Stoneleigh Home-School Connection
9/28/2022
Dear Stoneleigh Elementary Families,
It is hard to believe that the first month of school is almost over. So many things have been happening to kick off this year. As promised at both Back-to-School nights the grade level presentations can be found below and will be on the school website, shortly. The BCPS Student Handbook presentation has been placed on the school website and is found below. The initial grade level newsletters will be shared on Thursday, October 6, 2022.
During September parents have reached out requesting that language arts instructional pathway small groups begin right away. We want to share that each grade level is on-pace and following the BCPS language arts planning matrix which recognizes needs specific to the beginning of a school year. The language arts planning matrix assists grade level teachers in long-term planning and finding integration opportunities between the various content areas. Teachers then overlay the mandatory assessments required by the State of Maryland, BCPS, and the Stoneleigh School Progress Plan for completion by the end of September to early October.
Mandatory assessments from The Maryland State Department of Education and BCPS include:
- the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). The KRA, which resulted from the collaboration of several states, West-Ed, and Johns Hopkins Center for Technology in Education was developed as a Kindergarten entry assessment as part of the R4K Comprehensive Assessment System. For students entering kindergarten, it is administered during a window that begins the first day of school and ends October 10th. In 2014 and 2015 it was administered as a census administration to all kindergarteners. Because of legislation passed in 2016, school districts can choose to administer the KRA to a random sample of students in each k-classroom or as a census administration to all of their kindergarten students. BCPS has chosen to administer the assessment to all kindergarten students.
- The Ready to Read Act first went into implementation during the school year 2020-2021. The Ready to Read Act Legislation, COMAR 13A, 03. 08, requires Local Education Agencies to provide screening for all kindergarten students and identified first grade, second grade, and third grade students who may be at risk for reading difficulties. In BCPS all kindergarten, first, and second grade students are screened as well as third grade students who may be at risk for reading difficulties using the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). Stoneleigh screens fourth and fifth grade students who may be at risk for reading difficulties as well.
- BCPS requires The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment for all first through fifth grade students in reading and mathematics.
The Stoneleigh Elementary School Progress Plan requires a baseline math assessment as part of the Bridges Number Corner curriculum which examines student knowledge prior to instruction of the grade level math state standards.
Additionally, teachers embed time during the first 5 weeks of school to focus on classroom and school routines and rituals. Routines provide safety, while rituals provide connection. The sooner children can answer the two fundamental questions, "Am I safe?" (routines) And "Am I loved?" (rituals) the sooner teachers can focus on achieving academic goals.
With all of the above accomplished we have identified Monday, October 3rd as the start of daily small group literacy rotations that will provide focused time for teachers and students to engage in the appropriate elementary language arts instructional curriculum pathways.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact any administrator at 443-809-3600, Ms. Hollenbeck, Principal hhollenbeck@bcps.org, Ms. Cook, Assistant Principal acook6@bcps.org, or Ms. Lundy, Assistant Principal hlundy@bcps.org.
Please follow our official Twitter account @StoneleighES and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StoneleighES
Building Tomorrow Together,
Ms. Hollenbeck
Principal
BCPS Student Handbook
Both students and parents are asked to sign the acknowledgement form in the back of the handbook and return it to the student's homeroom teacher.
While all aspects of the BCPS Student Handbook are important a few items occur more than others.
- Daily attendance is important. Details can be found on page 4 and 16.
- Personal Electronic Devices may not be used in class. Parent/Guardian support with this new expectation will make a huge impact. Details can be found on page 5.
- Students are expected to follow directions given by staff members and to always use appropriate language. These expectations are the same while students ride school buses. Details can be found on page 16.
- No one may open or wedge doors to allow others to enter the school building under any circumstances. Details can be found on page 16 and 36.
- Harassment, Bullying and Cyberbullying are all violations of the BCPS Student Handbook. Details can be found on pages 3, 16, 17, and 36.
Below is the presentation Ms. Cook and Ms. Lundy used when reviewing the handbook with all grades.
A Backup In The Cafeteria Serving Line
From The Stoneleigh School Counselors
Meet Ms. Foudos (School Counselor for K, 2nd, and 4th grade students)
Mrs. Foudos is originally from Medford, NJ and moved to Baltimore in 2006 having lived in Northern Virginia. She joins the staff of Stoneleigh Elementary having years of classroom and special educator experience. Ms. Foudos has two grandchildren, Jayden a 6th grader and Lucy a 2nd grader. In her free time Mrs. Foudos likes to paint, draw and swim. She says, “Any day at the pool is a good day.” Her favorite animal is an elephant which you can find in her office. On Sundays she watches the Ravens with her husband and two cats (Kirby and Baby Batman).
Kiss and Go
It seems as though a review of the Kiss and Go procedures is appropriate for new and returning families to ensure that the lane operates efficiently and keeps moving.
