Greetings SJLES Families! As always, I hope this communication finds you and your family well. Mrs. Redd and I were thrilled to welcome back our amazing staff to officially kick off the 2020-2021 school year yesterday! We missed them and it was great to reconnect throughout the day. They are engaged, energized, ready to get to work, and miss our Jaguars! 

Throughout our preservice time together our staff will be engaged in various school-based and district-wide professional learning sessions to prepare them for virtual teaching and learning this Fall.  Additionally, our administrative team and staff will be very intentional and proactive in building strong and connected relationships with our students and families in this virtual space just as we did in the brick and-mortar setting, during Continuity of Learning, and throughout the summer break. In the coming weeks we will be hosting virtual orientations (9/4); back to school nights (9/22-9/24); providing various opportunities to connect with our administrative and leadership teams; and emailing and calling individual families to introduce ourselves, check-in, and see if there is anything we can do to support you all as we begin this unprecedented school year. 

We understand that this school year and life in general right now is different. Our families are working through various emotions and have many questions. As your principal, I want to uplift that together this learning community can do hard things, figure things out, find creative solutions, blaze new paths, provide each other grace, and ensure that we meet our shared goal of ensuring the academic success and social-emotional well-being of each and every SJLES Jaguar. Our partnership, collaboration, and communication is more important than ever and together we will serve our students extraordinarily well regardless of the platform for learning. Please let us know how we can be of service to your family. Here’s to an outstanding 2020-2021 school year at THE St. John’s Lane Elementary School!

Sincerely, 

Dan Notari

SJLES Principal 

 

NEW NEWS

PLEASE Complete Your FAMILY FILE! 

As of today, only 45% of SJLES Family Files are complete! HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to complete emergency information. Your Family File must be completed and updated in order for you to access the names of your child’s teachers prior to the start of the school year. Regardless of virtual or in-person learning, parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child. Parents/guardians can complete Family File by logging in to HCPSS Connect selecting the More Options tab on the left and then selecting Family File in the center column.

Once logged in, parents/guardians will be asked to update or provide the following information:

• Student Information

• Parent/Guardian Contact

• Emergency Contacts

• Medical Information

• Arrival/Dismissal Procedures (for when in-person classes/supports resume)

• Photo Approval

• Data Confidentiality

• PTA/PTSA Directory

Changes of address may not be made through Family File. If you have recently moved, please contact Mrs. Wolfrey at robin_wolfrey@hcpss.org as soon as possible.

Resources on how to access Family File may be found online, including instructions on how to reset passwords. If you need additional assistance, please complete this Connect Help Form.

Staffing Updates & Assignments 

Each year brings changes to staffing and assignments. This year, our changes are a result of decreased enrollment and therefore staffing due to redistricting, retirements, and former staff members transferring to new assignments and opportunities. Please visit our website at https://sjles.hcpss.org/school-staff to access our 2020-2021 SJLES staff roster. 

Please give our newest staff members a warm SJLES welcome!

• Mrs. Vicky Pauller, .5 Media/. 5 Technology Teacher -  Mrs. Pauller returns to HCPSS after spending 7 years home with her two children. Mrs. Pauller had previously taught computer science at Centennial High School and mathematics at Hammond High School before pursuing certifications for her new role. Before teaching, she worked as a software engineer for 6 years. Mrs. Pauller brings some great experience to our staff and we are glad to have her join our SJLES family! 

• Mr. Jack Kline, Custodian - Mr. Kline has done a great job since coming aboard on July 1st after transferring from River Hill High School. He and the custodial team have done an outstanding job getting our building in excellent condition. Mr. Kline has the not-so-easy job of replacing our beloved Mr. Carroll, but couldn’t be off to a better start!  

Please join us in sending best wishes to our staff members who got married since you last saw them... 

• Ms. Becky Taylor, Grade 2 Teacher, is now Mrs. Care.

• Ms. Christina Alms, Grade 2 Teacher, is now Mrs. Harold.

• Ms. Andrea Nelson, Special Education Teacher, is now Mrs. Jaffey. 

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Diana McKinney and her husband Dale on the birth of their daughter Delanie Hope McKinney! Mrs. McKinney will be on maternity leave through October 2nd to care for Delanie. We are happy to share that Mrs. Revathi Miriyala will serve as her long term substitute teacher during this time. Mrs. Miriyala has served our school as a long term substitute teacher in various grades over the past three school years and we are very grateful to her for accepting this role!

