The Bullfrog Bulletin

Newsletter for Laytonsville Elementary School Families www.mongtomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/laytonsvillees/ Monday, August 29, 2011 Laytonsville Elementary School 21401 Laytonsville Road Laytonsville, Maryland 20882 o: 301-840-7145 Principal’s Pen f: 301-840-7147 School Hours – 9:05 am – 3:30 pm Never mind the earthquake and the hurricane, the real excitement happened today as we opened our doors to welcome back 460 Bulldog students. During Donna M. Sagona, Principal my classroom visits, I was continuously reminded of the brand of excellence we [email protected] have established here at Laytonsville Elementary School. I am proud of the support of our PTA, led this year by Mrs. Kim Braun, and I am energized by all Kimberly D. Rogers, Assistant Principal our parent volunteers who have committed themselves to a strong home/school [email protected] partnership. Equally, our staff is simply incredible. Character Counts at LES . Respect Our goal at LES is to provide rigorous and relevant learning opportunities so that . Caring all our Bulldogs are able to meet the challenges of the future. During the . Trustworthiness . Citizenship summer, our staff analyzed data to begin crafting our School Improvement Plan. . Responsibility We will continue to ensure that all our students perform at the proficient and advanced levels with a focus on increasing the number of students performing at Upcoming Important Dates : advanced levels in both reading and math. We will accomplish this by August 29 enhancing our commitment to excellence through our work as members of a high  First Day of School performing professional learning community (PLC). Members of a PLC August 31 demonstrate their belief in continuous improvement, sharing of best practices,  Back to School Night- Kindergarten and collaboration on a daily basis. They focus on student learning by September 5 relentlessly asking four very critical questions:  Labor Day Holiday 1. What are students supposed to know and be able to do? September 9 2. How will we know when students have learned the skills?  Back to School Picnic 3. What happens in our school when students do not learn? September 15  Back to School Night (Gr. 1-5) 4. What happens in our school when students already know or have learned 7 pm the skills? September 29 To answer these, processes have been put in place to examine student work and  Rosh Hashanah-No School to implement appropriate interventions and acceleration opportunities to align October 10 with student needs. As a staff, we are focusing our learning on effective  Donuts for Dads 8-9 am differentiation through small group instruction. We are adding to our repertoire  Open House 9 am – 12 pm of strategies in order to design instructional experiences that enable all learners October 13  General PTA Meeting 7 pm to successfully access and master challenging and engaging lessons. October 21  MSTA Convention-No School Adapting the new MCPS Curriculum 2.0 and the Maryland Common Core State October 28 Standards will support our improvement efforts as we continue to focus on  Halloween Class Parties PM “thinking in the 21st Century.” Teachers are organizing the learning environment October 31 so that students develop reflective, creative, and critical thinking “habits of  Professional Day- No School for mind.” We believe that tapping into the power of technology will enhance our students ability to provide learning opportunities that develop critical thinking processes. We currently have 4 Promethean Boards (Internet Interactive White Boards), Please continue to monitor our website for information regarding everything updated computers/monitors, and a new mobile wireless Netbook cart. We are “Bulldog.” also fortunate to be able to take advantage of the generous technology donations of two of our parents. More information regarding these future donations as well http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/s as the Curriculum 2.0 will be shared at Back to School Night on September 15. chools/laytonsvillees/ I am encouraged by our past and energized for our future. I am convinced that Emergency the sky is the limit for our fine school, as long as we remain committed to the Preparedness at LES cause of high levels of student learning for all. This school is a gift to children and I am proud to be the principal. Our first priority at LES is the safety and security of our students, staff, and parents. This week we will conduct the first of our ten required fire drills. To be **** In an effort to “grow the green,” we will not be sending paper copies of prepared for possible severe weather, we the Lamplighter to all families. The newsletter will be posted on our are reviewing our severe weather webpage twice a month. You may request paper copies by contacting your procedures and participating in tornado child’s classroom teacher. Copies will also be available in the office. drills. Please be sure to complete and return the Parent/Child Reunification ______form as well as update all emergency information with the office. Community Volunteers needed for Fall LES Extra-Curricular Club Session Cafeteria Meal Last year’s extra-curricular club session was a huge success; receiving rave reviews from all participants, parents, and sponsors. We are looking to continue Accounts and of course, enhance this very positive and purposeful program and need your Remember to use myLunchMoney.com help. Volunteers are needed to sponsor before or after school clubs beginning in to add money to your child’s account early October. Please contact Mrs. Rogers, our assistant principal, or me for using a credit card. Depositing funds into more information. the account eliminates the need for your child to bring money to school every day. ______Also, the cafeteria accepts cash or checks (payable to the school cafeteria) as prepayment. Be sure the check includes Donuts for Dads Celebration your child’s first name, last name and Calling all Dads!!!!!....Our "Donuts for Dads" celebration will take place PIN. Please include this on any between 8:00 and 9:00 am on the morning of October 10, 2011. We would like envelopes containing cash. to take this time to celebrate all that you do! Plan to attend this event to ______"mingle" with your children, their teachers, and other dedicated dads as you enjoy coffee and donuts generously donated by our PTA. This celebration is School-Wide Volunteers being held on the same day as our annual Open House event so that more of our Needed dads can enjoy time visiting with their Bulldogs! There are many volunteer opportunities available at LES. We are in need of volunteers to support the office, media center, book room, and lunch/recess program. Please contact the following staff members if you are available to share your time and talents: Book Room: Ms. Sue Kelly Media Center: Ms. Marianne Reiff Office: Mrs. Hustek Lunch/Recess: Mrs. Rogers