Dear Parent/Guardians,

This newsletter contains information regarding many aspects of our school day:

Maryland School Assessment Results (grades 3-5): We are so pleased to report that our MSA test scores continue to meet state expectations.

 

 

 

For more information regarding testing results, please visit www.mdreportcard.org. 

 

Student Safety is most important. Please take extreme caution when dropping off and picking up students. If using the Satellite drop off or pick up, please abide by these guidelines so that we may insure the safety of all of our children. It is of critical importance that we operate under the tightest of safety standards during a time when children and cars are in such close proximity. A reminder that vehicles are not allowed in the bus zone when buses are in the parking area in front of the building.

 

Arrival at School: When staff direct, students may begin exiting cars as they come to a complete stop along the curb. Students enter the building through the designated doors into the cafeteria. Drop off begins at 8:50AM and only when a staff member is present. In the event of HEAVY rain, snow or ice interfering with the drop off process, students will be told to enter through the covered door. Satellite concludes at 9:10AM. Staff members are directed to enter the building at 9:10AM to begin their teaching duties. If you arrive after 9:10AM, you will have to walk with your child to the front office and sign them in and they are considered tardy. 

Passing cars in the satellite area is prohibited. Even if your car has no passengers, you must follow the same guidelines until you exit the school grounds.

Be sure students are prepared to exit the vehicle when arriving at the drop off area. Students should exit quickly to keep the line progressing. It is preferred that students exit the vehicle on the curb side. If your

child is transporting a heavy instrument, large project or needs assistance exiting the vehicle, the staff members on duty are willing to assist. 

 

Dismissal at the end of the day: Satellite dismissal is at 3:45PM. Parents must call before 3PM to put their child on the satellite list unless you have sent in a note. Students that are not picked up by 4:00PM will be taken to the front office to wait for their parent. At this time, the parent will have to come into the office for pickup and sign out their child.

The daily procedure is that students will wait for their parent in the cafeteria until their parent arrives. The student is called outside for pick up and will wait behind the cones until cars come to a complete stop. All students using the satellite pick up must use the curb pick up process. Parents parking and walking children across the area creates a safety hazard. Therefore, we do not permit any other process other than curbside pickup. 

When the guidelines are followed, dismissal is safe and speedy. Thank you so much for your cooperation and support of the safety of our children. Please remember to have your ID ready as ID’s will be checked by a staff member.

 

Bus information: We are extremely committed to bus safety and to providing a comfortable start to the day for each student. Therefore, it is required that students demonstrate respect for the bus driver, bus rules, and most importantly, respect for one another. When necessary, the bus drivers will submit formal ‘bus conduct reports’ to the office that specifically describe a student’s inappropriate behaviors. The SMCPS Code of Conduct will be followed in terms of consequences. Please take time to review this handbook when you receive it the first week of school.  It will be sent home with your child.

 

Volunteers: In order to volunteer for any school events, fieldtrips, or join your child at lunch, etc. you must submit a volunteer application form to the office. When approved, you are provided a pin number that you must use when logging in on the school computer. You can receive your pin number from the main office. For those volunteers that still have the badges, the badges will continue as always with no expiration date. 

 

Communication: If at any time you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress, you are highly encouraged to contact the teacher via phone call, email or notes. Automated phone calls will occasionally be used to provide the families friendly reminders about upcoming events or activities. Please visit our school website that can be accessed through www.smcps.org or our school link is www.smcps.org/ldes. We keep the website up to date with important dates and reminders as well as parent and student resources. It is important that we have accurate phone numbers and addresses for each family. Anytime this information changes, please notify the office. Your child will be bringing home a SMCPS Calendar to keep you abreast of important dates including report card distribution days, two hour early dismissals and days schools are closed, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PTA: We are so pleased to have such a collaborative partnership with our school PTA. They work very hard to organize special activities in the school that promote learning experiences as well as pure fun. The PTA is involved in activities including but not limited to; Halloween Carnival, PTA Dance, Good Citizen monthly breakfasts, Santa Shop, Spirit Nights at local restaurants, Laser light show, PTA Bingo nights, and various student assemblies and cultural programs. We hope you are able to support our PTA this year so we can continue having all of these wonderful events and more!

 

School Improvement Team meetings (SIT): We will be having SIT meetings several times throughout the year. The members of the team review data and make determinations as to plans for best instructional practices. There will be four meetings held throughout the year. The meetings are held in the media center from 4-5PM. The meeting dates will be placed on the monthly student calendar. We encourage and welcome parents to attend!

 

Home Access Center (HAC): You are able to view your child’s schedule, class work, teacher comments, attendance history, interim progress reports, report cards, registration (demographic), transportation information, and course requests. You are also able to email your child’s teachers, in addition to viewing and printing your child’s data. Parents are able to update or edit the parent contacts, address and emergency contact information within HAC. If you find any other incorrect or incomplete data, please contact the school to have the information entered or corrected.

If you are new to the county or have lost your access information, please email Mrs. Hayden, school secretary, at kbhayden@smcps.org requesting a user name and password or complete and submit the HAC password sheet that was sent home last week. HAC can be accessed through the school system website. 

 

Attendance: Students that arrive late to school (after 9AM) or leave early (before 3:40PM) must be signed in/out by the parent/guardian in the front office. Please be aware that this will impact your child receiving the Dent “Exceptional Attendance” award. The Exceptional Attendance award is given out at the end of the year assembly.

 

Monthly Assemblies: Monthly assemblies are held to recognize students for various accomplishments and outstanding efforts.

 

Grades 3-5:     Accelerated Reader Award- Students earn this award by reading Accelerated Reader books from the library and passing a computer based quiz to earn the designated number of points required by each grade level for each month.

Good Citizen Award – A student is chosen in each class and on each bus to receive the monthly good citizen award based on exhibiting exemplary character above and beyond the six character traits (caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness).

Mathematician Award – A student in each class is chosen monthly to receive the mathematician award based on outstanding improvements in math and/or outstanding math performance.

Attendance Award – Students receive the monthly attendance award if they have perfect attendance with no late arrivals or early dismissals.

Grade Level Attendance Award – The grade level with the highest attendance rate for the month earns a stuffed dolphin for their classroom for the month.

Dolphin Reader Award – Students earn this award by reading at least 10 books a month and completing the Dolphin Reader form as required by each grade level.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Kelly Courtney

Principal of Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School