Hello Greenwood Families,

As we head into the winter break, we are sending the January Gator Gazette, so you will be aware of what's coming when we return to school on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

We wish you and your family a wonderful and safe break, and we look forward to continuing to work together in 2025.

Happy New Year!

Warmly,

Mrs. Seidel and Mrs. Sinon

Students in grades K-5 will take the MAP testing this month. Students in grades K-2 will also take the DIBELS assessments. Classroom teachers will include information about testing dates in their weekly newsletters. Please be sure your student is well-rested, on time, and has had good breakfast at home or at school to ensure all are set up to do their best.

The Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs) is the annual English language proficiency test that is aligned to the World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) English language development standards. The testing window for our emergent multilingual learners is January 8-February 18. Please reach out to ELD teacher, Mrs. Eugenia Chang, with any questions.

This year, the library is once again having a gingerbread decorating activity! Greenwood students, families, and staff are invited to disguise a gingerbread man or woman. The disguise can be anything you like from your favorite book character to animal to superhero.

Students and staff may bring in a decorated gingerbread character to the Media Center during the month of January. All entries must be received in the Media Center by Friday, January 17th.

Activity Rules:

1. Gingerbread people need to have a disguise and be CUT OUT! Please put your full name and teacher's name on the back.

2. Decorate your character as you see fit--glitter, clothing, tissue paper etc.--whatever it takes to bring them to life. Be as creative as you wish!

3. This is an at-home project. Students may work with parents/siblings/family members to complete a character.

4. Everyone who participates will receive a bookmark and a reading sticker.

5. Gingerbread characters may be picked up at the end of the day Friday, February 7th. Any characters remaining after that time will be discarded.

1/7: Join us for our monthly PTA Meeting in the media center or on Zoom at 7 p.m.

1/15: Dining Night Out, Mamma Lucia's Olney, 4-9 p.m.

1/24: Bingo Night- from 6:30-8:30pm at Rosa Parks Middle School. Sign up goes live on January 2nd: https://greenwoodevents.givebacks.gives/bingonight2025 . There will be prizes, pizza, snacks, drinks, always a great night for the Greenwood community. Watch out in January for volunteer opportunities.

2/12: Let’s Celebrate our Annual Culture Night at Greenwood on Wednesday, February 12th from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Culture Night is a fun, annual Greenwood Elementary School tradition where our Greenwood families come together for a night to celebrate our various cultures. Whether you would like to share about YOUR culture or a culture you are INTERESTED in, we welcome your participation! You can display pictures, share traditional dishes, dress in cultural attire, or showcase dance, art or music specific to a culture.

OR

Come attend as a tourist! Take a tour of the world and get stamps in your “passport” while you learn about the cultures of your fellow classmates. In addition to displays, there will be performances.

Best of all, admission is FREE!

To sign up to participate use the following link before February 5, 2025. Performers do NOT need to be Greenwood students or parents, all welcome:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44A4AF2AA4F4C07-53989681-greenwood

If you are interested in volunteering for this event or have questions about this event please contact Charu Harrison at C.lingam8@gmail.com.

Happy 2025!!

Katie Phillips

President, Greenwood Elementary School PTA

2025 Culture Night Flyer.pdf

Sign up below to participate or help with Culture Night!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44A4AF2AA4F4C07-53989681-greenwood

This message includes information on the superintendent’s FY 2026 Recommended Operating Budget; the new boundary study website; public comment for BOE Policy GCB, Investigation of Allegations of Employee Misconduct; Save A Student Summit on Jan. 4; Educational Foundation scholarships and awards; open houses hosted by Maryland’s independent colleges and universities; a survey for South Asian American families; a feature on a Francis Scott Key middle school author and upcoming KID Museum programming.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2024-2025/Community-Update-20241219.html

Instruction starts promptly at 9 a.m.

Please be sure to have your students at school prior to 9 a.m., so they can unpack, eat breakfast, and prepare their materials. Student drop off begins at 8:40 a.m., and all students will enter through the front doors of the school. Students who arrive after 9 a.m. will be marked tardy and will miss the start of instruction. Please help us to ensure that every Gator is here and ready for a great day before that 9 a.m. start time!

One final note, please do not leave students unattended on school grounds prior to 8:40 a.m. to ensure the highest level of safety and security for each student. Staff are not outside to provide supervision until 8:40 a.m.

In case you missed it, we have a new way to report absences that will be faster and more efficient--no more phone calls!! Please use the link below to report your child's absence from school.

absence-form | Greenwood ES

Additionally, this link can be found under the Quick Links on the left side of the HOME PAGE of our Greenwood Elementary School website by clicking "Report an Absence."

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/greenwoodes/

As MCPS now requires a written note for absences, this will take care of that requirement and save you the phone call!

This link is also the place for you to report all planned late arrivals and early dismissals. Just click the appropriate box and add the reason and any other details in the comment section at the bottom entitled “Anything else”. If the late arrival or early dismissal is due to a doctor’s appointment, please remember to provide a doctor’s note upon your student’s return to school.

