Osprey Weekly
September 4, 2020
Dear LES Families,
We were so excited to connect with our students virtually this week and in person as instructional materials and devices were picked up. Please do not use the instructional materials (i.e., workbooks etc.) until the teacher asks your child to do so. If you still need to get instructional materials that were distributed this week, please call the Main Office at 301-475-0250.
This week was truly special, we had great attendance and engagement with our students. We would like to thank all parents, guardians, daycare providers, grandparents, etc. for your support. Please remember, the first two weeks, our plan is to start slow... to go fast. One thing that we do know is that our students and teachers are resilient and hard workers, so we anticipate things will continue to move along at a good pace for learning achievement.
We want to remind all students and families of our virtual learning expectations. Below are our school wide virtual learning expectations. As well, each classroom has created expectations for virtual learning and shared them with students.
We are encouraging student independence to the greatest extent possible when online, but understand some students will need support from an adult, as they remember how to log into Clever, navigate Schoology, and build their confidence. Patience is key.:)
Please continue to look for and review the Osprey Weekly each Friday. We hope the information will help you navigate through the year.
Dr. Quick-McQueen, Principal
Mr. LaCount, Assistant Principal
New Information
Instructional Materials Update
9:00 a.m-10:00 a.m.: Kindergarten
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.: 1st Grade
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: 2nd grade
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.: 3rd grade
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.: 4th grade
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.: 5th grade
Upon arrival at LES, please circle the bus loop and pull up to the tents in front of the school. Please be ready to give the LES staff members your child's name and teacher. They will then distribute the kit(s).
We are still awaiting the arrival of second round technology. You will receive an email confirmation once devices are at LES and ready to be picked up. Thank you for your patience.
Move to In Person Hybrid Learning
Please understand that if a student does not participate in in-person learning, they will be asynchronous Monday through Friday. Since the teachers will be instructing students in-person Monday through Thursday, they will not be expected to instruct students virtually simultaneously.
Friday will be the day when teachers will provide interactive time with students asynchronously. Teachers can interactively check progress in multiple ways such as a Google Meet, email communication, or monitoring progress in Schoology.
Your child’s teachers will be uploading assignments and establishing expectations for students during asynchronous learning. Teachers along with SMCPS Content Supervisors have built all of the learning materials and resources in Schoology. Teachers are able to utilize these learning resources and curate them to meet the needs of students.
LES will keep you informed of important information as we begin to collect information from families to note their choice of hybrid or virtual learning.
Please see the pictures below for phase in dates of students.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at cfquickmcqueen@smcps.org. We are here for you!:)
SMCPS Acceptable Use Policy
Families, please review and complete the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) with your child. These must be completed by September 30, 2020. The AUP form authorizes students to utilize the necessary applications for instruction.
Parent Permission - SMCPS Acceptable Use Policy and Online Platforms.
Meal Services
As a result of waiver extensions from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), effective immediately breakfast and lunch will be offered to all children 18 years of age and under free of charge until December 31, 2020 at all St. Mary’s County Public School locations. Starting Wednesday, September 9, 2020 drive-through meal service will be available each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at each school site. Parents/guardians and children can visit any school location and receive meals that they can take home during virtual learning. Pre-ordering of meals will still be available and is recommended to ensure your selected meal is ready for you upon arrival. Same-day pick up will also be available at all locations. For more information regarding the USDA’s press release please visit: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/08/31/usda-extends-free-meals-kids-through-december-31-2020 For more information regarding meal pickup locations or to pre-order your meals please visit smcps.nutrislice.com For questions regarding the lunch service program, please email foodservice@smcps.org This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Mrs. Bronzell's Counseling Corner
Mrs. Bronzell will be joining classroom morning and closing meetings for the next few weeks to introduce herself.
In the meantime, if you have a concern or need support, please use the resources below to contact Mrs. Bronzell. You can also reach her at 301-475-0250 Ext. 31120.
Mrs. Bronzell's check-in form for students
Mrs. Bronzell's Request for counseling form
Mrs. Bronzell's Bitmoji Counseling Office with links to the above forms and also some brain break activities.
SMCPS Updates
Information Worth Repeating
Schoology Parent/Student Resources
- A reminder the student email address is the First Initial + Middle Initial + Last Initial + Last 4 Digits of ID + @k12.smcps.org and the password (for elementary students) is the Student ID Number +18.
- Students new to SMCPS need to enter a default password on their first login: ID#-initials+smcps
Example: 123456-abcsmcps
Online help for parents can be found here.
Google Site for families
Use this link for help logging in, navigating, and other helpful hints
Make use of the Tech Help & these helpful videos
Visit the SMCPS Schoology page for students, parents, and guardians
[LINK to] Remote Learning Login Instructions
Tech Support
APP information link for iPads for access to Schoology
General Tech Help Q and A link
SMCPS Schoology Youtube Playlist:
Initial Log In Guidance for all Students with an SMCPS device:
Internet Update
SMCPS with St. Mary’s County Government with regards to broadband access. Using the Student Broadband Availability Check link, students/families and schools can instantly check whether or not their registered address in SMCPS has access to broadband.
