1. education
2. school

Lake Elkhorn Eagles
March 20, 2015
Lake Elkhorn Families~
Welcome to spring (at least according to the calendar)! We have several pieces of exciting news to share about the happenings at Lake Elkhorn. First, we have three Ainalists for the Maryland Letters About Literature writing contest! The contest involves writing a letter to an author of a book about how that book has affected your life and thinking. The three Ainalists are: Aamina Bora, James Dorsey, and Cassie Woolverton, all 6th graders. They will be honored at an awards ceremony at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch in Baltimore on April 25, at 11:00 am. Please join me in congratulating our students on their success. There were only 30 Ainalists at the 4th-­‐6th grade level, representing just 13 schools across the state.
In countywide competitions, Swarna Velumani represented Lake Elkhorn admirably at the Spelling Bee while TJ Ligget-­‐Creel and Mason Vanderhei presented their best work at History Day. Finally, the Debate Team, led by Mr. Bond, competed and won one of the two debates versus other Howard County middle schools. In addition, our Orchestra and Band both earned ‘excellent’ ratings at the adjudication. Thank you to Ms. Retterer and Mr. Burns for preparing and conducting our students to success! We are proud of our students who represented our school by demonstrating PRIDE!
In other news, Lake Elkhorn was highlighted on hcpss.org with a video about our Wellness Day activities. Please check it out! Finally, over the last two weeks, Lake Elkhorn students have persevered to perform their best in PARCC testing in reading and math. Thank you to Mr. Murray for organizing the testing with the assistance of Ms. Winkleman and Ms. Woolls!
There are two items that students need to be reminded about. First, electronic devices are not to be used in class without teacher permission. Students should never take pictures or video during the school day and are not to use the devices in restrooms or locker rooms. If an electronic device is conAiscated for violating these rules, it must be picked up by a parent or guardian in the front ofAice. If students are sent videos or pictures that are inappropriate, the student/parent should notify an administrator immediately. Finally, any and all prescription drugs must be turned into the health room. Students cannot have aspirin, Tylenol, or any other over-­‐the-­‐ counter or prescription medicine with them.
With Eagle Pride,
Martin Vandenberge,
Principal
_________________________
March 24th - Stem Fair
3pm - 7pm in the cafeteria
_________________________
March 26th - Basketball
Challenge LEMS Staff vs CES
Staff at Oakland Mills High
School
_________________________
3/27 End of 3rd Quarter
Schools close 3 hours early
______________________
March 30th - April 6th
Spring Break
_________________________
April 14th - Report Cards
issued
______________________
May 1st
Schools closed for students
_________________________
Mocha With
Marty
The dates are as follow:
May 4, 2015@ 9:30am, Media
Center
Lake Elkhorn Middle School ‘s
STEM Fair
Just a reminder that STEM fair is Tuesday after school (from
3:00-7:00) in the cafe. If you can swing by and score a
project or two we would GREATLY appreciate your help. Don't worry if your don't have any science experience we
will give you detailed directions and a rubric to follow. Food will be served on the stage.
-LEMS Science Team
Early College Program Registration
Parents of 8th graders: the Early College Program is still recruiting
students.
This program provides students with a supportive and scholarly pathway to be successful in college
credit-bearing courses during their Junior and Senior years in high school. The Early College
program is designed to provide students with courses that will enrich their high school experience
and support their success in achieving 30 college credits by the time they graduate from OMHS.
Students could also continue at Howard Community College the following year, earning an
Associate’s Degree a year ahead of the usual schedule.
Science focus: Prepare for careers in science, pharmaceuticals, medicine and others
Education focus: Prepare for careers in math or science education
ESSENTIAL FEATURES:
•
Grade 9/10: High school classes with cohort experience
•
Grade 11: Some college classes taken at OMHS
•
Grade 12: Elective taken at OMHS and College classes taken at HCC with transportation
provided
•
One further year at HCC to gain AA degree
Questions? Contact: Richard Smart, richard_smart@hcpss.org (410) 313.6945
TEACHERS ARE HEROES
Do you know a teacher who has gone above and beyond his or her job description and
instilled a lifelong love for learning?
ABC2 is proud to introduce Teachers are Heroes, a 10-month program highlighting one Maryland school
teacher (K-12) each month who has gone above and beyond his or her job description and instilled a
lifelong love for learning in Maryland students. The program runs August 2014 through June 2015.
ABC2, in partnership with MECU - Baltimore's Credit Union, will award the monthly selected teachers a
$250 check to use toward classroom supplies along with a plaque acknowledging their achievement.
Winners will be highlighted on ABC2 News and abc2news.com throughout the school year.
