Lake Seneca Family Newsletter

Dear Lake Seneca Families,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the start of a new week with your loved ones! As we move into November, one of my favorite months of the year, I can’t help but feel excited about the upcoming celebrations. Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart, as it gives us the opportunity to spend quality time with family and loved ones.

I’m also looking forward to seeing all families at our upcoming conferences later this month. Your child’s teachers will be reaching out soon, if they haven’t already, to schedule these important meetings. Your involvement is invaluable in supporting your child’s learning journey.

In addition, I’m thrilled to share that all teachers will be utilizing the think-aloud strategy to enhance our students’ learning. This approach helps model for students how to think critically and creatively, guiding them to develop their own ideas rather than simply telling them what to think.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and dedication to our school community. Together, we are creating an environment where every child feels valued and empowered to reach their fullest potential.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

Always Learning, Always Growing!

RJ Henderson

Principal

Sunday, November 3: Daylight Savings Time Ends

Monday, November 4: Schools Closed: Grading/Planning for Staff

Tuesday, November 5: Schools Closed: Election Day

Wednesday, November 6: Start of Marking Period 2

Thursday, November 7: WIZE STEAM After school Club

Friday, November 8: Fall Festivals

Monday, November 11:

• Report Cards Available in Synergy
• Flag Football/Soccer 3:45-4:45

Wednesday, November 13:

• Hanging with Mr. Henderson 9:00-10:00
• Report Cards Distributed

Thursday, November 14: WIZE STEAM After school Club

I’m excited to share that we’ve made some progress with our PTA! As we move forward, our next crucial step is to assemble a group of stakeholders willing to take on the challenging task of filing the annual tax reports for the years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

This is an important task, and I truly need your support to ensure the PTA gets off to a strong start. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please reach out to me directly at 240-740-0280, via email at Raythorne_L_Henderson@mcpsmd.org, or through Remind. Your involvement will make a significant difference in getting our PTA up and running effectively!

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our school community. Together, we can make a positive impact!

As part of our School Improvement Plan, we’re focusing on student attendance. With your support, we can not only meet our attendance goal but also help students understand the importance of arriving on time each day. Congratulations to our October winners: 4th grade in 3rd place with 94.5%, 5th grade in 2nd place with 95%, and 2nd grade in 1st place with 96%! Our 1st Marking Period Attendance Champion is 5th grade, achieving 96%.

Remember, doors open at 8:40—aim to arrive by 8:50 to ensure students are ready for the day. Arrival after 9:00 is considered late. Thank you for helping us make each day count!

We're excited to announce this year's Yearbook Cover Contest! Our theme is Always Learning, Always Growing—a wonderful opportunity for students to create a cover that reflects this inspiring message. Encourage your child to get creative, perhaps with a design featuring elements like a tree or flower with students actively learning and growing together!

Important Details:

- All instructions for the contest are included in the attached flyer.

- All cover submissions are due by Monday, December 2.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher. Thank you for helping us make this yearbook memorable for our students!

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 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!