Lewistown Elementary Newsletter
TeamLES
WE ARE LEWISTOWN!
Email: dana.austin@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/les/
Location: 11119 Hessong Bridge Road, Thurmont, MD, United States
Phone: 240-236-3750
Twitter: @LESFCPS
Week of 3.30.20
Message on Family Device Needs
Dear Parents/Guardians of Lewistown Students:
I would like to thank all LES parents and guardians for your continued patience as we near the end of Week One of Distance Learning.
For any student requiring technology access, please know that any available desktop, iPad, or laptop will support FCPS distance learning. Please note that elementary students who already have a device at home (other than a phone) that can connect to the internet and open up a web page are not eligible to receive a Chromebook on loan. The supplies FCPS is loaning are for those currently without access to devices in their homes.
For a family without access to a device, LES will be distributing Chromebooks on Friday by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling the front office staff at 240-236-3750 or via email to kimberly.little@fcps.org. Please know that if technology is not an option for your family, we can also provide hard copies of learning packets. Please do not hesitate to contact me at dana.austin@fcps.org if you have questions and/or are experiencing challenges. Remember one team, one goal, NO limits!
Sincerely,
Dana Austin, Proud Principal of Lewistown Elementary
Home Options for Internet Needs
Due to the current emergency circumstances, many telecommunications companies have enabled access to the internet using their services free.
- Comcast Xfinity Free WiFi network
- https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
- Comcast Xfinity has turned on a Wi-Fi sub-network on all of their home/business internet routers and made it free to access for anyone within range.
- Comcast removed data plan caps for 60 days, making all connections unlimited.
- Frozen disconnects and late fees
- https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
- Comcast Internet Essential Program
- https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
- Two free months for families that apply before April 30th, 2020
- Network speed performance increased
- Comcast is waiving the outstanding debt satisfaction requirement for Households with debt owed to Comcast for applications approved prior to May 13th, 2020
- Verizon Wireless
- https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/covid-19-faqs/
- Waving new line activation fees, late fees, and service terminations through May 13th, 2020
- Free international calling until April 30th, 2020
- Additional 15GB of mobile hotspot data has been added for all customers and data plans.
- T-Mobile
- https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/ongoing-updates-covid-19
- All smartphone data plans are unlimited through May 13th, 2020
- All smartphone hotpot plans can add an additional 10GB per month for two months free
- Free unlimited international calling
- https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/ongoing-updates-covid-19
- AT&T wireless
- https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html
- All late fees for wireless, home phone and broadband residential customers are waived until May 13, 2020
- Domestic wireless plan overage charges for data, voice and text for residential customers are waived until May 13, 2020
Technology Issues
Calendar Updates
Please note the following April 2020 calendar dates with no changes to Spring Break:
Wednesday, April 8
End of Term 3
Thursday, April 9 will remain a day off (from distance learning) for students, with teachers working that day to finalize 3rd quarter grades.
Friday, April 10 and Monday, April 13 all schools and offices are CLOSED.
Distance learning will resume Tuesday, April 14.
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
Our world has shifted dramatically over the past few weeks. Students and and family members who are experiencing difficulty may wish to contact the Frederick County Mental Health Association (MHA).
- The MHA's Call Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From intervention, a caring and supporting voice at a moment of crisis, to connecting you to resources and information, dial 211.
- With the physical facility closed, MHA's Walk-in Behavioral Health Services has moved to an online tele-health platform. The program, and the services it provides, remains the same in all other aspects; and will still provide comprehensive safety/wellness planning, resource information, and referrals as appropriate.
- To access: Go to www.fcmha.org and click on the yellow banner at the top to access an intake form for the service. After completing and submitting the form, information to access the platform will be provided. This can be accessed via computer, tablet, or smartphone (must have access to internet/cellular data).
The Virtual Walk-in Behavioral Health Service is operational Monday - Friday from 10:00 am - 10:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm.
