SJLES Updates 12/3/21
Fri, 12/03/2021 - 10:33amNEW NEWS
We Want Your Feedback!
It has undoubtedly been a very rewarding but busy school year. With more than 50 school days behind us, we find ourselves at a perfect time to seek additional input and reflect upon our work and service thus far. Our administrative and school leadership teams strive to bring our HCPSS vision and mission to life each day and do our best to serve as adaptable, intentional, responsive, & reflective leaders. Ms. Coleman and I are extremely proud of how our staff has worked diligently, collaboratively, and creatively to meet the differentiated needs of our students this school year. With that said, there are always blindspots we are not aware of, opportunities for our program to improve and for our staff to grow, and possible perceptions and/or misperceptions to discuss and learn from.
Your insights and voice are critical to our work. By providing ANONYMOUS feedback you will allow us to make more informed decisions going forward this school year on behalf of our 645 Jaguars. We will share any and all survey themes with our staff and PTA. As always, we thank you for your time, insights, support, collaboration, and partnership!
Screener for Students with Reading Difficulties
TODAY our Kindergarten through Grade 5 students, except those who have Special Education IEP Goals for Reading, will be bringing home a notice with the title: Screener for Students with Reading Difficulties. In accordance with Maryland's Ready to Read Act (2019), COMAR (2021) and the HCPSS Board of Education, BBES Kindergarten through Grade 5 students were screened for specific reading foundational skills. The letter explains this screener more in depth. Please note that the DIBELS Screener is one point of data among many that are collected to assess a child's reading skills. The DIBELS screener is different from the MAP Assessment. If your child is identified as a student who will receive supplemental instruction, it is noted on the letter. The length of time of supplemental instruction will be determined by your child's successful demonstration of the skills being addressed.
More information is available at this link. Please reach out to your child's teacher with questions.
Join Our Team!
SJLES is still in need of a Close Adult Support position.
- This service is provided to some of our students receiving special education services.
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Applicants will apply through an outside agency that staffs these positions at SJLES.
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If you are interested in learning more please contact our Assistant Principal Erin Coleman at erin_coleman@hcpss.org and visit this link to apply.
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Hours are typically 8:45-3:15.
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This Close Adult Support position is a great pathway to HCPSS employment. Many current full time staff members began their journey in this position.
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We also frequently need substitutes for this role, so if you are looking for just occasional work please let us know!
Inclusive Schools Week Is NEXT WEEK!
Inclusive Schools Week provides another opportunity for our students, school staff and families to come together to celebrate the accomplishments of schools in acknowledging and accepting students with disabilities as full members of their school communities. This year’s theme is Rebuilding Our Inclusive Community Together. Throughout this week, students will be participating in various activities to recognize that it is important for all students to be included and supported.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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12/3 - Wacky Sock Day - Wear your funkiest pair of socks!
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12/3 - Last Day to Claim Items in Lost & Found
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12/6-12/10 - Inclusive Schools Week
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12/9 - Final Photo Retake Day- Strawbridge
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12/10 - When I Grow Up Day - Dress up as an occupation you would like to be when you grow up
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12/15 - 3 Hour Early DIsmissal
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12/17 - Sweater Day - Wear your ugliest, most interesting or favorite sweater
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12/22 - PJ Day - Wear your favorite PJs to celebrate our final day before winter break
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12/23 - 1/2 - Winter Break - Schools Closed
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1/3 - Schools Reopen - Happy New Year!
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1/5 - PTA Restaurant Night - Chipotle
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1/5 @ 8:00 PM - Virtual PTA Meeting
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1/7 - Hat Day - Show off your favorite hat to your class!
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1/11@ 6:00 - Band Winter Concert
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1/12 @ 6:00 - Band Winter Concert (Inclimate Weather Date)
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1/14 - #JaguarPride - Celebrate our SJLES Pride and wear your spirit wear or colors
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1/17 - MLK Day - HCPSS schools & offices closed
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1/18 @ 6:00 - Orchestra Winter Concert
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1/19 @ 6:00 - Orchestra Winter Concert (Inclimate Weather Date)
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1/19- School closes 3 hours early (12:20 dismissal)
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1/21- End of Second Quarter
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1/21- Ocean of Blue Day: Wear as much blue as you can to celebrate kindness!
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1/24- Professional Work Day. School is closed
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1/28 - Inside Out Day: Wear your clothes inside out!!
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1/31- Report cards issued in Synergy
REPEATED NEWS
Our 2nd & Final Fall Portrait Retake Day is Coming!
We are excited to welcome back Strawbridge Studios to SJLES on Thursday 12/9 to photograph our students who were absent for Fall portraits and to provide opportunities for retakes for interested families. These portraits are not only a great keepsake for your family but an important fundraiser for our school. Please click here to view the various packages available . If you are interested in purchasing your child's photos please send the completed form in with your child.
Please click here to sign up to receive updates via email regarding their child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.
Do you love books? Do you enjoy keeping things in good order?
The SJLES media center could use a few adult volunteers to help shelve books. Even an hour or two is a big help to us. All volunteers must adhere to Covid protocols and complete HCPSS volunteer training. Aside from that, we can teach you how to shelve books or complete any other library tasks. THANK YOU for considering this valuable service! Questions? Contact Maggie Fischer (margaret_fischer@hcpss.org) or Vicky Pauller (vicky_pauller@hcpss.org).
How to Access MAP Scores
Fall MAP Reports are now available through HCPSS Connect for students in grades 1 through 5. For information on how to access your child's report please visit https://help.hcpss.org/grades-testing/fall-2020-MAP-scores
Outdoor Lunch Seating Reminder
Many families have asked whether outdoor seating will remain an option for students who wish to eat lunch outside during the colder months. Outdoor lunch will continue to be an option for any student who wishes to do so, as the weather allows.
Please note that the decision to allow for outdoor lunch is at the discretion of each school administrator, while considering the following criteria:
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Temperature and humidity
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Wind chill
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Heat index and air quality
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Age of students
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Length of time outdoors
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Adequacy of the children’s clothing
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Condition of the playground
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Falling precipitation
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Thunder and lightning
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Sufficient staffing and supervision
If your child plans to eat outside, please encourage them to dress appropriately for the temperatures, including wearing a coat, hat and/or gloves each day. Parents or guardians may change their preference of eating location at any time by emailing Ms. Coleman at erin_coleman@hcpss.org.
The opportunity for outdoor eating has been one of several effective COVID-19 mitigation strategies we have employed to keep our school community healthy and safe. Please visit the HCPSS website regarding health and safety measures, including what is being done to ensure indoor dining safety.
In addition, parents/guardians are to perform a COVID-19 health check every day before the student leaves home. Parents/guardians should keep their children home if they are experiencing symptom(s) associated with any communicable disease, including COVID-19.
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!
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.