Greetings Lake Elkhorn Families,
It’s starting to get really exciting! Our teachers and staff returned to school this week (virtually of course) and they hit the ground running! They spent the week receiving professional learning, preparing their Canvas pages, reaching out to families, planning lessons, collaborating with their content and grade level teams, and connecting with each other. Some have also spent time visiting school to retrieve instructional materials and to prepare Chromebooks and other supplies for distribution this week. I am honored to work among such a hard-working, dedicated group of educators who are doing everything they can to create wonderful classroom experiences for our students - and I cannot wait for your children to meet them on September 8th!
I know you are getting a lot of information as the first day of school approaches. We posted most of the contents of this newsletter on our website (on the homepage and under the “news” link) so that you can find things easily. We will continue to do that throughout the year, so I encourage you to visit our website often for the most updated information. However, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if there is anything I can do to support you or your child. I am committed to making sure your child has a positive, successful year, and I appreciate your partnership as we embark upon the 2020-2021 school year together.
Enjoy the last full week of summer before school starts! I look forward to “seeing” our new students and families at orientation on Thursday, and to “seeing” all of our students on September 8th!
Sincerely,
UPCOMING EVENTS:
9/1 Materials Distribution, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
9/2 Materials Distribution, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
9/3 6th Grade and New Student Virtual Orientation, 1:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
9/4 Materials Distribution, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
9/7 Schools and offices closed - Labor Day
9/8 First day of school for students
9/16 Back to School Night (Virtual), 6:00 p.m.
9/22 PTSA virtual meeting, 5:30 p.m.
9/28 Schools and offices closed - Yom Kippur
STUDENT SCHEDULES
Student schedules will be available for viewing in Synergy on Tuesday, September 1. All parents/guardians can log in to HCPSS Connect to view teachers and schedules beginning Saturday, September 5. Click here if you need help with your username or password
Canvas goes "live" on September 5. At that time, students will have access to their courses. All teachers have been asked to put their Google Meet codes on the Canvas calendar. This will populate a "to do" list for students each day so they will see their Google Meet codes. This year the codes will not change each day. The pattern for google meet codes will be "school initials-first initial last name of the teacher - period". For example, Mrs. Shindel's period 1 code would look like this each day, "LEMS-mshindel-pd1". If students cannot find a code, they can follow this pattern for each class.
We will not be able to change any student schedules during the first two and a half weeks of school. Exceptions will be made for the following reasons: a student has been placed in the incorrect level, or a student’s schedule does not fulfill their individualized learning plan. If a parent is requesting or a teacher is recommending the student be placed in a different course level, school counselors and/or Mr. Bond, G/T Resource teacher, will connect with parents to discuss the details of this request.
We invite our new students and their families to join us for our virtual 6th Grade and New Student Orientation on Thursday, September 3rd at 1:00pm!
In order to ensure all students are able to access orientation (and that we do not go over the Google Meet capacity of 250 people), we will have two identical orientations. Group A will be for students whose last names begin with A-K and Group B will be for all students whose last names begin with L-Z (Please note: this is a change from our initial communication.).
Click here to visit our website for specific information about orientation, including the orientation schedule, and optional break out sessions. We look forward to seeing our new students on Thursday!
DOWNLOADABLE TEMPLATE FOR THE STUDENT 4X4 SCHEDULE
Students will follow a 4x4 schedule for the 2020-2021 school year. Students will have four teacher-led courses each semester, for a total of eight courses during the year. A sample schedule that your child can use to fill-in class, teachers and google meet codes can be found on our website here.
UPDATE YOUR FAMILY FILE
Regardless of virtual or in-person learning, parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child, each year. Parents/Guardians can access the Family File to complete these updates by logging in to HCPSS Connect, selecting the "More Options (Family File, Report Cards, etc.)" tab on the left, and then selecting Family File in the middle of the screen. Details and resources can be found on the HCPSS website.
Click here for information on our website.
SCHOOL MEALS
The food services program during the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year will consist of Grab-and-Go breakfasts and lunches served Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., respectively, beginning Tuesday, September 8. Meals will be available at Lake Elkhorn Middle School.
Students will be provided meals based on student eligibility status (free, reduced-price, or paid).
