SJLES Update 11/11/22

Mon, 11/14/2022 - 9:23am

Greetings SJLES Families,

On behalf of our entire staff, we would like to take this opportunity to offer a most sincere thank you to our Veterans for your service and sacrifice. You are appreciated today and everyday. Thank you! 

 

It is a busy point of the school year, for sure!  Report Cards go live in Synergy tonight, registration for parent/teacher conferences is open through Thursday, our Annual Turkey Trot is Sunday, and American Education Week is now upon us. Throughout American Education Week our Jaguars will be engaging in instruction just as they would any other day throughout the school year. Parents are invited to join us to get a better understanding of your Jaguars’ day here at The Lane. Each team will facilitate a  Spotlight Activity to better engage our students and visiting parents. Other than those scheduled Spotlight Activities, teaching and learning is still our priority during this week. Parents are also encouraged to join their child during the lunch and/or recess period(s). Additional details, including our master schedule, are below in the NEW NEWS section.

We look forward to welcoming our families to our classrooms next week, seeing you all at MHHS for the Turkey Trot on Sunday, and letting you know about all the great things your Jaguar is doing during conferences. I hope this Update finds you all well and dry on this rainy Friday. Have a great weekend, SJLES!

 

Sincerely,

Dan Notari

SJLES Principal

 

NEW NEWS 

Report Cards Accessible in Synergy TODAY after 5pm

  • To learn how to access download and print your child’s Quarter 1 report card, please click here and follow the directions: 

  • To better understand your child’s report card, please click here 

    • Spanish, Chinese, and Korean translations of the HCPSS elementary report card are available on this page.

HCPSS Family & Community Resource Pages

Our SJLES families are often looking for ways to learn more about our HCPSS curriculum and for additional resources to support their Jaguar at home. A great starting point is our HCPSS Family & Community Resource Pages. We wanted to once again uplift these pages to our families interested in digging deeper into the scope and sequence of the curriculum, looking for resources to support your child at home, and/or seeking pedagogical approaches to support how your child is engaging with standards throughout the school day via the parent video libraries. 

We hope you find the information and resources helpful. Please click on the goldenrod-colored tab on the top right corner to each page to learn more about each grade level content area. Links to each K-5 page are below…

SJLES Q1 Family Feedback Survey - 31 Responses thus far!

With the first quarter now behind us, we find ourselves at a perfect time to seek additional input, reflect upon our work and service thus far, and calibrate our approach going forward.

Families, your insights and voice are critical to our work. By completing our SJLES Quarter 1 Family Feedback Survey and providing ANONYMOUS feedback you will allow us to make more informed decisions going forward this school year on behalf of our 643 Jaguars and our community. We will share the survey themes with our staff and PTA. Please know that at any time throughout the school year you can email me at dnotari@hcpss.org and/or Ms. Coleman at erin_coleman@hcpss.org with any feedback, questions, or ideas. As always, we thank you for your time, insights, support, collaboration, and partnership!

American Education Week: 11/14-11/18

American Education Week presents an excellent opportunity to celebrate public education and honor the outstanding individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every Jaguar receives a quality education here at SJLES. We look forward to opening our schoolhouse doors to our parents and guardians during this year’s American Education Week which begins on Monday, 11/14. Families are welcome to visit throughout the week, however we are encouraging our families to visit SJLES on the following days…

  • Primary Grades (K-2): Monday, 11/14

  • Intermediate Grades (3-5): Friday, 11/18

Grade level teams have shared additional information regarding their schedules and Spotlight activities. Please click here to access our SJLES Master Schedule. 

Due to school security, student confidentiality, and space, we ask our parents/ guardians to follow these guidelines:

  • Only parents/guardians are allowed to visit. 

  • All parents/guardians sign in at the front office with Lobby Guard. 

    • Visitors must bring a scannable driver’s license to access Lobby Guard.

    • Visitor stickers are worn in a visible location at all times. 

  • Be mindful of confidentiality while visiting. Visitors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all private, sensitive, and personally identifiable information they may see or hear while visiting HCPSS schools.  Please click here for more information.

  • No photos/videos please. 

  • Please silence your phone throughout your visit. 

