The Mallard Compass
Forts Pond Elementary School
February 2021
Be InTENTional In All You Do!
FPES Vision and Mission
Vision
Forts Pond Elementary students will become self-directed, collaborative, creative, and caring learners who flourish in the global, competitive 21st century.
Mission
Forts Pond Elementary will Fulfill the Potential of Every Student by:
Collaborating with families and the community
Providing a safe, nurturing environment
Promoting learning through academics and the arts
Inspiring students to find their own greatness
Engaging students in goal setting
Celebrating accomplishments
Developing LEADERS
Traducción
Communication Between Home and School
If you are trying to reach your child's teacher during the school day on days your child is learning at home, please remember the teacher is teaching another group of students at this time. They will return your emails and call as soon as possible.
Follow us on Twitter @FortsPond.
Like us on Facebook @FPESMallards.
Important School Phone Numbers
School Nurse (803) 821-2523
Library (803)821-2514
Pelion Transportation (803)821-1352
School Cafeteria (803)821-2525
Attendance and Records (803)821-2504
Fees (803)821-2502
Important Dates for February and March
February
15 No School for Students or Staff
March
14 Daylight Saving Time Begins (set your clock forward 1 hour)
15 No School For Staff or Students
31 Spring Pictures
Reminders
If anyone in your house test positive for COVID-19, do not send your children to school. Even if they do not have symptoms, there is still a mandatory quarantine time that will not allow the children to attend school. If this happens, please contact our school nurse and help us slow the spread of COVID-19
Updates From the Healthroom
If I need to visit the School Nurse or Health Room, what should I do?
- All parent visits to the school nurse will be by appointment only, unless the nurse calls you to pick up your child.
I would like to know how COVID-19 is affecting schools in Lexington One. Where do I find this information?
- We believe that we should keep our internal and external public informed about the impact of COVID-19 on our schools and have created a dashboard which does that. The dashboard, which contains that important information, is updated no later than 12 p.m. each weekday. The student and staff active positive numbers are the number of students and staff with COVID-19. The number of students and staff excluded includes all individuals who exhibited COVID-19-like symptoms or who are on quarantine as close contacts, etc.
What should I do if someone in our household test positive for COVID-19?
- If your child or someone in your household test positive for COVID-19, do NOT send your child to school. Please contact Nurse Fairey at 803-821-2523. She will let you know the process for your child to return to school.
What Attendance Matters
Counselor's Corner
National School Counselor Week is February 1 - 5.
This year's National School Counseling Theme is "School Counselors: All in for All Students".
Our lessons for February will be:
Grades 5K, 1 and 2 - Erin's Law Lesson; Animal Friends Lesson, Career Lesson
Grades 3, 4 and 5- Erin's Law Lesson
As always, feel free to contact your child's School Counselor if you have questions or concerns about your child.
Cindy Hill grades 5k- 2nd grade 821-2510
Gina Mahoney 3rd-5th grade 821-2598
5K, 1st, and 2nd graders- Mrs. Hill - 803-821-2510
3rd, 4th, and 5th graders- Mrs. Mahoney - 803-821-2598
How to Help Your Child in Math and Science
Try this science experiment with your child: Place a penny on a sheet of paper. Set a clear glass of water on top of the penny. Can your child see the penny? Next, cover the top of the glass with a saucer. The penny disappears! Explain that we see objects when light rays reflect off them into our eyes. But the light reflecting off the penny has to pass through air, water and glass, which makes it bend. The saucer blocks the bent light ray from reaching your child's eye, and the penny seems to disappear.
Encourage scientific thinking with a 'laundry lab'
Doing laundry can be more than just a chore. It can also teach your child science skills, such as observing and classifying. Scientists notice details. Ask your child, "Does this towel feel different from that one? Why could that be?" Scientists also put things in groups. Help your child sort the laundry by color, size or family member. Challenge her to come up with a new way to "classify" clothes.
How to Help Your Child in Reading, Writing and Social Studies
When faced with a creative writing assignment, some children can't think of anything to write. Or they can think of a beginning, but by the time they write it down, they've forgotten where they were going next. If this sounds like your child, help him make a recording of his story. Then he can listen to it and write it down. He will probably have to edit his draft, but it's a great way to get him started.
Chapter books make great 'installment' read alouds
Young children have short attention spans, so short books are best for read-aloud times. But as they grow older, kids can enjoy longer, more challenging books. Reading books aloud on the "installment plan" is a great way to read with your older elementary schooler. Try reading a chapter each night. Then stop and ask your child what she thinks might happen next. Who is her favorite character? Why?
Resolve to make this a year for reading!
It's New Year's resolution time. To promote school success in 2021, make some that involving reading. Resolve to: Set aside time every day when the whole family reads. Keep lots of enticing reading material handy. Continue reading aloud to your child, and offer reading-related gifts as rewards. Then, to keep your resolutions, be sure to make a plan and track your progress. Don't forget to reward yourselves!
