The Seahawks Call
Week of September 6-17, 2021
Starting this month, the Seahawks Call will be sent on a bi-monthly basis.
Great first week of school
Transitioning back to school (at full capacity) after 18 months comes with some challenges, but students did a phenomenal job acclimating themselves to the building again, expressing their excitement with seeing and socializing (at a distance) with friends, teachers, and staff and adjusting to new rules and procedures. As we continue to fine tune, clarify expectations, and recognize and reward students for meeting academic and behavioral expectations, I expect each day to get better and better.
With that said, I'd like to reiterate a few rules mentioned in the Student Code of Conduct that our students are neglecting to follow:
CELL PHONES
Students may bring their phone or device but once school begins must keep them powered completely off (not on vibrate or silent mode) and remain in a non-visible, secure location throughout the entirety of each school day.
We recommend that students keep phones turned off in their lockers. However, we find that many students are not turning them off and are keeping them in their pockets and backpacks. We will start confiscating phones so classroom instruction and student learning will not be disrupted due to phones ringing and students texting.
STUDENT DRESS CODE
2. Shorts and skirts are permitted as long as they reach the middle of the thigh, defined as shoulders relaxed and arms straight down alongside the body where fingertips touch the thigh. Slits in the skirt may not rise more than two inches above fingertips.
5. Undergarments must not be visible at any time.
6. Pants must be secured no lower than mid-hip.
7. Ripped pants are permitted as long as rips fall below the shorts length criteria, are limited to the front side of the leg, and do not exceed three inches in diameter above the knee. Skin exposed by all other rips must be covered by opaque clothing that is not underwear.
Dress code violations will be issued. We have stockpile items like belts, leggings, PE shorts, etc. to give to students so they can quickly return to class. However, if we run out, parents will be called and students will be placed in ISR (In-School Retention) until parent/guardian is able to bring a change of clothing.
Laptop Distribution and School Expectations
All students will be required to use their school-issued laptop. We were successful with distributing hundreds of laptops during the orientations and first week of school. Although all students have been given an opportunity to come and get their laptop, we still have under 100 students who need one. Student's names are called over the PA all throughout the day (everyday) to report to the library to come and pick up their laptop. Therefore, if your child has not received their laptop due to being absent, quarantining, or approved for virtual learning, please contact the school to schedule a time for pick up.
Students are required to bring their laptops fully charged everyday they report to school. Students will be able to leave their laptop in their locker unless their teacher has told them to bring it to class.
Instructional Support Plan for Students Placed on COVID Quarantine
Students who are placed on "quarantine" by the school will have their absence marked "Medically Excused" by our attendance secretary for their entire quarantine period. This will ensure that students will have the opportunity to make up any missed assignments.
Schools have also created Instructional Support Plans for students while they are quarantining. Students will receive an email through StudentVUE from their school counselor which will include the following information:
· Appropriate grade-level schedule for the four core content areas for the week (English/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science)
· A Zoom link for the student to review the overall schedule and join applicable Zoom meeting(s) to get the appropriate grade-level instructional support
· Direction advising that students can find specific teacher assignments in the “Course Content” section, and additional resources on teachers’ LMS pages (Class websites). Class websites will be up and running by Open House which is scheduled for Thurs., Sept. 23rd from 6-8 pm
Joining these instructional Zoom meetings are not mandatory while students are quarantining and will not suffice for full-on, live instruction. When quarantining we want our students to focus on getting well or staying healthy. But, if a student has academic questions or need clarifications in any of the four instructional content areas while quarantining, these Zoom meetings will be available for access and support.
CCPS COVID-19 Pre-Screening Questionnaire for Students - MUST BE DONE DAILY!
We need your help to check your child’s health each morning before they enter school. By sending your child to the school, you indicate you have screened your child, and he/she is not a potential positive COVID-19 case.
A child who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past ten days, who is suffering from an upper or lower respiratory illness, or had close contact with an ill person who has tested positive for COVID-19 should stay home. “COVID exposure” is defined as being within six feet of a positive person for more than 15 minutes during a 24 hour period.
Close contact would also include sharing a drink or utensils, kissing, hugging, or a sick person coughing or sneezing directly on you. People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children with the below symptoms may have COVID-19.
The most common symptom of COVID 19 for school aged children is a fever and cough. If your child displays ANY of the COVID symptoms listed below, your child should stay home and your family medical care provider should be contacted.
- New uncontrollable cough Y/N
- Fever (over 100.4) or higher Y/N
- New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever Y/N
- Sore throat Y/N
- Difficulty breathing Y/N
- Nausea or vomiting Y/N
- Diarrhea Y/N
- New loss or change in your ability to taste or smell Y/N
- We will ask parents to remove any child from the center and school building within 60 minutes if they become ill.
- If your child presents symptoms associated with COVID-19, please contact your family medical provider immediately.
- If your child tests positive for COVID-19 and they have been to school within the four days before the test or displaying symptoms, please contact the school immediately.
- Students may not return to school for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or other symptoms without the use of medicines.
- Parents who knowingly send students suffering from any of the COVID-19 symptoms are jeopardizing other students health.
- Students sent home by the nurse with COVID symptom may not return to in-person instruction unless they are symptom free without symptom- treating medication for the initial day, plus 48 hours.
- CCPS, in partnership with the Charles County Department of Health, has purchased re-usable thermometers. Each household can receive up to two thermometers per student. If you need a thermometer, please contact your school.
Still searching for PTSO Officers for SY21-22
Unfortunately, we still do not have any PTSO Officers for this school year. Therefore, we are opening up nominations again for PTSO Executive Board Members for the 2021-2022 school year. We know many parents just join PTSO and may not want to be an officer, but in every organization, we have to have leaders. Without PTSO officers, there can't be a PTSO!
Current positions available are:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Please email us at somersms@ccboe.com to submit your name and interested position.
SCHOOL SUPPORTS
Matthew Newcamp - 6th Grade VP - mnewcamp@ccboe.com
Marlon Walker - 7th Grade VP - mwalker@ccboe.com
Cynthia Panizzi - 8th Grade VP - cpanizzi@ccboe.com
Zachary Ortolano - zortolano@ccboe.com
COUNSELING SUPPORTS
Mike Simms - 6th Grade Counselor - msimms@ccboe.com
John Craddock- 7th Grade Counselor - jcraddock@ccboe.com
Nancy Franklin - 8th Grade Counselor - nfranklin@ccboe.com
INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Andrea Johnson - Reading Resource Teacher (Reading) - afjohnson@ccboe.com
Jennifer Branham - Instructional Resource Teacher (Math) - jbranham@ccboe.com
Suzanne Johnson - Learning Resource Teacher (Gifted Education and Testing Coordinator) - srjohnson@ccboe.com
Email: somersms@ccboe.com
Website: https://www.ccboe.com/schools/somers/
Location: 300 Willow Lane, La Plata, MD 20646
Phone: 301-934-4663
Twitter: @miltonsomersms