Largo Principal's Parent Press

The Largo Principal's Parent Press is a bi-weekly communication newsletter that will be used to keep parents in the know about events, happenings, and updates at Largo High School straight from Principal Lewis' desk.

Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.

***Students can enter the building beginning at 7:00 a.m and are expected to be in their first class at 7:30 a.m..***

Please find contact information for each of Largo High School's Administrators:

9th Grade: Christopher Jackson (christo.jackson@pgcps.org)

10th Grade: Tanya Parris-Andrews (tanya.parris@pgcps.org)

11th Grade: Robyn Jones (robyn.jones@pgcps.org)

12th Grade: Dr. Vivian Powers (vivian.powers@pgcps.org)

Immersion Programs: Denise Cabrera (denise.cabrera@pgcps.org)

Please find contact information for each of Largo High School's Professional School Counselors:

9th Grade: Gisele Wilmore (Onboarding)

10th Grade: Valerie Johnson (valerie.alston@pgcps.org)

11th Grade: Tomeco Dates (tomeco.dates@pgcps.org)

12th Grade: Dr. Monet Hawkins (monet.hawkins@pgcps.org)

Please find contact information for each of Largo High School's Talent Ready Coordinator:

All grades: Tomisha King (tomisha.king@pgcps.org)

Please find contact information for each of Largo High School's IEP Facilitator (Special Education Chair):

All grades: Nicole.Bonham@pgcps.org

When reaching out to a PGCPS member via email or phone, they have 48 hours to reply to your inquiry. Please see the information below for where to share your concerns:

Admin Concern: Step 1: Grade level administrator-----Step 2: Principal----- Step 3: Instructional Director

Scheduling Concern: Step 1: Counselor--- Step 2: Grade level administrator--- Step 3: Principal

Special Education Concern: Step 1: Case Manager--- Step 2: IEP Facilitator--- Step 3: Principal

Teacher Concern: Step 1: Teacher-----Step 2: Grade level administrator----- Step 3: Principal

Our goal is to meet your needs to the best of our ability with the resources that are available to us. Please use processes above to give Largo every opportunity to work with you for the best school experience possible.

The 2024-2025 school year kicks off soon! Get the details here in our 2024 Prince George's County Public Schools Back-to-School Guide! Click through the guide to ensure you are prepared! We will update and add to the guide as additional information becomes available.

Link to Key Information and Resources

As we prepare for this school year, one of the biggest adjustments that we will navigate through as a community is PGCPS’ transition from SchoolMax to Synergy. Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, families will now use ParentVUE, in place of Family Portal, to access important information about their students. ParentVUE is the portal that allows parents and guardians to view information about their student, including classroom assignments and scores, attendance, transcripts, graduation status and more. In ParentVUE, families can also update their phone numbers and emergency contact information and access the Online Registration (OLR) Application. A PGCPS ParentVUE account is needed to complete the required Online Registration (OLR) Application to register your student in PGCPS. This application is completed for students new to PGCPS, transferring within the county, or returning to PGCPS. You may access the ParentVUE link below:

Parent VUE Link

This year, with some of the changes that have happened in our district wide systems, the grade appeal window for the fourth quarter for families in grades 10, 11 and 12 have been extended to September 6. Please reach out to your child's grade level administrator to assist you if you are submitting a grade appeal.

First-time ninth graders and new students to PGCPS will attend a program at Largo from 7:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. Students who ride buses will be picked up and dropped off at their regular time and bus stop location.

Transition Day allows students to participate in their regular school schedule, attend an information session about available resources for a successful school year, and meet key staff members, student guides, and peers. Information session topics include:

• Middle/high school schedules
• School bus transportation rules
• School policies
• Lockers
• Extracurricular activities
• Tools for success, such as student handbooks and calendars
• Strategies for success, including homework and student responsibilities
• Synergy, transcripts, testing, and more
• Parents with questions about transition days should contact their child’s school.

Many families have requested updates on when Chromebook will be disseminated. Due to systemic changes, we had to place an order for additional Chromebooks which we believe will be delivered in the coming days. When this delivery takes place, we will set up an urgent appointment with those families to come to the school and pick up a Chromebook, we anticipate that this should be before the start of the school year. For more information, please contact assistant principal Christopher Jackson, Ninth Grade Coordinator Megan Claggett (megan.claggett@pgcps.org).

