Family Summer Newsletter

Dear Husky Family,

Welcome back to another exciting and promising school year! I hope you and your children have enjoyed a restful and fun-filled summer. As we prepare to embark on the 2024-2025 school year, I want to extend our heartfelt welcome and share some important updates to ensure a smooth start for everyone.

Our team is thrilled to welcome both new and returning students to Harmony Hills Elementary. We have been working diligently to prepare our classrooms, refine our curriculum, and enhance our programs to make this year a memorable and enriching experience for all our students. We will be implementing CKLA, a new literacy curriculum adopted by Montgomery County Public Schools.

We are excited to introduce several new faces to our school community. Our dedicated and talented staff members are eager to meet your children and engage them in a year full of learning and growth. Be sure to join us for our upcoming Open House on Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon. This is an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, interact with our community partners, and get some free giveaways.

We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where every child can thrive. Our goal is to provide a high-quality education while nurturing the social and emotional development of each student. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is crucial for student success, and we encourage you to stay actively involved in your child’s education.

.

We look forward to an exceptional year filled with growth, discovery, and achievements. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can make this a fantastic year for all our students.

Warmest regards,

Carole Rawlison-Williams, Ed. D.

Hello Harmony Hills!

My name is Amie Wohlfarth and I am excited to serve as your Assistant School Administrator. I look forward to getting to know the students, families, and staff of Harmony Hills. The 2024-2025 school year will be my 15th year with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). I began at Kemp Mill Elementary School in the roles of parent volunteer, lunch recess aide, and special education paraeducator. While a paraeducator at Kemp Mill, I had the opportunity to complete my student teaching, earning an associate degree from Montgomery College and a bachelor's in Elementary Education from Washington Adventist University. For the past nine years, I worked at Greencastle Elementary School as a second-grade classroom teacher, Special Education teacher, and team leader. During that time I continued my formal education, earning a graduate degree in Special Education from Bowie State University, followed by my Administrative Certification from Hood College.

On a personal note, I am the mother of four, ages 27 through 16. All of my children have attended MCPS schools, with my youngest two, twin boys, entering their Junior year at Paint Branch High School. I love spending time with my family, especially my little nieces and nephews. I have recently discovered I have a "green thumb" and have many plant babies.

Thank you for having me as a part of the Harmony Hills family. I look forward to working with you to empower our students to become effective leaders and problem solvers. It is also my desire to support the staff of Harmony Hills to continue to grow professionally and attain the goals they have set for themselves. It is my commitment to you to help foster an environment where all individuals, staff and students, are respected and given the opportunity to grow into their best selves.

Amie Wohlfarth

As we navigate the changing landscape at Harmony Hills, we bid farewell to several valued members of our family who are pursuing new opportunities. These changes are driven by evolving allocations, career growth prospects, and personal adjustments. We extend our heartfelt wishes for success and fulfillment in their new endeavors:

Departing Staff Members:

• Alexis Balanda, Bridget Cooke, Leora Gottlieb, Lisa Lamkin, Rahat Mirza, Sara Moscati, Betsy Perry, Ariela Sirota, and our long term substitute teachers, Courtney Mohring, Rohan Risal and Zina Pender

Staff Members Changing Assignments

• Heather Goodman-Grade 1
• Ana Henriquez-Kindergarten
• Sarah Jammal-Grade 5
• Christine Skroback-Grade 2
• Jinny Yoon-Math Content Coach

Welcome Back to the Family

• Jane Kim-Grade 3
• Alice Moore-Focus Teacher
• Cenora Singleton-Grade 2

New Staff Members Joining Harmony Hills:

• Shevina Adams-Grade 1
• Sophia Allyn-Grade 2
• Samantha Bailor-Kindergarten
• Wayne Bernard- Paraeducator
• Ciarra Cooke - Art
• Sandra Cordova-Attendance Secretary
• Amanuel Fitsum-PE Intern
• Nakiesha Giorgis-Speech Pathologist
• Briana Hawkins-Grade 5
• Maria Lizarraga Suarez-Grade 1
• Katherine McCauley-Grade 3
• Crystal Pleasants-Special Education
• Myra Washington-Kindergarten LTS

We look forward to the positive impact these new team members will bring to our school community. Let’s give them a warm Harmony Hills welcome!

