SAVE THE DATES! Visit the LEMS Calendar for more information!
Greetings!
This day is finally here! I have been waiting all summer to meet your children, and am so excited to see them on Tuesday morning! Our teachers and staff have been working hard to get their classrooms prepared and we are ready for the big day on September 3! To help make for a smooth opening, please review the information that follows, and review necessary procedures and information with your child.
It is our goal to help your child have a fantastic, memorable year. We invite you to partner with us, and to visit often. If I can be of any support, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at any time. I look forward to getting to know you and your child, and to working together.
Enjoy the holiday weekend, and don’t forget to set those alarm clocks on Monday night!
Sincerely,
Melissa Shindel
Principal
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
We are so excited to see our students this Tuesday, September 3! Doors open at 7:50 a.m. As in previous years, students will wait outside in front of the building prior to the opening bell, unless there is heavy precipitation or extreme temperatures. Although there are multiple entrances to our building, students will be asked to enter using one of two doors: either the main entrance/front door or the side door near the car-rider drop off location (on the side of the school once you pass the Head Start building). This is a change from last year, and we ask that you talk to your child about this change so that we have a smooth arrival. Once students enter the building, they should be in their administrative homeroom no later than 8:00 a.m. Staff members will be in various places around the building assisting students in getting to their proper location. Signs with administrative homerooms are posted throughout the building, and you can click here to access them on our website (be sure to look under the proper grade for your child). During this time, all students will receive their schedules, learn about Lake Elkhorn routines, expectations and procedures, learn about HCPSS policies, receive their lockers (later in the week for 7th and 8th graders), learn about Lake Elkhorn P.R.I.D.E., and more. We believe it is important for all students to start the year strong, and we believe giving them this time to learn about our school will assist them in doing so. Please note: Administrative homerooms will only occur during the first week of school. Starting on September 9, students will report to their first period class upon arrival.
7th and 8th grade students should not bring backpacks to school until they receive their lockers. Backpacks are only permitted to be carried to and from school, and should remain in lockers during the day. If a student accidentally brings a backpack to school, we will hold it for him/her in the front office until dismissal.
We implement a staggered dismissal in the afternoon. Bus riders are dismissed from school at 2:43 p.m. Car riders and walkers are dismissed at 2:50 p.m. We have been working with Mr. Davis and the administrative team at Cradlerock to plan for a smooth afternoon dismissal, since both schools let out at the same time. Student who meet their younger siblings who attend Cradlerock will leave with the car riders and walkers, and will meet their siblings on the CRES blacktop.
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR FAMILY FILE
If you have not already done so, please update your Family File. This has to be done each year and it is so important that we have the correct and updated emergency information for all of our students.
The link is now open, and we ask that you get a jump start on the back-to-school paperwork and begin updating your child’s emergency contact information this weekend to ensure a smooth start to the school year. When you log in through HCPSS Connect , there will be a large blue button called “HCPSS CONNECT LOGIN”. Click this button and it will direct you to log in. Once you log in, there will be a menu (usually along the left side of your screen. Find the link that says, “Family File (emergency information).” Once you click this, you will be able to begin updating your child’s information.
As a reminder, Family File contains information such as your child’s transportation, contact information, and medical considerations. For the safety of your child/children, it is very important that this information remains current. Please ensure that it is updated prior to the start of school. Parents who do not have, or may have forgotten their log-in credentials, can request assistance using the help link on the HCPSS Connect page: http://hcpss.org/connect. Please revise and/or complete your family contact information as soon as you are able, and preferably before the first day of school. We ask that you still go into the Family File to confirm your child’s information – even if nothing has changed from last year. Once you have completed this, you will get a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email, it means the updates are not complete.
A few tips:
We appreciate your efforts to complete this important task. Thank you!
SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS
Click here to see our 2019-20 school supply lists. It is important to keep in mind that this list is a guide. Your child will have different teachers for each subject, and there may be some variations once your child receives his/her schedule. We encourage you to keep your receipts in case items are not needed.
SCHEDULES AND LOCKERS
6th grade students who attended our orientation on Thursday, August 29 received their schedules and lockers at that time. All other 6th graders will receive their schedules and lockers on the first day of school.
