Swansfield News

Mon, 03/11/2019 - 8:28am

Students Earn Honors at Unheard Perspectives Showcase

Kindergarten Registration Begins Monday

Enjoy a Math Class with your Child

School Yearbook Orders Being Accepted Through March 15

Upcoming Events:​​​​​​​

  • March 11 - 15: Mobile Science Lab (see more below)

  • Monday March 11: Kindergarten Registration Begins (see more below)

  • Thursday March 14: Kindergarten Field Trip, Toby's Theater

  • Thursday March 14: Family Math Night, 6:00 pm (see more below)

  • Monday March 18: Pre-Kindergarten Registration Begins (call school for more information)

  • Wednesday March 20: PTA Kindergarten Welcome Program, 6:00 pm

  • Wednesday March 20: PTA Meeting, 7:30 pm

  • Thursday March 28: International Night, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

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Mobile Science Lab Visiting School Next Week

Swansfield is excited to host the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation Mobile Science Lab next week, March 11 - 15.

Students from Kindergarten through 5th grade will visit the lab to complete hands-on investigations related to the important role agriculture plays in their daily lives.

If you have any questions, please email G/T resource teacher Laine Malcotti at marolene_malcotti@hcpss.org.

Students Earn Honors at Unheard Perspectives Showcase

Unheard Perspectives, the research of African-American innovators, has become a popular instructional seminar at Swansfield. This year, students who participated selected innovators to study when they began the seminar in October, and their work led to culminating activities held last month.

On February 23rd,  students from 24 elementary schools gathered to participate in the HCPSS county-wide competition held at Oakland Mills High School. Three teams from Swansfield showcased their work. We are very proud of the students' dedication, teamwork,and the creativity they displayed in their projects.

Congratulations to the following students:
4th Grade Gold Medal Winners - Erik Allen Lee, Nathan Rodriguez, and Josiah Wheel for their study of Garrett Morgan - Life Saver.

3rd Grade Silver Medal Winners - Priscillia Hughes, Brooke Loman, Hope Mabry, Sybil-Sarah Arrey-Mbi and Ariyanah Mack for their presentation "George Crum - A New Type of Snack".

4th Grade Silver Medal Winners - Janell Agyare-Tanor, Alex Boettger, Davney Sell and Scarlett Stewart, for their presentation "George Crum - America's Favorite Snack".

Kindergarten Registration for School Year 2019-20 Begins Monday, March 11

If you have a child who will be five years old by September 1, 2019, it's time to register for Kindergarten.  Families can visit Swansfield beginning March 11 between 9:00 am and 2:30 pm to enroll their students for next school year. More information can be found at http://www.hcpss.org/enroll/.  If you choose, parents/guardians can begin the registration process online and complete in school.  Visit https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/03/2019-2020-kindergarten-registration-online-enrollment-open-completion-in-schools-march-11-15-2019/
 
We also will be accepting Pre-Kindergarten registrations beginning Monday, March 18.  Children must be four years old by September 1, 2018 to attend. 

Join Us March 14 for Family Math Night

Are you confused by the math your child is doing in school? Then plan to join us March 14 at 6:00 pm for Family Math Night. Come experience what a math classroom looks and feels like. You and your child will engage in math activities together so you can learn strategies to better help your child at home. Please see the attached flier for more information and RSVP form.  Please respond by March 7 if you plan to attend.

Math Night Flier.pdf 

Swansfield Hosting Career Day....and We Need You!

Swansfield will be hosting a schoolwide Career Day on Friday, April 12, and we are looking for presenters! Do you have a career you’d like to share with students? Do you know someone with an interesting career? Do you have a friend or family member who might be willing to participate? Presentations will be about 20 minutes. If you are interested or would like more information, you can sign up athttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFSJZGPDdeDJWOWkFmqzqdCPmT4OkaPDwaRINqrDhesNhOlg/viewformor, contact Alesia Richter alesia_richter@hcpss.org or Deborah Slater deborah_slater@hcpss.org. Thank you for your support!

Don't Miss the Chance to Order Your SES Yearbook

A dedicated PTA committee has been hard at work producing a yearbook to record memories from this school year.  Don't miss the opportunity to order one for your family.  Order forms went home in this week's Monday folders.  You can pay online at strawbridge.net using the online code 113041 or you can send in payment by check made out to Strawbridge. The cost is $18 per book.  Deadline to order is March 15.  Yearbooks will not be available for purchase after this date.

