Greetings SJLES Families,
It definitely feels like the midpoint of the school year here at The Lane. There is a chill in the air, our teachers are finalizing 2nd quarter report cards, winter parent teacher conferences are upon us with all the details you need to know listed in NEW NEWS, we are actively monitoring our students academic growth and collaborating to devise next steps to best support each of them, we’ve gained feedback and insights from our staff and families to inform our practice, we are reassessing and calibrating our School Improvement Plan, and we have wrapped up our quarter two Jaguar Huddles and PBIS celebrations. A busy time of year for sure!
Ms. Coleman and I are so thankful for and proud of our learning community’s collective efforts to get us to this point of the school year in such great shape. Our students, staff, community partners, PTA, and families are working together to bring our HCPSS Strategic Call to Action to life on behalf of our Jaguars and it is overtly evident here at school each day. There sure is a lot to celebrate at this midpoint of the year and I am happy to share two additional staff celebrations with our community.
Our gifted and talented resource teacher Ms. McErlean has been selected to receive the Teacher Accomplishment in Gifted and Talented Education award from the Maryland Gifted and Talented Advisory Council. Ms. McErlean will be celebrated at a virtual awards ceremony in February. Congratulations to Ms. McErlean on this well-deserved recognition and thank you, Ms. McErlean, for all you do for our Jaguars and the students at Dayton Oaks Elementary School!
Our school counselor Mrs.Poirier is one of thirteen Professional School Counselors of Howard County 2022-23 School Counselor of the Year Nominees. Congratulations to all 13 nominees, but we are certainly playing favorites here at SJLES as we root for our wonderful and long-serving school counselor extraordinaire, Mrs. Poirer. This year PSCHC will honor an overall winner as well as two additional level winners and honor one School Counselor Advocate. The winners will be celebrated in April. Thank you, Mrs. Poirier, for the years of outstanding service to our students and community!
All of us here at SJLES are thankful for the on-going support, partnership, and encouragement we receive from our community and PTA. Our staff continues to promise to do all we can to make a positive difference in the life of your child and to be of outstanding service to your family throughout this second semester of the school year. Here’s to an outstanding second semester together!
Sincerely,
Dan Notari
SJLES Principal
NEW NEWS
February Parent Teacher Conference Overview
Parent Teacher Conferences are a terrific opportunity for staff and parents to partner together to ensure each child’s success.
All HCPSS elementary schools will close 3 hours early on Thursday, 2/9, and Friday, 2/10, for parent teacher conferences.
SJLES will begin dismissal at 12:20 each day.
Conferences can be scheduled in 15-minute blocks with your child’s math teacher.
This quarter, families of fifth grade GT Math students can sign up for a conference with Mrs. Cintron or Mrs. Miles.
Fourth grade families met with GT math teachers at the end of quarter one.
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.
On Friday 1/27 at 8:00 AM, scheduling opens in Synergy.
On Friday 2/3 at 4:00 AM, scheduling Closes in Synergy.
On Thursday, 2/9, all afternoon conferences (1:00-3:30) will be in person only.
Teachers will host afternoon conferences in person at their schools and parents may only attend their scheduled conferences on this day from 1:00 through 3:30 in person.
On Thursday, 2/9, evening (3:30-6:30) conferences will be virtual only via google meet if teachers choose to host conferences on Thursday evening.
Please check teacher schedules in Synergy.
On Friday, 2/10, afternoon conferences (1:00-3:30) will be virtual only if teachers choose to host conferences on Friday afternoon.
Please check individual teacher schedules in Synergy.
The HCPSS Family Engagement Committee has developed a Parent-Teacher Conference Tip Sheet (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean) to support families in preparation for February conferences.
Please email your child’s teacher or call 410-313-2813 for assistance.
Understanding the Report Card Resource
A reference sheet has been developed to support elementary families in Understanding the Elementary Report Card (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean) which will be accessible in Synergy on 1/31/23.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Click here to access/subscribe to the updated HCPSS Calendar
Click here to access the HCPSS Related Arts Color Day Schedule
1/26 - Restaurant Night at Honey Pig Hot Pot
1/26 @ 6:00 - Dunloggin Middle School Orientation
1/27 - Inside Out Day - Wear your clothes inside out!
