EES Newsletter
1/19/2023
33rd FCPS Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Congratulations to Flourish Eziekwe who was selected to represent Emmitsburg Elementary School as our Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award recipient. Students selected for this award demonstrate the leadership characteristics of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by promoting fairness, celebrating diversity, building a better future for all and exemplifying the Pillars of Character Counts: Responsibility, Caring, Fairness, Trustworthiness, Citizenship and Respect. Thank you, Flourish for your leadership at EES.
The Great Kindness Challenge
❄️ Learn @ Home ❄️
As you may know, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been approved by the Maryland State Department of Education to implement up to three virtual instructional days in lieu of systemwide closure during inclement weather. While not necessarily the first option, the Learning @ Home days provide FCPS flexibility in responding to various weather emergencies. In developing the FCPS plan, our goal is to: mitigate disruption to learning mid-year; minimize additional days that often need to be added at the end of the school year; and keep students connected to learning in the event of an extended closure. Additional information can be found here.
As a result, our school has been engaged in planning and preparation for this possibility, to ensure full readiness if a virtual instruction day were to be implemented. Here’s what you need to know and how you can help your child prepare:
- Instructional Activities: All assignments will be independent and self-paced (asynchronous). You can expect approximately 20-30 minutes per subject area, that students can complete at a time that works for them or the household. Assignments and activities will be review and practice, not new content. In many cases, students will have choice in selecting the instructional activity. Please note that the design of these instructional days does not require students to follow a typical school or “live” virtual schedule.
- All assignments will be posted in Schoology, for digital access or for a copy of printed packet that will also be available.
- Assignments will include instructional activities aligned to the curriculum, as provided by FCPS or assigned by your child’s teacher.
- Grades PreK-2: The default format for PreK–2 is a printed packet, which will be sent home with your child. For students with access at home, assignments will also be posted in Schoology and may include options for accessing digital instruction through programs such as i-Ready and Lexia.
- Grades 3-5: FCPS Chromebooks will be distributed to your child prior to the implementation of a virtual learning day. Assignments will be posted in Schoology. Printed packets will be available if requested by student or parent/guardian.
- Attendance: Students will be counted as “present” by logging into Schoology on the virtual learning day or turning in assignments upon return to school. Students who were unable to access the instructional activities during the virtual learning day will be provided with additional time.
Support: During a Learning @ Home Day, our staff will be available to provide “live” support to students during the day via Google Meet, in an Office Hours format. This is optional for students and not required. In addition, students needing support can also send an email to their teacher. Office hours, google meet links and the staff directory will be provided to family via the school website and email.
Please note that in the event of a virtual instructional day, FCPS will provide communication and notice well in advance of any predicted inclement weather to ensure that schools, students, and families are aware of this possibility and are fully prepared. Again, this communication is to assist in planning and preparation for this possibility that may be utilized in the future based on a multitude of factors. I will keep you fully informed as we move forward in planning.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Madigan
Quarter 2 SOAR Awards
We are excited to celebrate our SOAR and attendance award recipients on February 1st. Student invitations will be sent home with report cards.
PreK-K: 9:00 - 9:30
Grade 3-5: 9:35 - 10:15
Grade 1-2: 10:20 - 11:00
🍔 Join Us for Lunch 🍕
✨ Parent Volunteers ✨
📣 Attendance 📣
Regular attendance is directly linked to student success. For that reason, absences, late arrivals and early dismissals are highly discouraged. Excused absences include illness (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, contiguous illness), medical treatment, a religious observance or a court appearance. If a student is taken out of school for an extended period of time, s/he will be granted 5 days of vacation and the remaining days will be coded unlawful. Of special note, days when school is in session for only a half-day of instruction (conference days, in-service days, etc.) a student is considered absent for the entire day if he/she is not in school. See the FCPS Calendar Handbook for additional details regarding attendance expectations and policies or review FCPS Regulation 500-25.
We monitor attendance daily as a state mandate, and meet monthly as an Attendance Committee, including our School Counselor and/or Pupil Personnel Officer (PPW). Attendance letters are sent home at regular intervals notifying families if there are attendance concerns. If your child misses 10 or more days of school, or will be out for an extended period of time, the school may request a note from the doctor. Chronic attendance, missing 10% of the school year, is also closely monitored by the state of Maryland. If your child is approaching chronic absenteeism, we will invite you to a conference to discuss how we can support you.
Written Excuses
When your child is absent, s/he is required to present a note signed by a parent or legal guardian. Without a note, the absence is coded unexcused. As aforementioned, if your child has missed more than ten days of school, a doctor’s note will be required, or the absence will be coded as unexcused/illegal. A written excuse from the health care provider is required when a child is not able to participate in physical education or recess. An Activity Restriction Form can be found at www.fcps.org, or you can call our health room staff. If your child has contracted a communicable disease, such as COVID, chicken pox, measles, or head lice, please alert the health room staff.
Vacations
Vacations taken during the school year are not encouraged. They can be a disruption to your child’s academic achievement. If vacations are planned, the principal should receive a letter from the parents at least two weeks before the leaving date. This allows time to inform teachers and to organize their expectations of missed schoolwork. Students may be excused no more than twice during a school year for a combined maximum of five days. Long trips during the school year are hurtful to your child's academic performance.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Wednesday, February 1: Quarter 2 SOAR Awards
Friday, February 10: Valentine’s Parties
- Wednesday, February 15: Mid-Term. 2-Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
- Monday, February 20: Schools Closed
- Monday, February 27 - Friday, March 3: Book Fair
- Thursday, March 2: Read Across America Day
Contact Us
Email: amber.madigan@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/ees/home
Location: 300 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-1750
Twitter: @MadiganFCPS