Eagles' News from the Lake
As the temperature continues to drop, we want to remind everyone to ensure your child comes to school with warm clothing and/or layers to stay comfortable during the day.
You may be wondering how decisions are made regarding outdoor versus indoor recess during colder weather. Please refer to this link for the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) guidance on recess during cold weather.
Additionally, please know that Wootton Cluster Principals communicate and collaborate to make a collective decision when needed.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and let’s keep our scholars warm and ready for the winter season!
We are excited to share that Lakewood Elementary has been selected to partner with Scholastic Education Solutions to participate in a Family Engagement Assessment. This partnership represents an important opportunity to strengthen the connection between school and home, ensuring the achievement and success of all our scholars.
What is the Family Engagement Assessment?
This assessment focuses on evaluating and enhancing the partnership between school and home. Research consistently shows that effective family engagement is a key factor in scholar success.
How Can You Help?
We invite you to complete the Family Survey linked below. Your insights and feedback are invaluable to our efforts to support every scholar’s success.
👉 Please complete the survey linked here!
Deadline: Please submit your responses by midnight, Monday, 9 December 2024.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our scholars’ growth. Together, we can build a stronger partnership and ensure success for every Lakewood Eagle!
Upcoming School & Community Events
December 2024
12/9: Family Engagement Assessment Survey Closes--Please share feedback.
12/10: Make-Up Picture Day
12/12: PTA Restaurant Night: Ethiopis Restaurant-See Details Below
12/13: Winter Concert, 7 pm
12/16: PTA Cookie Exchange-See Details Below
12/23-1/1: Winter Break--No School!
January 2025
1/2: Return from Winter Break
1/20: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
1/29: No School for Scholars-Grading & Reporting Day
1/30: Marking Period 3 Begins
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!
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
Letter 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.
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.
Dr. Kelly, Principal
Yours in Partnership.
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/lakewoodes/
Location: 2534 Lindley Terrace, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
Phone: 240.740.5750
Twitter: @PrincipalLES5