Lake Seneca Family Newsletter

Dear Lake Seneca Families,

I hope you’re having a great weekend! I’m excited to connect with you and share some important updates. One of the highlights of this month is our first "Hanging with Mr. Henderson" meeting, and I would love to invite all of our families to join me on Wednesday, November 13, from 9:00-10:00 in the All Purpose Room (APR). This will be our first meeting of the year, and we will hold these gatherings monthly moving forward.

Our topic for this session will focus on Community Circles – a practice we use here at school to build relationships, foster a sense of belonging, and encourage open communication. I’ll be sharing how we use them in the classroom and how families can incorporate them at home to support positive conversations and strengthen connections.

I encourage you to attend, ask questions, and share your thoughts. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to build our school community together!

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday!

Wishing you a week filled with joy and learning!

Always Learning, Always Growing!

Mr. Henderson

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

Join us for a morning of coffee and breakfast treats in the cafeteria, as we create a space for the community to learn about and utilize community circles. A community circle is a restorative practice, which helps to develop relationships, communication, and conflict resolutions skills. Our hope is that we can share strategies that are utilized in our school and can be done at home with your families. We would like to also provide an opportunity for you all to share feedback on how the school year is going for you and your child/ren. Please use the link or QR code provided to RSVP.

I’m excited to share that we're making great strides towards re-establishing our PTA. We’re now at an important point where we need additional support! Our next step is to assemble a group of stakeholders who can help with filing the annual tax reports for the years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

This is a critical task, and I’d love to have some additional hands to help us get this done efficiently. If you’re interested in assisting with this effort, please reach out to me by 7:00 PM on Monday, November 11. You can contact me via phone at 240-740-0280, by email at Raythorne_L_Henderson@mcpsmd.org, or through Remind.

Your support will make a huge difference in helping the PTA get off to a strong start, and I’m grateful for your involvement in this important work for our school community.

Thank you in advance for your time and dedication!

This year, our theme is "Always Learning, Always Growing," a reminder of our dedication to continuous improvement and lifelong learning.

In the spirit of growth, we are excited to share that an MCPS employee from Waters Landing Elementary, who is currently pursuing their doctorate, is conducting important research on the pacing of the MCPS curriculum. They are seeking valuable feedback from families across the community to gain insights into experiences related to this topic.

As a doctoral student myself, I understand the importance of community input and support. I encourage you to take a moment to participate in their survey and contribute to this important research.

Please see the flyer below for more information on how to get involved.

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!