Greetings TSES Families,
We had a terrific first week back to school here at TSES! Dr. Lewis and I enjoyed seeing all of our students in their classrooms engaged in community building activities and starting off the year in a positive way. Our staff did an outstanding job ensuring a smooth opening week for our students. Thank you to our families for your patience during dismissal this week as we continue to improve our procedures each day.
Please remember to complete your Family File. We are are almost at 80% completion and would love to be at 100% completion by the end of next week! HCPSS utilizes Family File for parents/guardians to complete emergency information. All parents/guardians must verify and/or update information for each child each school year. Parents/guardians can access their student's Family File by logging into HCPSS Connect, selecting the “More Options” tab on the left and then selecting “Family File” in the center column. Thank you for your support with completing this critical task.
This is a reminder that HCPSS schools and offices are closed this coming Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day. We will see our Eagles on Tuesday, September 3!
Have a wonderful weekend!
The week’s newsletter includes the following:
Important Dates
September 2 - HCPSS Schools Closed for Labor Day
September 10 - TSES Back to School Night for Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd Grade @ 6pm
September 12 - TSES GT Back to School Night @ 5:30
September 12 - TSES Back to School Night for 3rd,4th, & 5th Grades @ 6:00pm
September 18 - Schools Close 3 Hours Early (TSES will dismiss at 12:15)
Free and Reduced Meals Application
We encourage all families to check their eligibility. HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, which provide families with significant benefits to help save money. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.
Free and Reduced Meals eligibility provides discounts for summer programs, SAT, recreation programs, Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and internet programs. Other discounts are listed below. FARMs eligibility also may provide your school with much needed Federal funding.
Apply online now ( This helps TSES keep our funding as a Community School and impacts our status as a Title I school. Thank you for taking the time to complete!
Columbia Association Points Program
The CA (Columbia Association) Points Program is offered to students in grades 3-12 enrolled in the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) program at participating schools. Students can earn a free CA membership for themselves and their immediate family through their grades and attendance.
To enroll your student, please complete the CA Points Enrollment Form. Online enrollment will close on Friday, September 27, 2024.
For more information, visit CA Points Program or email CAPoints@ColumbiaAssociation.org.
HCPSS Strategic Planning
As part of the HCPSS strategic planning process, 5th grade students, staff and families are being asked to provide input about their values for our school system. Parents/Guardians: Please complete this HCPSS Strategic Planning Input Survey by 9/20/2024 and share the student version with your Grade 5 student(s). This survey is anonymous and available in multiple languages. If you have students at more than one school, please complete the survey one time, and indicate each school your students attend. If your student needs assistance completing the survey, please contact our front office for assistance.
Oakland Mills Fall Festival
The Oakland Mills Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Oakland Mills Village Center, 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, MD. Check out the detailed flier !
Lightspeed
Parents/guardians can monitor their child’s HCPSS Chromebook internet usage by signing up for Lightspeed Parent Notifications to receive a weekly email summary of their child’s usage.
Once parents have signed up for Lightspeed Parent Notifications, the email summary delivered each Sunday will contain a link with access to the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides near real-time information on their child’s internet activity.
The Lightspeed Parent Portal offers additional details about internet usage and the ability to control a child’s online activities when they are not on the HCPSS network at school by allowing parents to pause the internet for 1 hour, 3 hours or until 6 a.m. the next morning. Frequently asked questions about Lightspeed and the Parent Portal can be found online.
HCPSS teachers will access Lightspeed in the classroom to monitor student Chromebook usage. Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher if they notice their child is regularly on non-academic websites during the day.
Find instructions on signing up for Lightspeed Parent Notifications online.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to review HCPSS Student Mobile Technology Duties and Obligations, which outlines the responsible use of technology in accordance with HCPSS Board Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media.
Academic Dishonesty
The HCPSS Student Code of Conduct defines Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism as:
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Academic Dishonesty can take many forms including plagiarism and/or cheating.
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Plagiarism, using the work or ideas of others, may also include the use of Artificial Intelligence writing programs without proper acknowledgment, giving the false impression of original authorship.
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Cheating may include forgery, such as faking a signature of a teacher or parent; or copying the work of another person digitally or in person.
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Furthermore, supplying work to be copied is the facilitation of cheating. (Policy 8120 Testing: State and Local Responsibilities and Protocols)
*Plagiarism may include but is not limited to the following types of sources: ChatGPT, textbooks, Wikipedia, other online sources, etc…
If a teacher suspects a violation of the student code of conduct:
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The teacher will gather appropriate evidence (review of materials/resources, student statements, etc.)
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The teacher will explain to the student(s) the nature of the offense and the possible consequence(s) for that offense.
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The teacher will complete an Incident Report, assign the appropriate consequence, and contact the parent/guardian.
Consequences for violations may include:
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Level 1 consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
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Level 2 consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
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Completing a comparable assignment
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A grade of 0 for the assignment with the ability to re-do the assignment
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A grade of 0 for the assignment without the ability to re-do comparable assignment
*When determining a consequence, consideration may be given to the severity of the incident as well as previous academic dishonesty violations.