FPES Technology Help Hub
This document provides students and parents with tutorials in using a variety of online applications including Google Classroom, Google Slides, Jamboard, etc...
Title I Project Specialist/Parent Liaison
Please contact Kasci Padgett, Title I Project Specialist and Parent Liaison if you need assistance finding resources to help your child at home. Our Title I Parent Resource Center is full of resources. You can email Mrs. Padgett at kpadgett@lexington1.net or call (803)821-2552.
Three Things to Complement Other Than Spelling
Parent Engagement Tips
Send your child off to sleep with positive thoughts
When helping with schoolwork, think ABC
Helping your child with schoolwork can be as simple as ABC (and D and E)! A is for Attitude. Model a positive attitude about learning for your child. B is for Breaks. Let him take short breaks during study sessions. C is for Choice. Let him choose what to work on first. D is for Directions. He should read them carefully, then restate them. E is for Encouragement. Find positive things to say about your child's efforts.
Simple ways you can make a difference every day
Families play an enormous part in their children's academic achievement. Here are some important things you can do to help your student: Establish routines for schoolwork, chores, mealtimes and bedtime. Read with your child every day, and make wise use of recreational screen time. Supervise your child's activities. Express high expectations for her, then encourage and praise her effort.
Title I Parent Engagement
Our next Title I Meeting will be on April 12 at 3:00 P.M. The meeting will be held through Zoom. A link to the meeting will be emailed to parents. At this meeting, we will review our current Title I Plan and beginning planning for 2021-2022.
On September 18 at 9:00 A.M, our Title I Planning Committee met. Here is a link to the agenda and the presentation for that meeting.
On January 28 at 11:00 A.M. our Title I Planning Committee met. Here is a link to the agenda and the presentation for that meeting.
A copy of all the Title I documents below were sent home in Communication Folders on Tuesday, September 8 for Cohort A and on Wednesday, September 9 for Cohort B. These documents have bee reviewed at both Title I Meetings.
After reviewing these documents, we invite you to share any suggestions or concerns you may have that will help us improve our family engagement policy.
So far we have received 126 Family Engagement Policy returned from families with a signature. We did not receive any recommendations for improvement. Please continue to share suggestions.
The links below will give you digital access to all these documents.
FPES Parents Right to Know - English
FPES Parents Right to Know - Spanish
Parents and Family Engagement Policy - English
Parents and Family Engagement Policy - Spanish
Parent and Family Engagement Policy Highlights - English
Parent and Family Engagement Policy Highlights - Spanish
Family and School Compact - English
Family and School Compact - Spanish
If you were unable to attend, but have suggestions, please email or call Michelle Smith.
(803)821-2500
District Launches Virtual Calming Room
The Virtual Calming Room is a place for students, families and staff to find strategies for managing emotions and feelings in positive ways while building resilience.
Sometimes, life gets challenging and overwhelming. We can feel stressed with life’s events, both big and small.
The virtual space provides resources and tools to help you find ways to manage life, explore new problem-solving opportunities and develop coping skills. Enjoy and take some time for yourself.
https://sites.google.com/lexington1.net/lexington1virtualcalmingroom/
Leader in Me
Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
LISTEN BEFORE YOU TALK
I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.
HOW CAN I SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND IN MY LIFE?
- Listen with your eyes, ears, and heart. -Try to make eye contact when someone is talking to show them that you're paying attention. Use your ears to hear what they have to say and how they feel. Lastly, use your heart to empathize with them and care about what they are sharing with you.
- Repeat back what you hear. -To make sure you really understand, repeat what the other person said.
WHAT BOOKS CAN HELP ME LEARN ABOUT SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND?
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Veronica Knows Best by Nancy Robinson
Yearbooks on Sale Now!
2020-2021 FPES School Yearbooks
FPES School Yearbooks are now on sale. The deadline to place an order is March 1st, 2021.
The cost is $22.00 for a softcover. Hardcover books are $27.00. If you would like to add the student's name on the cover, the cost is $32.00. You can pay by check or cash. Please make checks payable to Forts Pond Elementary School.
Safety and Security
Please be prepared to show your picture ID every time you sign out your child. Also if you send someone else to sign out your child, they must be listed on the child's record giving us permission to allow the person to pick up your child. We will also need their drivers license.
At this time, we only welcome visitors in the front office. Thank you for understanding as we work to keep students and staff healthy and safe.
All students must be dropped off in the car rider lane closest to the building. Please do not drop students off at the flagpole. It is not a safe or supervised drop off area.
News From Food Services
- A household may apply for benefits at any time during the school year.
- Children of parents who become unemployed may become eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
- A single application will be accepted for all children in the household attending schools in the same district.
- Household members do not have to be U.S. citizens for children to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
- Including a child in foster care on a household application increases the household’s size and thus may help the foster family’s non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals, without affecting the eligibility of the child in foster care.
