RES Rocket Weekly

Dear Ridge Students and Families,

It's the first week of June and we only have a few weeks left! I know that all of you have got this!

As we continue with the online instructional programs and print packets, keep trying your best and know that we are thinking of and missing all of you. Keep up the great work and send us pictures of our students at work! It's been great seeing all of our students through the pictures shared thus far!

May you and your loved ones stay healthy and hopeful. Working together collaboratively and collectively, our students will continue to soar to great heights!

Sincerely, with warm wishes,

Mrs. Batelka

Click here for a video message from our School Staff to all our RES School Family!

Continuous Learning Opportunities began on Tuesday, April 14th.

Students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade are accessing the online program Imagine Learning.

• Classroom teachers will be monitoring participation and progress within the online instructional platforms (Imagine Learning Language & Literacy and Imagine Learning Math) for English Language Arts and Math.

Students unable to access the internet or technology will receive print packets.

• Classroom teachers will also monitor participation and progress for students accessing print materials. However, the participation process is still being determined (packets are to be returned once schools are open again) and feedback on progress will not be as timely.

Pre-K students will receive printed materials from Central Office.

Specials (Art, Media, Music, and PE) have worked to identify optional activities for students to work on and participate in during the period of school closure.

Any optional instructional activities, for content areas, provided by the classroom teacher will not be used to monitor a student's participation and progress during the period of school closure.

Academics:

• English Language Arts - 20 minutes (Primary) and 30 minutes (Intermediate)
• Math - 30 minutes
• Written Language (Optional) - 20 minutes
• Social Studies (Optional) - 20 minutes
• Science (Optional) - 20 minutes

Specials (Optional):

• Art - Draw a picture or make a craft
• Media - Read for 20 minutes
• Music - Sing a song or make up a beat
• PE - Participate in a physical activity for 60 minutes

For students working on the online platforms:

• Log into Clever to access Imagine Learning Language & Literacy for 20 minutes (Primary) and 30 minutes (Intermediate).
• Students need to complete the assignments independently as the computer-based program will adjust activities based upon student responses.

For students working on print materials:

• 30 minutes of English Language Arts

All students: Read for 20 minutes.

For students working on the online platforms:

• Log into Clever to access Imagine Math for 30 minutes.

• Students need to complete the assignments independently as the computer-based program will adjust activities based upon student responses.

For students working on print materials:

• 30 minutes of Math

Pre-K - 2nd: Click here for a template with writing lines

• Milkshake Monday: My favorite milkshake flavor is...
• Thankful Tuesday: I'm thankful for...
• Wilderness Wednesday: If I could be an animal I would be...
• Tasty Thursday: My favorite candy is...
• Food Truck Friday: If I owned a food tuck it would sell...

See below for a calendar of Optional Free Write Questions of the Day for Primary Students.

3rd through 5th:

• Milkshake Monday: What's your favorite milkshake flavor? Why?
• Technology Tuesday: If you had to give up one of your pieces of technology, which would it be? Why?
• Wilderness Wednesday: If you could visit any National Park, which would it be? Why?
• Tasty Thursday: Describe your favorite sweet treat. Give it to someone to guess what it is.
• Food Truck Friday: If you could own a food truck, what food would you sell? Why? Design the outside of your truck.

See below for a calendar of Optional Free Write Questions of the Day for Intermediate Students.

Objects Can Tell a Story - Click here!

Memories don’t always fit into a photo album. They aren’t always held in pictures or paper. Sometimes we have objects that hold special meaning. The things we carry tell stories too.

As historians, we know that every family has a history, a past. Families have different ways of preserving these memories and events that are important to remember. The way families record their memories has changed over time. People in the past wrote letters, kept journals or diaries, saved postcards, took black-and-white photographs, and held onto objects that had meaning or told stories about their families.

Task #1: Pick one object that has memories attached to it, is important to you or your family, or tells an important story about your family story.

