June 8, 2020
Dear Mays Family,
BCPS is proud to offer students access to Summer Learning Hike – an optional summer learning opportunity. The following opportunities will be used for Summer Learning Hike:
- Reading Eggs – Early Childhood – Pre-K
- Exact Path Reading and Mathematics – Grades K-5
- Tutorials English/Language Arts and Mathematics – Grades 6-12
The early childhood resources, Reading Eggs, focuses solely on reading. All K-11 digital resources, Exact Path for Grades K-5 and Tutorials for Grades 6-11, offer students access to personalized instruction in English/Language Arts and mathematics. The personalized instruction identifies and addresses learning gaps that typically occur in the summer and works to ensure students are ready for grade-level instruction in the upcoming school year. The purpose of the Summer Learning Hike is to offer students the opportunity to review reading and math content from the current school year.
All Summer Learning Hike resources will be accessed through BCPSOne. A learning tile will be in place so that students and families can easily access the digital resources. Students will only see Summer Learning Hike resources that are aligned to the English/Language Arts classes in which the student was enrolled in SY 19-20.
The digital resources are student directed and should not require teacher or parent support. BCPS has also established real time support, Monday–Friday, from BCPS math and English/Language Arts teachers. This support can be accessed by students and families through established Google Meets rooms. Guidance for accessing the Google Meets rooms will be forthcoming.
The recommendations for time to spend on Universal Summer Learning resources vary by level.
- Reading Eggs – 60 minutes per week
- Exact Path – 90 minutes per week
- Tutorials – 120 minutes per week
Click on this FAQ document to learn additional information that will help support you and your students in general about the Summer Learning Hike opportunity.
Your Partner in Education,
Steve Coco, Principal
May 8, 2020
Dear Mays Family,
BCPS has worked to ensure that as many students as possible receive a computer in order to access online learning. As an update, Mays Chapel's second round of computers are now processed for delivery. We also realize that some students still require a paper packet. If your child still requires a paper packet for content starting May 18th, please contact our assistant principal, Ms. Fortier at ([email protected]). Even if you have already requested previous paper packets online, we are asking that you confirm that a paper packet is still needed for your child. We appreciate your support in ensuring that you receive the materials you have requested.
Prekindergarten parents do not need to make the request. All Prekindergarten students will automatically receive a paper copy.
Your Partner in Education,
Steve Coco
Principal
April 28, 2020
Dear Mays Family,
As you are aware, Baltimore County Public Schools developed a continuity of learning plan that included print materials and use of a digital platform. In response to the MSDE extension of the school closure through May 15 due to COVID-19; feedback from families and students; and the goal to provide enhanced learning opportunities for students, the continuity of learning plan has been revised. Below is the list of enhancements to the continuity of learning plan:
Beginning Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 1
- Class meetings through Google Meet will include both social emotional learning and academic instruction.
- Elementary classroom teachers will have more than one Google Meet this week.
Beginning Monday, May 4 and beyond.
- Elementary classroom teachers will have one Google Meet each day.
- Special area classes will have the opportunity to meet with students in partnership with their homeroom Google Meet each week. Students and families may also connect with special area teachers for clarification and small group support during Office Hours.
- Office Hours for all teachers will provide opportunities for small group and individualized support.
For additional clarity, please access a visual representation of this model at the following link: https://www.bcps.org/system/coronavirus/continuity_of_learning.html
In order to support student access to these instructional enhancements, Chromebooks have been mailed to students in grades K-5 who requested devices. As always, I want to thank you for your continued support of our school community. We miss our students and hope that your family is well.
Your Partner in Education,
Steve Coco
Principal
April 19, 2020
Dear Mays Chapel Students,
Hello! This is Mrs. Fortier, your assistant principal, and I am sending this message to all of our students. While our school building is closed, I invite you to connect with your teachers and each other through our online community in Schoology. Once you are in In Schoology, your teachers are posting daily announcements and read aloud messages. Visit the Mays Chapel Elementary Updates page to access these announcements and messages. This week we will be celebrating Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22. See the flyer linked below for ideas on how you can celebrate Earth Day. Be sure to post your celebration photos in the Earth Day discussion board in Schoology.
You can also access all of your lessons in Schoology. Did you know that you even have special area lessons available in Schoology? Each week, you will have nine lessons: 2 in English Language Arts, 2 in Mathematics, 1 Science or 1 Social Studies, and 4 special areas lessons (art, library media, music, and physical education). Your teachers, including special area teachers, are available to answer questions about the lessons. You can message your teacher through Schoology to ask for help!
