Galway Chronicle Lions Roar!
Welcome Back Newsletter Aug. 4, 2023 Vol 14 Issue 1
Administrative Team
Nathaniel Hamilton, Assistant Principal
Latina Bobo, Assistant School Administrator
240-740-0140 Fax 301-902-1230
GREETINGS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Galway Parents/Guardians,
I would like to welcome each of you to the 2023-2024 school year at Galway Elementary School. It continues to be an honor to serve the Galway community and I look forward to many years of working collaboratively with you to ensure your child’s success!
I am very excited about the upcoming school year. To ensure a great start for each child, the staff and I have spent time learning about our students, analyzing student performance data, reviewing the anti-racist audit data, identifying successful strategies for learning, and planning for an inclusive environment that benefits all students. Our staff continued professional development focused on the science of reading, social-emotional learning, differentiated instruction, and data-driven decision-making. We reaffirm our ongoing commitment to making Galway an environment that reflects high expectations, embraces equity, provides a culture of dignity, and ensures access to challenging opportunities for all students.
Galway remains a Title I school. Title I benefits for Galway students include additional staffing, resources, an activity bus, and a school-wide STEM program. You will hear more about these and other school benefits at our parent meetings and at Back to School Nights.
You will find several pieces of information also on the school website with this “Welcome Back Letter”. Please read them carefully. A recommended school supply list, MCPS calendar, updated bus routes for arrival and dismissal, and the parent reunification process should we have an emergency requiring parents to pick up their children. Finally, school policies are enclosed as well.
I will be using the SMORES newsletter site this year for all newsletters and weekly updates. This company allows parents to translate information to the language of their choice by pushing the translate button when the newsletter is opened online.
On behalf of the Galway Elementary School administrative team, and staff, I want to welcome you and your child/ children to a brand-new school year. Please know that we are committed to the education and success of each child and to establishing a strong partnership between home and school. Please feel free to call the school at 240-740-0140.
Fondly,
Dorothea
SCHOOL HOURS
SCHOOL HOURS
Galway’s student hours are from 9:25 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. each regular school day. Students should not be at school before 9:00 a.m. If a student is dropped off between 8:15 and 8:55 a.m., parents will be called because adequate supervision is not available before that time. Students may enter the building at 9:10 am. Students arriving after 9:25 a.m. are considered tardy. If your child arrives at or after 9:25 am, they must be signed in by a responsible adult.
As a safety measure, we will continue to use the QRS code sign-in format for late arrivals and early dismissals.
CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT
Students will be able to find their classroom and assigned teacher in the following ways:
On Tuesday, August 22, your child’s teacher will email a postcard to your email address and your child’s email identifying the classroom location and teacher.
You can attend our Open House “Sneak Peek” for your designated grade level.
On Monday, August 28, the first day of school, staff will be available to greet students and families, and provide class and teacher assignments.
SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
FIRST DAY PROCEDURES
Our staff members will be available on the first day of school to help students find their classrooms. Students in grades 3-5 should enter the building through the main doors. Students in grades 1-2 should enter the building through the doors at the end of the building near the ESOL wing. Kindergartners, Pre-K and Learning Center students will enter through the APR doors. (Parents will be allowed to walk students to their classrooms.)
FIRST DAY NAME-TAGS
School begins this year on Monday, August 28, 2023. This will be a regular, full-day session and buses will begin their regular routes on that day.
For our younger students,
Tags should be cut out, completed, and pinned to your child's shirt and the inside of the backpack.
Using the bus schedule, please be sure to write your child's route number in the box.
Please indicate if your child goes home as a walker, bus rider, car rider, or to childcare.
These information tags will help our staff and volunteer parents make the first few days of school organized and safe.
ARRIVAL and DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
ARRIVAL and DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Students will enter the building in the following manner:
Kindergarten, Pre-K, and Learning Center will enter through the APR doors (Purple)
Grades 1st and 2nd should enter through the STEM doors (near the car loop) (Blue)
Grades 3rd, 4th, and 5th should enter through the main doors (Green)
All students will choose their breakfast options when they enter their classrooms.
Walkers exit the building through the side doors of the school by the gym (STEM hallway). They must leave school immediately. Do not ask students to wait for parents or siblings at the office.
