Important Dates:

• Wednesday Evenings - Virtual Storytime, 7pm. Code: Swansfield Storytime

• Friday, January 29 - Registration Opens for Parent/Teacher Conferences (see more below)

• Wednesday, February 3 - MAP Reading Test, 9-11am (see more below)

• Thursday, February 4 - Black History Month Virtual Variety Show, 6:30pm (see more below on flier attached to Black History Month news)

• Friday, February 5 - Report Cards Issued

• Friday, February 5 - Registration Closes for Parent/Teacher Conferences (see more below)

• Friday, February 5 - Instructional Decision Survey Due By 4pm (see more below)

• Monday, February 8 - PTA Restaurant Night at Panera, 5:00-9:00pm (see more below)

• Wednesday, February 10 - MAP Math Test, 9-11am (see more below)

• Wednesday & Thursday, February 10 & 11 - Parent/Teacher Conferences. Early Dismissal (see more below)

• Wednesday & Thursday, February 10 & 11 - Math Materials Distribution (see more below)

• Friday, February 12 - Schools Closed for Students

• Monday, February 15 - Schools & Offices Closed, President's Day

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Your Decision on Instructional Preference for Remainder of This School Year is Needed by Next Friday, February 5

The Howard County Public School System will begin a phased-in transition to a hybrid instructional model, beginning March 1. By Friday, February 5, parents/guardians must make a decision to send their child to school for 1-2 days per week and receive virtual instruction the remainder of the week, or to have their child remain fully virtual for the remainder of the school year. Certain student groups including, but not limited to, students receiving Special Education services and others requiring additional learning support, will have the opportunity to receive in-school learning on 5 days per week. All parents/guardians have the option to have their child continue virtual learning full time for the remainder of the current school year.

To prepare for this transition, HCPSS requests that parents/guardians complete a two-question survey by 4pm, Friday, February 5, with your decision:

• The type of instructional model – hybrid or fully virtual – that you choose for your child
• Whether bus service will be used, for children who are eligible for this service.
  • If your child is designated as a walker, transportation will not be provided. View the School Bus Locator for your child’s transportation eligibility. PLEASE NOTE: Pickup times and bus stop locations are being updated and are subject to change. At this time, the School Bus Locator should only be used to determine if your child receives transportation services

Please note the following:

• Answers to frequently asked questions on student in-person return can be found on the HCPSS Help site. This site will be continually updated as new information becomes available.
• The Board of Education has approved the following phased-in model for student in-person return:
  • Week of March 1: Students identified for the 5-days-per-week program
  • Week of March 15: Students in grades prekindergarten, Kindergarten, 1 and 2
  • Week of March 29: Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and students attending programs at the HCPSS ARL
  • Week of April 12: Students in grades 7, 8, 10 and 11

Further information can be found HERE. Please complete the form following the directions below by 4pm, Friday, February 5. Please contact us at 410-313-6907 if you require assistance completing the form.

1. Log in to HCPSS Connect
2. Select More Options from the left panel
3. Select “In-Person Commitment” from the middle of the page
4. Complete the questions in the form for each child and select “Save”

Report Cards Issued Next Friday

Second quarter report cards will be available online via Synergy beginning at 4pm next Friday, February 5. HERE are directions for viewing.

Parents of students receiving special education services can expect to receive their child's IEP progress report ​no later than Friday, February 12, through email. If you have any questions about your child's progress ​or what to expect as we fulfill requirements for progress reporting, ​you may contact your child's case manager.

Parent/Teacher Conferences February 10 & 11
Register for Conferences Beginning Today Through February 5

Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held Wednesday, February 10, and/or Thursday, February 11, following early dismissal for students.

Yesterday you should have received an email outlining important information as you prepare to register for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please note that Math conferences will be 15 minutes in length. Registration opens today and will remain open through Friday, February 5.  If you need assistance scheduling a conference, please contact our front office staff at 410-313-6907.

Directions To Schedule Parent Conference.pdf 

SES Celebrates Black History Month & Black Lives Matter in Schools Action Week

Beginning next week we have several wonderful programs planned for our students and families commemorating Black History Month and Black Lives Matter in Schools Action Week. Thursday evening, February 4, at 6:30 pm, join us for a Black History Month Virtual Variety Show sponsored by our PTA.  Please see the attached flier for more information about this and all program details.
 
SES Celebrates BHM.pdf 
 
This week, our Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Liaison, Tamekah Wilkins, begins a weekly post sharing information and activities through the BSAP Corner.

Welcome to the BSAP Corner
Black History Month begins Monday, February 1st. Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Throughout the month, I’ll be sharing facts and information, as well activities, in the BSAP Corner.  
 
Black Scientists & Inventors 
 
Famous Black Inventors 

Math Materials Distribution - Save the Date

We are happy to share that we will be distributing math curriculum materials on Wednesday, February 10th, from 1:00-5:30pm and Thursday, February 11th, from 1:00-3:30pm. Math materials will vary by grade level and math class. Additional materials for our Pre-K students and school supplies for all will also be available. More information will be provided in next week’s newsletter.

Family File

With the upcoming return to in-school instruction, please log in to www.hcpss.org/connect to complete or update your Family File as soon as possible if you have not already done so this school year.  This needs to be completed annually. HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to provide emergency information. It is vital that we have updated records on file. User guides are available HERE.

Student Immunization Update

We want to remind all families that any student attending in-school learning must have received all mandatory immunizations per the State of Maryland. Please email our nurse at doris_qano@hcpss.org if you are unsure of your student’s status or if you have any questions regarding vaccination.

Winter MAP Testing

On Wednesday February 3rd and Wednesday February 10th, students in grades 1-5 will take the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The data from the MAP assessment will help schools and teachers measure your student’s academic progress. The MAP test does not affect grades and the difficulty adjusts depending on how your child responds. It is normal for students to only answer about half the questions correctly.  To learn more about the MAP assessment, please visit HERE.

The reading test will be offered on February 3rd from 9-11am. The math test will be offered on February 10th from 9-11am.  If your child is unable to attend, makeup testing will be offered during asynchronous learning times. Teachers will share Google Meet information and your student’s testing group as we get closer to the February dates.

Read And Earn A Sweet Treat

Nothing Bundt Cakes, located at 10730 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia, is offering a special incentive through the end of March for our students.  “Books and Bundts” is a youth reading program through which students can earn a free Bundtlet and an award certificate.  Students must read for at least 20 minutes a day, five days a week, and record their time spent reading on the attached monthly tracker.  Once the student has read for 400 minutes that month they can bring the completed tracker to the store and receive their sweet treat.  The attached flier also outlines the program information and includes a coupon for a free bundtlet for parents/caregivers to reward you for all you do!

Books and Bundts Parent Info.PDF 

Reading Tracker.pdf 

#SwanFamily Staff Shout Outs