If you need assistance with the application, please contact Kristina Sox at (803)-821-2502.
Take Home Meals for Students
If you would like for your student to bring home meals for the days they are learning at home, please read the information below.
Now that all grades are grade levels have returned to 4 days a week, the take home meals for Friday will include 1 breakfast and 1 lunch. Meals will be delivered to students' classrooms, so they can bring the meals home.
Here is the order form for Track A and Track B students. Take Home Meal Order Form .
The district’s Online Learning Academy students can also receive free meals. Parents of Online Learning Academy students must complete their form by 6 p.m. each Tuesday when it closes. The link reopens each Friday at 1 p.m for the following week’s meals. You can find that form here. Online Learning Students Meal Order Form
The district’s Online Learning Academy families can pick up meals each Friday between 11 A.M. and 1 P.M. at any one of the district’s five designated drive-through locations (Carolina Springs Middle, Forts Pond Elementary, Gilbert Elementary, Oak Grove Elementary, White Knoll Elementary). Online Learning Academy parents must show their student’s school identification card to pick up meals.
Parents with questions should email Ashley Summers at asummers@lexington1.net.
Special Occassion Treats
If you would like to provide treats to your child's class, our cafeteria will be able to assist you!
The cafeteria will offer cookies or cupcakes for purchase. These products meet the USDA requirements for Smart Snacks in schools. All treats are individually wrapped and our cafeteria staff will deliver the treats to the classroom.
You must contact our Cafeteria Manager, Debra Morris, at least 3 days in advance. Mrs. Morris will need to place an order for the treats. Please call 803-821-2525.
Cookie Trays - $0.35 per cookie
Cupcake Trays - $0.75 per cupcake
More information can be found here. Special Occasions Treats Order Form
Recycle Crayons, Markers, and Printer Cartridges
Do you have old crayons, markers, or printer cartridges lying around the house?
You can send those items with your child to school, and we will recycle those for you.
Ms. Siceloff, FPES STEM teacher, is the contact for this program.
Box Tops for Education
Once you download the app, you will need to register.
Support Our School By Shopping at Publix
Here is how you can sign up and participate in just a few steps.
- Enroll in Publix Partners by visiting publix.com/partners and selecting our school.
- Enter your phone number every time you check out at Publix.
- Publix will donate a portion of qualifying purchases to our school!
Publix Partners has contributed $37.7 million to more than 4,600 schools across the Southeast.
Terms and Condition Apply.
Coca-Cola Codes
Please save and let your child turn-in your Coke product bottle caps and carton codes (worth 5-38 cents each) in the container provided in the commons area. You may also enter your codes online at https://us.coca-cola.com/give/. Click on "DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL" and enter "Pelion Middle School". Then sign-in or create an account. It's that easy! Thank you so much for your support. Our teachers and students appreciate it!
PTO NEWS
In April you will receive a form to nominate officers for our PTO Board. In May we will hold an election to name new board members.
Please consider serving in this capacity.
2020-2021 PTO Officers
Ashley Leaphart, President
Stacy Wren, Vice President
Cassie Blanton, Treasurer
Shannon Mengedoht, Secretary
Follow FPES PTO on Facebook Forts Pond Elementary PTO
You may contact the PTO by email. fortspondpto@gmail.com
Links to Previous Months Newsletters
Building Plan for FPES Through the Bond Referendum
The community can find the latest information about projects happening around the district as well as here at FPES. All of these are funded by the recently passed bond referendum for Lexington School District One.
FPES will be receiving the following:
- Secure Entrance Upgrades
- Additional Classrooms
- Replacement for Folding Partition in Between Cafeteria and PE Room
- Additional Exterior Lighting in the Front Parking Lot
- Storage and Equipment Building
- Future Ready Classroom Furniture and Equipment
Disclaimer
Please note that due to the public health emergency brought by COVID-19 and the continuing uncertainty regarding the virus’s impact upon district and school operations for the 2020–2021 school year, it may be necessary for the district to alter, amend or otherwise modify the information contained in this document throughout the year.
The district reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the contents of this document, consistent with amendments or revisions to policy or administrative rules, which may be required or occur as a result of changes brought about because of COVID-19. The district will also make reasonable efforts to inform you in a timely manner of any material changes made to any calendar, plan, policy or protocol listed in this document.
Lexington County School District One’s Nondiscrimination Statement
Revised 09-04-2018
Lexington County School District One is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, personnel and community members who participate or seek to participate in its programs or activities. Therefore, the district does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions), color, disability, age, genetic information, national origin, or any other applicable status protected by local, state, or federal law.
The district will use the grievance procedures set forth in policy to process complaints based on alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; and Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The district designates specific individuals to handle inquiries or complaints. To find out who to contact and how to contact them, please go to our website at http://www.lexington1.net/contact-us.