Greetings SJLES Families,
I hope this communication finds you well on this icy and then sunny Friday! It has been a great week at The Lane. Our staff and admin team have been focused on midyear progress monitoring and calibration recently. Our students are growing and we are monitoring their data and well-being to ensure we keep it that way. Ms. Coleman and I are so proud of our students, staff, and the instructional program we continue to nurture and grow here at SJLES. Thank you families for your collaboration, confidence, support, and partnership in making this happen. It means a lot!
We are asking a favor of every family who visits our school. Please help us keep arrival and dismissal safe for our students, staff, and neighbors. We have many students who walk to and from SJLES daily. Please keep this in mind as you begin to approach our school property before and after school and to keep a watchful eye out for our “walker” students.
We are asking our “car rider” families to embrace predictable traffic patterns around SJLES by always using the car loop at arrival and dismissal, to be mindful of the safety of our staff on school grounds as they help facilitate arrival and dismissal, and to allow us to be good neighbors to our surrounding properties, especially on Southview Road. We encourage you to always prioritize safety over efficiency. We understand busy school car loops are not a preferred destination, however they allow for the most predictable traffic patterns for our students commuting to and from school. The numerous cars parked along Southview Rd. are creating blindspots for our walker students on that street. These cars also force students to walk in the middle of the road which is already narrowed due to the numerous cars on each side. Our neighbors along Southview Rd. and other neighboring streets are having their front lawns torn up from tire marks and occasionally having their driveways blocked. Families, please partner with us by using the car loop at arrival and dismissal for the safety of our students and allow us to be the good neighbors we hope to be. For additional HCPSS safety tips please click here and reach out with any questions. Your cooperation is very much appreciated and we hope you all have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Dan Notari
SJLES Principal
NEW NEWS
90 Staff Shout Outs & Counting!
Next week is Employee Appreciation Week throughout HCPSS. Ms. Coleman and Mr. Notari have planned something special each day next week to show our appreciation for the outstanding people who make a positive and lasting impact upon the lives of our students each and every day at SJLES.
We wanted to extend our families an opportunity to join in on the fun. We encourage our families to take a moment to recognize a staff member who has made a positive connection and/or impact upon your child and/or family. Feel free to submit this form multiple times for different staff members. We will share your message with each individual staff member. Thank you, SJLES Families, for the outstanding support and encouragement you always show our staff!
HCPSS Masking and Health & Safety Updates
At its meeting on Feb. 24, 2022, the Howard County Board of Education voted to make face coverings optional, based on the Maryland State Department of Education’s off-ramp option one for school districts to lift mask requirements.
Effective Tuesday, March 1, the universal indoor masking in HCPSS buildings is no longer required. Any student, staff or visitor may choose to wear a mask, and should feel comfortable doing so. Schools and offices will continue to have additional masks available as needed.
A federal order requiring the wearing of masks by people on public transportation remains unchanged. Therefore anyone on a school bus is required to wear a mask.
For more information please click here.
HCPSS Calendar Change
To better align with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, schools now will be closed for students Monday, May 2 and open on Tuesday, May 3.
Monday, May 2: Schools closed for students. It will be a Professional Learning Day for staff and offices will remain open.
Tuesday, May 3: Regular school day.
The HCPSS academic calendar may be found online. Answers to frequently asked questions about the calendar and the HCPSS operating status also are available online.
CogAT Assessment for 3rd and 5th Graders NEXT WEEK!
The CogAT will be administered on the following dates for each grade at SJLES:
3rd grade students: 3/1, 3/2, and 3/3
Makeup date on 3/4
5th grade GT Math students & 5th graders without a prior score: 2/28, 3/1, and 3/
Makeup date on 3/4
Families of 3rd and 5th graders received a more detailed message regarding CogAT last week.
Please click here for additional information and contact Erin Coleman with additional questions.
Kindergarten Registration Opens 3/7/22
Please spread the word! Children must be 5 years old by September 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten. Every child who is 5 years old by September 1 must be enrolled in a kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver. For additional information registering a Kindergarten student please click here.
We Need You: SJLES Close Adult Support position
This service is provided to some of our students receiving special education services
Applicants will apply through an outside agency that staffs these positions at SJLES.
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.
Hours are typically 8:45-3:15.
This Close Adult Support position is a great pathway to HCPSS employment. Many current full time staff members began their journey in this position.
We also frequently need substitutes for this role, so if you are looking for just occasional work please let us know!
Mt. Hebron HS Summer Camps
Please click here to learn more about MHHS Summer Camp offerings
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Click here to access/subscribe to the updated HCPSS calendar
2/28 - 3/2 - Grade 5 CogAT Administration (GT Math students & 5th graders without a prior score)
2/28 - 3/4 - PBIS Spot-O-Gram Store Opens for Students to cash in Spot-O-Grams
2/28 - 3/4 - Employee Appreciation Week
3/1 - 3/3 - Grade 3 CogAT Administration
3/2 - Read Across America Day
3/2 @ 8:00 - PTA Zoom Meeting
3/4 - CogAT Make-ups
3/4 - Spirit Day - Twin Day: TWINNING! Find a friend to match with for the day.
3/7 - 2022-2023 Kindergarten Registration Opens
3/11 - Spirit Day - Storybook Character Day: Celebrate Reading Month by dressing up as your favorite character from a book
3/16 - All HCPSS Schools Close 3 Hours Early (SJLES begins dismissal @ 12:20)
3/21-3/25 - Scholastic Book Fair
3/21-3/25 - Grade 5 Maryland Integrated Science Assessments (MISA)
3/23 - Vision & Hearing Screening
3/25 - Favorite Book Day: Bring your favorite book to class and be ready to share at morning meeting!
3/29 - Class & Spring Individual Portraits
3/31 - Vision & Hearing Rescreening
4/1 - #JaguarPride: Celebrate our SJLES Pride and wear your Spirit Wear or school colors
4/1 - End of Quarter 3 - HCPSS Schools Close 3 Hours Early (SJLES 12:20 Dismissal)
REPEATED NEWS
SJLES Daily Outdoor Lunch Status
For interested families, we will communicate our Outdoor Lunch Status on our SJLES website landing page daily. Please be sure to check our website for our daily outdoor lunch status.
HCPSS Calendar Updates
Monday, 2/21, previously closed for Presidents Day, now will be a full school day, with both schools and offices being open.
Monday, 6/20, all HCPSS schools and offices will be closed in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.
Wednesday, 6/22 was added as an additional inclement weather day, if needed.
HCPSS Summer Programs Preview
Families can now view/download the 2022 Summer Programs Preview, which includes descriptions of HCPSS’ four summer programs and enrollment information. Online enrollment requests for current HCPSS students will open on Tuesday, 2/1, at 6:00 PM.
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.