Please Remember No Animals Allowed on School Property

Per HCPSS Policy: Animals in schools or offices, leashed or not, present safety, environmental, and liability issues. Students and staff may be exposed to potential physical hazards, such as bites, and/or allergy related health problems. As a result, animals are prohibited within HCPSS buildings. Animals are also prohibited on school system property during arrival, dismissal, recess or other HCPSS sponsored outdoor activities. Service animals or service animals in training [per MD Annotated Code Section 7-705 (Service Animals) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)] are exempt from this prohibition.

Revised School Calendar Due to Inclement Weather Days

Howard County public schools have closed due to inclement weather five days this school year: November 15, January 14 and 30, February 11 and February 20. That is one day more than the four inclement weather days identified on the 2018-2019 academic calendar. The last day of school is currently scheduled to be Friday, June 21, with the final three days dismissing three hours early.

The Board of Education will have discussions on how to account for the fifth inclement weather day used, and any necessary subsequent days, at a future public meeting. Maryland state law requires schools to be in session for a minimum of 180 days each year, and waivers to this requirement must be approved by the Maryland State Board. These are not automatically granted even when a State of Emergency is in effect.

HCPSS will continue to update parents, staff and students on any future adjustments made to the academic calendar.

Congratulations Spotlight Winners

We congratulate our Spotlight Winners for the past few weeks.  These students have demonstrated they follow our school rules and are Safe, Respectful and Responsible.
  • Pre-K: Mason T, Rylen C, Hannah G, Nichalas D
  • Kindergarten: Tristen R, Gizelle G, Joyce F, Tyriq S, Jayden H, Zayden N, Rashid F
  • 1st Grade: Zohar Y, Tate A, Ava S, Michelle C, Drew J, Jaylon S, Dayana A, Kassidy B, Lea Z, Coen S, Juliana B
  • 2nd Grade:  Gabe R, Alex B, Brendon M, Aaliyah G, Kendall R, Julian C, Michael S, Ryan A, Josephine M
  • 3rd Grade: Alexa J, Ramelo W, Anthony M, Bethany G, Alex W, Ry'lyn F, Anthony M, Ximena R, Magdael M
  • 4th Grade: Max A, Omari V, Ilaria K, Tavon B, Bryan G, Joey A, Chase D, Nick S, Terell S
  • 5th Grade:  Logan K, Mursal N, Marion G, Balawal K, Camille K, Dominic G, Jonah C, Jadelyn B

Registration Open for Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run® will be back at Swansfield Elementary this spring! This program inspires girls in grades 3-5 to be joyful, healthy, and confident by using running to teach valuable social-emotional and life skills. The team will meet after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 - 4:30 pm. The spring season starts the week of March 17. Registration is now open! Program registration fee is $175 and includes a healthy snack at each practice and all program materials including registration and t-shirt for 5K fun run at end of program. Generous financial assistance is available – no girl is turned away. Girls who receive FARM benefits automatically receive full scholarships! Visit www.gotrcentralmd.org to register. Questions? E-mail  info@gotrcentralmd.org.

FARMs Program Provides Many Benefits For Eligible Families

The Free and Reduced-Priced Meals (FARMs) program provides access to an array of services for qualified families including free and reduced-priced breakfasts and lunches, free SAT and ACT registration, free tuition to take college courses at Howard Community College while still enrolled in high school, free college applications, reduced AP exam fees, reduced costs for a number of services provided by Howard County Rec and Parks, Columbia Association and Comcast, and much more. Visit the HCPSS website for more information and to apply.

Volunteers/Chaperones Must Complete Training

All volunteers and field trip chaperones in HCPSS schools must complete the online training course prior to volunteering (see link below), print a completion certificate and return it to the front office. If you are unable to access online a printed version is available at school.

Connect With Our PTA

Learn more about upcoming PTA activities, how you can get involved, and even join the PTA if you haven't done so already.  Visit http://swansfieldpta.org/

Visit http://swansfieldpta.org/newsletters/ to catch up on all things PTA.

Community News and Programs

Please visit the Community News and Programs page at http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/ for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.