VES Eagle Express Newletter
May 14, 2020 - Volume 13, Issue #36
Veterans Elementary
The building is closed due to the State Superintendent's decision regarding the COVID-19 virus. We can still be reached by contacting our principal at robert_bruce@hcpss.org
Email: robert_bruce@hcpss.org
Website: ves.hcpss.org
Location: 4355 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, MD, USA
Phone: 443-864-6808
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: Information on schedules, last day of school, virtual graduations ->
CONTINUITY OF LEARNING: Information on distance learning schedules, resources, and more
FOOD SERVICE: Detrails on HCPSS' free meal service program for all HCPSS students
DEVICES: Details on technology requirements, requesting student or staff technology, support...
SPECIAL EDUCATION: Overview, timeline, and resources for families receiving special education services
COVID-19: Full information, resources, and HCPSS updates and contact information
From the Principal
It is Mid-May and it has been two months since we abruptly left Veterans Elementary School.
We miss our students very much. Our teachers love the interaction that occurs in virtual learning but it is just not the same. We hope all of our families are healthy and that all of you can persevere during these rough times.
As I have visited virtual check-ins, I have been impressed with our students resiliency. Online learning can be tough and sometimes it has little to do with the instructional material. Eye strain and patience are two particular traits we should monitor in our children. Virtual learning and the usual screen time can lead to physical issues as well, please make sure your child practices good posture, takes eye rest breaks, and has an opportunity to stretch multiple times during the day.
Please remember that when activities or tasks are part of a Social Studies, Science, Health or Related Arts lessons, students must click the link that says the task or activity was completed. If a student does not do this it will affect grading for the fourth quarter.
Schedule for Friday, May 15 - Half Day for Students
This Friday is scheduled as a half day for students. Teachers will be participating in professional activities that afternoon and will be unavailable to students and families. Student assignments are still due by Friday at 10 a.m. All additional instructional activities will conclude by 11:30 a.m.
Enhancements to Distance Learning
At this point, teachers have sent reminders about enhancements to the K-5 check-in schedule beginning May 18, 2020. This message will summarize these enhancements, as many of you are supporting multiple children. Starting on Monday, students in grades K-5 will attend two Google Meet check-ins each week: one morning check-in for Language Arts and content areas and one afternoon check-in for mathematics. The weekly schedule is as follows:
Kindergarten
Mathematics Check-in: Tuesday afternoon
Language Arts/Content Check-in: Thursday morning
Grade 1
Mathematics Check-in: Tuesday afternoon
Language Arts/Content Check-in: Thursday morning
Grade 2
Mathematics Check-in: Wednesday afternoon
Language Arts/Content Check-in: Friday morning
Grade 3
Mathematics Check-in: Wednesday afternoon
Language Arts/Content Check-in: Friday morning
Grade 4
Language Arts/Content Check-in: Wednesday morning
Mathematics Check-in: Thursday afternoon
Grade 5
Language Arts/Content Check-in: Wednesday morning
Mathematics Check-in: Thursday afternoon
Your child’s teacher(s) will share specific times and Google Meet access codes for the check-ins. Students will continue to engage in Dreambox and Lexia Core, as well as lesson activities posted in Canvas for all content areas.
- School Calendar Revisions: The Board has approved changes to the 2019-2020 school system calendar. HCPSS is now scheduled to be open on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, as the elections on this day will take place almost entirely by mail and schools will not be used as polling places.
Important Calendar Dates:
18 - Virtual Student Visit Day: Grades 1 and 2 Students Only (see details below)
19 - Virtual Student Visit Day: Grades 3, 4, & 5 Students Only (see details below)
JUNE
tbd - Last Student School Day
Optional Office Hours for Teachers:
Teachers, including related arts teachers, may elect to offer optional synchronous “office hours.” These are optional opportunities to provide additional support or connection with students. These opportunities are also NOT required for teachers or students. The term “office hours” should be used to distinguish these optional live meetings from the scheduled class check-ins. Office hours are not required for teachers AND cannot be required for students to participate. The purpose of office hours is to make additional connections with students and provide additional support.
Please understand that many teachers juggle heavy responsibilities for their own families’ care and learning while delivering continuity of learning. This means that some teachers may decide that they cannot offer additional office hours. If your child’s teacher decides that he/she will offer “office hours”, they may do this either at the end of a virtual check in or at a time that does not conflict with other instructional groups for their grade level.
Veterans Elementary School Virtual Student Visit Day
Veterans Elementary school is hosting a Virtual Student Visit Day on Monday May 18th and Tuesday May 19th to introduce you to some of our staff members, discuss the many programs and activities available in our school, and share our school spirit with you. Additionally, we look forward to sharing a virtual tour of the school. We held our parent orientation in January. Students should attend the grade they will be attending next school year 2020-2021.