Car riders are escorted by an adult to the car pick-up area on the side of the school (STEM hallway) when their number is called. There will be a teacher on duty monitoring the pick-up process.
Bus riders are dismissed from their classrooms when the bus number/animal is posted.
Childcare students are lined up by their childcare provider in the STEM hallway and dismissed to the provider when they pull to their car-loop area.
Parent Pick-up and Drop-off
If you drop off and pick up your child (ren), remember to do so in the parking lot on the side of the school so that buses can safely load and unload students in the bus loop. Do not block staff cars in the parking lot since staff members may need to depart at dismissal. For the safety of all children, families who wish to park must do so in empty parking spaces. Teachers are not permitted to dismiss students directly to parents from the classroom. If you pick up your child before dismissal time, complete the QR code, ring the doorbell, and the office staff will assist you. Main office staff will call into the classroom for your child. You must arrive at the office by 3:30 for early pick-up.
Bus Information (Arrival and Dismissal Schedules)
Bus information from the Transportation Office is located on the Galway website. Please read carefully both the letters from the Division of Transportation and the routes for Galway Elementary. Route numbers, not bus numbers will be used again this year and will be displayed in the second window on both sides of all buses. Families should also be aware that road construction, poor weather conditions, and accidents are traffic issues in the Silver Spring area, so buses may be legitimately delayed when picking up students in the mornings. School buses experience the same traffic delays as the rest of us -- sometimes even more since bus drivers tend to be more cautious than the average commuter does.
**Car Riders**
Students being picked up in a car will be assigned a number. Students will remain indoors until this number is called. Keeping students inside during carpool dismissal will ensure that inclement weather does not impact these procedures.
You will receive a car tag with a number to hang on your rear-view mirror for all to see. Please place your car tag on the rear-view mirror with the number facing away from the driver. This will enable the Galway staff to see the number and guide the student(s) to the car. Be sure that your car tag is always displayed. As you enter the carpool line, a member of the Galway Elementary staff will call your number and the student(s) will be assisted to your car. Parents choosing to walk up and pick up their child can continue that process but must display a number for the staff member.
The carpool numbers will be given to students on the first day of school. Parents will be sent the number by email to share with students before the first day and should place that number on a sheet of paper against the windshield when they enter the line. Current families with carpool numbers will maintain the same number during their time at Galway.
DISMISSAL CHANGES
If a family’s plans require a change from their normal dismissal process, changes must be made in writing to the teacher. In the event of last-minute changes to a student’s dismissal plans, please call the main office prior to 2:30 p.m. if possible.
DO NOT EMAIL TEACHERS WITH SAME-DAY DISMISSAL CHANGES-PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE. Teachers do not always have the opportunity to read emails during the student day. Send the changes by email to the office secretaries. State your child’s name, the name of the individual they should be dismissed with, and your signature.
Any adult who comes to the school to pick up a child will be asked to show documentation to verify identification and ensure student safety.
The process for dismissal remains the same during inclement weather.
HEALTH ROOM
HEALTH ROOM
The school health room is staffed by a health tech every day along with a nurse one or two days a week. The nurse is available for consultation on days she is not in the building. They assess the health needs of students, provide sick and emergency care, monitor to assure immunization compliance, administer medications and treatments to students who have authorized health care provider’s orders, and maintain student health records.
When students are running a fever or showing any symptoms of a contagious illness, parents will be called to pick them up from the health room. The health room is unable to keep students for an extended period. It is important that we have current phone numbers for these types of emergencies. If a parent is unable to be reached after 30 minutes, listed emergency contacts will be called to assist with student pick-up.
VACCINATIONS CLINIC
In preparation for the 2023-24 school year, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) plans to hold free vaccination clinics throughout August.
As required by Maryland law, students must be vaccinated and either show proof of vaccination on the first day of school or show proof of a scheduled vaccination appointment within the first 20 days.
