SJLES Updates 8/13/2020

Fri, 08/14/2020 - 9:16am

Greetings SJLES Families, 

As the summer break slowly dissipates and the start of the school year approaches, I hope you and your loved ones are first and foremost healthy. I hope that the summer break has provided opportunities to spend quality time with those who matter most. I hope you and your family enjoyed some rest and relaxation. I also hope that your children are getting more excited by the day to connect with their friends, teachers, support staff, and maybe even their principal and assistant principal this upcoming school year. I can tell you all with confidence that we educators love summer break, but we also love getting back to work and connecting with our students everyday. This year, we are super excited to welcome so many new students and families to our learning community. Welcome all! 

 

Mrs. Redd, our school leaders, and I have been working throughout the summer to prepare for our students' return. As the start of 2020-2021 school year approaches, I will ramp up communication to share schedules, logistics, dates, and all the other critical HCPSS and SJLES information that will ensure a successful start to the school year especially in this virtual setting. I am so excited to get things going and look forward to another year of partnering with you all to ensure the academic success and social-emotional well-being for each of our students in an inclusive and nurturing environment that closes opportunity gaps whether it be virtually or in person! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me (dnotari@hcpss.org) or Mrs. Redd (alexcia_redd@hcpss.org) if we can be of service. Be well, stay safe, and stay tuned! 

 

Sincerely,

Dan Notari 

SJLES Principal 

 

NEW NEWS: 

Family File is Open! 

Please visit HCPSS Connect to update your Family File for the 2020-21 school year today! Parents must complete the Family File every year, even during virtual learning, to ensure HCPSS has the most current information for each child. Once logged in, parents/guardians will be asked to verify, or update the following information: Student Information, Parent/Guardian Contact, Emergency Contact, Medical Information, Arrival/Dismissal Procedures (for when in-person classes resume), Photo Approval, Data Confidentiality, PTA/PTSA Directory. 

 

Your Family File must be completed and updated in order for you to access the names of your child’s teachers prior to the start of the school year. The exact date will be determined by Central Office and shared with our community. We will be sharing our 2020-2021 staff roster with our community soon. 

 

 

HCPSS 2020-21 School Year Updates 

HCPSS families can keep up to date with news about the 2020-2021 school year by clicking on the link below...

 

HCPSS Reopening Plan

The HCPSS Reopening Plan is still in draft form at this time, pending MSDE approval.  Appendix D provides proposed schedules for each grade level, as you consider the logistics of distance learning for your family.

 

Updated Supply List

Due to virtual learning HCPSS is revising the school supply list. We will share that updated list once it becomes available. 

 

Student Materials Collection and Distribution - 9/2/2020

Please save the date for our SJLES Student Materials Collection and Distribution Day on Wednesday, 9/2/2020. On this date, we will distribute items such as class pictures, yearbooks, and students’ personal items that were left behind last school year in addition to collection of items such as media books, instruments, and teacher classroom library books. Schedule and details to follow! 

 

SJLES Virtual Orientations - 9/4/2020 

Please save the date for our SJLES Virtual Orientations on Friday, September 4th. Our Virtual Orientations will provide our students and families information about the school year and their new grade level and most importantly an opportunity to meet their new teacher. The schedule is below and Google Meet Codes will be shared with families as the date approaches. 

  • 8:30 - 9:30 5th Grade

  • 9:30 - 10:30 4th Grade

  • 10:30 - 11:30 3rd Grade

  • 11:30 - 12:30 2nd Grade

  • 12:30 - 1:30 1st Grade 

  • 1:30 - 2:30 Kindergarten

  • 2:45 - 3:45 New Family Welcome with Administration & School Leaders

 

Jaguar Summer Stories 

Our awesome SJLES staff members have been sharing weekly read alouds with our Jaguars throughout summer break. Please check out all of our Jaguar Summer Stories by visiting our website at sjles.hcpss.org  Stay tuned for next week’s editions of Jaguar Summer Stories!

 

Our FINAL Virtual Summer Lunch Bunch is Wed. 8/19

We will wrap up our Virtual Summer Lunch Bunches on Wednesday, 8/19. It has been the highlight of our work week to engage with our students each week. Thank you to everyone who made a point to attend, especially our staff members who came out each week to “bunch” with our students. Our primary (rising K-2) students can join us at 11:00 and intermediate (rising 3-5) students at noon on Wednesday 8/19. Look forward to seeing MANY additional Jaguars for our final lunch bunch of the summer! 

