Beacon Bulletin

PPES Families:

• It's Assistant Principal's Week! Please take a moment to thank our amazing AP Ms. Smith for all she does for our students. We would be lost without her.
• April 7-11 is the Week of the Young Child- Pre-K Applications will open up immediately following the BOE Meeting on April 9th!
• Just a reminder that Friday, April 11th is a 2 hour early dismissal. Spring break is from April 14th-21st. The Main Office will be closed April 14th- April 18th.
• Thank you for your understanding as we navigate the changing temperatures in our classrooms. As the weather fluctuates, please remember to dress in layers. This way, you'll be prepared for both warm and cold conditions. Unfortunately, we cannot adjust the temperatures on-site. If our classrooms become too warm, we do have fans available and alternative locations for comfort. We appreciate your patience as we look forward to the completion of our HVAC renovations this summer.

• Elementary SBRCs and Secondary Grades for Marking Period 3 will be visible in the Home Access Center (HAC) on the morning of Tuesday, April 8th.
• Please take a moment to complete the t-shirt order from for our Beacon Bolt Fundraiser. The button is below. We want to make sure all students have a shirt for this event.
• SMCPS & Healthy St. Mary’s are partnering again this year for our Annual Mental Health Fair on May 10th at the James A Forrest Career & Technology Center.
• 5th grade parents- please take a moment to read an important email from the teachers discussing and upcoming Health unit.
• Applications for STEM 6 will be accepted from April 1 to April 30. Interested 5th graders should visit the Academies page of the SMCPS website for more information and to apply.

• Spring pictures are right around the corner, April 9th. We will also be taking class pictures on the same day. Please see the flyer below on how to order for your student.
• Don't forget to order your yearbook. They make great mementos of your time in elementary school. The deadline is coming up soon. Please see information below.
• MCAP will be starting soon for grades 3, 4 and 5. Please look under the "IMPORTANT DATES" section to see when you child will be testing. Please make it a priority to come to school on time and not leave early on those dates to avoid make-up testing times.
• Our largest fundraiser of the year is right around the corner, BEACON BOLT BOOSTERTON! Each year we purchase t-shirts for our students to wear for this special event. We are looking for sponsors for our shirts to help elevate the price of the shirts. A donation form was sent home last Tuesday in the Tuesday Folder. Please consider reaching out to local business for sponsorship. It is tax deductible and a great way to build community support. Every little bit helps!
• We’ve teamed up with MySchoolBucks, an online service where you can easily and securely pay for school fees using a credit/debit card or electronic check. Using MySchoolBucks you can:
• Purchase items in our PPES online store- field trip payments
• Pay invoices
• View important school information & links
• Get started in 4 easy steps:
• 1. Download the mobile app or visit myschoolbucks.com
• 2. Create your free account
• 3. Add your student
• 4. Browse your [school name] online store
• If you have any questions about getting started with MySchoolBucks call (855) 832-5226. For any general questions please contact Ms. Adkins
• Please take some time to review the Title IX information below.
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Many citizens are concerned about reports in the media relative to ICE Raids and want to know how their local school systems plan to handle the issue. SMCPS will adhere to the guidance provided by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Please read A Guide for Students, Families, and Local Education Agencies on the MSDE website. Our actions are bound by law, and our administrative staff consistently ensures compliance.

• Parent Chaperones- Please remember as part of the volunteer guidelines chaperones are not permitted to take photographs of any PPES student other than your own. We do have quite a few families that ask that their child not be photographed. Please help us to enforce this important guideline.

• Parent volunteers- this is a friendly reminder that you may volunteer in the classroom during your designated time. However, we ask that you do not travel with the students to specials, lunch or recess. We love having you here to work with our teachers and helping our students. We ask that you please follow our guidelines. PPES Volunteer guidelines

• There are so many fantastic things happening in our efforts to support SMCPS students with disabilities. Please use this survey to share your praise, story, or news about successes in your school or department!
• Parent Pick-Up reminder... If you are changing your child's mode of transportation for the day to Parent Pickup you must send an email to Jayne Worch at jdworch@smcps.org and Melissa Adkins at maadkins@smcps by 2:30 PM to be added to the list. You will not be added anytime after 2:30 and will need to come in the front office to pick up your child after dismissal. Thank you for your help with this procedure. Dismissal is a VERY busy time of the day. We want to make sure all of students get home safely. Routines are very important to our student success. If at all possible please try to not change the mode of transportation unless it is absolutely necessary.

Please take the time to read this newsletter in its entirety. It is jam packed with information to keep our Beacons shining bright!

