Lake Seneca Family Newsletter

Dear Lake Seneca Families,

Thank you for a great first week of school! It has been wonderful having our Cougars back in the building. Over the past several days, students and staff have been getting to know one another, establishing classroom and schoolwide routines, reconnecting with friends, and setting the tone for a successful 2026–2027 school year.

We also appreciate your patience and flexibility as we establish our beginning-of-year routines, particularly during arrival and dismissal. Each day, things are becoming a little more familiar and a little smoother. Thank you for partnering with us as we make sure our students are safe and supported.

This week, our Cougar family gets even bigger! We are excited to officially welcome our Pre-K and PEP students to Lake Seneca. For many of our youngest learners, this will be their very first experience with school, and we cannot wait to help them feel safe, welcomed, and excited about learning.

Learning Is Underway!

As we move into our second week, we will begin our first round of assessments. These assessments help teachers understand what students already know and can do, identify areas of strength, and determine where additional instruction or support may be needed. The information we gather will help us make thoughtful instructional decisions and ensure that students receive what they need to continue growing.

This makes being at school, on time, and ready to learn every day especially important. Students cannot benefit from the great instruction happening in our classrooms if they aren't here to experience it.

A successful school day actually begins the night before. A good night's sleep, a consistent morning routine, and arriving with enough time to settle in can make a tremendous difference in a child's ability to focus, participate, and learn.

A Reminder About Our School Day

Our doors open at 8:40 a.m., and students may begin entering classrooms at 8:50 a.m. We strongly encourage families to have students in the building by approximately 8:45–8:50 a.m. This gives them time to get to their classrooms, unpack, eat breakfast if needed, and prepare for the day.

School officially begins at 9:00 a.m. Students arriving after 9:00 a.m. are late and, more importantly, miss valuable time at the beginning of their instructional day.

Our school day ends at 3:25 p.m. Thank you for continuing to help us maintain smooth arrival and dismissal routines by having your children arrive on time and knowing their dismissal plans each day.

As we begin Week Two, I am incredibly excited about what is ahead. The first week gave us an opportunity to establish our routines; now we continue building on them and turning our attention even more deeply toward teaching, learning, and student growth.

Thank you for trusting us with your children and for being such an important part of our school community. A strong school year truly requires All Hands on Deck, and we are grateful to have our families alongside us for the journey.

Here's to another great week at Lake Seneca!

RJ Henderson
Principal, Lake Seneca Elementary School

• Monday, August 31: First Day of Pre-K/PEP
• Tuesday, September 1: PTA Meeting https://meet.google.com/orv-fqja-mem
• Monday, September 7: NO SCHOOL
• Thursday, September 10: Back to School Night (5:00-7:30)
• Wednesday, September 18: EARLY RELEASE (12:55)
• Monday, September 21: NO SCHOOL

MCPS is beginning the process of developing the 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 school year calendars, and families have an opportunity to share their feedback!

The school calendar affects all of us, and MCPS wants to hear from students, staff, families, and community members as decisions are considered for the next two school years.

When developing the calendars, MCPS must consider a variety of factors, including instructional time, state-required school closures, professional learning and planning days, early release days, assessment schedules, inclement weather and emergency make-up days, operational needs, and opportunities to support student achievement.

Take the Calendar Survey

We encourage Lake Seneca families to take a few minutes to complete the MCPS School Year Calendar Survey #1 and make your voice heard.

• The survey is gathering feedback for both the 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 school years.

• Please submit one response per person.

• The survey will close on September 20, 2026.

Your feedback is an important part of the calendar-development process, so please take advantage of this opportunity to share what matters to you and your family.

Families can also review MCPS Board Policy IDA: School Year Calendar or visit MCPS Calendar Central for additional information about the school calendar.

Thank you for making your voice heard!

Getting every Cougar home safely and to the right place is one of our most important responsibilities. With more than 400 students dismissing at the same time, we need everyone's help to make our afternoon dismissal safe, organized, and efficient.

How Will Your Child Get Home?

Please make sure your child and their teacher know their regular dismissal plan. Students may dismiss as:

• 🚌 Bus Riders

• 🚗 Car Riders

• 🚶 Pedestrians/Walkers

• 🎒 After-School Program Participants

Please use the link below to tell us how your child will typically get home from school:

CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR CHILD'S DISMISSAL PLAN

Need to Change Your Child's Dismissal?

