We have been hard at work this summer getting our building ready for the new school year. Our ESY summer program has been going strong and with only one more week left, we know that means we are inching towards the beginning of the school year. With many new families joining us for the 2024-2025 school year, and the shift to new administration for the new year, I wanted to make sure everyone felt they had enough information to get ready for school in a timely manner. If you're like me, you're scheduling annual check-ups, sports practices, multiple social calendars and last minute time away with family in preparation for the new year. Below you will find many of our important dates for the start of the school year as well as other important information. We look forward to seeing everyone in the coming weeks.

We enjoyed meeting all the families who came out to enjoy a popsicle and some fun for our July meet and greets. We can't wait to see who shows up in August.

Clearspring wants Kindergarteners for the 2024-2025 school year. Please spread the word that we are still actively enrolling students and need more Kindergarten students! Registration can be online through the ParentVUE portal or families can come into the Clearspring Office. If you know of any potential families please reach out to them and us!

For enrollment information visit: Kindergarten Enrollment

Free online resources are available to support students who are not participating in summer tutoring or summer school. This document includes free academic resources and activities for elementary, middle and high school students to review content, practice skills and prepare for the 2024-2025 school year.

MCPS is excited to adopt Amplify CKLA PreK-5 and Amplify Boost Reading K-5 across English Language Arts classrooms for the 2024-2025 School Year. There is a lot more information to come in the coming weeks, yet we wanted to make sure you were able to begin understanding how to best support your students.

Please see the letter below.

Donation request

The health room is looking for donations of gently used sweatpants size 5t-8/10 and new socks and underwear. If you've done some summer cleaning and are able to donate any sweatpants or have the opportunity to throw an extra pair of socks into your shopping cart, the Clearspring Health Room would really appreciate it.

Medication/Treatment Orders from your Health Care Provider

The medication/treatment authorization form(s) specific to your child's health/medication needs must be renewed at the beginning of each school year.

Maryland regulation dictates that we determine expiration dates as follows: (1) one year from the dispensing date on the pharmacy label or, (2) the expiration date on the medication package, whichever comes first.

To ensure your child's medication/treatment needs are met at the start of the school year submit medications/supplies, and completed forms to the health room on or after Friday, August 23, 2024. Please contact the health room in advance to ensure availability of School Health staff. Please be sure to include the appropriate medication forms, MCPS 525-13 (for oral medications, creams or inhalers) or the MCPS 525-14 (for epinephrine auto injectors, (treatment of anaphylaxis).

School health staff will review physician orders/medications. It is the parent/guardian responsibility to ensure that medications/orders are compliant with state regulation. Please do not send your child to school with medications. Per MCPS regulations, it is the parent/guardian responsibility to deliver physician orders/medications directly to School Health staff.

Thank you for your cooperation!

FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS SYSTEM (FARMS) APPLICATIONS Apply online NOW so students receive free meals on the first day of school! 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 not newly qualified for free meals will be charged the following meal prices. Only one application is needed for all students in a household.

Meal prices: Breakfast—$1.30; Lunch—$2.55 (Elementary), $2.80 (Middle and High) 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. Funds can continue to be added to student meal accounts at no charge by bringing cash or checks directly to the school cafeteria managers. There will be an increase in the transaction fee from $1.95 to $2.49 per transaction associated when adding funds to student meal accounts using the online My School Bucks software. For more information and How-To videos, visit the Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/foodand-nutrition/meal-payments/#FARMS MORE INFO HOW TO VIDEOS