Newsletter 10/3

HCPSS

Talbott Springs Elementary School

Community Newsletter 10/3/25

October 3, 2025

Greetings TSES Families,

We’ve had another successful week at TSES.  Our year to date attendance rate is 96.1%. Let’s keep up the great work!

This week we celebrated our amazing TSES custodians!  Not only do they keep our school beautiful and safe, but they also positively interact with our staff and students on a daily basis! Join us in thanking them for all they do for our TSES community!

This week’s newsletter includes the following:

Important Dates

Read-A-Thon

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Flying Eagles Volunteer Program

Family School Partnerships Meetings

Green Apple Day of Service

TSES Family Resource Information

Support for Families During Federal Government Shut Down

Columbia Association Points Application

 

Important Dates

October 6 - 17 - PTA Sponsored Read-A-Thon

October 7- Crazy Sock

October 8 - Pajama Day

October 8 - PTA meeting @ 6pm

October 9 - Hispanic Heritage Celebration @ 6pm

October 9 - Hispanic Read Aloud Day

October 13 - Dress like a book character

October 13 - Staff Luncheon provided by community to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

October 13 & 14 - Dental Clinic

October 15 - Crazy Hair

October 16 - Down Syndrome Awareness Day - Wear blue and/or yellow

October 16 - Family Engagement Meeting @ 6:30pm

October 16 - PTA Red Robin Restaurant Night

October 16 - Flashlight Thursday while reading a book

October 17 - Schools closed for students

October 18 - Green Apple Day of Service @ 10am

October 20 - Schools & offices are closed for Diwali

October 22 - Unity Day - Wear orange!

October 23 - Breast Cancer Awareness - Wear pink!

October 30 - Fall Theme - Wear fall colors!

October 31 - Schoolwide pajama day!

October 31 - Schools closed 3 hours early. TSES dismisses @ 12:15

October 31 - End of 1st Quarter

November 10 - Report cards available to parents in Synergy @ 4pm

 

Read-A-Thon: Our Read-A-Thon starts Monday, Oct. 6!  Get lost in a book and help the TSES PTA soar! Join the Read-A-Thon and turn pages into progress!

Let's show some reading spirit on the following days:

  • Tuesday, October 7- Crazy Sock
  • Wednesday, October 8 - Pajama Day
  • Monday. October 13 - Dress like a book character
  • Wednesday, October 15 - Crazy Hair
  • Thursday, October 16- Flashlight Friday while reading a book

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month:  From Sept. 15-Oct. 15, TSES is celebrating with fun activities-and parents can join in too!

1. Hispanic Read Aloud Day-Oct 9: Sign up to read to students - https://forms.gle/TCcbTAMhnsWxhLdYA

2. Heritage Celebration-Oct 9, 6-7:30pm: RSVP to enjoy performances, crafts & more. Make a poster representing your heritage or a local dish to share!

3. Teacher Lunch-Sign up and share your favorite heritage dish with staff. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AA9AA29A0FDC43-58687813-almuerzo

We can't wait to celebrate with you! 
 

Flying Eagles Volunteer Program: We have launched our internal Volunteer program at TSES. This program is comprised of a dedicated team of parents, guardians, family members, and community members; with a focus on male volunteers, who work together to support our students, teachers, and school community. Through a variety of activities such as classroom support, recess, lunch assistance, and other school activities help create a positive and engaging learning environment. If you would like to join, please complete the training and start signing up to Volunteer! Information for Volunteers and Visitors | Talbott Springs Elementary School

 

Family School Partnerships Team Meetings: We are excited for our first Family School Partnership (FSP) meeting of the year on Thursday, October 16 @ 6:30pm. All FSP meetings are virtual.  On 10/16, FSP meeting will address the following topics:  System & Structures and Academic Partnership;

Year-at-a-Glance; Volunteers at Family Programs; PTA Partnership. Please join us via Google Meet - meet.google.com/ozi-fahf-qke !

 

Green Apple Day of Service: Join us on Saturday, October 18th at 9:00 for our Green Apple Day of Service. Bring your work gloves and water bottles. We plan to get the garden ready for winter, weed the gardens in the front of the school and pick up trash on the grounds.  Other projects may be added to the list.  Let us know if you plan to attend by completing this registration form.  Registration is not required.  Contact Lois_bailey@hcpss.org with questions. *No Rain Date

 

TSES Family Resources Information: If you would like to be included in communication on different resources for our TSES Families, including things like Holiday Support and CA Points, please complete the following survey: https://forms.gle/sRySo49upLZgXPbEA

 

Support for Families During Federal Government Shutdown: As many Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) families are impacted by the federal government shutdown, we understand that many people in our community may experience financial hardship or uncertainty. HCPSS remains committed to supporting all students and families during this time.Howard County families who have lost pay due to the shutdown may apply for the Free and Reduced-Priced Meals (FARMs) program and the HCPSS Food and Nutrition Office will determine their eligibility status within 24-48 hours. Families that would not ordinarily qualify for the FARMs program could be eligible for the remainder of the school year because of the current loss of income.Families that are adversely impacted, including those who do not receive FARMs assistance, will have the remainder of the school year to pay off any meal balances incurred during the government shutdown.Additionally, many students may be suffering fear or anxiety about their family’s current financial situation. Student Services staff at each school are prepared and available to assist students at any time during the school day. Numerous resources are also available for families on the HCPSS website, and other supports are available through the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services.

 

Columbia Association Points Application: CA Points Applications are due September 28, 2025. CA Points is an opportunity for students who qualify for Free & Reduced Lunch to receive a FREE Columbia Association Membership as a reward for good grades. Please apply here: https://columbiaassociation.org/community-program/ca-points-program/status-confirmation/