WOODY’S WORLD

Crofton Woods Elementary School

410-721-1054 / 410-222-5805

School Website

School Hours: 9:05AM — 3:30PM

December

1: Holiday Shop 3:30-6:30pm

2: Holiday Shop 9:30am—12:00pm

4: PTA meeting 7:00pm

7: 2 Hour Early dismissal Professional Development

8: School closed for students – Parent/Teacher Conferences

12: Band & Strings concert

9:30am and 6:30pm

15: Interims sent home

20: Chorus concert 9:30am and 7:00pm

25 – Jan 1: School closed

Principal’s Message

A Safe and Secure Season!

I love this time of year for so many reasons, but I’m not particularly a fan

of it being dark so early. It makes me want to gather my family and bring them

in close and know that we are all home, and safe, and secure. The instincts

kick in and I go into ‘protective mode.’ Here at school we feel the same way,

every day! We want to make sure all our boys and girls are safe and secure in

our “nest” while we have them in our care.

We do many things to make sure that feeling of security is well founded here at school. We use our front

door buzzer, “raptor” badges, monthly security drills, and a very routinized dismissal procedure. But we know

there is always more that can be done, and we will continue to ask your help, too, as we strive to keep our school

safe and secure. One of the things the Board has done to help is installing a set of cameras in our school, 58

cameras to be exact. These cameras are running continually and are placed here solely for our student’s safety

and protection. There are no cameras in the bathroom or private areas, but there are plenty of “eyes” in and

around the building, and that’s a great thing! Our secretaries and administration is able to monitor the cameras

in the office, and on their computers, so that means even more safety and security (happy sigh).

Cyber security is another area where we can improve. This is an area where we really need your help as

parents and guardians. Please remember to monitor all your “devices” for what your children access and what

they are doing online and offline. Here at school students only access the internet through our data bases and

secure sites. Unfortunately, you don’t have that luxury, so be sure you know what games they are playing, what

they are rated and do not assume your child is “mature enough” to handle games that are rated above their age. I

know it’s hard to hold the line and I always heard, “...but Mom, So-and-So is allowed!” The classic parental

response, whether it’s an electronic game or an old fashioned game, will always be “...well, I’m not So-and-So’s

mother.” (Ok, my mother was wise again when she said that to me, I admit it, but don’t tell her.)

Photographs and social media present new challenges. For example, if you are here for a fun event, such as

our recent Halloween festivities, please be mindful to take only your own child’s pictures and avoid taking

pictures of other students. Be particularly vigilant NOT to post other children’s pictures on Facebook, Twitter,

Instagram or any other social media. These are strange times, where security is often inadvertently lost through

innocent intent.

The nights may be longer right now but we can keep our loved ones close and secure by doing everything we

can to be alert and vigilant. We hope that your family finds this holiday season safe and warm, and full of

family and friends. We appreciate the sense of family that we have here at CWES and it’s great to know that

our big extended family cares for us personally, and for all our boys and girls! That’s a gift worth treasuring!

Have a blessed, safe, and secure holiday season!

Mrs. Birus

Crofton Woods Elementary Newsletter School Year 17-18 December 2017

Gift Giving

Here are some holiday gift ideas for your child that can last a lifetime:

Be a good role model. Your child learns from the example you set.

Show respect for your child’s feelings, thoughts, and suggestions.

Make your child feel loved with your words of praise, and your hugs and kisses.

Keep your word. If you must break it, apologize and make it up to your child.

Encourage your child’s creativity. Ask questions to stimulate curiosity and imagination.

Build your child’s self-esteem by showing appreciation for all genuine effort.

Stay involved. Know what is going on in your child’s life, both at school and with friends.

Discipline your child fairly, firmly, and with love. Focus on the behavior, not the child.

Establish family traditions and make time to do fun activities together.

Think positively. Be expecting the best, you empower yourself and your child to solve problems and achieve goals.

Happy Holidays!

Counselor’s CornerMrs. Angie Martin

ammartin2@aacps.org

B Holiday Assistance

Many families have been

affected by the difficult

economic times in our

country. Don’t worry -

there is help for this

holiday season!

Numerous organizations

in our community have

offered to assist families

with gift donations.

If you are in need of

assistance please

contact Mrs. Martin.

This information is kept

confidential.

It’s Conference Time Again!