We would like to thank the following staff members for their service to our SJLES and wish them well as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

• Mrs. Michelle Brown, Media Specialist, transfer to Mt. Hebron High School

• Mr. Gerald Carroll, Custodian, retired 

• Mrs. Deb Capo, .5 Kindergarten Paraeducator, surplus to Triadelphia Ridge Elementary 

• Mrs. Sara Cox, GT Teacher, transfer to Deep Run Elementary 

• Mrs. Maxine Drazenovic, .4 ESOL Teacher, surplus to Longfellow Elementary

• Ms. Jayme Grohe, 1st Grade Teacher, surplus to Ducketts Lane Elementary

• Ms. Kasey John, 2nd Grade Teacher, surplus to Waterloo Elementary 

• Mrs. Kelly Kendrick, 3rd Grade Teacher, surplus to Thunder Hill Elementary

• Mr. Jim Kroll, Orchestra Teacher, retired

• Mr. Zachary Mitchell, .4 Physical Education Teacher, surplus

• Mrs. Stacie Yakowenko, Teachers’ Secretary, retired

Student Materials Collection & Distribution INCLUDING CHROMEBOOKS & INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS - 9/2/2020

Please save the date for our SJLES Student Materials Collection and Distribution Day on Wednesday, 9/2/2020. On this date, we will distribute items including Chromebooks, instructional materials, class pictures, yearbooks, and students’ personal items that were left behind last school year. Additionally, 9/2 will provide an opportunity to return borrowed items such as SJLES media books, instruments, safety belts, and teacher classroom library books. 

SJLES families, please plan to visit SJLES to pick up instructional items your child will need throughout the semester including a Chromebook and instructional materials. All elementary students will be provided and are required to use an HCPSS Chromebook for instruction. For information about the benefits of having a HCPSS Chrmebook please click on the link below…

• https://help.hcpss.org/technology/chromebook-benefits/

We understand that not all family schedules will match with our designated windows, but please try to arrive during your designated time frame to assist us with traffic overflow onto St. John’s Lane. Families can choose to stop by during the additional window of 2:30-3:15 to pick up materials or simply arrive at a time that works best for you, if needed. The schedule is below...

• 9:00 - 9:45 - Last names that begin with A - C

• 9:45- 10:30 - Last names that begin with D - F

• 10:30 - 11:15 - Last names that begin with G - J

• 11:15 - 12:00 - Last names that begin with K - M

• 1:00 - 1:45 - Last names that begin with N - Q

• 1:45 - 2:30  - Last names that begin with R - Z

• 2:30 - 3:15 - Additional pickup window for all families A-Z 

• Rain Date is 9/3/2020 

9/2 Process & Procedures: 

• Items to be returned to SJLES must be placed in a plastic/shopping/grocery bag or box labeled with the student’s first and last name. 

  • Please note that the bag/box will not be returned. 

• Please place a paper with your students’ last name, last year’s grade level(s) and homeroom teacher(s) on the passenger side of your dashboard. 

• Students and families should remain in their cars throughout this process.

• Staff, students, and family members must wear a mask while on school grounds and remain at least 6 feet apart at all times.

• Upon entering the bus loop entrance please…

  • follow the directions of staff as you enter the bus loop  

  • roll down your passenger window 

  • ensure the paper with names, former grade levels, and homeroom teachers is clearly visible

  • make space on your passenger seat for items

• At each zone, staff members will provide student belongings/collect school items. 

• Each vehicle will travel through an admin check, distribution zone and collection zone during this process as shown below…

Please email Mrs. Redd (alexcia_redd@hcpss.org) with any questions. 

Former WAVERLY Elementary Families: Student Materials Collection/Drop off 

On Monday, August 31st from 12-3:30pm, families will use the schedule below to collect their school supplies & materials from last year and to drop off any media books, teacher owned classroom books, and instruments (if needed.) Students who received HCPSS Chromebooks in the Spring will keep their devices and will not be issued another device. Please separate media books from teacher-owned classroom books.

August 31st Schedule:

• Last year's RECC/PreK students: 12:00-12:30pm
• This year's 1st grade students (former Kindergarten): 1-1:30pm
• This year's 2nd grade students (former 1st): 1:30-2pm
• This year's 3rd grade students (former 2nd): 2-2:30pm
• This year's 4th grade students (former 3rd): 2:30-3pm
• This year's 5th grade students (former 4th): 3-3:30pm 

If you cannot come during your designated time, the flexible collection/drop off time is 3:30-4pm.

Please write your child's first/last name (no nicknames) and grade level on a sheet of paper for easier distribution. If you have siblings across multiple grade levels, come to the youngest child's grade level to drop off/pick up all family materials.

Families will stay in their cars and will not have access to the building during this exchange. Masks must be worn, and parents and staff will follow CDC guidelines. An additional collection time and schedule will be shared with the community in the coming days if your family has an extenuating circumstance. 

