SJLES Update 12/23/22

Tue, 01/03/2023 - 12:19pm

Greetings SJLES Families,

As you know, last night HCPSS made the decision to close schools today which got our winter break off to an early start. Although we ended a day early we had a great week of learning and fun at The Lane. I posted some photos to Twitter yesterday if you are interested in checking them out. If your Jaguar is a little upset to miss our PTA Cultural Arts Winter Wonderland Laser Light Show that was scheduled for today, please let them know we are working on a rescheduled January date.  

Just a reminder that HCPSS schools will reopen for students on Tuesday, 1/3. On behalf of Ms. Coleman and our entire SJLES Staff, we hope that you all have a safe, warm, and wonderful winter break. We are looking forward to an outstanding 2023 together. Happy Holidays, SJLES! 

Sincerely,

Dan Notari

SJLES Principal

NEW NEWS 

Congratulations Safa! 

On behalf of the Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity, we are pleased to inform our community that 5th grader Safa has been selected as the First Place Elementary School Poster Contest Winner for her brilliant use of artistic talents to preserve and promote the teachings and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King! Congratulations again, Safa!

2022-2023 Young Author Participants and Winners

Congratulations to all of our students moving on to the county level of the YAC and to all students that participated in this year’s competition.

Grade 1 

  • Reyna S. - Poetry Winner

  • Connor C.- Poetry Participant

  • Oliver W. - Short Story Winner\

  • Raphael G. - Short Story Participant

  • Oorja R. - Short Story Participant

  • Theodore Samuel W. - Short Story Participant

Grade 2

  • Rehhan S. - Poetry Winner

  • Wilson Q. - Poetry Participant

  • Grant M. - Poetry Participant

  • Chelsea M. -Short Story Winner

  • Ivanna G. - Short Story Participant

  • Christina Faith W. - Short Story Participant

Grade 3

  • Julia S. -Poetry Winner

  • Manha M. - Poetry Participant

  • Samia A. - Short Story Participant

Grade 4 

  • Subeen O. - Poetry Winner

  • Juhae K. - Short Story Winner

  • Yolanda A. -Short Story Participant

Grade 5

  • Bryn M. -Poetry Winner

  • Bryn M. -  Short Story Winner

  • Evangeline Grace W. -Short Story Participant

  • Emmett V. - Short Story Participant

Winter MAP Testing Schedule

SJLES will conduct Winter MAP testing for students in grades 1 through 5 on the following dates:

  • 1st grade: 1/30, 2/1

  • 2nd grade:2/1, 2/3

  • 3rd grade:1/30, 1/31

  • 4th grade: 2/6, 2/7

  • 5th grade:1/31, 2/3

  • Makeup testing will occur prior to 2/24/23. 

Registration for BSAP Saturday Math Academy
The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program Saturday Math Academy Spring Session is approaching!  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 January 7 from 9:00 a.m. until capacity is reached. Class space is limited.  Families can register by accessing the HCPSS Connect Website. 

The Road to Kindergarten Information Sessions

The Road to Kindergarten information sessions for families of children who will begin kindergarten in fall 2023 will be held from 6:30-7:30 pm on the following dates:

  • Thursday, January 19 (Centennial High School)

  • Tuesday, January 24 (Wilde Lake High School)

  • Thursday, January 26 (Oakland Mills High School)

  • SNOW DATE: Thursday, February 2 (Oakland Mills High School)

Community Engagement Opportunities for School Start Times Decision

The Howard County Board of Education is offering multiple opportunities for all stakeholders to engage in the decision about whether to shift school start times for the 2023-2024 school year. Information related to this process and the Board’s upcoming decision may be found on the school system’s website. Additionally, two potential school-by-school start times charts are available online for community members to review. 

The Board has scheduled public hearings on January 17, 2023, and January 26, 2023. Both hearings will begin at 7 p.m. and community members wishing to testify at public hearings must pre-register via online form. Registration opens three weeks prior to a hearing and closes at 4:30 p.m. on the last working day prior to a meeting. 

Individuals may also submit written testimony via USPS mail (Board of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042) or via email to starttimes@hcpss.org. All testimony submitted for public hearings via email or regular mail will be uploaded as submitted to BoardDocs. 

Additionally, the Board will hold public work sessions on January 19, 2023, and February 15, 2023. Members of the community may watch work sessions online or in person but may not participate. The Board is scheduled to make a final decision on whether to change school start times for the 2023-2024 school year on February 23, 2023.

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

  • 12/24 - 1/2 - Winter Break

  • 1/3 - School Reopens

  • 1/6 - Hat Day: Show off your favorite hat to your class!

  • 1/9 - 1/27 - PTA Read-A-Thon 

  • 1/11 @ 8:00 - PTA Meeting on Zoom  

    • Principal’s Report Focus: SJLES Family Feedback Survey Results

  • 1/12 @ 6:00 PM - Read-A-Thon’s Cozy Reading Night 

  • 1/13 - #JaguarPride: Celebrate our SJLES pride & wear your spirit wear or school colors

  • 1/13 @ 9:00 AM - Coffee & Conversation with Administration

  • 1/16 - All HCPSS Schools and Offices Closed 

  • 1/17 @ 6:00 PM - Orchestra Winter Concert 

  • 1/18 - Professional Work & Wellness Day: Schools Close 3 Hours Early /12:20 Dismissal

  • 1/18 @ 8:00 - Read-A-Thon’s Cozy Reading Night - SNOW DATE 

  • 1/20 - End of 2nd Marking Period

  • 1/20 - Ocean of Blue Day - Wear as much blue as you can to celebrate Kindness Month

  • 1/23 - All HCPSS Schools Closed for Students:  Professional Work Day

  • 1/24 @ 6:00 - Orchestra Winter Concert - New SNOW DATE

  • 1/26 - Restaurant Night at Honey Pig Hot Pot

  • 1/27 - Inside Out Day - Wear your clothes inside out!

  • 1/30 - Report Cards Issued

REPEATED NEWS 

Family Feedback Engagement Opportunities

Thank you to our 77 families who completed our SJLES Family Feedback Survey. Your insights are greatly appreciated and very helpful. We will provide differentiated opportunities to share and discuss the results of the survey with our community in January. 

During the Principal’s Report portion of the monthly PTA Zoom Meeting on January 11th at 8:00 PM, Mr. Notari will present a condensed version of the survey results and facilitate a conversation with our attending families regarding the current state of our school. 

On Friday, January 13th at 9:00 AM, we will host an in-person Coffee and Conversation with Administration here at SJLES to discuss the results and insights to our school’s current state and practices in greater detail. Thank you to our PTA for providing light refreshments. If you are interested in attending please RSVP by emailing our principal’s secretary Mrs. Newberry at kathleen_newberry@hcpss.org. An RSVP is not necessary but will allow us to purchase the just right amount of refreshments for our attendees.

HCPSS Emergency / Weather Closings Website

  • All the information you need for Emergency/Weather Closings can be found here:

https://www.hcpss.org/schools/emergency-closings/

  • Text the word “YES” to 67587 from the cell phone number on file in HCPSS Connect to RECEIVE TEXT MESSAGES for Emergency/Weather Closings.

  • What are the asynchronous day status codes and how will they be used?

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.