Important Dates:

• Monday, September 28 - Schools/Offices Closed

• Tuesday, September 29 - Tuesday Tech Tips, 7pm

• October 2020 - Free Flu Clinics (see more below)

• Tuesday, October 6 & Wednesday, October 7 - Materials Distribution (see more below)

• Wednesday, October 7 - Map Testing: Reading (see more below)

• Wednesday, October 14 - Map Testing: Math (see more below)

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As we end our third week of virtual instruction, we want to offer our deepest gratitude to all of our families for your kind words, note of encouragement and support.  However small to you, they mean the world to our staff who continue to work diligently to build a classroom community and provide quality instruction.   In turn, we offer you our deepest thanks for all that you are doing to support learning at home.  We know you are also juggling many responsibilities and it is no easy task.  You are our partners in education in the truest sense.

We appreciate all your feedback regarding virtual instruction and will continue to make adjustments as we can.  One area of concern has been asynchronous work on Wednesdays.  Please know that we are working as a school team to ensure that we are being as consistent as possible with asynchronous assignments to assist you in knowing what assignments your child needs to complete and where to locate the assignments.  Please consider the following tips regarding asynchronous learning to assist you:

• If for any reason it is taking your child more than the recommended amount of time to complete a Wednesday assignment, please know that your child may stop working on the assignment and should let the teacher know.  For example, students should be completing one Dreambox lesson and spending approximately 15 minutes on the Wednesday math assignment.  If it is taking longer than that, please email the teacher to let him/her know that the student could not finish the lesson in the allotted time.  This feedback will be helpful for future assignments. 
• The three weekly related arts asynchronous assignments can be completed throughout the week, not just on Wednesdays. Families could assign a related arts task to different days of the week. For example, a student in Grade 1 could set up an asynchronous schedule like this:

• Students can ask for help completing these tasks during the synchronous supports block with the teacher.  
• If your child completes the work but is having trouble submitting it, please reach out to your child’s teacher to determine another way to share the work for credit.

Again, we deeply appreciate all you are doing and applaud you! If you are not already following us on Twitter, please do!  We just tweeted our first #SwanFamily #LearningHero yesterday and we look forward to celebrating more families in the future.

Additional Materials Distribution

We are happy to share that we have purchased additional instructional materials for our students with Title I funds.  The materials will vary by grade level, and will include items such as dry erase boards, dry erase markers, erasers and magnetic letters.  We will be distributing these materials according to the schedule below.

In an effort to make this as easy as possible for our families, you can arrange in advance to have another family pick up your materials for you. The family picking up the materials will need to know each child’s first and last name as well as the grade level in order to receive the materials.  

October 6

• 4:30pm-5:30pm Last Names A-C
• 5:30pm-6:30pm Last Names D-J

October 7

• 4:30pm-5:30pm Last Names K-P
• 5:30pm-6:30pm Last Names R-Z

Face-to-Face Support to Small Groups of Students

In the coming weeks, HCPSS will begin providing face-to-face support to small groups of students. Identified students and staff have been invited to complete an interest survey.  If you did not receive a survey, it is because your child has not yet been identified for in-person support.   

All students who receive special education services will receive an email with directions to complete a survey.  If your child receives special education services, and you have not received an email by Friday, September 25, then please reach out to Ann Scholz (ann_scholz@hcpss.org) from the Office of Special Education Compliance, Non-Public Services, and Family Support.  More information about the HCPSS In-Person Support initiative can be found HERE.

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).  Over the past few weeks, students have been learning about each of the success factors and what that looks like in the virtual classroom and in the school building. Congratulations to the following students who were recognized for displaying the success factors this week:

• Preschool/Pre-K: Mambo C
• Kindergarten: Tony S, Amelia S, Ava B, Zoe O
• 1st Grade: Alivia X, Brandon O, Shira G, Lillian N
• 2nd Grade: Damone W, Oluwatayo A, Averil W, Kaylan R, Aghanwi C
• 3rd Grade: Leo K, Melina B, Matthieu S, Elias B, Axelle A
• 4th Grade: Chloe S, Miles J, Philip C, Sydney H, Jordan S
• 5th Grade: Esona A, FItsum A, Michelle A

Gifted and Talented Program

Swansfield families should have received a Canvas Announcement this past Wednesday with the information shared below regarding GT programs.

Parents with students in Kindergarten and first grade should access the grade level Canvas page to learn more about the Gifted and Talented Asynchronous Primary Talent Development offerings for the month of September.  Modules are available now.

Students in Grades 2 and 3 ONLY,  please join the Instructional Seminar "Bee" a Pollinator Protector.   What’s all the buzz about bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds? Join our seminar to learn more about pollinator superheroes that need our help! We will explore what pollinators are, how they help humans, and what we can do to save them!
SIGN UP HERE by October 2.  
 
Students in Grades 4 and 5 ONLY, please join the Instructional Seminar Unheard Perspectives. Innovators impact the lives of people all over the world. Technology we use each day, methods of travel, the music we love, the health and beauty products we rely on, and even some of our favorite foods have come from individuals who aren’t always well known or recognized for their groundbreaking ideas. Join us for an Instructional Seminar on Unheard Perspectives where you will investigate the life of an unheard innovator who has had a significant impact on our lives today. You will work in groups of up to five students as you research an innovator of your choice and develop a creative project or exhibit to showcase his/her life and ideas.
SIGN UP HERE by October 2.  

MAP Testing

On Wednesday, October 7 and 14, students in grades 2-8 will take the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) assessment. The data from the MAP assessment will help schools and teachers measure where your child is starting the year academically. The HCPSS intends to also give the assessment in winter and spring to measure how your child’s learning is progressing throughout the year. 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 October 7 at 9am and 1pm.  The Math test will be offered on October 14 at 9am and 1pm.  Students may choose to attend either the morning or afternoon session. 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 October 7th date.

Due to testing, HCPSS is making the following adjustments to asynchronous assignments for the weeks of October 7 and 14:

• No Dreambox assignments will be assigned on Wednesday
• No Lexia Core5 assignments will be assigned on Wednesday
• No mathematics task will be assigned on Wednesday
• No changes will be made for related arts and science asynchronous assignments.

SES BSAP Instagram

Parents/Guardians wanting to access information from the Swansfield Black Student Achievement Program can now do so quickly on Instagram.  Follow @ses_bsap for all the latest news.  

HCPSS Free Flu Clinics, October 2020

HCPSS, the Howard County Health Department and the Maryland Partnership for Prevention again this year will offer flu clinics at no cost for students. Students do not have to go to a clinic at their home school and may attend any clinic. Pre-registration is required, during which parents/guardians will schedule an appointment at the clinic of their choice. Registration will be open September 21-30 at www.vaccineconsent.com.
Flu clinics will take place outdoors and will utilize a drive-through or walk-through system. Anyone attending a clinic will be required to wear a mask or protective face covering. All clinics will be held from 4-6 p.m. Click HERE for dates/locations. Please contact SES nurse doris_qano@hcpss.org with any questions.