1/27@ 8:00 AM - Conference Scheduling Opens for Elem. Families
1/31 - Report Cards Issued
2/1 - #JaguarPride: Celebrate our SJLES Pride - wear your Spirit Wear or school colors
2/3 @ 4:00 PM - Conference scheduling closes in Synergy.
2/8 - Hip, Hip, Hooray! It's the 100th Day! We invite our Jaguars to dress up like they are 100 years old to celebrate 100 days of hard work at SJLES!
2/8 - PTA Cultural Arts
2/8 @ 8:00 - PTA Meeting on Zoom
2/9 & 2/10 - 3 Hour Early Dismissal for elementary school parent/teacher conferences
2/16 @ 6:00-8:00 - PTA Multicultural Night
2/17 - Tie Dye Day: Wear as much tie dye as you can!
2/20 - All HCPSS Schools Closed
2/22 - 3rd Grade to Wilde Lake HS Rouse Theater
2/23 - PTA Multicultural Night SNOW DATE
2/24 - Stuffed Animal Day: Students get to bring in a stuffed animal (that fits in backpack)
2/27 - Kindergarten to Miller Branch Library
REPEATED NEWS
Winter MAP Testing Schedule - UPDATE FOR 1ST GRADE
SJLES will conduct Winter MAP testing for students in grades 1 through 5 on the following dates:
1st grade: 2/6, 2/8 (this is a change from the original schedule)
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
Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Optional GT Enrichment Activities in Canvas
Our Gifted & Talented Primary Talent Development (PTD) lessons are continuing in all Kindergarten & 1st Grade classes! Remember to check out the Primary Talent Development Landing Page in Canvas, where you will find optional enrichment and extension resources, activities, and book recommendations to help reinforce advanced skills with your primary student at home. Keep an eye out for Canvas announcements about more PTD pages and activities published throughout the winter and spring!
To access these optional resources at home, follow the steps below:
Log in to Canvas through hcpss.me.
Open the PTD Landing Page for your student's grade level.
(*The PTD Landing Pages are also linked on the Kindergarten Team page and the Grade 1 Team page.)
Select a published page under "Optional Extension Activities at Home".
Review the lesson concepts, digital/print activities, and book recommendations with your child.
Questions about GT Primary Talent Development in Kindergarten & 1st Grade? Email Ms. McErlean at madeline_mcerlean@hcpss.org.
HCPSS Summer Programs Preview
The 2023 Summer Programs Preview, which contains descriptions of HCPSS’ four summer programs and enrollment information, is available to view and download from the Summer Programs web page.
Online enrollment requests for currently enrolled HCPSS students will open Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 6 p.m. for the following programs:
BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9)
Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8)
Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9-12) - Math and Science courses only
Summer Math Scholars Program (Current Grades 6-8)
NOTE: Invitations for eligible HCPSS students for Academic Intervention and Extended School Year Special Education programs will come directly from the school or special education team during Spring 2023.
Contact the individual program offices with additional questions.
BSAP Summer Institute (SummerInstitute@hcpss.org)
G/T Summer Institutes for Talent Development (GTSummer@hcpss.org)
Innovative Pathways High School (IPSummer@hcpss.org)
Summer Math Scholars Program (Summer@LTYC.net)
HCPSS Recess Update
The Office of School Safety and Security and Risk Management, in collaboration with School Management and Instructional Leadership, reviewed county wide practices regarding school visits and it has been determined that parents are no longer able to attend recess. Parents can continue to eat lunch with their child(ren) if they complete the following:
Go to the HCPSS Web site to review information about the school system volunteer process.
Review the “Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Procedures Online Training” PowerPoint.
Sign the Certificate of Completion for the “Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Procedures Online Training” form and provide it to the school when signing in.
Review the "Confidentiality Training for Volunteers" PowerPoint
Sign the Confidentiality Agreement and provide it to the school when signing in.
Sign in at the front office using the Lobby Guard sign-in system (a valid photo I.D. must be provided).
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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.