Dr. Arlotto, our Superintendent, has

designated three conference days this

school year. These days are designed

to insure that we can stay in close

communication with the families we serve. If you have

already met with your child(rens)’s teacher, then you may

not need a conference this time. If you have not met for a

conference then we will be reaching out to you again. It is

our goal to meet with each child’s parent(s) at least once

and have 100% participation in the conferences! If you

have a particular concern that you have already discussed

but would like to meet again, please don’t hesitate to

request another conference.

Our wonderful 3rd

grade teacher Miss

Bittinger was

married over the

Thanksgiving

break. She is now

Mrs. Adams!

Congratulations!

Crofton Woods

Elementary

Vision Statement

Crofton Woods

Elementary is a

respectful,

responsible

community providing

engaging

experiences and

inspiring tomorrow’s

leaders to discover,

integrate, and grow.

Looking Ahead

January 2018

1: Happy New Year!

School closed

15: Martin Luther King, Jr.

Birthday—School closed

29 & 30: End of second

marking period—2 hour

early dismissal

31: School closed for

students—teacher

workday

Winter Concerts

Attire:

Girls - White blouse, black skirt or black dress pants, black tights,

black dress shoes

Boys - White shirt, black dress pants, dark socks, dark dress shoes,

Tie—Band & Strings only

Band and Strings: December 12th

9:30 AM School Assembly

6:30 PM Night Concert Chorus: December 20th

9:30 AM School Assembly

7:00 PM Night Concert

AACPS is committed to providing

safe and secure learning

environments for all students and

employees. Successful completion of a criminal history

background check is required for all volunteers, either on

or off school property.

No Dogs

On School Property

Please adhere to the BOE policy, for the safety of our students and those who are dropping

off and picking up students before and after school,

DO NOT BRING DOGS ONTO SCHOOL PROPERTY!

Although a dog may be loving and friendly to its owners and family members, it can easily turn against strangers and is a liability issue for you, as well as a “clean up” issue too. Pets can

remain in the car with adult supervision. Thank you for you cooperation!

The holiday season is here and the excitement surrounding

the holidays is all around us! Although this is a joyous time

for us here at Crofton Woods, there are many families

around us that need a little help to celebrate the holidays.

Crofton Woods is participating in the Toys for Tots

Program sponsored by the Marine Corps. We are

asking for your generosity by donating a new, unwrapped

toy to be given to a family in need this holiday season. If

you would like to participate, all donations need to be sent

into school beginning on Tuesday, November 21st

to Friday,

December 15th

. The donation will then be placed in the

donation boxes labeled Toys for Tots that are located in each

of the grades’ hallways. Each grade has two boxes that

can be filled!

WE hope that many families will be able to participate in this endeavor to help others during this holiday season. Please know that we truly appreciate your generosity and you are under no obligation to participate. Thank you!!

CWES Gym

Fri. Dec. 1st, 3:30pm – 6:30pm

Sat. Dec. 2nd, 9:30am –12:00pm

Hey Kids! The Holidays are coming. Have you found that perfect gift? Shop in private and get that special something for parents, siblings,

grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles (or that special someone) at the

CWES Holiday Shop

ALL GIFTS $2.00. Gift wrapping included. There will also be a Bake Sale and

CWES apparel table. (Proceeds support CWES PTA.)

CWES Holiday Shop

Who am I shopping for? Who am I shopping for?

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CWES Gym

Fri. Dec. 1st, 3:30pm – 6:30pm

Sat. Dec. 2nd, 9:30am –12:00pm

Hey Kids! The Holidays are coming. Have you found that perfect gift? Shop in private and get that special something for parents,

siblings, grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles (or that special someone) at the

CWES Holiday Shop

ALL GIFTS $2.00. Gift wrapping included.

There will also be a Bake Sale and CWES apparel table.

(Proceeds support CWES PTA.)

CWES Gym

Fri. Dec. 1st, 3:30pm – 6:30pm

Sat. Dec. 2nd, 9:30am –12:00pm

Hey Kids! The Holidays are coming. Have you found that perfect gift? Shop in private and get that special something for parents,

siblings, grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles (or that special someone) at the

CWES Holiday Shop

ALL GIFTS $2.00. Gift wrapping included.

There will also be a Bake Sale and CWES apparel table.

(Proceeds support CWES PTA.)

CWES Holiday Shop CWES Holiday Shop

Who am I shopping for? Who am I shopping for?

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