The Mallard Compass
Forts Pond Elementary School
December 2020
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 December and January
December
8 Make Up Pictures
9 Fundraiser Pick Up (Tentative)
14 Don't Be A Grinch
(Wear Green and do a random act of kindness)
15 Get Cozy with Reindeer Read Reading
(Wear a Tacky Sweater)
16 Winter Wednesday
(Wear White/Snowman/Snowflakes)
17 Let's Put Our Last Face to Face Day Before Winter Break to Bed
(Wear Pajamas)
23-31 Winter Break
January
1-3 Winter Break
4 Staff and Students Return to School
18 Holiday for Staff and Students
25 Report Cards Sent Home
Congratulations
Mrs. Chasity Parker, FPES Instructional Assistant, made the Dean's List at Grand Canyon University.
Reminders from Teachers
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.
Fall Reading Challenge for Face to Face Students
Students had four weeks to complete 10 reading challenges.
Classes that have 100% participation will be entered into a drawing for $100.00 to use towards recess equipment. There will be one winning class for K-2 grades and one winning class for 3-5 grades.
All forms must be returned to the teacher no later than Tuesday, December 1st. The winning classes will be announced on the morning news show Thursday, December 3rd. Here is a link to the form in case your child's form is misplaced.
Fall Reading Challenge for LOOLA Students
Our Fall Reading Challenge for LOOLA students is coming to an end!
Students will had four weeks to complete 10 reading challenges. Students who complete 10 challenges and return their signed forms to Shaney Stewart, the School Librarian, no later than Friday, December 4th will be entered into a drawing. There will be one winner for participants in grades K-2 and one winner participants in grades 3-5.
The winners will be announced on Monday, December 7th. The prize will be a gift certificate for Eudora Farms that includes one car admission and one bucket of feed for the animals.
Forms can be returned on Friday, December 4th during the LOOLA pick up time, turned into the front office anytime before December 4th or you can email a copy of the form with a parent's name in at least 10 boxes showing at least 10 challenges were completed to
Counselor's Corner
December counseling lessons will focus on the topic of academic leadership.
Our 5k students will continue their Second Steps lessons with a focus on social and emotional learning.
2nd graders will practice setting goals.
3rd graders will describe what it means to take responsibility for their actions.
4th graders will describe the domino effect in relationship to actions and consequences.
5th graders will define what it means to overcome road blocks.
As always, if your child needs to see a counselor for any reason, please feel free to call Gina Mahoney at 821-2598
How to Help Your Child in Math and Science
Connect math to real-life situations
Explain how math applies to real-life situations and challenge him to help you solve the math problems you encounter when you're out together, such as figuring out how many apples to buy or calculating change. He'll be more interested in mastering math if he realizes its value.
Practice daily with your child
Set aside time to practice math for as little as 10 minutes each night. This will help reinforce what they are learning in class and keep foundational concepts front-of-mind as teachers introduce them to more advanced concepts in class.
Adopt a positive attitude about math
Even if you despise math, try your best to maintain a positive mindset about it around your child. Do not simply exclaim you were never good at math either, or dismiss the problem and tell them to ask their teacher. Instead, encourage your child when they get stuck and attempt to work through the problem together until you arrive at a solution! By practicing this, parents can become a positive influence on their child’s attitude toward math. As a result, this can increase children’s overall achievement and interest in math well into adulthood.
How to Help Your Child in Reading, Writing and Social Studies
Spark imagination with picture books
Picture books are not just for preschoolers. They are great tools for stretching any child's creative thinking. Look at a picture book with your child and ask questions such as: "Can you tell me a story about what you see?" "Can you imagine what happened before this?" "What do you think will happen next?" "What do you think the artist was trying to say?" See how many ideas he can think of.
Encourage your child to jot down reading summaries
By the time your child has finished the last chapter of a book, has he forgotten the details of the beginning? He will have an easier time writing or doing projects about books if he stops to write a short summary (one or two paragraphs) after each chapter he reads. Then when he finishes the book, your child can edit his notes into a final report, or choose key events to highlight in a project.
Write and fold the way to spelling success
Here's a tip that can help your child study spelling words: Divide a piece of paper into four columns, labeled Cover, Look, Write and Check. Your child should write a word in the Look column and say the letters aloud. Next, fold the Cover column over the Look column. Have her write the word from memory in the Write column. She can check herself by uncovering the Look column, and then write the word correctly in the Check column.
Supporting Young Readers and Writers At Home
Need ideas to help your young child in the areas of reading and writing? Check out this information from our Literacy Coach, Jessie Garner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN0UBHqEKUQ&feature=youtu.be
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.
Parent Engagement Tips
The best way to get your child to do what you want is to set an example. So, to help her learn to appreciate the people and things around her, begin by thanking her. You can thank your child for listening, showing good manners, setting the table or working hard on schoolwork. If you haven't thanked your child by bedtime, do it then. She'll fall asleep feeling good about herself and you.
Good feelings, not bribes, motivate students
Should you offer your child incentives to do schoolwork? Don't promise money or material things in advance, say teachers. Instead, respond to hard work with something that helps your child feel good about himself. Offer specific praise that lets him know exactly what he's done right. Other appropriate rewards might include special time with you, or letting your child select a movie for the family to watch.
Talk about what makes a decision wise
As kids grow older, they have to learn how to make good choices. Help your child learn by making her aware of the choices she makes every day. Discuss what makes a choice responsible, such as how it affects others and whether it helps your child achieve a goal or meet an expectation. Talk to her about decisions you've made and what factors you considered while making them.
Title I Parent Engagement
Our next Title I Meeting will be on January 28 at 11:00 A.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, FPES School Needs Assessment data, Parent and Family Engagement Policy and funds, and Family-School Compact, and Parent's Right to Know under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). We will also begin planning for 2021-2022 school year.
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.
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 3-Put First Things First- Work First, Then Play
I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I should say no to things I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am organized.
Put first things first means to prioritize things in my life. If I have a lot of things to do, I ask myself what is most important and do that first.
A lot of times, children come home from school, go outside to play, play video games, eat dinner, and then try to do their homework at 8:00 at night. Their brains are usually tired at that point in the day. A better option would be to have a power snack when they get home and get started on their homework first to make sure it gets done. Then they can use the rest of their day for other activities.
HOW CAN YOU PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE?
- Make a to-do list and prioritize important things.—Clean your room before you play outside. Help your mom with the dishes before you leave the kitchen after dinner.
- Do your classwork before you have free time.—Check your classwork folder to make sure you've turned in all required assignments before you play on the computer or read a book.
- Study even if you don't have a test the next day—If you study a little each day, it's better than studying for 2 hours the night before a test.
WHAT BOOKS CAN HELP ME LEARN MORE ABOUT PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST?
· The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
· Alejandro's Gift by Richard E. Albert
· Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter (a chapter book)
· The TV Kid by Betsy Byars (a chapter book)
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
Our tentative pick up date for the fall fundraiser is December 9. Closer to this date, we will be able to confirm date and time of pick up.
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.