Students can receive their vaccinations at the following clinic locations:
- Dennis Avenue Health Center at 2000 Dennis Ave., Silver Spring will be open Tuesday, Aug. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Dennis Avenue Health Center at 2000 Dennis Ave., Silver Spring will be open Tuesday, Aug. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Germantown Health Center at 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown will be open Wednesday, Aug. 23 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Silver Spring Health Center at 8630 Fenton St., 10th floor, Silver Spring will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Appointments for kids 5 years and older will be available at the MCPS Back-to-School Fair at Westfield Wheaton Mall on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 240-777-1050 for details
The School Health Services Immunization Center will also be open for vaccination appointments Monday, Aug. 7 through Friday, Aug. 11 between 8:30 a.m. and noon as well as Monday, Aug. 14, and Thursday, Aug. 17. Call 240-740-4430 for details.
COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION
Consistent communication will occur through the principal's newsletter, The Galway Chronicle, which will be posted on our Galway webpage bi-weekly. The Galway Chronicle will have a new look this year and parents will be able to translate it in multiple languages. Paper copies are also available in the school office. Other methods of communication will include Connect-Ed, Synergy emails, Class Dojo, and the school website. The “Sunday Night Connect-Ed” will continue with weekly updates each Sunday evening. The newsletter will be attached to all email addresses linked to the Sunday night call.
Twitter is a social media tool used by the principal to share school-wide events, classroom learning, changes in schedules, and student activities. The Twitter site can be found on the school website, and you can follow us @galwayprincipal. Both Twitter and the school website feature Galway activities and students throughout the year. You may opt out of your child being featured on either site by completing the family, educational rights, and privacy act form (FERPA) or contacting the school.
CONTACTING TEACHERS
To maximize student instructional time, teachers will only be available to speak by telephone before or after the student day. Calls for teachers should be made between 8:45 a.m.-9:10 a.m. and 3:55 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. You may leave a message on their answering machines or send an email to the teacher. We will do our best to return all phone or email messages within 24- 48 hours. In addition, teacher email addresses may be found on the Galway website.
CELL PHONES
Students are not to have cell phones on or visible during the day and should not use them to take pictures at any time of the school day. Phones should be kept in the student’s backpack. The school cannot accept responsibility for any lost or damaged phones. If a phone is on during the school day and/or is used by a student, it will be confiscated, kept in the office, and returned at the end of the day for the first offense. If the phone is on or in use a second time, the phone will be returned to the student’s parent or adult guardian only.
VISITORS
VISITORS
All visitors must enter the building through the main entrance, stop at the main office to sign in and wear a visitor’s badge while in the school. All visitors must present an ID that is scanned through the Visitor Management System. For the safety and security of all individuals, we need to be aware of the presence and location of all visitors in the building. Any individuals without a visitor’s badge will be asked to report to the office. Please help us keep all students in our school safe by following this important procedure!
We ask for your support in maximizing instructional time for students. As a result, students will not be released from class for telephone calls or to wait in the office to be picked up from school.
We ask that you schedule all visits to the classroom ahead of time by contacting your child’s teacher. Thank you for your consideration ☺
IMPORTANT SCHOOL MEAL INFORMATION
CEP (COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION)
Galway Elementary School is one of 57 MCPS schools participating in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP). All students at Galway are able to receive free breakfast and lunch daily.
What are the benefits of CEP?
In addition to students receiving breakfast and lunch at no cost:
Households with students at CEP schools only no longer need to complete and submit FARM applications
Students at CEP schools will no longer incur student meal debt due to unpaid meal costs.
Will meal service be different?
No. Schools can expect the same operational meal service to continue. Monthly menus continue to be available from the Department of Food Services for review of meals for families each month. We encourage families to check out menus here and students to eat breakfast and lunch at school, fueling them to learn each day.
NOTE: If siblings attend other MCPS schools, the requirement to complete FARMS applications at those schools remains the same.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Birthday parties are not held at school. We celebrate birthdays at school by announcing them during morning announcements and giving each student a birthday pencil and sticker. Please do not send treats, cupcakes, or goodie bags to the classroom for your child’s birthday. FOOD SOURCES FROM OUTSIDE SCHOOL The Division of Licensure and Regulatory Services of the Montgomery County Health Department is concerned about food prepared in the home and brought to schools to be served. While we do not attempt to provide a completely allergen-free environment for our students with food allergies, we strive to create a safe and respectful atmosphere for all students. We strive to keep classrooms with students that have life-threatening allergies to peanuts and tree nuts free of these allergens. We ask that you remind your child that sharing or trading food at lunch or at any other time is not permitted. All foods provided for school events must be store-bought and not homemade. If there is a student in your child’s classroom with a severe allergy to peanuts or tree-nuts, or another food allergy you will be notified at the beginning of the school year. If your child has a known food allergy, please notify the school immediately!!
