Chipmunk Chatter
For The Week of February 15 -19
Administrators' Message
Hello Sandymount Families~
The number of students attending in-person hybrid learning is steadily rising. We are averaging between 150-170 students per day in cohorts A and B. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to make you aware of lunch and recess modifications implemented to accommodate the number of students in the building.
With regards to lunch, we have added additional lunch tables to our cafeteria to allow more students to eat in the lunchroom, instead of their classroom. Each lunch table accommodates six students (3 students on each side), while still maintaining social distance. Some classes will have lunch in their classroom to prevent overcrowding in the cafeteria. Due to limited staffing, two classes are combined for lunch in the classroom with a maximum capacity of 15 students. During lunch, all students are permitted to remove their mask to eat and are asked to remain in their assigned seat.
We must have indoor recess if the temperature fall below 32 degrees or if other weather conditions require us to stay indoors. When this occurs, we implement our indoor recess schedule that may entail combining two classes in one classroom. A staff member is assigned to the classroom to supervise and encourage healthy practices, such as washing hands, mask wearing, and social distancing. I provided a few pictures for a look inside our cafeteria and classroom indoor recess.
Lastly, please contact the school if you would like to make any changes to your child’s learning model. If you are requesting a change from virtual to hybrid, we ask for at least one week to prepare for your child’ return to school. This provides teachers and office staff time to update the transportation, class list and seating charts, etc. Thank you in advance to all our families who have been very understanding and supportive of this process.
Have a relaxing 3-day weekend!
Calendar Information
February 15th - Schools/Offices Closed
February 17th - Virtual Students ONLY Picture Day
February 23rd - Hybrid Students Cohort A ONLY Picture Day
February 26th - Hybrid Students Cohort B ONLY Picture Day
March 1st - Kindergarten Registration Packets available for pick-up
March 3rd thru 8th - Kindergarten Registration Week
March 14th - Spring Forward Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 20th - First Day of Spring
March 25th - Maryland Day
Kindergarten Registration 2021-2022
Below is the procedure Sandymount will use for Kindergarten Registration. Packets will be distributed beginning the week of 3/1/21. Packets will be placed in a blue bin in front of the school entrance each day between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
PLEASE no pickups before 10:00 AM or between 3:30-4:30 PM due to arrival/dismissal.
Registration Process for the Upcoming
2021-2022 School Year
- Packet Pick-Up (Please read all instructions & procedures)
- Gather all necessary documentation & complete paperwork at home (Information on accepted documents is contained in the kindergarten letter included in this packet)
- Once all paperwork has been filled out & you have gathered the necessary documents, call the school office at 410-751-3215 to set up an enrollment appointment during Kindergarten Registration Week, 3/8-3/12.
In an effort to keep visitors & staff as safe as possible, we ask that only one parent/guardian attends the enrollment appointment. Please remember to wear a mask at all times while on school grounds. For your protection, it is recommended that you bring your own pen to sign the back of the enrollment form. Please be sure to bring your valid photo ID as well. Appointments are given between the hours of 10am-3pm
Detailed kindergarten enrollment information will also be shared on our school website.
Dismissal Changes
NEW INFORMATION for 20-21: The office/school can no longer accept emails for any dismissal change, unless it is due to a true emergency. All notes with regards to students being released from school must be handwritten & signed by the registered parent/legal guardian. Handwritten notes must be sent to school with your child informing us that he/she will be leaving early or will have a dismissal change for that day. If you have a true emergency and need to change your child’s dismissal, please call the school office. Otherwise, all students will be dismissed their normal way. Full day absences can still be e-mailed to sesattendance@carrollk12.org.
Virtual Students ONLY Picture Day
Say Cheese – it’s picture time for all of our 100% VIRTUAL students!
Please use the link below to sign up for a time for your child to get their photo taken:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904094DA8AB2AABF49-fall
100% Virtual student pictures will be taking place Wednesday February 17th from 4-6:45pm at Sandymount Elementary. The photographers would like to schedule 12-15 virtual students every 15 minutes. It's important for all students to try and have their picture taken on their specific date so that their picture can be in the yearbook. All students are assigned their specific days and times to accommodate all classmates whether virtual or hybrid. Please refrain from sending your child on a day other than the one they are assigned, as they will not be able to get their picture taken.
To order picture packages you may go online mylifetouch.com, using picture day ID EVTRCZKR9 or you may have your student bring the flier you will receive in this email as an attachment along with payment to hand to the photographer at the time of pictures. Checks should be made out to Lifetouch. Fliers will be sent to school for distribution to hybrid students in the near future.
Picture Day Flyer Virtual - English.pdf
Picture Day Flyer Virtual - Spanish.pdf
Hybrid Students ONLY Picture Day
Say Cheese – it’s picture time for all of our Hybrid students here at Sandymount!
To order picture packages you may go online mylifetouch.com, using picture day ID - EVTRCZKR9 or you may have your student bring the flier you will receive in this email as an attachment along with payment to hand to the photographer in school at the time of pictures that will be taken during the regular school day. Checks should be made out to Lifetouch and given directly to the photographer.
Fliers should be sent to school for distribution to hybrid students in the near future.
Cohort A Students – Tuesday February 23rd
Cohort B Students – Friday February 26th
Picture Day Flyer Hybrid - English.pdf
Picture Day Flyer Hybrid - Spanish.pdf
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Board of Education of Carroll County does not engage in discrimination that is unlawful or contrary to Maryland State Department of Education guidance on the basis of age, color, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, ancestry or national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
The Board of Education of Carroll County is firmly committed to creating equal employment and educational opportunities for all persons by providing an environment that supports optimal academic achievement and productive work and is free from any form of unlawful discrimination, including access to school facilities, educational programs, and extra-curricular activities.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of Human Resources, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 751-3070.
ADA ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or the provision of services, programs or activities. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communication should contact the Communications Office at 410-751-3020 or publicinfo@carrollk12.org, or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, may use Relay or 7-1-1. Please contact the school system at least one (1) week in advance of the date the special accommodation is needed.
Sandymount Elementary
2222 Old Westminster Pike
Finksburg, MD 21048
Phone: 410-751-3215 Fax: 410-751-3925
Office Hours 8:00-4:00
Internet Address: www.carrollk12.org/SES
Attendance Email Only: SESattendance@carrollk12.org