FES Parent News
2.13. 22
Together We SOAR
FES Updates
Thank you to all of the families that met with teachers for parent conferences!
If your child is missing a jacket or coat, hats, or gloves, please have your child check with the lost and found. We have a lot of items that need to find their owner!!
MSDE
MSDE has asked that we survey some students (5th grade - HS) and families about the language used on Individual Score Reports (ISRs) for State testing. I will be working with STCs to have groups of students take this short (5-10min) survey.
Please add the below information to your weekly Family updates.
Info. For your weekly Newsletters:
Here is a folder with the Parent letter in English, French and Spanish.
Mask Off-Ramps
There has been a lot of discussion about 'off ramps' for masking in Maryland schools but not a lot of explanation about what that means. To be clear, the Maryland State Board of Education (MSDE) passed regulations that give school systems three possible routes to make masks optional rather than mandatory:
At least 80% of the eligible county population is fully vaccinated, as determined by the Maryland Department of Health;
At least 80% of eligible students and staff in an individual school are fully vaccinated;
The county has sustained 14 consecutive days of moderate or low transmission rates of coronavirus cases, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of today, neither the Caroline school district or any individual Caroline school have met any of these requirements. We'll continue to monitor progress and hopefully, we'll be able to take an 'off-ramp' soon.
CALLING ALL FAMILIES! Family Engagement Activities
Plea complete the activities on the February family engagement page. Don't forget to write your name, teacher, grade level on the back along with your favorite activity!
Here are the general instructions:
1. Complete 5 or more activities with at least one member of your family or household
2. Color in the completed activities
4. Complete the family activity response journal on the back of your activity page (don’t forget to have an adult sign!)
5. Turn it into your teacher by the last day of the month for a small treat
6. Calendars with 5 or more completed activities and a parent signature will be entered in a monthly drawing for a family prize!
February activity sheet was sent home with each student and is due February 28th Please let us know if your child needs a new one!
Changes to COVID Communication Protocols
Beginning this week, CCPS will now limit contact tracing notifications to siblings and household members of positive cases and students participating in school athletics. General email notifications will continue to be sent from the school when a positive case is reported, and the CCPS website dashboard will continue to be updated weekly.
CCPS continues to follow health and safety precautions as outlined in our Reopening Plan, and in consultation with the Caroline County Health Department. As always, it is vitally important to follow safety precautions and self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. If your student develops COVID-like symptoms or any symptoms of illness, please do not send them to school. Contact a doctor so that your student can be evaluated and tested immediately. Continue to notify the school if your child has tested positive or needs to quarantine due to a community exposure.
Vision and hearing screenings
Health Department & Choptank Health COVID-19 Testing Opportunities for CCPS Students and Staff
In partnership with the Caroline County Health Department, your school-based health center will be offering screening COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic staff. There is no pre-registration required. Testing will be available at SBHCs each week on the following days and times:
Mondays
LMS 7:30 - 8am
PES 8:15 - 8:45m
RES 8:15 - 8:45am
GES 8:15 - 8:45am
Tuesdays
DES 8:15 - 8:45am
FES 8:15 - 8:45am
NCHS 7:30 - 8am
CRMS/CRHS 7:30 - 8am
The Caroline County Health Department and Choptank Community Health will be providing curbside COVID-19 testing for CCPS students and staff only on the following schedule:
Tuesday, Jan. 4 and Jan. 11, 4:00-5:00 pm at Greensboro Elementary
Wednesday, Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, 4:00-5:00 pm at Federalsburg Elementary
Thursday, Jan. 6 and Jan. 13, 4:00-5:00 pm at Preston Elementary
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the health department at 410-479-5880 or contact your School-Based Health Center. No on-site walk-up appointments will be accepted; appointments for CCPS staff and students only.
Attendance Modifications for Quarantined Students
Attendance procedures for quarantined students have been modified as of the 2nd quarter of this school year (Nov. 8). This modification was made based on guidelines set by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
For quarantine students who are unable to participate in academic activities:
An isolated student who is ill and unable to participate in academic activities will be reported as absent, which follows the CCPS attendance policy.
For quarantined students who are able to participate in academic activities:
Quarantined students who are healthy will be reported as present and are expected to participate in meaningful academic activities that advance student learning. CCPS will continue to use Google Classroom for access to class assignments and offer Zoom tutoring to support students who are quarantined.
