Tiger Tales Newsletter - October 15, 2026

Dear Hammond Elementary Families,

As the school year progresses, we want to encourage you to continue having meaningful conversations with your child about their experiences at school. These conversations help build trust, strengthen your relationship with your child, and give you valuable insight into their learning, friendships, and overall well-being. Just as importantly, they help us work together to ensure that every student feels safe, supported, and connected to our school community.

We know that getting children to open up about their day can sometimes be a challenge! Below are a few tips to help make these conversations more meaningful and productive.

1. Ask specific questions about your child's day.

Rather than simply asking, "How was your day?" you may find that asking about specific parts of the day, classroom activities, or events you know took place leads to more detailed conversations. A general question will often get a quick "Fine!" in response, while a more specific question can help your child reflect and share more.

Consider asking questions such as:

• What was something new you learned today?
• Who did you work or play with today?
• What made you laugh or smile at school?
• Was there a moment that made you feel proud of yourself?
• Was there a time today when you needed help? What did you do?
• What is something you are looking forward to tomorrow?

2. Listen patiently when your child shares a concern.

If your child shares something that worries them or raises a concern, take time to listen calmly and ask follow-up questions to better understand their experience. It is important that children feel heard, supported, and comfortable coming to you with their thoughts and feelings.

At the same time, remember that your child's account reflects their individual perspective and may not include all the information or context surrounding a situation. Approaching concerns with curiosity, patience, and an open mind helps us better understand what happened and determine the most appropriate way to support your child.

You can also ask, "Have you talked with a teacher or another trusted adult at school about this?" If they have not, consider helping them practice what they might say and encouraging them to seek out an adult at school. When appropriate, this is a valuable opportunity to build your child's independence, self-advocacy, and confidence in asking for help.

3. Know who to contact if you need support.

We want you to feel confident reaching out when you have questions or concerns. The following guidelines can help you connect with the staff member best positioned to assist you:

• Your child's teacher: For questions or concerns related to instruction, classroom experiences, or day-to-day classroom matters. Your child's teacher is typically the best first point of contact.
• Your child's school counselor: For friendship conflicts, peer relationships, or social-emotional concerns.
• School administration: For safety concerns, serious behavioral matters, or significant incidents that require administrative support.
• PPW (Pupil Personnel Worker):  For attendance, enrollment, residency, or complex family circumstances affecting school
• School Social Worker: For social-emotional and mental health concerns, or connections to therapeutic resources

If you are unsure who to contact, please do not hesitate to message your child's teacher or call the Hammond Elementary front office. We will gladly help direct you to the staff member best equipped to support your family.

4. Remember that we are here to partner with you.

At Hammond Elementary, we value the partnership we share with our families. You know your child in ways that we do not, and our staff bring valuable insight into your child's experiences at school. By communicating openly and working together, we can develop a fuller understanding of your child's needs and provide the support that will help them thrive.

Please know that you should always feel that there is someone at Hammond Elementary who is available to listen, answer questions, and help you navigate a concern. We may not always have every answer immediately, but we are committed to listening, communicating, and working collaboratively toward the best possible outcome for your child.

Thank you for the important conversations you have with your children at home and for the trust you place in our school. Your partnership makes a difference!

Heather Moraff, Principal

Nykia Mapson, Assistant Principal 

Student Reading Improvement Plans

Maryland's Ready to Read Act requires that students at risk for reading difficulty receive timely, targeted intervention. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is putting this into practice through Student Reading Improvement Plans, or SRIPs.  See here for more information. 

Please Leave Toys and Non-Instructional Items at Home!

To help keep our classrooms focused on learning, we ask that students leave toys, fidgets, stuffed animals, and other treasured belongings at home. While we understand that these items can be special to children, they can sometimes become distractions during the school day. We also want to avoid the disappointment of items being lost, damaged, or misplaced, as the school cannot be responsible for recovering or replacing them.

If your child benefits from using a fidget to support their focus or learning, please know that our staff will provide appropriate tools and resources to meet those needs.  Students who have this documented in a specific plan will continue to have access to these tools.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our classrooms focused, engaging, and ready for learning each day. We appreciate your support and understanding!

A Few Noteable Dates

Friday, October 16 - School Closed for Students (Staff Professional Work Day)

Tuesday, October 27 - Quarter 1 ends

Wednesday, October 28 - School Closed for Students (Staff Professional Learning Day)

Friday, November 6 - Report Cards will be available through Connect at 4pm