The Greencastle Gazette
Dear Greencastle Elementary Families,
Inclement Weather Information - Make sure you know how to receive updates in the event of a weather related delay, early release, or school closure. Visit the MCPS Emergency Information page to learn how to sign up to get notifications for school system emergency messages, district weather closures and more. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/
This Week
- Monday, January 6: Greencastle Yearbook Online Sales Begin
- Tuesday, January 7: PTA Virtual Meeting @ 6: 30 p.m.
- Monday, January 6 - Tuesday, January 7: Grade 1 MAP-P
- Tuesday, January 7: Grade 5 MAP-R
- Wednesday, January 8: Grade 4 MAP-R
- Friday, January 10: Grades 4 & 5 MAP-M
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, January 15: Family Articulation Night at Benjamin Banneker Middle School
Monday, January 20: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—Schools and offices closed
Tuesday, January 28: End of the 2nd Marking Period
Tuesday, January 28: PTA Fundraiser at Chuck E. Cheese
Wednesday, January 29: Grading and Planning for the end of term; no school for students
Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) is a language arts program for Grades PreK–5 that combines a multi-sensory approach to phonics with rich texts carefully sequenced to build content knowledge—so that students learn to read and read to learn at the same time.
Every day in Grades PreK–2, students complete one full lesson that builds foundational reading skills, as well as one full lesson that builds background knowledge. In Grades 3–5, students start to master the skills of reading, further opening up their worlds.
MCPS Curriculum Overviews (Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5)
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/english/es
Family Resources --> A Letter from Ms. Cofield, Greencastle ES Reading Specialist
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x0KZPFjwDUzczz_dSVqL4OPc3J_oxsLvTzzgFnyBkb8/edit?usp=sharing
Family Mathematics Support Center
MCPS schools and families building mathematics proficiency for all through:
- A better understanding of the curriculum.
- Building a deeper understanding of concepts, skills and practices.
- Providing additional support and practice opportunities for parents and students.
Elementary domains of mathematics learning include:
- Counting and Cardinality (PreKindergarten and Kindergarten only)
- Operations and Algebraic Thinking (PreK-5)
- Number and Operations in Base Ten (K-5)
- Number and Operations: Fractions (3-5)
- Geometry (PreK-5)
- Measurement and Data (PreK-5)
Visit this link for additional support for math help at home (Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5)
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math-support/
Approval of 2025-2026 School Calendar – 181 Instructional Days
Student Transition Day for Kindergarteners - Monday, August 25, 2025
First day of school - Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Winter Break - Wednesday, December 24, 2025 - Friday, January 2, 2026
Spring Break - Monday, March 30, 2026 - Monday, April 6, 2026
Last day of school for students - Wednesday, June 17, 2026
2025-2026 MCPS Calendar: LINK
Greencastle ES Breakfast and Lunch Monthly Menus: https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/GreencastleES
Click the video below to learn more about accessing our monthly breakfast and lunch menus.
By the end of the 2024-2025 school year, the percentage of Greencastle students who are chronically absent will decrease from 32% to 27%.
We kicked of 2025 with a slight increase in our percentage of our students demonstrating chronic absenteeism. While we are below the goal we set at the beginning of the school year, we want to continue to work to get this number to continue to decline so that it is closer to the average for MCPS which is 16.88%. We can do it, Greencastle! Help us to continue to meet and exceed our goal by decreasing the number of students chronically absent.
Click on the link below from Attendance Works that outlines the Health Guidance for Attending School when your student is not feeling well.
Hello, Knight Community!
Happy New Year! We’re excited to kick off the second half of the school year and hope you all had a fantastic break.
Yearbooks Go on Sale!
Yearbooks will be available for purchase ONLINE ONLY starting Monday, January 6th. Don’t wait—order yours early to secure your copy! Yearbooks will be distributed in May and come with options:
- Soft Cover $17.00+Tax
- Hard Cover $22.00+Tax
- Personalization $3.00
Upcoming PTA Meeting
Join us for our first virtual-only General PTA Meeting on Tuesday, January 7th, at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
Family Knight Out
Mark your calendars! Our next Family Knight Out is at Chuck E. Cheese on Tuesday, January 28th, from 3:00–9:00 PM. We hope to see you there for an evening of fun and community!
Let’s make the rest of the school year amazing, Knights!
