be no

afternoon pre-kindergarten. Morning pre-kindergarten will be dismissed with the other elementary

school students.”

Three-Hour Closing

Student Dismissal – Students in grades kindergarten through 12 in all schools will be dismissed

three-hours earlier than normal. There will be no afternoon pre-kindergarten. Morning pre-kindergarten

students will remain in the elementary schools until dismissal for students in grades kindergarten through

5 and will travel home on the same buses with these students. For McCormick students, dismissal will be

at 12:10 p.m.

Lunches – Every effort will be made to serve a limited lunch to all students who normally eat at

school; thus some adjustments to the lunch schedule will be necessary.

Media Announcement – The following message will be given to television and radio stations; “All

Baltimore County Public Schools will close three-hours earlier than normal closing time. There will be

no afternoon pre-kindergarten. Morning pre-kindergarten will be dismissed with the other elementary

students.”

In the event that all Baltimore County Public Schools are closing for one, two or three-hour

early dismissal, it is the responsibility of families to listen for media broadcasts to determine

the approximate time students should be arriving home.

Schools will not be calling individual families regarding this information.

Please talk with your school age child so that they know where to go and what to do when

schools are dismissed early.