 

Virtual Summer Lunch Bunch Details:

  • Dates: Wednesday 8/19

  • Primary Grades (Rising K-2): 11:00 - 11:30 

  • Intermediate Grades (Rising 3-5): 12:00 - 12:30

 

Accessing Google Meet: 

  • Please do not use the SJLES-Summer-Bunch Google Meet Code to join. 

  • Please use the link below to join. 

  • Students will need to login into this Google Meet Virtual Lunch Bunches with their HCPSS credentials. 

  • Kindergarten and new to HCPSS families with an email on file through the registration process will be admitted into our virtual lunch bunches. 

 

Technology Accounts for New Students

Beginning this week, families with students new to HCPSS and whose registration has been finalized will receive an email from noreply@hcpss.org with the subject “Technology account information for new HCPSS student.” The email will be sent to the email address used during the student registration process. The email contains personalized and important information regarding new students’ technology accounts. If you have a child new to HCPSS and do not receive the email and/or cannot locate the email in the junk/spam folder of the email account you used during registration, you can use the Forgot Password or Username button on the hcpss.me student landing page to retrieve both your child’s username and password. Directions for Account Self Service are posted online.

 

Students not returning to the HCPSS in the Fall

Students who will attend an HCPSS school for the 2020-2021 school year and who borrowed an HCPSS Chromebook in the spring or summer may continue to use the device for the 2020-2021 school year. Every student entering grades pre-kindergarten through 8 will be provided with a Chromebook; parents/guardians do not need to do anything to request this device. Details will be communicated as soon as they are available.

 

Students leaving HCPSS after the 2019-2020 school year and/or who have withdrawn from the 2020-2021 school year will need to return a borrowed Chromebook and/or hot spot.  Please return the device to the HCPSS Logistics Center (9645 Gerwig Lane, Columbia). The building is open weekdays from 9-11 a.m. Students who have enrolled in a school outside of HCPSS will need to return their borrowed Chromebook before their records can be sent to the new school.

 

Applying for Free & Reduced Meals for Children

The Coronavirus pandemic is causing hardship for many of our friends and neighbors. Many HCPSS families have been impacted financially by the pandemic, and may be eligible now 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 testing fees, tuition, internet and more. Click here to learn more or to apply.  

 

Summer Meals Extended to Aug. 28

The free Grab-N-Go summer meals program has been extended through Friday, August 28th. There were several location changes effective Monday, August 3. 

 

Mark Your Calendar!

All dates will be posted on our SJLES Public Calendar. 

  • TONIGHT - Kindergarten Meet & Greet at 7:00 PM (details below)

  • 8/20 - Patapsco Middle School Collection & Distribution of Student Materials 

  • 8/21 - Waverly Elementary School Collection & Distribution of Student Materials 

  • 8/25 - School Staff Returns 

  • 8/25-8/27 - Dunloggin Middle School Collection & Distribution of Student Materials 

  • 9/2 - SJLES Collection & Distribution of Student Materials 

  • 9/3 - SJLES Collection & Distribution of Student Materials Rain Date 

  • 9/4 - Student & Family Orientations

    • 8:30-9:30 5th Grade

    • 9:30-10:30 4th Grade

    • 10:30-11:30 3rd Grade

    • 11:30-12:30 2nd Grade

    • 12:30-1:30 1st Grade 

    • 1:30-2:30 Kindergarten

    • 2:45-3:45 New Family Welcome with Administration & School Leaders

  • 9/7 - Labor Day

  • 9/8 - First Day of Elementary School for Students

  • 9/22 @ 6:30 - K-2 Virtual Back to School Night 

  • 9/23 @ 6:30 - 3-5 Virtual Back to School Night 

  • 9/24 @ 6:30 - Gifted & Talented Virtual Back to School Night 

 

Repeated News

Kindergarten Meet & Greet

We will be hosting our second Kindergarten Virtual Meet & Greet TONIGHT at 7:00 PM to welcome our new kindergarten Jaguars and families to St. John’s Lane. We couldn’t be more excited to meet you all! This Virtual Meet & Greet provides an opportunity to meet our kindergarten staff and school administrators, peek in at a kindergarten classroom, tour the school, learn about a typical kindergarten day, and ask our team and administrators questions. 

 

Kindergarten Virtual Meet & Greet Google Meet Details:

 

Please feel free to forward this information and spread the word to your friends and neighbors that have a child registered for kindergarten at SJLES. If you or someone you know have not registered for 2020-2021 yet, PLEASE do not wait any longer! Click here to begin the registration process. Please contact Mrs. Shoff at elizabeth_shoff@hcpss.org with any questions.

 

Community News and Programs

Please visit http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/) for ongoing announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.