FARMs APPLICATION (FREE AND REDUCED MEALS)
The coronavirus pandemic is causing a lot of hardship for many of our friends and neighbors. Many HCPSS families have been impacted financially by the pandemic, and may be eligible now to receive benefits through the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program. Qualifying families can take advantage of a wide range of additional resources and discounts, including testing fees, tuition, internet and more.
Click here to learn more or to apply.
Important Note: If your student received Free or Reduced Meals during the 2019-2020 school year, please be reminded that a new application must be completed each year. For more information about school meals and programs, please visit the HCPSS website at: http://www.hcpss.org/food-services/.
TECHNOLOGY REQUEST (CHROMEBOOKS AND/OR INTERNET)
HCPSS will provide a Chromebook to every student in middle school within the first quarter. While devices are being procured, parents/guardians of middle school students currently in need of a device may request one. To request a device for your child/children please click here.
CANVAS RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Need help navigating Canvas? Want to set notifications for grades? Interested in learning how to understand your Dashboard? Click here for more information.
RECOVER A FORGOTTEN USERNAME OR PASSWORD
It is a great time to have your child practice logging-in on a device in preparation for the first day of school. Students who have forgotten their Username or Password can get help by visiting the hcpss.me page and selecting the button “Forgot Password or Username”.
If you forgot your username, you will be prompted to enter your personal email address. If you have a username associated with your email address, your username will be sent to the email address you provided.
Note: For students that do not have personal email addresses on record, enter a parent/guardian email address.
If you forgot your password, you will be prompted to enter your username and recovery email. Your password will be sent to the email address you provided.
Click here for more help with forgotten usernames and passwords.
UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS
As we are close to beginning the 2020-2021 school year, it is important that we have accurate addresses on file for all of our students. Unfortunately, you cannot update your address in the Family File. If you have moved, and have not provided us with your updated information, we ask that you email the following documents to our Student Services Secretary, Ms. O’Connor at estelle_oconnor@hcpss.org.
Please include the following items in your email:
● A completed change of address form
● A copy of your new lease or deed
● A copy of a current utility bill with your new address
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS – 7TH GRADE STUDENTS
Reminder to parents of incoming 7th grade students: All children must have the required State of Maryland immunizations in order to attend school, including in districts utilizing virtual instruction. The following are required by the state of Maryland for all students entering Grade 7:
● 1 dose of Tdap vaccine
● 1 dose of Meningococcal (MCV4) vaccine
Although we are not starting the year in the school building, these immunizations are required within 20 calendar days of the first day of school.
Immunization Clinics: To help our students obtain the necessary vaccines, HCPSS Health Services continues to partner with the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) and the Maryland Partnership for Prevention (MPP) to offer several immunization clinics for any student who may need them. These clinics will take place outdoors at some HCPSS school buildings during the week of September 21, including Lake Elkhorn/Cradlerock. Multiple vaccines will be offered at no cost to families. Click here for more information.
Click here for more information about this requirement.
Many students may have already received these immunizations, but the Health Room may not have the updated immunization record. Please contact your child’s doctor and send/fax us an updated copy of your child’s immunizations to the Health Room. Our fax # is 410-313-7633 or you may email a copy to kassanadra_wanless@hcpss.org.
BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Click here for the 2020-2021 list of needed school supplies by grade (updated 8/17/2020)
Please note: It is important to keep in mind that this list is a guide. Due to online learning, some of these materials may not be needed in your child’s home work space. Further, your child will have different teachers for each subject, and there may be some variations once your child receives his/her schedule. We encourage you to keep your receipts in case items are not needed.
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL AND JOIN THE PTSA
At Lake Elkhorn, we are very fortunate to have such an active, supportive and involved PTSA. Get a jump start on the school year and join the PTSA today! Your membership helps support our students and school community! Click here for more information.
NEWSLETTERS
Our newsletter will be emailed every other Friday. PTSA newsletters will be emailed on opposite weeks. Important news and updates will be emailed, as needed, and posted on our website - either on the home page or by clicking on the “News” header.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITES
|
Website Principal's Instagram |
lems.hcpss.org @hcpss_LEMS principal_shindel |
|
PTA online
|
|