The Glade Gazette
November 21, 2023
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Nov 22-24: Thanksgiving Break, School Closed
Nov 29: Picture Retakes
Nov 30: WHS National Honor Society STEM Night at Walkersville Public Library (see flyer below)
Nov 30: Band Students – bring your instrument
Dec 1: School closes 2-hour early
Dec 4-8: Unity Week
Dec 7: Band Students -- bring your instrument
Dec 8: School Spirit Day - Animal Day - Wear a picture of your favorite animal or animal print
Dec 13: Field Trip - Gr. 2 @ Rosehill Manor, 9:30-12:00
Dec 25-Jan 1: Winter Break, School Closed
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
All of us here at Glade would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy this time with your family and friends.
Sincerely,
Steve Raff, Principal
Picture Retakes - Nov 29
Parents of the students participating on Retake Day should be aware of the following:
- If a student was absent on the initial picture day, their name will appear on the unphotographed list so that you are aware that they need to have their picture taken for the yearbook.
- If a parent has expressed interest in having their child’s picture retaken, this can also be done on retake day. The student should bring the original photo package, including original envelope and all picture products, to turn into the photographer when they come to sit for a new picture. They do not need to fill out a new order form.
Unity Week
Join Glade and FCPS week of December 4-8 to celebrate UNITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY and Inclusive Schools Week 2023. Inclusive Schools Week is celebrated annually the first week in December by families, schools, and organizations in the U.S. and abroad. The week highlights and celebrates the progress that schools have made in implementing inclusive practices to ensure a quality education for an increasingly diverse student population.
We invite our school community to participate in celebration activities around the building, including the following spirit days.
- Monday, December 4 - Tip Your Hats to Inclusion (Hat Day)
- Tuesday, December 5 - Tie Dye Tuesday, No two tie dyes are exactly the same, but there is beauty in all of them.
- Wednesday, December 6 - Wacky Wednesday to show your uniqueness
- Thursday, December 7 - Be Comfortable, Be You (Wear PJs)
- Friday, December 8 - Wear School Colors to show we are all ONE
34th Annual FCPS Martin Luther King Jr Celebration
Front Entrance
All visitors to the building must enter through our main office. We have the buzzer system and we ask that you please state your name and the purpose of your visit upon your arrival. We appreciate your cooperation as we do have a required FCPS protocol we follow when meeting visitors. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, please be prepared to show identification if we have not met you yet. This protocol is part of our security for the building and we thank everyone for their cooperation in helping us maintain this security for our school community.
COUNSELOR NEWS
Glade is united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion all year long. Over the next two months, Ms. Leahy and Ms. Gordon are visiting classrooms to talk more about these concepts. In the primary grades (PK-2), lessons center around the concept of BELONGING - how to help others to feel like they belong and how to accept ourselves. In the intermediate grades (3-5), lessons revolve around respect and dignity, how to navigate teasing behaviors, and how to show unity. All grades are discussing the concept of bullying and how to stand up for ourselves and others. We are still committed to "FALLing" into Healthy Habits and we love how the front bulletin board turned out! As always, for more information, check out our GES School Counseling Website: https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/ges-school-counseling-program/home
Lauren Gordon, School Counselor
PTA NEWS
Dublin Roasters Fundraiser for all Walkersville feeder schools: Available in store and online at:
https://dublinroasterscoffee.com/store/Morning-Roar-p414048047
Board Game Family Night, December 7.
The next restaurant spirit night will be held on Tuesday, December 12 at Coal Fire Restaurant. Please mention Glade when placing your order!
The next General Membership PTA meeting will be on January 9, 2024 at 7 pm in the Glade Media Center.
You may view our November Member Newsletter at the following link: https://gladepta.memberhub.com/w/november-2023-newsletter
Notes for Early Dismissal & Absences
All absences need a parent note or they are unexcused and marked unlawful. Be sure to include the child’s first/last name and teacher name. Even if you have called the school to report an absence, we still require a note upon returning to school. You may print one off - ABSENCE NOTE or email a note to GES.Attendance@fcps.org
Any changes in your child's transportation home needs to be shared with the front office. Please CALL the office for dismissal changes before 2:30. If you email the teacher only and they are absent, nobody will get that information. Thank you.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Address change: Please provide a new proof of residency (a copy of a property tax bill, gas bill, electric bill, water/sewer, cable bill or a signed current lease/rental agreement; NO phone bill or mortgage statements).
Custody change: If there is a change in child custody, please make sure you share that information with your child’s teacher and the office. It is extremely important that a copy of the court document be delivered to the school and placed in the child’s permanent record folder. Should the school not have this documentation, we have no recourse but to release your child to either parent upon request.
Weapons: Possession of any firearm or other weapon by a student on school property is strictly forbidden. This also includes look-alike weapons. The penalties for violation are detailed in the Discipline section of the FCPS handbook. Please remember it is a serious offense to possess a weapon of any kind on school property.
Community News
The 4th Annual Seed to Root Black history celebration will be held on February 19, 2024. Interested grade K-12 student performers should apply by December 8. See the flier for more information.
Stay Connected
The Glade Gazette will continue to be available first via Find Out First. Links to the Gazette can also be found through:
- Twitter: Steve Raff @FCPS_GES
- Facebook: Principal Raff, as part of the Glade Elementary Community group
Email: stephen.raff@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/ges/
Location: Glade Elementary School, Glade Road, Walkersville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-2100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GladePTA
Twitter: @FCPS_GES