Lake Seneca Family Newsletter

Dear Lake Seneca Families,

I hope you're enjoying a restful weekend! Your continued support means so much to us, and we’re grateful for everything you do to stay connected—whether that’s checking in on your child’s progress, engaging with their teachers, or encouraging them at home. Your involvement makes all the difference.

As we move further into the school year, we are committed to creating a welcoming and dynamic learning environment for every student. With your partnership, we can help our students thrive and reach new milestones.

Thank you for all that you do!

Always Learning, Always Growing!

RJ Henderson

Principal

Monday, October 21: Flag Football/Soccer 3:45-4:45

Wednesday, October 23: Vision & Hearing Screening Day 1

Thursday, October 24:

• Vision & Hearing Screening Day 2
• Fall Picture Day 1
• Fifth Grade Field Trip (11:20-2:00)

Friday, October 25: Fall Picture Day 2

Monday, October 28: Flag Football/Soccer 3:45-4:45

At Lake Seneca Elementary, we believe that every day of learning is important. Being present and on time helps students stay on track and ensures they don’t miss out on valuable instruction. We’re excited to share that attendance rates this year have improved compared to last year, thanks to your efforts in getting students to school each day!

However, we still face a challenge with chronic absenteeism. Did you know? The state of Maryland considers any student who is absent for 10% or more of the school year as chronically absent. This means just 2-3 days missed each month can add up quickly, impacting learning and progress.

Grade-Level Chronic Absenteeism (Current Rates):

- Pre-K: 35.96%

- Kindergarten: 18.87%

- 1st Grade: 18.64%

- 2nd Grade: 23.88%

- 3rd Grade: 21.92%

- 4th Grade: 10.91%

- 5th Grade: 10.87%

While we are making strides, there’s still room for improvement. Let’s work together to ensure our students have every opportunity to succeed by being present and on time each day!

We are excited to share a special opportunity with you! Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has partnered with Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., to provide new grand, upright, and digital pianos for our schools. As part of this partnership, MCPS families and staff can also purchase these and other in-stock pianos at significantly reduced prices during an exclusive piano sales event.

This year's event will be held from November 16–24, 2024, at Schaeffer’s Piano Company, located at 105 North Stonestreet Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Sales are by appointment only, allowing you the chance to purchase before the pianos are available to the public. Each piano comes with a 15-year transferable warranty, a bench, and one free in-home tuning.

For more information, please visit Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc. or call their appointment desk at 301-424-1147 to schedule your visit between November 16–24, 2024.

We are proud to collaborate with Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., in supporting our school music programs and ensuring our students have access to high-quality instruments. If you have any questions, please contact them at 301-424-1144.

At Lake Seneca Elementary, we are committed to ensuring that all students have the tools they need for success, including access to a device and reliable Wi-Fi at home. To help us determine which students need these resources, we are asking families to complete a brief survey.

For students who need a device at home, families can submit the Student Home Use Chromebook Request form. Once submitted, the student’s information will be verified for take-home device eligibility, and a Chromebook will be sent to the school for the student to check out. Please note that students will not be required to bring the home-use Chromebook to and from school. The request form is available in both English and Spanish for your convenience.

If your family needs Wi-Fi access, you can also request a MiFi device by notifying a staff member, who will complete the Student MiFi Request form on your behalf.

We are here to support you and ensure every student has the resources they need. If you have any questions or need assistance with these requests, please contact the school office.

We’re excited to announce that our Fall Book Fair is here. This is a great opportunity for your child to explore new books, spark their imagination, and support our school library.

We need your help to make this event a success! Volunteers are essential to keeping things running smoothly. If you’re able to lend a hand, please consider signing up using the link below:

Volunteer Sign-Up:

[Book Fair Volunteer Sign-Up](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949ACAE28ABFCCE9-51757031-lses#/)

To make your child’s shopping experience easier, you can also set up an **e-wallet** so they can shop cash-free. Learn more about the e-wallet system here:

E-Wallet Information:

[Scholastic E-Wallet Guide](https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/videos/intro-to-ewallet-fair-files.html)

Let’s make this year’s book fair a great one! Happy reading! 🎉📖

We understand that enrolling your children in before and after care can be a financial challenge. That's why Global Children's Center is committed to helping families access scholarship programs that make care more affordable. If you need assistance with enrollment or would like more information about our scholarship options, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Voucher Specialist, Ms. Naureen, at vouchers@globalchildrenscenter.com. We're here to help!

The MCPS school year calendar is designed to ensure the effective use of time for teaching, learning, and professional growth. It supports planning instructional strategies that focus on improving student achievement while keeping an equity lens for all students.

MCPS is seeking input about the 2025–2026 school year calendar! Please take a moment to complete the MCPS School Calendar Feedback Survey. Your input will be used to select the first and last day of school, as well as other important dates for the coming school year.

At Lake Seneca Elementary, we are dedicated to creating an equitable, positive, and respectful school culture where all students can learn in a safe environment that promotes both academic and social success. Any behavior that disrupts learning, creates a hostile environment, or negatively impacts a student's well-being—whether academic, psychological, social, or physical—will not be tolerated.

Bullying, harassment, or intimidation is defined as any repeated, unwanted, intentional behavior by one or more individuals aimed at harming, intimidating, or humiliating a targeted person or group. This behavior is often characterized by an imbalance of power or strength and can be motivated by personal characteristics or group affiliations, whether real or perceived. Such actions disrupt the school environment, interfere with students' learning, and create a climate of fear that can harm the physical and emotional health of students.

We kindly ask parents to talk with their children about appropriate behaviors, emphasizing the importance of respect, kindness, and ensuring that their actions do not interfere with a teacher’s ability to teach or a student’s ability to learn. Together, we can foster a positive environment for all students to thrive.

Every adult at Lake Seneca is responsible for preventing bullying and maintaining a safe and respectful space. All reports of bullying will be thoroughly investigated, and any concerns from parents will be addressed immediately with the appropriate actions.

If you have concerns about bullying, harassment, or intimidation, please complete the Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/230-35.pdf) so we can take immediate steps to address the situation.

Thank you for working with us to ensure that all students can learn and grow in a safe, supportive environment!