The Greencastle Gazette
Monday, August 6, 2024
A Message from Mrs. Dean (September 1, 2024)
The first week of school flew by! Our new and returning Greencastle Knights have been very busy meeting teachers and staff, reuniting with old friends and making new ones. We started last week introducing the new administrative team, discussing school wide expectations, and reviewing what it means to be a L.E.A.D.er at Greencastle. We spent some time reviewing the Personal mobile device policy and reminding students that no toys are allowed. Here’s the slide deck we shared with students.
SY25 Greencastle ES School Expectations Assembly.pdf
I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend!!
Mrs. Dean
Principal
The first days of school for PEP and Prekindergarten students are September 3 and 4. The student start day will be staggered, with half of the assigned students attending on the first day and the other half of the students attending on the second day. Then on September 5th we will WELCOME all the PEP ad Pre-kindergarten students.
If you have questions about Pre-Kindergarten at Greencastle ES, please reach out to Ms. Samuels (Sharon_E_Samuels@mcpsmd.org.) If you have questions about PEP, please reach out to Mrs. Stacy Bowker (Stacy_A_Bowker@mcpsmd.org.)
We will host Back to School Night for Kindergarten, First and Second Grade families. Please join us Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30 p.m.. During BTSN night families will travel to their classroom or BTSN location to watch the video message from the principal. After the message families will visit classrooms or grade level locations to hear grade level information sessions and learn more information about extracurricular activities.
We will host Back to School Night for Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade families on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Greencastle is excited to partner with the African American Health Program. This program aims to improve the health of African Americans in Montgomery. Greencastle is committed to the health of our students AND their families.Therefore, you have the opportunity to get a confidential health screening for the family. This health screening screens for pre-diabetes, blood pressure and a few other areas. This is open to all families regardless of status. Please consider signing up for a screening during Back To School Night. Screening starts at 5:30 in the cafeteria
Grade levels will send out their grade level newsletters to inform families of student learning, important grade level messages, calendar dates, and more after Back to School Night. The newsletters will be sent using Remind. Let your classroom teacher know if you are not accessing their messages.
Staff emails are accessible via our school’s website at: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/greencastlees/staff/directory/
Represent your ETHNIC HERITAGE @ the 2024 Annual Burtonsville Day Parade!!! Saturday, September 21st!
Come Dressed to Represent & Share the SITES & SOUNDS of your Native Culture; Bring the Exciting Energy of your Native Lands and Let's Dance & ENJOY as we Celebrate our Diversity and the Rich Cultural Fabric of our EAST COUNTY/NEC Community!
Parade Route starts at 10AM @ Paint Branch High School and Ends at 11AM @ Marilyn Praisner Recreation Center where an amazing Festival carries on till 3 & it's Free! Come out and line the parade route to see, celebrate and join in the fun!
NOW, if you want to BE IN THE PARADE and REALLY REPRESENT YOUR HERITAGE collectively please email us at parade@burtonsvilleday.org or register here https://forms.gle/oC1tF5UJpAQjEJp38 .
***SSL Hours available for students participating in the Sea of Solidarity Section of the Parade! Just show up wearing BLUE with your Crew to represent your school community. Ask your school and student leaders for more information on how to participate or email parade@burtonsvilleday.org!
MCPS Things to Know
The following weekly MCPS message contains information about Back-to-School nights, superintendent's entry plan including engagement information, athletic safety plan and a story about the launch of girls' flag football.
You may read the full message here: Things to Know (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)
To contact the PTA, email GreencastleesPTA@gmail.com
Please join us for our first General Membership meeting of the 2024-2025 school year on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Can’t make it in person? No worries—you can join us via Zoom!
Don’t forget about our summertime membership promotion! You can join the PTA for just $6, but this price won’t last long.
Also, Spirit Wear is on sale until September 13th! We strongly encourage online purchases. Be sure to grab some Greencastle swag so you’re ready for Spirit Week!
Registration is now open for Cheer Madness and Kaizen Karate. Spaces are limited, so register your kids ASAP if interested.
Be sure to follow us on our socials and stay up to date.
Instagram: Greencastle_PTA
X:GreencastlePTA
Our school is fortunate to receive supplemental funding through Title I, a federal grant program for schools that serve communities with students who have high economic needs. The federal legislation that establishes Title I regulations is known as the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA). ESSA requires Montgomery County Public Schools to inform you that you have the right to request information about the professional licensure qualifications of your child’s teacher, long-term substitute teacher, or paraeducator (formerly titled instructional assistant).
If you wish to request licensure information about your child’s teacher, paraeducator, or long-term substitute teacher, please submit a written request to the principal at your school. Your written inquiry may include information about the following qualifications:
• Degree status and subject area of licensure.
• State of Maryland licensure status, including conditional licensure status.
• Qualifications of paraeducators or long-term substitute teachers who may be working with
your student.
Your request will be forwarded to OHRD and you will receive a written response from that office
within thirty (30) business days.
Please contact the principal if you have any questions.
NO SCHOOL: Labor Day - Monday, September 2
Greencastle ES PTA Meeting - Tuesday, September 3 @ 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Back to School Night: Kindergarten to Second Grade - Wed, September 4 @ 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Back to School Night: Third Grade to Fifth Grade - Wed, September 11 @ 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Burtonsville Day -- Sat September 21
Early Release Day (Students dismiss @ 12:55 p.m.) - Friday, September 27
Visit our updated school website to find updated information about general school policies and procedures pertaining to the opening of school. Please review this information with your student(s) to ensure a smooth beginning. Please continue to check our website regularly for more information at: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/greencastlees/