  • If you are joining for lunch, please understand that there may not be space for all parents to sit for our grades with larger numbers of students. Please ensure that all students have a place to sit to eat. 

Parking Reminders:

  • Parking will be limited, so please consider carpooling or alternative parking options!!!

  • No cars can be parked in the bus loop from 8:20 - 8:50 AM.

  • All cars must leave the bus loop no later than 2:45 PM.

  • Please do not park in the fire lane at any time.

  • Parking available in the overflow lot (grass lot).

Emergency Closure Procedures in Family File 

At the start of each school year, families must complete a Family File for each child. HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to complete important information including procedures families want us to follow in the event of an unscheduled early closing. These unscheduled early closings typically occur during the winter weather months that are approaching. Now is the perfect time to ensure that the procedures you entered in August are still current as these are the procedures we will follow during an unscheduled early closing. 

Parents/guardians can verify and/or update information for each child by logging in to HCPSS Connect PARENT ACCOUNT and selecting the MORE OPTIONS tab on the left and then clicking on Family File. Once in the Family File please review Arrival/Departure Information where you will find your instructions for your child’s method of transportation for arrival, departure, and early closing. Families must pick one method for each situation. Please contact our front office at 410-313-2813 with any questions. 

Helpful Family File Resources

Turkey Trot is SUNDAY!

We hope to see you at the Mt. Hebron High School track this Sunday, November 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.! This FREE event is sponsored by the PTA for all SJLES students and families!  Be sure to bring your charm necklace if you already have one so you can add your new Turkey charm to it! And check out the flyer below to see how you can earn up to four prizes with the new prize format this year!  

  • Calling all volunteers! We won’t be able to have the Turkey Trot without your help: Sign up right here 

  • Speed up registration by signing the electronic participation waiver in advance. Paper copies will also be available at the event if you prefer.

  • Spirit Wear styles from last year will be available to purchase while supplies last! 

  • Mt. Hebron High School students will be on-site at the track to collect any additional donations of nonperishable food for the Howard County Food Bank.

  • Here’s the agenda for this event, so you’ll know what to expect!

Upcoming HCPSS Calendar Reminders

  • Monday, 11/21-Tuesday, 11/22: Schools dismiss 3 hours early

  • Wednesday, 11/23: Schools closed for students

  • Thursday, 11/24-Friday, 11/25: Schools and offices closed

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

  • 11/11 - Report Cards Issued

  • 11/11 - Students can bring in a stuffed animal that fits in your backpack

  • 11/13 @ 10:00  - PTA Turkey Trot at Mount Hebron HS

  • 11/14 - 11/18 - American Education Week

  • 11/14 - Primary Grades (K-2) Parent Visitation Day 

  • 11/17 - Fall Picture Retakes & Makeups 

  • 11/17 - Final Day to Schedule Parent Teacher Conferences 

  • 11/18 - Intermediate Grades (3-5) Parent Visitation Day

  • 11/18 - Celebrate our SJLES Pride and wear your Spirit Wear or school colors

  • 11/20 - Turkey Trot Rain Date 

  • 11/21 - In-PersonParent Teacher Conferences / Schools Close 3 Hours Early

  • 11/22 - Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences / Schools Close 3 Hours Early

  • 11/23 - Schools Closed for Students

  • 11/24 & 11/25 - HCPSS Schools & Offices Closed

  • 11/30 - Grade 3 Field Trip to MD Science Center 

  • 12/2 - Wacky Sock Day: Wear your funkiest pair of socks!

  • 12/9 - Celebrate our SJLES Pride and wear your Spirit Wear or school colors

  • 12/12 @ 6:00 PM - Council of Elders Celebration

  • 12/13 @ 7:00 PM - Band Winter Concert

  • 12/14 - Professional Work and Wellness Day: Schools Close 3 Hours Early

    • SJLES Dismissal Begins at 12:20

  • 12/14 @ 8:00 PM - Virtual PTA Meeting

  • 12/15 @ 7:00 PM - Band Winter Concert (Snow Date)

  • 12/16 - Sweater Day: Wear your ugliest, most interesting, or favorite sweater

  • 12/23 PJ Day: Wear your favorite PJs to celebrate our final day before winter break

  • 12/23 - PTA Cultural Arts: Prismatic Magic Laser Light Show 

  • 12/24 - 1/2 - Winter Break

REPEATED NEWS 

Schedule Your Parent/Teacher Conference TODAY!

