The Greencastle Gazette

Principal's Message: September 22, 2024

Here is some important information for you to review this week:

1. Early Release Day this Friday, September 27: Students will be dismissed at 12:50 p.m.

2. Grade Level Newsletters & Back-to-School Night Presentations: Click on this link to view the grade level newsletters & back to school night presentations.

3. 2024-2025 MCPS Annual Notification of Asbestos Management Plan: Click on this link to view the plan for this school year.

4. MCPS Operating Status & Color Codes: Read the information below to learn more about MCPS' method for informing the community of their operational status.

I hope you had a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you promptly at 8:40 a.m.

Mrs. Dean

Principal

Mark Your Calendar - IMPORTANT DATES

September 15 - October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
Friday, September 27: Early Release Day (Students dismiss @ 12:55 p.m.)
Tuesday, October 1: PTA Hybrid Meeting @6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 1 - Saturday, October 5: PTA Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser
Thursday, October 3: Non-Instructional Day; No School for Students and Teachers
Friday, October 18: Professional day for all staff; No School for Students
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

MCPS Operating Status & Color Codes

The safety of our MCPS community is critical, and being able to communicate with students, staff, and families during severe weather or other emergencies is of the utmost importance. Use this link to find all the ways you can connect with MCPS to receive emergency operational information from the school system. The current operating status options for the school district appear on the MCPS website and on individual school websites. In the event of a change in operational status, this link will provide more information about the MCPS Operating Status options.

Attention Grade 5 Parents! MCPS Middle School Options

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) offers enriched and accelerated programming in local middle schools and regional middle school magnet programs (Grades 6–8).

The Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) is interest-based and is composed of three magnet-themed middle schools which include, Argyle, A. Mario Loiederman, and Parkland middle schools. Grade 5 students are eligible to apply beginning this fall on the MSMC website, and placement is by lottery. Read more about the programs at each school and the MSMC timeline here.

There are two criteria-based magnet programs located both Upcounty and Downcounty. The programs in our region include both Humanities and Communication (Eastern Middle School), and Math, Science, and Computer Science (Takoma Park Middle School.) For more information, click on the Frequently Asked Questions link.

Mrs. Dean is hosting a virtual Grade 5 Magnet Program virtual meeting on Thursday, October 10, 2024 @ 6:30 PM. More information and a link will be shared soon.

MCPS Things to Know

Things to Know

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Hispanic Heritage Month is a wonderful opportunity to honor and celebrate the diverse cultures, histories and contributions of Hispanic communities. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, MCPS schools are embracing this rich heritage by spotlighting the achievements and traditions of students, educators and staff members who trace their roots to Spanish-speaking countries in North and South America, the Caribbean and around the world.

ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org

Download the Remind App to Receive Messages from Greencastle ES

Here is a link with information about Remind. The Remind tool will allow families to receive and send translated messages on any device - even a simple text message from your mobile phone!

MCPS created Remind accounts for all teachers, staff, parents, and students ages 13 and above using data from Synergy. I encourage you to watch the Getting Started with Remind Video and review the MCPS Parent Remind Quick Guide to get more specific tips on how to use Remind.

Translated Remind Quick Guides
English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Amharic, Korean

A Word from Our PTA President, Mrs. LaKeisha Carroll

**School Spirit Wear Update**

Thank you to everyone who placed their School Spirit Wear orders! We can’t wait to see you showing off your Greencastle Gear!

**Double Good Fundraiser**

We’re excited to announce a new *Double Good* virtual fundraiser! It’s 100% contactless, we keep 50% of all sales, and products ship directly to the buyer. We’ll each create a Pop-Up Store to sell delicious, award-winning Double Good popcorn. Prices start at $11 for Signature Bags (5 cups each) and $31 for Curated Collections.

**Fundraiser Dates:**

October 1, 2024, at 5:00 PM – October 5, 2024, at 5:00 PM

**Before the Fundraiser Starts:**

1. Download the Double Good app (available for free on iOS and Android)

2. Enter our event code: **COPDHI**

3. Create your Pop-Up Store

Need help setting up? We’ll offer support at the next PTA meeting!

**PTA Meeting**

Join us for the next PTA Meeting on **Tuesday, October 1st at 6:30 PM**. The meeting will be held both in person and via Zoom.

**Volunteers Needed for the School Dance!**

We need volunteers for the School Dance on **October 25th** to help with decorations, crowd control, concessions, and more. If interested, please email us at GreencastleESPTA@gmail.com.

**Cheer Madness**

Cheer Madness kicks off this week! Parents of enrolled students will receive detailed information from the Cheer Madness Coach.

**Kaizen Karate**

Kaizen Karate is still accepting sign-ups until **Monday, September 30th**. https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/mdkfu/page/class-registration?classId=250519&subProgId=17429

**PTA Membership**

Can we reach our goal of 100 members by October? We’re currently at 84 members and we’re confident we can do it! https://fspta-00024724.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

Instagram: Greencastle_PTA

Facebook: GreencastlePta

X: GreencastlePTA

Visit the School Website for More Information

Visit our updated school website to find updated information about general school policies and procedures pertaining to the opening of school. Please review this information with your student(s) to ensure a smooth beginning. Please continue to check our website regularly for more information at: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/greencastlees/