Seabrook ES - Newsletter
Principal Clareta Spinks
About Seabrook
Email: clareta.spinks@pgcps.org
Website: https://www.pgcps.org/seabrook/
Location: 6001 Seabrook Road, Lanham, MD, USA
Phone: 301-918-8542
Twitter: @SESDolphins
Welcome Back to School Principal's Letter
Greetings Seabrook Family,
Seabrook Elementary Vision: We will foster a positive school climate by promoting academic growth, providing a safe and supportive environment, and building effective home-school partnerships to ensure that all students will be college and career ready. As a staff we work hard to fulfill this vision each day.
Welcome to Seabrook:
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year. I continue to hope that
everyone is remaining safe as we conquer the health challenges that the Coronavirus Pandemic has put upon us. We are ready for our students to return back to school but unfortunately, it will not be in the physical school building. We know for health reasons and the well being of our students, staff and parents that our Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Monica Goldson, made the necessary decision for Prince George’s County Public School to participate in full distance learning for all students during the first semester of this school year (August 31, 2020 – January 29, 2021). Plans will continue to be made for the preparation of in-school instruction once it is deemed safe to do so. Seabrook Elementary will operate during our regularly scheduled hours, from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm, in an online format. How the school system will move forward for the second semester will be reassessed starting on December 1, 2020. If it is safe to return to school on February 1, 2021, parents/guardians will be offered two options for learning during the second semester.
- Hybrid – a choice of two-day face-to-face instruction and three-day virtual learning sessions weekly; or
- Distance Learning – a choice to continue participating in a fully virtual model of instruction where students will participate in distance learning from home daily. The two-day rotation hybrid model allows for a 50% split by last names: A-J, K-Z.
If this is your child’s first year at Seabrook Elementary, we welcome you to the Seabrook Dolphin family. Seabrook continues to be a High Performing school in Lanham. I continue to stand firm on my educational philosophy that all students can learn and deserve to receive a quality education. Everyday I work hard to ensure that effective teaching occurs in each classroom for every student. Now, it will be that effective teaching is occurring in each Google classroom. I am also confident that Seabrook will continue along its successful path as we move into this new way of teaching through the full use of technology. Everything is progressing smoothly to provide a great virtual online opening of school on Monday, August 31, 2020. All students should be prepared to be on line through iPads, chromebooks or home computers by 9 am. I recommend that students attempt to log on to the designated computer platform a few minutes earlier to ensure access and that they are ready when their teacher begins instruction.
Staffing
We will have two classes on each grade level from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade except in 2nd grade where we will have 3 classes in an effort to reduce class size. Our two Pre-Kindergarten classes will continue to be a full day program. Additionally, we have regained the funding to purchase our Parent Engagement Assistant to support our parents, provide resources, and facilitate parent workshops. Mr. Riggins will be returning to Seabrook Elementary and is willing to assist you in any way possible. This year we will have a Data Coach, (2) ESOL Resource Teachers, (2) Special Education Resource Teachers and a Math Resource Teacher to support students. Seabrook will continue to receive Title 1 funding to support our instructional program and we are glad that Ms. McKoy will be returning to provide that assistance. Our Professional School Counselor, Ms. Paek will be returning to support the entire Seabrook Community.
Classroom Teachers for the 2020-2021 School Year:
Pre-K: Roxana Bautista & Ayana Mackall
Kindergarten: Juliann Ferguson & Maria Luisa Marin
1st Grade: Jacquelyn Lee & Stephanie Zacarias
2nd Grade: Shiryl Maglangit, Ricazel Ronduen & Pamela Smith
3rd Grade: Neinhadiyatou Barry & Toxan Tanner
4th Grade: Georgianna Teel & Tamyra Walker
5th Grade: Rachel Jones & Britney Reavis
I am privileged to have the opportunity to return this school year as your Principal and I feel honored to work with our highly qualified and dedicated staff, our wonderful students, and all of the supportive parents. Mrs. Jamila McIntyre will be supporting us again this year in the Assistant Principal capacity. We are glad to have her on board. The elementary years are critical times of children development and I look forward to working with all of you to make this school year successful. As I have shared in the past, we cannot do this important work alone. Together, the home and school bond can make a tremendous impact on our students’ academic performance. We are indeed partners. Please let us know whatever way, you would like to be involved in the school and we will make it possible.
Distribution of Computer Devices and Instructional Materials- Week of August 25th-August 27th
The school system plans to provide iPads for Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten students. Chromebooks will be provided for our 1st through 5th Graders. There will be designated days and times scheduled for the distribution of instructional materials and Chromebook devices/iPads. We hope everything will be distributed before school begins. Nationwide there has been a high demand for electronic devices and as a result there is a delay in some shipments to PGCPS. Currently, we have enough Chromebooks but are awaiting the shipment of IPADS. Students who previously received a Chromebook should continue to use them. Students who are in need of a device will have one assigned to them.
