YSES Newsletter
November 19, 2018
Dates to Remember
Wednesday, November 21 - 2HR early dismissal for Students
Thursday, November 22 - Schools and Offices Closed
Friday, November 23 - Schools and Offices Closed
Friday, December 14 - 2HR early dismissal for Students
The Salvation Army Christmas Assistance
California Tortilla - Spirit Night
Help YSES with Spirit Night at California Tortilla
Wednesday November 28th
5p-8p
Password: Eagles
When it Snows..
Dear FCPS Community:
As snowy weather approaches, this is an important reminder about FCPS emergency communication. We recommend that you SAVE THIS MESSAGE for future reference.
This school year, all FindOutFirst accounts are NEW: If you entered your mobile phone number before this school year, it is no longer in FOF; IF YOU WANT TO GET SNOW-CLOSING TEXT MESSAGES VIA PHONE, YOU MUST RE-ENTER YOUR MOBILE PHONE NUMBER/CARRIER AND VERIFICATION CODE THIS SCHOOL YEAR.*
FCPS invites you to watch our brief, award-winning Weather Delays and Closings video and see more about our weather-related procedures online: http://www.fcps.org/weather.
Also see How FCPS Decides Whether to Close or Delay Schools:
https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/Frederick/GetFile.aspx?DocId=5582
After making the decision to close for snow or other emergencies, FCPS uses MANY ways to communicate! This is partly because emergency conditions can compromise any of the methods used. Here are places to check:
- www.fcps.org Look for alerts on the home page and at the top of each webpage with links to details. Refresh the screen to see updates.
- TV: Comcast cable channel 18. Also online: http://www.fcps.org/centraloffice/fcps-television
- FCPS Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FCPSMaryland
- FCPS Twitter https://twitter.com/fcpsmaryland
- FCPS FindOutFirst (FOF) www.fcps.org/fof or http://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/login_form.aspx?app=0
In addition to sending email and text messages, FOF hosts notices online [from an FOF login page, at the top black bar, use the more icon (3 horizontal lines) to see published messages without logging in]. Although non-parent/guardian family and community members may sign up for FindOutFirst, parents should not create new FOF accounts because parent email addresses are already uploaded to FOF from student records this year; instead parents may LOG IN to add* mobile phone information. Delivery speed depends on your Internet Service Provider (for email) and your phone-service provider (for text messages), message length, and other factors. While text messages are brief and typically faster than email, email provides room for important details. FOF also posts our snow messaging to Facebook and Twitter along with links to the full FOF message for details.
- We notify about 30 local and regional radio and TV stations but cannot guarantee the accuracy of their messages. There is a Frederick County Public Schools system in Virginia; make sure you're hearing information about FCPS Maryland!
Afterschool and Weekend Activities: Generally, when schools are closed due to inclement weather, school-sponsored afterschool and evening activities are canceled or postponed. On non-school days when the Snow Emergency Plan is in effect in Frederick County, unless the Superintendent grants a waiver, all afterschool, evening and weekend programs and activities are canceled or postponed, including events scheduled by outside user groups. Exceptions: Frederick County Parks and Recreation programs operating in community gyms in FCPS schools and daycare programs operating in FCPS schools (such as YMCA before- and afterschool programs) independently make and communicate their decisions regarding schedule modifications. For Frederick County Parks and Recreation program updates, you may call 301-600-6291. For Snow Emergency Plan status, tune to local radio or visit the Maryland Department of Transportation website: http://www.chart.state.md.us/StormInfo/snow_emergency_plans.asp
Parents and staff are advised to review your FCPS Calendar Handbook, page 5, especially for information about pre-k and Career and Technology Center delays and a chart showing color code significance for staff.
Here are links to a flier and to FCPS Regulations with additional information:
How to Check School Status:
English: https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/Frederick/GetFile.aspx?DocId=5581
Spanish: https://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/Frederick/GetFile.aspx?DocId=7817
Reg. 400-2 Closing Schools Due to Weather, Maintenance, etc:
https://apps.fcps.org/legal/doc.php?number=400-02
Reg. 400-42 Weather Guidelines for Outside Activities:
https://apps.fcps.org/legal/doc.php?number=400-42
Emergency Lunches During Inclement Weather Events:
http://fcpsnutrition.com/?sid=1496937421390&page=784
Here's a link to the Superintendent's blog about snow:
http://superintendent.fcps.org
P.S. FCPS has a confidential, employees-only hotline. (Staff will find the number on the FCPS employee intranet, accessible only from FCPS-networked computers); FCPS will also send employee notices via Outlook email.
*To log in to your FOF account to add your mobile phone/carrier, go to www.fcps.org/fof. If this is your first time logging in this school year, use the Forgotten Password feature to get a link emailed to you to re-set your password. Your default username is the email address the school has on file in your child's eSchool record.
A final note: Emergency closing notices are sent from the FCPS Central Office only, not from schools.
Substitute Teaching
FCPS needs substitute teachers. And we find that parents make the best subs!
You will love substitute teaching for these reasons:
- Flexibility: teach when, where, and how often you want.
- Money: you earn a fair hourly salary doing something you love.
- Recognition: you get honored for a job well done.
- Professionalism: you work with the FCPS teaching pros.
- Students: you change lives and make a daily difference.
- Great hours: an ideal job while your kids are in school.
You must love working with kids and have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Visit https://www.applitrack.com/fcps/OnlineApp/default.aspx?Category=Substitute to see all of the requirements and to apply online.
If you have additional questions, call the Sub Help Desk at 301-644-5120.
Sincerely,
Anne Paxton and Elizabeth Donegan
The Sub Team
A note from the Health Room
Here are a few reminders from Michelle Romani, School Nurse:
Your child should stay home from school if he/she has one or more of the following symptoms:
- Temperature of more than 100
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Undiagnosed rash or skin infection
Please keep your child home from school for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting, fever, and/or diarrhea. If these symptoms persist form more than 24 hours, you should contact your child's health care provider.
To help ensure a healthy experience at school and help prevent illness:
- Notify the Health Room Staff when your child has an infectious disease such as strep throat, pneumonia, flu, conjunctivitis, rash, etc.
- Make sure your child washes their hands at appropriate times (i.e. before meals, after restroom use, after playing, after sneezing/coughing in their hands, when visibly dirty, etc.) to cut down on the spreading of germs.
Please call the health room with any questions concerning y our child's health at 240.236.1667
Mitten Tree
Beginning Monday December 3rd Yellow Springs will have a Mitten Tree in the front Hallway. Please take a mitten, fill it with a gift card from Wal-Mart, Giant, Weis, K-mart, a gas card or any other store that is easy to access in our area. Please note the value on the card to help with a fair distribution.
Thank you
Help for the Holidays
There are many families in our community who need a little more help this year during the holiday season. If you and your family could use some special assistance from the Mitten Tree donations please contact Mrs. Johansen at 240-236-1607 no later than December 12th, 2018.
*All information is kept strictly confidential.
Yellow Springs Elementary School
Email: julie.seamster@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/yses/
Location: 8717 Yellow Springs Road, Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: 240.236.1700
Twitter: @YellowSpringsES