Did you know that BCPS-TV is also creating videos to go along with some of your lessons? See the BCPS-TV YouTube channel to find grade level videos. You may find these videos helpful as you are working on your lessons.
Parents, Schoology is an online learning platform. Parents can access Schoology through BCPS One. For more information about setting up a parent BCPS One account see the links below.
I look forward to seeing how you celebrate Earth Day!
Mrs. Fortier
Assistant Principal, Mays Chapel Elementary School
April 15, 2020
Greetings Mays Family,
I wanted to share an additional resource announced today by Baltimore County Public Schools. Beginning Wednesday, April 15, BCPS-TV will air teacher-produced instructional content every Wednesday through Friday. The programming can be viewed on BCPS-TV (Channel 73 on Comcast Xfinity and Channel 34 on Verizon FiOS) in Baltimore County and on the BCPS-TV YouTube channel. This week’s programming focuses on English language arts, mathematics, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Programs vary in length from 10 – 22 minutes. Each week, the schedule will be updated and will feature additional subjects such as science, health, and fine arts. Health and physical education teachers are creating taped mini-exercise and stretch routines. The schedules for each week will be shared via social media and will be available on the BCPS website in the coronavirus update section.
As always, we appreciate your engagement and connectedness to learning during these times. We will continue to provide updates and unique opportunities to customize learning to fit your family's needs.
Your Partner in Education,
Steve Coco
Principal
April 8, 2020
Dear Families of Students in Grades 1 through 5,
Beginning on April 10, 2020, students and parents will notice changes to the Schoology gradebook. Please note the following
- The new marking period will be labeled “MP3/MP4.”
- Assignments will be located in either the “Minor” or the “Practice” category of the gradebook.
- Feedback will not be in the form of a traditional letter grade. A teacher may use a score (8/10) or qualitative feedback in the comments section.
- A percentage or letter grade will no longer appear in the gradebook for individual categories (major, minor, or practice), nor will it appear for the overall grade for new marking period (MP3/MP4).
Information regarding grade reporting for the report card and final grade calculation will be forthcoming.
Your Partner in Education,
Steve Coco
Principal
April 6, 2020
Mays Chapel Family,
I hope this message finds you staying well in all regards. We miss seeing you every day, so I’m excited to share that today marks the first official day of new learning with an opportunity to engage virtually with resources provided personally to you by your teachers through Schoology.
Each Monday by 12 pm, your teachers will create access to new lessons for each content area you experience daily at school; inclusive of your special area classes like PE, art, music, and library media. You will have the week to complete those lessons with an opportunity to meet with each of your teachers through their Schoology assigned on-line class meeting. During those meetings, students can connect with their teacher and classmates to check-in and receive support and clarification on the instructional concepts.
Each teacher has also identified two “office hours” daily to respond and connect with parents to answer questions and provide clarification where needed. Those office hours are attached to this email.
Outside of the on-line resources, each family, Pre-K through Grade 5 will also receive paper packets of the resources accessible on-line through a BCPS mailing initiative. The packets should begin to be received by the end of this week. Additionally, families in grades 3 through 5 were provided an opportunity to request a computer for home use while we are out. This will provide a chance to closely emulate the digital access available at school for those grade levels. Request for computers are being finalized by BCPS this week. Distribution will begin to occur through a district-wide mailing plan in the coming week.
If you need tech support, BCPS has devised a plan for parents and students. The support protocol also accompany this email.
Finally, as a staff, we understand and appreciate what an incredible undertaking this is for your family. The most important matter to focus on first is health. It should be everyone’s number one priority. With that in place, learning is possible. Please know that your teachers have worked tremendously hard over the last few weeks to develop a smooth transition to this environment. We seek to provide a transition that provides consistency and clear expectations across all grade levels. We know that there will be challenges in the beginning, but also know that there will be a lot to celebrate as we reconnect. We also understand that nothing replaces the face-to-face interactions we have with your child every day. To that end, we will do everything that we can to avail ourselves to your child’s academic and social emotional needs as we roll out our Continuity of Learning plan to your family.
Let’s make sure that we all support one another. We are Mays Chapel! We are each other’s community and together we will come out stronger for our shared experience.
