smalltalk newsletter 2019.pdfsmalltalk newsletter february 2019 fort smallwood elementary 1720...

SMALLTALK NEWSLETTER February 2019

Fort Smallwood Elementary 1720 Poplar Ridge Road

Pasadena, Maryland 21122 410-222-6450

Vision, Mission and Values Statement

Parents, please review our school’s Vision, Mission and Values statement: These are not just words to us. These are our beliefs. Eve-rything that we do is based on them. Please read them and know we do have your child’s best interest at heart.

What are we about?

Vision In partnership with parents, teachers, and the community, Fort Smallwood students will be provided the opportunity to achieve and maintain a solid educational foundation that stimulates thought, celebrates diversity, and prepares stu-dents to have a positive impact on their community, country and world. Mission We are committed to fostering each child’s full academic potential by providing instruction that is engaging, challeng-ing, appropriately supported, and promotes life-long learn-ing.

Values We value a school supportive of: • High expectations for learning and behavior • Instruction that appeals to a variety of learning styles and

experiences • Maintaining a safe and orderly learning environment • Fostering positive, open, and effective home/school com-

munications • Promoting parent involvement opportunities within the

school • Respecting all members of the Fort Smallwood School

community.

Principal’s Message

Greetings, Fort Smallwood Community, Family, and Friends!

We are officially in the second half of the school year! Please be reminded that the next round of Parent Teacher Conferences for the year is fast approaching. They are scheduled to take place on March 5, 2019. If you receive a specific invitation from your child’s teach-er, please make every effort to attend. Additionally, if you do not receive an invitation but would still like to conference with your child’s teacher, please submit the request to your child’s teacher to do so. Our partner-ship with you is essential to ensuring your child reaches his or her fullest potential.

Attached to the bottom of the newsletter, you will find a document that was compiled by the communications sub-committee of our PTA. The document provides you with an overview of the several means by which all com-munication occurs through our school. Read it carefully to determine when and how to access important infor-mation. Remember that schools will be closed on Feb-ruary 18, 2019 in recognition of President’s Day

Thanks for your continued partnership and support in the education of our students. Together, we make a difference!

Respectfully,

Mr. David Sembly Principal Fort Smallwood Elementary School

The Anne Arundel County Public Schools System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, natural origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orienta-tion or familial status in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs. Questions regard-ing nondiscrimination should be directed to Mr. Leslie N. Stanton, Specialist in Human Relations, AACPS, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 222-5318, TDD (410) 222-5500 or www.aacps.org

Fort Smallwood School is equipped with a video camera system. It covers selected inte-rior and exteriors public por-tions of the building and grounds. It is NOT monitored constantly, but it is monitored during emergency situations. During certain events, when the safety or security of students may be in question, au-thorized personnel from local, state, federal police or fire emergency units may be given access to view im-ages projected on the camera system. If you have any questions about the system, you should call the Super-visor of School Security at 410-222-5083.

****PICK-UP REMINDER!**** Please help our dismissal run smoothly by following this guideline: If you need to pick up your child for ear-ly dismissal OR if you are calling to have your child be a car rider, please notify the office by 3:15 PM. After that time, children will be dis-missed at 3:35 (our usual dismissal time) and in-tercom messages to the classroom will not be made.

Inside this issue:

G U I D A N C E N E W S 3 - 7

F S E S C O M M U N I C A T I O N S P L A N

8 - 1 7

F E B R U A R Y C A L E N D A R 1 8

A S K T H E P R I N C I P A L L A S T

P A G E

WELCOME WEDNESDAYS When you come to visit your child for Welcome

Wednesdays it is for lunch only and not for recess! Please bring a bag lunch from home or you may buy a lunch from the cafeteria, do not bring in lunches from fast food restau-rants.

You also cannot take pictures during lunch times.

#ReadwithMeChallenge Great job reading all those books for the challenge! Continue to pursue the goal of reading. You have until February 14th to complete. Way to go Fort Smallwood Ele-mentary!!

ASK THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Do you have a question or concern regarding a school matter? This form is provided as a means of open communication with parents/guardians to keep informed of school-related topics. Simply, complete the form and send it back to school. I will respond via a phone call, letter, or e-mail.

Thank You,

Mr. Sembly

Principal

My question

is:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Name_______________________

Child’s Name______________________ Grade________

Teacher____________________

Newsletter

SAY IT:Lending a hand to help someone else.

KNOW IT:ASK A KID:• Has anyone ever come to your side when you have needed help with something?• Think of a time when you lent a hand to help someone else when they were in need.

ASK A GROWN UP:• When is the last time that you helped someone out who was struggling with something or

simply needed help? What was the end result?• How does it feel to lend a hand to help someone else?• What are some acts of service that people have done for you in your lifetime?

