I hope you all had a wonderful winter break and enjoyed the additional snow days. We were thrilled to welcome our students back and hear their exciting snow stories. As we settle back into our routines, our Panthers have done an excellent job transitioning and getting reacclimated to school expectations.

With the end of the second quarter quickly approaching, it’s important that students stay focused by completing all assignments and projects—especially their second-quarter math projects—and putting forth their best effort on mid-year assessments. We look forward to sharing students’ data with you. Be sure to check Synergy to view students’ current grades and do not hesitate to reach out to teachers for a conference call if desired.

Let’s continue to encourage our students to strive for excellence. Hard work, perseverance, and a positive attitude are key to success, and we are here to support our PRES Panthers every step of the way. On behalf of the staff, we are grateful for your partnership and look forward to working together to help our students soar.

Warm regards,

Principal McIntyre

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to reflect on Dr. King’s profound legacy and his unwavering dedication to justice, equality, and unity for all. As a national day of service, it reminds us of the collective power we have to create meaningful change within our communities. Dr. King’s tireless efforts continue to inspire us to strive for a more inclusive and compassionate society. I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to participate in an act of service or volunteer, as this day is not just a break from school, but a chance to honor his legacy through meaningful action.

We are proud to recognize the creativity of our Pointer Ridge Panthers, who used art to celebrate Dr. King’s impact. Several of our students were honored in the annual City of Bowie Martin Luther King Art Contest, with four students receiving special recognition for their outstanding artwork. We congratulate Au'Brie Moore (kindergarten), Crystal Chukwaemeka (4th grade), Jeremiah Haggins (4th grade), and Khloe-Kim Wihkocho (5th grade). We are elated to announce that Crystal Chukwaemeka won 3rd place in the MLK Art Contest.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated Art Teacher, Mrs. Pleffner, for her exceptional work with all students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Her commitment to guiding students in creating meaningful art projects while teaching them about Dr. King’s vision is truly commendable.

We are thrilled to celebrate our outstanding 5th-grade students who proudly represented Pointer Ridge in the annual PGCPS Science Bowl, hosted by Dave Zahren. Our Panthers showcased their knowledge, teamwork, and resilience as they tackled a wide range of challenging science questions under pressure. Advancing beyond the first round, our team competed with determination and skill, taking the competition down to the wire in round two.

We are incredibly proud of the perseverance and sportsmanship our students demonstrated throughout the competition. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated sponsors, Ms. James and Mrs. Williams, for their commitment to preparing our students for this remarkable opportunity.

Congratulations to our talented team members: Abdulhadi Chaudhry, Chad McKinney (Team Captain), Mikaela Parker, Avery Schwartz, and Khloe-Kim Wikhocho. Your hard work and dedication continue to make Pointer Ridge proud!

• Who: Panda Express Virtual Fundraiser Flyer for Pointer Ridge

• What: Place your order for pickup or delivery

• When: Friday, January 31, 2025!

• Where: Available at Panda Express locations nationwide www.pandaexpress.com

• How: Online orders only Apply code 9000737 in the Fundraiser Code box during online checkout at www.pandaexpress.com or via App 28% of sales will be donated to: Pointer Ridge Elementary Pointer Ridge is a K-5 School in Bowie Maryland serving over 400 students.

All children by law must have the required State of Maryland immunizations in order to attend school. Parents are responsible for providing proof of immunizations to the school.

If your child receives an Immunization Exclusion Letter this school year, please contact your child’s healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date with immunizations. Please provide the updated immunization record to the School Nurse. If not provided, your child will not be able to attend school effective the date stated on the Immunization Exclusion Letter. If your child doctor’s appointment date falls after the exclusion date on the Immunization Exclusion Letter, your child will still be excluded from school. If you have any questions please contact Nurse Vaughn at leslieann.vaughn@pgcps.org or (301) 390-0220.

Health Concerns

Parents/Guardians please complete the blue form that was given to your child indicating any medical conditions and allergies. Please return the form to the child's teacher as soon as possible.

Medications

No medication will be administered to your child without a completed Prescriber’s Medication Order Form (PMOF) and properly labeled medication container. Below is the link for Medication Forms. If your child had medication(s) at the school last year, a new Prescriber’s Medication Form (PMOF) must be completed for this school year. A new properly labeled medication container must also be provided to the nurse.

Health Forms for Parents and Prescribers

We encourage all parents to join and actively participate in our PTA to support the success of our students and school community. We are excited to introduce engaging mini-sessions during our upcoming meetings based on our parent survey. The sessions will offer valuable insights and resources for families. Your involvement makes a significant difference, and we warmly welcome you to attend. As an added incentive, students will receive a special treat when their parents participate in the meetings.

By working together, we can create enriching experiences and opportunities that benefit our entire school community. We look forward to seeing you at our next PTA meeting and partnering with you to make a positive impact.

Off Broadway Shoes/Rack Room is supporting Pointer Ridge students this year by fundraising money to provide shoes for students in need. We are excited to continue our partnership with the Bowie Rack Room Shoes/Shoes That Fit Program. Thanks to their ongoing fundraising efforts, Pointer Ridge Elementary will be able to provide shoes for a number of our students for the fourth year in a row.

We are truly grateful for the generous donation from The General's Future Charity Organization for supporting our students with overdue cafeteria lunch balances. Recognizing a need within our school community, the organization stepped forward and asked how they could help support our families. Their kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated, as we understand that lunch is an essential part of the day, and we are committed to ensuring that no student has to worry about access to meals.

We sincerely appreciate the ongoing support from our community partners, whose generosity continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our PRES Panthers.

Email: Jamila.mcintyre@pgcps.org
Website: https://www.pgcps.org/pointerridge
Location: 1110 Parkington Lane, Bowie, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 390-0220
Twitter: @Pres_PGCPS