Important News

Judy Center Updates:

• The Judy Center staff will be attending professional development and planning for the upcoming school year, so we will be taking a break from our regularly scheduled playgroups during the month of August. However, we have one more special event in August that we hope you can attend! Please register for our Healthy Little Cooks playgroup on August 5th, where we will be making Banana Butterflies and Hibiscus Lemonade! Registration information is below.
• Our regular weekly playgroups will start back up again in September. 

Cradlerock Elementary Updates:

• August 6 4:30-5:30 pm- Popsicles on the Playground for incoming Kindergarten students and families. 
• August 21 @ 5:30 pm- New Student Orientation
• August 21 @ 6:00 pm- Kindergarten Back to School Night
• August 26 First Day of School for Kindergarten- 5th grade
• August 29 First Day of School for PreK

Community Updates:

• Howard County Office of Children and Families holds monthly workshops for the community. They also have drop-in playgroups at their Family Support Center. See the attached flier for more information and to register for their events. flier
• Did you know Lakefront Live is back this summer? This summer there will be a variety of family friendly activities at the Lakefront, from concerts to movies. Visit Lakefront Live to see dates and times of the events. 

Special August Judy Center Playgroup:

Monday, August 5, 10-10:45 am Join the Judy Center and Healthy Little Cooks for a Butterfly themed cooking playgroup! In this fun class for little foodies, we’ll create a magical Banana Butterfly and refreshing Hibiscus lemonade. In addition to creating a delicious snack, we'll learn about butterflies, practice counting and build our fine motor skills through hands-on activities. This class is a perfect blend of food, creativity, learning, and play. Don't let your little one miss out on this enchanting experience! Registration is full, as space was limited. 

Tuesday, August 6, 4:30- 5:30 pm Popsicles on the Playground for incoming Kindergarten students. All incoming Kindergarten students and families are welcome to come out and meet Kindergarten teachers, CrES administrators, and Title 1 staff.

Contact Information:

judycenter@hcpss.org

(410)313-8224

Cyndi La Marca Lessner- cynthia_la_marca_lessner@hcpss.org

(410)313-8224

Kate Rolfe- katherine_rolfe@hcpss.org

(443)774-4408

En espanol Lourdes Salazar- maria_salazar@hcpss.org

(443)774-9275

Nancy Smith-  nancy_smith@hcpss.org

(667)257-7264

We have a few playgroups and activities running from June 24th through July 31st. Jump into Kindergarten will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am-11am (registration required), and Baby and Me and Little Bulldogs playgroups will run on Tuesdays. Contact us for more information!

Cold weather and gray days mean less time at the playground for most kids. Make sure your toddlers and preschoolers are staying active with our Let's Move playgroup! They will dance, run, jump, work on balance and gross motor skills, all while playing and having fun. Let's Move returns February 6th at 10am!

Starting in February our Parents at Play playgroup with Port Discovery will be coming back.  Parents who participate in all the sessions will receive a pass to the Port Discovery Museum. Be on the lookout for an email about the playgroup and to sign up. Space will be limited, so be sure to sign up.

Don't miss the 2024 HoCo Child Care Fair! It will be held Sunday, Jan 28th from 10am-1pm at the North Laurel Community Center.

Attend to get information about family child care, child care centers, preschools, and more. Representatives from many programs will be at the event, as well. The Office of Children and Families will also hold information sessions on how to choose which early childhood program is best for you!

Registration is free but recommended in case of inclement weather changes. You can register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-howard-county-child-care-fair-tickets-741740645237

In preparation for winter break and the holiday season, The Judy Center will be winding down our fall playgroups after December 14, 2023. We will not have our regular groups the week of December 18th, other than Open Play at 11:00am on December 21. The Judy Center closes for winter break on Monday, Dec 25th, and we will reopen Tuesday, January 2nd. Have a wonderful break and holiday!

