Greetings SJLES Families,
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) released the annual school accountability measure this past week. This is the third time MSDE has issued the School Report Card star ratings. MSDE skipped the accountability measures for the previous two years due to the pandemic.

 

The Report Card was created in alignment with the Every Student Succeeds Act which is a federal accountability standard initiated in 2015. The MSDE School Report Card considers multiple data points before ultimately assigning a star ranking for every Maryland school.

 

The Report Card provides broad insights into 4 categories of school measures…

• Academic Achievement

• Academic Progress

• English Language Proficiency

• School Quality and Student Success

Overall school performance is determined by a formulaic combination of these four categories. The combination of points, assigned by the state in each category, results in a percentage that is then associated with a school’s star ranking.

• 75-100% = 5 Stars

• 60-74% = 4 Stars

• 45-59% = 3 Stars

• 30-44% = 2 Stars

• >30% = 1 Star

SJLES received a 78.2 total earned percent and was designated as a 5-star school by MSDE on the 2021-2022 School Report Card. The 78.2 total earned percent placed SJLES in the 86th percentile among all elementary schools in Maryland. Comparatively, in 2019, SJLES earned a 68.6% and 4-star rating. To access our St. John’s Lane MSDE Report Card, please click here.

 

Our staff, Ms. Coleman, and I are proud of our progress and believe that our academic program is on a path of continual improvement and growth. We are confident that we will continue to demonstrate growth on next year’s Report Card based upon our student data to this point of the school year. As with other data points, we will be intentional with how we use this information to build upon our successes and address areas needing improvement. We will continue our efforts to ensure that SJLES is the best learning environment for students to learn and grow. For additional details about our Report Card please visit http://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/. 

 

Sincerely, 

Dan Notari 

SJLES Principal

 

NEW NEWS 

Indicators of Educational Equity Survey: 14 Completed Surveys So Far!

As part of our school improvement process, we are asking families to provide input about their equity priorities at our school. Please use the links below to complete the HCPSS Indicators of Educational Equity Survey by May 5, 2023. We will use your input, along with other school data, to refine our school improvement plan for next year. 

This survey is anonymous and available in multiple languages. If you have children at more than one school, please complete one survey per school. For additional information please visit sjles.hcpss.org.

• English survey

• Spanish survey

• Chinese survey

• Chin survey

• Korean survey

MCAP Home Reports Sent Home TODAY!

TODAY, Thursday, 3/16/23 students in grades 4th and 5th will be bringing home results from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). Results are for the spring 2022 Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA/L) assessments in Grades 3 through 8, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and English 10. This was the first full administration of the MCAP assessments that have replaced the previous Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) program. Results were delayed due to the federal standard setting process that new assessments are required to complete. 

The assessments use a four-point score scale, with students performing at levels 3 and 4 considered proficient for their grade level or course content. The second full administration of the MCAP assessments will occur this spring. Additional information is below! 

 

Spring MCAP Testing

This spring, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will take the Spring MCAP assessment. The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) is the overarching term used for all state assessments.

 

The ELA portion of the MCAP is administered in four 70-minute sessions. The Math portion is administered in four 40-minute sessions. We will provide corded headphones to all students, but if your child has their own set that they prefer, they are welcome to bring them to school for testing.  Please contact Erin Coleman with any questions about MCAP at erin_coleman@hcpss.org. SJLES will administer the MCAP on the following dates for each grade level:

3rd Grade:

• ELA: 4/24, 4/25, 4/26, 4/27

• Math: 4/18 (two sessions), 4/19 (two sessions)

4th Grade:

• ELA: 5/1, 5/2, 5/3, 5/4

• Math: 4/25 (two sessions), 4/26 (two sessions)

5th Grade:

• ELA: 4/11, 4/12, 4/13, 4/14

• Math: 4/17 (two sessions), 4/18 (two sessions)

Make-Up testing will be held on 5/22-5/24.

