Eagles' News from the Lake

We are thrilled to announce the return of our Community Walk-Throughs this school year! This initiative provides a wonderful opportunity for families and community members to observe the exceptional teaching and learning happening at Lakewood Elementary.

For those unfamiliar, here’s what to expect:

• What Are Community Walk-Throughs?
  Twice a year, we open our doors to small groups of community members to tour the school and visit classrooms, gaining firsthand insight into our scholars' learning experiences.

• What Will Happen?
  Each session begins with light refreshments and an overview of classroom etiquette, along with guidance on what to observe, aligned with our School Improvement Plan. Visitors then break into small groups (3-4 individuals) to visit four classrooms. After the classroom visits, we come together to reflect, share observations, and identify actionable ways to strengthen scholar achievement and foster school-community relationships.

• Why Should You Join?
  This unique experience deepens the connection between Lakewood Elementary and our community. Last year’s walk-throughs received glowing feedback and showcased our shared commitment to scholar success.

Mark Your Calendars
This opportunity occurs once per semester, and spaces are limited to maximize participation. Please choose one date to sign up:

• 4 December 2024 Walk-Through

• 2 April 2025 Walk-Through

Here is the link to sign up.

We would love for you to join us for this meaningful event. Thank you for being part of the Lakewood community and for your continued partnership in supporting our scholars’ growth and success.

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.

Please complete Round 2 Feedback!

MCPS continues to develop the 2025–2026 Traditional School Year Calendar. The district is seeking additional feedback from staff, families, students and the community. Take a moment to give us your feedback on Round 2 of the survey. The survey will close on Sunday, Dec. 1. Click here to access the survey.

Stay up-to-date with county-wide news and updates with these weekly messages.

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.

The Lakewood SGA is collecting books and toys in good condition to donate to the Rockville community. If you have items to donate, please drop them in front of the Media Center by 16 December 2024. ❄️ ☃️🌲

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.

Exciting News: Celebrating Inclusivity Through Art!

I’m thrilled to share that we’ve commissioned a talented muralist, Mr. Christian Penn, to paint the national Best Buddies mural logo on one of our school walls. This masterpiece reflects our commitment to inclusivity and the spirit of friendship at Lakewood!

Mr. Penn is an exceptional artist and a passionate advocate for schools. He volunteered his time and talent to create this inspiring mural. In addition to being a street artist, Mr. Penn is a musician, audio engineer, DJ, and founder of Projectivity, an organization dedicated to sharing creative resources and opportunities with youth and fellow artists.

About Best Buddies International:
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization on a mission to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

At Lakewood, we’re proud to foster these connections early through our own Best Buddies program. While the program is more widespread at the secondary level in MCPS, we recognized the importance of implementing inclusion at the elementary level. With close to 100 participants, our scholars are building meaningful one-on-one friendships every day.

We are beyond grateful to Mr. Penn for his incredible contribution and to our PTA for their generous support in making this project possible. This mural is more than art—it’s a symbol of inclusivity, shared voices, and respect for both abled and differently-abled scholars.

Please join me in celebrating this milestone and expressing gratitude to Mr. Penn and our PTA for their support in bringing our vision and mission to life.

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!

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

You can view the school lunch menus by clicking the button below. 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.

Dear, Lakewood Families-

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to share some updates about next month’s PTA activities:

PTA Meeting (In-Person): Dec 3rd at 7pm

We’ll have a guest speaker, Monique Ashton, joining us. She’ll provide a City update, discuss our advocacy areas with the Board of Education, and answer any questions.

• Restaurant Night ( Dec 12th)

• Ice Skating Night ( Dec 6th)

• Cookie Exchange for staff and teachers (Dec 16th)

Please help us share some special treats with our wonderful Lakewood staff in honor of the holiday season! The PTA is seeking your support by baking or buying at least 2 dozen treats to contribute towards a holiday cookie exchange. Please also consider buying or baking gluten-free, vegan, and/or nut-free options. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848ACAC2CA2FAC70-53434574-holiday#/

Treats should be dropped off in disposable containers at the PTA table in the main office during arrival time on Monday, December 16.
In addition to the treats, please write the following information on an index card or paper:

• Treat name

• Student baker(s) or contributor(s)

• Ingredients (to support those with allergies/dietary restrictions)

• Any holiday/year-end message you would like to share with Lakewood staff

Each staff member will receive a container in which they can collect an assortment of treats to enjoy. Thank you for supporting our hardworking Lakewood teachers and staff!

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.

Yours in Partnership.

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