SEE IT:There are several examples of service jobs and careers that you may already be familiar with. Among these are public service occupations. Men and women who serve in roles such as fireman and women, police officers, military members, public school teachers, and state park workers are all public service employees. These individuals are tasked with providing a service to the public whether it is maintaining safety for the community, putting out damaging fires, protecting the freedom of the United States, educating youth or managing beautiful state parks. Do some research on these career options and identify the ways in which they lend a hand to someone else.

BE IT:This month, choose one volunteer opportunity that your family would like to partake in. Op-tions might include volunteering at the local senior center to serve a meal, volunteering at your church or simply picking up trash around the local park. Lending a hand to help someone else is always a good idea and can be made a priority this month.

February 2019Service

SERVICEFEBRUARY 2019 | Dog (Labrad� Re�iev�)

Lending a hand to help someone else

©2018/2019 CORE ESSENTIALS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDCoreEssentials.org

Newsletter

February 2019Service




We all want to know that we matter, that we are important. One way that we can discover how we are important to others is through work. Maybe your child isn’t ready to put in an 8-hour day at the office (who is!?), but he or she can still do significant work that will help your family and others. From taking out the trash, to doing dishes, folding laundry, or lending a hand to the neighbor, there are age-appro-priate tasks that all kids can do.

Doing this work will make them feel important, needed, and connected to others.

So don’t miss it. This month, look for work that develops independent habits in your child.

PHASE

hoja informativa

FEBRERO 2019SERVICIO




DILO:Dandounamanoparaayudaraalguien.

CONOCELO:PREGUNTA A UN NIÑO:• ¿ Alguna vez alguien se ha acercado a ti cuando necesitabas algo? • Piensa en la vez que le tendiste una mano a alguien cuando lo necesitaban.

PREGUNTA A UN ADULTO:• ¿Cuándofuelaúltimavezqueayudasteaalguienqueestabateniendounadificultadcon

algo o simplemente necesitaba ayuda? ¿Cuál fue el resultado? • ¿Cómo te sientes al tender una mano a alguien? • ¿Cuáles fueron los actos de servicio que algunas personas hicieron por ti a lo largo de tu vida?

MIRALO:Hay muchos tipos de trabajos y carreras de servicios en los que tal vez estés familiarizado. Entre ellas están las ocupaciones de servicio público. Existen hombres y mujeres que sirven en estos roles como por ejemplo: los bomberos, policías, miembros del ejército, maestros de escuelas públicas y guarda parques, etc. Estos individuos están encargados de proveer servicio al público al mantener la seguridad de la comunidad, apagar fuegos dañinos, proteger la libertad del país, educar a la juventud o manten-erlosparquesestalesbellos.Investigasobreestasopcionesdecarreraseidentificalasmanerascomoellos extienden una mano a alguien.

PRACTICALO:Estemesescogeunaoportunidaddeservoluntarioenalgoquetufamilialegustaríaparticipar.Las

opciones puede ser como hacer voluntariado en un centro para el adulto mayor para servir alimentos

oservoluntariosentuiglesiaosimplementerecogiendobasuraalrededordeunparquelocal.Dandola

mano para ayudar a alguien es siempre una buena idea y puede ser una prioridad este mes.

Newsletter




Todos queremos saber si le importamos, que somos importantes en alguna forma. Una manera de cómo podemos descubrir si somos importantes es a través del trabajo. Tal vez, tu niño/a no está listo a trabajar 8 horas al día en una oficina (¡Quién lo está!), pero si él o ella pueden hacer algo significante para ayudar a la familia y otros. Como sacar la basura, lavar los platos o darle la mano a un vecino, existen tareas apropiadas con la edad que todo niño puede hacer.

Hacer este trabajo te va a ser sentir importante, necesitado y conectado con otros.

Entonces, no te olvides: Este mes, busca trabajo que pueda desarrollar hábitos de independencia en tu hijo.

PHASEhoja informativa

FEBRERO 2019SERVICIO

Communications Handbook

January 2019

David Sembly

Principal

1720 Poplar Ridge Road

Pasadena, MD 21122

Phone: 410.222.6450

FORT SMALLWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – COMMUNICATIONS HANDBOOK

i

Dear Fort Smallwood Elementary Community,

This communication packet has been designed to assist families with navigating all of the means

through which the school communicates important information: events, activities, and school

initiatives.

It is our hope that this document will help streamline the process of locating important

information as it pertains to your child’s education.

I would like to provide a special thanks to Mrs. Rossalynn Ripper and the PTA Communications

Committee for assembling this helpful resource.

Together we can make a difference!