Take Care,
Steve Coco
Principal
MCES Staff Office Hours
BCPS Tech Support for Students and Parents
April 3, 2020
Hello Mays students and families,
I am writing to inform you about marking period 3 and how we will proceed with modifications to our grading and reporting procedures during remote learning. As you are aware, prior to the state mandated school closure, the third marking period was scheduled to close on April 3, 2020. As a result of the school closure, Baltimore County Public Schools will be making adjustments to our grading and reporting process and calendar. These changes have been made to ensure that they are in the best interest of all students due to these extenuating circumstances.
- Marking period 3 will not close on April 3, 2020.
- We will combine marking period 3 (MP3) with marking period 4 (MP4) and will be called “MP3 and MP4.”
- Report cards will be created at the end of MP4.
- Schoology gradebooks will contain the grades previously received in MP3 and feedback from assignments completed during remote learning.
- During remote learning, whether students are following a paper pathway or digital pathway, teachers will provide feedback on completed assignments. That feedback may be in narrative form (oral or written) or in the form of a “score;” for example, number correct out of total number (i.e., 8/10). Scores will not translate into a letter grade, and assignments will not receive letter grades in the gradebook.
- How feedback occurs will vary depending on students’ access to technology. For students in Grades 6 – 12, following a digital pathway, feedback will be through Schoology or office hours. For students in Grades Pre-K – 12, following a paper pathway, teachers will share options for students to receive feedback.
- At the conclusion of “MP3 and MP4”, students will receive a grade of “Pass” or “Fail” for a course based on their participation and progress through remote learning.
- Information regarding final grade calculation for middle and high school students will be forthcoming
On behalf of the Mays Chapel School community, I want to thank you for your continued support of our school community and our students. Our administrative team will continue to be available to you via email, and I will provide on-going communication as we move forward.
Sincerely,
Steve Coco
Principal
April 1, 2020
Hello Mays Family,
As you are aware, Baltimore County Public Schools will begin remote learning on April 6, 2020. Below is an outline of the continuity of learning plan.
PreK – Grade 2 - Starting April 6, 2020
- Print materials will be available in three-week learning cycles. All materials will be printed and mailed to students’ homes. Additionally, the print materials will be available on the website in printed form.
- Students will have an opportunity to participate in weekly online class meetings.
- Students will have opportunities to demonstrate their learning based on curriculum goals.
Grades 3-5 - Starting April 6, 2020
- Each week, students will be exposed to new curriculum goals.
- Students will have an opportunity to participate in weekly online class meetings.
- Students will have opportunities to demonstrate their learning based on curriculum goals.
- Due to the Governor’s most recent order on March 30, 2020, Baltimore County Public Schools is working through a revised plan to provide students with devices, as requested through the online survey, in compliance with that order. Consequently, the first three weeks of learning for students will use printed materials. Those materials will be mailed to students’ home.
Grades 3 – 5 – Starting April 27, 2020 (in the event of an extended closure)
- Each week, students will be exposed to new curriculum goals.
- Students will have an opportunity to participate in weekly online class meetings.
- Students will have opportunities to demonstrate their learning based on curriculum goals.
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Dual Option for Students in Grades 3 - 5
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Print Pathway
(Students without digital access)
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Digital Pathway
(Students with digital access)
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- Print materials (three weeks at a time) will be posted on the website and in Schoology.
- For students without internet access, a way to request materials will be provided.
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New eLearning lessons posted each week to complete during that week as follows:
- Two English Language Arts lessons
- Two Math lessons
- One Content lesson (Science, Social Studies, or Health) on rotation
- Four Special Area lessons; one per special area class (Art, Music, Physical Education, Library)
- One Read-Aloud lesson
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As always, I want to thank you for your continued support of our school community. We miss our students and hope that all of our families are well.
Sincerely,
Steve Coco
Principal
March 27, 2020
Dear Mays Family,
I hope that you are all well during these times. Our school family continues to miss you and we have enjoyed engaging you in “virtual” ways through Schoology.
As you are aware, our school will be closed for a longer period of time. As a result, beginning April 6, 2020, there will be new learning available for students. The materials that are currently available on the BCPS website were designed to provide practice, reinforcement, and enrichment through April 3, 2020. You are encouraged to continue using those materials through April 3, 2020.
Beginning April 6, 2020, students in Preschool through Grade 2, will have print materials that can be accessed through the website. For families needing assistance with printing, support will be available. Information regarding how to access that support will be forthcoming.
Beginning April 6, 2020, students in Grades 3-5, will have the option of using a print or virtual pathway. We are in the process of collecting information regarding the technology needs of students in Grades 3-5 to make informed decisions. If you have a student(s) in Grades 3-5, please complete this survey for each of your students in those grades.