NOTE: If you nominate a deserving teacher or even re-nominate a teacher who has made a positive
impact in your community you’ll be qualified to win two tickets to dine & cruise aboard the Spirit of
Baltimore. One winner will be randomly chosen monthly thru June 30, 2015. The online application is
found at: http://www.abc2news.com/teachersareheroes
MS. BACON’S
Thank you to those that have taken the math career survey. We have already begun to gather
some interesting information and look forward to evaluating it! Unfortunately, it has come to our
attention that the link may not be reliable. If you have not already completed the survey please take a moment to complete it using the link below.
You will need to copy and paste the link into your browser. If you have any questions please do
not hesitate to contact Ms. Bacon at carla_bacon@hcpss.org
http://goo.gl/forms/s41OjDZ9sC---IF LINK DOESN’T CONNECT YOU, PLEASE COPY AND
PASTE IN THE BROWSER. THANKS!
EAGLE PRIDE
At LEMS, we show Eagle PRIDE by demonstrating:
Perseverance
Respect
Integrity
Dependability
Excellence
When students show PRIDE, they earn Eagle Bucks to be used at our school store. Also, when students show PRIDE, they are able to participate in quarterly incentive activities. Our Airst quarterly incentive will be 10/31. All students with 0 or 1 ofAice referrals will be able to participate in the Airst incentive. Incentives for 2nd and 3rd quarters will also have both PRIDE and academic criteria for attendance. For the 2014-­‐2015 school year, our school store dates are: 4/24
05/29
Please remind your student to always show their LEMS PRIDE. If you are interested in helping with the school store or our quarterly incentives, please contact Dr. Burkhouse or Ms. Dugan. Lake Elkhorn has three finalists for the Maryland Letters About Literature writing contest! The contest
involves writing a letter to an author of a book about how that book has affected your life and thinking. The
three finalists are: Aamina Bora, James Dorsey, and Cassie Woolverton, all 6th graders. They will be
honored at an awards ceremony at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch in Baltimore on April 25 at
11am. Please join me in congratulating our students on their success. There were only 30 finalists at the
4th-6th grade level, representing just 13 schools across the state.
Here is more information about the contest:
On behalf of the Maryland Center for the Book at the Maryland Humani7es Council, which is the state coordinator for this reading and wri7ng contest sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, I want to thank each of you for encouraging your students to par7cipate in this year’s compe77on. There were over 52,000 leGers submiGed to the contest from across the country. We received 1,928 crea7ve and hearLelt entries from Maryland students this year.
State judging is happening right now. There will be one winner and one runner up for each level of the compe77on. The state winner for each level will be asked to read their leGers at next month’s awards ceremony. The 2015 state winners advance to the na4onal level of the compe44on and will be no4fied in early April.
Community Activities
*Families who qualify for free
and reduced meals may be
eligible to receive a reduction of
up to 75% of the league fee.
Columbia Association Art Center
Choose Civility in Sports Poster Exhibit March 12-26, reception Mar.12, 5:30- 7:30 p.m.
Howard County Library and Public Schools have co-sponsored this event with the Art
Center. Come see the posters created by Howard County students of all ages. For info
please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075 or
email art.staff@columbiaassociation.org
Howard County Dept. of Citizen Services
Do you know a person, program or business - perhaps a police officer, athletic coach, tutor,
religious leader or music teacher - that deserves recognition for positively impacting
Howard County children? Nominate them online by Fri, Mar.13 for the 16th annual Dept.
of Citizen Services “Celebrating Successes for Children” awards program. The Ceremony
will be held, Tues., April 28, Ten Oaks Ballroom. http://www.howardcountymd.gov/
celebratingsuccesses
Columbia Association
Pizza and Portfolio workshop series, grades 8-12 with Alina Poroshina. Sat., Mar. 14, 10:30
a.m.-1:00 p.m., $25
This workshop is designed for beginner and intermediate level students. Pizza will be
served.
To register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075.
Community Activities
Robinson
Nature Center
Anne Robinson’s Centennial Birthday Celebration, Sat., Mar. 14 and Sun., Mar. 15.
Visit for complementary admission, cupcakes and more courtesy of the James & Anne
Robinson Foundation in honor of Anne's 100th birthday. For details, visit
www.friendsoftherobinsonnaturecenter.htm 410-313-0400.
Howard County Conservancy
Sat. Mar. 14, 10 a.m., Day Tripping, 50 Natural Places and Gardens. The Howard County
Conservancy offers guided hikes and talks on the second Sat. of each month. A beautiful and
interesting place to visit in all seasons of the year, rain or shine, program is FREE but
registration is necessary. Pre-register on line through our website, http://
www.hcconservancy.org/upcoming-events.html 410-465-8877 www.hcconservancy.org
Columbia Association Art Center
Pizza and Portfolio: Drape and Texture II. Charcoal drawing workshop explores techniques
for drawing a variety of subject matter, grades 8-12. Sat. Mar.14, 10:30 a.m.-1p.m. $25
Registration. To register, please call Columbia Art Center at 410-730-0075or
email art.staff@columbiaassociation.org
Boys Scouts of America
Scouting for Food will be held on Sat., Mar. 14. Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts will be out in
your neighborhood to collect your donations, which will go to one of 25 food pantries we
service in the county. A bag will be dropped off at your home a few days before. Please
remember to put your donations by your front door or your mailbox by 8 a.m. on March 14.
