Cougar Bulletin
January 30, 2023
January
30-31 - Vision and Hearing Screenings
February
14 - School Spirit Day - Wear Pink or Red
14 - Valentine's Day Parties, afternoon
15 - Two hour early dismissal
20 - School Closed
22 - School Spirit Day - Twin Day
22 - Kindergarten Field Trip to the Bowling Alley
22 - Presentation for Black American History Month for grades 3-5 by LHS students, morning
From Ms Golightly
Be Attitudes Luncheon
On Thursday, February 2, 2023, we will host our first “BE ATTITUDE” luncheon. This is part of our school wide positive behavior support plan where students are “caught” demonstrating the BE ATTITUDES: Be Caring, Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible. One student per class will be nominated by their classroom teacher and will be invited to the luncheon where family members can join them as we recognize and celebrate their positive behaviors. This luncheon will focus on BE CARING.
Contest Winners
The Frederick Literacy Council has announced the winners of the FCPS Young Author's Contest and we have some shining stars here at Kemptown! Congratulations to Avery (5th grade) whose submission called A Story Untold is the first place winner in the short story category. Avery's story will now be judged at the state level! Special shout out to Adelaide (5th grade) whose work called Against The Rock received second place, "honorable mention" in the poem category. We are so proud of Avery, Adelaide and all who submitted their work!
Valentine's Day
Our school will celebrate Valentine's Day on Tuesday, February 14th in the afternoon. Teachers will be sending home information specific to their classes soon. We do encourage exchanging of Valentine's Day cards. If you choose to participate, please have a card for each student. Please refrain from attaching candy to the Valentine's Day cards.
We are implementing a schoolwide positive behavior support plan we are calling the BE ATTITUDES. The goal is to catch students being their best in all areas of the school community, including the bus. Students who demonstrate the Be Attitudes will be awarded with a “Caught Ya”. Half of the “Caught Ya” will go home so you can celebrate with your child, and the other half will remain at school and placed in a bucket for random drawings, rewards, celebrations, etc. We are so excited to recognize the kind and caring acts we see from students each and every day!
KES BE ATTITUDES
Be Caring
Be Safe
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Reminders:
The car rider line needs to keep moving as our families have important things to do. Parents, if you need to get out of the car, please pull into a visitor's parking spot to assist your child. Also, please make sure that your child is entering and exiting out of the passenger side doors for safety.
Please make all changes to dismissal by 3:00 pm each day. Late notices disrupt our afternoon dismissal and may impact your child getting home safely.
Kemptown ES and FCPS have great partnerships with our law enforcement and emergency services providers. You may see a police car on school property. It means that our SRO, School Resource Officer, is assisting in keeping us informed and safe. There is no need to panic, as these helpers are a regular part of our school community.
Please do NOT send glass containers to school. This creates an unsafe environment if the glass shatters.
Please reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or kudos! kathryn.golightly@fcps.org
IMPORTANT - Contact the Office for Attendance and Dismissal Changes
Please email KES.Attendance@fcps.org with any attendance or dismissal changes, including late arrivals or early dismissals, you may have each day.
Using this email address will ensure that all front office staff have access to the information, in case someone is on leave.
KES Important Information
From the Health Room
Please do not send medication with your child to school. This is the parents' responsibility to transport mediciation.
The Health Room is in need of clothes sizes 5-8. Please remember to wash and return any borrowed clothing to the Health Room. Also, it is advised to pack an extra set of clothes to be kept in a backpack for accidents or muddy days.
Vision & Hearing Screenings
Vision and Hearing screenings will be performed at KES on Monday, 1/30 and Tuesday, 1/31 for students in Kindergarten (not previously screening in Pre-K), all 1st graders, and any new students entering the State of Maryland. If your child wears glasses, please make sure they are wearing them on the screening days.
From Food Services
Please make sure that you are sending all utensils and condiments needed for your child to eat a packed lunch. Only students purchasing meals may use the items provided by the cafeteria.
Message about Masking
Everyone will have a choice whether or not to wear a face covering in school. This is an important decision for students and their families to make together. In our classroom and in our school we will have some people who continue to wear face coverings and others who do not. There is no right or wrong decision and we will respect each person’s choice and be kind to one another.
We continue to follow these COVID guidelines - https://www.fcps.org/information
Please notify the school if your child tests positive for COVID.
Bus Transportation Availability
Please check https://apps.fcps.org/transportation/status for bus availability.
Student Early Pick-up from School
When picking your student up early from school, please have your Photo ID with you when you come to the front door. Although we may have come to know many of you, it is important that we consistently check ID for the safety and security of our students.
Toys at School
Please talk with your children about not bringing toys to school. We are seeing an increase in Pokemon cards being brought into school each day. KES staff will not monitor for lost or stolen items. If the toys are a distraction, they will be collected and put in the front office for parent pick-up. Thank you for your assistance.
Attendance
We will be monitoring attendance regularly this school year. If you have questions, please contact Ms Golightly or Dr. Jones. Our goals for the school and individual students are 96% attendance.
At the end of Term II of the 22-23 school year:
KES had an attendance rate of 93.2%.
K had an attendance rate of 90%
1st grade had an attendance rate of 92.5%
2nd grade had an attendance rate of 93.8%
3rd grade had an attendance rate of 92.6%
4th grade had an attendance rate of 94.3%
5th grade had an attendance rate of 95.2%
52 students have perfect attendance, not missing any full days of school.
In Term I of the 22-23 school year:
KES had an attendance rate of 94.2%.
K had an attendance rate of 90.8%
1st grade had an attendance rate of 93%
2nd grade had an attendance rate of 95.3%
3rd grade had an attendance rate of 92.8%
4th grade had an attendance rate of 96.2%
5th grade had an attendance rate of 96.7%
110 students have perfect attendance, not missing any full days of school.
Schoology Help
Cultural Awareness
3rd grade is learning how to weave! Students created a paper plate loom and then used yarn to warp it in order to start the weaving process. Students were successful weaving in a pattern as they created their spiral art!
Yearbook Information
Online Yearbook Ordering Available Until: Friday, March 3, 2023.
To order visit: traditionsschoolphotography.inter-state.com and enter code 75905T
PTA
PTA Membership
Want to get involved and help support Kemptown Elementary? Join the PTA!!
Go to http://kes.ptboard.com and create an account (or sign into an existing account).
Sign up for the PTA online using the school code: B3RB6E
Fill out the form and payment information and you are all set! This will give you access to the online student directory by class, and updates and emails about future PTA events and meetings!!
Community News
Spring i9 Sports Information
https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/upload/0/18775.pdf
Kemptown Elementary School
Email: melissa.gutierrez@fcps.org
Website: https://edu.fcps.org/kes/
Location: 3456 Kemptown Church Road, Monrovia, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-3500