Talbott Springs Elementary School
Newsletter - 10/11/26
Greetings TSES Families,
We are more than halfway through the first quarter of the 26-27 school year. Please take time to review your child's grades in Canvas and set goals with them for the rest of the quarter. I am so proud of our students' progress and our year to date attendance rate - 95.7%! Keep it up, Eagles!
This year's School Improvement Plan is posted on the TSES website. This is a great way for our families to see our goals and understand what we are working towards this year. The TSES website is also a great place for families to go to for a variety of information. Check it out!
This week's newsletter includes:
Important Dates
PTA Readathon
Family School Partnerships Meeting
Flu Clinic
Student Reading Improvement Plans (SRIPs)
Career Day
Young Author’s Contest
TSES Sunshine Cart
Family File
Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs)
Important Dates
October 5-16 - PTA Readathon
October 12 - Fall Picture Day
October 14 - PTA Restaurant Day @ Red Robin, 11am-9:30pm
October 16 - HCPSS Schools Closed for Students
October 20 - Flu Clinic
October 21 - Spirit Day - Wear ORANGE for Unity Day!
October 22 - Family School Partnership Meeting @ 6pm
October 27 - End of Quarter 1
October 27 - PTA Trunk or Treat @ 6pm
October 28 - HCPSS Schools Closed for Students
October 30 - Career Day & Career Wear Spirit Day
November 3 - HCPSS SChools & Offices Closed
November 6 - Quarter 1 Report Cards available to families in Synergy @ 4pm
PTA Readathon
Week 1 is in the books! 
Together, we’ve already logged 3,356 minutes toward our goal, and this is our last week!
Haven’t registered your reader yet? It only takes a minute - https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/tool/nTqnRv/2
Keep sharing your reader’s Read-A-Thon page with friends and family to help us hit our goals of reading 5,000 minutes! 
Family School Partnerships (FSP) Meeting
Our FSP meeting of the year will be held on Thursday, October 22 @ 6pm. We will be walking families through how to access and utilize Canvas as well as how to access your child’s report card in Synergy. Check out the flier for details and to RSVP.
Flu Clinic
Hi TSES Families! 
Flu season is quickly approaching! Has your child gotten their flu shot yet?
If not, be sure to sign up for our SBWC Flu Clinic on Tuesday, October 20th! This is a super easy and convenient way for your child to get their flu shot right here at school. You won’t have to take them anywhere, and they won’t have to miss school!
Sign up today to help keep your child healthy and protected this flu season!
Student Reading Improvement Plans (SRIPs)
Click here to read about SRIPs.
TSES Career Day & Career Wear Spirit Day
Friday, October 30, 2026
During School Hours
We invite adult guest speakers to come into our classrooms to share about their career and read a related book. Please spread the word to your family and community! To sign up, please use the link or QR code found on the Career Day Flyer. This day is also a school-wide Spirit Day! Guest speakers, students, and staff are encouraged to dress in career wear. We look forward to seeing a variety of careers represented! For questions, please contact Erika Kennedy, Reading Specialist, at Erika_Kennedy@hcpss.org.
Día de las Profesiones de TSES y Día de Vestimenta Profesional
Viernes, 30 de octubre de 2026
Durante el horario escolar
¡Invitamos a adultos de nuestra comunidad a visitar los salones de clase para compartir información sobre sus profesiones y leer un libro relacionado con su carrera! ¡Comparta esta invitación con sus familiares y miembros de la comunidad! Para inscribirse, utilice el enlace o el código QR que se encuentra en el volante del Día de las Profesiones. ¡Este día también será un Día de Espíritu Escolar para toda la escuela! Invitamos a los presentadores, estudiantes y personal escolar a vestirse con ropa relacionada con una profesión. ¡Esperamos ver una gran variedad de profesiones representadas! Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con Erika Kennedy, Especialista en Lectura, al Erika_Kennedy@hcpss.org.
Young Authors' Contest
The Howard County Literacy Association invites students in grades 1-5 to submit their original poems and/or short stories to the annual writing contest called The Young Authors' Contest. Please see the Young Authors’ Contest Guidelines flyer for information about the rules and guidelines. Stories and poems must be typed and saved as a Word Doc. or Google Doc. All entries must have a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions should be emailed to Erika_Kennedy@hcpss.org by January 13, 2027. Contact Mrs. Kennedy, TSES Reading Specialist, with any questions. All Young Authors’ Contest information can be found on the HCLA website. Howard County Literacy Association welcomes parents as members. Visit the HCLA Welcome Page for information about joining.
