Greetings SJLES Families,
We look forward to meeting with our families at Parent Teacher Conferences next week. We shared some updated information below regarding conferences in our NEW NEWS section. It is hard to believe it is conference time and the holidays are upon us. As we approach Thanksgiving we want to share our thanks with you! Thank you for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of your children, for your support and encouragement throughout this unique school year, and for your on-going partnership. During this season of giving thanks please don't hesitate to send your thanks to our staff. A simple email of gratitude to a teacher or staff member who is making a difference in the life of your child goes a long way. Letting our staff know that you see their hard work and dedication during your parent teacher conference is appreciated! Our staff's hard-work, dedication, focus, and positivity continue to be a source of pride for Ms. Coleman and me. There is a lot to be thankful for here at The Lane! Have a great weekend SJLES! #JaguarPride
Sincerely,
Dan Notari
SJLES Principal
NEW NEWS
Next Week’s Schedule
11/22 - 3-Hour Early Dismissal begins at 12:20 / Parent Teacher Conferences
Please Note: Virtual Support Sessions for students in quarantine are cancelled due to condensed schedule and conferences.
11/23 - 3-Hour Early Dismissal begins at 12:20 / Parent Teacher Conferences
Please Note: Virtual Support Sessions for students in quarantine are cancelled due to condensed schedule and conferences.
11/24 - No School for Students / Parent Teacher Conferences
11/25 & 11/26 - HCPSS Schools & Offices Closed
Last Call for Lost & Found
All items not claimed from our Lost and Found by Friday, 12/3, will be donated to a local charity. If your child is missing an item of clothing, water bottle, or lunch box, please encourage them to check the lost and found tables that are located throughout our main entrance hallway. Please search your inbox for the 11/17 SJLES PTA News email that has multiple photos of our lost and found items.
Updated COVID-19 Contact Tracing Procedures
This message is to remind families of a change to HCPSS contact tracing procedures.
In an effort to increase efficiency at notifying families, and to ease the burden on school nurses, health assistants and other school staff who had been handling contact tracing, HCPSS has contracted with Ameridial to manage contact tracing.
If your child is identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will receive a phone call and follow up email from Ameridial. Parents/guardians who do not answer the call will be left a voicemail and provided with a return call number. Please do not return the call to our school. We ask that you return the call to Ameridial at 888-984-3953, which will provide you with necessary information.
Additionally, if your child tests positive for COVID-19, please call Ameridail at 888-984-3953 to begin the contact tracing process. Ameridial is available to take calls from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Calls received outside of those times will be directed to a voicemail.
Ameridial deploys a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant infrastructure to protect student’s/family’s medical records and other personal health information. Details on Ameridial’s privacy policy can be found online.
More information on HCPSS contact tracing and additional health and safety details can be found online.
Updated SJLES Parent Teacher Conference Overview
Fall conferences with English Language Arts teachers and 4th Grade GT Math teachers will take place on Monday, 11/22, and Tuesday, 11/23, following 3-Hour early dismissals for students each day. Some teachers may be offering Wednesday 11/24 conferences.
All conferences will be held via Google Meet.
Conferences are scheduled in 20 minute blocks and will be 15 minutes in length to allow for transition & preparation between sessions.
All conferences will need to begin and end on time.
Please do not enter the Google Meet early.
In addition to Synergy, teachers will share their google meet information directly with families via Canvas.
The scheduling window has closed. Any additional conferences beyond the times offered must be scheduled after the window has closed through direct contact with your child’s teacher.
It is recommended that you use a personal computer or your child’s Chromebook and not a mobile phone or tablet.
Google Chrome or Firefox are the preferred web browsers.
If using a shared, family computer, confirm that you are NOT logged in as your student.
Related Arts Office Hours & Technical Support for Conferences
Our Related Arts Team will be offering Office Hours throughout the conference window for their content area and provide tech support for families who may encounter difficulty logging in to their conferences. In order to join the Google Meet, go to https://hcpss.me with your student’s login information, click on the Meet icon, then enter the code sjles-officehours.
Monday, 11/22 Schedule
1:00-3:00 - Mrs. Carty (PE) & Mr. Frantz (PE)
3:00-5:00 - Mrs. Fischer (Media/Tech) & Ms.Kennedy (Tech)
5:00-7:00 - Mrs. Peddicord (Art)
Tuesday, 11/23 Schedule
1:00-3:00 - Ms. Kalivretenos (Band/Orchestra) & Mrs. Moon (Art)
3:00-5:00 - Mrs. Kennedy (Tech)
5:00-7:00 - Mrs. Foster (Music) & Mrs. Whitaker (Music)
Wednesday, 11/24 Schedule
10:00-12:00 - Mrs. Pauller (Media)
Families may email related arts teachers directly, if needed, to discuss any concerns specific to your child. Please visit our website for teacher contact information.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
11/19- Spirit Day - #JaguarPride: Celebrate our SJLES Pride & wear your Spirit Wear or school colors
11/22 & 11/23 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early (12:20)
11/22-11/24 - Parent Teacher Conferences
11/24 - Schools Closed for Students
11/25-11/26 - All HCPSS Schools & Offices Closed
12/1 @ 8:00 PM - Virtual PTA Meeting
12/3 - Wacky Sock Day - Wear your funkiest pair of socks!
