SJLES Update 4/26/23

NEW NEWS 

Take Your Child to Work Day is Thursday 4/27

Thursday, April 27, 2023 is designated as National Take Your Child to Work Day. If your child will be joining you at your workplace on 4/27/23, please send an email to: sjlesabsence@hcpss.org and cc your child’s homeroom and math teachers.

Please note that instruction will proceed for students as normal at SJLES on this day. If your 3rd or 4th grade child is taking advantage of this special day, please note there are MCAP make-up sessions already scheduled to support absences throughout MCAP. Students can simply make up those sessions of the assessment on another day.  

24th Annual SJLES Night of The Arts & Enrichment Fair - 5/16 @ 5:15

We welcome all SJLES families to our 24th Annual Night of The Arts & Enrichment Fair on Tuesday, 5/16/23. Our doors will be open between 5:15 and 8:00 to welcome SJLES students and families for a gallery walk of arts and enrichment throughout all areas of our school.

Our SJLES hallways will come alive with a beautiful art display of over 1,800 pieces from our K-5 SJLES students including our Columbia Mall Art Panel.

Our Gifted & Talented program’s Enrichment Fair will highlight projects created in Curriculum Extension Units, Instructional Seminars, and enrichment groups by our K-5 Jaguars.

During the Night of the Arts our families can enjoy the beautiful music created by our SJLES orchestra. Our Beginning Orchestra (3rd grade) takes the stage at 6:00 PM and our Advanced Orchestra (4th and 5th grade) will play at 7:15 PM. 

We hope to see you here at The Lane on 5/16/23 for this fantastic night of the arts and enrichment!

SJLES Once Again Well Represented at  HoCo MESA Competition

Our Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) team once again placed either 1st or 2nd in all four Howard County elementary competitions. These students and teachers will be recognized at our 2023 HCPSS Awards Ceremony and MESA Showcase on Saturday, 4/29. 

Our 1st place MESA Competition Winning Teams will receive an invitation to compete in the 2023 Maryland MESA competition. Congratulations to our students who placed and to all our students who participated in MESA this school year and a huge thank you to Ms. McErlean and Ms. Cintron for their outstanding leadership! 

1st Place 

  • Expanded Structures: Andy L., Naomi P., Molly K. and David G.

  • Storybook Theme Park: Kyle J., Navya S., and Nuraniya T.

2nd Place: 

  • Mobile App: Bryn M., Ethan A., Sai Shruthika V., Aditya A.

  • Wearable Technology: Bryan T., Joshua K., Ayaan S., and Samuel C.

HCPSS Rainbow Conference - Register Now!

The HCPSS Rainbow Conference will be held on Saturday, May 6th from 9am - 5pm.  The conference will be hybrid with opportunities for both virtual and in-person participation.  For more information scan the QR code on the Rainbow Conference Flier and/or see the details below.  We hope to see you there!   

9:00am-1:00pm is VIRTUAL

  • 15 virtual sessions to select from

  • Register for up to four sessions

  • Target audience - high school students, educators, parents, and community members

1:00pm-5:00pm is IN-PERSON

  • Join us at the Homewood Center for in-person activities! 

  • 10914 Clarksville Pike Ellicott City 21042

  • ALL are welcome to join us for the children and YA book talk sessions, Pride Outside session, Exhibition Hall, and outdoor activities.

  • Also featured will be "Prom wear Pop-Up" where high school students attending prom can take home party clothing, free of charge. 

  • Target audience - The afternoon sessions and activities have a strong family focus.

Registration Information

  • Thanks to the It Gets Better Project 50States50Grants for funding this event! This conference is a FREE HCPSS event.

  • Participants must register to attend.

  • Register HERE

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

  • 4/24 - 4/27 - Grade 3 ELA MCAP

  • 4/25 - 4/26 - Grade 4 Math MCAP

  • 5/1 - 5/4 - Grade 4 ELA MCAP

  • 5/3 - Walk/Bike to School Day

  • 5/5 - IEES Window Closes

  • 5/5 - Wacky Sock & Hair Day: Wear your funniest or most mismatched socks to school along with your wackiest hairdo!

  • 5/5 - Illustrator Visit 

  • 5/6 @ 1:00 - May Day

  • 5/8 - 5/12 - Staff Appreciation Week

  • 5/9 @ 7:00 - Band Spring Concert

  • 5/10 - 5th Grade Panoramic Photo

  • 5/10 @ 8:00 PM - PTA Zoom Meeting

  • 5/12 - Maryland Day: wear Maryland shirts or colors (red, white, black, yellow)

  • 5/12 - Second Grade Field Trip to MD Zoo 

  • 5/15 - 5/18 - Maryland Mobile Science Lab Visits SJLES 

  • 5/16 @ 5:15 - 8:15 - Night of the Arts

    • 6:00 - 3rd grade Orchestra Spring Concert

    • 7:15 - 4th & 5th grade Orchestra Spring Concert 

  • 5/18 - Kindergarten Field Trip to MD Zoo

  • 5/19 - Schools Closed for Students: Professional Learning/Articulation

  • 5/23 @ 6:00 - Chorus Concert

  • 5/24 @ 4:00 - Incoming Kindergarten Sneak A Peek

  • 5/25 - Gr 5 Simulated Congressional Hearings

  • 5/26 - Field Day - Wear Your Field Day Shirt!