We will be using numerous computer software programs to support our instructional programs this school year. Ex: Dream box (Math K-5), Study Island (Math, Reading & Social Studies Gr 3-5, Science Grade 5 only), iRead (Reading Grades k-2), IReady (Reading Grades 3-5), My ZB Portal (Writing K-5), Literacy Pro (Library K-5)
County School Supply list for all PGCPS
Grades K-2
Scissors
Pencils with erasers
Pencil Sharpener
Ruler
Glue Bottle or Glue Stick
Colored Pencils and/or crayons
Water Based Markers
3 Ring Binder (to be shared for all classes)
Loose Leaf Lined Paper
Composition Books or Spiral Notebooks
3-Hole Pocket Folder
Highlighters
Post it Notes or Index Cards
Grade 3-5
Scissors
Pencils with erasers
Pencil Sharpener
Ruler
Glue Bottle or Glue Stick
Colored Pencils and/or crayons
Water Based Markers
3 Ring Binder (to be shared for all classes)
Loose Leaf Lined Paper
Composition Books or Spiral Notebooks
3-Hole Pocket Folder
Highlighters
Post it Notes
Index Cards
Pens
Mock/Orientation Day
On Friday, August 28, 2020 we will be conducting an on-line Mock/Orientation for students in all grade levels. This will be an opportunity for you and your child to go online and meet your child’s teacher, connect to the Google classroom in a trial practice for the first day of school. This event will take place at 9:00 am. There will be more information to come.
Important Dates to Remember:
August 28- Mock/Orientation 9:00 AM
August 31- First Day of School (Virtually) 9:00 AM
September 24- Virtual Back 2 School Night 6:00 PM
School Meals During Distance Learning
Food services will operate under the National School Lunch and Breakfast program. Students not eligible for free and reduced-priced meals will have to pay for lunch. All students will be able to receive free breakfast. Food and Nutrition Services strongly encourages cashless transactions and encourages all households to deposit funds into their student account.
• Parents will receive communication (via Robocall or on website) regarding the online
application process.
• All applications for Free & Reduced lunch will be completed online.
Seabrook will be a meal distribution site where breakfast and lunch will be offered. Meals will be pre-packaged and distributed on Mondays and Thursdays. If your student is picking up their meal at a school other than Seabrook, they must provide their name, PIN#, and enrolled school.
Students who were eligible for Free or Reduced Meal Plans during the 2019-2020 school year will be eligible for the same plan through September 30th. Please note that if it is established before October 1st that you no longer qualify, you will be responsible for paying for your child’s lunch at that time. In order to continue on the meal plan after this date, a new application must be completed on line and submitted for approval. The students’ lunch status will be determined once the application is processed. Student lunch Pin #’s are listed on the front label attached to the hard copy letter only that will be provided to parents when they pick up their students’ items at the school during distribution days.
Appropriate Dress During Distance Learning
Seabrook Elementary School has a MANDATORY uniform policy. Many studies have shown that schools where students are in uniform have significantly fewer discipline problems and student referrals. Although we are not requesting students to be in uniform, we are asking them to be fully dressed with clothes they can wear outside in public and no pajamas. No tee shirts with inappropriate slogans are to be worn. Clothing like these distract students from focusing their attention during instruction. Students must adhere to the system-wide dress code that requires students to dress appropriately. Further details can be found in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in making certain that your child is dressed appropriately for learning. When a decision is made concerning the reopening of schools, then we will determine the feasibility of continuing the school year with or without a uniform as it may be difficult to acquire school uniform attire mid- year.
Student Log-in Information
Teachers will provide students with their username and passwords to access all instructional software. The teachers will also provide Google Classroom Passwords to each student prior to Mock/Orientation Day on August 28, 2020.
Safe Internet Use
It is important that students use their technology devices for instruction purposes only.
While students are learning online, we want to continue to protect them by encouraging a safe and secure learning environment. It is also important to make sure that students are making choices that align with the expectations and policies included in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Hapara, similar to Go Guardian for Teachers, is a classroom management solution that allows teachers to send documents, communicate and monitor students’ online activity. Parents will be contacted for their support if it is brought to the administration’s attention that students are accessing sites other than the teaching ones intended for student use.
Student Attendance
Teachers will take attendance at the beginning of each day in SchoolMAX. Attendance will be reviewed again after lunch to ensure students return virtually and are accounted for. In the event a student does not return for the afternoon, the student will be recorded as attending school for a 1⁄2 day and contact made to the home to ensure the student is safe. If your child is absent, please provide the teacher an absence note. If your child is absent for 3 consecutive days, a doctor’s note is required.