If a quarantined student does not return to in-person, in-school instruction after the assigned quarantined period, the normal attendance or make-up work policies for absent students will be followed.
In preparation for possibility of short-term classroom/grade or school closures
Please see the message from Dr. Simmons regarding the possibility of short-term classroom/grade or school closures. Please note:
Teachers will post on their Google Classroom if the class will be synchronous (live instruction online) or asynchronous (assignments posted in Google Classroom).
Teachers will be taking attendance for synchronous classes just like they do for regular school days. Asynchronous class assignments will be used to record attendance for those classes. If a student is unable to log in for a synchronous class, the student should email the teacher requesting work so that the teacher knows the student is engaged in learning.
Students will follow the same class schedule as they do in person.
To prepare for the possibility of a virtual day:
Check that your child is bringing home their device each day.
Designate a space at home for your student to work with a power source nearby to charge the device.
If you do not have internet or your internet does not work well enough, please contact the front office at the school directly to ask about a Kajeet (hotspot) device.
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
For complete information about the vaccine, now available for children ages 5-11, please visit the Caroline County COVID-19 website which includes FAQs: COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11 and Vaccine Clinic Information.
Learning Opportunity!
Information on Trauma
How Common is Trauma?
It is estimated that one half to two-thirds of children experience trauma.
What is Trauma?
A response to a negative external event or series of events which surpasses the child’s ordinary coping skills. It comes in many forms and includes experiences such as maltreatment, witnessing violence, or the loss of a loved one. Traumatic experiences can impact brain development and behavior inside and outside of the classroom.
Why is it important for schools to be trauma informed?
All schools and educators work with children who have experienced trauma, but staff may not know who these students are. Schools have an important role to play in providing stability and a safe space for children and connecting them to caring adults. In addition to serving as a link to supportive services, schools can adapt curricula and behavioral interventions to better meet the educational needs of students who have experienced trauma.
McInerney, M., & McKlindon, A. (n.d.). Unlocking the door to learning: Trauma-informed classrooms & transformational schools [Editorial]. Education Law Center. Retrieved from http://www.elc-pa.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/Trauma-Informed-in-Schools-Classrooms-FINAL-December2014-2.pdf
English Language Learners helpful activities
Have you heard your child come home and talk about “heart” words? These words are words that can be tricky. They are words that your child will most likely not be able to sound out or tap out. Your teacher should have provided a list for your child to bring home. These words are extremely important to learn in order to help your child become a successful reader. Practice these words with your child daily. You can write them on index cards and place them around the house or you can play card games with them. Write them on index cards and play: Go Fish, Old Maid, or even double up for them to play a matching game. If you struggle with ideas or need help with anything, please email either Ms. Wurtz or Ms. Willoughby.
Upcoming Dates of Importance
February 14: Valentine's Day, wear pink, white, and/or red
February 21: School closed for President's Day
February 24: Class pictures you should have received the envelope for purchasing
March 4th-11th: Book fair!
Week of March 7th: Family Academic Night at FES (more information to come)
CCPS Calendar Changes
The 2021-2022 school year calendar has been amended as detailed below. Changes impacting student days are bolded
March 4, April 13, and May 27, 2022, have been changed to half-days for students, with April 13 and May 27, 2022, early dismissal for all staff.
For complete details of these changes, please see the news release (Board Amends 2021-22 School Year Calendar) on the CCPS website.
Promoting a healthy and safe environment for ALL students and staff
CCPS is committed to providing a safe, respectful, nurturing educational environment where the worth and dignity of individuals are valued and their safety and rights are protected. Behaviors that compromise this environment, interfere with school operations or are otherwise contrary to the basic mission of our public schools will not be tolerated. Bullying, hazing, harassment or other discrimination affecting a student or a staff member should be reported by a victim, parent/guardian, witness, staff member or other person having knowledge.
Staff members with knowledge of such conduct are required to promptly report it to the building principal.
Federalsburg Elementary School
Principal: Lisa Alfaro
Assistant Principal: Briana Walker
Email: alfaro.lisa@ccpsstaff.org
Website: http://federalsburges.org
Location: 302 S University Ave, Federalsburg, MD, USA
Phone: 410-479-2761
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FederaslsburgFalcons
FES is a Title I School
The FES Family will promote our S.O.A.R. core values by engaging in a supportive and collaborative learning community that nurtures and builds a foundation for lifelong success. To SOAR means to Stay safe and ready, Own our responsibilities, Achieve our goals, and Respect self and others.