The TIGER Times
Together We Will Learn, Excel, and Succeed
October 2nd Edition
A common question we are asked is "Why does my child have a different schedule each week?". As students complete asynchronous assignments, exit tickets, LEXIA and meet with teachers, you will find that your child's schedule may adjust slightly each week. Meeting in small groups or 1 on 1 opportunities can have enormous benefits, even in a virtual environment!
- Differentiated learning: Children come to the classroom with different strengths, interests, experiences, and needs. Small group learning allows teachers to meet children where they are, introducing ideas and activities that are just the right level of challenging for each child.
- Open-ended conversations: Small group learning provides opportunities for children to ask many different questions and for you to answer or help children find answers. Back and forth conversations are much easier to foster in small groups, and they allow you to ask questions based on individual children’s imaginations and understandings.
Our Lewistown teachers are working hard to engage young learners in a variety of ways. . Please reach out to your classroom teachers if you have any questions regarding weekly schedules!
Together in heart and mind,
Belinda Fockler, Principal
LEXIA UPDATES, from Ms. Lawson, LES Literacy Specialist
News from our Ms. Bo, School Counselor
Counselor News: October 2, 2020
Hello LES Families! I wanted to share a few things that may be helpful to you and your family. If you are in need of food items for your child, check out the Blessings in a Backpack information below. Also, if you feel like your child is having trouble with organization and a proper work space, click on the links to help:
Every Friday Until Further Notice
Blessings in a Backpack will distribute kid-friendly, non-perishable food to ALL children 18 years and younger.
Parents & guardians may pick-up for their children.
Special Notes
Please bring a bag…wear your mask…social distance…
contact schools for information
Time: Fridays from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Lewistown Elementary
Contact: stacy.bokinsky@fcps.org, school counselor
If you would like to take advantage of this wonderful program, please contact my email so that I have enough food on hand. Thank you!
FCPS Updates Interims and Report Cards
We continue to be so proud of our students and staff members who have been working so hard!
Here's some important information to keep you informed:
Interims
The term 1 interim date is right around the corner, Friday, October 2. FCPS will email or mail interim grades to parents/guardians of students who are earning a D or F on the date that teachers finalize their interim grades. Each teacher will notify students and parents via email or send a notification through Schoology asking parents to review their child's interim grade at some point between Friday, October 2 and the interim distribution date of Friday, October 9.
Report Cards
Term 1 ends on Friday, November 6. FCPS will mail report cards on the term 1 distribution date, Thursday, November 19.
Parent Schoology Information
If you are not signed up to access your child's information in Schoology, please contact your child's teacher for directions.
For more information and helpful tips about using Schoology, please visit www.fcps.org/schoology.
A helpful way for parents to monitor your child's progress is signing up to receive a daily email with your child's grades, missing work, upcoming assignments, and announcements. Click one of these two links for directions regarding how to set up your Schoology account to receive the daily email.
Video: Looking Up Grades - Email DigestWritten Instructions: Email Digest Settings
Always reach out to your child's teacher, school counselor, or administrator with questions.
Conferences - Signup Genius!
Evening conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Virtual learning begins 4 hours later than usual Evening conferences will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2020 ● Virtual learning begins 4 hours later than usual Afternoon conferences will be held on Friday, October 23, 2020 ● The end of the virtual day will be 3-½ hours earlier than usual
FCPS Martin Luther King, JR. Celebration Artwork Needed!
Dear Families,
This year, the 31st annual FCPS Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration will be going virtual! As a part of the event, the Elementary Visual and Performing Arts Office would like to feature one artwork from each elementary school that demonstrates this year’s theme: “‘Only in the Darkness Can You See the Stars’: Courage to Be The Light.” Your student's art teacher has been asked to provide information regarding this optional opportunity for student artists to submit work.
Your child may create an artwork with any selected 2D or 3D medium as long as the work exemplifies the theme “‘Only in the Darkness Can You See the Stars’: Courage to Be The Light.” Artwork must be photographed and submitted to the student’s visual art teacher by Friday, November 13, 2020. Your school's visual art teacher(s) will select the final artwork for submission to the Visual and Performing Arts Office.