INFORMATION
STUDENT TEACHER INTERNS
Galway Elementary is fortunate to host student interns from the University of Maryland, College Park, and Bowie State University. This partnership allows prospective teachers an opportunity to complete their final field experience at Galway before entering the teaching profession. The core beliefs of our staff include collaboration, reflective practices, and peer observations which makes Galway a perfect place to train new teachers.
ACTIVITY BUSES
Title I funds provide activity buses for after-school programs at no cost to parents. After-school programs are from 4:15-5:15 pm on Tuesday and Thursday. The bus leaves promptly at 5:15 pm, but does not follow the regular school bus schedule, making 7-9 stops in the Galway attendance area. In the fall, due to the time change, the bus departs from school when it is dark, therefore, kindergarten and first-grade students are only permitted to ride the bus with an older sibling who is also riding the bus. A parent or an adult must be available to meet their child when the activity bus arrives. Stops for the activity bus are published in the parent newsletter and posted on the Galway website when activities begin.
PTA
The PTA serves an important role at Galway, supporting students, parents, and staff. They provide funding for cultural arts assemblies, support staff appreciation activities, and help with events like the Back-to-School picnic and Kindergarten Orientation. I want to encourage you to become a member of our PTA. Your attendance at PTA meetings is an important part of learning about our school. The PTA will have tables out during Open House “Sneak Peek” and Back to School Night.
OPEN HOUSE/SNEAK PEEK (Please see grade designations)
OPEN HOUSE “SNEAK PEEK”
Galway Elementary will hold our popular “Open House”. This short visit is an opportunity for students to meet their teachers and find their classrooms before school begins. Teachers and classrooms will only be available during these designated times.
What: Open House/Sneak Peek
Who: For parents and students in Grades K-5
When: August 23-August 25
Wednesday, August 23
Kindergarten 3:30-4:15
Thursday, August 24
Grade 1 & 5 9:00-9:45
Grade 2 & 3 3:00-3:45
Friday, August 25
Grade 4 9:00-9:45
Open House/“Sneak Peek” is not a time to conduct a conference with teachers. Teachers are still busy preparing and planning for the opening of school. Instead, enjoy a walk through the school, a brief visit to your child’s classroom, drop off school supplies, and socialize with new classmates for the coming year.
Wednesday, Aug 23, 2023, 03:30 PM
Galway Elementary School, Galway Drive, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Back To School Fair
BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will host its annual Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westfield Wheaton Mall. MCPS invites all students and their families to kick off the new school year by attending the fair. “The event is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn about the school system and county programs and services, while enjoying family-friendly activities, entertainment, free immunization clinic, and more,” according to MCPS webpage for the event. MCPS will offer free shuttles from Paint Branch High School starting at 9:00 am.
Saturday, Aug 19, 2023, 10:00 AM
Westfield Wheaton, Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton, MD, USA
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
IMPORTANT DATES
Galway Open House/Sneak Peek
Day Grade Time
Wednesday, August 23 Kindergarten 3:30-4:15
Thursday, August 24 Grade 1 & 5 9:00-9:45
Grade 2 & 3 3:00-3:45
Friday, August 25 Grade 4 9:00-9:45
Saturday, August 26 Back to School Fair
Monday, August 28 First Day of School for Students
Monday, September 4 Schools Closed-Labor Day
Tuesday, September 13 Back-To-School Night (Grades K-2) 6:30-8:15 p.m.
Thursday, September 14 Back-To-School Night (Grades 3-5) 6:30-8:15 p.m.
Friday, September 22 Early Dismissal
Monday, September 25 School Closed for students & staff
Wednesday, October 2 Fall School Pictures
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
The following letters are from the transportation department. They include bus routes, expectations for students and parents, and transportation procedures.