The Judy Center works with families who live within the Cradlerock Elemtary or Stevens Forest Elementary catchment areas and have child(ren) birth to age 5. We connect families with community resources, provide weekly playgroups, and co-host evening events at the school. If you are interested in the Judy Center select from one of the interest forms below to complete. Select Cradlerock if you live within the Cradlerock Elementary School Community. Select Stevens Forest if you live within the Stevens Forest Elementary School community. A staff member will be in contact with you after you complete the form. 

Cradlerock

Stevens Forest 

Announcements: 

The Judy Center will be closed Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24. 

Judy Center Events: 

Tuesday, November 7- Cradlerock will be hosting their annual International Night. This is a well loved tradition at Cradlerock and this year, the Judy Center wants to join the fun! 

International Night is an event where families have the opportunity to come out and share things about their culture or to come out and explore the many cultures that make up the Cradlerock community. Please see attached flier for more information. Click here to register to attend and/or share about your culture. 

CrES Events: 

November 6- Conference window opens for parents

November 8- Quarter 1 report cards available in synergy 

HCPSS will have conferences November 20, 21, and 22. Be on the lookout for information about signing up for a conference with your child’s teacher. 

HCPSS will close 3 hours early on November 20 and 21.

HCPSS will be closed for students November 22.

HCPSS will be closed for students and staff November 23 and 24.

Upcoming Community Events:

Saturday, November 4-  Free Coats and Clothing for all ages at Long Reach High School from 9:00- 11:00 am. 

Long Reach High School

6101 Old Dobbin Ln. 

Regular Judy Center Programming:

November 2- special visit and lesson from a pediatric dentist at 11 am. Register 

November 9- Bedtime routines information at 11 am. Register 

Contact Information:

judycenter@hcpss.org

(410)313-8224

Cyndi La Marca Lessner- cynthia_la_marca_lessner@hcpss.org

(410)313-8224

Kate Rolfe- katherine_rolfe@hcpss.org

(443)774-4408

En espanol Lourdes Salazar- maria_salazar@hcpss.org

(443)774-9275

Nancy Smith-  nancy_smith@hcpss.org

(667)257-7264

This fall we are excited to have a designated learning space for our playgroups. Playgroups will be beginning the week of September 18th. We are continuing with our playgroups Baby and Me, Terrific Tots, Play-n-Learn, Stepping Stones, Let's Move and Read for Health.  More information about playgroups and times will be coming. 

Dear Families

This summer Cradlerock Elementary will be undergoing a minor renovation. Due to the renovations at the school, the Judy Center will be temporarily moving locations for the summer. For the summer, starting June 15, our office will be out of Stevens Forest Elementary, 6045 Stevens Forest Rd. All of our services and programs we offer will continue.  We are still able to be reached using our phone number and email addresses, which you can find below. 

All of our summer playgroups will be held at the East Columbia Library. If you have any questions or need assistance please contact us.

Queridas Familias

Este verano, la Escuela de Cradlerock Elementary llevará a cabo una renovación pequeña. Debido a la renovación en la escuela, el Judy Center se mudará temporalmente de lugar en el verano.  Solo por el Verano, comenzando el 15 de Junio, nuestra oficina estará en la Escuela Stevens Forest Elementary, 6045 Stevens Forest Rd.  Continuaremos ofreciendo todos nuestros programas y servicios.  Usted nos podrá contactar a nuestro mismo número de teléfono y correo electrónico, que podrá encontrar aquí al final de este correo. 

Todos nuestros grupos de juego del verano se llevarán a cabo en la Biblioteca East Columbia Library. Por favor contactar si tiene alguna pregunta o necesita ayuda.
 

judycenter@hcpss.org

(410)313-8224

Cyndi La Marca Lessner- cynthia_la_marca_lessner@hcpss.org

(410)313-8224

En espanol Lourdes Salazar- maria_salazar@hcpss.org

(443)774-9275

Kate Rolfe- katherine_rolfe@hcpss.org

(410)313-8224

Nancy Smith-  nancy_smith@hcpss.org

(667)257-7264