First day of school begins on Monday, August 26, 2024

School Hours 9:25 AM - 3:50 PM

Teacher Hours 8:45 AM to 4:15 PM

Students Enter the Building 9:05 AM

Instruction Begins 9:25 AM

• In order to maintain the safety and security of students, students should not be dropped off before 9:05 AM. There is no supervision provided before this time.

• The late bell rings at 9:25 AM. Students arriving at school after this bell rings MUST report to the main office with a parent or guardian to order lunch and get a late pass to class.

• Dismissal begins at 3:50 PM.

To ensure the safety of all children, please do not drive in the bus loop or park along the entrance driveway and bus loop.

We are excited about the return of our students for the upcoming school year. In order to ensure a smooth transition back to school, we have outlined a few first day of school procedures.

• Kindergarten students will be met as they enter the main entrance. Please be sure your child wears a name tag that includes their first and last name, how they will get home, and an emergency contact number.

• Students in Grades 1 and 2 will report to the All Purpose Room.

• Students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 will report to the Gym.

• All students new to Harmony Hills will enter the main entrance and proceed to the Media Center. Staff will be available to assist the students.

All families are asked to speak with your children to ensure they know how they will get home from school each day. Families will not be permitted in the classrooms on the first day of school, so please prepare your child that the hug and kiss will take place outside of the building. We will have enhanced staff support to ensure each student gets to the right location to begin their daily routines.

During the first week of school, additional staff members are available to help our youngest children and new children to find classrooms and adjust to the routines of the school.

On the first day of school, it is extremely important for students to know how they will go home. Classroom teachers will ask this question of students to be sure they arrive home safely. If you must change your child’s arrangements for after school, please contact us at 240-740-0780 as soon as possible. Please be sure you use an index card and write down your child's first and last name, how they will get home and an emergency contact number.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for the 2024-2025 school year: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will be providing free breakfast and lunch at Harmony Hills Elementary in the 2023–2024 school year. Harmony Hills has been identified as a Community Eligible Provision (CEP) school. Households do NOT need to complete Free And Reduced-price Meal (FARMS) applications in order to receive free meal benefits at our school*. We encourage students to enjoy breakfast and lunch at school, please check out menus here.

*Households with students at other MCPS schools should check directly with those schools to determine if a FARM application is needed.

Students are encouraged to bring the individual organizational tools and personal supplies on the list attached below. Please be sure to reference your child’s individual grade level for supplies. Donations are also appreciated.

In an effort to have greater accountability of our students, we continue to revise our dismissal process. We are committed to a safe dismissal process. Staff members will be stationed on the inside and outside of the school to supervise this process.

During our Open House, each family will be asked to stop by our table for walkers and car riders to complete a form. The walking families will simply fill out a form telling us who has authorization to pick up your child during the school year. The car riding table will also be collecting information and giving out numbers to each family to put in your cars to ensure we match the students to the appropriate family.

All students riding the bus will line up in the appropriate bus line. Please be sure you review with your children what bus they ride and what stop they will get off at the end of the day.

These procedures will be thoroughly reviewed with students on the first day of school and throughout the first weeks of school.

The bus schedule for neighborhood students will be linked below when we receive it. Please review the schedule carefully. The times given are considered an estimate for both pick-up and drop-off each day at the stop nearest your home. You may choose to monitor the times for pick-up and drop-off at the beginning of the year so that your children are at the stop no more than ten minutes before the bus actually departs. To ensure your child’s safe return from school on the bus, please meet him/her at the bus stop. We stress the importance of a parent or another responsible adult being at the stop to receive the child or making other arrangements for your child to get from the stop to the home safely. In the event you or your designee are running late or are otherwise unable to get to the bus stop, you should call the school early enough to have your child held at the school for pick-up rather than put on the bus. Families are encouraged to keep the school’s phone number in their cell phone (or with them) so you can make such a call easily. Please understand that safe student transportation is a joint responsibility. Remind your child to look for you before leaving the bus. We look forward to a safe and successful school year.

If your child needs to be picked up early for an appointment, please send a written note to your child’s teacher in the morning. This will reduce excessive calls into our classrooms that interrupt instruction, especially near dismissal time. In addition, no calls for early pickup will be made after 2:50 PM, otherwise we will send your child home their normal way. Please make sure you have contacted the main office with any changes prior to this time.

• For the safety of our students, please make sure your children know their after school transportation plans before they leave home each morning.

• If there is a change in the normal routine, inform the office in writing or by telephone about this change.