 

Winter MAP Reports
Home report PDFs for the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Winter testing are now available in HCPSS Connect. The assessment was given to students in grades 1-8 in reading and mathematics. Reports can be viewed/downloaded by Parents/guardians by taking the following steps: 

1. Log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy 

2. Select More Options from the left panel 

3. Select Report Cards from the menu 

4. Near the top of the page, select MAP_2023_Winter

Additional details on MAP testing and how to interpret the report can be found online. Please contact Erin Coleman with any questions at erin_coleman@hcpss.org. 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

• Click here to access/subscribe to our SJLES Public Calendar 

• Click here to access/subscribe to the updated HCPSS Calendar

• Click here to access the HCPSS Related Arts Color Day Schedule        

• 3/17 #JaguarPride - Wear School Spirit Wear or School Colors

• 3/17 - 3/23 - Book Fair

• 3/23 @ 8:00 - Optional Artifact Support Session

• 3/23 - Book Fair Evening Shopping

• 3/24 Hearing & Vision Screening

• 3/24 - Favorite Book Day: Celebrate Reading Month by bringing your favorite book to class! Be ready to share your book at morning meeting!

• 3/28 Hearing & Vision Rescreening

• 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 

• 4/11 - HCPSS Schools Reopen

• 4/12 @ 8:00 - PTA Zoom Meeting

• 4/14 - Optional Artifact Support Session 

• 4/14 - Disney Day: Celebrate all the magic at SJLES by dressing up as your favorite Disney character or wearing your favorite Disney apparel

• 4/14 @ 6:00 - PTA Outdoor Bingo Night

• 4/18 @ 8:00 - Optional Artifact Support Session

• 4/18 - Report Cards Issued

• 4/20 - PTA Cultural Arts: Taikoza Japanese Drummers 

• 4/21 - HCPSS Schools Closed for Students: Professional Work Day

REPEATED NEWS 

Class Picture Day is March 29th!

Photographers from Strawbridge will be at SJLES on Wednesday, 3/29/23, to take individual portraits of students. Order envelopes will be sent home soon, however we encourage you to purchase class photos through Strawbridge’s online ordering system. Here are the steps… 

• Go to www.strawbridge.net

• Click on Order Pictures

• Enter the SJLES online code: FM397564

• Follow prompts

Just a reminder that these portraits are not only a great keepsake for your family but an important fundraiser for our school! 

Kindergarten Registration is Open! Please Spread the Word!

HCPSS Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year is open! Parents/guardians of children who will be five on or before September 1, 2023, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year. Details about the enrollment process are available online.

Here Ye, Here Ye!!!! Calling all SJLES Citizens

The date is set for the Annual SJLES 5th Grade Simulated Congressional Hearing on Thursday, May 25, 2023! Fifth grade will be in need of some volunteers from our community to help with decorations, coaching fifth graders for SCH, and the judge’s luncheon. Please complete this SCH Volunteer form and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher ASAP. 

Summer Program Registration

Synergy online enrollment requests for currently enrolled HCPSS students will reopen Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. for the BSAP Summer Institute, Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development, Innovative Pathways High School (all courses except credit recovery and Gear Up for 9th Grade), and Summer Math Scholars programs.

HCPSS staff will provide in-person assistance for current HCPSS families who need help submitting their Synergy online enrollment requests for the registration-based summer programs. Support will be provided on Thursday, March 9 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the following elementary schools: Bollman Bridge ES, Swansfield ES, Talbott Springs ES, Waterloo ES, and Waverly ES.

Families can find up-to-date course information and enrollment directions on the Summer Programs web page (https://www.hcpss.org/summer-programs/). Contact the individual program offices with additional questions.

• BSAP Summer Institute (SummerInstitute@hcpss.org)

• G/T Summer Institutes for Talent Development (GTSummer@hcpss.org)

• Innovative Pathways High School (IPSummer@hcpss.org)

• Summer Math Scholars Program (LCB@howardcountymd.gov)

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/