Access to Meals during the School Closure
Participants must be age 18 or under unless they are adults enrolled in an educational program for persons with disabilities. They do not have to live in Frederick County, be FCPS students or be registered to attend the schools serving meals. From all locations and at all mealtimes, children must take their meals to go.
Monday-Friday breakfasts are served "to go" 8:30-9:30 a.m., and lunches are served "to go" 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with boxed suppers available for pickup during lunch service, at the following schools:
Ballenger Creek Elementary
Crestwood Middle
Frederick High
Hillcrest Elementary
Lincoln Elementary
Monocacy Elementary
North Frederick Elementary
Waverley Elementary
For bagged lunches "to go," look for the bright yellow school buses at the following community locations. Sandwich options include turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, Italian combo, and wowbutter, an all-natural nut-free peanut butter substitute.
7th Street Frederick Shopping Center Parking Lot, 1305 West 7th Street, Frederick
Brunswick - Rite Aid Parking Lot, Brunswick Heights Shopping Center, 92 Souder Road, Brunswick
Buckeystown United Methodist Church - Parking Lot, 3440 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick
Concord Mobile Homes Park Community - 4828 Pioneer Circle, Jefferson
Jubilee Foods - Parking Lot at 515 E. Main Street, Emmitsburg
Heather Ridge - School Parking Lot, 1445 Taney Avenue, Frederick
Lucas Village Community Center - 111 Pennsylvania Avenue, Frederick
Max Kehne Ball Field - Parking Lot, 1100 West 7th Street, Frederick
New Market Shopping Center - Parking Lot, PNC Bank Location, 11717 Old National Pike, New Market
Overlook Park, 501 Coralberry Court, off Himes Avenue (across from Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant), Frederick
St. John’s Catholic Prep School, 3989 Buckeystown Pike, Buckeystown
Thurmont Elementary - School Parking Lot, 805 E. Main Street, Thurmont
Walkersville - Discovery Shopping Center Parking Lot (Goodwill Store), 8425 Woodsboro Pike, Walkersville
Whittier Elementary - 2400 Whittier Drive, Frederick
It is possible FCPS may add locations; for the newest information, please visit www.fcps.org/update. For additional information, please call 301-644-5061.
Schoology
We know you have been experiencing outages and performance issues with Schoology, the FCPS Learning Management System (LMS). We know that these types of issues are inconvenient in a time that is already challenging.
We have been in touch with our Schoology partners this week. Please take a minute to read this statement from Schoology: https://www.schoology.com/blog/scaling-schoology-increased-demand
We feel confident they will make the necessary adjustments to meet this unprecedented demand for distance learning. We still believe that Schoology is a critical tool in making distance learning happen for our teachers and students. Of note, the two other major LMS providers have also been experiencing the same performance issues this week as they scale up to meet the increased worldwide demand. You can check on Schoology's status here: https://status.schoology.com/
Our FCPS teachers will be flexible with work deadlines during distance learning and even more so in light of the challenges we are seeing with Schoology. Thank you for exercising patience until Schoology returns to its previous performance levels.
State Testing Canceled
The United States Department of Education has determined that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland will NOT need to administer statewide assessments for the 2019-2020 school year to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act.
The lack of test administration in Maryland will not affect annual accountability determinations, be used to identify schools for support and improvement or to provide data on Maryland's and local report cards for assessment and accountability information for the 2019-20 school year.
This means that for the remainder of the school year FCPS will NOT administer the previously scheduled state assessments for math, language arts, science, social studies, alternative assessments or the climate survey.
Stay Informed
Get FindOutFirst email and emergency closing phone-text messages from Frederick County, Maryland based on the areas of interest you select.
Sign up for Remind 101 (text messaging service). Enter 240-608-6773 in the “to” section and enter @lescom in the “message” section of a text on your phone.
Begin following us on Instagram (LESFCPS) and Twitter (@LESFCPS).
LES Vision Statement
The Lewistown Elementary School Learning Community will strive to promote academic success in order to reach our full potential and strengthen our future. Everyone’s unique qualities will be celebrated and valued, and together we will Learn, Excel, and Succeed!