Winter break is almost here! There’s a spirit day this week – dress in your favorite “ugly sweater” this Friday 12/20!

Due to the inclement weather day on Monday (12/16) our dental clinic was not held. Rescheduling information will be forthcoming, as will an updated sign up for volunteering.

School will be closed next week through the first of the year (12/23/19-1/1/20), re-opening on Thursday 1/2/20.

We will kick off the new year with a restaurant night fundraiser at Modern Market (6181 Old Dobbin Ln, Suite 200) – because who wants to cook dinner after the kids’ first day back after a long winter break?!? Join us for a great meal and mention Guilford Elementary PTA – no need for a flyer.

Tomorrow night (12/10) is our December PTA meeting!  We’d love to have you join us at 6:30pm in Guilford’s media center.  It’s a great opportunity to find out what’s going on around the school, hear from the administration, and connect with other parents.

Looking to earn a little extra money around the holidays?  Guilford is in need of a Lunch/Recess monitor. It pays $10.50 and hour and you would be working for 3 hours a day sometime between 10:45 – 2:45 depending on the schedule. Please email Trish Lannon at trish_lannon@hcpss.org if you are interested.

The winter instrumental concerts are this Thursday (12/12)!  Strings perform at 6:30pm and band performs at 7:30pm.

The Dental Clinic will visit Guilford next week on Monday (12/16) and the health room could use a few parent volunteers to help escort students to and from the clinic.  If you can help out, please sign up to let us know!

Have a great week!!

Welcome back!  We hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving break!!  Last week was a busy week around Guilford and we are so thankful for everyone who was able to help out around the school, from Jump Rope for Heart to Book Fair to PTA’s parent-teacher conference dinner.  To all our volunteers: THANK YOU!!!

This coming Friday, 12/6 is a Spirit Day at Guilford – it’s Crazy Hair Day!!

The health room is seeking volunteers to help escort students to/from the Dental Clinic on 12/16.  Please sign up if you are able to help out!

Just a few things to note from HCPSS:

1. All Howard County Public School System schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, due to the special primary election to fill the 7th congressional district seat vacated following the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings.  As this closing was not originally listed on the HCPSS calendar, this announcement is being made as early as possible to allow families to plan ahead for the closure.
2. Effective December 1, HCPSS is launching a color-coding notification system for emergency and other non-scheduled school closings, including for inclement weather. The new system standardizes the school system’s operational status to five possibilities to enhance consistency, while promoting the safety of HCPSS students and staff, and adhering to negotiated agreements on staff availability.

   The HCPSS operating status will be identified on a new website: https://status.hcpss.org/. The HCPSS operational color code options are:

   • Code Green – Normal Operations (in accordance with the HCPSS calendar)
   • Code Red – Schools and Offices Closed
   • Code Orange – Schools Closed; Offices Open with Liberal Leave in Effect
   • Code Blue – Schools Open Two Hours Late
   • Code Yellow – Schools Dismiss Early

   All notifications regarding emergency closings will include both the code and operating status.

   The emergency notification sources are:

   • HCPSS status website
   • HCPSS homepage
   • Email/text alerts
   • HCPSS Information Hotline (410-313-6666)
   • Twitter
   • Facebook

   Please note: HCPSS cable TV is no longer a source for inclement weather closings.

It’s a short but busy week here at Guilford!  School dismisses three hours early today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) and school is closed for parent teacher conferences this Wednesday, 11/27/19 and for Thanksgiving Break on Thursday and Friday.

PTA is providing our amazing teachers with dinner tonight to help them through the upcoming evenings of conferences.  There are still opportunities to donate a dish!

The Scholastic Book Fair is at Guilford right now!  You can shop the book fair between 9am-7pm today and tomorrow.  If you are able to give a couple hours of your time, we could use a hand helping our shoppers!  Volunteer for any two hour shift here!

Our school is in need of recess equipment for indoor and outdoor recess and has created a Wish List on Amazon.  You can help the school twice by shopping via Amazon Smile!  Go to smile.amazon.com and select “Guilford Elementary School PTA” as your charity to support – this is also a great way to support our PTA when you’re doing your online holiday shopping!

Have a great Thanksgiving Break!!

The Scholatic Book Fair opens this Friday!  If you are able to help set up on Thursday afternoon, or volunteer some time to assist students and shoppers this Friday or next Monday or Tuesday, it would be greatly appreciated!  The book fair will be open for shopping until 3:30pm this Friday and then open late next Monday and Tuesday until 7pm.