The Google Meet Orientation is meant for students.
Parents, please encourage your child to forward any questions about the school to me by Sunday May 17th at 6:00 pm.
My email contact is robert_bruce@hcpss.org . Please note that times are specific to grade levels.
Para información y apoyo adicionales, por favor, llame al 410-313-1591.
欲知详情或想获得更多支持,请电 410-313-5920.
보다 자세한 문의와 지원을 원하시면, 410-313-1592 로 연락 주시기 바랍니다.
For all other language needs please contact Monica Ranta at 410-313-7102.
REDISTRICTED HOLLIFIELD & WATERLOO STUDENTS COMING TO VES will attend Virtual Visits at Veterans as follows:
Grade One will be on Monday May 18th @ 10:00 am
+1 929-282-1169 PIN: 482 942 097#
Grade Two will be on Monday May 18th @ 2:00 pm
meet.google.com/xhs-ecqk-hjh
Join by phone
+1 318-417-7261 PIN: 919 256 123#
Grade Three will be on Tuesday May 19th @ 11:00 am
meet.google.com/jcv-oopd-qet
Join by phone
+1 585-491-8911 PIN: 738 460 152#
Grade Four will be on Tuesday May 19th @ 11:30 am
meet.google.com/sbd-hjwg-mba
Join by phone
+1 262-546-6188 PIN: 518 277 090#
Grade Five will be on Tuesday May 19th @ 2:00 pm
meet.google.com/rva-wbef-bse
Join by phone
+1 669-220-6551 PIN: 535 509 803#
If your student is not able to make the Virtual Student Visit Day at the scheduled time, the information that is presented will be able to be accessed at the Veterans Elementary web site, https://ves.hcpss.org/ later in the day.
Para información y apoyo adicionales, por favor, llame al 410-313-1591.
欲知详情或想获得更多支持,请电 410-313-5920.
보다 자세한 문의와 지원을 원하시면, 410-313-1592 로 연락 주시기 바랍니다.
For all other language needs please contact Monica Ranta at 410-313-7102.
NORTHFIELD ELEMENTARY will hold Virtual Visits FOR REDISTRICTED STUDENTS
Northfield Elementary School is hosting a Virtual Student Visit Day on May 18 and 19 to introduce you to some of our staff members, discuss the many programs and activities available in our school, and share our school spirit with you. Please note that the grade level meeting are for the grade your child will be entering next year. Students will have to sign in using their HCPSS credentials.
Google Meet links for our Student Visit Days:
May 18
Rising Grade 1 @ 1:00 NESwelcomesVES-gr1-may18
Rising Grade 2 @ 2:00 NESwelcomesVES-gr2-may18
May 19
Rising Grade 3 @ 12:30 NESwelcomesVES-gr3-may19
Rising Grade 4 @ 1:30 NESwelcomesVES-gr4-may19
Rising Grade 5 @ 2:00 NESwelcomesVES-gr5-may19
May is Mental Health Awareness month
Hello VES families!
May is Mental Health Awareness month! Please consider joining us in completing the
A Message from the Student Services Team
Hello VES! If you haven't already seen it, please check out our video on coping with uncomfortable feelings. You can check out the video through your School Counselor's canvas page and find the video titled 'Make a Coping Jar'.
Also, a reminder that May is Mental Health Awareness month! Please consider joining us in completing the VES 31 Day Mental Health Awareness Challenge. We would love to hear how you are doing with the challenge!!
VES School Counselors are available for virtual student check-ins by appointment daily from 9:30am - 11:30am and from 12:00pm - 1:00pm. Please email us at the addresses below to request an appointment with us.
Julie Wentz (Grades 1, 2, 3, & 5) - julie_wentz@hcpss.org
Jessica Wilson (Grades K & 4) - jessica_wilson@hcpss.org
Tabitha Brown (Counseling Intern) - tabitha_brown_intern@hcpss.org
* Please note that Mrs. Wentz will be joining Ms. Brown’s chats.
School Psychologists are also available during the times listed below:
Ms. Moniodis (School Psychologist RECC and I&T): Monday - Friday 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Ms. Boyars (School Psychologist Intern RECC): Monday - Friday 1:00pm- 2:00pm
Dr. Burkhouse (School Psychologist K-5) and Ms. Gosnell (School Psychologist Intern K-5): Monday - Friday 1:00pm - 2:00pm for staff, student, and parent appointments.
HCPSS Counseling Services for Students, Families, and Staff
The COVID-19 pandemic has made this an especially stressful time for many, especially those already impacted by mental health concerns. Find information about local and online resources for counseling and mental health supports for you and your family on our website.
