What's Quackin' at Sussex?
Sussex Newsletter * Mid-March-April 2023
Message from the Principal
It is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the third marking period (dates below)! We continue to set high expectations for our students each and every day- both academically and socially. Each morning, on our televised morning announcements, we recite our Sussex Community Promise as a reminder of our commitment to demonstrate respect, responsibility, safety, and kindness. We often take a moment to discuss how we can demonstrate these virtues in different parts of the building or times of the day such as lunch time, recess, in the hallway, during learning, and on the bus. Our staff are always on the 'look out' for students demonstrating these virtues so we can acknowledge them with Positive Office Referrals! When students earn a Positive Office Referral, they get a phone call home from Ms. Bissell or myself! We then post each Positive Office Referral with a picture of the student in our lobby! Check out some examples pictured below!
Please look for opportunities to discuss how your student(s) can demonstrate these virtues in areas outside of school: at the park, in the grocery store, when shopping, at restaurants! Consistent language and expectations help our students form connections and achieve success!
Please be sure students are bringing their charged, BCPS devices to school each day. Students use devices to enhance learning and complete assessments. Recently, our 5th grade students completed the MISA assessment for science. 5th grade will be completing the Maryland School Survey this week! In late spring, students in kindergarten-2nd grade will take the spring MAP assessment and students in 3rd-5th grade will take the MCAP assessment.
As shared throughout the school year, we continue to remind families about expectations during arrival and dismissal. Recently, we have received increased concerns from community members regarding families blocking traffic along Woodward Drive- especially in the 30-40 minutes leading to dismissal. We remind families that dismissal begins at 4:00 p.m., during which our car rider line moves along and is generally complete between 4:10-4:16 p.m. As families are lining up in the car rider line significantly earlier than 4:00 p.m., it is causing stand-still traffic on Woodward Drive. As a result, buses are not able to reach the school, families trying to park are unable to reach the school, and community members are unable to get to/from their homes. Our dismissal line moves efficiently once it begins at 4:00 p.m.- We encourage families to arrive at 4:00 p.m. to join the car rider line in an effort to prevent the length of time stand-still traffic occurs on our neighborhood streets. We also remind families that vehicles are not allowed to enter the car rider line from Cedar Ave as it impedes the flow of the car rider line.
In addition, we continue to remind all our families to follow Maryland traffic laws when coming to and from school to pick-up/drop-off your student. Do not block driveways when you arrive for dismissal. We understand that our school community is ever-growing and our parking lot is not; however, we must call on our virtues of patience and flexibility to ensure the safety of our students, buses, community members, and you! We appreciate your cooperation as we continue to try to make dismissal safer and more efficient for everyone.
As shared in our last newsletter, our newsletter is distributed on this virtual platform in an effort to support BCPS Go-Green initiatives. Printed copies of the newsletter are often multiple pages in length and do not provide access to links. However, if you and your family would prefer a printed copy of the newsletter, please call the main office and request a copy be sent home with your student or email me, jszymanski2@bcps.org.
Please remember that Ms. Bissell and I are here to serve you and welcome your communication. The best way to reach the administrative team is via phone to the main office, 443-809-0182, or email at jszymanski2@bcps.org and mbissell@bcps.org. If, at any time, you feel you have not received a response from the school, please call and ask to speak with me directly or email me directly.
Sincerely,
Ms. Szymanski
2023 Sussex Teacher of the Year
Thank you for all you do for our students, staff, and families, Ms. Rain! Sussex is lucky to have you as one of our ducks!
Positive Office Referrals * Respect, Responsibility, Safe, & Kind!
What do YOU love about Sussex? * From our students' mouths to your ears!
BCPS Calendar & Upcoming Sussex Events * Save the Dates
Tuesday, March 14th * PTA Meeting
Join our next PTA meeting @ 4:30 p.m. in Sussex library.
Friday, March 17th * BCPS Schools & Offices Close 3-Hours Early
Sussex dismissal at 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 21st * BINGO Night (PTA)
Friday, March 24th * End of Third Marking Period- 3-Hour Early Dismissal
All BCPS schools close 3-hours early for students. Sussex dismissal at 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 28th * Spring Forward into Wellness Night
Deep Creek Elementary @ 4:30-6:30 - Community event!
Spring Break
Spreak break begins at the end of the school day on Friday, March 31st. Friday, 3/31, is a regular school day. Schools reopen on Tuesday, April 11th.
Tuesday, April 11th * BCPS Schools & Offices Re-open!
Wednesday, April 12th * Marking Period 3 Report Cards Go Home!
Be sure to check your student's bookbag for his or her 3rd quarter report card!
Friday, April 21st * No School for Students
BCPS system-wide professional development day; no school for students.
Tuesday, April 25th * Pre-school & Pre-kindergarten Conference Day
No school for students in pre-school (Ms. Rodriguez's class) or pre-kindergarten (Ms. Riley's classes).
Wednesday, April 26th * Pre-school, Pre-kindergarten, & Kindergarten Conference Day
No school for students in pre-school (Ms. Rodriguez's class), pre-kindergarten (Ms. Riley's classes) or kindergarten.
