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The Greencastle Gazette

The Greencastle Gazette

Principal's Message: October 27, 2024

Greencastle Website

Dear Greencastle Elementary Community,


We are wrapping up October and heading into November. That means we are finishing our first marking period. Look out for more information about scheduling your parent-teacher conference so that you can learn more information about how your student is performing and how to support them in school.


Here are a few more important announcements and reminders for this coming week.


  • Spirit Week: See the flyer below for our schedule of events this week.
  • Chronic Absenteeism: Starting this week, each edition of the Greencastle Gazette will include an update on our Chronic Absenteeism percentage for the week. See below for more information and our goal as a school this year.
  • Open House: Don't forget to pre-register for Open House. This will expedite the arrival process and get you to your location quickly. See registration link below.
  • Shout out to the PTA for a fantastic Color Party! It was well attended and guests had a great time. If you missed the dance, be on the lookout for the next event. You do not want to miss it!


I hope you had a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you promptly at 9:00 a.m. (door open at 8:40 a.m.)


Mrs. Dean

Principal

Let's Dance! 💃

Check out our PTA President, Mrs. Carroll and her nephew

Good music and face painting! What else could you ask for?

Mark Your Calendar - IMPORTANT DATES

This Week

Spirit Week!

  • Monday, October 28: Green and Gold Day
  • Tuesday, October 29: Color Day
  • Wednesday, October 30: Pink Out Day
  • Thursday, October 31: Fall into Books Day: Dress as your Favorite Character
  • Friday, November 1: Pajama Day

Upcoming Dates

  • Monday, November 4: Grading and Planning for the end of term; No School for Students

  • Tuesday, November 5: General Election Day—Schools and offices closed; No School for Students

  • Monday, November 11: Greencastle ES Open House @ 9:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. REGISTER HERE

  • Wednesday, November 13: Report Cards Distributed; Gifted & Talented Virtual Parent Meeting (Grades 2-3) @ 6:30 p.m.

  • Tuesday, November 19: Grade 3 & Grade 5 Green and Gold Celebration @ 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

  • Wednesday, November 20: Grade 4 Green and Gold Celebration @ 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

  • Thursday, November 21: Grade 1 & Grade 2 Green and Gold Celebration @ 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

  • Monday, November 25 & Tuesday, November 26: Early Release Day; Parent -Teacher Conferences

  • Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29: Thanksgiving Break; Schools and Offices Closed

Get Ready for SPIRIT WEEK: Monday, October 28 - Friday, November 1

Help Us Address Chronic Absenteeism at Greencastle!

A student is considered chronically absent if they are marked excused or unexcused absent 10% or more days they are enrolled in school. Please make every effort to send your child(ren) to school every day. If you have any barriers to sending your child(ren) to school, please reach out to our Parent Community Coordinator, Ms. Glenda Roberts (Glenda_E_Roberts@mcpsmd.org) or Ms. Lauren Darby (Lauren_A_Darby@mcpsmd.org), attendance secretary. They are here to help.


By the end of the 2024-2025 school year, the percentage of Greencastle students who are chronically absent will decrease from 32% to 27%.


Greencastle Elementary's current percentage is 20.69% (MCPS is 14.40%) as of Friday, October 25. Help us to continue to meet and exceed our goal by decreasing the number of students chronically absent.

Counselor Announcement: Personal Body Safety Lessons

During the month of November, our school counselors, Mrs. Brock and Mrs. Nylon, along with their classroom teachers, will be presenting lessons on the topic of child abuse and neglect. The lessons are known as Personal Body Safety Lessons and their purpose is to help students to:


  • Develop knowledge, decision making skills, and behaviors which promote safe living in the home, school, and community;
  • Learn skills for self-protection and identifying child abuse and neglect;
  • Learn skills for asking for help for self and others and practice reporting to a trusted adult; and
  • Engage in positive and appropriate interactions with peers and adults.


Please reach out to the school counselors if you have any questions or concerns about the topics that will be covered.

Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences (click image to learn more)

Nurse's Suite: Gently Used Clothing Drive

Greencastle Elementary Open House: Monday, November 11

The Castle will be open on Monday, November 11th! Families, you are invited to join your student(s) in the building and interact with them in the classroom during our Open House. Come. We encourage you to visit and shadow your student for the morning. Here is our agenda for Open House.


  • 9:15 a.m. - Welcome Presentation & School Improvement Plan Presentation (Multipurpose Room)
  • 9:45 a.m. - Visit your student(s) classroom
  • 12:00 p.m. - Open House Concludes



Please complete the registration form to attend.

MCPS Things to Know

A Word from Our PTA President, Mrs. LaKeisha Carroll

Hey Knight Families!


Save the Date!

Join us for Chipotle Knight on Wednesday, November 13th, from 4-8 p.m. at 13801 Outlet Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20904. More details will be coming home soon!


Our next PTA meeting is on Tuesday, December 3rd, and will be held in a hybrid format. However, we strongly encourage in-person attendance for a special guest and our Book Fair!


Instagram: Greencastle_PTA

Facebook: GreencastlePta

X: GreencastlePTA

Past Newsletter Links

Kurshanna Dean
Kurshanna is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters