Yellow Jacket Family News

We are excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15th to October 15th. This is a wonderful opportunity to honor and recognize the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Throughout the month, our school will engage in various activities to help our students appreciate the diversity and heritage of this community. We encourage you to join us in celebrating and exploring the many ways Hispanic culture has enriched our world.

Progress reports grades go in on Friday. Students have a three-hour early dismissal to allow for teachers to complete the grade submission. These reports provide an important mid-quarter update on your child's academic performance. It's a great time to check in with your student about their progress and any support they may need. Grades will be available on Parent VUE on October 8, 2024. If you have any concerns about grades being visible for a particular teacher, please contact your grade level administrator. We are aware that some Canvas platforms are not communicating with Synergy, and would like to correct the issue.

We look forward to having a Year of Ownership, by committing to the 3Rs in our instructional practices: Relationship, Relevance, and Rigor! In this commitment, Gwynn Park’s teachers seek alignment with the district’s Strategic Plan: Transformation 2026: Leading Through Change!

This year, our assistant principals are Dr. Colby White, 9th grade; Ms. Rashieda Addison, 10th grade; Mr. Eric Harrison, 11th grade; and Ms. Yolanda Clark, 12th grade.

Let us make this a year of Ownership! We cannot do this work without you!

If you have any concerns, please reach me by email at naima.hopkinsvinson@pgcps.org. Follow me on Twitter @GPHS_PrinHopVin, and join the band app .

Your Purposeful Principal,

Naima Hopkins-Vinson

12th Grade Assistant Principal

Yolanda Clark, yolanda.leonardclark@pgcps.org

11th Grade Assistant Principal

Eric Harrison, eric.harrison@pgcps.org

10th Grade Assistant Principal

Rashieda Addison, rashieda.addison@pgcps.org

9th Grade Assistant Principal

Colby White, cwhite@pgcps.org

While mobile phones continue to be useful tools in education, they have also become a harmful distraction for many teenage learners during the school day. We are asking all parents to help by exploring ways of implementing parental controls on student mobile devices during school hours. We also ask that you have regular conversations with your children about responsible usage of mobile devices and social media. We will be having ongoing conversations with the community about this throughout the year to promote a safe and healthy learning environment for all.

Please note that TEACHERS ARE PERMITTED TO HAVE NO CELL PHONE POLICIES IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, and students must adhere to these classroom rules.

Parental control guides for iPhones, Android, and other devices

9/23- Volleyball vs Fairmont Heights @ GP 5:30 pm JV; 6:30 pm Varsity

9/24- Boys and Girls Soccer @ Intl Largo 3 pm Boys and 4:45 Girls

9/25-Volleyball vs Intl Langley @ GP 5:30 pm JV and 6:30 pm Varsity;

• JV Boys Soccer vs. Bowie @ GP 3:30 pm

9/26- Boys Soccer @ Central 3pm

• JV Football vs Potomac @ GP 6 pm

9/27- Varsity Football @ Potomac 6 pm

9/28-Cross Country @ Ft Washington Park 10 am

9/30-Volleyball @Surrattsville GP 5:30 pm JV and 6:30 pm

• Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer vs Surrattsville @ GP 3:00 pm Boys and 4:45 pm Girls

10/2- Cross Country @ Ft. Washington Park 3 pm

10/4- Volleyball @ Crossland 5:30 pm JV and 6:30 pm

• Varsity Football vs. Crossland @ GP 6:30 pm

10/5- JV Football @ Flowers 9:30 am

PTSA is Fully Accredited and Accepting Dues NOW!

Attention Parents, Teachers and Students! Great NEWS, PTSA is now fully able to accept payment for dues of $25. For fully voting rights in this week's elections, please submit payment via Cash app $PTSAGwynnParkHS. If anyone has questions, they can send it to ptsagwynnparkhs@gmail.com or contact the PTSA president, Dr. Small at (301) 602-2520.www.ptsagphs.org

Parking Enforcement

All parked cars need a parking pass. Student parking passes can be purchased from Security for $25. A copy of a valid license, registration and insurance is required. Towing will be enforced for the remainder of the school year. All visitors to the school can receive a parking pass from the main office.

Where do I Go?

Here is a link to a help document of where to go for what at Gwynn Park. See the Freshman Orientation Presentation with all of the BAND APPs and detailed information about GPHS staff.

Students, Parents, and Guardians,

1. Student lunches should be sent with them when they arrive for school or lunch can be purchased in the cafeteria via MySchoolBucks.
2. Please refrain from bringing fast food to the school for your students and their friends throughout the school day and during their lunch period, as it is a distraction in classes.
3. Food deliveries ordered by students, parents, family members or friends will NOT be accepted from DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub or any other food delivery service or vendor.

• October 2, 2024: Junior Class Meeting @6:30 pm, Cafeteria

• September 27, 2024: 3-hour Early Dismissal
  

• October 1, 2024: First PTSA Quarterly Meeting

• October 7, 2024: Parent Teacher Conference Day

• October 18, 2024: Professional Development; School Closed for Students
  
• October 26, 2024: Homecoming Game, Parade and Dance

• November 1, 2024: 3-hour Early Dismissal; Grading Day- Professional Development

• November 5, 2024: Election Day

Days that School is OUT this YEAR:

November 5th-Election Day

November 27, 28, and 29th-Thanksgiving Holiday

December 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31st; January 1, 2, 3 Winter/Christmas Holiday

January 20th-Winter/MLK Holiday

February 17th-Presidents Day

March 31st-Eid al Fitr

April 14, 15, 16, 17, 18th and 21st-Spring Break

May 26th-Memorial Day

June 19th-Juneteenth

Website: https://www.pgcps.org/gwynnparkhs
Location: 13800 Brandywine Road, Brandywine, MD, USA
Phone: 301-372-0140
Twitter: @GPHS_PrinHopVin