Friday, April 28th * Spring Fling Dance (PTA)
Monday, May 29th * BCPS Schools & Offices Closed
All schools/offices closed for Memorial Day.
COVID Test Kits Provided by BCPS (repeat)
- Stop by the main office between 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. to pick-up a test kit for your student. The test kit must be picked-up by a parent/guardian or an adult listen in FOCUS as a contact for your student. The adult picking-up the test kit must show photo ID.
- Email Ms. Betty, emartin2@bcps.org, requesting that a test kit be sent home with your student. These requests must be made my parents/guardians. If you are emailing a request for a COVID test kit, the email must come from an email in our system (FOCUS) for your student- This allows us to confirm identify and relationship to the student.
- Call the main office, 443-809-0182, to speak with Ms. Betty to request a COVID test kit be sent home with your student. These requests must come from parents/guardians. Ms. Betty will confirm a parent/guardian is calling by using caller ID to match a phone number listed in FOCUS or by asking to hang up and call you back from a number listed in FOCUS.
Please note: If you are requesting that a test kit be sent home with your student, please be advised that there may be chemicals or components in the test kit that are not safe to be used by children. COVID test kits are not designed to be opened/used by children. All COVID test kits sent home will be placed unopened in your student's bookbag.
If you have any questions, please contact the main office to speak with Ms. Betty or Ms. Szymanski.
2022 Maryland Report Card - Message from BCPS Shared on March 9th
Dear Team BCPS Parents, Guardians, Staff and Students,
Today (3/9), the Maryland State Department of Education released new accountability information for each public school system in the state, including the Star ratings for individual schools. These new Star Ratings are calculated using 2021–2022 school year accountability data. Since 2017–2018, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has reported on accountability components outlined in the Maryland Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan which evaluates school systems and individual schools on a set of criteria. At the elementary and middle school level, schools are assessed on academic achievement, academic progress, progress in achieving English language proficiency, and school quality and student success. High schools are assessed on academic achievement, graduation rate, progress in achieving English language proficiency, readiness for post-secondary success, and school quality and student success.
Sussex Community Promise
Students continue to earn QUACKS for showing the virtues in our Community Promise! At the end of each month, we have our Final Friday celebrations where classes that have earned 100 QUACKS are invited to participate in a school-wide celebration. Ms. Szymanski now has two nieces- their names are Harper and Hayden. Be sure to ask your student how he or she is earning QUACKS each day!
School Hours
Dismissal begins at 4:00 p.m. * Early dismissal ends at 3:40 p.m.
Early Dismissal * Photo ID Required, Procedure Changes, & Ending Time (Repeat)
Per BCPS Policy and for the safety of all students, photo ID is required when picking-up students. For the safety of your student, your child will not be released unless a photo ID can be presented by the individual picking up. Please be mindful that this includes parents and guardians. As we welcome many new staff members to Sussex, there may be new faces when picking up your child- Please do not assume someone will be able to recognize you.
Students Called to Office Upon Arrival
For the safety of students and to minimize the loss of instructional time, students will be called to the office for early dismissal once the adult picking-up the child arrives at Sussex. All adults picking-up students must come in to the main office and show photo ID.
Early Dismissal- Ending Time
To ensure all students are dismissed safely, all early dismissals will end at 3:40 p.m. This will help alleviate any miscommunication or confusion at the end of the school day. If you are picking a student up for a doctor appointment, please be mindful of the 3:40 p.m. end time for early dismissal.
Nurse's Corner
Food Allergies
Food allergies occurs when a food is ingested, and the body identifies it as a danger which triggers a protective response. The most severe food allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention by calling 911. It not treated immediately, it can be fatal. Someone may not know they are allergic to a food until it is ingested. Please teach your children the importance of not sharing food at school to prevent an emergency.
Stomach Aches at School
Stomach aches have been occurring frequently at school after lunch. This has been linked to students eating spicy foods they are bringing from home, such as spicy Doritos, chips, or Takis chips. Please try to eliminate these foods while the students are in school.
Dental Care
Dental cavities is a common, chronic disease that causes pain and discomfort in children. Cavities can impair growth, cause weight loss due to pain when eating, and cause harmful effects on the overall social and emotional aspects of life. Cavities can lead to severe health complications if not treated by a dentist, such as facial swelling, infections, heart conditions, and abscesses.
Dental cavities can be prevented by teaching your child to brush his/her teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. It is important that you watch your child, especially children younger than 6 years old, to ensure that they are properly brushing their teeth. Encourage your child to drink water with fluoride!
Your child should see a dentist when he/she starts school and then every six months for a dental check-up. Routine check-ups can help prevent your child from suffering from pain due to dental cavities.
Below is a list of dentists in the surrounding area that accepts pediatric patients.
Eastern Family Resource Center can help a parent get care if uninsured.
410-887-2781
Dental Hygiene Clinic at CCBC Dundalk
7200 Sollers Point Road Dundalk, MD 21222
443-840-3495
University of MD Dental School
650 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-706-4213
Sussex Elementary School
Website: https://sussexes.ss3.sharpschool.com/
Location: 515 South Woodward Drive, Essex, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-0182
Twitter: @Sussex_ES