Next week is a short week but a busy one!  School closes early on Monday and Tuesday, and is closed for parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday.  Jump Rope for Heart will take place on Monday 11/25 from 1-3pm.

Also on Monday, PTA will be providing dinner for our teachers!  You can still sign up to contribute sides, salad, main dishes and more!

Today is the annual Fall Fest & Turkey Trot!  Rescheduling is always tricky, but it looks like the weather will be awesome and our students are going to have a blast!!  Thank you to all who have signed up to volunteer – please stop by the media center and enjoy some lunch while you’re up at school!

Please join us tomorrow night at 6:30pm in the media center for our PTA meeting – childcare will be provided.  All are welcome and we always have ways for families to get involved!

Several volunteer opportunities are coming up – check out our volunteer page for details and sign-ups!

Today is a big day at Guilford! Our students and staff will be visited by Ravens players, Poe the Ravens mascot, and Ravens cheerleaders to celebrate our commitment to exercise.  Due to space constraints, this event is ONLY for students and staff.  Don’t forget to wear your Ravens gear or purple today!

Due to last Thursday’s weather, our Turkey Trot & Fall Fest were moved to next Monday, November 11th, (Veterans Day.) If you need to change your volunteer status, please contact Ray Somerville at rainman066@gmail.com. Thank you very much!!!

Have a great week!!

Thursday is a big day – it’s our Annual Fall Fest & Turkey Trot!  Volunteers are still needed to help make this day a success, especially during the following times:

9:30-10:25am – 5th Grade Fall Fest

11-11:45am – 1st Grade Turkey Trot

11:45am-12:30pm – 5th Grade Turkey Trot

2-2:45pm – 3rd Grade Turkey Trot

If you can help, please contact Mrs. Wolter at Carol_Wolter@hcpss.org or Ray Somerville at rainman066@gmail.com.  (Please note that our new rain date is Monday November 11th.)  If you can’t volunteer your time and would still like to help we are in need of turkeys to give out.  Please email PTA at guilfordpta@gmail.com if you are interested.

Turkey Trot and Fall Fest Volunteers: we appreciate your help so much!  Please stop by the media center beginning at 10am to enjoy a lunch provided by PTA while you’re up at school (lunch will be available until around 1pm)!!

Tomorrow the flu clinic visits Guilford.  The health room could still use an afternoon volunteer to help escort students to/from the clinic; you can sign up here.

Friday is an early dismissal day – Guilford closes three hours early and there is no half-day Pre-K.

Don’t forget – daylight savings time ends this weekend!  Set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night!!

Spirit wear orders are due back this week by Wednesday – you can order and pay right here on our website!

Volunteers needed for activities NEXT WEEK:

Tuesday 10/29 – Flu Clinic (helping to escort students from their classrooms to the clinic and back)

Thursday 10/31 – Fall Fest & Turkey Trot

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Coal Fire Pizza last week to support PTA!!

Please consider joining us at this month’s PTA meeting!  It’s tomorrow night (Tuesday 10/15) in the media center, from 6:30-8pm.  Minutes from our last meeting are available to review right here on our website!

Do you know someone 18+ that would like to earn a little extra money this week?  PTA is in need of an adult babysitter for our meeting this Tuesday (10/15) from 6:30-8pm.  Please email gesptapres@gmail.com or guilfordpta@gmail.com if you can help or know someone who can!

The fall spirit wear order form went home last week.  Orders and payments are due back to school by Wednesday October 23rd.  We have a fresh, new look this fall, so get ready to rock that Tiger-wear!!

Guilford’s 6th Annual Girls Night Out will take place on Thursday October 17, 2019 from 6:30 to 8:30 at Guilford ES. All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade girls and your moms, aunts, grandmothers, or god mothers are welcome to come and enjoy a night of bonding with your daughter as well as other mothers and daughters in your community. You can attend a total of three workshops.  If your desired workshop is full we will place you and your child in any remaining workshops.  Please return your white and pink flyer to RSVP.  If you have any questions fee free to contact Ms. Dobbs, School Counselor at the school or via email: stephanie_dobbs@hcpss.org. Hope to see you there!

Don’t forget that SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED this Friday 10/18!  Have an awesome week!