Stoneleigh Home-School Connection
11/9/2022
Dear Stoneleigh Elementary Families,
With the first marking period having ended this past Friday, November 4, 2022 report cards will be available through FOCUS and hard-copy on Monday, November 14, 2022 after 4pm. The second marking period began on Monday, November 7, 2022 with December 9, 2022 identified as the middle of the second marking period when interim grades should be checked.
As we embark on the second marking period please know that every member of the Stoneleigh staff has positive intent when working with your children. No group, grade, or individual approaches the day or your children with a negative intention. There is always more information to any situation and talking it through face-to-face or by phone is usually the most effective approach. It provides opportunity for both sides to listen and ask questions.
Two Stoneleigh Grade Level Monthly Newsletters have been sent to all families on the first Thursday of October and November. The next newsletter will be sent to families on Thursday, December 1, 2022. The newsletters are formatted based on information requested by families and sent as one to ensure everyone is getting the same information in a timely manner. Each newsletter focuses on items which will be instructed in the upcoming month. We hope this new format provides information which keeps parents informed about grade level instruction and opportunities for conversation at home.
The monthly newsletters replace the weekly newsletters families received during COVID. During COVID teachers were preparing two lessons per week in the major content areas which afforded time to generate weekly newsletters especially because we were dependent on families to assist with daily instruction and independent practice. When students returned to the school building in the fall of 2021 instruction returned to five days a week for all content areas. The expectation that teachers instruct, guide, and support independent learning because students are once again in front of us, returned. Teachers can no longer prepare weekly newsletters. Thank you for understanding the transition and acknowledging how the information is shared in the monthly communication.
Finally, I want to update families on the vocal music position. In February of 2022, Ms. Hise unexpectedly needed to go on medical leave. Just before teachers returned this school year Ms. Hise received the disappointing news that she was unable to return as expected. Immediately, the administration began working with the Office of Music, BCPS staffing, and Kelly Education to find a degreed long-term substitute. Mr. Abdou a well known substitute to the students agreed to step into the position until a person with a music degree is found or Ms. Hise returns. Mr. Abdou's background is not in vocal music so lessons have been supplied by fellow music teachers and the Office of Music. The administration continues to work with the Office of Music, BCPS staffing, and Kelly Education to locate a long-term substitute with a degree in music. The administration met with a candidate that we hope will become available just before or after winter break to join the Stoneleigh staff.
As always 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
Stoneleigh Elementary offers visitation opportunities for parents/guardians of students in all grades. In order to accommodate as many people as possible we ask that everyone attend on the day which has been identified below.
Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to complete the pre-registration process using this link. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqSkKemP9tAmtABdb7BukH0YLoizlGNERrB8qCup0gnk_t6g/viewform?usp=sf_link
If you have not already had your license scanned into the RAPTOR system this school year consider doing so by November 11th at 4:00pm in order to avoid long lines on visitation day. All visitors must have their license scanned in order to visit classrooms. Those visitors who pre-register AND have previously had their license scanned will have a pre-printed RAPTOR badge ready upon arrival.
- 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
Is Your FOCUS Portal Set-up?
As the first marking period comes to a close, please take a moment to ensure that you have set up a parent account in the Focus Portal. This will allow you to access important information such as student attendance and report cards. It will also provide access to Schoology.
Once in Focus, please be sure to update your child’s Annual Student Information Review Form. It is important that we have the most up-to-date contact information for your student each year. You will see a prompt to complete this form the first time you sign in. After that, the form may be found on the left side of the page, under your student’s name in the section titled “Forms Summary”.
IT’S FLU SEASON!
We are seeing an increase in upper respiratory illnesses throughout the state.
PLEASE REMEMBER - Students and staff should stay home when sick until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever (chills, feeling very warm, flushed appearance, or sweating) without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
Ways you can manage your health :
- Get your flu vaccines
- Get COVID-19 vaccines/boosters
- Practice good hand/cough/sneeze hygiene.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw it in the trash after you use it and wash your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs that can cause respiratory illnesses like flu
Persons with mild symptoms are encouraged to wear a mask while at school. Flu shots can be obtained at healthcare provider offices, local grocery stores, pharmacies and though the Baltimore County Health Department. Help us keep our community safe by staying home when you are sick!