Thanks for your generous donations. scoutingforfoddnpd@verizon.net.
MakingChange
MakingChange will host a FREE Money Matters Fair on Sat., Mar. 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at
Long Reach High School. Free activities for the entire family will focus on such issues as
living within your means, college funding options, preparing for retirement and caring for
aging parents. More information is available at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/moneu-mattersfair-tickets-14759039685
Columbia Association
Every third Sun. come to the Columbia Art Center in Long Reach and enjoy a FREE family
friendly art activity. Sun., Mar. 15, 1-3 p.m.
Community Activities
Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center
The Rotary Clubs of Howard County in partnership with Wilde Lake High School are
hosting the seventh annual Soup‘r Sundae, a family event featuring soups prepared by area
restaurants, on Sun., Mar. 22, 12-2 p.m., Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road,
Columbia, MD 21044.
Tickets are at www.souprsundae.eventbrite.com or by contacting cathyvsmith@verizon.net
Tickets will also be available at the door for cash and checks made out to Grassroots.
www.grassrootscrisis.org
North Laurel Community Center
The MSC 2015 Spring Career Fair is being held on Tues., Mar. 24, 9 a.m. -1 p.m. The event
will take place at the North Laurel Community Center on 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road,
Laurel MD 20723. Pre-Registration is highly encouraged at http://
mcs2015careerfair.eventbrite.com.
The Village Howard, Inc.
SELMA will be shown on Tues, Mar. 24, 6:30 p.m., Slayton House in Wilde Lake, 10400
Cross Fox Lane, Columbia MD. Admission is $6 at the door. Sponsored by The Village In
Howard for the entire community.
INTRAMURAL AT THE
LAKE
2014-2015
SPRING 2015
SOCCER
denise_madden@hcpss.o
rg
GIRLS ON THE RUN
LACROSSE
Tierney_Ahearn@hcpss.o
rg
Fliers Attached
Newsletter
Meetings are the 2nd Thursday of every month as follows:
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE WINTER
DANCE.
April 9
th
May 14th
WE NEED THE FOLLOWING:
CHAPERONES
TICKET BOOTH
June 11th
We will be holding our Executive Board Meetings starting at 6pm –which are open to all- followed by our
General Meeting starting at 6:30 and the family event at the same time. PTSA meetings can be fun and we
want a wide range of participation from our members.
GIANT A+ is up and running – please take a moment to update your school info there- we really
are looking for the funds in order to bring in some Cultural events and assemblies.
Send in those Box Tops!!!! We need them- we want them and we will use them!!!!
We are also looking for various Volunteers- we always need help with events at school and if you possess a
certain talent for writing grants, coordinating donations from local businesses, taking tickets at events,
teacher appreciation, PTSA Bulletin Board or coming in to help with the School store (where our kids spend
their Eagle Bucks) then we’d love to hear from you! If you feel you can help fill out our volunteer form and
send it back into school- or fill the form out and email it back to us. Some upcoming events we need help
with are our March madness Basketball- Spring Flea Market in April- and a movie night in December.
GIANT A+ is up and running – please take a moment to update your school info there- we really
are looking for the funds in order to bring in some Cultural events and assemblies.
Send in those Box Tops!!!! We need them- we want them and we will use them!!!!
We are also looking for various Volunteers- we always need help with events at school and if you
possess a certain talent for writing grants, coordinating donations from local businesses, taking
tickets at events, teacher appreciation, PTSA Bulletin Board or coming in to help with the School
store (where our kids spend their Eagle Bucks) then we’d love to hear from you! If you feel you can
help fill out our volunteer form and send it back into school- or fill the form out and email it back to
us. Some upcoming events we need help with are our March madness Basketball- Spring Flea
Market in April- and a movie night in December.
If there is something you need or comments you have let us know by emailing us at:
Lakeelkhornptsa@gmail.com
We also have a mail box in the front office!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Jenny, Lee, Tonya and Gladys
JENNY BONILLA- PRESIDENT
LEE BUDAR-DANOFF- VICE PRESIDENT
TONYA CROTTY- SECRETARY
GLADYS KNIGHT- TREASURER
April 9th--PTSA Meeting
April 11th or 25th--Yard Sale
May 14th--TBA