12/3 - Last Day to Claim Items in Lost & Found
12/6-12/10 - Inclusive Schools Week
12/9 - Final Photo Retake Day - Strawbridge
12/10 - When I Grow Up Day - Dress up as an occupation you would like to be when you grow up
REPEATED NEWS
Outdoor Lunch Guidelines
Thank you to all our parent volunteers who have helped us each day in the cafeteria and under the tent for outdoor lunch this fall! You are so appreciated!
As the temperatures begin to drop more consistently, there are HCPSS outdoor activity guidelines we will follow in order to make a determination each day as to whether or not outdoor lunch will be held. As per the county guidelines, the decision to provide an outdoor eating option is the decision of the administrative team at individual schools using the following criteria to make an informed decision for behalf of our students, staff, and volunteers.
Temperature and humidity
Wind chill
Heat index and air quality
Age of students
Length of time outdoors
Adequacy of the children’s clothing
Condition of the playground
Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)
Thunder and lightning
Please contact erin_coleman@hcpss.org with any questions and/or requests to change your child’s lunch location.
Young Authors' Contest
The Howard County Literacy Association invites students in grades 1-5 to submit their original poems and/or short stories to the annual writing contest called The Young Authors' Contest . Please see the attached YAC Flyer Announcing Contest for information about the rules and guidelines. All entries must have a completed YAC Cover Sheet sent as a PDF. Submissions may be emailed to Mrs. Taylor by January 21, 2022. Contact Mrs. Taylor with any questions at elizabeth_taylor@hcpss.org.
Young Authors’ Contest information can be found on the HCLA website Howard County Literacy Association welcomes parents as members. Visit the HCLA Welcome Page for information about joining.
Book Donations
We have had several students ask about donating books from home. Yes! We do accept book donations. Our students especially love graphic novels! The books need to meet certain criteria:
1) Hardcover
2) Excellent Condition- no tears, stains, unidentified sticky areas, etc.
3) Recent copyright date- must be published in the last five years (2016-2021)
Beyond that, the Media Staff must evaluate books to make sure they fit the criteria for being included in a Howard County Public School Library, including accuracy, positive professional reviews, and age-appropriateness. If a donated book doesn’t meet these criteria, we can return it to you.
We do not expect anyone to buy books to donate; but if you have books at home and your students are finished with them, we can find new readers for them at the library. If you have any questions, please reach out to Maggie Fischer (margaret_fischer@hcpss.org) or Vicky Pauller (vicky_pauller@hcpss.org). Thank you!
HCPSS Attendance Procedures
Research is clear that showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic and social success starting from kindergarten and continuing through high school. Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school or even facing social challenges.
Missing 10% (or about 18 days of a school year) can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
By the 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that can indicate if a student is at risk for dropping out of high school.
In the 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
Student attendance is a major point of focus for the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Starting in 2018-2019, MSDE lowered the chronic absenteeism rate from 20% to 10% which means that at 10% a student should be receiving support and interventions to improve their absenteeism.
Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) believes that attendance is key for student success. Per Policy 9010, HCPSS defines exemplary attendance as a final attendance rate of 96% or more of the student year.
In support of achieving Exemplary Attendance for all students, we are sharing with you a comprehensive approach for attendance supports and interventions.
If a student has missed 5% of their monthly attendance days (as few as 1-2 days a month), parents will receive a Care and Concern Phone Call and letter from their school. This step will allow staff members to coordinate with families to determine how the student can be supported for better attendance.
If a student has missed 10% of their monthly attendance days (this is defined as chronic absenteeism by MSDE), parents will receive a 10% Chronic Absenteeism Attendance Letter. Parents and students may be scheduled for an attendance conference. Other interventions and supports may also be used in an effort to assist the student.
If a student has missed 15% of their monthly attendance days, in addition to the interventions and supports at 5% and 10%, these students may require an attendance support plan. Students may also be referred to the Central Attendance Team.
If a student has missed 20% of their monthly attendance days, parents will receive a 20% Emergency Chronic Absenteeism Letter or Habitual Truancy Letter. Students may be referred to Project Attend and may be referred to the State’s Attorney’s Office for habitual truancy.
With the collaborative effort of HCPSS parents, staff and students, we are confident that all students can have successful attendance. This will improve student success in school and in future life
Daily Health Check Reminder
Parents/guardians MUST perform a COVID-19 health check every day before your student leaves home.
Community News and Programs
Please visit the Community News and Programs page at http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/ for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.