The Tiger Times

Dear Lewistown Families,

We have been very busy at Lewistown spreading kindness, celebrating our Catoctin Feeder and most recently, coming together for our Lewistown Team Huddle to celebrate student achievements!

We are thrilled to share the news that we will be welcoming Ms. Gottlieb into a full time 2nd grade teaching position at the end of the year. All classrooms will now have a smaller class size and will no longer be transitioning to receive instruction from additional teachers. Families of students that are impacted have been contacted. This is great news for our Lewistown first and second grade students!

On a more personal note, my last day at Lewistown will be Wednesday, February 14th. I have a deep gratitude for your many kindnesses and unwavering support over the last few years. Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with me every day. I have loved getting to know each and every one of them and will hold my Lewistown memories close to my heart. Administrative appointments at Lewistown will be shared the week of February 14th.

Yours,

Mrs. Fockler

Principal, Lewistown Elementary School

January:

Wednesday, January 31- Report Cards Issued

February:

Monday, February 5 - Hearing and Vision Screening

Tuesday, February 6- 5th Grade ESSL Field Trip

Monday, February 12- Friday, February 16- Book Fair Week! See below!

Tuesday, February 13- PTA Sweetheart Dinner! See below!

Wednesday, February 14- Lewistown Valentine's Day Parties

Friday, February 16- Two hour early dismissal, mid term

Monday, February 19- President's Day- School's Closed

Wednesday, February 28th - Spring Pictures/ Class and Individuals

FCPS 2023- 2024 Calendar Handbook

Please consider volunteering!

If you'd like to donate money for students, please email Mrs. Webb at Rachel.Webb@fcps.org

Links:

• Link to our Book Fair: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/lewistown
• Sign Up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050E48A9AC2BA6F94-47498570-book
• Volunteer training link: https://fcps-volunteers.ezcommunicator.net/edu/fcps-volunteers/login_form.aspx?app=0

Hi Lewistown Elementary School!

We hope you are having fun participating in the Kids Heart Challenge!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!

– Every student registered will get the opportunity to win the AVOCADO WARMIE PLUSH!! So if you haven’t signed up yet – you still have time to be included in this raffle! 😊

We will also raffle one more at the end of our event to every student who completes Finn’s Mission!

Don’t forget – if you complete Finn’s Mission – you also get included in the 2025 Super Bowl raffle.

If you haven’t joined our Kids Heart Challenge team yet, get started today!

We need your help to reach our goal of 18 families completing Finn’s Mission! We have had 7 families complete it so far! Congratulations!

Here’s how you can help:

• Register: http://www2.heart.org/goto/lewistown or download the free “AHA Schools” app.
• Complete Finn’s Mission: Watch the 2-minute Hands-Only CPR video featuring cardiac arrest survivor, Damar Hamlin, and watch a music video on the warning signs of a stroke (F.A.S.T.).
• Share with Family & Friends: Send messages via social media, text messages and/or email.

As you may know, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been approved by the Maryland State Department of Education to implement up to three virtual instructional days in lieu of systemwide closure during inclement weather. While not necessarily the first option, the Learning @ Home days provide FCPS flexibility in responding to various weather emergencies. In developing the FCPS plan, our goal is to: mitigate disruption to learning mid-year; minimize additional days that often need to be added at the end of the school year; and keep students connected to learning in the event of an extended closure.

As a result, our school has been engaged in planning and preparation for this possibility, to ensure full readiness if a virtual instruction day were to be implemented.

Announcement of a Learning @ Home Day would be made 1-2 days in advance, based on a forecasted weather event. The first “snow day” of the year will always be a traditional closure.

A Lewistown Learn @ Home Newsletter will be shared soon!

As a feeder, we continue our commitment to attendance knowing that being at school each day opens opportunities for our students. In our newsletter, you will find our feeder attendance rates for the month of December and chronic absenteeism rates.

January 18 was the start of Semester 2. This is an opportunity for a fresh start - new year and increased attendance! For many, Semester 1 was highly successful and students had great attendance and outstanding grades! Great job Lewistown Tigers! The Catoctin Feeder believes that good attendance often correlates with academic progress, a sense of belonging and good grades.

At LES, let's make it our goal to come to school every day! Please let us know how we can support your good attendance and your academic success. Continue to send in notes for your student's absence. Families send all attendance notes: LEW.Attendance@fcps.org

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.

Website: https://edu.fcps.org/les/home

Phone: 240 236 3750

Principal- Belinda Fockler

Assistant Principal- Melissa Burton

Spec. Ed Coordinator- Hannah Zebroski

Secretary- Megan Doll

Counselor- Joan Musselman

Families send all attendance notes: LEW.Attendance@fcps.org