- Do not park in the Kiss and Go lane. In order for the lane to be efficient it needs to be able to move continuously. If a family finds the need to park, get out, and walk to the assigned grade level door please park in one of the available parking spots so that others can continue to efficiently use the lane.
- The Kiss and Go lane has been designed to move quickly. Families who have the need to kiss goodbye, walk together, and talk with other families or stay for an extended time saying goodbye and watching a child(ren) walk into the building are welcome to do so, just not in the Kiss and Go lane. Please park in one of the available parking spots, allowing the Kiss and Go lane to move continuously.
- The Kiss and Go lane is one car width wide. For the safety of children and adults cars should not navigate the large parking lot side by side. There have been accidents when vehicles have not maintained the single car path.
- Do not enter the school driveway (bus loop) between 8:25 and 9:00am or 3:20 - 3:45pm as it prevents school buses from unloading or loading students in a safe manner. In the past, there has been a car accident when a car tried to get around a bus and a school bus got stuck trying to get around a car.
Pets on School Grounds
Concerned Neighbor - Please Caution Children
Good morning, Ms. Hollenbeck,
Friday was a nice evening for the ice cream social until I heard a tremendous crash against the playhouse in our yard. Some children had hurled a wooden post over the fence at the playhouse. I had heard last year that 4th graders at Stoneleigh thought the structure was haunted by a ghost so perhaps the wood was thrown to scare the ghost.
This year there have been a bunch of children who hang out on the school grounds after dismissal until about 4 or 4:30 at which point I think they are picked up in the school back parking lot. I have admired their creativity in amassing quite a collection of dead tree branches and other wood to build forts behind the school. However, we have not been pleased to have them climb over our fence.
When we looked at one of the forts this weekend, we retrieved large rocks that had been taken from our yard. We and the adjacent neighbor had them installed about 10 years ago to mitigate the erosion from the storm sewer passing through our yards.
The children are obviously having a great time, and their play is imaginative, but it is not totally safe.
October
5 (W) Schools Closed for Students – Yom Kippur
21 (F) MSEA Convention – Schools Closed
24 (M) Schools Closed for Students - Diwali
November
4 (F) Schools Close 3 Hours Early for Students – 1st Marking Period Grade Reporting & Data Analysis
8 (T) Schools Closed for Students
14 – 18 (M – F) American Education Week
14 (M) Grade 1 @ 8:55 – 11:00 am
15 (T) Grade 2 @ 8:55 – 11:00 am
16 (W) K and Gr. 5 @ 8:55 – 11:00 am
17 (R) Grade 3 @ 8:55 – 11:00 am
18 (F) Grade 4 @ 8:55 – 11:00 am
14 (M) Report Cards Distributed
15 (T) Make-up Fall Portraits w/Strawbridge Studios Yearbook Clubs/Group pictures
21 (M) Elementary Conference Day – Schools Closed for Elementary Students***
23 (W) Thanksgiving Holiday Begins with Schools Closing 3 Hours Early***
From BCPS
Free/Reduced Meals
New and returning families must apply or reapply by the October 23rd deadline to continue receiving meals for the 22-23 school year. Everyone must apply online using one of two manners:
- use the link to the online meal benefit application...myschoolapps.com/Home/PickDistrict
- complete the process through FOCUS using the directions attached below.
Fire Safety and Fire Evacuation
Fire Safety and Fire Evacuation plans are required for all BCPS schools and offices. Floor plans identify the locations of the following:
- Exits
- Primary evacuation routes
- Secondary evacuations route
- Accessible egress routes
- Areas of refuge
- Exterior areas for assisted rescue
- Manual fire alarm stations
- Portable fire extinguishers
- Fire Alarm enunciators and controls
The most widely known examples of a fire safety floor plan are on motel/hotel room doors and in every classroom in Baltimore County Public Schools.
An annual review and update of Fire Safety and Evacuation plans is required. This annual review and update is completed during the month of July and August in each school every year. Many buildings will have an Area of Refuge or Area of Rescue Assistance. The purpose of these areas is to allow people with disabilities to evacuate to a location protected from fire within the building/facility. Required systems send a signal to an approved location that is responsible for notifying the fire department. While the system is automatic, an emergency call is also made in accordance with the fire safety and evacuation plans.
BCPS staff perform checks of the exits before an event to verify they are safe to use in case of an emergency. The check ensures that:
- Exit paths are clear of obstructions. Obstructions may include tripping hazards, obstacles projecting from the wall, or items on the floor near the exits.
- Exit doors are unlocked and able to open from the interior without the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge.
- Exit doors are clear of obstructions on the exterior of the building.
- There is a clear path from the exit doors to the sidewalk, parking lot, or other public area.
Stoneleigh Elementary
Email: STES0905@bcps.org
Website: https://stoneleighes.bcps.org
Location: 900 Pemberton Road, Baltimore, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-3600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StoneleighES
Twitter: @StoneleighES