~Mrs. Zeier

Please click on the below button to access the survey for your child to receive a Beacon Bolt t-shirt. We will be collecting shirt sizes until April 3rd. This year the shirts uniquely designed for us this year. as soon as the design is ready I will share it out. . Please complete the survey before April 8th to ensure your student receives the correct size shirt.

First grade will soon be participating in creating Cave Art Paintings. Some of the pictures have bow and arrows as well as spears. Ms. Longo wanted to make you aware of this a provide the following information about the curriculum:

Cave Art Lesson

• 1st grade students will learn about some of the earliest forms of art, the cave paintings of Lascaux, France. They will create their own cave paintings using texture and multi-media materials. Focus will be on the most common subject matter found in cave paintings, the large mammals they hunted.
• Timeframe Spring (note not all 1st grade classes will begin the project at the same time, two will start in March/April and one will start in early May)
• Students will athletically explore artwork from Prehistoric times.
• Visual Art State Standard, anchor standard 11, Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding. Essential Question: How does art help us understand the lives of people of different times, places, and cultures? How does art preserve aspects of life?
• Visual Art State Standard, anchor standard 10, Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. Essential Question: How do people contribute to the awareness and understanding of their lives and the lives of their communities through art-making?
• Connection to the community: Early man survived through hunting and gathering, today hunting is a popular recreational activity.

It is that time of year when many of our students experience seasonal allergies. With those itchy eyes and runny noses, tissues are becoming a scarcity at school. If possible, we could use donations of tissues for our students. We tend to go through a ton of them in the early spring! Thank you in advance!

Please remember that we are working hard to keep our attendance percentage 95% or higher. We completely understand when students are ill and can not come to school. However, school attendance is a priority. If students are not here they are missing crucial learning! We had a little slip this week with our attendance numbers. Just a reminder that although it is sunny, it is still chilly out! Don't forget to bring a coat!

Come to our School Information Night for Multilingual Families. This will be an opportunity to get a general overview of the school system in the United States, to learn about building family literacy, high school graduation requirements, community programs, and more. Don't miss out! Register here.

We are so excited to announce that this year PPES is a Class Dojo school. Please be sure to join your child's class to receive important classroom and school updates. Also, we are unable to process any changes in transportation requests through Dojo. Please continue to email those to Ms. Worsch in the front office. Let's see if we can get 100% of our families on Class Dojo!

• 4/7- MCAP testing ELA 4th and 5th grade ( am)
• 4/8- Report cards available on HAC
• MCAP testing ELA 4th and 5th grade ( am)
• 4/9- Spring Individual and Class Pictures
• MCAP testing ELA 4th and 5th grade ( am)
• 4/10- MCAP testing ELA 4th and 5th grade ( am)
• 4/11- 2 Hour early dismissal
• Twin Day
• 4/14-4/21- SPRING BREAK!!!
• 4/22- 5th to Kennedy Center
• 4/23- MCAP testing ELA 3rd grade ( am)
• 4/24 MCAP testing ELA 3rd grade( am)
• 4/25- MCAP testing ELA 3rd grade ( am)
• MCAP testing Math 5th grade( pm)
• 4/28- MCAP testing ELA 3rd grade( am)
• MCAP test Math 5th grade (pm)
• 4/29-MCAP test Math 5th grade (pm)
• 4/30-MCAP test Math 5th grade (pm)
• 5/1- 3rd grade to Anne Marie Gardens (wear your field trip shirt)
• 5th grade to Blue Crabs (wear your field trip shirt)

1. Be sure to look up your child's bus number, bus stop, and approximate times. The HERE COMES THE BUS app will allow you to track the bus. Please remember these are approximate times.

If you have not already done so, please complete the meal benefit application if you think that your family may qualify. If you do not qualify or choose not to fill out a form, your student has the option to purchase breakfast and/or lunch each day. Payment may be in the form of cash or check payable to PPES, or by creating a My School Bucks account. Pease see link below for the application and My School Bucks link.

Click here to check your child's breakfast/lunch balance and add money to their account

If you are planning on volunteering regularly for your classroom teacher, you will need to complete the SMCPS Volunteer application. However, if you are volunteering as a chaperone on a field trip, you do not need to complete the application. You will need to sign in and out at the Main Office using your state issued ID. If you do not have your ID you will not be permitted to enter the school or chaperone on a trip. We have a 100% ID CHECK, NO EXCEPTIONS! There is no application fee for school volunteers. Parental involvement is a key component to student success. Thank you for your support.

Hi Beacon Families,

Please see the link below to view the newsletter.

Feel free to reach out anytime, I look forward to hearing from you! ☺️

Email: sjweinberg@smcps.org

Telephone: 301-994-2205

Click on the link below to visit her classroom

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HcrlfP4B9up3NXuq8pwFCQofd1wopaY8X43Wg1x0ZE4/edit?usp=sharing

• Are you looking for fun and free St. Patrick’s Day Math Worksheets and Activities to work on at home with your students?