We understand that plans sometimes change! If your child needs to go home differently than usual, please contact the Lake Seneca front office no later than 2:30 p.m. via phone call!

Dismissal changes received after 2:30 p.m. may not be accommodated. This cutoff gives our office staff enough time to communicate the change to your child's teacher and other staff members responsible for dismissal.

Whenever possible, please discuss the day's dismissal plan with your child before they arrive at school.

Early Pick-Up Must Be Completed by 3:00 p.m.

If you need to pick your child up before the end of the school day for an appointment or other reason, early pick-up must occur by 3:00 p.m.

After 3:00 p.m., students will not be released for early dismissal and will participate in our regular 3:25 p.m. dismissal.

At that point in the afternoon, our staff and students are transitioning into schoolwide dismissal procedures. Limiting early dismissals after 3:00 allows us to account for every student, minimize last-minute changes, and maintain a safe and orderly dismissal process.

Car Rider Reminder

Families using the car rider line should remain in their vehicles so that the line can continue moving safely and efficiently.

If your child needs adult assistance getting into the vehicle or buckling their seatbelt, please park and pick your child up as a pedestrian rather than using the car rider line. We also encourage families to practice independent seatbelt buckling at home.

Thank You for Helping Us Keep Every Cougar Safe!

Dismissal takes all of us working together. Knowing your child's plan, communicating changes by 2:30 p.m., and completing early pick-ups by 3:00 p.m. helps our staff make sure every student gets where they need to go safely.

Thank you for your partnership and for helping us start and end every school day safely. All Hands on Deck!

As we begin a new school year, MCPS has shared several important updates and resources for families. We encourage all Lake Seneca families to take a few minutes to review the information below. Keeping students safe, supporting strong learning, and maintaining a strong partnership between home and school are responsibilities we all share.

Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor recently shared two messages with families that provide helpful information as we begin the year:

August 11 Message: School Safety
August 17 Message: Teaching & Learning

Keeping Our Students Safe

Creating a safe and welcoming school takes All Hands on Deck. Families can help by reviewing important safety expectations with their children and encouraging them to speak with a trusted adult whenever something does not feel right.

A few important resources include:

• Standard Response Protocol – Learn the emergency procedures used in MCPS schools.

• Hate/Bias Protocols – Help us maintain a welcoming and respectful school community.

• MCPS Student Code of Conduct – Review expectations that help keep our schools respectful, orderly, and safe.

• No Cell, Bell to Bell – Limiting personal device use during the school day helps students remain focused on learning and supports school safety.

• Safe & Thoughtful Social Media Use – Talk with your child about making safe and responsible choices online.

Supporting Learning at Home

Families are important partners in their child's learning. MCPS has several resources available to help you understand what students are learning and stay connected throughout the year.

Refrigerator Curriculum: See what your child will learn this year. These family-friendly resources provide an overview of the major topics, themes, and texts students will experience each marking period.

Assessments: Review MCPS assessment calendars. Knowing when assessments are coming can help families understand what students are working toward throughout the year.

Study Habits: Explore strategies for building strong study habits at home. Consistent routines, breaking larger tasks into smaller steps, encouraging questions, and celebrating effort can make a meaningful difference.

MCPS Family Apps: Learn about the MCPS apps and digital tools families should know. These tools help families stay connected to school messages, student information, meals, and other important resources.

Keep the School Year at Your Fingertips!

Looking for an easy way to keep track of important dates? MCPS has created a family-friendly 2026–2027 school year calendar.

Print a copy, put it on the refrigerator, and keep it handy throughout the year!

Share Your First Day of School!

Tuesday, August 25 is the first day of school for all students, and MCPS wants to see those first-day smiles!

Families are invited to share their favorite first-day photos with MCPS. Select photos may be featured on the district's website and social media channels. Families can tag MCPS on Facebook, Instagram, or X.

Are Your Child's Immunizations Up to Date?

Please make sure your child's required immunizations are current. Families can review Maryland's school immunization requirements here.

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is also offering immunization clinics during August and September.

Let's Start the Year Strong!

There is a lot of information at the beginning of a school year, and we appreciate our families taking the time to stay informed and connected. Throughout the year, we will continue sharing the information you need through ParentSquare, Synergy Mail, and our family newsletters.

Thank you for your continued partnership. A safe, successful, and engaging school year truly takes All Hands on Deck!

Our Lake Seneca PTA is excited to kick off another year of partnering with families and staff to support our students and strengthen our school community. Whether you have a lot of time to give or simply want to become a member, there is a place for you in our PTA!

