Important Dates:

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

• Monday, January 18 - Schools Closed, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• Monday, January 18 - PTA Restaurant Day, MOD Pizza, 10:30am - 9:00pm (see more below) 

• Tuesday, January 19 - Clarksville Middle School Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night, 6:00pm. Code: CMS-RisingComets

• Tuesday, January 19 - Harper’s Choice Middle School Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night, 6:30pm. Code: HCMSNSO

• Wednesday, January 20 - PTA Meeting, 7pm (see more below)

• Thursday, January 21 - Wilde Lake Middle School 6th Grade Information Night, 6:30pm. https://meet.google.com/egk-yyxk-wok

• Friday, January 22 - Student Lunch Bunch Grades 4 & 5, 11:20 - 11:50am. Code: SES-Lunch-Bunch

• Wednesday, January 27 - Virtual Talent Show, 7pm. Code: SES-Talent-Show

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TCOE Celebration of Academic Achievement

The Council of Elders (TCOE) of the Black Community of Howard County in collaboration with the Howard County Public School System sponsors an annual Celebration of Academic Achievement to acknowledge and honor students of African and African-American heritage.

A total of 33 Swansfield 4th and 5th grade students were honored at a virtual celebration this past Monday.  Students recognized achieved the following levels of academic success during the 2019-20 school year:

• Received a grade of "A" or "B" for Math in every marking period
• Received a grade of "A" or "B" for Language Arts in every marking period

Congratulations! We are so proud of these students for their determination and hard work!

4th Grade: Suraiyah Abdul-Malik, Jordan Agyare-Tanor, Tyler Collins, Wabi Gemechis, Hailey Holloway, Holly Holloway, Aiden Johnson, Miles Jones, Isabella Kifle, Soraya Mitchell, Bena-Jene Osei-Bonsu, Daeja Peterson, Kingston Sterling, Chloe Stewart

5th Grade: Aaron Acheampong, Kinley Agent, Fitsum Amera, Michelle Antwi, Sybil-Sarah Arrey-Mbi, Arianna Asiedu, Esona Avuletey, Raiven Brooks, Joshua Codrington, Landan Daniel, Jamison England, Ja’bria Jackson, Xavier Martin, Anaya Mathis, Gabrielle McMillan, Olamiji Ojifinni, Jamiyah Reaves, Gabrielle Rooths, Laila Velazquez

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Schools are closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Some teachers may have shared the story (linked below) with students today to help them understand Dr. King's story and his impact on American history.  We also want to share this read aloud video with all families.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xajQz49mRU

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 beginning today 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! 

We appreciate the support of this local business and hope your children have nothing Bundt fun participating!

Books and Bundts Parent Info.PDF 

Reading Tracker.pdf 

Restorative Justice Journey

A few years ago Swansfield Elementary became one of six HCPSS schools participating in the Howard County Education Association's (HCEA) Restorative Justice Cohort.  Thus began a journey of change and growth in our school culture that benefits our entire community.  It is challenging work, and there is still much to do, but progress has been made.  The attached article is part of a new book, “Teacher Unions and Social Justice: Organizing for the Schools and Communities Our Students Deserve” which is being released later this month by Rethinking Schools (info also attached below).  In sharing this with you we hope you gain a better understanding of the Restorative Justice work being done here.  We also recognize our staff for their dedication, collaboration and hard work! There is always more work to be done, but we pause to recognize and celebrate our successes.

TUSJ_Dingerson.pdf  

TUSJ flyer.pdf 

Reporting Bullying

HCPSS has launched a new bullying reporting tool that replaces the Sprigeo reporting system that has been in place for several years. This new tool is very easy to use and allows students, staff and family members to easily and confidentially report incidents of bullying.

Acts of bullying can be critically detrimental to the learning environment and have the potential for severely impacting the wellness of our students. Please use this new tool to report any acts that occur in-person or online that you believe may be bullying. Your information will remain confidential and staff will take every report seriously. 
If you should have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Principal Laurel Porter at laurel_porter@hcpss.org. 

The new bullying reporting tool can be found online at stopbullying.hcpss.org.

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 Perseverance:

• Preschool/Pre-K: Christine C
• Kindergarten: Norah W, Reagile B, Emma M, Adiam W
• 1st Grade: Kevin D, Christian E, Mariah L, Teagan S
• 2nd Grade: Ernest G, Jasmine D, Kaelan D, Jonathan L, Desmond A
• 3rd Grade: Dant'a P, Winnie C, Yue N, Vinny C, Ethan P
• 4th Grade: Bena-Jene O, Miles J, Xari G, Emmanuel B
• 5th Grade: Landan D, Grayson S, Rafael B

#SwanFamily Staff Shout Outs