Eagles' News from the Lake

Good morning, Lakewood families,

Thank you for your patience as I resolved my technological issues. Without further ado, here is this week’s edition of The Eagles News From The Lake! We have another exciting week ahead, and I encourage you to stay informed by following MCPS updates for any weather events that may impact school and office operations.

Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome a meaningful week filled with learning and celebrations, including:

• Guest authors and readers in honor of Black History Month

• SGA Spirit Week

• Wootton High School’s Annual Black History Month Program (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm)

• RESCHEDULED PTA Restaurant Night at Mamma Lucia

We can’t wait to see our Eagles bright and early Tuesday morning!

Warm regards,

Dr. Kelly

#ForTheScholars

#OneBandOneSound

February 2025 Events and Celebrations

All Month: Black History Month Observance and Celebrations

• 2/17: No School (Holiday)

• 2/18-21: SGA Spirit Week

• 2/19: Wootton High School Annual Black History Month Program 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

• 2/19: PTA Restaurant Night~Mamma Lucia

• 2/28: Early Release Day (Scholars dismissed at 12:55 PM)

March 2025

• 3/4: In-person PTA Meeting 7:00-8:00 pm (Media Center)

• 3/14: PTA Science Fair

• 3/19: Annual Community Listen and Learn~ 6pm to 7pm (Media Center)

• 3/31: End of Marking Period 3

• 3/31: Harlem Wizards Basketball Game at Wootton High School

Community: Lakewood SY25 Master Calendar (Table Form) This is a live comprehensive calendar for the entire school year. We will continue to make updates as events are added. This link is from our Community Playbook - your comprehensive source of Lakewood Elementary information. I hope this helps in knowing what is happening at Lakewood, as well as supporting schoolwide programs. Please note PTA calendar items are listed on the calendar as well.

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the rich heritage, achievements, and contributions of Black individuals throughout history and in our world today. This year, we reflect on the resilience, brilliance, and impact of Black leaders, artists, scientists, educators, and trailblazers who have shaped our society.

At Lakewood ES, we are committed to fostering an inclusive community where every scholar sees themselves in history and feels empowered to build the future. Throughout the month, we encourage meaningful conversations, learning experiences, and celebrations.

Join the Black Student Union at Thomas S. Wootton High School for an inspiring and powerful evening as they present their Annual Black History Month Program!

📅 Wednesday, February 19, 2025
🕡 6:30 - 8:30 PM
📍 Wootton High School Auditorium

This year’s theme, "The Bridge Called Our Backs: A Story of Pain and Triumph," honors the resilience, struggles, and achievements that have shaped Black history and culture. The evening will feature dynamic performances from high school students, including dance, spoken word, and a stunning fashion showcase.

We invite you to take a few moments to complete our short, anonymous survey to share your feedback about your family's experiences at Lakewood Elementary from August 2024 to now.

Your input is invaluable and plays a crucial role in shaping decisions that benefit our student-scholars, families, and staff. We are committed to listening to your perspectives and using your insights to foster a positive, inclusive, and thriving school environment.

Thank you for partnering with us and ensuring your voice is heard. Together, we can continue to grow and strengthen our school community.

To participate, please use the link or scan the QR code provided. We appreciate your time and thoughtful feedback!

Online registration for kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year opens on Monday, 3 Feb. Children who will be 5 years old by 1 Sept. 2025 are eligible to register. Registration will be online through the ParentVUE portal. If your family is new to MCPS, you will need to create a ParentVue account here. For more information about eligibility and the registration process, visit the MCPS Kindergarten Enrollment webpage or our school at 240-740-3545. Current Lakewood families please encourage friends and neighbors to register sooner than later. Thanks in advance.

As part of the GT Screening process, scholars in grades 2 and 3 will be receiving a letter in the mail regarding the parent portion of the process. Please be sure to complete the parent survey by 28 February. If you have any questions, please reach out to our GT Liaison, Mrs. Peggy Khoury.

We hope you can come join us on 19 March at 6:oopm for our annual community Listen and Learn Session. Dr. Erika Edwards-Singletary, our Restorative Justice Instructional Specialist along with Dr. Daryl Howard, our Equity Unit Instructional Specialist, will be joining us to share an overview of Restorative Approaches and lead a community building circle. This is an opportunity for you to participate and learn about the power of building community through circles.

"Our schools are and will always remain safe places where every child—regardless of

immigration status—is welcomed, valued, affirmed, validated, respected, and loved." Dr. Thomas Taylor, Superintendent, December 2024

MCPS is committed to fostering civic engagement and civil discourse among our students. These are essential skills and strategies that empower young people to navigate a diverse world with respect and confidence.

• The MCPS Civic Engagement and Civil Discourse Google Site provides centralized resources for staff and is easily accessible via the MCPS Resources tab in Google Chrome. The website provides resources to support creating an environment where students can participate productively, engage safely, and experience uniform rule application across the district.

• We provided strategies concerning political engagement, including guidelines for staff and students.

