Published using Google Docs
Bushy Park Elementary School- Summer Update #2
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

Bushy Bear Tales Summer Update 2

Bushy Park Elementary School

School Hours:

Doors Open for Students at 9:05 a.m.

Student Hours: 9:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m

Dear  Families,

Our amazing BPES staff has returned to the building. We are just one week away from welcoming our students back for another exciting school year! Our theme this year is Together We Shine, and we can’t wait to see the smiles, energy, and joy your children bring into the building.

Over the past few weeks, our staff has been busy preparing classrooms, organizing materials, and planning engaging lessons and activities. We’re excited for the year ahead and the opportunities it will bring for growth, learning, and community.

Classroom teacher assignments will be available on Wednesday, August 20th.  In order to see your child’s teacher assignment you will need to have your family file completed.  

Please see below for a few additional updates from last week!  

See you soon.
Kristian Rutledge
Principal, Bushy Park Elementary School

______________________________________________________

Upcoming Dates

Friday, August 22nd   Open House Schedule (Parents and Students)

10:00 - 10:30  MINC-EL, AM Preschool, AM MINC-Preschool Open House

10:30  - 11:30  Kindergarten Orientation/Back to School Night

11:30 - 12:00 PreK, MINC-PK, PM preschool, PM MINC-preschool Open House

1:30 - 2:00 New Student Orientation

2:00 - 3:00 Open House Grades 1-5

Calendar Dates

August 25th                 First Day of School

August 28th          First Day of School for RECC/PreK

September 

September 1          Labor Day - Schools and Offices Closed

September 9         Back-to-School Nights (Details Below)

September 11        Back-to-School Nights (Details Below)         

September 17          Schools Close Three Hours Early - Professional Work and Wellness Day

September 23        Schools and Offices Closed

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

Back to School Nights 2025-2026 School Year (Parents Only)

Back to School Night

Tuesday, September 9th Grades 1,2,3

 

First Grade                6:00 - 6:20  Classroom Visit                6:30 - 7:00          Cafeteria        

Second Grade                6:00 - 6:20  Classroom Visit                6:30 - 7:00        Media Center

Third Grade                6:00 - 6:20  Classroom Visit                6:30 - 7:00        Mini Auditorium                

Thursday, September 11  Grades 4,5

GT                5:30 - 6:00  Presentation                                        Media Center

Fifth Grade        6:00 - 6:20  Classroom Visit                        6:30 - 7:00        Cafeteria

Fourth Grade        6:00 - 6:20  Classroom VIsit                        6:30 - 7:00        Mini Auditorium        

_________________________________________________________Welcome our New Staff to BPES!

News and Information

Parents/guardians must verify and/or update emergency information for each child every school year. This is completed online in Family File, which has several new updates including how and where to access. Full details on updating your Family File are available online.

 

One exciting new feature is that families now can submit a change of address via Family File, rather than completing a separate form and sending it to their school. Full directions and information for families on this new process can be found online.

 _________________________________________________________________________

Arrival and Dismissal

Students can begin to enter the building at 9:05 a.m. and the late bell rings at 9:15 a.m. Students are dismissed at 3:45 p.m. See below for information related to arrival and dismissal.

BPES families, PLEASE send and dismiss your child the first day of school in the manner they will be arriving and going home daily. Parents will not be allowed to enter the building with their child on the first day.  This will help our students learn their daily routines and the arrival and dismissal routines of the school and ensure the safety of all students and staff members.

Please click on the link below to read our arrival and dismissal procedures.

BPES Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Early Dismissals for Students

If you are changing the dismissal procedure for your child, please send in a note to the teacher.  We will have white notes available for families during the open house on August 22nd.  Our cutoff for early dismissal is 3:15. All families will be directed to join the car line after this time.  In addition, if you have a change in dismissal time and need to call the front office the cutoff time for that is 12:00pm. Please understand that this is for the safety of our students so that we can ensure all students are being dismissed properly on a daily basis.  Thank you for your cooperation and partnership.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Transportation Information

The online HCPSS bus locator application on the transportation web page is scheduled to be available Wednesday, August 20th. At that time, eligible families can access bus stop locations and pickup/dropoff times.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Volunteer Training Required - Complete Now and Be Ready for the 2025/26 School Year

Please view the materials using this website below..  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. Thank you in advance for your gifts of service and time. Please read and review the materials on the website below.  Once you have finished, COMPLETE THIS GOOGLE DOC (no paperwork required).  You do not need to print anything out.

https://www.hcpss.org/parents/volunteer-information/

____________________________________________________________________________ 

Student Personal Device Policy


This summer, the Board of Education agreed to continue with the policy that implements strict limitations on the personal use of devices by students during the student day. Per the policy, students may be in possession of personal devices, but they must be “away and silenced,” meaning devices are not able to be seen by either the student or staff member and are set to make no noise. Additionally, devices may not be a distraction. Smart watches will be permitted to be worn to check time but may not be a distraction. More information about the policy may be found on the HCPSS website.

Free and Reduced Meals
Many families are eligible to participate in the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) Program, which provides children with a wide range of benefits including free or discounted college tuition, testing and application fees, program fees and many others. Families are urged to check their eligibility and complete a FARMs application as soon as possible. Families must submit a new application every school year. Details on the Free and Reduced Meals Program, including a link to apply, are available online.

Attendance/Reporting Absences

Parents can email BPESabsence@hcpss.org to report a student’s absence. Please include your child(ren)’s full name, parent’s/guardian’s full name and phone number, the date your child(ren) was absent and the reason.  Parents may instead choose to send in a paper excuse note to their child’s teacher with the same information when the student returns to school.

For families requesting local discretionary absences, please complete a Local Discretionary Absence Request Form and submit it to the front office at least one week in advance.  

____________________________________________________________________________________

Bullying Information For 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, I want to 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.