Join Us for Our Monthly PTA Meetings

PTA meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Meetings will be offered in a hybrid format, allowing families to participate in person or virtually.

Our first meeting of the year will be:

Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m.

Join Virtually:
Click here to join the PTA meeting via Google Meet

Additional information about the in-person meeting location will be shared.

Join the PTA & Enter to Be Principal or Assistant Principal for the Day!

Our PTA Membership Drive is happening now through September 30!

When an individual or family joins the PTA during the membership drive, their child will be entered into a special raffle for a chance to become Principal or Assistant Principal for the Day!

Imagine getting to help lead Lake Seneca for the day alongside Mr. Henderson and Ms. Dali!

JOIN THE LAKE SENECA PTA ONLINE HERE

Families may also join using the paper membership form included with this newsletter.

Looking to Get More Involved?

The PTA is especially interested in connecting with parents, caregivers, and family members who would like to take on a more active role this year.

There are many ways to contribute your time, talents, and ideas to our school community. If you've been thinking about getting more involved at Lake Seneca, this is a great year to jump in!

A strong PTA helps create more opportunities for our students, supports our staff, and strengthens the connection between school and home. We hope you'll consider joining us.

Lake Seneca is stronger when we have All Hands on Deck! ⚓💙

At Lake Seneca, we want every student to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive and being at school consistently is one of the most important ways we can make that happen.

Regular attendance is about much more than a number. When students are at school each day, they benefit from consistent instruction, participate in classroom discussions and experiences that cannot always be recreated, strengthen relationships with teachers and classmates, and develop habits of responsibility and reliability that will serve them well beyond elementary school.

What Does "Chronically Absent" Mean?

The state considers a student chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school days in which they are enrolled. Both excused and unexcused absences can count toward a student's chronic absenteeism rate.

Because the percentage is based on the number of school days that have occurred, every day matters, even at the beginning of the year.

We will continue to closely monitor student attendance throughout the year. Families may receive reminders, attendance letters, or requests to meet with school staff when attendance becomes a concern. When patterns of unexcused absences become more serious, additional steps may be required, which can include referral to a truancy review process and other actions permitted under Maryland attendance requirements.

Our goal is always to partner with families early. If there is something preventing your child from attending school regularly, please communicate with us so we can understand the circumstances and determine how we can support you.

Attendance Helps Lake Seneca Reach 4 Stars!

Attendance also matters for our entire school community. Chronic absenteeism is one of the measures included in Maryland's School Report Card.

As we continue our journey toward becoming a 4-star school and eventually a 5-star school, attendance represents an area where, together, we can make a significant difference. These are points within our reach! Simply getting our Cougars to school consistently, on time, and ready to learn helps individual students succeed while also helping our entire school move closer to our goal.

The Soda Pop Cake Raffle is BACK!

We're making great attendance a little sweeter!

Each week, students who attend school every day that week will be entered into our Soda Pop Cake Raffle! One lucky Cougar will take home:

• A bottle/can of soda
• A box of cake mix
• Simple directions for turning the two ingredients into a delicious Soda Pop Cake at home!

The best part? We hope our winners take their prize home and make the cake together with their family, a fun way to celebrate a great week of attendance.

Every day in school is another opportunity to learn something new, connect with others, and grow. Thank you for making regular attendance a priority and partnering with us as we work toward our next star.

Be Here. Be Ready. Keep Growing. ⭐ All Hands on Deck!

The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy’s Saturday School program provides students with additional academic support in a welcoming and encouraging environment. More than 2,100 students received support through this partnership during the 2025–2026 school year.

Opening Day and Family Orientation

Saturday School will begin on Saturday, September 19, 2026. An orientation for students and parents/guardians will be held at all Saturday School locations from 8:30–11:00 a.m.

Locations

Students may attend Saturday School at any participating location:

• Clarksburg High School

• Albert Einstein High School

• Gaithersburg High School

• Montgomery Blair High School

• Northwest High School

• Paint Branch High School

• Rockville High School

• Springbrook High School

• Wheaton High School

• Virtual option

Registration and Fees

Families may register:

• Online at www.saturdayschool.org

• In person at the Saturday School location their student plans to attend

There is a one-time registration fee:

• $95 for students who do not qualify for FARMS

• $50 for students who qualify for FARMS

There are no monthly tuition payments or additional program fees. Payment plans are available. Families who need additional financial assistance may submit a written request for a registration-fee waiver to the director of their selected Saturday School center.