Placement for 2020-2021
The staff will begin classroom placement discussions for next school year. It is possible that staff may decide to maintain classroom placements for next year. It is also possible staff may decide to make some adjustments. If you have anything you would like considered in the placement of your child for next school year, please send that information to Mr. Bruce in an email no later than May 30, 2020. We will make every attempt to honor your request but please understand that this may not be possible. Placements are considered based on many factors including but not limited to; benchmark reading level, writing level, social considerations, and special needs among others. Remember, if there is anything you would like us to consider, please send this consideration to Mr. Bruce no later than May 30, 2020.
Retention and Acceleration:
Again, if you wish to request a meeting to discuss the retention or acceleration of your child, please send Mr. Bruce a letter by Friday May 15th.
Reminders
- Attendance: Teachers at all levels will document student attendance during Continuity of Learning using a point system based on student participation in learning activities each week. More information, including specific indicators that will be used for each level is provided online.
- New Continuity of Learning Website and Help Function: The HCPSS Continuity of Learning website has been restructured to provide an even more user-friendly and easily navigated information resource, including pages with schedules and information dedicated to high school seniors and students at each level. The new HCPSS Help site is grouped by subject to allow quicker and easier navigation, and includes a convenient new keyword search function, making it easier to quickly find answers to their most frequently-asked questions.
Google Classroom Sessions
We are excited about beginning Google Check In sessions. Please make sure your child signs into their sessions through their teacher's Canvas page. Teachers have been advised not to allow anyone to enter the Check In Session from a private email address, this is for everyone's safety and security. My expectation is that students will be on their best behavior during screen time with their classmates and teacher(s). Please be advised that if any student does anything inappropriate during a class session, then the teacher may eliminate the student from instruction. Further violations will result in a phone call to parents from an administrator.
We are hopeful that everyone will take advantage of this learning time.
worth repeating...
Grading for 4th Quarter:
The last grading period began on Monday April 27, 2020. Teachers are encouraging student participation in virtual learning. The elementary grading guidelines for the fourth quarter are listed below:
Language Arts and Mathematics
For mathematics, students will be graded as P for passing if they complete 263 minutes of Dreambox in Quarter 4. For language arts, students will be graded as “P” for passing if they complete 263 minutes of Lexia Core 5 in Quarter 4. This is 50% of 75 minutes of Dreambox or Lexia for the weeks of April 27th - June 8th (7 weeks). Seventy-five minutes was selected as the marker for Pass because it reflects the messages shared about students working 15 minutes per day. Teachers should indicate Pass or Incomplete based on the cumulative number of minutes for the quarter. Teachers will still review LexiaCore or Dreambox to monitor student progress.
Science, Social Studies, and Health
Related Arts
Summary
If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please contact Mr. Bruce.
Order a SY2019-2020 Veterans Yearbook!
Place your order by going to the following link:
https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1015071348503280
This will get you to the Veterans Elementary account page. You will need to create an account if you do not already have one, but it opens to the page where you can login with an existing account or sign up.Then feel free to order your yearbook.
2020-21 School Enrollment
Registration of all new students for next school year Grades PK - Grade 5, should be started online. Please use the following link:
School Supplies
Limited quantities of pens, pencils and notebooks will be available at the Hammond, Long Reach and Oakland Mills high school Technology Distribution sites, which students/families may pick up if supplies are needed for continuity of learning at home. Prepare for Success has donated its inventory of school supplies, which will soon be available at meal distribution sites. Please stay tuned as we gather this inventory this week and prepare for a wider distribution beginning next week.
community news
COMCAST Internet
2020 Census
Several HCPSS programs rely on funding based on accurate census information. For this and several other reasons, all families are encouraged to participate in the 2020 census, which may be completed online. Learn more.
Meals & Nutrition Assistance Program
- The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) recently expanded its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is possible that families may qualify now for SNAP benefits, based on the economic downturn due to COVID-19. Visit the DHS website to learn more. All children in households already receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.
- All Maryland students who qualify for FARMs are eligible for the new P-EBT program, or Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer, which provides benefits on a debit-style EBT card to help families with children purchase healthy food during the school closure. Families can apply for the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMs) program until June 1, 2020. Visit the HCPSS web site to learn more about the opportunities and how to apply.
Message from the Media Center
Do you have VES Media Books that are currently checked out that are with you at home?
Please take good care of the books and return them to VES as soon as school reopens.
Thank You!
Howard County Library Resources
- Created While Isolated: Students ages 13 and up and adults are invited to share photographs, art, music, creative writing, and personal stories from this unprecedented time in acollaborative creativity journal.
- TumbleMath is a fun and engaging way to learn math concepts through stories. Students can access this and many other learning resources with their A+ student accounts throughhcpss.me by selecting HC Library.