Hello Lake Seneca Families,

I hope you had a great weekend! This week, we are excited to celebrate Read Across America Week—please see the flyer below for details on how we’re making reading fun and engaging for our students.

I also want to share some great news. Our overall attendance in February was much better compared to January! Thank you for making sure your child is at school each day, as every moment of learning counts.

Reading at home is just as important as reading at school. I encourage you to read with your child, ask them questions about what they’re reading, and stay connected with their teacher. Take a moment to check in on how your child is progressing in reading, writing, and math. My goal is for all students to read proficiently and to be on or above grade level in math, and your support at home makes a huge difference.

As always, thank you for your partnership in helping our students grow and succeed. Let’s have another great week at Lake Seneca!

Always Learning, Always Growing!

Mr. Henderson

Monday, March 3: Read My Shirt Day

Tuesday, March 4: Hats Off to Reading Day

Wednesday, March 5: Exercise Your Right to Read Day

Thursday, March 6: We're Going Places Day

Friday, March 7: Cozy Up With A Good Book Day

• WIZE STEAM After School Club 3:45-4:45

Tuesday, March 11:

• Patrol Meeting 12:00

Wednesday, March 12:

• MISA Grade 5: 9:00-11:15
• Grade 5 Family Life Meeting (Virtual) 6:30

Thursday, March 13:

• MISA Grade 5: 9:00-11:15

Friday, March 14:

• WIZE STEAM After School Club 3:45-4:45

We encourage all families to join the Lake Seneca Elementary School PTA and be an active part of our school community! The PTA Membership Form is included below, and we will also be sending home hard copies later this week for your convenience.

By joining the PTA, you are helping to support school events, student programs, and teacher initiatives that directly benefit our children. A strong PTA means a strong school, and we need your voice and support to make a difference!

Complete the form today and become a member! Thank you for your partnership in making our school the best it can be!

Great news, Lake Seneca families! Our attendance improved significantly in February, and we want to celebrate our students for showing up and staying engaged in learning.

Here are the top three grade levels with the highest attendance last month:

🥉 3rd Place: 5th Grade – 92% attendance
🥈 2nd Place: 4th Grade – 93% attendance
🥇 1st Place: 2nd Grade – 93.5% attendance

Way to go, students and families! Let’s keep up the momentum in March—every day in school is a step toward success. Thank you for your continued support in making attendance a priority!

Is your child ready for kindergarten? If they will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025, it's time to enroll for the upcoming school year at Lake Seneca Elementary!

🔹 How to Register
➡ Online Registration Opened February 3, 2025 – Families can complete the process through the ParentVUE portal.
➡ In-Person Registration Begins March 17, 2025 – Schools will provide more details on scheduling.

🔹 Kindergarten Program
Lake Seneca offers a full-day kindergarten program to support early learning and development.

📢 Stay tuned for more information on Kindergarten Orientation! This will be an opportunity for families to visit the school, meet staff, and learn about the kindergarten experience.

Let’s get ready for an exciting start to your child’s learning journey! 🚀

Lake Seneca Families, are your students interested in basketball? Pro Skills Basketball (PSB) DC, led by Director James Maerder, is a youth basketball organization focused on player development. They are committed to helping young athletes improve their skills in a supportive and competitive environment.

🔹 Free Basketball Clinics – PSB’s certified instructors are offering free skills clinics at schools, focusing on ball handling, passing, defense, and shooting.

🔹 Tryouts in March – PSB is holding team tryouts for students in grades 3-11. This is a great opportunity for young athletes to develop their game and be part of a competitive team that prioritizes growth over wins.

🔹 Coaching Opportunities – Interested in coaching? PSB offers professional development and coaching positions for those looking to mentor young athletes.

For more details on tryouts and clinics, visit Pro Skills Basketball or contact James Maerder at 423-502-1348.