Registration forms and additional information will be shared with families as they become available.

Creating a safe, respectful, and orderly learning environment requires a shared commitment from students, staff, and families. We encourage all families to review the MCPS Student Code of Conduct and discuss its expectations with their children.

What Is the Student Code of Conduct?

The Student Code of Conduct is an implementation guide that helps students, staff, and parents/guardians understand:

• Expectations for student behavior and safety
• How schools provide support and interventions
• How students, staff, and families should respond when a student violates a rule
• The procedures MCPS follows when addressing student misconduct

The Code of Conduct does not establish new policies. It explains how MCPS applies Maryland law, Montgomery County Board of Education policies, and MCPS administrative regulations related to behavior, safety, intervention, and discipline. It is aligned with the Maryland State Department of Education’s model Code of Conduct and disciplinary reporting categories.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

The companion document, A Guide to Student Rights and Responsibilities in MCPS, provides families with a brief summary of the policies and regulations that are most relevant to students. The complete text of Board of Education policies and MCPS regulations is available in the MCPS Policies and Regulations Handbook on the MCPS website.

Where and When Does the Code Apply?

The Student Code of Conduct applies whenever students are:

• At an MCPS school, office, facility, or on other property owned or operated by MCPS
• On an MCPS bus or another vehicle owned, operated, or hired by MCPS
• Participating in an MCPS-sponsored activity, including field trips, dances, and interscholastic athletic events

Student conduct that occurs outside school hours or away from MCPS property also may result in disciplinary action when the principal reasonably believes that the behavior:

• Threatens the health or safety of students or staff in the school setting, or
• Causes—or is reasonably expected to cause—a substantial disruption or material interference with school activities

Important Notice

Federal and state laws, Montgomery County Board of Education policies, and MCPS administrative regulations referenced in the handbook may change between published editions. Updates to policies and regulations are published on the MCPS website on an ongoing basis and supersede the statements and references contained in previously published editions.

We ask families to review these important resources together so that every student understands their rights, responsibilities, and the expectations that help keep our school community safe and ready to learn.

Throughout the 2026–2027 school year, families will receive regular updates about their child’s academic progress through interim reports, report cards, conferences, and communication from teachers.

How Report Cards Will Be Shared

• Marking Periods 1, 2, and 3: Printed report cards will be distributed to students at school.
• Marking Period 4: Final report cards will be mailed directly to families by MCPS.
• All Marking Periods: Electronic copies of report cards will be available through the MCPS ParentVUE portal on the designated release dates.

Because final report cards will be mailed centrally, Lake Seneca will not receive additional printed copies to distribute at the end of the school year. Please make sure your family’s mailing address and contact information are current. Contact the main office if any information needs to be updated.

We also encourage families to confirm that they can access ParentVUE before the first report card is released. Additional information about reports available for elementary parent-teacher conferences will be shared when it becomes available.

Lake Seneca Elementary School will continue participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) during the 2026–2027 school year. This means that every Lake Seneca student may receive breakfast and lunch at school each day at no cost to their family.

We encourage all students to take advantage of these nutritious meals so they are fueled and ready to learn throughout the school day.

View Menus, Nutrition Information, and Allergens

Families can view current breakfast and lunch menus through MealViewer on the MCPS Department of Food and Nutrition Services website. MealViewer also provides helpful nutrition and allergen information for menu items.

Special Dietary Needs

If your child requires a meal accommodation because of a medical condition, allergy, disability, or other special dietary need, families may complete MCPS Form 240-23: Special Dietary Needs Form. Please submit the completed form to the school so that we can work with Food and Nutrition Services to support your child.

Student Identification During Meal Service

MCPS uses student information to accurately account for meals served:

• Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 will use a barcoded meal card at checkout. Newly enrolled students will receive a card from the school.

• Students in Grades 3–5 will use their MCPS student identification number.

Our staff will support students as they become familiar with the meal-service process. Families of students in Grades 3–5 are encouraged to help their children learn their MCPS identification number.

We look forward to continuing to provide every Laker with access to a healthy breakfast and lunch each school day!

We understand that enrolling your children in before and after care can be a financial challenge. That's why Global Children's Center is committed to helping families access scholarship programs that make care more affordable. If you need assistance with enrollment or would like more information about our scholarship options, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Voucher Specialist, Ms. Naureen, at vouchers@globalchildrenscenter.com. We're here to help!