The TIGER Times
Together We Will Learn, Excel, and Succeed
November 20 Edition- Thanksgiving Edition!
Principal's Message
November is the perfect time to reflect and to practice thankfulness and gratitude. As I reflect on the many things for which I am thankful, I want to take this opportunity to share just a few of them with you:
- I am thankful for our students who come to school every day ready to learn virtually – they give us all a daily reminder of what is important and why we are here,
- I am thankful for the support of the parents and families in creating an outstanding partnership for our students,
- I am thankful for the teachers, custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, nurses, support staff, therapists and counselors who really care about student achievement, social emotional development, engagement in learning and have the best interests of our students at heart.
In these most difficult and challenging times, I see dedicated and tireless individuals going above and beyond to make sure that great things happen in our school. They do make a difference, and the children, in their own individual ways, benefit from those efforts.
Most importantly, I know all of us here at Lewistown are thankful for the families and parents that have kept the faith in us. They continue to share their most valuable possession with us, working hard and advocating to be a partner in their children’s education, safety and well-being. For this, we are ever so thankful.
I would like to wish all of you and your families a happy, healthy and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday!
Yours in education,
Belinda Fockler
Principal
Spreading Gratitude and Thankfulness to others in the Lewistown Community!
Thankfulness Challenge 11/13 - 11/24.
We challenge our Lewistown Community to post on Twitter and/or Schoology homeroom pages what they are thankful for during this season of giving! Take a look at the resources below to encourage gratitude and thankfulness!
Twitter: @LESFCPS
Katie is Lewistown's 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Award Recipient
We are proud to announce that Katie is Lewistown's 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Award Recipient. Katie recently stopped by school to receive her award and medal. She will be recognized alongside nominees from all other schools in a special virtual celebration. Katie represents and demonstrates the leadership characteristics of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that promotes fairness, celebrates diversity, builds a better future for all and exemplifies the Pillars of Character Counts: Responsibility, Caring, Fairness, Trustworthiness, Citizenship and Respect.
Mrs. Gwinn, Katie's teacher, shared the following:
Katie is a leader in our virtual classroom. She always has a positive attitude, a smile on her face, and she participates in class discussions consistently, sharing insightful ideas. During our PATHS lessons, she suggests solutions to problems between peers that involve fairness and giving everyone a turn, while also preventing anger or bullying. She explains how to deescalate situations and think ahead to predict the effects of one’s actions. She gives her peers compliments that are heartfelt, and she genuinely appreciates everyone in the class. Her kindness and love of learning is felt by all.
LES Kindness Kids for November
LES Kind Kids for the week of November 16 - November 20
We have started a virtual Kindness Board here at LES. It is such a pleasure to see all of the kind students that are being nominated for showing kindness to others. Each month students will be recognized on morning announcements if they are nominated, so be sure to tune in!
Jaylen- Mrs. Carbaugh
Ella - Ms. Skowronski
Nicholas - Mr. Cutsail
Peyton - Ms. Jozwiak
Katherine - Mrs. Gwinn
Harper - Mrs. Hood
Congratulations Lewistown Tigers! We are proud of you!
Quarter 1: Report Cards Mailed Thursday, November 19th
As a reminder, you can check your child's grades in Schoology at any time. Visit the FCPS Schoology Homepage for helpful videos on how to review grades and other features of the learning management system.
Please allow time for report cards to be delivered to your home and contact your child's teacher with any questions.
How do I view my child's grades?
Need help monitoring your child's assignment submissions and grades in Schoology?
Ms. Jozwiak, our Schoology Ambassador, will go though step-by-step how to view your students grades, feedback, and ungraded assignments. Feel free to bring any Schoology related questions!
Who? Lewistown Parents and/or family members
What? Schoology grade-book training
When? Thursday, December 3rd 5:00
Where? Google Meet: 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
Thank you for supporting American Education Week! From Ms. Lawson, Literacy Specialist:
So many smiles, so much energy .... so much time spent logged into LEXIA! Every minute counts!
For those who dressed in costumes, brought their favorite book to morning meeting, came to school to see teachers dressed in costumes, and logged into Lexia, giving it their all....thank you!
Your spirit and enthusiasm for education is so appreciated!
Lexia is our most powerful resource - it personalizes learning, provides "just right" instruction, it provides teachers with valuable information that guides teaching points. Please ensure your child is signing in to Lexia at least three times per week!
Updates: LES LEXIA CHALLENGE WINNERS
FCPS Hybrid Learning Model Begins January 28, 2021
The Board of Education (BOE) voted for FCPS to implement the hybrid learning model for students in grades PK-12 beginning on Thursday, January 28, 2021. All teachers and instructional staff will report back to work in school buildings on Wednesday, January 13th to facilitate the transition to the hybrid model.
Parents will continue to have the option to keep their children enrolled in the virtual learning model. FCPS will send communications to determine parents' choices. We are also reviewing survey results from the fall and making phone calls to those families who didn't respond. We are in the early planning stages now!
Decisions to modify implementation of the hybrid model or small group instruction will be determined by the Superintendent in collaboration with the FC Health Department, based on a review of the metrics provided by the MD Department of Health.
Be sure to stay tuned to www.fcps.org, your Lewistown FOF and TIGER Times for updates!
Thanksgiving Break Meal Services
Due to the FCPS Thanksgiving break, the schedule for FCPS Food and Nutrition Services meals distribution will be different for Monday, November 23-Sunday, November 29.
From 11 AM-1 PM, all school and community locations will distribute to-go breakfast, lunch and supper meals as follows:
- Monday, November 23--meals for Monday only
- Tuesday, November 24--meals for Tuesday through Sunday
Meal distribution will go back to the normal schedule on Monday, November 30.
Please visit www.fcps.org/meals for locations and meal distribution details.
Community Food Distribution
December 3, 2020
3:30 – 5:30pm
Thurmont Middle School
Back Parking Lot
Do not park in the parking lot. Follow the traffic pattern and pull up along the curbside. Please stay in your vehicle at all times. TMS staff will place food in your vehicle.
Masks are required.
Need Holiday Assistance?
The holidays are meant to be a time of peace, harmony and goodwill. During our 2020 holiday season, many families are faced with great need. There are many community agencies that are available for Thanksgiving and Holiday help. If you need assistance, please look at the resources below.
Lewistown Elementary School Important Dates
November:
Wednesday November 25th thru Friday November 27th - Schools Closed; Thanksgiving Break
December:
Friday, December 11th- 2-Hour Early Dismissal
Monday, December 16th- Return little books from distribution
Tuesday, December 22nd- Mid Term
Thursday, December 24th - Friday, January 1st- Winter Break
January:
Monday, January 18th- Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday- School Closed
Novels, little books, resources and more!
You will be receiving reading materials in your child's Term 2 Learning Kit pick-up material bag. Please see the letter below regarding novels, little books and reading materials:
Dear Parents,
At LES, we want students to have access to quality reading materials and provide opportunities for students to engage in reading that occurs offline as well as online. Inside this baggie, your child is receiving a book selection to enjoy! The baggie contains the name of your child’s teacher and your child’s student number.
Book return date: December 16, 2020. There will be a drop-off bin available. For safety purposes, we’re asking that your child’s book(s) be returned in the baggie. Books will be quarantined before being re-shelved.
Please handle the book(s) with care. We appreciate your support in helping us provide a safe, equitable experience for learners and enabling us to get books into students’ hands!
Yours,
Lewistown Staff
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