Selected artworks will be incorporated into a slideshow that will be featured during this year's virtual celebration, and will not contain information that identifies students other than a first name, last initial, and school. If you have questions regarding this opportunity, you are welcome to email Susan Thomas at the email address listed above. Thank you for your continued support of the Visual and Performing Arts Program at Frederick County Public Schools.
Yours in Education,
Susan Thomas
Kimberly Hirschmann
From Ms. Hyde, LES Art Teacher:
You can submit your artwork here: Submit Here
Lewistown Serves School Breakfast and Lunch
The FCPS School Breakfast and Lunch
Meals will be provided to students from 11am-1pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using the following schedule:
Mondays – “To-go” breakfasts and lunches will be provided for Monday and Tuesday
Wednesdays – “To-go” breakfasts and lunches will be provided for Wednesday and Thursday
Fridays – “To-go” breakfasts and lunches will be provided for Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Children do not have to be present.
- A parent, guardian or other designated person can pick up food for children.
- Parents/Guardians or children will enter the school cafeteria and pick up their food in the kitchen serving line.
- Masks must be worn by all children and adults entering the cafeteria, and family groups must stay 6 feet apart from other family groups.
- The food server will do all of the food handling. All food will be compartmentalized or individually wrapped.
Important Dates
Wednesday, October 21, Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23:
Parent/Teacher Conferences
LES Evening and Weekend Learning Lab Hours
October 5 - October 10
Evening: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 5:00 - 6:00, 7:00 - 8:00
Weekend: Saturday 10:00 - 12:00, 1:00 - 3:00
To access support please...
- log into a device using your child's FCPS account username and password
- open your web browser
- go to https://meet.google.com/
- click the green "join or start a meet" button
Join: Meet.google.com
Code: LEWES-Lab
Helping Your Child Regulate Emotions- Tips from Ms. Mackay, Special Education Coordinator
YOU FIRST- Regulation can’t be taught, it must be experienced through the presence of a well-regulated adult. It’s a brain-to-brain thing.
- Soft eyes, relaxed facial muscles
- Calm voice
- Calm breathing
How will your student/ child brains and bodies know you are regulated and begin to mirror that? We are wired to read facial muscles, particularly around the eyes, for cues of safety. If your lips are smiling but your eyes are hard, you are interpreted as a tiger ready to pounce. If your eyes are soft, it’s almost impossible to have an angry sounding voice.
You First must be calm to help your child experience and become calm.
Monday- Friday School - Learning Lab Hours
Lewistown Learning Lab Hours
If you or your child need to connect with a member of our Learning Lab team this week for assistance with Schoology, assignments or learning tasks, the Lab will be open between the hours of:
Monday- Friday: 8:15 - 8:45 and 2:00 - 3:45 daily.
Wednesday: 8:15 - 11:00, 2:30 - 3:45
To access support please...
- log into a device using your child's FCPS account username and password
- open your web browser
- go to https://meet.google.com/
- click the green "join or start a meet" button
Join: Meet.google.com
Code: LEWES-Lab
Mr. Kraeuter, our User Support Specialist, is also available for assist at Jeremy.Kraeuter@fcps.org.
The Salvation Army has begun their application process for Angel Tree.
You can apply online at www.SAAngelTree.org or in person by scheduling an appointment by calling 301-662-2311. Please see attached flyer for more information.
Required documents Online and In Person:
Applicant
Identification
Proof of Residence
Pay Stub or Proof of Income
Lease/Mortgage
Angel (Child) Ages 0-18....18 Year-olds must be in High School.
Birth Certificate
If no birth certificate, Medicaid card (with birth date, 2020-2021 School ID, or Passport)
Clothing Sizes for Each Child
Shoe
Pant
Shirt
Coat
If interested, please contact The Salvation Army as soon as possible.
LES VISION STATEMENT
Lewistown Elementary School
Ms. Meghan MacKay- Special Education Coordinator
Mrs. Kimberly Little- Secretary
Mrs. Stacy Bokinsky- School Counselor
Email: belinda.fockler@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/les/home
Location: 11119 Hessong Bridge Road Thurmont, MD 21788
Phone: 240-236-3750
Twitter: @TeamLES