Swansfield News 4/23/21

Sun, 04/25/2021 - 9:30pm
  Swansfield Elementary School  

Important Dates:

  • Monday, April 26 - Kids Heart Challenge Fundraiser Begins (see more below)

  • Wednesday, April 28 - Science Fair Workshop, 9:15-10:15am (see more below)

  • Wednesday, April 28 - Student Space, 1:30pm. More information to come via Canvas Announcement

  • Wednesday, May 5 - School Picture Day (see more below)

  • Wednesday, May 5 - Final Day to Commit to Digital Education Center (see more below)

  • Thursday, May 13 - Schools Closed for Students

  • Wednesday, May 19, & Thursday, May 20 - Virtual Science Fair (see more below)

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Third quarter report cards are now available via HCPSS Connect Synergy.

Special Message To All Swansfield Families From Our PTA:
Parent Volunteers are needed for a special assignment! Check out this link at signupgenius for more information!

Kids Heart Challenge

Our annual Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser for the American Heart Association, Hoops for Heart, begins Monday, April 26th. This year we will be working on both basketball and jump rope skills.  Please visit our school's webpage at http://www2.heart.org/goto/swansfield for more information on how to sign up and participate.

This year's event will continue through May 7th. Any donations must be made online by that date. We cannot accept checks or cash donations this year.  Thank you in advance for supporting the American Heart Association!

Join Us for Picture Day, Wednesday, May 5!

We are excited to offer this opportunity for students to have school pictures taken this year.  Scheduling and purchasing will be done ONLINE (see links below) and finished portrait packages will be mailed to the student's home. Please read carefully all the information below; we want to ensure all follow the safety procedures and protocols outlined.  If you should have any questions, please call our front office at 410-313-6907.

*Please note that all students who attend in person every day will be photographed while they are in school that morning from 9-11am.  Families should still pre-order the photo packages they would like. If you do not wish to purchase any school pictures, you are not under any obligation to do so.  If you do not want your student’s photo taken, please call our front office at 410-313-6907. All other families must schedule their appointment.

When: Wednesday, May 5th
Time:  8:00 - 9:00am & 11:00am - 4:00pm
Available appointments are scheduled in 5 minute increments
Parking: Please park in the lower parking area in front of school and look for signs directing you to school pictures.
Entrance: Side Gym door next to black top area.  When facing the front of the building, this door is near the basketball hoops on the left side.
Exit: Students will exit through the small gym door and meet parents on the blacktop area.

  • After placing your order, please print your order confirmation and bring it with you to your scheduled appointment.
  • Only students will be allowed inside the gym.  Parents must wait on blacktop.  All should stay masked and maintain social distance. Students will be able to remove their masks briefly while their picture is taken.
  • Follow all signs and directions from staff and photographers.
  • Do not enter the main school building.   

To view the picture packages available and to pay on-line click HERE. (Please disregard reference to Fall Pictures.  This is a rescheduled session since we could not provide this opportunity last fall.)

Click HERE to sign up for an appointment time for your photos. Scroll down the page for available time slots. (Please remember that students who will be in school on the scheduled Picture Day of Wednesday, May 5 do not need to register.)

Strawbridge Studios Inc., our contracted photographer, has a contactless COVID-19 picture day process.  For more information, please visit their WEBSITE.  

It’s Not Too Late To Sign Up For The Virtual Science Fair - Open To All Grades! All Participating Swans Will Receive A Prize!

The Virtual Swansfield Science Fair will take place on Wednesday, May 19th, from 6:30-7:30pm for students in grades K-2 and Thursday, May 20th, from 6:30 - 7:30pm for students in grades 3-5. All participants will receive a copy of Ada Twist’s Big Project Book for Stellar Scientists. Students interested in participating should Sign Up Now! And tell your friends!

Need help with your project? A workshop will be offered next Wednesday, April 28, from 9:15-10:15 am.  Use google meet code: ses-science-fair.

Workshops will give students practice working through the scientific method including coming up with a research question, writing a hypothesis, designing an experimental procedure and collecting and presenting data.  Workshops will also include time for brainstorming, when students can discuss their project idea and get feedback from fellow students and the session leader.  Students can also ask questions related to creating their presentation and video.

Please visit HERE for further information including templates students can use for presentations. If you have any questions, please email your Science Fair PTA Co-Chairs, Amy Becker (amybreebecker@gmail.com) or Debbie Goldberg (debbie.s.goldberg@gmail.com). We hope to see you at the workshop!  

Commit to the 2021-2022 HCPSS Digital Education Center by May 5

The Howard County Public School System is planning for a full-time online option for students entering grades K-12 who wish to learn virtually for the 2021-2022 school year. Parents/guardians who wish to commit to the DEC should log in to HCPSS Connect by Wednesday, May 5 at 4pm.  Families must commit to the DEC for the full 2021-2022 school year. Students who wish to return to in-person learning during the 2021-2022 school year, if that option is available, should not sign up for the DEC. The Superintendent and Board of Education members have stressed that they consider the return to normalized, five-day, in-person learning this fall to be essential for the majority of HCPSS students, however, an official decision on the 2021-2022 academic year has not yet been made.

