Roaring Cougars Updates
April 24, 2020
FOUR WEEKS OF DISTANCE LEARNING DOWN!
Grading During Quarter 4
Schoology
As you already know from supporting your child(ren), Frederick County Public Schools has selected Schoology, as its learning management system (LMS). Schoology
provides course management, mobile learning, and communication tools. Learn more about Schoology and the Parent/Guardian Experience at www.fcps.org/schoology. We have included a personal letter in your child's report card to enable you to access Schoology so you can monitor your child's work completion.
School Spirit
PTA Updates & School pictures
We're still working on how to handle Hershey Park tickets as we continue to learn about summer closures. In addition, we will not be distributing school pictures until we learn if students will be returning or not. Thank you for your patience during this time of uncertainty.
Intervention
Advanced Course/Magnet Placements
The following elementary and middle school advanced-level coursework placements have been delayed. The goal is to communicate provisional HAL placements and Magnet Placements by the end of the 2019-2020 school year, or at a reasonable time after schools return to normal operations.
Middle School Highly Able Learner (HAL) Placement Decisions
HAL placements are typically communicated by April 1 each year. Because of the limited ability to carefully analyze multiple indicators for each student, and collaborate between elementary and middle school teachers and specialists, these decisions will be postponed.
Math Pathways Placement Decisions
The placement decision for the 2020-2021 school year for current 5th grade students in the Math Pathways was intended to be communicated to parents by April 1, 2020. This process was disrupted by school closures due to the COVID-10 pandemic.
Magnet Placement Decisions
Magnet program placements require collection of ability, performance, and potential measures for every applicant. Due to the multiple measures required and the large number of applicants, these decisions will also be postponed.The Office of Advanced Academics will contact magnet applicants' families to communicate the new timeline for the magnet placement processes and placement decisions, which may extend into this summer.
Counselor's Corner
Engage with the Arts and P.E.
If you haven't visited Ms. Zumbrun's folder, be sure to do so! Each week she posts great lessons related to the music curriculum including instruments of the orchestra; the different sounds each instrument makes; all about the percussion family; and music ensembles. In addition, she posts some engaging music activities to generate student interest in the universal "language of music".
Mr. Johnson has also been working to help your child stay physically fit! He has provided weekly activities including "Spelling Fitness"; P.E. Bingo; a 15-Day Fitness Challenge with a calendar for your whole family to participate; and Family Fitness Monopoly. He has shared lots of ways that you can enjoy "moving together" as a family!
Keep Connected to Learning through Media
Continue to have your child log minutes on Beanstack by going to our TES Website, education.fcps.org/tes, and then going to the MEDIA page where you'll see the link under "Database Subscriptions". You can find books online there, too, by accessing: Axis 360; LS2Pac and Book FlixFlix. You can also go to the FCPL by clicking on the red link, Frederick Co. Public Libraries.
Meals to Go!
Starting this week FCPS changed their meal distribution schedule to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Mondays, FCPS will distribute meals for M/T. On Wednesdays, FCPS will distribute meals for W/Th and on Fridays, FCPS will distribute meals for Friday. Times were also adjusted to 11 AM-1 PM for all sites.
On Behalf of FCPS Student Services...
NEED HELP? Here are some resources for your family.
- Phone Friend 301-694-8255 (can also access by dialing 211)
Offers children in grades 5 and under supportive listening, crisis intervention, and information and referral.
- Child Protective Services (CPS): 301-600-2464
Help for physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.
- Crisis Services: Dial 211
Help when you feel really anxious or really depressed and need someone to talk with so that you can stay safe.
- Maryland anonymous Tip Line: 1-833-632-7233
Report threats or situations that put your safety, or others’ safety, at risk.
- Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Help if you are thinking about suicide.
- One of our newest FCPS partners, A Mother's Rest, is a respite care provider committed to the proactive healthcare of special needs parents and caregivers even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please see the news release for details:
https://www.fcps.org/about/news/1679311/fcps-partners-with-a-mothers-rest
WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!
TES invites you to participate in our school’s survey on Continuity of Learning (COL). We want to hear your feedback about how COL is going for your child(ren). While the survey is voluntary, your feedback is important to us! Your responses will remain anonymous and will be combined with the responses of other families. To access the survey online, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COLParent1503.
Important: This survey link is unique to our school. Please do not share with families of children in other FCPS schools. If you require a paper survey, please contact the school at 240-236-0900.The survey will remain open until Friday, May 8. We thank you in advance for your feedback!
Thurmont Elementary School
Email: debra.odonnell@fcps.org
Website: education.fcps.org/tes/
Location: 805 E. Main Street Thurmont, MD
Phone: 240-236-0900
Twitter: @TESCougars1