As we continue to prepare for learning that will begin April 6, 2020, our administrative team will be remotely available to you. We are reading and responding to emails daily. We will get through these times together! Thank you for your continued engagement.
Sincerely,
Steve Coco
Principal
March 26, 2020
Good Day Mays Chapel Families and Staff,
This is Magan Chyko-Leigh, Assistant Principal. By now, I trust that you have heard of the extended closure of all Maryland schools. BCPS is busy making preparations for continuity of learning during this time and we will share updates with you as soon as we have them.
We would like to share a way that we can all stay connected and have a little fun during this next week. Mays Chapel Spirit Week! Each day will be another fun way to dress up and show your school spirit. Here’s what we have planned:
Monday – Mays Chapel Spirit Wear Day
Tuesday – Hat/Crazy Hat Day
Wednesday – Selfie with a Stuffy/Real Pet Day
Thursday – Twin Day (from afar!)
Friday – Book Character Day
Check posts in Schoology, on Twitter, Facebook, and the MCES Website for more information. Your teachers may also send it to you in their own way so be on the lookout. We are going to post some discussion threads in Schoology where you can post your pictures to share with all of Mays Chapel. See below for directions!
Have fun with Mays Chapel Spirit week and stay healthy! We can’t wait to see your pictures.
How to Find and Post to the Spirit Week Discussion Board
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March 24, 2020
Greetings Mays Family,
First and foremost, I hope that this message finds you healthy from every perspective. While nothing official has been determined, or announced, in terms of school schedules for Maryland, we want to be prepared to provide continuity in instruction as our outside world continues to evolve.
You can support continuity in a few ways for now. First, stay connected with the district through the Coronavirus Updates link off the home page on the BCPS website. You may access that link directly at https://www.bcps.org/system/coronavirus/ . At this location, you’ll find timely centralized updates and access to school and community resources in multiple languages, including 46 locations where students 18 and under can access meals. Additionally, instructional materials will continue to be accessible through BCPS One Schoology accounts. Materials and access to learning opportunities will continue to be updated as necessary.
This week, you may continue to access the three weeks of materials that are available in Schoology or within the K-5 ELA and Math Packets distributed on March 13th. Currently, it is recommended, but not required, to complete these activities. Should you opt to complete these activities, be sure to pace your child’s instructional time and design a space unique to their learning. Be sure to build in breaks and make time for creativity and movement. It’s important to design something together so that everyone has a stake and your family can strike a balance between learning and downtime. Beginning tomorrow, our Mays Chapel TV studio crew that provides daily announcements while we are in session will begin to host morning announcements on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 8 am. Announcements will be posted to Schoology and accessible when you’re ready.
Finally, as a contingency plan with enthusiasm, we are planning a spirit week for next week that we may share digitally. There will be more information to come if modifications to the school calendar are made. Please know, that like your family, each of us are learning to navigate this new environment that we’ve come to know. We appreciate your support and understanding as we adapt this week.
Until next time, stay healthy and stay engaged in learning with a focus on your overall wellness. If there is anyone in the community that may benefit from receiving this message, please share.
Take Care,
Steve Coco
Principal
March 18, 2020
Dear Students,
This is Mr. Coco and this message is for you! Our entire school staff hope you and your family are staying healthy and well during this unusual time away from school. Baltimore County Schools is working together with our local and state leaders to give us updates as they are available. I will do the same for anything that is unique to Mays Chapel. We all miss you and are thinking about you every day. While we are looking forward to our return to school, I wanted to share a few ideas to keep everyone thinking about their learning.
The best place to start is simply create time and space for learning each day. It’s important to set a schedule for yourself with weekly and daily goals. You can create a schedule with your family and a space unique to you. I can’t wait to hear and see all the different ways you will come up with to stay mentally and physically active…so journal those ideas and take some pictures you can share!
Hopefully, you’ve started with the on-line resources available through Schoology or the ELA and Math packets we provided last Friday. I know plenty of our library books are out and in your hands so use some of your “you” time to read! Be proud to know that Mays Chapel had the largest single day checkout in all of Baltimore County last Friday with up to 10 books checked out by each of you.
Finally, don’t forget to build in time to be creative and get some exercise. There are great resources and information available through BCPS One and the Baltimore County Public Library websites. Be sure to check them out, and remember, a brain and body engaged in healthy learning and exploration is a happy brain. A happy brain is connected to a healthy body!
Until next time, be healthy…learn, create, and explore!
Mr. Coco
Principal