Our community spent substantial time this summer identifying educators who fit the call of our mission and vision. We are excited to share that we have tremendously bolstered our staff and are very close to being fully staffed. Please help me to welcome the newest members of the Largo family:

• Dr. Israel Aikulola, Special Education
• Yousef Awan, Art
• Chimere Barron, College and Career Coach

• Nykirah Brown, Physical Education (1st Year Teacher)
• Alphonsius Buma, Talent Ready (1st Year Teacher)
• Luz Caalaman, Special Education
• Michelle Cabayao, English Language Development
• Rache Carter, ISEA
• Megan Claggett, English/9th Grade Coordinator
• Dr. Adrienne Clarke, Business
• Tamara Crawford, Family and Consumer Science
• Jessica Chen-Hsu, Chinese Immersion
• Josue Cruz, Social Studies (1st Year Teacher)
• Monica Farmer, Special Education
• Dorothy Fenwick, ISEA
• Felicia Garrett, Special Education
• Shana Gaston, Secretary I
• Stephanie Ghezzi, French Immersion
• Shalon Grace, ISEA
• Avery Graham, Special Education
• Juan Hall, Special Education
• Renee Hall, School Psycologist
• Carlton James, Talent Ready (1st Year Teacher)
• Lin Lewis, Science
• Twana Patrick, Secretary I
• Yessenia Padilla, Spanish Immersion
• Alanna Randolph, Special Education
• Gabriella Smith, Social Studies
• Kristen Thompson, Vocal Music
• H'Erika White, Mathematics
• Baiyina Williams, Science
• Giselle Wilmore, Professional School Counselor

The first day of school is met with a variety of emotions. To assist us in making Monday as hassle free as possible, we are asking you to ensure that are lions are prepared to have the following experiences:

• Get to school by 7:15 am.
• Follow the PGCPS Dress Code (from day 1 to day 180). Exceptions addressed case by case.
• All students must enter through the main lobby entrance. No exceptions!
• Students will begin in Advisory Periods, where they will receive their schedule and other critical information to assist with their success.
• Students will also complete their schedule for A-Day.
• Largo staff and students leaders will assist new students with additional support for transition until they are comfortable on their own.
• Guidance counselors will share information regarding schedule changes with students and families.
• Pack your patience. There will be a few hiccups, but our commitment is to support you every step of the way.

Please use the following link to address any transportation issues that you may encounter as we launch into another school year. The link below will provide information for the transportation lots website and other resources you may find helpful to assist you in this area.

Transportation Link for PGCPS

PGCPS students at the secondary level in all Prince George's County Public Schools will be required to have clear book bags only. There will be no exceptions made under any circumstances. This communication has been shared widely with families beginning with last school year. Additionally, it was posted in the welcome back letter from August 8. Please ensure that your child comes to school with a clear book bag. Grade level administrators will reach out to you if there are issues with your child's book bag being out of compliance.

Largo High School implements two lanes for drop-offs in the morning. The right lane is for school buses and critical transportation only, while the left lane is full car riders. If you are a car rider, we ask that you quickly exit the vehicle, and proceed forward so as not to create a backup along Landover Road. In the afternoon, car riders will be picked up in the parking lot on the side of Largo high school that is adjacent to Prince George's Community College between 2:10 and 2:45 p.m. We appreciate your support and adherence to ensuring that we have safe arrival for students and staff in the mornings

Largo High School aims to meet families through a variety of means of communication. Some of the forms of communication you can expect to see are below:

• SchoolMessenger
• Robo calls
• Remind
• Letters home
• Updates to the school website
• Social media

If your information in Synergy is not accurate, you may be missing critical information that comes home consistently about your child and our school community. Please check in with us to make sure that we have up-to-date information to keep you in the know about events taking place at Largo.

Mrs. Nicole Mintz, Parent Engagement Assistant, is your direct link to providing you with support. Mrs. Mintz provides parents with issues ranging from helping you to access SchoolMax to providing workshops to help our parents navigate our school and school system. Mrs. Mintz can be reached at Nicole.Mintz@pgcps.org.

Save the Dates:

• August 19-23: Professional Duty Days for All Teachers
• August 19: Instructional Leadership Team Collaborative - Room 109 (2:35 to 3:05 pm)
• August 22: Transition Day Staff Collaborative -Media Center - (2:35 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
• August 22: New Ninth Grade Parent Night (6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
• August 23: 9th Grade/New Student Transition Day (7:30 a.m.)
• August 26: First Day of School for All Students
• September 2: Labor Day (PGCPS Schools and Offices Closed)***
• September 4: September Staff Collaborative (2:30 to 3:25)
• September 5: Back to School Night (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
• September 6: Largo Varsity Football @ Eastern

Did you miss an edition of the Principal's Press? Don't worry. We've you got covered. Go back and review any of the previous editions of Principal Lewis' letter by clicking the links below:

Email: Albert.Lewis@pgcps.org
Website: https://schools.pgcps.org/largo/
Location: 505 Largo Road, Upper Marlboro, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 808-8880
Twitter: @Albert_TLewis