Sincerely,

David Sembly

Principal


ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ ii

Communications Handbook Summary ........................................................................................... 3

Fort Smallwood Elementary Communication ................................................................................ 3

Fort Smallwood Elementary Website ......................................................................................... 3

Blackboard Site ........................................................................................................................... 3

Twitter ......................................................................................................................................... 3

School Newsletters...................................................................................................................... 3

Back to School Night .................................................................................................................. 3

Parent/Teacher Conferences ....................................................................................................... 4

Teacher Communication ............................................................................................................. 4

Recorded Phone messages .......................................................................................................... 4

Flyers........................................................................................................................................... 4

Welcome Wednesday.................................................................................................................. 4

School Early Dismissal and School Closing Schedule ............................................................... 5

School Activity Schedule ............................................................................................................ 6

Fort Smallwood Elementary PTA Communication ........................................................................ 6

PTA Meeting Calendar ............................................................................................................... 7

PTA Activity Calendar ............................................................................................................... 7

Facebook Page ............................................................................................................................ 7

PTA Flyers .................................................................................................................................. 7

Anne Arundel County Communications ......................................................................................... 7

Website ....................................................................................................................................... 8

Anne Arundel County School Calendar ..................................................................................... 8

Recorded phone messages .......................................................................................................... 8

Text messages ............................................................................................................................. 8


3

COMMUNICATIONS HANDBOOK SUMMARY

The purpose of this Communications Handbook is to provide the Fort Smallwood Elementary

School community with a handbook of valuable information as it relates to important

information, schedules, and activities that are Fort Smallwood Elementary specific, in addition to

providing information on methods the Anne Arundel County Public School system uses to

communicate.

FORT SMALLWOOD ELEMENTARY COMMUNICATION

This Handbook will outline the numerous ways in which the school provides important

information to the Fort Smallwood Elementary community. In addition, this Handbook provides

information on early dismissal and closing schedules, school activity schedules and PTA meeting

schedules and events.

FORT SMALLWOOD ELEMENTARY WEBSITE

The school’s website hosts a wealth of information. It can be found at

https://www.aacps.org/page/4343. School events and teacher emails can be found here.

BLACKBOARD SITE

The school’s Blackboard site provides grade specific information, announcements, teacher

information, and classroom newsletters. From the Fort Smallwood Elementary Website, click on

“Blackboard” and enter the following information:

User Name: fortsmallwood

Password: rocky

TWITTER

For regular updates, follow the school at Fort Smallwood@FSESAACPS.

SCHOOL NEWSLETTERS

School newsletters are completed on a monthly basis to provide information on school activities.

Newsletters are posted on the school’s Blackboard site and are emailed to parents and guardians.

Please ensure updated email addresses are provided to the office.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Back to School night is held annually the week before the school year begins. Postcards are

mailed to each student prior to the school year beginning, notifying them of their assigned

https://www.aacps.org/page/4343


4

teacher for the year. During the Back to School Event, parents and students have the opportunity

to meet their teacher and review classroom objectives for the year.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent/Teacher Conferences are held two times per year, at the end of the quarter. Teachers will

notify those parents of students for whom a conference is recommended. Parents may also

request an informal conference at any time.

Parent Teacher Conferences for the remainder of year are scheduled for March 5, 2019.

TEACHER COMMUNICATION

During the course of the school year, teachers will communicate via group parent email,

individual parent email and phone calls where necessary. Written notes to parents and

classrooms Dojo’s may also be utilized to communicate classrooms activities.

RECORDED PHONE MESSAGES

As needed, the Principal will send out recorded voice messages to communicate information and

activities. To receive these phone messages, parents must have updated phone numbers on file

in the school office.

FLYERS

As needed, flyers announcing school events and activities will be sent home in students’ take

home folders. Flyers are also posted to the PTA Facebook page.

WELCOME WEDNESDAY

Welcome Wednesday is an event held at the school that allows for parents/guardians or special

friends to come in once a month and enjoy lunch with their student. Visitors must be listed on

the student’s emergency form to be able to have lunch. The school requires that NO younger

siblings or fast food be brought to school during this event. No exceptions will be made.

Welcome Wednesday falls on the first Wednesday of each month unless otherwise noted. The

list below identifies Welcome Wednesday dates for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year.

• February 13th

• March 6th

• April 3rd

• May 1st

The table below identifies each grade’s designated lunch time:


5

GRADE LUNCH TIME

Kindergarten 11:00 – 11:35 AM

1st 11:15 – 11:40 AM

2nd 11:35 – 12:00 PM

3rd 12:25 – 12:50 PM

4th 12:10 – 12:35 PM

5th 11:50 – 12: 15 PM

SCHOOL EARLY DISMISSAL AND SCHOOL CLOSING SCHEDULE

Per the approved Anne Arundel County School Calendar, the table below identifies dates that the

school will dismiss early or will be closed for the remainder of the 2018 - 2019 school year:

