Important Dates:

• Tuesday thru Thursday, February 23-25 - Health Room Collecting Medications (see more below for specific times)

• Wednesday, February 24 - Virtual Storytime, NOON (12pm). Code: Swansfield Storytime (see more below)

• Thursday & Friday, February 25 & 26 - Early Dismissal for Students (see more below)

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Health Room Collecting Medication For Students Returning To In-Person Instruction

As we prepare for the transition to a hybrid learning model, the Health Room has planned for three dates/times to receive medications for those students who will be joining us in person:

• Tuesday, February 23, 10am-10:30am
• Wednesday, February 24, 12pm-12:30pm
• Thursday, February 25, 2:30pm-3pm

Staff will be at the front doors to the building in the bus loop. Please wear a mask and maintain social distancing. If you are arriving by car, roll down the passenger window. Please make sure to bring both the medication AND medication order form (attached to this email, and it should be dated on or after July 1, 2020). Also, please check that the medication order form and medication label match and place both items inside a gallon-size zip lock bag. Due to Covid-19, we are not able to accept nebulizers at this time.

If you cannot come during one of the times listed above, please email school nurse Doris Qano (doris_qano@hcpss.org) to coordinate a different time.  After proper quarantining of the dropped-off items, our health room staff will do a review and will contact you if there are any concerns.

Medication Order Form.pdf 

Swansfield Storytime

With the transition to hybrid instruction, next week is our last scheduled Swansfield Storytime.  As staff are busy preparing for the transition, the session next week will be presented Wednesday, February 24th, at noon.  Log in with code: Swansfield Storytime.  If we can plan to extend the series we will certainly let you know. Thank you and we hope you've enjoyed our time reading together. 

February 25 & 26 Are Now Early Dismissal Days

With the March 1st transition to a hybrid instructional model, the BOE has approved changing Thursday and Friday, February 25 & 26, to early dismissal days for students to allow staff returning to school buildings time to prepare. Students will follow THIS SCHEDULE.

Transition To Hybrid Learning Video - Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Beginning next month, we are very excited to welcome those students returning to the school building for in-person instruction.  As we prepare, we will be sharing a series of short videos with you.  We hope you find these videos informative and helpful.
 
Our first video provides information about our Arrival and Dismissal Procedures.  We also ask that you complete this short Transportation Survey to provide us with more detailed information about how your child will arrive and dismiss from school each day. 

Family File Should Be Updated

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.

Update Regarding New Digital Tools Available For Students

Recently an Opt-In letter was sent home requesting parent/guardian consent in order for students to have access to the HCPSS authorized set of digital tools used for virtual instruction. At this time, we are sharing the following update with you.

The following digital tools do not require consent because they are already available to students in HCPSS computer labs: Book Room, Word Work, Scratch BluBot, Scratch JR, Sketch-Up, Collector Classic, JamBoard, and Google Earth.  These supplemental digital tools are approved by HCPSS and comply with federal, state and Howard County Board of Education student data privacy policies. Please note that your student(s) have access to these digital tools through the Google Play Store icon on the Chromebook when logged in with an HCPSS account.

If your elementary school-aged child has not been issued a Chromebook or is experiencing any difficulty with their current device, please visit a Technology Support Center.  
 
Please note:

• HCPSS cannot guarantee that apps are available on devices other than HCPSS Chromebooks.
• Teachers may or may not choose to use any or all of these apps during instruction. Students will be notified when a particular app will be used for instruction.
• In addition to these Google tools, HCPSS has approved a robust set of supplemental digital tools. Your child’s teacher will notify you of the particular supplemental digital tools being used in each class via email or on their Canvas course page.

For more information, please contact Technology Teacher Taffie Barnes at taffie_barnes@hcpss.org

New Chromebook Care Webpage

Please be aware of a new webpage for students, Chromebook Care, which includes tips on caring for and transporting Chromebooks, as well as student mobile technology duties and obligations, and additional resources.

Welcome To The BSAP Corner

Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Liaison Tamekah Wilkins continues her weekly post celebrating Black History Month. You can follow Swansfield BSAP on Instagram @ses_bsap.

Katherine Johnson (August 26, 1918 – February 24, 2020) was an African American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. During her 35-year career at NASA and its predecessor, she earned a reputation for mastering complex manual calculations and helped pioneer the use of computers to perform the tasks. The space agency noted her historical role as one of the first African American women to work as a NASA scientist. 

Read Aloud: “Counting on Katherine”

George Washington Carver (1860s – January 5, 1943) was an American agricultural scientist, agronomist, and inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. His development of new products derived from peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans helped revolutionize the agricultural economy of the South. For most of his career he taught and conducted research at the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Tuskegee, Alabama. George Washington Carver was the most prominent black scientist of the early 20th century. 

Read Aloud: George Washington Carver “Brain Pop” 

Kindergarten & Pre-Kindergarten Registration for School Year 2021-22 Begin in March

Kindergarten Registration for next school year begins Monday, March 8th, and will be 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.  We also encourage families to visit our Grade K Family and Community Resources page for more information about the kindergarten instructional program and ways families can support their children at home.

Pre-K Registration begins the week of March 15, 2021 and will also be conducted 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.  

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 

The Council of Elders & Black Student Achievement Program Workshops

TCOE Workshops:

• February 20, March 20 & April 17, 9-10:30am - Family Financial Education Series (TCOE_Budget Basics.pdf)
• March 13, 9-10:30am – Community Academy– Suicide Prevention & Substance Abuse

BSAP Workshop:

• March 6, 6:30-8:00pm – Re-Entry to School (more details to follow)

If you have any questions regarding these events, please contact Nicole Brown at nicole_brown@hcpss.org.

Positions Available at Swansfield For Hybrid Learning

The following positions are currently available at Swansfield Elementary for Hybrid Learning.  Please share this information with anyone who may be interested in applying.  Thank you.

Permanent Substitutes: We are currently looking for qualified candidates to serve as a permanent substitute in our building beginning with hybrid instruction March 1 and continuing for the remainder of the school year. The substitute would report to Swansfield daily. Applicants must have a minimum of 60 college credits. Substitutes are receiving a 25% pay increase starting March 1 for the remainder of this school year.  CDC and HCPSS Covid-19 employee safety regulations must be followed. If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your resume via email to Assistant Principal Howard Carter at howard_carter@hcpss.org.

Lunch/Recess Monitors: Swansfield Elementary School is currently interviewing for a Lunch/Recess Monitor beginning with hybrid instruction March 1 and continuing for the remainder of the school year.  This position involves monitoring students during the lunch and recess periods, approximately 15-20 hours per week.  For the remainder of this school year, Lunch/Recess Monitors will be compensated at a rate of $14.25 per hour. CDC and HCPSS Covid-19 employee safety regulations must be followed. If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your resume via email to Assistant Principal Howard Carter at howard_carter@hcpss.org.

New Community News and Programs Site