Please bookmark the page for future use, and reach out to our attendance secretary, Mrs. Susan Ostrinsky (Susan_A_Ostrinsky@mcpsmd.org) with any questions.

School hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.

Two-hour delay: 11:00 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. (no recess)

* *Bus routes would shift by two hours* *

On a two-hour delay, doors open at 10:40 a.m.

Early release days: Dismissal is at 12:55 p.m. (no recess)

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

• The school doors open at 8:40 a.m. to welcome our students. Instruction begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.
• Students who arrive after 9:00 a.m. will be marked tardy and will need to be signed in by a parent or guardian in the main office. Please do not drop off students at the front door at any time.
• Students may eat breakfast in the All-Purpose Room, then head to their classroom to begin instruction at 9 a.m.
• Dismissal begins at 3:25 p.m.

Changes to Dismissal Plans

Please note that changes to dismissal should happen prior to 3:00 pm to ensure there is

enough time for the messages to be relayed to the teachers and dismissal teams. Please

communicate any changes with your child's classroom teacher and our attendance secretary, Mrs. Ostrinsky. Please be aware that teachers may be not be checking email during instruction. As a result, it is very important for the front office (240-740-3420) to be made aware of any change in dismissal routine by 3 p.m.

Walkers will be dismissed first daily.

Car Riders

Students who will be routine car riders will be given a family number card that will need to be displayed in the car window nearest the car loop line. Students will exit to the car loop when their number is called to be reunited with their family vehicle at that time. Please pull up to the end of the walk to maximize the number of cars we can load safely with adult supervision and keep the line moving quickly.

Car Loop

Please enter the car loop by turning RIGHT into the loop from Gold Mine Road. Please DO NOT turn left into the lot. Please go around the block so you can turn RIGHT into the loop. This helps us to ensure the safety of our walkers who have to cross at the car loop!

Please remain in your car, as our staff will assist those students who need assistance. Additionally, please know that staff can not buckle children into car seats. Please teach your children how to do so, or please pull forward into a parking space to do so, to avoid holding up drivers behind you in the loop.

Bus Information

Bus routes for the 2024-25 school year are posted on the MCPS website at the link below. We will continue to use colors to identify the route numbers, and we will communicate those colors matched with bus routes with all families prior to the first day of school. Please contact the Randolph transportation office at 240-740-2608 with questions about bus transportation, routes, and times.

Bus Rider Safety

Please meet students at the bus stop at the end of the day to ensure your child's safe return from school on the bus. If you are not able to meet your child at the stop, please make other arrangements for your child to get from the stop to the home safely.

In the event you or your designee are running late or are otherwise unable to get to the bus

stop, please call the school as soon as possible to have your child held at the school for pick-up. Please call the front office 240-740-3420 before 3 p.m.

We encourage you to review the school bus rules with your child if they are a bus rider so they

are aware of the expectations. Those rules can be found at https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/transportation/rules/a_parents_role.pdf

Please understand that safe student transportation is a joint responsibility. Please remind

your child to look for you before leaving the bus. We look forward to a safe and successful

school year.

Guest Bus Riders

Students may ride only their own bus to and from school. Students are not permitted to

ride to school or to home from school with friends on any other bus.

Meal prices:

There are no changes in meal prices this school year and students who qualify for reduced-price meals will continue to receive meals at no cost. Funds can continue to be added to student meal accounts at no charge by bringing cash or checks directly to the Greenwood cafeteria manager, Mrs. Frias.

Prepayments on student meal accounts can be

made through www.MySchoolBucks.com; note the increase from $1.95 to $2.49 per transaction for the 2024-2025 school year.

• Breakfast: Regular price: $1.30 (All levels)

• Lunch: Regular price: $2.55 (Elementary), $2.80 (Middle and High School)

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 8:40-8:55 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Lunch Room Seating

All students have assigned seats for lunch where seating includes an allergy-free

table. Please be sensitive to student allergies in your child's classroom

and work with the classroom teacher to support any event or activity that

includes food.

MCPS MealViewer app

The Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) has made it easier to view student’s school menus. MCPS students, parents, and community members can now view school menus with MealViewer, providing increased access to:

• School specific menu offerings
• Nutritional information for each meal
• View and filter by the top allergens

MealViewer can be accessed on a computer browser, through the MealViewer app on Android and iPhone, or using any browser on a smartphone. No sign-in or passwords are required to view menus. It is also possible (but not required) to rate food items, star favorite items, utilize a nutrition calculator, and create a profile. Check out your schools' menu today!

Greenwood ES MealViewer: https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/GreenwoodElemSchool

Introductory Video: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/menus/

How to Print a Menu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNLhHfLijQM

Apply online NOW so students receive free meals.

Households meeting identified federal income standards are eligible for free school

meals. MCPS encourages all families who may be eligible, to apply.

To receive this benefit, a new FARMS application must be completed every school year.

Please submit the online FARMS application through www.MySchoolApps.com.

Students who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive meals at no charge!

Students use their MCPS ID number when receiving a meal, so confidentiality is maintained and no child is overtly identified as receiving free or reduced-price meals.

