The Gator Gazette
October, 2023
Welcome to October! This month we have many events and happenings, for which you can find details about below. In addition to these events, as we focus on our motto, "All in. Every Gator, Every Day," MCPS celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, and National Bullying Prevention month in October. As you know, at Greenwood ES, we work together to ensure that every student and every family is a respected and valued part of our amazing community. YOU belong here!
As fall sets in, we look forward to a busy month ahead! We are in the thick of the first marking period, and interim reports will be visible on October 5. We appreciate your continued partnership as we work together support your child's academic and social-emotional growth. It's going to be a great month!
Warmly,
Mrs. Seidel and Mrs. Sinon
Make-Up Picture Day and Photo Orders
If your child had their photo taken this week, but you missed the opportunity to order photos, the order form will reopen when proofs are sent to all families.
National Walk & Roll to School Day is October 4
Spirit Day: Wear Sneakers
Greenwood will be celebrating this day with a few safety tips on how to be safe while walking and biking. Families can also participate by walking or biking to school.
Unity Day- October 18
Spirit Day: Wear Orange
Unity Day is a time to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. We wear orange to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying.
We would also like to invite students to create posters that promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion. These posters will be submitted to the yearbook committee and will have the opportunity of being included in this year’s yearbook. Posters are due by Friday, October 13.
Classroom Fall Festivals - October 27
As a reminder, these celebrations in the Sherwood cluster are fall-themed, to ensure all students can participate. Teachers will communicate the time of their classroom fall party with the designated room parents.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Throughout the year, Greenwood will be celebrating different cultures. Over the next month, we will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. One way we will celebrate is by sharing information about the culture on GGTV. We will also be highlighting Hispanic and Latin American individuals and their accomplishments.
If you have a child that is interested in sharing anything about the Hispanic culture on GGTV (an interesting fact, artifact, tradition, etc.), please send us an email with a few sentences your child would like to read from.
Hiranya_U_Patterson@mcpsmd.org
Holiday Giving Project
The Holiday Giving Project has provided Thanksgiving and December holiday assistance to low-income households for over 30 years. A network of social workers, school counselors, and human service professionals refer families in need of assistance. Local non-profits, faith-based organizations, and public agencies serve Holiday Giving recipients, as donations are available. If you and your family are in need and would like to be referred for possible assistance for the holiday season, please complete this google form or consent form that was sent home to families. While a referral is not a guarantee of assistance, the Project helps as many families in need as donations allow.
November Open House
Although we love your little ones, the open house will be happening during instructional time, and we respectfully request that you make other arrangements for them that morning.
Further details will be sent closer to the day, but for now, please mark your calendars!
**PEP families will receive information about a PEP open house directly from their child's teachers, tailored for the many sections of PEP classes.**
Parent Conference Days in November
PTA Update
Hello Gator Family! PTA events are kicking into full gear, and we look forward to seeing many smiles at these special activities.
Movie Night
Our first event of the school year is our annual Movie Night on the Blacktop! Join us on Friday, September 29, at 7:30 p.m. for our showing of the Super Mario Bros. movie.
And we still need adult volunteers for Movie Night. If you’re available to lend a hand, please sign up here.
First PTA Meeting (10/3)
Our first PTA meeting of the 2023/2024 school year will be on Tuesday, October 3 at 7 p.m.
You are welcome to join us in-person at Greenwood in the APR.
Or to join virtually, please use the following Zoon information:
URL: Click Here
Meeting ID: 826 9086 0635
Passcode: Gator
Dining Night Out: California Tortilla (10/18)
Don’t cook! Our next “dining night out” will be Wednesday, October 18, from 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., at California Tortilla in Olney. 25% of group sales will be donated to the PTA! To support this fundraiser, orders must be placed in-store or online from the Olney restaurant.
For online orders, scroll to the bottom of the website or app, find and click on the category called “Spirit Night.” Click on the avocado labeled “Spirit Night” and add to cart. This will ring up as a $0 item. Complete the rest of your order and enjoy!
If ordering in-store, inform the cashier that you are with the fundraiser.
Trunk or Treat (10/27)
Our annual Trunk or Treat event will be held on Friday, October 27. Mark your calendars! And be on the lookout for the volunteer sign-up form coming soon.
Scholastic Book Fair (10/19-10/27)
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held from Thursday, October 19 - Friday, October 27. We need volunteers to staff the cash registers as well as to help with set-up and tear-down. You can sign up here.
You and your students will be able to shop the Scholastic Book Fair three different ways.
In-Person Student Shopping: Your students can shop the Book Fair during their assigned Media Center times on Thursday, October 19 - Friday, October 27.
