Greetings SJLES Families,
It has undoubtedly been a very rewarding and busy start to the school year for us here at SJLES. 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.
Our SJLES leadership strives to bring our HCPSS Strategic Call to Action to life each day and do our best to serve as intentional, adaptable, responsive, & reflective student-centered leaders. Ms. Coleman and I are extremely proud of how our entire staff has worked to meet the differentiated academic and social-emotional needs of our students to this point of the school year. With that said there are always blind spots we are not aware of; opportunities for our program to improve; opportunities for our staff to grow; and possible perceptions and/or misperceptions to be aware of, discuss, and learn from.
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!
Sincerely,
Dan Notari
SJLES Principal
NEW NEWS
Schools Closed Tuesday
Just a reminder that all HCPSS Schools & Offices are Closed on Election Day, Tuesday 11/8.
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:
Log in to HCPSS Connect Synergy
Select More Options from the left panel
Select Report Cards from the menu
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.
Report Cards Accessible in Synergy on 11/11 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.
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
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Click here to access/subscribe to the updated HCPSS Calendar
Click here to access the HCPSS Related Arts Color Day Schedule
11/4 - When I Grow Up Day: Dress up as an occupation you would like to be when you grow up
11/6 - Daylight Saving Time ends
11/7 - Window Opens to Register for Parent Teacher Conferences
11/8 - Election Day / HCPSS Schools & Offices Closed
11/9 @ 8:00 PM - Virtual PTA Meeting
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
11/18 - 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
November Parent/Teacher Conferences
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.
Beginning Monday, 11/7 at 8:00am, you can 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.
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 will share additional information regarding their schedules as the visitation day approaches.
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).
Inclement Weather Asynchronous Day
Dr. Martirano previously 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 shared with families. By filling out this form, your child will receive a hard copy of all subject areas.
The Kids Helping Kids Food Drive
SJLES is once again participating in the Kids Helping Kids Food Drive to benefit the Maryland Food Bank. All of our donations will go directly to people in need right here in Howard County.
From Tuesday, 10/25 thru Monday, 11/7 students are invited to bring in nonperishable food items to donate. Items such as Boxed cereals, pastas and crackers, jars of jelly and juice, cans of fruit, vegetables and soups can all be donated among other things. Students will place the items in their classrooms, where they will be collected and counted by 5th grade volunteers. The CLASS in each grade with the highest amount donated will win the GOLDEN TURKEY AWARD. The TOP Class in the entire school will win EXTRA RECESS!
Thank you for working with us to build a sense of philanthropy in our students, while supporting our local community.
Young Authors' Contest 2022-2023
The YAC for 2022-23 is underway. All students grades 1-5 may submit 1 poem and/or story. All information and cover sheets for submissions will be posted on the grade level Canvas page once teachers have shared the information with students. All entries are due to Mrs. Taylor, elizabeth_taylor@hcpss.org by Dec. 2, 2022. Entries must be in 12 point Times Roman font and saved as a WORD document. No names should be on the poem or story, only on the cover sheet. No late entries will be accepted.
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.