Lake Seneca Elementary School

Lake Seneca Elementary School
General Information 2015-2016
First Day for Students
The first day of school for students in grades K-5 will be Monday, August 30, 2015. This
will be a regular full-day session with buses running their regular routes.
Student Classroom Assignments
Class lists for the school year have been developed. Teachers devoted great thought,
time and energy to creating balanced classes and selecting the best possible class
groupings. We continue to be in a period of transition as new students are enrolled and
families are moving. The county allocates teachers based on numbers of students
enrolled. As a result of any changes in enrollment, class lists may need to be modified.
If you are aware of any families in the community with children to enroll, please
encourage them to call the school immediately. Teachers, upon their return to school,
will be sending “Welcome to My Class” post cards to students containing information
about your child’s classroom assignment. You should receive these cards during the
week of August 24th.
Sneak Peek (Meet and Greet)
Friday, August 28, from 10:30am-12 noon there will be a Sneak Peek Preview for
all students to give them the opportunity to find their classroom, meet their teacher, and
greet some of their classmates. Staff and volunteers will be available to help students
and parents locate their classrooms. This is the perfect opportunity for parents to meet
the teachers and arrange a time to speak to them if you have information you would like
to share about your child. This day is usually a very busy day with teachers trying to
greet all of their students so there is very little time for teachers to stop and have
individual conversations. We would like to see you there, but if you are unable to
attend, we will have many helpers available to assist students on the first day of school,
Monday, August 31, 2015. There will be a special parent meeting for parents of
kindergarten students at 10:00 am just before visiting classrooms. Teachers will
be sharing important information on how to prepare for a smooth transition to your
child’s first year in school.
School Hours- 9:00a.m.-3:25 p.m.
Students should arrive at school no later than 8:50 am. Students are expected to enter
the building and go directly to their classrooms between 8:50 and 9:00 a.m. The
instructional day will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Students entering the building after
the 9:00 a.m. bell are tardy and should report directly to the main office (accompanied
by an adult) to receive a late pass. Any student arriving after 9:00 a.m. or leaving
before dismissal must be signed in or out at the main office by an adult 18 years or
older. Students will not be checked out after 3:15 p.m. and must wait until dismissal
at 3:25 p.m. in order to protect the instructional day and ensure a safe and orderly
dismissal.
Attendance
Daily attendance at school equates with school success. We encourage students and
parents to make school a priority and to schedule vacations around the school calendar.
For your child’s safety, you are requested to call the school office (301-353-0929) by
9:15 a.m. if your child will be late or absent. You may leave a message on the
answering machine before 8:15 a.m. We make follow-up calls to parents of absent
children if we do not hear from them by 9:30 a.m. If you know in advance of a medical
appointment, or other absences, please call the office or send a note to the main office
as soon as possible. A written statement from the parent or guardian is required to
explain each absence upon the child’s return to school. This note should be given to
the classroom teacher.
Early Release Days-12:55 p.m. Dismissal
Several days throughout the school year are designated as early release days. Lunch
will be served on these days and students will be dismissed at 12:55 p.m. Please note
the early release days on the school calendar.
Visitors to Lake Seneca
You are welcome to visit the school at any time. If you would like to visit your child’s
class, we ask that you make arrangements with the teacher or the office ahead of time
in order to avoid disruptions to instruction. Montgomery County School Policy states
that all persons entering a school building must go to the school office, sign in, and wear
a visitor’s badge. Please help us ensure our children’s safety by checking in with the
office when you enter and leave.
We have implemented a new access control system (ACS). The ACS consists of a
surveillance camera installed at the school’s main entrance with a second camera at
another entrance. Signage will direct a visitor to push a button to alert the main office
staff of your arrival. Please state your business with the school (why you are here). A
remote locking system, controlled from the main office, will allow entry into the building
during the period between students’ morning arrival times and afternoon dismissal
times. All visitors will be asked to report to the main office where you will be asked to
sign-in. Sign-in will require a driver’s license id for individuals who plan to visit
classrooms or other areas of the building.
Safety and Transportation
To ensure the safety of all our students, please do not have your children arrive at
school before 8:40 a.m. If child is a walker, remind them to use the crosswalks and to
cross with the crossing guard and/or patrols at Wanegarden and Wisteria or
Wanegarden and Wynnfield. Patrols and adults will be stationed on the sidewalks and
entrances to the school to assist students during arrival and dismissal. Bus
transportation and information is included in this packet. We will be monitoring and
reassessing car rider procedures and ask your cooperation in following the
procedures outlined on the flyer entitled, “AM Drop-off and PM Pick-up Pattern.