Please note that former Waverly families will receive their chromebooks and curricular materials from SJLES. For your reference, this information is also posted on Waverly ES' school website.

SJLES Virtual Orientations - 9/4/2020 

Please save the date for our SJLES Virtual Orientations on Friday, September 4th. Our Virtual Orientations will provide our students and families information about the school year and their new grade level and most importantly an opportunity to meet their new teacher. Homeroom teachers will personally email each student and family on Thursday, September 3rd a welcome email that includes a link/code to our Virtual Orientations on Friday, September 4th. Our orientation schedule is below and posted on our SJLES Public Calendar which can be found on our SJLES website.  

• 8:30 - 9:30 5th Grade

• 9:30 - 10:30 4th Grade

• 10:30 - 11:30 3rd Grade

• 11:30 - 12:30 2nd Grade

• 12:30 - 1:30 1st Grade 

• 1:30 - 2:30 Kindergarten

• 2:45 - 3:45 New Family Welcome with Administration & School Leaders

Jaguar Summer Stories 

Thanks to all of our SJLES staff members who shared weekly read alouds with our Jaguars throughout our summer break. We have two additional Jaguar Summer Stories to share with you this week from Mrs. Munson and our new Media & Technology Teacher Mrs. Pauller.  Please check out each of our Jaguar Summer Stories by visiting our website at sjles.hcpss.org 

• Mrs. Pauller Jaguar Summer Story: A Frog in the Bog

• Mrs. Munson Jaguar Summer Story: My New Friend is So Fun

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

All dates will be posted on our SJLES Public Calendar. 

• 8/25-8/27 - Dunloggin Middle School Collection & Distribution of Student Materials 

• 8/31 - Waverly Elementary School Collection & Distribution of Student Materials 

• 9/2 - SJLES Collection & Distribution of Student Materials 

• 9:00 - 9:45 - Last names that begin with A - C

• 9:45- 10:30 - Last names that begin with D - F

• 10:30 - 11:15 - Last names that begin with G - J

• 11:15 - 12:00 - Last names that begin with K - M

• 1:00 - 1:45 - Last names that begin with N - Q

• 1:45 - 2:30  - Last names that begin with R - Z

• 2:30 - 3:15 - Additional pickup window for all families A-Z 

• 9/3 - SJLES Collection & Distribution of Student Materials Rain Date 

• 9/3 - Welcome email from Homeroom Teachers with orientation link

• 9/3 @ 6:30 - PTA Meeting  

• 9/4 - Student & Family Orientations

  • 8:30-9:30 5th Grade

  • 9:30-10:30 4th Grade

  • 10:30-11:30 3rd Grade

  • 11:30-12:30 2nd Grade

  • 12:30-1:30 1st Grade 

  • 1:30-2:30 Kindergarten

  • 2:45-3:45 New Family Welcome with Administration & School Leaders

• 9/7 - Labor Day

• 9/8 - First Day of Elementary School for Students

• 9/22 @ 6:30 - K-2 Virtual Back to School Night 

• 9/23 @ 6:30 - 3-5 Virtual Back to School Night 

• 9/24 @ 6:30 - Gifted & Talented Virtual Back to School Night 

REPEATED NEWS

Updated Supply List

The Howard County School System has created the attached school supply list, taking into account family budgets, as well as student needs during virtual learning. This list has been distributed to all elementary schools, and the number of items have been reduced. Please click on the link below...

• HCPSS Elementary Supply List 2020-02021.pdf

HCPSS 2020-21 School Year Updates 

HCPSS families can keep up to date with news about the 2020-2021 school year by clicking on the link below...

• https://www.hcpss.org/2020-2021

HCPSS Reopening Plan

The HCPSS Reopening Plan is still in draft form at this time, pending MSDE approval.  Appendix D provides proposed schedules for each grade level, as you consider the logistics of distance learning for your family.

Technology Accounts for New Students

Families with students new to HCPSS and whose registration has been finalized will receive an email from noreply@hcpss.org with the subject “Technology account information for new HCPSS student.” The email will be sent to the email address used during the student registration process. The email contains personalized and important information regarding new students’ technology accounts. If you have a child new to HCPSS and do not receive the email and/or cannot locate the email in the junk/spam folder of the email account you used during registration, you can use the Forgot Password or Username button on the hcpss.me student landing page to retrieve both your child’s username and password. Directions for Account Self Service are posted online.

Applying for Free & Reduced Meals for Children

The Coronavirus pandemic is causing hardship for many of our friends and neighbors. Many HCPSS families have been impacted financially by the pandemic, and may be eligible now to receive benefits through the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program. Qualifying families can take advantage of a wide range of additional resources and discounts, including testing fees, tuition, internet and more. Click here to learn more or to apply.