Español:
Concurso de Jóvenes Autores
La Asociación de Lectura y Escritura del Condado de Howard (Howard County Literacy Association) invita a los estudiantes de 1.º a 5.º grado a participar en su concurso anual de escritura, Concurso de Jóvenes Autores (Young Authors’ Contest), enviando sus poemas originales y/o cuentos cortos originales. Para obtener información sobre las reglas y los requisitos, consulte el folleto de Reglas y Requisitos del Concurso de Jóvenes Autores. Los cuentos y poemas deben estar escritos en computadora y guardados como un documento de Word o Google Docs. Todas las participaciones deben incluir una Hoja de Portada del Concurso de Jóvenes Autores (YAC Cover Sheet) completada y enviada en formato PDF. Las participaciones deben enviarse por correo electrónico a Erika_Kennedy@hcpss.org a más tardar el 13 de enero de 2027. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con la Sra. Kennedy, Especialista en Lectura de TSES. Toda la información sobre el Concurso de Jóvenes Autores se encuentra en el sitio web de HCLA. La Asociación de Lectura y Escritura del Condado de Howard (HCLA) también da la bienvenida a los padres como miembros. Visite la página de bienvenida de HCLA para obtener información sobre cómo hacerse miembro.
TSES Sunshine Committee "Giving Thanks" Cart
The TSES Sunshine Committee would love your help in showering our amazing staff with monthly treats! Our goal is to provide each staff member with a sweet or salty snack and a beverage each month as a small token of appreciation.
Please consider donating individually wrapped snacks and/or drinks. Donations can be dropped off at the front office so we can keep our “Giving Thanks” cart fully stocked.
Prefer not to shop? Monetary donations are also welcome. Please send checks or money orders (payable to Talbott Springs Elementary School) in a sealed envelope marked Attention: Sunshine Committee.
We truly appreciate your continued support and generosity! If you have any questions, please contact patricia_cristiani@hcpss.org.
Family File
400 Family Files have been completed! We have 31 left to go. Please help us reach 100% by completing your Family File today!
Every year HCPSS parents must complete a Family File for each child. HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to complete emergency information. HCPSS requires that your Family File before your child(ren) can attend a field trip. Parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child, and can do so by logging in to HCPSS Connect PARENT ACCOUNT and selecting the MORE OPTIONS tab on the left and then click on Family File.
Once logged in, you will be asked to update or provide the following information:
- Student Information
- Parent/Guardian Contact
- Emergency Contacts
- Medical Information
- Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
- Photo Approval Data Confidentiality
- PTA/PTSA Directory
Again, it is important that you complete the Family File in order to receive the name of your child's teacher for the upcoming school year.
https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-quick-guide.pdf
FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (ENGLISH) - https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-user-instructions.pdf
FAMILY FILE USER GUIDE (SPANISH) - https://www.hcpss.org/f/connect/family-file-user-instructions-spanish.pdf
Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs)
Many HCPSS families may be eligible to receive benefits through the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program.
Qualifying families can take advantage of a wide range of additional resources and discounts, including free college applications, free or reduced JumpStart dual enrollment tuition, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more.
Families must submit a new application every school year. During the first 30 school days, students with FARMs eligibility from the prior school year will continue to receive benefits. Any student whose family has not filled out an application by the 30th school day will have their status changed to full pay until a new application is received.
Parents/guardians are highly encouraged to fill out the applications as soon as possible. It is very important that applications are filled out accurately and completely.
Additionally, I want you to know that there are school staff available to support you and your child.We have numerous supports in place, and I encourage you and your child to take advantage of them whenever they are needed.
Here are the support staff available at our school who can provide supports along with your child’s teachers and administrators:
Jenny Rothenberger, Family and Community Engagement Liaison - jennifer_rothenberger@hcpss.org
Autumn Joiner, Black Student and Achievement Program Liaison - autumn_joiner@hcpss.org
Jessica Pena, Hispanic Achievement Liaison - Jessica_Mejia-Pena@hcpss.org
Answers to frequently asked questions on HCPSS meals and additional meals/nutrition assistance programs can be found on the HCPSS Help site. If you have questions regarding the program, please visit www.hcpss.org/FARMs or contact Food and Nutrition Services at 410-313-6743 or foodsvc@hcpss.org.