Task #2: Complete Objects Tell Stories: Draw the story behind your object. Illustrating in whatever way you would like, the story this object tells.

Task #3: Complete Objects Tell Stories: Write the story behind your object. Write down the story you illustrated.

Send pictures of your illustration

to Mrs. Batelka to be posted next week!

States of Matter: Identifying Solids, Liquids, and Gases! (Primary)

• Learning Objective: Be able to differentiate between a solid, liquid, and gas and provide examples of changes in states of matter from heating and cooling!

• Day 1: Talk with your child about what a solid, liquid, or gas is.

• Day 2: Complete the Solid, Liquid, Gas worksheet and review their responses.

• Day 3: Complete the other worksheets identifying gases, liquids, solids!

• Day 4: Draw some examples of solids, liquids, and gases!

Make a Planet! (Intermediate)

Scientists have just discovered a new planet! Draw a picture of it and come up with ways humans can live on this planet in harmony with its environment :)

• What is the name of your planet?
• How will people be able to live there?
• What steps will you take to protect the planet's environment?

Send pictures via email or ClassDojo

to Mrs. Batelka to be posted next week!

Be creative and have fun!

• Draw a picture or work on a craft!
• Click here to access SMCPS Activity Choice Boards

The activities being provided follow the National Art Standards and are modified in-class art lessons.

Students are being encouraged to complete at least one art activity weekly, but this is not required.

Each choice board provides instructions and guides for 6 different activities!

Additional links suggested by Mr. McCracken:

• Smithsonian: National Portrait Gallery
• Digital Workshops
• FEELartistic
• Incredible Art Department
• Skill-Share Art Activities
• Art Projects for Kids (how to draw)

Mr. McCracken would appreciate seeing any artwork your students complete, and he is happy to provide any feedback if desired! Mr. McCracken may be reached through his school email hmmccracken@smcps.org.

Media: Get into a comfy space and curl up with a good book or access read alouds and audiobooks!

• Pre-K through 2nd Grade Read Alouds
• 3rd through 5th Grade Read Alouds

The Media Center has a site that gives you access to at home activities, ebooks, read alouds, online databases, optional lessons, and other helpful resources. Enjoy, and have some fun with the opportunities on this site!

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Mrs. Deeney at jmdeeney@smcps.org.

Water Slide Challenge!

Build a water slide from materials found around the house. The water slide must hold water without leaking and use gravity to make the water flow into the pool.

Materials for Building a Water Slide

• Paper Tubes
• Plastic Wrap
• Paper Straws
• Paper Cups
• Glue
• Tape
• Any other items you have around the house!

Planning the Water Slide

• Before starting the construction of the waterslide, plan out how it will work.
• Consider small small sketches of ideas and predicting the outcome of the experiment.
• Click here for a simple planning worksheet for you to use with your family when making a water slide.

Send pictures of our kiddos and their water slides

via email or ClassDojo to Mrs. Deeney and Mrs. Batelka to be posted next week!

Music: Make some noise, sing a song, and let the music make you smile!

• Make up a song or your own beat using pots and pans!
• Click here for K - 2nd Grade Music Lessons
• Click here for 3rd - 5th Grade Music Lessons

Students in 1st -5th Grades may also receive a Google Classroom invite from Mr. Earley in their school email. This contains a class assignment (with no due date or points assigned) that links to the same site with the optional music activities.

Students may choose to submit a music activity for Mr. Earley to see and comment upon via email. Mr. Earley's email address is: bnearley@smcps.org.

Don't forget to send in pictures -

we love seeing our students making music at home!

Physical Education (PE): Get those muscles moving and keep your body heathy!

• Goal is to participate in a physical activity for 60 minutes
• Click here to access the OPENPhys Ed Program via Clever.

Students are asked to record their physical activity time using a Physical Activity Log - Click here.