DATE EARLY

DISMISSAL/CLOSING

REASON

1/21/19 Closed Martin Luther King’s

Birthday

1/29/19 – 1/30/19 Early Dismissal – 2 Hours No PM PreK and ECI

1/31/19 Closed Teacher Workday

2/6/19 Early Dismissal – 2 Hours No PM PreK and ECI

2/18/19 Closed President’s Day

3/5/19 Closed Parent/Teacher Conference

3/26/19 Early Dismissal – 2 Hours No PM PreK and ECI

4/8/19 – 4/9/19 Early Dismissal – 2 Hours No PM PreK and ECI

4/18/19 – 4/22/19 Closed Spring Break

5/20/19 – 5/21/19 No School for PreK,

Kindergarten and ECI: Spring

Conferences for those grades

5/27/19 Closed Memorial Day

6/12/19 Last Day for PreK and ECI

6/13/19 – 6/14/19 Early Dismissal – 2 Hours

6/14/19 Last Day of School for students


6

The table below identifies lunch times for 2-hour early dismissal dates:

GRADE LUNCH TIMES


1st 11:00 – 11:25 AM

2nd 11:15 – 11:40 PM

3rd 12:10 – 12:35 PM

4th 11:35 – 12:00 PM

5th 11:50 – 12:15 PM

The table below identifies lunch times for 2-hour delay dates:

GRADE LUNCH TIMES


1st 11:30 – 11:55 AM

2nd 11:45 – 12:10 PM

3rd 12:00 – 12:25 PM

4th 12:35 – 1:00 PM

5th 12:15 – 12:40 PM

SCHOOL ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

The table below identifies scheduled school events and activities for the 2018-2019 school year:

DATE ACTIVITY TIME

January 28, 2019 Instrumental Winter Concert 7 PM

February 1, 2019 3rd Grade Field Trip/Skate Zone

February 5, 2019 STEM/Math Night

February 6, 2019 Pre-K Registration Begins

February 27, 2019 2nd Grade Field Trip/Baltimore

Symphony Orchestra

April 3, 2019 Kindergarten Registration Begins

April 25, 2019 4th Grade Field Trip/Baltimore

Symphony Orchestra

May 22, 2019 Spring Concert 7 PM

June 7, 10, 11, 12 2019 5th Grade Drownproofing

FORT SMALLWOOD ELEMENTARY PTA COMMUNICATION

The PTA regularly communicates to the Fort Smallwood Elementary School community. There

are several mechanisms in place to do this.


7

PTA MEETING CALENDAR

The PTA meets the fourth Monday of each month in the school’s media center. Parents and

guardians are encouraged to join the PTA and participate in decision making, functions and

events.

PTA ACTIVITY CALENDAR

February 8th – Daddy Daughter Dance 6:00-8:00 pm

March 8th – Muffins with Mom (Letters A-M) 7:45 am

March 15th – Muffins with Mom (Letters L-Z) 7:45 am

April 16th – Grandfriends Day (Letters A-M) 7:45 am

April 17th – Grandfriends Day (Letters L-Z) 7:45 am

April 26th – Book Fair Set Up

April 29th – May 3rd – Spring Book Fair

May 3rd – Donuts with Dad (Letters A-M) 7:45 am

May 10th – Donuts with Dad (Letters L-Z) 7:45 am

June 7th – Mother Son Night 6:00-7:30 pm

FACEBOOK PAGE

The PTA Facebook page can be found at “Fort Smallwood PTA”. This is a closed group and

access is granted by PTA leadership. This page provides a wealth of information and provides

for a parent/guardian network. This page is NOT endorsed or regulated by Fort Smallwood

Elementary School. While you can go here for parent-to-parent communication, contact the

school or utilize any school-approved medium for official school announcements.

PTA FLYERS

On occasion, the PTA will send home flyers in students take home folders. PTA Flyers will also

be posted to the PTA Facebook page.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS

The County provides numerous ways in which the Fort Smallwood Elementary community can

access important information.


8

WEBSITE

Specific County communications to include weather related delays, cancellations and early

dismissals are found on the AACPS Website. They are also sent via text, email and phone

messages.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY SCHOOL CALENDAR

School Year Calendars for the 2018 – 2019 school year and the 2019 – 2020 school year can be

found at:

https://www.aacps.org/Page/2#calendar1/20190124/month

RECORDED PHONE MESSAGES

As needed, the County will send out recorded voice messages to communicate information and

activities. To receive these phone messages, parents must have updated phone numbers on file

in the school office.

TEXT MESSAGES

Text messages are sent to parents and guardians on occasions providing important updates. To

receive these phone messages, parents must have updated phone numbers on file in the school

office.

PARENT CONNECTXP

Available to check students grades from home electronically. To get a packet for directions

contact the office.

http://www.aacps.org/

https://www.aacps.org/Page/2#calendar1/20190124/month

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