The Seahawks Call
September 19 - October 2, 2022
A message from Principal Taylor.........................
Requests for an excused absence when going on vacation!
Principals adhere to the Attendance Policy located on page 6 in the CCPS 2022-2023 Parent Handbook/Calendar, which states the following:
Parents are highly discouraged from scheduling vacations that result in unlawful absences from school. However, high school students visiting an institution of higher education in anticipation for potential future enrollment may be granted a lawful absence as long as the parents/guardians give a two-week notice, receive permission from the school principal and the trips are limited to no more than five days in any school year. Other lawful absences include: death in the immediate family; illness of the student which requires a note from a parent/guardian or physician; court summons; hazardous weather conditions; work approved or sponsored by the school; observance of religious holidays; state emergencies; student suspension; lack of authorized transportation; health exclusion; and other emergencies or circumstances which in the judgment of the Superintendent provide a “good and sufficient cause for absence from school.”
Although parents state they would make concerted efforts to make these vacations “educational”, they do not fall under the guidelines of the attendance policy to be considered a "lawful absence." Please know teachers are not required to provide assignments in advance or allow students to make-up any work missed when an absence is deemed "unlawful". This could impact your child's grades for that particular quarter.
I will always cc: the grade-level AP, counselor, PPW and attendance secretary who will inform all of your child’s teachers so they are aware of my decision. I think it is important that I provide you with this information now so you can make an informed decision regarding any potential vacations scheduled this school year and the impact it may have with your child’s grades.
Dress Code Policy
Administration tries their best to keep students in class, but will follow these steps when dealing with a dress code violation:
1. Warn the student and then ask if they have another article of clothing to put on.
2. If student doesn't have another article of clothing, administration will look in our clothing bins to see if we have something.
3. Contact the parent to see if they are able to bring other clothes.
4. If parent is unable, the student will be placed in ISI.
When dealing with crossbody purses that appear larger than hand-size, we will ask student to place purse in the locker and remind them to wear a smaller (hand-size) purse. If student complies (which everyone has at this point), no further disciplinary action is necessary. If the student doesn't comply, parent will be contacted and the student will be placed in ISI for insubordination.
You may refer to the "Reference Guide" on page 29 in the 22-23 Parent Handbook Calendar for additional specifics with the policy.
Important Dates to Remember!
(Monday) - September 19th
- SMYO Cheer in cafe' from 6-8 pm
- LPBK ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Tuesday) - September 20th
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Wednesday) - September 21st
- SMYA Cheer in cafe' from 6-8 pm
- Student Council until 3:30 pm
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Thursday) - September 22nd
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Friday) - September 23rd
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Saturday) - September 24th
- LPBK football on football field from 8am - 8pm
(Sunday) - September 25th
- LPBK football on football field from 8am - 8pm
(Monday) - September 26th
- Newspaper Club until 3:30 pm
- SMYA Cheer in cafe' from 6-8 pm
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Tuesday) - September 27th
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Wednesday) - September 28th
- 2 hr. ED/Students are dismissed at 12 noon. If you need to pick up your child early, please arrive by 11:30 a.m. No students will be called after this time!
- Super Hero Spirit Day for Attendance Awareness!
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Thursday) - September 29th
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
(Friday) - September 30th
- Music Fundraiser ends
- Games in the Library from 2:15 - 4:15 pm
- LPBK Ball fields 1 & 2 and space behind soccer fields from 5-8 pm
- LPYSA Soccer fields 5, 6, 8, 9 from 5-8 pm
Congratulations to our September Seahawk Stars!
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
** ALL ATTENDANCE NOTES ARE TO BE SUBMITTED VIA E-MAIL OR 1ST PERIOD TEACHER.**
** THE ATTENDANCE SECRETARY CANNOT ACCEPT ATTENDANCE EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS FROM STUDENTS.**
** Please do not email absence notes to your student's homeroom teacher, counselor etc. They should be emailed to scrout@ccboe.com.