Mrs. Simmons has asked, when possible, for students to return the log via email or parents via ClassDojo (picture) on the following schedule:

• Monday: Kindergarten
• Tuesday: 1st Grade
• Wednesday: 2nd and 3rd Grades
• Thursday: 4th Grade
• Friday: 5th Grade

Click here for Fitness and Character Education Videos (Access Code: home)

Way to go on getting outside! This week many students were swimming, riding bikes, roller-blading, and helping with yard work.

Mrs. Simmons wants to recognize the following students for physical activity logs last week!

• James Jahn for 866 minutes last week - Highest number so far!
  
• Kyler Cotugno for 720 minutes last week
  
• Lorelei Draheim for 637 minutes last week
  
• Landon David for 510 minutes
• Caitlin Primm for 510 minutes last week
• Jonathan Primm for 510 minutes last week
• Lexis Thlean for 375 minutes last week
  
• Olivia Thlean for 375 minutes last week

Don't forget to send in pictures -

we love seeing our students being active and creative as they earn their PE minutes!

Ms. Cox is available as a resource to communicate with parents. Feel free to email her if you would like her to call you in reference to mental health resources and/or help pertaining to your student or family concerns.

There is a resource folder in Clever that includes counseling lessons for students and families to access during Distance Learning. Families can find Social/Emotional lessons created by SMCPS School Counselors. New lessons will be uploaded throughout the weeks.

In addition, click here for Mental Health resources available and shared via the SMCPS website.

As our families work with their children (overseeing, monitoring, and supporting) work both within the online platforms and print packets, we have received questions on how best to support our students.

See below Tips to Assist with Self-Control. "Controls Impulses and Delays Gratification," a theme in the Fly Five Social-emotional Learning (SEL) competency of Self-Control, helps K-8 students practice waiting behaviors and delaying gratification to build stamina when working toward a goal. This theme also helps students recognize their temptations and the effects of impulsive behavior while offering positive behavioral alternatives.

Click here for the full PDF

Click here for the full PDF

We know all of this is difficult. Many of us are working at home while trying to help our own kids learn, and many teachers (and your principal) have similar issues - kids needing help, kids sharing devices, glitchy internet, internet getting bogged down because we are working at the same time our kids are learning, etc.

Each week, we will post some distance learning tips!

Please remember: We're in this together and please reach out if you need anything!

All traditional awards (3rd and 4th Marking Periods) will either be mailed home with Report Cards or provided to families when the plan for students to pick up personal belongings is finalized.

4th Marking Period Awards Assembly will be virtually done in June.

SMCPS is developing the parameters for students/families to safely return materials and pick up students' personal belongings.

RES is will develop a process once the parameters have been established.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through the logistics with care and thought to the safety of all involved in this process!

• The 4th Marking Period will be graded Pass/Incomplete based on students’ participation and progress in the online platforms, or paper packets as appropriate.
• Teachers are monitoring progress in the online platforms and are aware of the students who have received paper packets.
• The weighting of the 4th marking period grades in the final grade calculation will be determined based on the date of school reopening.

5th Grade recording of a student’s “participation and progress” in HAC in the 4th quarter will be captured as follows:

• Teachers will only use TAC/HAC as a recordation device for auditing purposes for each student’s “participation and progress.”

• Students receive one of the following alpha marks each week during MP4 that schools are closed. They are as follows:

• P – Participated,

• NP – Not Participated,

• PCC – Packet Check-In Completed, and

• NPCC – No Packet Check-In Completed.

The Division of Instruction presented the plan for grading during this fourth quarter to the Board of Education on Wednesday, April 29. The presentation can be viewed HERE on our YouTube Channel.

Although this year's 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony may look different, we do know that the students will have a promotion in some way or form!