7th and 8th grade students will receive their schedules in their administrative homeroom on the first day of school; they will be issued lockers once all of their required paperwork is completed and returned to school. Be sure to check your child’s backpack on the first day of school for his/her welcome folder containing the required paperwork and a lot of other important information. Further, since 7th and 8th grade students will not receive lockers on the first day of school, we suggest having your child bring a limited amount of school supplies on the first day (such as one pocket folder, one spiral notebook, sheets of looseleaf paper, and 2-3 writing utensils). Your child should not bring a backpack until he/she has a locker. Backpacks are not permitted to be carried during the school day.
BUS SCHEDULES
Click here to view bus schedules are on the HCPSS Transportation webpage here. As you prepare for a great start to school, keep in mind that sometimes it takes a week or two for the arrival times to be completely accurate due to the variety of bus routes. For this reason, we recommend that students arrive 15 minutes prior to the published, scheduled pick-up time. Thanks for your patience!
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS – 7TH GRADE STUDENTS
Reminder to parents of incoming 7th grade students: Effective on September 3, the first day of school, the following are required by the state of Maryland for all students entering Grade 7:
If we do not receive proof of immunization, your child will be excluded from school on the first day.
Click here for more information about this requirement.
Many students may have already received these immunizations, but the Health Room may not have the updated immunization record. Please contact your child’s doctor and send/fax in an updated copy of your child’s immunizations to the Health Room. Our fax # is 410-313-7633 or you may email a copy to Kassanadra_wanless@hcpss.org.
WELLNESS TELEMEDICINE CENTER COMES TO LAKE ELKHORN
HCPSS and the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) have partnered to implement school-based wellness telemedicine centers. Telemedicine centers use a secure, two-way link to transmit videos and images between our school’s private health suite and the telemedicine provider. For more information about the new Wellness Telemedicine Center at Lake Elkhorn, click here.
CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Cell phone use is a popular topic among middle school students. Our cell phone policy has changed slightly from last year. Click here to review the "LEMS Cell Phone and Electronic Devices Policy", and please, please, please review this with your child before the first day of school. Thank you for your ongoing support!
SCHOOL MEALS
Lake Elkhorn participates in National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. All students at Lake Elkhorn receive breakfast every day, provided by Maryland Meal For Achievement (MMFA). School lunches are available for $3.25. In addition, milk may be purchased separately for $.50.
For more information about school meals, Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications, menus, and the cost of school meals, click here.
Important Note: If your student received Free or Reduced Meals during the 2018-2019 school year, please be reminded that a new application must be completed each year. For more information about school meals and programs, please visit the HCPSS website at: http://www.hcpss.org/food-services/.
WELCOME VISITORS
In order to ensure the safety of all students and staff, all visitors will be required to press the buzzer located outside of the Lake Elkhorn entrance to the school. Be sure to bring identification with you if you are picking up your student, or if you need to visit any area of the building. Click here to familiarize yourself with our School Safety Protocols & Procedures for Visiting Lake Elkhorn. Thank you for working with us so that together we can keep our school safe.
STUDENT SERVICES
Our Student Services Team is made up of professionals dedicated to helping your child succeed in middle school. We have two school counselors who available to all students:
However, our entire team consists of two school counselors, a school psychologist, an alternative education teacher, a pupil personnel worker, a secretary and a data clerk. The Student Services Team is here to help your student get the most out of school and life. You and your student are invited and encouraged to speak with a member of our Student Services team whenever you have questions or concerns by calling 410-313-7635.
HAVE MORE BACK-TO-SCHOOL QUESTIONS?
Click here to visit our Back-to-School Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Further, if you have a question you would like us to add, please be sure to contact us and let us know!
SCHOOL MESSENGER: STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH HCPSS AND SCHOOL NEWS
Parents and guardians of currently enrolled HCPSS students automatically receive HCPSS News emails from the district and from Lake Elkhorn; this is based on the contact information currently in your child’s the Family File account. The program we use is called SchoolMessenger. SchoolMessenger automatically uses your contact information in the Family File, which is another reason it is so important to update and confirm your information as soon as possible.
Contact information for parents and guardians of newly enrolled students and students changing schools (including incoming 6th graders) has been automatically added to each school’s main contact list.
Reminder: Parents and guardians do not have to sign-up to receive SchoolMessenger emails. Your information is automatically added to SchoolMessenger based on data from the Family File.
NEWSLETTERS
Our newsletter will be emailed every other Friday, starting this Friday, September 6. PTA newsletters will be emailed on opposite weeks.
CONTACT US
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Main Office Fax Guidance
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410-313-7600 410-313-7633 410-313-7635
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Principal's Instagram |
@hcpss_LEMS principal_shindel |
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PTA online
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