  • 5/26 - 2023-2024 Parent Input Form Due

  • 5/29 - Schools & Offices Closed

  • 6/1 - 2023-2024 Transportation Registration Closes

  • 6/1 @ 10:00 - 5th Gr. Middle School Visit

  • 6/1 @ 11:00 - 5th Grade Program Howard County Conservancy

  • 6/2 - Field Day Rain Date 

  • 6/6 - HoCo Library Visit 

  • 6/7 - 5th Grade Picnic 

  • 6/7 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early : SJLES Dismissal begins at 12:20

  • 6/9 @ 9:30 - Kindergarten Closing Celebration

  • 6/9 - Summer Lovin' Day: Take 2! Let's say ALOHA to summer in style! Grab your sunglasses, Hawaiian shirt, lei or shirt from your favorite vacation and let's say HELLO to summer in style!

  • 6/12 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early: SJLES Dismissal begins at 12:20

  • 6/13 - Fifth Grade Promotion Ceremony (Tentatively Scheduled for 9:30-11:00)

  • 6/13 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early: SJLES Dismissal begins at 12:20

  • 6/14 - Last Scheduled Student Day: Schools Close 3 Hours Early - SJLES Dismissal begins at 12:20

REPEATED NEWS 

SJLES Indicators of Educational Equity Survey Update

  • 50 Completed Surveys Thus Far - Thank You! 

  • 66 Completed Surveys in 2022-2023 

  • Goal: 100% of our SJLES Families 

As part of our school improvement process, we are asking families to provide input about their equity priorities at our school. Our families’ insights shared in this survey will help shape our School Improvement Plan for the 2022-2023 school year. 

Please use the links below to complete the HCPSS Indicators of Educational Equity Survey by May 5, 2023. We will use your input, along with other school data, to refine our school improvement plan for next year. 

This survey is anonymous and available in multiple languages. If you have children at more than one school, please complete one survey per school. For additional information please visit sjles.hcpss.org.

Parent Input Form For Students Attending SJLES Next Year   

As part of our planning and preparation for 2023-2024, we would like to provide the opportunity to share insights you would like us to consider as we begin the articulation process. This input form is for you, as parents, to relate specific information about your child that you feel would be useful as our staff collaborates to create next year's classes. Our goal of this process is to build heterogeneous classes which foster the academic success and social-emotional well-being of each student in an inclusive and nurturing environment that closes opportunity gaps. Please consider completing our SJLES Parent Input Form 2023-2024 by Friday, 5/26 to provide us with useful insights regarding your Jaguar(s).

SJLES Field Day 2023

Get ready for another fun-filled Field Day at SJLES!  Field Day will take place on Friday May 26th for students in all grades. If needed, the rain date will be on Friday June 2nd.  The time for Field Day will be 9:15 am-3:00 pm.  

Many parent volunteers are needed to make Field Day a fun experience for everyone.  Enthusiasm is the only expertise needed to manage the activities.  Parent volunteers and staff members will run the stations. Classroom teachers will accompany classes and supervise the children. If you can contribute your time and energy for Field Day, please visit this link for sign-up genius by Thursday, May 18th. Volunteer slots are available as full day (9:15 - 3:00), half day morning (9:15 - 11:45), and half day afternoon (12:30 - 3:00) but volunteers can sign up for any block of time they are available. We need many volunteers to make our Field Day a success! When you volunteer, information will be sent home with your child the week of Field Day with your assignments and station directions. Please complete the following steps by Thursday, May 18th to volunteer for Field Day:

  1. Complete the short volunteer confidentiality training and then fill out the form and bring it to school.

    1. volunteer-confidentiality-training.pdf 

    2. volunteer-confidentiality-certificate.pdf 

  2.  Complete this short child abuse training and complete the certificate linked and bring to school.

    1. childabuse_ppt.pdf 

    2. abuse_certificate.pdf 

Thank you for your continued support of the SJLES Physical Education program and department.  An all-day Field Day is a major event and can only happen if we all work together for the students.  Our PE team of Ms. Carty, Mr. Frantz, & Ms. Orgera welcome our parents who want to volunteer to make this day a great one for everyone!

Q3 Report Cards are Accessible  

Third quarter report cards are posted in HCPSS Connect Synergy. Click here for directions to access your child’s report card.

2023-2024 Kindergarten Registration & May 24th Sneak A Peek!

HCPSS Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year is open! Parents/guardians of children who will be five on or before September 1, 2023, must enroll their children in kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year.  Please help spread the word!

We hope to see many of our new SJLES kindergarteners and families at our Kindergarten Sneak A Peek on 5/24/23 at 4:00. Please spread the word and complete this RSVP form if you plan to attend. 

Register by June 1 for 2023-2024 Bus Service

Families whose students are eligible for HCPSS-provided transportation are required to register by June 1 to receive bus service for the coming 2023-2024 school year. Families who reside in non-transportation areas and those who have students who receive transportation as part of their IEP or 504 Plan do not need to take any action.

Spring Outdoor Lunch Option

The warm weather is here and many students are excited to eat outside! If you completed a request for DAILY outdoor lunch for your child in the fall, they are still on the list. New requests can be made using this form. This request process allows us to adequately staff the outdoor lunch area.Please allow a few days between submitting the form before we have your child on the daily outdoor list. Even if your child is on the daily outdoor list, they may always choose to stay indoors at any time as well. 

HCPSS COMMUNITY NEWS & PROGRAMS 

In alignment with Howard County Board of Education, the following announcements have been approved by the Public Information Office for distribution. To view upcoming events click: https://community-programs.hcpss.org/