The mobile hotspots are slated to arrive soon. The distribution will start with high school students and then move to middle school and, finally to elementary school students. At this time, mobile hotspots will be issued by household - not student.
Hotspots will not be provided to every family and will be based on specific criteria related to need. If you qualify for a hotspot, you will receive an email confirmation from LES once the device is ready for pick up. Thank you for your patience.
LES Apple Tree Book Club
The Apple Tree Book Club is a program to encourage reading through in-school recognition. Here’s how it works:
Your Summer reading and school year reading count toward your total.
Give your Reading Log to your Teacher when you have read at least 10 books.
You MUST have your whole name (first & last) Teacher, grade, book title and number of pages for each book on your Reading Log.
Everyone who reads 10 books receives a pink blossom.
Learning At Home Tips
Below are some tips that you may find helpful or useful as you prepare your child for this year of learning. We recognize that all families are at a different place at this time in terms of school readiness, but for those of you who are curious as to ways you can support your child, we have compiled a beginning list for you.
- Provide a designated learning space for your child. This will help your child with understanding that school is important. If your child has their own area that is strictly for their schooling, they are less likely to be distracted and it will help your child get in the zone for learning. This can be a small table, a small tv tray, a corner table in a kitchen, etc. Please do whatever works best for you, however, we recommend that this area has a “permanent” spot in the house.
- Within the designated space, have organized items that your child will be able to find, put away and use. This will allow students to work in their area without needing to leave it to find needed materials.
- Schoolbox or bin for crayons, pencils, scissors, glue and markers.
- Headphones are helpful to avoid distractions to others AND they will block out distractions from the house.
- Small whiteboard or thick paper in sheet protectors and black expo markers. Often teacher will ask your child to hold up their work and paper can be hard to see in an online format.
Attendance and Grading
Absence Reporting
Web and Video Conferencing Guidelines
To ensure safeguards and appropriate use:
Parents/guardians should be mindful of what family activities would potentially be heard/seen during the students' use of video conferencing. This is a great tool to keep students connected, but please have your students use these tools somewhere near enough to you so that you can monitor, yet private enough to concentrate on their work.
Please have students dress appropriately when video conferencing and make sure that there are no distracting materials or backgrounds.
Teachers may record non-confidential video conferencing sessions and post them for students who cannot attend the live session. There may be some sessions a faculty member may want to record about specific instructional group activities. We want and need our faculty to be efficient and effective when covering material or providing reinforcement. Therefore, here are some guidelines about recordings:
These recordings will not be publicly available, only shared within the Schoology, a similar section of the same class, or within the SMCPS Google domain that requires a network account.
Faculty will announce their intention to record the session allowing students/parents/guardians to turn off their camera and/or microphone if privacy is of concern.
Students/parents/guardians should not take photos, screenshots, record any video, or audio, from these conference sessions. You do not have permission to do so, and it is a violation of our Acceptable Use Policy.
Rules of conduct and behavior will apply the same as if in the classroom. The SMCPS Code of Conduct and all existing Board of Education policies and SMCPS regulations continue to apply.
School Counselors may meet virtually one on one with a student without parental consent for minor day to day support that enables students to be academically successful (i.e., academic planning, peer conflict, problem-solving, single session support, etc. ). At the elementary level and when developmentally appropriate at the secondary level, counselors will coordinate with the parent to schedule a student session with their counselor. These services are the virtual equivalent to the support generally provided to all students when they are physically in the school building. All emergency-based services will be provided, as indicated in policy and regulations. Parental consent will be obtained for students needing ongoing intensive counseling support.
If you have questions or concerns about your student's use of online tools, please contact cfquickmcqueen@smcps.org.
LES Office Available By Appointment Only
Important Upcoming Dates and Events
September
- 7 No School-Labor Day
- 21 Pre-K students return to LES (Monday through Thursday only)
- 21-25 LES Spirit Week (stay tuned)
- 24 Early Dismissal Day
- 25 No School for Students
October
- 5 Kindergarten and 1st grade students return to LES (Monday through Thursday only)
- 19 Students in grades 2, 3, 4, 5 return to LES (Monday through Thursday only)
Leonardtown Elementary School
We're Here to Help You!
Greg LaCount, Assistant Principal
Shawnna White, Principal's Secretary
Marie Ventrone, Records Secretary
Email: cfquickmcqueen@smcps.org
Website: schools.smcps.org/les
Location: 22885 Duke Street, Leonardtown, MD, USA
Phone: 301-475-0250
Twitter: @les_smcpsorg