MCPS Inclement Weather Procedures
If the conditions are severe, the school may be closed, have a delayed opening (10:50
a.m.), or an early closing (12:55). Parents, students, and staff members should not
call the school, but listen to the local radio and television stations. The following cable
channels will also provide you with updated information concerning MCPS: Comcast
channel 34, Verizon FIOS channel 36, and RCN channel 89. You may also call and
listen to a taped telephone message at 301-279-3673, use the Internet at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org , or receive emergency email announcements by signing
up for MCPS QuickNotes on the school system’s home page.
Medication Policy
For safety reasons, we must strictly adhere to the Montgomery County Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS) regulations to properly handle medication to be
administered to students. An Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication, MCPS
form 525-13, needs to be completed by the parent as well as the physician. A
pharmacist must properly label the medication and it must be hand-delivered to the
school by the parent. PLEASE do not send any medication to school with your child.
Immunizations
All students must be properly immunized to attend school. If the Health Room Staff
determines that your child does not have the proper immunizations, your child will be
excluded from school and marked absent. If you have questions or concerns pertaining
to your child’s immunization compliance, please call DHHS at 240-777-1550.
School Program
Each classroom teacher conducts an academic program that is designed to meet the
needs of all students, including differentiated enrichment activities and special activities
for gifted and talented students. In addition, Lake Seneca has the following resource
personnel available for students: counselor, resource teacher, academic intervention
teacher, math focus teacher, speech/language pathologist, reading specialist, art,
music, physical education, and media specialist.
Report Card and Conferences
Kindergarten report cards are distributed at the end of each semester. Report cards for
grades 1-5 are distributed every nine weeks. Parent-teacher conferences are
scheduled at the end of the first making period for each student in grades K-5. It is
requested that appointments for other conferences with teachers or the principal be
scheduled in advance. You will have the opportunity to sign up for conferences at the
September 8th and 9th Back to School Nights.
Breakfast and Lunch Program
Breakfast is available each morning, free of charge, for all students in their classroom
from 8:50-9:15. Students have a choice of two hot breakfast items, juice, and milk.
Breakfast menus will be sent home during the beginning of each month.
A hot lunch is served daily in the cafeteria. The menu choices include the regular hot
lunch, an alternate lunch, and a daily third choice (peanut butter and jelly pocket). The
menus is published monthly and given to each child in the school to take home as a
daily guide in deciding whether to purchase lunch. There is also an option for students
to buy milk if they are bringing a lunch from home. Information concerning the price of
milk, lunch and snack is included on the Lake Seneca website (Back to School Packet
> cafeteria/lunch section).
We will continue to participate in the free and reduced priced lunch and breakfast
program. Parents must reapply for this program each year. Applications will be sent
home the first week of school and we urge you to complete the application and send it
in if you feel you are eligible. Separate applications must be submitted for each child.
All inquiries, applications, approvals and denials for the program are confidential and
will remain so. Applications must be submitted before September 26th .
Lunch Menus for the First week of School ~ August 31st-September 4th are
included on the website in the Back to School Packet>cafeteria/lunch section.
School Meals---SNAP
Lake Seneca Elementary School will continue using the computerized cash register
system in the cafeteria. Each student is assigned an account that is accessed by a
Personalized Identification Number (PIN). It is a debit system that requires students to
make cash deposits into an account. At mealtime, the computer records food
purchases and deducts the cost from the account when the student enters his/her PIN
number on the keypad. Students who choose not to pay in advance still enter their PIN
number and pay cash.
Returning students will use the PIN assigned to them last year. New students will
receive their PIN the first week of school. There will be learning activities the first week
of school to familiarize new students and returning students with this system. To make
a prepayment, complete the form on the SNAP flyer in the Cafeteria/Lunch section on
the Lake Seneca website. Attach the payment and bring or send it to the cafeteria to
deposit money in a student’s account. If paying by check, please make it payable to the
Lake Seneca Elementary School Cafeteria and include the students first and last
name on the check. If you would like to prepay during the Sneak Peek on Friday,
August 28, payments will be accepted in the cafeteria. You may also prepay by going
to the new online service at myLunchMoney.com.
Birthday Celebrations
Birthdays are a special time for everyone! At Lake Seneca we love to recognize
students on their birthdays. Students’ names are announced over the intercom the day
of their birthday and each child is presented with a special birthday memento from the
office. Due to the rise in food allergies among students, we ask that parents do
not provide special birthday treats on their child’s special day. In lieu of birthday
treats (cookies, cupcakes, ice cream etc.), it has become a common practice for
students to share a special book with their classmates. The student can read this
special book to classmates during the independent reading time and the book can then
be featured in the class library for the remainder of the week. Also, if you are planning a
party for your child at home, we ask that invitations be mailed to students in the
classroom thereby avoiding any hurt feelings of students that may not receive an
invitation.