Dear Lake Seneca Families,

We are excited to share a FREE 3-week Kindness & Martial Arts program offered by Master Method Karate to students in grades K-5! This program is designed to help students:

✅ Develop confidence
✅ Understand and handle bullying
✅ Show kindness and respect to others
✅ Learn fun and essential martial arts skills

📍 Locations & Schedule:

• Rockville (Limit: 30 spots)
  📅 Saturdays, March 15, 22, 29 – 9:15 AM
  📍 Master Method Karate – Headquarters, 5538 Randolph Road, Rockville, MD 20852

• Olney (Limit: 25 spots)
  📅 Saturdays, March 15, 22, 29 – 11:15 AM
  📍 Sandy Spring Friends Meeting House – Lyceum Room, 17801 Meeting House Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

• Damascus (Limit: 30 spots)
  📅 Saturdays, March 15, 22, 29 – 12:00 PM
  📍 Master Method Karate Damascus, 10017 Locust Drive, Damascus, MD 20872

• Gaithersburg (Limit: 30 spots)
  📅 Saturdays, March 15, 22, 29 – 2:30 PM
  📍 PowerHouse Studio, 212 E Diamond Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

🔗 REGISTER NOW: Click here to sign up!

💡 Space is limited! If a session fills up, you may be notified of alternate options.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to gain life skills while having fun. We are grateful for this community partnership and encourage our families to take advantage of this program!

With gratitude,

Master Method Karate

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is pleased to share information about Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc.'s biannual public sale of instruments, happening March 8–16, 2025. During this time, families will have the opportunity to purchase pianos at reduced prices.

This sale is part of MCPS’s partnership with Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., ensuring that students and families are informed of this event. If you are interested in purchasing a piano or learning more, please visit Schaeffer’s Piano Company for details.

Don't miss this great opportunity to bring music into your home!

The Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) has made it easier than ever to view your student’s school menus! With MealViewer, students, parents, and community members can access:

• School-specific menu offerings
• Nutritional information for each meal
• Filter options for top allergens

You can use MealViewer on a computer browser, the MealViewer app (available for Android and iPhone), or any smartphone browser. No sign-in or passwords are required to view menus!

MealViewer also offers optional features like:

• Rating food items
• Starring favorite meals
• Using a nutrition calculator
• Creating a personalized profile

Check out your school’s menu today and stay informed about the meals served at Lake Seneca Elementary!

We’re thrilled to announce that our online yearbook store is opening , and we’ve got some exciting tools to make it easier than ever for families to grab their copy!

Key Details:

• Store Opens: January 6th
• Store Closes: April 18th
• Yearbook Price: $20.00 (plus tax and a small convenience fee)
• Optional Personalization: Add a personal touch for just $4.99!

How to Order:
Visit our online storefront at https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/lakesenecaelementary to order your yearbook in a snap!

Keep an eye out for yearbook flyers and posters with a QR code for easy access.

Don't wait—secure your memories before the store closes. Let’s make this yearbook one for the books!

Effective December 4, 2024, MCPS has disabled and will collect older Acer Chromebook models that have reached their end-of-life and should no longer be in use.

Key Information:

• Retired Models: Acer C720, C740, C738, and C771.
• Current Use: These models have been used in limited settings, such as for home use or school kiosks/signage.
• What You Need to Do:
  • Students using one of these models should return their device to the school.
  • If your child needs a replacement device for home use, please complete the Home Use Form as soon as possible to avoid disruption.
• Deadline: Devices will be disabled starting December 4, 2024.

Additional Notes:

• Families of students with these models will receive more information about the transition and how to request a new device if needed.
• Other Chromebook models, including 15-inch Acer Spins and Lenovo devices, will continue to work as usual.

We encourage all families to help ensure these devices are returned promptly to minimize any interruptions in access to technology.

Winter is coming and with it can bring inclement weather. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the color code statuses and don't miss our Superintendent's Video linked below as well.

• Green: Normal Operations
• Yellow: Delayed Opening
• Blue: Early Dismissal
• Red: Schools and Offices Closed
• Orange: Schools Closed Offices Telework

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!