Important Dates:

• Wednesday Evenings - Virtual Storytime, 7pm (see more below)

• October 5-19 - SES Book Drive (see more below)

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

• Wednesday, October 14 - Deadline to Complete Coffee & Conversation Survey (see link below)

• Friday, October 16 - Early Dismissal (see more below)

• Friday, October 16 - Snowballs and Popcorn, 1-3pm (see more below)

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Weekly Virtual Storytime

Please join us for a weekly, live storytime beginning Wednesday, October 14th at 7pm! Swansfield staff members will read a story aloud via Google Meet every Wednesday evening through the first semester. Please use your child’s Howard County account to access our storytime using the meeting code: Swansfield Storytime. Stories shared will give us the opportunity to highlight and reinforce the success factors we celebrate at Swansfield – Kindness, Self-Control, Perseverance, Empathy, Accountability and Hope. We look forward to sharing our love of reading with our students during this time!

Schedule Adjustments for Scheduled Early Dismissal Days

The HCPSS 2020-2021 calendar includes four scheduled 3-hour early dismissal days:

• Friday, October 16, 2020
• Friday, November 6, 2020
• Monday, November 23, 2020
• Tuesday, November 24, 2020

The virtual schedules have been adjusted for these scheduled early dismissal days to provide students with synchronous learning for each class. Additionally, both full and half-day PreK classes will meet on these days using a modified schedule. The elementary early dismissal day revised schedule can be found HERE.

Coffee & Conversation with Admin & PTA President

It is hard to believe we are finishing up our fifth week of school!  Now that everyone is settling into a routine, we would like to find a time to connect with you and answer any questions you may have.  Mrs. Porter, Ms.Beaman and Amanda Llorens (PTA President) look forward to hosting our first joint Coffee & Conversation with Admin & PTA President. However, before we make any plans, we want to hear from you.  We would love to know what time of day works best for you, as well as what topics/questions you may have for us.  Please take a moment to give us your feedback by Wednesday, October 14th.  We hope to be able to share a date and time for our first meeting in our next newsletter.   

Afternoon Treats For SES Students Next Friday

Save the date!  Next Friday afternoon, October 16,  from 1-3pm, the Howard County Police Foundation will be serving free snowballs and popcorn to Swansfield students who stop by school.  Social distancing measures will be observed.  

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 Kindness this week:

• Preschool/Pre-K:  Jordan B
• Kindergarten:  Yarelis P, Arianna M, John K, Jayce B
• 1st Grade:  Ashlyn S, Seth G, Michael Y
• 2nd Grade:  A'va E, Safira A, Harper C, Yaa K, Thomas L
• 3rd Grade:  Madison C, Anika B, Ronahldyne F, Gabriel R, Victoria G
• 4th Grade:  Leia S, Jordan S, Kingston S, Jesus C, Aiden J
• 5th Grade:  Nadia M, Oluwatoni A

MAP Testing

MAP Testing began this past week with the Reading test and continues next Wednesday when the MATH test will be offered 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.

Due to testing, HCPSS is making the following adjustments to asynchronous assignments for the week of October 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.

Google Meetings (Synchronous Classes)- Guidelines for Parents

You can view all of the HCPSS Google Meet Expectations for parents and students on the HCPSS website.

• Google Meet virtual instruction is designed for students. To prevent disruptions to the learning environment, parents/guardians should not actively participate in check-in sessions, although parents/guardians may assist their child with technology and/or remain nearby. This includes asking the teacher a question or typing in the chat. Only students should be on camera and use the chat.
• Do not video record, audio record, photograph, live stream, or transmit in any other way any part of a Google Meet, including not posting on any social media platform.
• Any confidential or personally identifiable information related to students participating during Google Meets should not be collected, discussed or shared.
• Parents/guardians should not engage with students during Google Meets. If you need to speak with your child during a check-in session, first mute your child’s microphone.
• If a parent/guardian has a question, please email your child’s teacher.

Swansfield Book Drive

Our school is collecting donations of gently used children’s books to help foster the love of reading for Swansfield students. Books should be suitable for children ages 4-12 and can include picture books, levelled readers, story books and chapter books. Please drop off your donations now through October 19 at either of two locations: in the school vestibule or in the Pointer’s Run community at 6440 Mellow Wine Way. Thank you in advance for your donations!
 
SES Book Drive.pdf 

Social Emotional Learning