November 21st, 22nd, and 23rd are the designated dates for our first round of Parent Teacher Conferences.  We will be holding 15 minute conferences scheduled within 20 minute blocks to allow for transitions and teacher preparation. Parent Teacher Conferences are a terrific opportunity for staff and parents to partner together for each child’s success.  

First quarter conferences can be scheduled with your child’s ELA teacher.  Families of fourth grade GT Math students can sign up for a conference with Mrs. Cintron or Mrs. Miles, as well. Families wishing to conference with any of our related arts teachers can email the teacher(s) directly. Please click here to access our SJLES staff roster with email contacts.

Please be aware of  the in-person and virtual nights for conferences this quarter:  

  • Monday, 11/21 - All Conferences In-Person at SJLES 

  • Tuesday, 11/22 - All Conferences Virtual - link will be sent

  • Wednesday, 11/23  - All Conferences Virtual - link will be sent

Please understand that teachers create their schedules within a framework and have some flexibility in building their conference schedules. Not all teacher conference schedules will look alike.  

If your conference is virtual, the google link code will be sent to you with your confirmation email.  Your child’s ELA teacher will be sending out specifics about this google link as well.  

To begin the conference, once you enter the google code or link, you will be put in a “holding space” until the teacher admits you.  Because many conferences will be back-to-back, please only log on one minute before your designated time. If you have technology challenges, check email as your child’s teacher will reach out to you that way or call our Front Office.

Families can now log into HCPSS Connect  to view and select from the time slots provided by the teacher for the conference.  Step-by-step directions are below.  If you do not have access to HCPSS Connect, please call the school for assistance at 410-313-2813.

Directions to Select a Conference Time:

  • Login to hcpss.org/connect

  • Select Conference from the left-side choices

  • Select Parent Scheduled Conferences at the top right

  • Select a time slot for your conference.

You will have access through Thursday, 11/17 at 4:00pm to schedule your child’s conference by logging into HCPSS Connect. 

MAP Home Reports Now Available

Home report PDFs for the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) fall testing are now available in HCPSS Connect. The assessment was given to students in grades 1-5 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_2022_FALL

  • Note: If your child did not participate in the October administration, a report may still appear based on the previous administration. 

Additional detail on MAP testing and how to interpret the report can be found online. 

Inclement Weather Asynchronous Day 

Dr. Martirano recently shared information regarding the  HCPSS Inclement Weather Asynchronous Day plan. Elementary students will be provided with a chart of task choices to complete for these designated days. These charts can be accessed electronically to view or print on hcpss.org.

If you need a hard copy of this monthly task chart to be sent home with your child, please indicate so on the survey that homeroom teachers will be sharing with families. By filling out this form, your child will receive a hard copy of all subject areas. 

Health Room Updates 

This is the time when we experience an increase in the spread of the flu, colds, COVID-19 and other communicable diseases. In a continuing effort to keep our Jaguars and Staff as healthy as possible, we want to remind everyone that all HCPSS students and staff must stay home if they are experiencing symptom(s) associated with any communicable disease, including the seasonal flu, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Please Note: Your Jaguar may return after they are fever free for 24HRs without using a fever reducing medication. COVID Illness and exhibiting symptoms and testing positive for COVID-19 which are detailed on the HCPSS 2022-2023 Health & Safety website, also will need to be completed before your Jaguar can return.

Hydration During the Day is SO Important! We have had to provide a lot of water bottles that we are providing from home for students so far this year. Please try and make every effort to send your Jaguar with a water bottle every day.

If you have clothes at home that don’t look familiar, please return them to the health room. Please send in an extra set of clothing for students of all ages.

When emailing the health room please always include both Ms. DeLair & Ms. Leisner. kathryn_delair@hcpss.org & Amy_Leisner@hcpss.org. Direct phone number- 410-313-2816 Direct Fax- 410-203-1283

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.