In-Person Parent Shopping: Parents can shop the Book Fair in-person as well. On Monday, October 23 - Thursday, October 26 – from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. – parents will be allowed into the Media Center to shop. We also will have extended parent shopping time on Wednesday, October 25 – when the Book Fair will be open to families until 5:30 p.m.
To set this up, click hereShop Online: You can shop online here. The Virtual Book Fair will run Thursday, October 19 - Wednesday, November 1.
For Student Shopping, we encourage you to set up a Scholastic eWallet. This will give your child a safe, cashless way to shop at the Book Fair. This digital payment option can be used at the in-school Book Fair or online at the Virtual Book Fair. To set this up, click here – and look for the eWallet section on the page. Upon completion, you can print out your eWallet information with your student’s name and account balance – and send it with your student to aid in the checkout process (this is especially helpful for the younger students). If you have eWallet funds remaining from previous book fairs, those funds converted into a Scholastic eGift card balance. You can apply that eGift card balance for a new eWallet for the Fall 2023 Book Fair. Log in to your Scholastic online account to check for an available balance. Cash, credit cards, and checks made payable to Greenwood PTA also will be accepted.
Monthly Reminders
Calling all Gator families! Join the PTA and stay connected throughout the year. Joining is easy, and only costs $15. Click here to join the PTA today. Please also join MemberHub to ensure you receive all of our emails.
Be sure to join our Facebook group. Click here to “Like” us to follow along for the latest updates.
Did you know? You can make custom Greenwood gear and have it shipped directly to your door anytime of the year. Just visit greenwoodspiritwear.com to place an order.
As always, we welcome new ideas and creative ways to make this already great community even stronger. Please email President@greenwood-pta.org with any feedback or questions.
Hope to see many of you out and about at Greenwood!
Sincerely,
Kim Taccini
Greenwood PTA Secretary
Alisha Creel
Greenwood PTA Treasurer
Nominations for PTA President and Vice President open through Sunday; Election on Tuesday, October 3
The Nominating Committee for the Greenwood PTA is seeking nominations for the following two positions: President and Vice President. Those who are interested may nominate themselves, or nominate another member of the PTA by emailing the chair, Lindsay Vilardo at LMRinker@gmail.com no later than Sunday, October 1st, 2023. There will be a vote on Tuesday, October 3rd at the PTA meeting. In order to vote you must be a current member of the PTA who has paid their dues for this year prior to the vote. To join the PTA, please see the bottom of this email for instructions.
Both positions are to fill the current vacancies after our current president will be stepping down and there is no current VP to fill the role so a special election must be held. Those voted in will fill the remainder of the term which for both positions goes through the end of the current 2023-2024 school year. To hold these positions, you must be a current member of the PTA who has paid dues for this year. Attached are the descriptions for each officer.
Please reach out to the nominating committee with any questions about the process, or nominations.
Thank you,
Greenwood ES PTA Nominating Committee:
Jess Christopher
Davida Gurstelle
Diana Litton
Henriot St.Gerard
Lindsay Vilardo
How to join the PTA:
Step 1:
PARENTS/GUARDIANS MEMBERSHIP
https://greenwoodpta.memberhub.com/store/items/709394
Step 2:
Please also join MemberHub to receive PTA communications:
Scholastic Book Fair
Shopping Days
The Book Fair will be held on Thursday, October 19 - Friday, October 27 — with online shopping extended through Wednesday, November 1.
You and your students can shop three different ways. Be sure to note the different days for each shopping opportunity.
In-Person Student Shopping: Your students can shop the Book Fair during their assigned Media Center times on Thursday, October 19 - Friday, October 27.
In-Person Parent Shopping: Parents can shop the Book Fair in-person as well. On Monday, October 23 - Thursday, October 26 – from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. – parents will be allowed into the Media Center to shop. We also will have extended parent shopping time on Wednesday, October 25 – when the Book Fair will be open to families until 5:30 p.m.
Shop Online: You can shop online at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/greenwoodelementaryschool14. The Virtual Book Fair will run Thursday, October 19 - Wednesday, November 1.
Student Preview Days & Wish Lists
On Thursday, October 19 and Friday, October 20, students will have the opportunity to briefly preview the Book Fair and create a wish list to shop from during their assigned Media Center times the next week. But if your student is ready to buy during the Preview Days, they can purchase books then too.
Payment Methods
For Student Shopping, we encourage you to set up a Scholastic eWallet. This will give your child a safe, cashless way to shop at the Book Fair. This digital payment option can be used at the in-school Book Fair or online at the Virtual Book Fair.