If not already submitted, the following things are still needed for all 5th Grade students:

• A baby picture of your child for the traditional promotion slideshow
• A current photo of your child wearing sunglasses to match "Our Futures Are So Bright" theme
• Any photos you have from this school year or previous school years of your child with fellow 5th Grade classmates
• Please send phots to your child's homeroom teacher (Ms. Shively or Ms. Steiger) via email or a ClassDojo message.
  

Kickball Game

• Although it will not be the same, RES Staff are working on making a video that will be a "virtual kickball game."
• Click here for an example of the video staff are working to create.
• 5th Grade students are in charge of the kicking!
  
  • Someone needs to videotape the student kicking a ball (Can be a foul ball, bunt, or awesome kick).
    
  • The video clip needs to be a short clip (no longer than 15 seconds).
    
  • The video clip should look as if someone rolled the ball to them and they kicked the ball towards the outfield.
    
  • The camera man or woman should not follow the ball with the camera! Stay focused on the student.
    
  • Students do not need to use a kickball. Any ball you have laying around can work.
    
• Send video clips to Ms. Shively or Ms. Steiger vial email

6th grade Placement - Available via HAC as of 5/22/2020 - Click here for a PDF of the directions.

• To access your Grade 6 student placement go to your Home Access Center account https://www.smcps.org/hac, signing in, clicking on Grades, and navigating to the Test Scores tab.
• Under Test Scores, you will see a test called Next Year Grade 6 Placement. Students will have a result for both Reading and Math. Students will have a placement of either On Grade for an On Grade Level Grade 6 placement or Accelerated for an Accelerated Grade 6 placement.
• This placement decision does not address STEM application decisions which will be emailed to applicants separately.
• If you have any questions about placement decisions please contact Mrs. Goddard to request a meeting with Mrs. Batelka.
• If you know you have a Home Access Center account but cannot remember your password or username please use the Forgot My Username or Password link.
• If you do not have a guardian Home Access Center account or do not have internet access, please contact Mrs. Goddard.

Dear School Family,

Before your students embarked on their distance learning adventure, they all worked very hard on their Square 1 Art projects.

Ridge Elementary and Square 1 Art wanted all families to have the opportunity to still be able to purchase the artwork. Therefore, all Square 1 Art orders placed before June 30,2020, are eligible to be delivered directly to your home and have a limited time flat fee of $4.95 at checkout.

This change has been made by Square 1 Art in order to provide an easy, safe way for you to receive your order due to school closings. (After June 30, 2020, Retail Orders may still be made online, but the shipping fee will change to our regular Retail Order ship fees.)

To Search for Your Child Art Code online:

• Simply go to https://shop.square1art.com/shop/
• Click on "Find Your Child's Art"
• Enter your state, school name, and your child's name

Your child's art code will appear. Once you enter your child's art code provided, you may view your child's art, and order products!

Mobile Users: If you are already logged in to your Square 1 Art account, and do not see "Find Your Child's Art", scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and click on "view full site" and the page will re-load and you will see, "Find Your Child's Art Code".

If you have any questions please email Ms. Knight @ jaknight@smcps.org

Stay safe and stay healthy!

Ridge Elementary and Square 1 Art Staff

SMCPS ITS has installed External Wireless Access Points that will broadcast a WiFi signal into our parking lots for SMCPS staff and students at the following locations:

High Schools

• CHS

• GHMS

• JAFCTC

• LHS

Elementary Schools

• DES

• GWCES
  

• EES

• LMDES

• RES

Access is restricted to individuals with an official SMCPS email address. Students and staff can log in with their SMCPS credentials. Visit www.smcps.org for details.

Below are screen shots on how to connect to the smcps Connect wifi hotspots. You can click here for the PDF Document.

Students are currently able to access these platforms through the Clever app. This single sign-on portal uses their SMCPS login information. Once your student has logged in through the portal, he/she will be logged into all applications found there.

