Greetings SJLES Families,
I want to uplift and remind you all that HCPSS participates in the Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMs) program. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential.
Participation in FARMs qualifies students for a wide range of opportunities and resources beyond breakfast and lunch, including free college applications, free or reduced JumpStart tuition, discounted internet through the Comcast Internet Essentials program, and more.
Families must submit a new application every school year. During the first 30 school days, students with FARMs eligibility from the prior school year will be carried over. Any student who has not filled out an application up to the 30th school day will have their prior year status changed to full pay status until a new application is received.
Parents/guardians are highly encouraged to fill out the applications as soon as possible. It is very important that applications are filled out correctly.
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Apply online
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Apply by mail: Paper applications are available at your child’s school and may also be picked up in the Food and Nutrition Service Office (5451 Beaverkill Rd, Columbia, MD 21044). Applications can be returned to your child’s school or mailed to the Food and Nutrition Service Office: HCPSS Food & Nutrition Service Office, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042.
If you have questions regarding the program, please visit www.hcpss.org/farms or call Food and Nutrition Services at 410-313-7134. Just a reminder that all HCPSS schools are closed Monday. We hope you all have a great long weekend!
Sincerely,
Dan Notari
SJLES Principal
NEW NEWS
HCPSS Schools Closed on Monday 9/27
Students will return to school on Tuesday, September 27th.
Flu Clinic at SJLES
Every year, millions of people get sick and many die from influenza, also known as the flu. One of the best ways to prevent the flu is through vaccinations. Once again, we will work with the health department and the Maryland Partnership for Prevention (MPP) to offer flu vaccinations at your child’s school.
The clinic at SJLES will be held on 10/11 during school hours. We will send a notice home the day he/she has been vaccinated. If you want your child to receive a flu vaccination, fill out an online consent form. If you have other children that attend a different school, please sign them up via the link sent out by their school. Please note that the link below is for SJLES only!
ONLINE CONSENT FORM INSTRUCTIONS
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Fill out the online consent form. This is a secure, private site.
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Read the Vaccine Information Statement
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Be sure to fill out every section online.
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Use your insurance card to fill out your insurance information. Your insurance company will be billed. There is no copay or deductible. You will NOT be charged by us or your insurance company.
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Complete the consent form online by 10/6/22 to allow us time to prepare.
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If a consent form is completed after 10/6/22, it will not be accepted
We hope you will join our fight against the flu. Vaccinating your child will help keep him/her healthy and prevent the spread of flu to others. It also will cut down on missed time from work and school. Maryland Partnership for Prevention & Howard County Public Schools look forward to preventing the flu with you!
Fall Picture Day is FRIDAY 10/14
Photographers from Strawbridge will be at SJLES on Friday,10/14, to take individual portraits of students. All students will be photographed for the yearbook. If you would like to purchase a photography package, please review the information in the attachment below. You can preorder a package online using the code on the flier.
Just a reminder that these portraits are not only a great keepsake for your family but an important fundraiser for our school.
Bus Reminders
School buses are an extension of school. As such, students are expected to adhere to the same standards of behavior on a school bus as they do in the classroom. And just like students follow the directions of teachers and staff while at school, they are expected to obey the bus driver who are their instructors while on the way to and back from school.
Families, please remind your bus rider(s) to ensure their cell phones and smartwatches are not used throughout the ride, to refrain from eating on the bus, to always use kind and respectful language just as they would during the school day, and stay seated throughout the ride. We will uplift this same message at school and we appreciate your continued support!
Multilingual Parent Leadership Program
The Multilingual Parent Leadership Program (MPLP) is designed to increase leadership capacity of Multilingual parents to step into leadership roles in schools and communities as advocates on behalf of the system’s Multilingual students. The six-week program helps Multilingual parents understand the framework of the US educational system and the structure and functions of the Howard County Public School System. Please click here for additional information and the application.
Black Student Achievement Program Saturday Math Academy Fall Session
This year, the BSAP Saturday Math Academy will offer an in-person enrichment program for Howard County Public School System students in all levels of math for grades 3-12 based on course availability. Registration will take place online Saturday, September 24, 2022, from 9:00 a.m.- until capacity is reached. Class space is limited. Families can register by accessing the HCPSS Connect Website.
For more information, please visit: BSAP Saturday Math Academy HCPSS News Post
HCPSS Policy Spotlight
Policy 9260: Student Search and Seizure has been recently updated. Please take a few moments to review the policy. While we may not have to conduct student searches very often at the elementary level, it is important that our students and families are aware of the policies and procedures that we follow in the event a search is necessary.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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Click here to access/subscribe to our SJLES Public Calendar
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Click here to access/subscribe to the updated HCPSS Calendar
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Click here to access the HCPSS Related Arts Color Day Schedule
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9/23 - Spirit Day: Dress up as your favorite superhero to celebrate our super first month of school at SJLES!
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9/26 - All HCPSS Schools Closed
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9/30 - Spirit Day: Celebrate our SJLES Pride & wear your Spirit Wear or school colors
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10/5 - HCPSS Schools & Offices are Closed
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10/7 Spirit Day - Rainbow Day: How many colors can you wear in one outfit? The contest is on. Wear as many colors as you can today!
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10/11 - Flu Clinic
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10/14 Spirit Day - Mismatch Day - Stripes, polka dots, plaid...throw them all together for an awesome outfit!
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10/21 - Professional Learning Day - HCPSS Schools Closed for Students
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10/28 Spirit Day - Celebrate our SJLES Pride and wear your Spirit Wear or school colors
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10/29 @ 3:00 - PTA Trunk or Treat
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10/30 @ 3:00 - PTA Trunk or Treat RAIN DATE
REPEATED NEWS
MAP Testing
SJLES will administer the MAP test to all students in 1st through 5th grades in Reading and Math beginning the week of September 19 for 1st graders and the week of October 3 for students in grades 2-5. Makeup testing for students absent during their grade’s administration dates will take place with Ms. Coleman before the MAP window closes on October 20.
MAP is a computer-based assessment. Our students will use school-based Chromebooks. The HCPSS website contains detailed information about MAP testing here. If you have questions about MAP testing at SJLES, please contact Erin Coleman at erin_coleman@hcpss.org.
Make-Up Work for COVID and/or Absence Due to Illness
A student may make up work and receive a recorded grade for work missed due to a lawful absence such as illness due to COVID. Students returning from lawful absences will have the number of days equal to the number of days lawfully absent to complete the make-up work (i.e., work assigned on a day of a lawful absence will add one school day to the due date).
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 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 Esther Jean-Louis esther_jean-louis@hcpss.org.
PTA Spirit Wear Sale
HCPSS News & Important Text Alerts
HCPSS News email and text alerts keep families up-to-date on news and events, and deliver real-time notices of emergency closings and information. In addition to emergency notifications, during the school year HCPSS sends a weekly message to families with timely information. All HCPSS News subscriptions are generated from the information provided in Family File and have been automatically updated for the 2022-2023 school year. Parents/guardians new to the system are automatically enrolled for email notification.
Please note that anyone who has not done so must opt in to text alerts. SJLES will utilize text alerts for important information and reminders including late buses, emergency closings, important events, etc.
Personal Technology Devices
At HCPSS elementary schools, we ask that if your child brings a Personal Technology Device such as a cell phone or smart watch to school that the device remains off and stored in a backpack throughout the school day, unless otherwise authorized by school administrators or instructional staff. For additional information please visit Board of Education Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media, and specifically Standard E. Student Use-Technology.
COMMUNITY NEWS & PROGRAMS
Please click here to visit the Community News and Programs page for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.