Supporting Our Diverse Community

Our diversity is a huge strength for us, and it’s our duty to ensure every individual feels valued and supported. Please keep the following resources in mind:

• Procedures to follow if ICE comes to your school and Do’s and Don’ts for Staff

• Resources for students and families

• Translations will be available this week on the immigration webpage

• MCPS Immigration webpage with more resources (Students/Families)

MCPS uses a color-coded system to communicate normal operations to school closures. Please click on the picture below to read and learn more. Be sure to sign up to receive MCPS emergency information as well as download the Remind app to stay in the know.

We hope this message finds you well. We wanted to share information about the upcoming Winter MAP and DIBELS testing, which will take place after the winter break and conclude by 28 January 2025.

• Grades K-2: Scholars will take the MAP Primary (MAP P) and DIBELS assessments.

• Grades 3-5: Scholars will take the MAP Reading (MAP R) and Math (MAP M) assessments to evaluate their progress in these subjects.

Your child’s homeroom teacher will provide specific testing dates and details.

Additionally, our Emergent Multilingual Learners will participate in the WIDA ACCESS testing to measure English language proficiency. This testing will run throughout January and close on 18 February 2025, starting on or around 8 January 2025. The makeup window is 19 February 2025 thru 4 March 2025.

For more information about the WIDA ACCESS test, click here.

Thank you for your continued support of our scholars. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

As the temperatures drop, we want to remind families that scholars will have outdoor recess whenever weather permits. Please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for winter weather, including coats, hats, and any other necessary cold-weather gear.

If your child is missing any winter items, don’t forget to check our Lost and Found! It’s a great time to reclaim any lost coats, hats, or other belongings.

Fresh air and outdoor play are essential for our scholars’ well-being, even in the colder months.

Thank you for helping them stay warm and ready to enjoy their time outside!

Effective December 4, 2024, MCPS will be disabling and collecting older Acer model Chromebooks because they have reached end-of-life and should no longer be in use.

• The models being retired include the Acer C720, C740, C738, and C771.

• These Acer devices are currently being used in limited settings, including for home use and to run kiosks or signage in schools.

• Students currently using one of the listed Acer Chromebook models should return their device to Mrs. McCaffrey in the Media Center.

• Students who need a device for home use can submit a request for a new device by completing the Home Use form.

• To avoid a disruption in access to a device while at home, students should complete the form prior to devices being disabled on December 4, 2024.

Please take a moment to update your child’s emergency contact information in Synergy-ParentVue. This is essential for both daily operations and in case of emergencies. Below are key points to remember:

• Ensure all emergency contacts are current in Synergy, including parents and caregivers.

• All individuals listed as contacts must have a valid ID when picking up scholars.

• During a Parent-Child Reunification (PCR) process in the event of an emergency, we will only release scholars to individuals on the contact list with proper identification.

Keeping this information up-to-date is crucial to ensuring the safety and smooth dismissal of scholars, both in routine and emergency situations. Thank you for your attention and cooperation-much appreciated!

We've noticed an increase in the use of smartwatches during the school day. Per MCPS policy, shared in our Lakewood Elementary Community Playbook, smartwatches are considered personal mobile devices and should not be on or have mobile services activated during school hours. Scholars are not permitted to make calls during the school day nor should photos be taken from personal mobile devices. Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a focused learning environment!

The Restorative Approaches Unit has created a resources hub for parents and caretakers. The hub is located in a canvas classroom. Please click the link to enroll. We hope you find the resources helpful. At Lakewood, we implement Zones of Regulations and Community Building Circles daily throughout the learning day.

MCPS is implementing the use of the Remind app for schools. Communication, such as text messages, email or phone calls can be selected in a preferred language. Lakewood ES is up and running! Be sure to download the app today!

Parents

• Getting Started for Parents

• Letter for Parents

English, Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Amharic

Click on the button below to access the new Meal Viewer for Lakewood

Additionally, to learn more about the MySchoolBucks online payment system, which helps you manage your child’s meal account.

If you have not already done so, please check out our Lakewood Community Playbook. We want to provide easy access to the information you need. Please feel free to share any suggestions and feedback. We want to make this work for you! Click the photo below.

Get ready to celebrate our school spirit. Every Friday is spirit wear day. Check out our new spirit wear designs and latest deals! https://lakewoodspiritwear.com/. Proceeds of sales go back to the school.

Please donate your gently used clothing and shoes. You will see the yellow bin near our entrance to the parking lot. This is a positive way to contribute to the environment and community. Partnering with Planet Aid makes it all so easy! Lakewood earns 10 cents per pound and will use this money for scholars and staff. Planet Aid accepts clothing, shoes, and other textiles (for example, bedding, towels, and curtains). This means that there is no need to separate items based on their condition. Even items that are stained, torn, or frayed can be recycled, so drop off your worn-out items, too! The only articles of clothing we cannot accept are those that are dirty, wet, or moldy.Thank you in advance.

I pledge to making this a positive school year experience for my Lakewood scholars, staff, parents, caregivers, guardians, and community by being an anti-racist instructional leader.

Yours in Partnership.

Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/lakewoodes/
Location: 2534 Lindley Terrace, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
Phone: 240.740.5750
Twitter: @PrincipalLES5