• Student Username: Initials and last 4 digits of Student ID (lunch number)
• Student Password: Student ID (lunch number)

Example for Clever login:

• Student Name: Jeffrey Scott Gibson
• Student ID: 123456
• Student Username: jsg3456
• Student Password: 123456

If you need assistance with your student's ID Number, please contact your child's classroom teacher or Mrs. Goddard and someone will follow-up with you to provide assistance.

If your student is unable to log into Clever, and you have verified his/her student ID Number, please email your classroom teacher. Classroom teachers will forward Clever Login issues through an internal process to be addressed as appropriate. Follow-up will be conducted via email with the parent/guardian reporting the issue.

If there are technical difficulties - contact your child's teacher. If he/she can’t help, he/she will go to the appropriate tech support.

If there are multiple kids sharing devices, consider adjusting the schedule for them to work at different times. Elementary students only need an hour a day to participate online. This also might help if the internet speed is not supporting everyone working at the same time.

Imagine Learning works best using Google Chrome.

Please try working through issues before giving up and going to packets. At least one week of trying would be a good place to start.

Click here to access the link for Imagine Learning at Home Resource Site

Click here to access the SMCPS Online Learning Frequently Asked Questions

See below for tips on what to do when your child is struggling and click here for the full PDF Document.

The primary method of communication with both students and families will be via email.

• Students in Pre-K and Kindergarten do not have an email address; therefore there is no direct communication between these students and their teacher. However, parents may contact the classroom teacher via email as needed.
• Students (1st through 5th Grade) are able to email teachers via their SMCPS email if they have questions regarding their online instructional program activities, the print materials (for those without internet access or technology), and the optional Art, Media, Music, and PE activities.
• Click here if you need assistance with your child's being able to access his/her email. If a student is still unable to access his/her email account, after viewing and following the directions in the PDF, please contact Mrs. Goddard (bdgoddard@smcps.org).

Classroom teachers will not be providing direct instruction during this period on online instruction.

Classroom teachers will be monitoring student participation in Imagine Learning Language & Literacy and Math.

Classroom teachers will be providing feedback on progress in the Imagine Learning Language & Literacy and Math Programs at least weekly via email.

Please note: Classroom teachers will not be sending individualized assignments or activities to students/families. Although optional activities may be provided (e.g., Freckle or Story Works) these activities will not be used to determine student participation or progress during this period of online instruction for our students.

At this time, SMCPS Staff may not interact with students with face-to-face technology (e.g., Face-Time or Zoom) and all communications with students are to be conducted via the student's SMCPS email. Students in 1st through 5th Grade have access to a SMCPS email.

RES Staff are available, beginning Tuesday, April 14th, to respond to email communications from both parents and students, during their designated Office Hours.

• Click here to access all Office Hours for RES Staff.
• RES Staff will be available via email to answer and respond to any questions parents or students may have.
• Although Staff may be available outside of these times, depending upon their schedules, please be aware that responses to any communications received outside of these hours may be delayed.
• In advance, thank you for your patience, flexibility, and understanding!

Please note: Email addresses are not hyperlinked.

Throughout this period of extended school closure, St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) is providing continuous opportunities for learning.

This is not our normal way of doing business, so there are many questions. We will provide ongoing updates for these questions.

• Click here for the SMCPS Update 7 (May 28, 2020)
• Click here for the SMCPS Update 7 (May 21, 2020)
• Click here for the SMCPS Update 6 (May 14, 2020)
• Click here for the SMCPS Update 5 (May 7, 2020)
• Click here for the SMCPS Update 4 (April 30, 2020)
• Click here for the SMCPS Update 3 (April 22, 2020)
• Click here for the SMCPS Update 2 (April 16, 2020)
• Click here for the SMCPS Update 1 (April 9, 2020)

All SMCPS high school Seniors "walked" this past week!

Throughout this past week, SMCPS had the honor of presenting the Class of 2020 with their well-earned diplomas!

Celebrate the occasion with the online premiere of the 2020 Commencement Video. The complete graduation videos will include footage of our students walking across the stage to receive their diplomas, speeches from students and staff, and musical performances by our talented school band, chorus, and orchestra students.

