Lewistown Elementary Newsletter
TeamLES
Week of 1.2.19
IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, January 4: PTA Meeting at 9 am
Tuesday, January 8: Archery Club begins for Grades 4-5 from 3:45-4:45 pm with parent permission
Wednesday, January 9: Hearing and Vision Screenings
Monday, January 14: Watch DOGS Dinner with Dads from 5:30-6:30 pm
Monday, January 21: Schools Closed for Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Day
Friday, January 25: End of Term 2
Monday, January 28: Schools Closed for Teacher Work Day
Attending a School Outside Your Attendance Area
Dates for applying to attend a school outside the usual attendance area are January 2-March 1.* FCPS will post the out-of-district application online on January 2 in the section For Families and Students at www.fcps.org. Those needing assistance may call 240-236-2493 after January 2.
Schools projected to be over capacity in the coming school year are closed to out-of-district students. FCPS will post the list of restricted schools online in December.
For details, please see the updated Assignment and Transfer of Students Regulation 400-15:
https://apps.fcps.org/legal/doc.php?number=400-15
*In the prior version of the regulation in place last year, the application window was April 1-May 31. In 2019, FCPS will post applications January 2, due by March 1.
Hearing and Vision Screenings at Lewistown Elementary School
Hearing and Vision Screenings will take place at Lewistown Elementary School on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 for students in Pre-K, Kindergarten (if not previously screened upon entry in FCPS Pre-K), all 1st graders, and ALL STUDENTS NEW TO MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Maryland State Law mandates these screenings. If your child requires glasses or contacts, please be sure they are brought to school with them or worn on screening days.
Students who do not pass the screening will be re-screened on Monday, February 4th, 2019. Following the second screen, a letter will be sent home to the parent/guardian of those students who do not pass for further follow up. Please keep in mind, this is just a screening and if you have concerns in regards to your child’s vision and/or hearing, please seek further medical advice.
Parents/guardians who have an objection to this screening based on the tenets and/or practice of their church or religion must submit a written request for their child to be exempt from screening. For further questions, please contact the health room at 240-236-3707.
PTA News- Watch DOGS
Calling all Dads, StepDads, GrandDads, Uncles, Big Brothers and all you other awesome guys out there!! Bring the kiddos out for a delicious "Dinner with Dad" and learn about the exciting things Watch DOGS will be bringing to LES this year! Join us on Monday January 14th at 5:30 pm in the cafeteria.
This is a fun night just for you and your kids to enjoy a delicious pizza dinner and get to know other Dads & their kids! Learn about the brand new Watch DOGS program and how easy it is to give only ONE day a year to make a difference in our school!
(Hey Moms! This is your chance to skip cooking dinner and have a little alone time so make sure to encourage your kiddos and their father-figures to attend!)
Elementary Magnet Program
The magnet program is designed for academically gifted students in grades 3 – 5 with superior performance in both language arts and mathematics. Nomination booklets, which will be available beginning January 25, 2019, may be obtained from the school office, the FCPS Office of Advanced Academics or online at http://www.fcps.org/advacademics under Elementary Magnet Program. Beginning January 25, 2019, the Office of Advanced Academics will be accepting nominations of present second through fourth grade students for possible placement in the magnet program for the 2019 - 2020 school year.
Students may be nominated for the magnet program by school staff, parents or jointly. Parents and teachers are encouraged to review information, including some characteristics of gifted students, that is posted at http://www.fcps.org/advacademics. Teacher nominations, parent nominations and a completed Parent/Guardian Rating Form are due in the school office by February 28, 2019, so that information required to complete the nomination packet may be gathered by school staff.
A Magnet Program Overview for parents interested in nominating their child will be held on January 24, 2019, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Central Office (191 South East Street). Parking is available in the East All Saints Street parking deck or in the parking lot located next to the Central Office off of East All Saints Street. Accessible parking is located in the Commerce Street lot located behind the Central Office. Enter the Board Room at the front of the building. The overview will include components of the magnet program and the processes leading to placement. Please note that this meeting is designed for parents, not students. The snow date for this meeting is January 31, 2019 at the same time and location. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Advanced Academics at 301-696-6891.
When It Snows
After making the decision to close for snow or other emergencies, FCPS uses MANY ways to communicate! Here are places to check:
- www.fcps.org Look for alerts on the home page and at the top of each webpage with links to details. Refresh the screen to see updates.
- TV: Comcast cable channel 18. Also online: http://www.fcps.org/centraloffice/fcps-television
- FCPS Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FCPSMaryland
- FCPS Twitter https://twitter.com/fcpsmaryland
- FCPS FindOutFirst (FOF) www.fcps.org/fof or http://fcps.ezcommunicator.net/edu/frederick/login_form.aspx?app=0
- We notify about 30 local and regional radio and TV stations but cannot guarantee the accuracy of their messages. There is a Frederick County Public Schools system in Virginia; make sure you're hearing information about FCPS Maryland!
Afterschool and Weekend Activities: Generally, when schools are closed due to inclement weather, school-sponsored afterschool and evening activities are canceled or postponed. On non-school days when the Snow Emergency Plan is in effect in Frederick County, unless the Superintendent grants a waiver, all afterschool, evening and weekend programs and activities are canceled or postponed, including events scheduled by outside user groups.
Stay Informed
Get FindOutFirst email and emergency closing phone-text messages from Frederick County, Maryland based on the areas of interest you select.
Sign up for Remind 101 (text messaging service). Enter 240-608-6773 in the “to” section and enter @lescom in the “message” section of a text on your phone.
Begin following us on Instagram (LESFCPS) and Twitter (@LESFCPS).
LES Vision Statement
The Lewistown Elementary School Learning Community will strive to promote academic success in order to reach our full potential and strengthen our future. Everyone’s unique qualities will be celebrated and valued, and together we will Learn, Excel, and Succeed!
WE ARE LEWISTOWN!
Email: dana.austin@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/les/
Location: 11119 Hessong Bridge Road, Thurmont, MD, United States
Phone: 240-236-3750
Twitter: @LESFCPS