From The Stoneleigh School Counselors
As part of our School Counseling Program, your child’s class will have the opportunity to engage in a counseling core curriculum lesson during the month of November. The theme for this month is Relationship Skills. Students in both primary and intermediate grades will identify and reflect upon concrete social and communication skills that will enrich their close relationships with family and friends. 5th grade will incorporate a discussion around peer pressure and how to respond to being peer pressured.
It is our hope that the core curriculum counseling lessons will help to promote the social emotional, academic, and career development of our students. We hope that you can help your child reflect on these lessons by discussing their content together. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about the program. We can be reached via phone or email Heather Foudos at 443-809-5527 hfoudos@bcps.org or Brittany Watkins at 443-809-3819 bwatkins4@bcps.org.
Stoneleigh Elementary Behavior Matrix
Lost and Found
Private/Independent School Application
Technology Misuse
As part of the 2022-2023 school year, students, staff, families will be reminded of the importance of instructional time.
Board of Education Policy & Superintendent’s Rule 5552 indicate that all personal devices are to be off and away during the school day.
- BCPS asks all staff to adhere to the following guideline: The primary focus of any local school procedure should be instructional time.
- In light of national safety concerns in schools, confiscation should not be included in the consequence matrix.
- Staff should model expectations for cell phone use during instructional time
Failure to adhere to BCPS’ and Stoneleigh Elementary’s expectations for personal devices and technology will result in one of more of the following consequences, seen below.
November
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***
December
20 (T) Vocal Music Concert – Grade 4 @ 6:30pm - Postponed
22 (R) Winter Break Begins with Schools Closing 3 Hours Early
October 2022 PTA Meeting - School Administration FAQ
Subject or Grade Level Acceleration
Attached below:
- Acceleration in BCPS
- Acceleration Procedures
- Acceleration Flowchart
From BCPS
Can you opt out of snacks (lunch only) when buying?
"School Breakfast/Lunch Prepayment Form" may be obtained from the school cafeteria. See the attachment below or use this link to download a printable Prepayment Form (PDF format). https://cdn5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_9047649/File/Business%20Services/OFNS/Prepayment_form.pdf
Send the prepayment form along with cash or check (made payable to the school cafeteria) in a sealed labeled envelope to Ms. Duruji, cafeteria manager. Students are to place the envelope in the locked box in the front office. Money will be placed on your child's account on the day of deposit.
This form is used to deposit money into your child’s Nutrition Express Meal Account using cash or check. See the back of this form for more details. Additional forms can be picked up in the school cafeteria.
You can make prepayments to your child’s account online using a credit or debit card. Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com to set up an account. To obtain your child’s student ID number call the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 443-809-7855.
Distribution of Prepayment - Your child can use the money for meals and/or á la carte items. If you want your child to use the account for meals only, then check () the box next to “DO NOT ALLOW A LA CARTE PURCHASES.”
Math Homework Helpers Shorts
Beginning the week of October 3, BCPS-TV will begin airing “Math Homework Helpers Shorts.” These vignettes are short math lessons timely aligned with the elementary math curriculum for students in Kindergarten through Grade Five, featuring Joe Teng, Supervisor of Elementary Mathematics, alongside Max, the fun, math-loving puppet. “Math Homework Helpers Shorts” can be viewed on Schoology, YouTube, Vimeo, and on BCPS-TV Channels Fios 34/Comcast 73.
Math Homework Helpers LIVE will air four times during the 2022-2023 school year.
NO Sharing of Food
In BCPS sharing of food is not permitted. Although not always medically hazardous, it causes significant discomfort in many persons. Some students have reported feeling like they were not able to breathe. Others have vomited. There is always a risk of allergic reactions to food.
Students are reminded about the safety rule that food cannot be shared, in classrooms or on the bus. Students should not eat food that a friend gives them and should not share their food with others.
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