• If someone other than a legal guardian is picking up your child, inform the school in writing.

• Authorized individuals picking up your children must have a photo ID.

• Any changes to dismissal should be done prior to 2:50 PM.

• Monitor all student social media accounts, web and cell phone use.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Bus routes and times below:

The following rules are to ensure the efficiency of morning drop off/afternoon pickup and the safety of our students. Your compliance and patience are greatly appreciated.

Procedures for Morning Drop Off

Students should be dropped off at the stop sign labeled “Student Drop off.” Students can begin to enter the building at 9:05am. The late bell rings at 9:25am.

• SLOW DOWN! It’s better that your child is a little late than someone is hit by a car.

• Do NOT get out of your car. Staff members are available to assist your child out of the car.

• Children should only exit the car from the passenger side of the vehicle.

• Using your cell phone is not allowed while dropping off your children.

• Please leave your pets at home. Having your pets in your car while dropping off could create a potentially dangerous situation.

• The bus lane is reserved for buses only from 9-9:30am and 3:45-4:15pm. For the safety of students and staff, do not drive through the bus lane during arrival and dismissal.

Procedures for Afternoon Pick Up

Families picking up their student as a car rider, should begin to line up in our back parking lot stopping outside of Door #21.

• Please do not arrive to pick up your child until beginning at 3:30pm.

• Car riders will be dismissed to the area at 3:50pm. We will start dismissing students to cars as soon as they arrive.

• Please do not park in the car rider lane and get out of your car.

• Do not drive around cars ahead of you.

If you are picking up your child as a walker, please DO NOT drive your car into the parking lot. You can park on the street.

This year our Open House will be held in person on Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon. Please come by and meet your child's teacher. Door prizes and supplies will be given out during Open House.

Back to School Night will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Additional details will be forthcoming. This will be a great time to strengthen our HHES community, meet teachers, meet other families, and learn about the upcoming school year. Based on previous parent feedback, we will continue to hold one Back to School Night.

Please remember, parking is limited. So, we encourage families to carpool or walk.

What Is the Remind App?
Remind is a messaging platform that will be used to communicate among MCPS schools, teachers, students and parents. School staff, central office staff, students and parents will all have Remind accounts to enable them to send and/or receive messages using a preferred mode of communication, such as text message, email or phone call and in their preferred language. We are no longer permitted to use Class Dojo, so please be sure to look for updates on Remind.

Remember to set your preferences to the appropriate language and how you want to receive your message. For support, please contact our Parent Community Coordinator, Ms. Ruth, via email at Sarah_R_Meininger@mcpsmd.org.

Synergy is the student information system utilized by MCPS. If you activated your account last year, please log in to review and/or update your contact information.

If you have not yet activated your account, please contact the school so we can send you an activation key. Families who have difficulty activating accounts can contact us at the school or the helpline at (240) 740-0780.

If your contact information, phone number, or email changes during the school year, you can login to ParentVue and update this at any time. Updated and correct contact information is important when we need to reach you in case of an emergency.

ParentVUE Quick Guides for Families:

• English
• Spanish
• Korean
• Chinese
• Amharic
• Portuguese
• French
• Vietnamese

ParentVUE Support Guide

Please review the MCPS and school calendars for early dismissals and school closings. It is important that you try to avoid scheduling trips during school time. Remember, when scheduling doctor appointments, try to schedule at the beginning or end of the day so that the student can still attend part of the school day. Please stay tuned for additional school events and activities. Below are a few important dates.

Below is the MCPS school calendar. Mark your calendars for early dismissals and school closings. Please stay tuned for additional school events and activities. You can also visit the link HERE.

8/26 First Day of School

9/2 Holiday - School System Closed

9/27 Early Release

10/3 Non-Instructional Day (No school for students and teachers)

10/18 Professional Development

11/4 Grading and Planning for the end of the term

11/5 Holiday - School System Closed

11/25 Early Release

11/26 Early Release

11/27 Systemwide Closure (Schools and Offices Closed)

11/28-11/29 Holiday - School System Closed

12/23 Non-Instructional Day (No school for students and teachers)

12/24-12/25 Holiday - School System Closed

12/26-12/27 Non-Instructional Day (No school for students and teachers)

12/30-12/31 Systemwide Closure (Schools and Offices Closed)