Prior to making any decision, families are encouraged to review details about the DEC that are available online, as well as answers to frequently asked questions for the DEC in general and student-specific information.  Email DEC@hcpss.org with any questions about the Digital Education Center. If you need assistance completing the online commitment form, please contact our front office staff.

Kindergarten & Pre-Kindergarten Registration Underway for School Year 2021-22

Kindergarten Registration for next school year is now being conducted ONLINE (scroll down to the green Begin Online Registration link). Students must be five years old by September 1, 2021 to register. If your child will be attending Kindergarten in the fall, please visit the HCPSS Getting Ready for Kindergarten page, which includes resources to support kindergarten readiness. 

Applications for the Pre-K Program are also being accepted ONLINE (scroll down to the green Begin Online Registration link).  Children must be four years old by September 1, 2021 to attend.

Please call the school front office at 410-313-6907 with any questions.  

Learning Together Program Prekindergarten Applications Being Accepted

Applications are now being accepted for the Swansfield Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) prekindergarten program for the upcoming 2021-22 school year.  This class includes children with and without disabilities.  The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills.  Parents of children who will be 3 years old by September 1, 2021 may learn more about the program by reviewing the attached Learning Together Program (LTP) Flier. If you need assistance with the application, please contact Early Intervention Services at earlyinterventionservcies@hcpss.org or call 410-313-7017. If you have any additional questions about our program, please contact RECC teacher Nancy Barsoum at nancy_barsoum@hcpss.org.

LearningTogetherFlier.pdf 

2021 Summer Programs Registration Closes April 29

Online enrollment requests for summer programs can be submitted through April 29 for BSAP Summer Institute, Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development, Innovative Pathways High School, and STARTALK Chinese Language Summer Camp. Families can find up-to-date course information and enrollment directions on the Summer Programs web page.

Visitor Protocol Across School System

Visitors are not permitted under HCPSS Infectious Disease Plan. Exceptions are made for emergency services, contractors, and special situations. Facility special visitors will be limited and should occur by scheduled appointment only. No walk-in visitors are permitted. As much as possible, appointments to meet with parents and customers should be accommodated via telephone, video conference, or other suitable technology. When a face-to-face visit is necessary, the school or office must schedule an appointment time with the visitor and follow set steps outlined on page 23 of the Bridge to Normalized Instruction.

When guidelines once again allow for in-person volunteers and/or visitors, the attached form must be completed to document visitors interacting with our learning environment.

School Visitation Form.pdf 

Welcome To The BSAP Corner

Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Liaison Tamekah Wilkins shares inspiring stories. You can follow Swansfield BSAP on Instagram @ses_bsap.

Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, renowned for his skill playing both trumpet and trombone,  has been hailed as one of New Orleans' brightest stars. Growing up in the city’s Treme neighborhood, "Trombone Shorty" was participating in brass band parades as a child, carrying his trombone even before his arms were long enough to reach all the positions of the slide. Andrews was a bandleader by the age of 6. Originally attracting attention for his youth, by his teens he was attracting attention for his musical virtuosity as well.

He attended the prestigious New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), and as a graduate Troy joined the ranks of famous musicians like Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, and Harry Connick, Jr. Trombone Shorty has been named Performer of the Year by New Orleans’ premier music magazine, Offbeat. He has also garnered honors as Best Contemporary Jazz Performer, and is hailed for bridging old and new styles of jazz into a unique sound.
 
Read Aloud“Trombone Shorty” by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews

Shining The Spotlight

Each week at Swansfield Elementary we recognize students who shine by demonstrating one of our six Success Factors (Kindness, Self-Control, Perseverance, Empathy, Accountability and Hope). Congratulations to the following students who were recognized for displaying the success factor Accountability:

  • Pre-K: Djibree C
  • Kindergarten: Liam B, Jayden A, John R, Zoe O
  • 1st Grade: Edwin M, Callie J, Shira G, Leighton H
  • 2nd Grade: Kirsten B, Frankie W, Kezia P, Jerrod C, Londyn B
  • 3rd Grade: Zy'Jon J, Declan M, Logan A, Kmari R, Maxwell S
  • 4th Grade: Maryam J, David A, Arjun P
  • 5th Grade: Kasey M, Ramelo W, Elizabeth A, Bethany G

Staying Connected

Swansfield and HCPSS frequently send updated information to parents/guardians via email and text. Please be sure that your Family File is up-to-date and that you have opted into text messages to ensure you receive all messages. To opt into texts, text “yes” to 67587 from the cell phone listed in your Family File. If you need assistance updating your Family File, please contact our front office at 410-313-6907. If your Family File is updated and you have opted into texts, but are still not receiving messages, please fill out this form or contact the Swansfield front office.

PTA News

Please help support our staff and students by checking out this Amazon Wish List. Any items donated will be greatly appreciated. 

Community News and Programs

In response to community requests for resources, the HCPSS Community News and Programs website makes it easy for families to find educational and recreational resources, events and after-school programs beyond the school day by non-profit organizations.

Community organizations requesting their announcements be shared in school newsletters should visit community-programs.hcpss.org for more information. Questions should be directed to the Public Information Office at publicinfo@hcpss.org.

 

Connect with Us:

 

Address
5610 Cedar Lane
Columbia, MD 21044

 

Phone
410-313-6907

 

Website
http://ses.hcpss.org/

 

Twitter
@hcpss_ses

 

 

 
 

 

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