Greenwood Elementary School's health room is staffed by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services with a full-time health technician, Ms. Teresa Edwards, and an assigned nurse, Ms. Angela Niemiec.

MCPS schools follow guidance from the CDC, state & local health departments. We strongly recommend, if your child has a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or other symptoms of illness, that you keep your child home from school.

Required Childhood Vaccinations for Preschool Programs and Schools

The Annotated Code of Maryland (10.06.04.03) requires all Maryland students new to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and those entering Grade 7 provide documentation of required, age-appropriate vaccinations or a medical or religious exemption. This documentation is required within 20 calendar days from their date of admission.

Hard copies of the vaccination records are to be submitted to the Greenwood ES School Health Services health room staff.

More information:

https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Pages/back-to-school-immunization-requirements.aspx

Every student will have a chromebook at Greenwood ES for use during the school day.

Effective December 4, 2024, MCPS will be disabling and collecting older Acer model Chromebooks because they have reached end-of-life and should no longer be in use. The models being retired include the Acer C720, C740, C738, and C771. These Acer devices are currently being used in limited settings, including for home use and to run kiosks or signage in schools. Students currently using one of the listed Acer Chromebook models should return their device to your school’s ITSS.

Students who need a device for home use can submit a request for a new device by completing the Home Use form. All 15-inch Acer Spins, as well as Lenovo devices, will continue to work as expected. Questions? Please reach out to Mr. Kurt Panchura, Greenwood's ITSS, Kurtis_D_Panchura@mcpsmd.org.

Staff at central office will monitor the requests through the form submissions, will prepare a device, assign it to the student, and will deliver it to the school. The school will distribute it to the student. The home use device is to be kept at home. Requesting the device implies consent of use in accordance with MCPS policy (IGT-RA) and acknowledgement that the Chromebook, software, and issued peripherals are owned by MCPS.

User Responsibilities for Computer Systems, Electronic Information, and Network Security can be found online. Montgomery County Public Schools retains the sole right of possession of the Chromebooks. The Chromebooks are loaned to students for educational purposes for the academic year. MCPS administrative staff retain the right to collect and/or inspect Chromebook hardware or software at any time including via electronic remote access.

MCPS regulation COG-RA prohibits elementary school students from using personal devices (phones, smart watches, etc.) during the school day. Personal devices(phones, smart watches, etc.) may only be used before or after the student day. Students will be asked to keep these devices in their backpacks during the school day. It is advised that students keep such devices at home, if possible.

RESPONSIBILITY/LIABILITY

MCPS will assume no responsibility or liability for loss, theft, or damage to a device or for the unauthorized use of any such PMD.

Please find the policy in its entirety on the MCPS Website.

We love birthdays at Greenwood, and each day on our GGTV morning program, we announce those who are celebrating, and students are invited to come to the office for a birthday pencil. While we do not do any formal in-school birthday celebrations with food or other items, we do make sure that each student feels special on their special day. We do ask that birthday party invitations be sent outside of school, and unfortunately, due to federal privacy issues, we can not provide class lists or contact information.

As we maintain our focus on individual student needs and growth, we will continue to focus on restorative practices. Restorative practices focus on building and maintaining relationships, collaboration, and community between students, staff, and families, affording the opportunity to prevent harm and resolve conflict peacefully, as well as the opportunity to change behaviors and grow.

Volunteers

To afford students the opportunity to settle into the new school year and develop classroom communities, we will begin welcoming volunteers in October. Further details will be shared closer to October.

Montgomery County Public Schools requires school volunteers and partnership agencies to complete certain compliance measures in order to volunteer within our school district.

• Online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training via their myMCPS Classroom/Canvas account

• Background check-dependent upon the type of volunteer service, per the Volunteers regulation

Only volunteers who have met these requirements will be able to volunteer. MCPS will notify the school via list of the completion and submission of these items. The system takes 24 hours after completion to update, so please complete all steps at least 24 hours prior to volunteering. We will not be able to have you volunteer in the building or on field trips until the items are completed and submitted, and the verification shows in the system 24 hours after completion.

Bullying, harassment (including sexual misconduct and sexual harassment), intimidation, hazing, incidents of hate-bias, and concerning issues involving student gender identity are not tolerated in MCPS. We are committed to ensuring our students feel safe, valued, and respected in our schools. Please see the multiple ways you can file a report below.

How You Can Report

December, 2024

23 - January 1 - Winter Break, No School

January, 2025

2 - Return from winter break

7 - PTA Meeting, Media Center and Zoom, 7 p.m.

15 - Gr 1 Field Trip to Robinson Nature Center

15 - PTA Dining Night Out, Mamma Lucia's Olney, 4-9 p.m.

20 - No School, MLK, Jr. Day

24 - PTA Bingo Night, Rosa Parks MS

28 - Last Day of MP 2

29 - No School for Students, Professional Day, Grading and Reporting

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/calendar/

Email: Jennifer_A_Seidel@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/greenwoodes/
Location: 3336 Gold Mine Road, Brookeville, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-3420
Twitter: @GES_Principal