Cell Phones
In this new age of technology, it has become a common practice for elementary
students to carry cell phones for safety purposes. We do not discourage this practice
however, must implement very strict procedures for their use in schools. If your child
needs to carry a cell phone, once they are on school property the phone must be turned
off. Students are allowed to keep their phones in their backpacks, but for safety
reasons we ask that they drop their phones off in the office in the morning and pick
them up at the end of the day. We have a special basket to hold phones for all
students. This is a practice that has worked very well for students in the past 5 years. If
a student is found using their phone during the school day, the phone will be
confiscated and kept in the office until the end of the day. If there are repeated
incidences of cell phone misuse, the phone will be kept until the parent can pick it up
and the student may not be allowed to bring the phone to school. Any questions
concerning these procedures can be addressed by school administration.
Fond Farewells:
As will happen, every year we have staff that have made decisions to make changes in
their lives, careers, or schools of choice. This year is no exception. This year we have
a number of staff who will not be returning to Lake Seneca for 2015-2016 school year.
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Mrs. Phyllis Maier – Retired
Mr. Daniel Fischer(1stGrade) New Career
Ms. Kecia Hayman (Music) – New school
Mrs. Lauren Rinker (PE Part-time) – New school to decrease from 4 to 2 schools
Mrs. Megan Kenneweg (Art Part-time) – New school to decrease from 3 to 1
school
Mrs. Katie Hecklinger (Staff Development) – New position as an Assistant
Principal
We wish all of our departing staff the very best in their new endeavors/careers. They
will be missed.
2015/2016 School Staff
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Pre-K- Mrs. Victoria Penn
Kindergarten- Mrs. Sarah Witmer, Mrs. Erin Schwartzbeck, Mrs. Jill Roth,
Ms. Nicole Spradling
Grade 1- Mrs. Marlene Barakkatz, Ms. Devorah Bergman, Mrs. Laurie Crespo,
Mrs. Kirra Seliga, Mrs. Jennifer Weinel
 Grade 2- Mrs. Andrea Cameron, Ms. Kiarah Guice, Ms. Sarah Kershner,
 Ms. Brooke Simon, Ms. Kimberly Vigliotta
 Grade 3- Ms. Brittany Gonitzke, Mrs. Stacy Liu, Mrs. Markia Roberts
 Grade 4- Ms. Alesha Brechbiel, Mr. David Foley, Mrs. Jenifer Reed
 Grade 5- Mrs. Lacey Metzger, Mrs. Barbara Westreich
 PEP- Mrs. Susan Burchett, Mrs. Bridgette Fanelli, Mrs. Karen Cleet,
Mrs. Karen Thielke, Mrs. Joyce Sanders, Mrs. Kimberly Reitz
 Resource- Ms. Kristy Schwatka
 Speech- Ms. Melissa Haugen, Ms. Ingrid Treadwell
 Media Specialist- Mrs. Lisa Shartiger
 Media Assistant-Ms. Judi Blakeslee
 Counselor- Dr. Jennifer Jones
 Specials- Mrs. Samantha Baker (Art), Ms. Kimberly Hernandez (Art), Mr. Jon Lee (PE),
Ms. Shoshana Drake (Music), Mr. Sean Kober (PE), Mrs. Valerie Vinson (Music)
 Instrumental Music- Mr. Geoffrey Burns
 Reading Specialist- Mrs. Evelyn Epps
 Staff Development Teacher- TBD
 Academic Intervention- Mrs. Christina Tregoning
 Focus Teacher- Mrs. Jessica Dancer, Mrs. Christina Tregoning
 ESOL- Mrs. Shannon Kaisler, Mrs. Cindy Altamirano, Mrs. Vanessa Sperling
 IDA- Mrs. Swati Dalal
 Service Providers- Mrs. Jennifer Bulebush (OT), Mrs. Mary Ann Delaney (PT),
 Mrs. Jennifer Story (Audiologist), Mrs. Julie Underwood (OT)
 Building Service-Mr. William Castle, Mr. Timothy Beckwith,
Mr. Rigoberto Contreras-Hernandez, Mr. Brian Leach, Mrs. Stacy Wolfe
 Paraeducators- Mrs. Kathy Argyropoulos, Mrs. Maria Altendorf, Ms. Stacy Armezzani,
Mrs. Kimberly Bouma, Mrs. Christine Campitell, Mrs. Melinda Hahn, Mrs. Dawn
Hancock, Ms. Molly Gillespie, Mrs. Rosa Hartman, Mrs. Jennifer Larkin,
Mrs. Daya Radhakrishnan, Mrs. Kathy Vita, Mrs. Kelly Vita
Lunch/Playground- Mrs. Michele Austin, Mrs. Chrisy Carter, Mrs. Helena Cross, Ms. Pamela
Tinen
Nurse/Health Tech- Mrs. Carrie Sypes, Ms. Erika Piluti
Cafeteria- Mrs. Tracy Simmons, Mrs. Joan Lyles
Office Staff- Mrs. Deborah Ray, Mrs. Dawn Craig-Gunn
Administration- Ms. Teri Johnson, Mr. Jason Scott