Dear Swansfield Community,
As we approach the winter break, I find it hard to believe how swiftly 2023 is upon us. With the holiday season in full swing, I wanted to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes for a joyous and restful holiday to each and every member of the incredible Swansfield community. May the coming year bring you happiness, prosperity, and new opportunities.
On a note of excitement and pride, I am thrilled to share some wonderful news with all of you. Since 2018, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has been assigning star ratings to public schools across the state. These ratings, ranging from 1 to 5 stars, serve as a testament to the dedication and excellence within each educational institution.
From 2018 to 2022, Swansfield held a strong 3-star rating. However, I am delighted to announce that for the year 2023, Swansfield has achieved a remarkable 4-star rating! The administrative team had the privilege of sharing this news with our dedicated staff during Wednesday's meeting, and the excitement and motivation in the room were palpable.
While we celebrate this significant achievement, we acknowledge that our journey doesn't end here. Our commitment to excellence and the pursuit of providing the best education possible for our students remains unwavering. With your continuous support and dedication, we aim to reach new heights and strive for that coveted 5-star rating in the future.
Thank you, each and every one of you, for your tireless efforts and contributions to our school community. It is your hard work and commitment that have brought us to this point, and I am confident that together, we will continue to achieve great things in the coming years.
Wishing you all a happy holiday season and a fantastic start to the new year!
Anthony J Esposito, Principal
Important Dates
- December 25th - January 1st - Winter Break
- January 10th - PTA Meeting
- January 11th - Grade 2 Title I Family Night
- January 15th - Off
- January 15th-24th - PTA Read-a-Thon
- January 17th - 3 Hour Early Dismissal / Professional & Wellness Day
- January 18th - Winter Concert at WLHS @6:30pm
- January 19th - Perseverance Day
- January 22nd - No School for Students
- January 25th - Grade 3 Title I Family Night
- January 30th - Q2 Awards K: 9:00 & Grade 5: 2:15
- January 31st - Q2 Awards Grade 1: 9:00 & Grade 4: 2:15
- February 1st - Q2 Awards Grade 2: 9:00 & Grade 3: 2:15
Information
Attention: All 2nd Grade Families
Our 2nd Gr. ELA Family Night is coming up after Winter Break on Thursday, January 11th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Join us for a great evening of dinner and fun, hands-on reading, spelling, and writing activities. To allow parent and 2nd grade child to engage in the learning activities, there will be separate supervised play activities for siblings. Please see our invitation for the agenda for the evening. Be sure to RSVP by Monday, Jan. 8. This helps to ensure we have the right amount of food and take-home materials for all. We can't wait to see our 2nd grade students and their families on 1/11!
PTA News
UPCOMING PTA EVENTS
Save the Date: Read-A-Thon!
The annual PTA Read-A-Thon will take place January 15-28, 2024. Students will be able to log reading time online and raise money for the PTA. All students who meet their reading minute goal will receive a prize! Stay tuned for more information in early January.
Save the Date: 2024 Swansfield Elementary Science Fair!
The Swansfield Science Fair will take place in-person on Thursday, February 15, 6:30 - 8pm.
This year's science fair will include the opportunity for students to present their science fair project on a trifold board (provided by the PTA for students that sign up). Projects will be judged during the fair with awards issued and prizes for all participating students awarded after the fair.
For more information on participating check out:
- Science Fair Student Packet - includes written step-by-step directions on how to formulate a science fair project and lay out your trifold board
- Science Fair workshop video - includes recorded information on how to come up with a good question, hypothesis and way to test your hypothesis (only 14 minutes long!)
- Science Fair consult (optional) - if your student is feeling unsure about their project, they can opt to participate in a 15-minute consult with a science-loving adult (virtual and in-person options available) to discuss their project and get feedback. Please indicate your student’s interest in this option when signing them up for the science fair on the science fair interest form.
If your child is interested in participating, you must fill out the Science Fair Interest Form. If you have more than one student, please fill out a separate entry for each student participating.
If you want to volunteer, we will need parent judges for the night of the fair and science-loving adults for the student project consults! We also welcome any members to join the science fair committee. Please let us know if you can help as a volunteer on the volunteer sign up form.
Questions? Contact your Science Fair Co-Chairs: Teryn Thomas and Jeanie Prescott at sciencefair@swansfieldpta.org
PTA NEWS & UPDATES
Last Chance: Yearbook Cover Art Contest Entries Due January 8
The yearbook cover will feature student art this year! Swan artists are encouraged to submit their art. All art must be submitted on the entry form and student information must be provided. Students are only allowed to submit one entry. Entry forms were sent home to all students this week. Additional entry forms can be found here: Cover Art Contest Entry Form All entries are due by 3 pm on Monday, January 8 in the front office. Have a question? Reach out to yearbook@swansfieldpta.org or memberships@swansfieldpta.org.