** A note for early dismissal is ONLY required when the person picking up is NOT the parent/guardian. If there is no note or email that your child is being picked up by someone other than the parent/guardian, your child will not be released until we have written permission.
** I am not responsible for robocalls. They are auto generated and go out for excused and unexcused absences. Although it states to call the school, PLEASE DO NOT call the school. Please reach out to the teacher directly, who marked your student absent.
** If your student is marked absent and you know he/she is present, please reach out to the teacher directly. I have no way of knowing why the teacher marked your child absent. You can email your students teacher through Parent VUE by looking at their schedule and selecting the envelope icon next to the teacher's name.
** All late arriving students should check in with the office and sign-in on the kiosk.
** Attendance notes need to be submitted within 5 days of the absence for them to be excused. Any notes submitted past 5 days must be from a doctor to be excused.
** It is not necessary to email me when your student is absent due to school testing, field trips, etc.
** To check your student's absences, go to Parent VUE and look under "Attendance".
From the Circulation Desk of Ms. HJ...................................
Welcome back to the Somers Library!
All students are scheduled for regular library visits through their Language Arts classes. They may also visit the library outside of scheduled class visits with a pass. We have lots of new books that are anxious to meet your students!
Somers Seahawks also have access to eBooks and audio books through Destiny, our online library catalog. Students access Destiny through their Clever accounts.
Date to Remember:
Students are invited to join us for Games in the Library on Friday, September 30, from 2:15-4:30. The staff of the Charles County Public Library will be bringing video games, board games, card games and a VR headset for us to play with. Permission slips are available in the library. Please plan to pick up your student promptly at 4:30.
A word from your PTSO..............................
Donation Week
A huge thank you to the Somers leadership and building service team for taking some time this summer to redesign the staff lounge. Teachers and staff members have been enjoying comfortable seating, a coffee station, and the Somers' Snack Shack.
In an effort to keep the snack shack filled, the PTSO is asking for snack donations throughout the year. To keep things organized, each grade level will be assigned a "donation week". For example, if you have a child in the 6th grade, we would ask that you send in a snack between the week of 10/3 and 10/7 and those snacks will be used throughout the month of October. We will be sending out reminders periodically so you stay informed. We do ask that all snacks are prepackaged and shelf-stable. Some example items are crackers, chips, granola bars, pretzels, and various candies. Please tell your child to drop off their donations in the front office.
Mark your calendar:
October 3rd - October 7th: 6th grade donation week
November 7th-November 11th: 7th grade donation week
December 5th-December 9th: 8th grade donation week
If you have any questions or recommendations on others ways to support the students and staff at Somers, please email us miltonsomersptso@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
PTSO President, Dawn Williamson
PTSO Treasurer, Dawn Shafer
Ways to STAY CONNECTED
Follow us on Twitter: Somersptso
SCHOOL SUPPORTS
Cynthia Panizzi - 6th Grade AP - cpanizzi@ccboe.com
Nancy Hines - 7th Grade AP - nhines@ccboe.com
Marlon Walker - 8th Grade AP -mwalker@ccboe.com
Zachary Ortolano - Administrative Intern - zortolano@ccboe.com
COUNSELING SUPPORTS
Ken Tojek - 6th Grade Counselor - ktojek@ccboe.com
John Craddock- 7th Grade Counselor - jcraddock@ccboe.com
Maureen Toler - 8th Grade Counselor - mtoler@ccboe.com
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Linda Forrest - Reading Resource Teacher (Reading) - lforrest@ccboe.com
Jennifer Branham - Instructional Resource Teacher (Math) - jbranham@ccboe.com
Jasmine Proctor - Learning Resource Teacher (Gifted Education and Testing Coordinator) - jnproctor@ccboe.com
Email: somersms@ccboe.com
Website: https://www.ccboe.com/schools/somers/
Location: 300 Willow Lane, La Plata, MD 20646
Phone: 301-934-4663
Twitter: @miltonsomersms