A Message From the Lower School

Dear Lower School Families,

I hope everyone had a nice Easter Break and you are enjoying the spring weather. Spring is in the air here at Stone Ridge. Yesterday at Primes, we discussed the importance of family time and family gatherings. As we close our Lenten season, I want to thank you for the fellowship I see here at Stone Ridge. Your generosity and care shine through our children who helped organize and collect diapers for the Christ Child Society. Through your generosity, we collected almost 2000 diapers and 15 boxes of wipes! 

Please discuss with your child the importance of giving to others as we embody Goal IV and the values of a Sacred Heart School. The school affirms that all are created in the image and likeness of God, promotes the inherent dignity of the human person, and strives for relationships characterized by inclusion and mutual respect. 

Once again, I am reminding everyone that classes start promptly at 8:00 a.m. It is important to start our day together to be ready for special events like Primes and Assembly which start at 8:05 a.m. We have culminations coming up for our Project work and the children are excited to show their work to parents and family members regarding their projects.

The dates for culminations are:

• Pre-K: April 19

• K: May 9

• Grade 1: May 2

• Grade 2: May 7

• Grade 3: May 9

• Grade 4: May 1

Looking ahead, we will be providing summer assignments to our rising Grades 1-4 students. A letter will be sent out in late May providing information on the summer assignments. We appreciate your thoughtful attention to completing these summer academic assignments.

As always, if you have a suggestion or concern please contact your teachers, Terri Smith, or me, as we are always here to address the needs of our community. Schools are complex places and we work in the best interest of the students. We value our partnership with parents in providing the best education and community for our children. 

All the best,

Sandy

Ms. Sandy Gillespie
Head of Lower School
301.657.4322, ext. 1269
sgillespie@stoneridgeschool.org

Dear Lower School Parents,

As we approach the mid-year conferences, we recognize the significance of these meetings in understanding your child's academic journey and personal growth. We want to emphasize that these conferences serve as a snapshot in time, offering a glimpse into your child’s current academic standing and personal achievements. Teachers will present portfolio examples to showcase your child's work and progress. Recognizing the limited time available, the brevity of our meetings necessitates focusing on these key points of interest and development. In an effort to make our time as meaningful as possible, we are offering a few points to enhance this engagement:

• Preparation: Reflect on your child’s recent work, homework, and report cards. Jot down any questions or observations you have regarding their academic achievements or emotional health.

• Engaged Communication: Be fully present during the meeting, noting important points and asking for explanations when needed. Feel free to ask about how your child excels, where they can improve, and the specific support or resources available to aid their learning journey.

• Partnership: Collaborate with the teacher on practical steps going forward to foster your child’s success, whether that’s through regular study habits, leveraging additional resources, or tackling any obstacles.

• Continuous Dialogue: View this conference as a component of a continuous dialogue with your child’s teacher, ensuring you stay updated on their progress and address any concerns as they arise.

Please understand that while we aim to cover all pertinent topics, should deeper conversations be required, both teachers and our support team are eager to schedule further discussions. We look forward to meeting with you soon.

Thank you,

Chantell Prestcott-Hollander
LS Counselor & Student Support Director