Dear Parents and Guardians:

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! It continues to be an honor to serve the community of Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School. We have been diligently working this summer to plan for the school year and prepare a safe and welcoming second home for your wonderful children. I am thrilled to have Mrs. Gillian Jablonski joining me this year as our Assistant Principal. Please see the welcome letter from Mrs. Jablonski attached. We are looking forward to a great year!

As we prepare for a new school year, our collaboration with families will ensure the success of all students. We will continue to keep you informed and updated of all events and activities occurring at Barnsley Elementary through a variety of ways. Every student will receive a blue take home folder which they will use for school/home communication. Fliers and other community events information will be put in their folders each week. In addition, please ensure that you have activated your ParentVUE accounts in order to receive the most up to date information. You can expect a monthly newsletter called the Bear Bulletin, fliers, information posted on our website, weekly REMIND APP messages with updates and important reminders, and friendly office staff who are ready to answer questions. In addition, please ensure you review the updated FY25 LVBES Parent Handbook. This handbook provides all of the information that is normally shared in our summer mailing, as well as additional information that will be useful to you throughout the year. Please bookmark this page as we will update it periodically as needed.

Be sure to stop in at the main office FIRST whenever coming to Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School. After arrival and before dismissal the exterior front doors will be locked. If you need to get into the building you will need to press the outside button and be buzzed in. The front office staff will be able to see who is at the door via camera on their computer and be able to determine if there is a safety concern of who is asking to enter the building. Once the person has been verified they will be invited to enter the building and go directly to the office to sign in. All parents, visitors, and volunteers must make their first stop at the main office. All parents, visitors and volunteers must sign-in and wear name tags. This is for the safety of all of our children! If you would like to speak with a teacher or staff member, it is requested that you make an appointment.

One of my favorite memories of growing up was finding out who my teacher would be each school year! Students will receive postcards in the mail during the week of August 19th indicating their assigned classroom teacher. In addition, class lists will be posted on the windows outside the main office by 4:00 p.m. on August 22nd. Much thought has gone into student placements and class groupings for this year. As always, our priorities for grouping students include the student's academic level, as well as ensuring gender, racial, and ethnic balance for each class. The staff at the school put considerable time into balancing classes and student placements and appreciate your cooperation and respect regarding grouping decisions.

We would love to see everyone at our Open House for Grades K-5 on Friday, August 23rd from 9:30-11:00 a.m. The new school year will begin on Monday, August 26th. All children will enter school independently and walk to class with the support of school staff. For safety and security, any parents/guardians who need assistance should report to the main office, not student classrooms.

Enclosed is important information to help ensure a smooth transition to the new school year. In addition, please visit the Parent Handbook for additional important information. Staff are working hard to prepare classrooms and instructional materials for the opening of school. I look forward to working with each of you this year. Thank you in advance for your support as we work to make this an amazing year for all of our children.

On the first day of school, Monday, August 26th, all students (except for our kindergarteners) should report directly to their new classrooms. Barnsley staff will be on duty to greet students and to assist students with locating their new classrooms. Our kindergarten students will go directly into the cafeteria and line-up with their teachers for the first week of school. Parents/Siblings will not accompany the K students into the cafeteria. Students should NOT enter the school building until directed by staff beginning at 9:10 a.m. NOTE: All children will enter school independently and walk to class with the support of SCHOOL STAFF. Any parents/guardians who need assistance should report to the main office NOT student classrooms.

Once again, MCPS will be sending home with your child preprinted EMERGENCY DATA SHEETS during the first week of school. It is very important that these sheets be checked, confirmed or edited and immediately returned to school. During the school year let us know of any changes of address, phone numbers, and/or contact persons. Additionally, if there are any custody concerns or medical conditions please include that information with any corresponding documentation. Please contact the office to make any necessary changes throughout the year.

LVBES Back-to-School Night for parents of students in 1st grade – 3rd grade, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11th. LVBES Back to School Night for parents of students in 4-5, as well as, our CES students, will be Thursday, September 12th.

Bus schedules for our neighborhood students will be posted on our school website as soon as they are available. Students who attend DHOH and our Twice Exceptional (2E) Program will receive bus information directly from MCPS Transportation. Students in Barnsley’s Center Program will have bus routes posted on the website in the weeks ahead. During the first week or so of school, buses may be a little early or a little late, as the drivers get accustomed to the run and the new time schedules. We will continue assigning colleges with mascots to buses for dismissal procedures. In doing so it will help students remember to continue to work hard and get college ready! Please Note: All bus routes will be posted online once received. Cars are not allowed in the front entrance lanes during school opening and dismissal hours for safety reasons. Your cooperation is appreciated!