Greetings SJLES Families,
During its Feb. 23 meeting, the Howard County Board of Education adjusted the start times of schools for the 2023-2024 school year. There is no impact to the current school year. All changes will take effect in August.
The exact start time for each school will be determined this spring and shared with the community as transportation routes are finalized. However, SJLES is part of Tier 3, which means our school start time will be approximately 9:15 next school year. If your child will attend a different school next year, the start times for all schools can be found on the HCPSS website.
I want to reiterate the words that HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano shared: “finalizing and fully implementing this plan will be a months-long process.” Much more information will be provided to students, staff and families from HCPSS and our school throughout that process.
I encourage you to read more about the process to evaluate school start times on the HCPSS website. I know you may have questions; however, please note that there are many impacted pieces as a result of this decision and all details will not be available right away. We are working with HCPSS central office staff on the logistics related to the implementation, and additional information will be provided to you as it becomes available.
Thank you for your continued care and support of our students and your on-going partnership. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Dan Notari
SJLES Principal
NEW NEWS
SJLES Employee Appreciation Week Shout Out: Thank You for the 87 Shout Outs So Far! PLEASE Keep Them Coming!
February 27th - March 3rd is Employee Appreciation Week throughout HCPSS. Mr. Notari & Mrs. Coleman are planning 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 here 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!
5th Grade MISA Testing
SJLES 5th graders will take the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) on March 14 and March 17 in their Content classes. Students who are absent during either of these testing sessions will have the opportunity to make up the test prior to March 24 when the testing window closes. Information about this assessment and other resources such as practice tests can be found on the HCPSS website by clicking this link.
All students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will take the MCAP in ELA and Math this spring. Further information will be shared in an upcoming message. Only 5th graders take the MISA. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher or Erin Coleman with any questions regarding the MISA.
The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) provides information to educators, parents and the public on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards. Through a strong assessment system, stakeholders gain an understanding of how schools are performing and where assistance can be directed to support student growth and achievement.
The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that states administer the following annual statewide assessments:
English Language Arts/Literacy – Grades 3-8 and 10
Math – Grades 3-8, Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry (MS only)
Science – Grades 5, 8 and HS students enrolled in Biology course
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Click here to access/subscribe to the updated HCPSS Calendar
Click here to access the HCPSS Related Arts Color Day Schedule
2/24 - Stuffed Animal Day: Students get to bring in a stuffed animal (that fits in backpack)
2/27 - Kindergarten to Miller Branch Library
2/27-3/2 - Employee Appreciation Week
3/2 - Twin Day: TWINNING! Find a friend to match with for the day
3/8 @ 8:00 - PTA Zoom Meeting
3/10 - Jaguar Buddy Reading & Storybook Character Day: Celebrate Reading Month by dressing up as your favorite character from a book and read with your Jaguar Buddy
3/15 - Schools Close 3 hrs. Early - Prof. Work & Wellness Day
3/17 #JaguarPride - Wear School Spirit Wear or School Colors
3/20-3/24 - Book Fair
3/23 - Book Fair Evening Shopping
3/24 - Favorite Book Day: Celebrate Reading Month by bringing your favorite book to class! Be ready to share your book at morning meeting!
3/29-3/30 - Spring Portraits & Class Group pictures
3/30 - PBIS Q3 Celebration: Jaguar Buddy Bingo
3/31 - #JaguarPride: Celebrate our SJLES Pride & wear your Spirit Wear or school colors
3/31 - 3-Hour Early Dismissal / End of Quarter 3
4/3-4/10 - HCPSS Schools Closed / Spring Break
REPEATED NEWS
Want to Invite Classmates to A Birthday Party? Connect Kids Outside of school?
Throughout the school year our families seek to connect our Jaguars with their classmates outside of the school day for birthday parties, playdates, and other fun get-togethers. The best way for families to do this is parent-to-parent contact via the school directory in Synergy.
We encourage our families to opt-in to the school directory and access it to connect with other parents for events. Our teachers are happy to help distribute birthday party invitations if the entire class is invited. If everyone is not invited, oftentimes this can be a distraction coupled with hurt feelings for students who are not invited. We recommend that families leverage the school directory or have students pass out invitations outside of the school day, when possible.
How can I find the school directory?
Login to Synergy https://sisparents.hcpss.org/PXP2_Login.aspx using your parent credentials.
Choose “More Options” from the left menu
Then select “School Directory”
If you don’t see this as an option, it may be that the student credentials are still entered. Log out, and log back in as a parent.
Families Wishing to Park & Pick Up at Arrival & DismissalParents who wish to park at SJLES and walk their child to and from the school building must park in the UPPER parking lot (closest to Mt. Hebron High School). If this applies to you, please designate your child as a WALKER in the Family File and notify the homeroom teacher so your child is dismissed through the walker door in the afternoon.
Help Keep Toys At Home
Families, we are seeing an increase in regards to our students bringing various toys and plush toys/stuffed animals to school. At times, students may earn a special day to bring in a plush toy by cashing in Spot-O-Grams, earning a JaguarPride class reward, or on one of our spirit days. Those are the exceptions to the rule. We could very much use your help in ensuring toys are staying home so that our Jaguars are focused on learning throughout their school day. Thank you for your support!
HCPSS COMMUNITY NEWS & PROGRAMS
In alignment with Howard County Board of Education, the following announcements have been approved by the Public Information Office for distribution. To view upcoming events click: https://community-programs.hcpss.org/