• Wednesday, June 3 at 6:00 PM - Great Mills HS
• Thursday, June 4 at 6:00 PM - Chopticon High School
• Friday, June 5 at 6:00 PM - Leonardtown High School

Be sure to tune in as we celebrate this year's graduates!

• June 2, Primary Election Day, is a scheduled school day.
  
• June 12 is the final day for Pre-K/HeadStart
  
• June 18 is the last day for students.
  

The Pre-K and Head Start application process, as well as Kindergarten registration, will begin when schools reopen. Visit www.smcps.org/ssp for more information.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS), in partnership with St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services, St. Mary’s County Health Department, and the St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services has engaged the assistance of local food service facilities to ensure continued safe food distribution to families with children. Food will be prepared and packaged in off-site food service facilities licensed and inspected by the St. Mary’s County Health Department and brought to the schools for distribution.

No contact, drive-up meal services are scheduled for next week, Monday through Wednesday, June 1 – June 3, 2020, at the locations listed below from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily.

• Leonardtown Elementary School
• Greenview Knolls Elementary School
• Margaret Brent Middle School
• Lexington Park Elementary School

Meals will be offered to all children 18 years and younger free of charge. Parents and children can drive up to these locations and receive meals that they can take home during current school closures. For questions regarding the lunch service program, please email foodservice@smcps.org.

The Department of Social Services has launched a local Food Hotline for residents needing assistance with food supply and can be accessed by calling 240-895-7000.

For additional community resources, please visit the St. Mary’s County Government Community Resource map.

For more information visit our website.

Families in need of groceries may contact St. Mary’s Caring Soup Kitchen to receive free supplemental food.

• Food boxes may be picked up at the soup kitchen or if you do not have transportation, they will make arrangements to deliver the box to your residence.

• Pre-registration is required by calling 301-863-5700. All information is confidential.

The soup kitchen also has bagged lunch distribution sites on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with a Pop-Up Pantry on Wednesdays between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot at the following locations:

• Ridge - Dollar General, 13270 Point Lookout Rd.
• Charlotte Hall - April's Pools, on the corner of Rt. 5 and Rt. 6

St. Mary’s Caring Soup Kitchen, 20850 Langley Road, Lexington Park is also distributing take-and-go meals between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. One meal per person.

• The soup kitchen is located at 20850 Langley Rd., Lexington Park.

St. Mary’s Caring Soup Kitchen is registered non-profit organization, and has been feeding the hungry for 27 years.

For more information on the St. Mary’s Caring program, call 301-863-5700.

FOR will meet again (virtually via Zoom) on Tuesday, June 9th at 5:30pm.

Please email Mrs. Batelka if you would like to be invited to attend the Zoom Meeting!

We hope to see more of our families as we work together to plan activities for our students and staff.

Working together, we're building a strong School Family!

Click on the site below to access the Friends of Ridge (FOR) the Kids Site for additional news and information. Also be sure to join the FOR Facebook group using the link above!

Website: https://sites.google.com/smcps.org/respto/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsOfRidge/

Please click here to access a folder of RES Staff members' "favorite" things.

FOR meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month with alternating times of 4:15pm and 5:30pm to accommodate the availability of parents and families.

As many families may not be able to attend evening meetings, other options are available to support and participate in activities FOR the Kids. Meeting notes will be posted below for families unable to attend meetings and notifications of volunteer opportunities will be shared via our Rocket Weekly for Families and ClassDojo.

Offering several different items to show your RES Pride all year!

Orders may be made at any time and most items come in a variety of color combinations.

If a paper copy is needed to place an order please contact the RES Main Office and one will be sent home.

Please click here to access the site.

Please follow us: @res_smcps. We will be using Twitter for updates and reminders as well as a means of showcasing for everyone all of our Ridge Pride!