The Seahawks Call
Week of June 14, 2021, Volume 37
Message from Principal Taylor..............Truly an unforgettable School Year!
I can’t believe that another school year has come and gone. The challenges that we faced due to this nationwide pandemic since March 2020 have been overwhelming.
I realize that teaching and learning in these different environments (ie. virtual or hybrid) required teachers and students to embrace overall change. All of us had to learn new ways to access curriculum, utilize technology, adapt to new policies and procedures, adjust to various time constraints, and just be patient with ourselves and others with getting acclimated to these changes.
This school year has been unforgettable for so many reasons! I hope that everyone has a safe and fun-filled summer and look forward to seeing everyone “in person” in the fall as we begin our 2021-2022 school year.
Last few days of the School Year
- Monday, June 14: 2 hr. early dismissal for all students (in-person and virtual)
- Phase 2 students report to school for in-person learning
- In-person students whose last name begins with A-K report to school
- In-person (A-K) students attend school virtually on Tuesday, June 15.
- Tuesday, June 15: 2 hr. early dismissal for all students (in-person and virtual)
- Phase 2 students report to school for in-person learning
- In-person students whose last name begins with L-Z report to school
- In-person (L-Z) students attend school virtually on Monday, June 14.
- Wednesday, June 16: Two-hour early dismissal for ALL students (Asynchronous day)
- Last day of school for students
2-hour Early Dismissal Schedule for End of the Year
Eighth Grade Drive - Through Farewell Celebration
On Monday, June 14th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, we will be hosting a Drive-Through Farewell for our amazing Eighth Graders. In an effort to prevent any traffic jam, we are spreading out the drive-through times according to students' last names. All traffic should enter the drive-through celebration from Willow Lane and exit onto Oak Avenue.
We look forward to seeing our Rising High Schoolers!
Last Names A-G (Time: 1:00 -1:40 pm)
Last Names H-P (Time: 1:40 -2:20 pm)
Last Names Q-Z (Time: 2:20 -3:00 pm)
Technology Equipment Collection Process and Schedule
We are finally at the end of the school year where we need to collect technology equipment that has been issued to select students. The technology equipment includes hotspots, hotspot chargers, hotspot cases, laptops, laptop chargers, and customized laptop bags.
Students in 6th and 7th grades are not required to turn in technology equipment if you are returning to Milton Somers next school year. However, we will collect technology equipment from any student who is withdrawing from Somers, as well as, any 8th grader who does not have to attend summer school.
Technology Equipment collection will take place on the following dates and times only for these select students:
Tuesday, June 15th '
- In-Person students withdrawing from Somers and any 8th grader whose last name begins with L-Z (Time: Before Dismissal)
Tuesday, June 15th
- Any student withdrawing and any 8th grader not attending summer school whose last name begins with A-K (Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm)
Wednesday, June 16th
- Any student withdrawing and any 8th grader not attending summer school whose last name begins with A-G (Time: 8:30 - 10:00 am)
- Any student withdrawing and any 8th grader not attending summer school whose last name begins with H-O (Time: 10:30 - 12 pm)
- Any student withdrawing and any 8th grader not attending summer school whose last name begins with P-Z (Time: 1:00 - 2:30 pm)
Thursday, June 17th
- Any student withdrawing and any 8th grader not attending summer school whose last name begins with A-G (Time: 8:30 - 10 am)
- Any student withdrawing and any 8th grader not attending summer school whose last name begins with H-O (Time: 10:30 - 12 pm)
- Any student withdrawing and any 8th grader not attending summer school whose last name begins with P-Z (Time: 1:00 - 2:30 pm)
In order to expedite the process of identifying damages when technology equipment is being collected, please make sure your child(ren):
*clean the equipment
*tape an index card (or sheet of paper) with their name and Student ID# to their equipment
*place hotspot inside of hotspot case
*place laptop charger inside laptop bag
*has laptop powered ON and RUNNING when the laptop is being turned in and collected
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Parents of Rising Seventh Graders - Updated Immunization Record Required
All incoming 7th graders need to submit an updated immunization record that shows that they have received the two required immunizations for 7th grade (meningococcal MCV4 and Tdap). If your child has already received these immunizations at a recent well-visit, please send us a copy now so that it can be processed. If your child is due to receive them soon, it can be sent to us over the summer. The immunization record can be sent via fax at (301) 934-2982, via email to antaylor@ccboe.com, or dropped off to the main office.
Please note that if we do not receive this documentation by the start of the 2021-2022 school year, your child may be excluded from school. If you have any questions, please call (301) 753-1787 and ask for the school nurse.
Library News from Mrs. H-J!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR IS STILL OPEN!!! The book fair is open through Monday, June 14th. Support our school library and help your student find their summer reading!
SOMERS READS
SeaHawks continue to read over the summer – all students are required to read one book this summer for Summer Reading. They can Level Up in Beanstack and track their summer reading progress, as well as do activities to prepare them for their first Language Arts assignment in the fall. And did you know that students can participate in Charles County Public Library’s Summer Learning by linking their school and public library Beanstack accounts? Just go to the Gear icon to link Beanstack accounts.
Speaking of Beanstack, SeaHawks read 373,708 minutes so far this year and earned 6,123 badges. Our top readers were Grant Winkler who read 14,170 minutes; James Roberts who read 12,390 minutes; and Madison Amend who read 10,815 minutes!
And Finally – Congratulations to our 8th graders and best of luck as they move on to high school and into the domains of the great librarians they will meet there. It has been a privilege working with these students and watching them develop as readers and leaders. Thank you to all the parents for encouraging your children to read and for supporting the Somers library!
SCHOOL SUPPORTS
Marlon Walker - 6th Grade VP - mwalker@ccboe.com
Cynthia Panizzi - 7th Grade VP - cpanizzi@ccboe.com
Wualanda Thenstead - 8th Grade VP - wthenstead@ccboe.com
Sonia Matthew - Administrative Asst. - smatthew@ccboe.com
COUNSELING SUPPORTS
Kenneth Tojek - 6th Grade Counselor - ktojek@ccboe.com
Nancy Franklin - 7th Grade Counselor - nfranklin@ccboe.com
Brittany Williams - 8th Grade Counselor - bwilliams@ccboe.com
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Andrea Johnson - Reading Resource Teacher (Reading) - afjohnson@ccboe.com
Jennifer Branham - Instructional Resource Teacher (Math) - jbranham@ccboe.com
Suzanne Johnson - Learning Resource Teacher (Gifted Education and Testing Coordinator) - srjohnson@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