Cedar Grove Friday Flash
November 17, 2023
Dear Cedar Grove Families:
We would like to thank the PTA and all our families who participated in the Garden Club. Your work to beautify our school grounds is greatly appreciated, and we are thankful for all that you do for our school.
As a reminder, Parent/Teacher conferences will take place this Monday and Tuesday, November 20 and 21. We hope that you will be able to take this time to meet with your child's teacher. It's not too late to contact your child's teacher to schedule a conference!
We know many of our families will spend time over the upcoming break traveling and visiting with friends and family. As travel and crowded indoor gatherings can increase the risk of respiratory infections including COVID-19, MCPS is making at-home rapid test kits available to students and staff prior to the break, and we will be sending test kits home with students on Monday, November 20. Please note testing is not mandatory. We are depending on our staff and families to consider their exposure risk, and test and report positive results accordingly.
Please note that the InteliSwab test takes 30 minutes for results and has an extended expiration date. Test kits should be used for staff and students. For other family members, free rapid test kits are also available at most public library locations and by mail.
Staff and students positive for COVID-19 should notify their school or program directly if absent due to COVID-19. Individuals who have a positive COVID-19 test will need to follow CDC guidelines for isolation.
Please remember that respiratory infections like influenza and RSV are also circulating in our community. Healthy habits including isolating when sick, good handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes help prevent illness.
Due to the short week of early dismissals and school closures, the next Friday Flash will be sent to you on December 1. We wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday break!
Mr. Wynne and Mrs. German
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Grade Level Newsletters
Parents, please click on your child's grade level to view class weekly newsletters. Any questions regarding the content of the newsletters should be directed to your child's teacher. Thank you.
Chromebooks for Home Use
Cedar Grove is using a cart model for Chromebooks this year which means Chromebooks stay in the classroom and do not go home. For those of you who would like an MCPS home use device, please complete the Chromebook Form to Distribute to Families to request a home use Chromebook. The purpose is to give Cedar Grove students the access they need for instruction if they do not have a personal or home device. Staff at central office will monitor the requests through the form submissions, will prepare a device, assign it to your student, and will deliver it to Cedar Grove. We will distribute it to the student. As you can imagine, the process takes some time, which is why we are asking you to put in your request so that you have the device when your student needs it. The home use device is to be kept at home for the academic year. 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.
Personal Body Safety Lessons
During the month of November, our school counselor, Erin Spoales, will be presenting a lesson on the topic of child abuse and neglect in every grade level. These lessons are known as Personal Body Safety Lessons (PBSL). The purpose of these lessons is to help students:
· Develop knowledge, decision making skills, and behaviors which promote safe living in the home, school, and community;
· Learn skills for self-protection and identifying child abuse and neglect;
· Learn skills for asking for help for self and others and practice reporting to a trusted adult; and
· Engage in positive and appropriate interactions with peers and adults.
If you have any questions or concerns about the topics that will be covered, please contact our school counselor, Erin Spoales at 240-740-6190 or Erin_M_Spoales@mcpsmd.org
From Mrs. Hirschhorn, Media Specialist
It has been a busy week in the Media Center (we even moved furniture around)! The November Media Monthly is updated to reflect all the new books we've processed, as well as our media lessons and the progress on our First Peoples board. The third, fourth, and fifth graders lesson brought a lot of discussion about Thanksgiving, and a third grader had the bright idea to have the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Greetings to the Natural World printed so they could share it with their family over Thanksgiving. I thoroughly enjoy how my students give me fabulous ideas to extend my lessons! Have a wonderful weekend!
Art, Music, and PE Newsletter
Please click the link below for the November overview of what your students will be doing in Art, General Music, Instrumental Music, and Physical Education. We hope you will take a few moments to read what is happening during these instructional spaces.
From Our PTA:
BINGO NIGHT IS TONIGHT!!
When: Friday, November 17th 6:30PM - 8:30PM (doors open at 6p)
Where: Hallie Wells Middle School
What: Tickets are available at the door! Bring the entire family out for one of the BEST PTA sponsored events of the year! There will be food, raffles, Bingo games, prizes, more prizes, & even MORE PRIZES! We'll have some of our amazing CGES Staff calling the Bingo numbers. We can't wait to see you there.
Chipotle Spirit Night
When: Monday, November 20th 5:00PM-9:00PM
Where: Chipotle - 20940 Frederick Road, Germantown
What: Come out for a Spirit NIght at Chipotle! They will be donating 33% of proceeds back to Cedar Grove ES!! You MUST present THIS FLIER at the restaurant. Pulling it up on your phone counts. :-) Online orders count as well with code GZBR83N used at checkout.
PTA Membership Drive
And the WINNER of the Hot Chocolate Bar is......Mrs. Bencal's Class!!!
We'll be in touch with a date!
Garden Club
Garden Club is canceled for this Saturday, November 18th. We will pick back up in the Spring. Thank you to everyone that helped over the last 6 weeks. We've made some huge improvements, and couldn't have done it without YOU!
Winter Wonderland
Every year we transform the school into a Winter Wonderland! We are looking for Parent Volunteers to help us decorate on Saturday, December 2nd from 9a-2p. If you are interested in helping, sign up HERE.
Holiday Shop
This year's Holiday Shop will take place from Monday, December 11th - Friday, December 15th. Just like with the Book Fair, the students come to shop during the school day throughout the week. You'll be working the cash register, assisting the kids with their list making, shopping, and budgeting. We will also need help with setup and cleanup! If you would like to volunteer, click HERE!
Spirit Wear
Show your school SPIRIT! Click HERE to get your spirit wear now!