  Sharing engaging holiday-themed math activities will give your students an opportunity to apply their math skills and develop their critical thinking while working through interesting puzzles and activities that capture their enthusiasm for significant dates such as St. Patrick’s Day.

  Click on THIS LINK to access activities. Enjoy!

  
  

Please see the information about what to do when your child is sick:

As we embark on a new school year, we want to highlight a key area of focus this year at Piney Point Elementary School: attendance. This year, we will be placing greater emphasis on ensuring that every student attends school regularly and on time.

Good attendance is crucial to your child’s success. Consistent presence in the classroom not only helps students stay engaged with their lessons but also builds habits of responsibility and discipline. It enables them to fully participate in educational activities, benefit from continuous instruction, and achieve their academic goals.

Lawful Absences

The following reasons are deemed lawful absences:

• death in the immediate family;

• student illness, for which the principal may require a physician's certificate;

• court summons;

• hazardous weather conditions;

• work, if approved or sponsored by the school;

• observance of a religious holiday;

• state of emergency;

• medical/dental appointment

• pregnant and parenting students (refer to SMCPS Board Regulations JED-R, JHCG-R)

• suspension;

• lack of authorized transportation; and

• other circumstances which, in the judgment of the principal or designee, constitute a good and sufficient cause for absence from school.

We understand that there may be circumstances that affect your child’s ability to attend school, and we are here to support you in any way we can. However, we encourage you to prioritize school attendance and to work with us to address any barriers that might arise.

Together, we can help our students thrive and reach their full potential. Thank you for your support and cooperation in this important matter.

Please review the following documents in regard to student accident insurance.

Informative Letter to Parents

Fact Sheet

Enrollment Information

Spanish versions available:

Informative Letter to Parents - Span.

Fact Sheet - Span.

Enrollment Information -- Span.

School Messenger Text Messaging FAQ's

Schoology is a very helpful tool and resource for teachers, students, and families. Please ensure that you are able to access Schoology for updates and information from the school and your child's teacher. If you need support in obtaining your Schoology log in information please email schoology@smcps.org for support. Please click Parent Notifications for directions to ensure your notifications are set to receive important information about your student.

Do you have the Schoology App?

Log Into the Schoology Mobile App

If you already have a Schoology account, download the Schoology app from Apple App Store, Google Play or the Amazon App Store. Tap the app icon to open it on your device.

You can use an email address or username to log into the application, depending on how your account was set up:

Log in through your School

1. Use the keyboard to enter SMCPS. As you type, matching choices populate in the list. The name, ID number, city, state, and zip code for the school should appear below.

2. Tap the name of your school or organization when it displays.

3. Use the email address or username to log in to the application, that was sent to you via email from Schoology with an app password. If you are an SMCPS student or teacher this is NOT your SMCPS password.

4. Tap LOG IN to complete.

If you are able to sign in with Google, and you are an SMCPS student or staff, please use that login process and follow the provided instructions in the prompts.

Want to enable notifications? Please check this document

Need to purchase a laptop charger?

You can do one of two things:

1. Email your child's teacher or the Library Media Specialist Miss Hazuda (sjhazuda@smcps.org) that you wish to pay for the missing laptop charger. A fine then can be assessed so that you can pay using My School Bucks, sending in cash, or a check (made out to SMCPS).

OR

2. Go directly to the DELL store. You can purchase directly from their website and have it shipped to your home.

Ensure one of these links is being used:

www.dell.com/mpp/smcps (click Shop Recommended Solutions to get to the discounted power cords)

www.dell.com/mpp/smcps-chargers (leads directly to the purchasing portal)

If you purchase from Dell, please make sure that you label the charger with the student's first and last name before sending it to school. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher or the Library Media Specialist Mrs. Anderson (lwanderson@smcps.org).

Birthday treats present the potential for allergic reactions for many of our students. They also interrupt instruction. However, we understand that some students enjoy celebrating their birthday with their friends at school. Because of all of these factors, birthday treats may NOT be edible. Gift bags with stickers, pencils, crayons, erasers, and/or other small toys are acceptable. They can also be shared at recess or the end of the day which doesn’t compromise instructional time. Parents who wish to provide birthday treats to a class are asked to notify the homeroom teacher in advance and to drop them off in the front office as early as possible.

Don't forget to join the PTA or to renew your membership for 2024-2025. The cost is $20 per family. The grade with the most PTA memberships will get a free pizza party! PTA members get VIP access to events and news via our PTA newsletter. By becoming a member, there is no obligation to volunteer or attend monthly meetings. Join here: https://tinyurl.com/PineyPointES