Early Dismissal
Distance learning is real school. All students leaving the distance learning experience before the school day ends falls in the category of early dismissal. Being dismissed early from school often will affect a student’s attendance. Early dismissal is anytime a student leaves the learning experience before 3:10 pm. Following these guidelines will help us to reduce classroom disruptions during instructional times.
Our “Early Dismissal” procedures are only in place for students who have doctor/dental appointments or family emergencies, which prevent the student from completing the entire school day with us virtually. Instruction is ongoing from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm. We don’t want your student to miss any vital information. Please keep this in mind when scheduling appointments. Your student’s education is always our top priority.
Grades/Progress Reports & Report Cards
Students will receive letter or numerical grades on specific assignments according to the grading policy.Teachers may collect student work via a variety of resources. It is important that students turn in all their assignments in order to be successful in each subject area. Teachers will collect a minimum of two grades per week for elementary depending on the number of meetings/periods that occurred that week.
During the 2020-2021 school year, progress report grades and report card grades will be available in SchoolMAX after every marking period. Students will be able to log into SchoolMAX to view their grades at any time throughout the school year. Parents can also receive an account to access their child's grades on the SchoolMAX family portal. Report cards will be printed and mailed home to all families at the end of 2nd quarter and 4th quarter.
SchoolMAX Family Portal
As you are aware, the school system implemented the SchoolMAX Family Portal. This system provides a method for families to access their children’s attendance, grades, family information, and discipline incidences twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Please make sure that you take advantage of this system that will allow you to constantly monitor your children’s progress in school. If you have not received your unique access key for the Family Portal, please email any of the following staff members for assistance: Mr. Jose Riggins, Parent Engagement Assistance, Ms. Lara Paek, Professional School Counselor and Ms. Noel Bullock, Registrar. The SchoolMAX system is now open to parents for this school year. You may edit and update your phone numbers and home address information if needed. We encourage all parents to ensure their contact information in SchoolMAX is correct. If the data is incorrect in the system, you will not receive the necessary updates or be able to access student passwords for the upcoming school year. Please be aware that if changes are made in SchoolMAX,
parents will have to provide proof/evidence of residency through the PGCPS online registration
process. We look forward to providing weekly updates for the upcoming school year in order to keep everyone informed.
Cell Phones / Electronics/Toys
Although we will be participating in Distance Learning and our students will have access to their
belongings that they have at home, we are requesting that students do not bring out or use their
cell phones during instruction/Distance Learning time. Cell phones must be turned off and put away during the Distance Learning school day. Cell phones are not to be used for any reason during this time.All other electronics and game systems are not permitted out during instruction/Distance Learning time. We are requesting that no toys be brought out during Distance Learning time as well.
Communication with Parents
While we encourage parents to talk with teachers about their children’s progress throughout the school year, teachers cannot be interrupted during the virtual instructional day. If you need to speak with your children’s teacher(s) please email them and they will call you at their first available moment to talk, within 48 hours. If you are unable to reach the teacher within the 48 hours or it is an emergency, call the school and the secretary will take a message and have the teacher call you back at his/her earliest
convenience.
Visitors to the School Building
Per Prince George’s County Public Schools Safety Policy, all visitors must present a photo identification to enter the school building. Identification cards will be scanned through the school’s security system and upon successful clearance, a visitor’s pass will be issued. Prince George’s County is requiring that all visitors must be scanned through the security system to ensure safety throughout the school year. Due to COVID-19 the following measures are also being taken for all visitors entering our school building:
• Call the school and make an appointment to ensure that staff are in the building and can provide the assistance you need the day you plan to come see us.
• If you are not feeling well, we ask that you not enter the school building and visit us another
day. Contact your health care provider and get the support you need right away.
• For safety reasons all visitors and employees must wear a mask at all times.
• Please practice social distancing by maintaining 6 feet or more distance from others.
• Avoid shaking hands
• Cover your Cough or Sneeze
As I have shared in the past, we cannot do this important work alone. Together, the home and school bond can make a tremendous impact on our students’ academic performance. We are indeed partners. Please let us know whatever way, you would like to be involved in the school and we will make it possible. Here are just a few ways out of many that you can assist us:
- Continue to support your child at home with schoolwork and projects
- Access the SchoolMAX System for current grades, check student attendance and behavior status
- Support our Parent group
- Make a request for a parent conference to be aware of how your child in doing with distance learning.
- Share your career at our Virtual Career Day
- If you have any concerns please do not hesitate to seek our staff assistance. In most cases there is a reasonable explanation for any circumstance.
- Your partnership will make all the difference in our success this school year! Please call the school and speak to our Parent Engagement Assistant or Administrators for specific ways you can help us.
I look forward to working with you and your child throughout this new school year to provide a rigorous curriculum and a safe learning environment that supports student achievement. See you soon in person or virtually.
Your Partner,
Clareta Spinks