MCPS has recently communicated an overwhelming number of hate-bias incidents that have occurred in our county and throughout individual school communities. As your Principal and the leader of Cold Spring Elementary School, I want to share that any acts of racism, anti semitism, hate, or bias will not be tolerated in our school. I support the messaging of Dr. McKnight and our school system that there is no room for hate or bias. We strive daily to be including and welcoming of everyone in our diverse and vibrant community. Our differences are celebrated and make us stronger. Together, we must speak out against all acts of hate and racism.

I want to share transparently, the actions that will occur if hate crosses our school doors. First, the hate-bias incident will be thoroughly investigated by administration and reported to MCPS Central Office. Parent contact will be made for all parties and consequences that are in alignment to our MCPS Student Code of Conduct will be administered. Administration will work with the MCPS Office of Student Support and Well-Being to identify appropriate responses for the victim so healing can begin. A parent/guardian re-entry meeting will occur for all parties. Finally, a letter to our community will be sent sharing what occurred and the actions taken.

I want to also elevate the work we are doing as a school to continue to ensure our practices around inclusivity and diversity are embedded in our daily interactions and learning. Our school has recently received the Anti-Racist Audit Survey results and will be analyzing the data in our Instructional Leadership Team and then as a full school team. We will also be sharing our data with you shortly after. The below MCPS website will provide context regarding the completed audit.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/antiracist/

All students must feel safe within our walls to thrive. My staff and I remain highly committed to this!

I hope you stand with us and support the above message and actions as we are "One School, One Community." If you need any resources or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

• MISA (5): March 6 - March 24
• MCAP ELA & MCAP Math (3-5): April 17 - May 26
  
• Math MAP-P (K-2): May 1 - June 2
  
• MAP-R & MAP-M (3-5): April 24 - May 26
  
• ELA Dibels (K-2): April 25 - May 26

Mr. Legarreta and Ms. Potasznik work together to support our assessment calendar and implementation. Please reach out to them with any questions.

Click HERE for more details!

Following Career Day on March 27th, we will have a school-wide spirit day titled, "Dress Like the Career You Want to Have!" We encourage all our students to participate and have fun.

Montgomery County Public Schools requires school volunteers and partnership agencies to complete

certain compliance measures in order to volunteer within our school district.

● Online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training via their myMCPS Classroom/Canvas

account

● Background check (dependent upon the type of volunteer service, per the Volunteers regulation

and FAQ)

● COVID-19 Vaccination Attestation - Beginning September 20, 2021, volunteers will be required to

upload their Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination to remain on the volunteer roster.

Please review the Volunteer/Contractor Vaccination Attestation Update for details on this process.

Building entrance is not allowed unless your name is listed on the MCPS approved Volunteer List.

Please do not bring your documents to the main office and ask for entrance. These documents are to be

uploaded for MCPS to approve and update the Volunteer list daily.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/volunteer.aspx

Each month we will spotlight members of our stellar Cold Spring Staff. Enjoy reading about each of them and get to know them a little bit better!

I grew up in Potomac and have lived here all my life.

My favorite colors are pink and black.

My favorite savory food is any type of Greek food and my favorite dessert is tiramisu.

What do you love most about Cold Spring?

I love that Cold Spring is a small school which really gives me the opportunity to really get to know my students and support them in such small groups. I also love how supportive the community, teachers, and administration are of one another.

Teaching is truly my family business. Since I teach at two schools I also get to work with my sister who is the art teacher at my other school, Wayside, and my oldest daughter is a first year art teacher right down the street at Ritchie Park!