Fairlead Academy I
Fair Winds Journal 10/16/2020
It's Almost Time...
In order to maintain numbers appropriate for social distancing in classrooms, and throughout the building, the return of students to school has been broken up and organized by students' last names. Students will either attend school, in person on an A Day or a B Day.
Please see the chart below for when your student will attend in-person classes.
A Day/ B Day Schedule for 9th Grade Students
Preparing for In-Person Classes
1. Face Masks are required. They must be worn covering the student's nose and mouth. (NO neck gaiters)
2. Laptops must be brought to school every day that the student attends in person classes. They should also bring the laptop cord so that the device can be charged during the school day. If a student does not have a laptop that can be brought to school, they can contact Fairlead Academy for assistance.
3. The Sharing of personal items is discouraged. in order to limit the amount of close personal contact by students, please make sure to bring your own pens, pencils, paper, tissues, hand sanitizer, or any other supplies needed for successful participation in classroom activities.
4. Social Distancing is a must. Students will be encouraged by ALL staff members to maintain social distance in classrooms and when transitioning in the hallways.
5. Students will have to comply with all assigned seating requirements on buses, in classrooms and in the cafeteria. These requirements help to document students locations, to ensure that they are safely separated.
Bringing Your Own Device (BYOD)??
Exceptional Teachers - Recognized
St. Mary's County Public Schools wants to recognize the exceptional teaching across the school system. On Wednesday, September 30, 2020, Dr. Smith announced at a Board of Education meeting a process by which SMCPS will spotlight the incredible work of our teachers. Parents, guardians, colleagues, and students can submit a nomination to let the system know who they see doing amazing work. Staff members will be recognized in the bi-weekly system newsletter, The Signal, and on the SMCPS.org website and social media.
If you would like to nominate a Fairlead Academy teacher for their outstanding effort during this time of online learning, please use the link below to complete the acknowledgement process.
Get to Know Us!! - Fairlead Teacher Feature
Ms. Cudd - Marvelous Mathematics Teacher
Ms. Joe - Magnificent Mathematics Teacher
I’m Mrs. Joe and I teach Algebra and Geometry. This is my 26th year of teaching and I have been at Fairlead since 2008 when it was first started. I did my Bachelor’s degree in India and my Master’s degree from Widener university, Pennsylvania. I also have a post master's degree from Towson university. I believe that teaching is my life’s passion. Although it didn't start that way.
I was born and raised in India and during my high school years, doctors and engineers were the two most prominent professions people chose. So following everyone else around me I set my goal to be an engineer. As the years went by, I helped my family and friends both younger than me and older with learning. They loved getting tutored by me and I realized that I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with them. That’s when my career goal changed. I am glad I realized that though doctors and engineers are important in this world, no one would prosper without a good teacher in their life. I believe teaching is from the heart and in being a leader to my students. I want to show my students that teaching them is the most enjoyable task of the day.
I moved to the United States in the year 2000. I have been living in St. Mary’s county since 2008 with my husband and two daughters. Most of my family live in India and my siblings live in Europe. Family is very important to me and I cherish the moment I spend with them. I enjoy cooking Indian recipes, reading mystery books and love to travel especially to my home country.
Ms. Samms-Morris - Masterful Mathematics Teacher
Twelve years ago I joined the Mathematics faculty here at Fairlead Academy. My educational philosophy is to create an environment that fosters maximum learning in the safest possible climate, where students can demonstrate true and meaningful progress. With two decades of teaching experience, I have learned that holding my students to the highest expectations is the first step in bringing out the best in our classrooms. That being said, I hope that the experiences that we will gain through our interactions will not only focus on content material, but also help us build trust, be gracious, honest, trustworthy, hardworking, and responsible.
Teaching for me is more than a career, it is the vehicle through which I promote lifelong learning, foster critical thinking, and facilitate self-actualization in all my students. I am passionate about it! It is one of those professions that is fun-filled, yet both challenging and rewarding.
Algebra is one of the strands of Mathematics that I enjoy teaching, and am very enthusiastic about this year, as it is a little different from the norm. Schoology is that dynamic and interactive platform that will make this experience grand and we will take it one step at a time. I also believe myself to be one who teaches with love and wisdom. Therefore, please feel comfortable knowing that I will do my utmost best to make your experience second to none. We are in this together; we will strive to do whatever it takes to make your year meaningful, successful, and rewarding.
Quote: "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." --Helen Keller.
Cooper's Counseling Corner
Mrs. Cooper is available Monday - Thursday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. to answer questions about your grades, Google Meets or just to chat. The link to her Google Meet is below:
https://meet.google.com/gst-hsmv-etq
or just type into Google Meets: techhelpcooper
Health Department Offers Flu Clinics
Mobile Food Drive
Students, Are You Shy? Are You Saying NO to Video?
Online learning has been challenging for both students and teachers. And our teachers really want to respect their students' choices and comfort levels on video. Your teachers, however, would really like the opportunity to get to know you and associate names and faces. It's hard to do that when a student's video is turned off. Can you imagine teaching a class and looking at a bunch of little black boxes on a screen? This is especially challenging when you are used to teaching a room filled with students.
So, the next time you take a really attractive selfie, or you make a Bitmoji that you find fun (that is appropriate), post it in your profile to give your teachers an idea of who they are working with. Your teachers will appreciate you for it!
School Calendar Changes
- Thursday, June 17, 2021, will be the Last Day for Students (with inclement weather days)
- Interim notations have been removed from the calendar as all grades are updated and in real-time on Schoology.
REMINDERS
- Make sure that you establish a designated work space for completing your school work.
- Make sure that you are up and ready to learn by 8:00 a.m.
- Attend your classes daily.
- Charge your laptop every night.
- Follow the established schedule for asynchronous and synchronous learning.
- Actively participate online with your teachers.
- Celebrate your accomplishments!
Access by Appointment Only
Need Technology Help?
Technical Support Hours are:
Mon. - Thurs. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. AND
Fri. 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Self-Service Password Reset Portal
Student Resources Dashboard for 2020-21 School Year
SMCPS Laptops
Technology Guidelines
Fairlead Academy I
Email: lmjohnson@smcps.org
Website: https://schools.smcps.org/fairlead/
Location: 20833 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park, MD, USA
Phone: (301)863-4090
Twitter: @FA1_SMCPS