1/1 Holiday - School System Closed

1/20 Holiday - School System Closed

1/29 Grading and Planning for the end of the term

2/17 Holiday - School System Closed

2/28 Early Release

3/31 Grading and Planning for the end of the term

4/14-4/15 Non-Instructional Day (No school for students and teachers)

4/16-4/17 Systemwide Closure (Schools and Offices Closed)

4/18 Holiday - School System Closed

4/21 Holiday - School System Closed

5/26 Holiday - School System Closed

6/6 Professional Development

6/13 Last Day of School/Early Release

6/16 Grading and Planning for the end of the term

6/17-6/18 Make up Day

6/19 Systemwide Closure (Schools and Offices Closed)

6/20 Make up Day

6/23 Make up Day

IN AND ABOUT THE OFFICE

Please make sure the office is your FIRST stop when you come to Harmony Hills Elementary School. Ms. Glenda Ovalle, Attendance Secretary, Ms. Sandra Cordova, Attendance Secretary, and Ms. Marlene Pineda, Administrative Secretary, would like to help make your visit a positive and productive experience. Due to the need to maintain a safe environment, please be prepared to show a picture ID when entering the building.

VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS

All parents, visitors, and volunteers must first stop in the main office. If you wish to visit your child’s classroom, please provide teachers with notification through email, writing, or by phone 24 hours in advance. This notification is a courtesy to teachers and can be helpful in minimizing distractions for students. We respectfully request that you make an appointment in advance if you would like to speak with a teacher, administrator or other staff member. We want to be responsive to your needs, and we must be respectful of instructional time. All parents, visitors and volunteers must wear a visitor's badge. Volunteer information will come home during the first week of school. Please note that the only available door for anyone to enter the building are the main doors. All other doors will be locked throughout the day.

MEDICATION AND HEALTH ROOM

Medication will not be administered in the health room unless: The parent/guardian hand delivers the medication to school. Medication must be properly labeled by a pharmacist and

MCPS Form #525-13 (Authorization to Prescribe Medicine) must be filled out by a Physician and given to the health technician. Form #525-13 is available in the health room. Our health room staff (240-740-0781) will be happy to assist you if you have any questions.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

New YELLOW EMERGENCY DATA SHEETS will be sent home with your child during the first week of school. It is very important that these sheets be reviewed, completed and immediately returned to school. All parents are encouraged to visit the parent portal online and enter this information electronically.

During the school year, let us know of any changes of address, phone numbers, and/or contact persons. It is important that these forms are always current and correct.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

In order to encourage healthy eating habits, birthday treats are not permitted at school.

Daily attendance is an important part of your child’s success in school. In the rare instance your child must be absent from school, parents are asked to telephone the main office by 8:45 a.m. to notify the school of the reason. We have an answering machine, so you can leave your child's name, teacher, and the reason for the absence. The child must bring a written explanation of each absence within 3 days upon their return. Parents should keep children at home when a child has a fever, a communicable disease has been diagnosed, or lice nits have been found. After five consecutive days of absence, a physician’s note is required. The new MCPS policy states that after 10 consecutive days of absences your child will be withdrawn. You will be expected to re-enroll and prove residency. Your child will not be guaranteed the same teacher.

Absence Policy

• AM absent, if they arrive more than 2 hours late

• PM absent, if they leave more than 2 hours early

• If they are absent for more than 2 hours during the school day, it’s considered a ½ day absence

• If they are present for less than 2 hours of the entire school day, it’s considered a full day absence

We believe consistent home school communication is very important. Communication occurs in a variety of ways.

Remind: We will be using an app/website called Remind to communicate with our Husky families this year! This is where we will send messages, important updates, and reminders.

School Web Page: Our school webpage will contain updates of upcoming school events, special activities, information about our school, and direct links to supplemental practice activities for students.

Connect Ed: You will receive a phone call and/or email notifications regarding school events, emergency information, and other important information. It is important that e have current phone numbers and email addresses on file.

Twitter: You can also follow us on Twitter @HHESHuskies to learn about school programs and events.

Synergy: Be sure you have set up your ParentVUE Account to receive important emails and updates.

If your address or phone number changes during the school year, please call Ms. Ovalle, our school registrar at 240-740-0780. We also need updated email or cell phone numbers. You may send an email to Ms. Ovalle at Glenda_Y_Ovalle@mcpsmd.org or Sandra_M_Cordova@mcpsmd.org

Updated and correct contact information is important when we need to reach you in case of an emergency. Thank you for your attention to this request.