Lake Seneca Family Newsletter
Sunday, October 11
A Message from Mr. Henderson
Dear Lake Seneca Families,
It's hard to believe we're already approaching the middle of October! It's been wonderful seeing our Cougars settle into their routines, build friendships, and continue making progress in their learning.
As we move through the month, I want to encourage every family to take an active role in their child's learning. This week, I challenge you to do three simple things:
- make sure your child arrives at school on time each day
- ask them to share something new they learned
- spend 15 minutes reading together or practicing a skill they're working on in class
Our students are capable of great things, and when families and staff work together, we give them the best opportunity to succeed.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for everything you do to support our Cougars!
All Hands on Deck!
Mr. Henderson
Week At A Glance
- Friday, October 16: No School for Students
- Thursday, October 22: Principal's Chat (9:15 - 10:30)
- Thursday, October 29: Bus Evacuation
- Friday, October 30: End of Marking Period 1
*NEW: PTA's Trunk or Treat
*NEW: Friendly Reminder: Please Pick Up Students on Time!
Families, we need your help making sure all students are picked up promptly at the end of the school day.
Our school day ends at 3:25 PM. We encourage families who pick up their children to aim to arrive by 3:15 PM so you're ready when dismissal begins.
Please remember that pickups after 3:45 PM are considered late. Our staff members have scheduled duty hours and are not compensated for staying beyond their workday to supervise students who have not been picked up.
We understand that unexpected delays happen, but we ask families to plan ahead and make arrangements to ensure students are picked up on time.
Thank you for respecting our staff's time and helping us provide a safe, smooth dismissal for everyone. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership!
*NEW: FREE Saturday School for ALL Lake Seneca Students!
Looking for extra academic support for your child? Through our Community School funding, ALL Lake Seneca students can attend the George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy's Saturday School for FREE!Students can strengthen their skills, build confidence, and get additional support in reading and math.
✅ 9 locations throughout Montgomery County
✅ Virtual options available for all grades
✅ FREE bus transportation available
📝 Register Today!
🚌 View Saturday School Bus Routes
Important: A parent or guardian must attend the child's first session.
Questions or need help registering? Contact Patrice Holmes, our Community School Liaison.
Let's keep our Cougars learning and growing!
*NEW: PTA EVENTS
*NEW: Have Your Say! Proposed MCPS School Calendars
MCPS is seeking family feedback on proposed school calendars for 2027–2028 and 2028–2029!
The Board of Education is considering a two-year planning approach that would help families plan ahead for school start dates, holidays, and breaks.
Your Voice Matters! The Board is accepting public feedback before making a final decision on November 19, 2026.
Lake Seneca families, we encourage you to take a look and share your thoughts! Your feedback matters as MCPS plans for the years ahead.
*NEW: MCPS School Closure and Consolidation Study: What Families Should Know
On October 8, MCPS shared an update with the Board of Education about a study exploring possible elementary and middle school closures and consolidations.
Important: No schools have been selected for closure, no recommendations have been made, and no decisions have been predetermined.
Community engagement begins October 19, giving families an opportunity to learn about the study, ask questions, and share feedback before any recommendations are presented.
Learn More & Stay Informed:
Lake Seneca families, your voice matters! We encourage you to stay informed and participate in opportunities to share your thoughts as this process moves forward.
*NEW: MCPS Curriculum Preview Day: October 19!
Ever wonder what your child is learning in school or how you can support them at home? MCPS Curriculum Preview Day is a great opportunity to find out!
Families can explore classroom materials, meet MCPS instructional specialists, ask questions, and discover helpful learning resources.
Monday, October 19, 2026
Session 1: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Session 2: 5:00–7:00 PM
Location: Carver Educational Services Center Cafeteria
Free drop-in event for all MCPS K–12 families! Stop by during either session at a time that works best for you.
It's a wonderful way to learn more about what's happening in your child's classroom and discover ways to support their success at home.
*NEW: Stay Connected with ParentVUE!
Did you know that ParentVUE makes it easy to stay informed about your child's progress at school?
With ParentVUE, families can:
Check grades and assignments
Monitor attendance
Find bus information
View report cards and assessment results
Communicate with teachers and schedule conferences
Complete online registrations
Make the Most of ParentVUE!
Download the updated app, customize your shortcuts, and check in regularly to stay connected to your child's learning.
Each parent or guardian should have their own ParentVUE account and password. Staying connected is one more way we can work together to support your child's success!
New State Assessment: MSTAR
Beginning this school year, Maryland is transitioning from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) to the new Maryland System of Testing Academic Readiness (MSTAR) for students in Grades 3–8 in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
MSTAR is designed to provide students with a shorter and more personalized testing experience while continuing to measure their progress toward Maryland’s College and Career Ready Standards. The new assessment uses an adaptive format, which means the testing experience adjusts based on how students respond to questions.
As we learn more about MSTAR and prepare our students for this transition, we will continue to keep families informed. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has also developed several resources for families who would like to learn more.
We will share additional information with families as we get closer to the spring assessment window.
Celebrating Our Pawsitive Cougars!
At Lake Seneca, we love recognizing students who consistently make positive choices and demonstrate what it means to be Safe, Respectful, and Ready. Our Pawsitive Office Referrals are a special recognition for Cougars who demonstrate exemplary behavior, responsibility, kindness, and positive choices consistently over time.
When a student receives a Pawsitive Office Referral, we make sure it is a celebration! The student receives a positive phone call home, a shout-out during our morning announcements, and has their picture featured on our front bulletin board for our school community to celebrate.
Families, you can help by talking with your child about the positive choices they make at school and encouraging them to demonstrate our Cougar expectations each day. We look forward to celebrating many Pawsitive Cougars throughout the year! What we recognize, we reinforce!
Global Children's Center
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!