To set this up, go to https://www.scholastic.com/bf/greenwoodelementaryschool14 and look for the eWallet section on the page. Upon completion, you can print out your eWallet information with your student’s name and account balance – and send it with your student to aid in the checkout process. This is super helpful for the younger students.
If you have eWallet funds remaining from previous book fairs, those funds converted into a Scholastic eGift card balance. You can apply that eGift card balance for a new eWallet for the Fall 2023 Book Fair. Log in to your Scholastic online account to check for an available balance.
Cash, credit cards, and checks made payable to Greenwood PTA also will be accepted but the Scholastic eWallet is our preferred method of payment.
We need your help!
We need volunteers to staff the cash registers during both the Student Shopping and Parent Shopping hours, as well as to help with set-up and tear-down. Your time and participation are very much appreciated. You can sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948A4AA2EA4F4C52-44401924-scholastic.
IMPORTANT: All volunteers MUST complete the following MCPS requirement BEFORE they can volunteer:
Online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training
If you are volunteering, please complete the above requirement as soon as possible.
Teacher Wish Lists
If you would like to purchase a book for your student’s classroom, that can be done during the In-Person Parent Shopping times. There will be a display inside the Media Center, with the teachers’ names and wish lists. As parents / guardians come in to shop, they can choose to buy something off the list and then send those books with their student the next day to give to their teacher.
PTA Trunk or Treat
School Hours
Please be sure to have your students here prior to that, so they can unpack, eat breakfast, and prepare their materials for the 9 a.m. start time. Student drop off begins at 8:40 a.m., and all students will enter through the front doors of the school. Students who arrive after 9 a.m. will be marked tardy and will miss the start of instruction. Please help us to ensure that every Gator is here and ready for a great day before that 9 a.m. start time!
One final note, please do not leave students unattended on school grounds prior to 8:40 a.m. to ensure the highest level of safety and security for each student.
Student Absences
Please call the front office prior to 9:00 a.m. when a child is absent for any reason. If you call prior to office hours, you may leave a message with your child's name, teacher, and the reason for the absence. You can also send an email to your child's classroom teacher and Mrs. Carroll, our attendance secretary at Sandra_L_Carroll@mcpsmd.org. Upon return, please send a note from home about the absence.
Please help us to maintain health and safety for all by keeping children at home when illness is suspected, when a communicable disease has been diagnosed, or when lice nits have been found. A physician's note is required after five consecutive days of absence.
Absence Policy
- AM absent, if student arrives more than 2 hours late
- PM absent, if student leaves more than 2 hours early
- 1/2 day absence, if students are absent for more 2 hours during the school day
absence
- Full-day absence, if students are present for less than 2 hours of the entire school day
absence
Our school day begins promptly at 9 a.m., and students must be unpacked and ready for instruction. If your child arrives after 9 a.m., please escort your child/children into the building to sign them in.
Arrival and Dismissal
School hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
Two-hour delay: 11:00 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. (no recess)
* *Bus routes would shift by two hours* *
On a two-hour delay, doors open at 10:40 a.m.
Early release days: Dismissal is at 12:55 p.m. (no recess)
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
- The school doors open at 8:40 a.m. to welcome our students. Instruction begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.
- Students who arrive after 9:00 a.m. will be marked tardy and will need to be signed in by a parent or guardian in the main office. Please do not drop off students at the front door at any time.
- Students may eat breakfast in the All-Purpose Room, then head to their classroom to begin instruction at 9 a.m.
- Dismissal begins at 3:25 p.m.
Walkers
Walkers will be dismissed first, followed by car riders.
Car Riders
Students who will be routine car riders will be given a family number card that will need to be displayed in the car window nearest the car loop line. Students will exit to the car loop when their number is called to be reunited with their family vehicle at that time. Please pull up to the end of the walk to maximize the number of cars we can load safely with adult supervision and keep the line moving quickly.
Please remain in your car, as our staff will assist those students who need assistance. Additionally, please know that staff can not buckle children into car seats. Please teach your children how to do so, or please pull forward to do so, to avoid holding up drivers behind you in the loop.
Bus Riders
Bus riders will be dismissed as the buses arrive.
Changes to Dismissal Plans
Please note that changes to dismissal should happen prior to 3:00 pm to ensure there is
enough time for the messages to be relayed to the teachers and dismissal teams. Please
communicate with your child's classroom teacher as well as Ms. Sandra Carroll any changes, however, please be aware that teachers may be not be checking email during instruction. As a result, it is very important for the front office (240-740-3420) to be made aware of any change in dismissal routine by 3 p.m.
Bus Information and Bus Rider Safety
Bus Information
Bus routes for the 2023-24 school year will be posted on the MCPS website in August at the link below. We will continue to use colors to identify the route numbers, and we will communicate those colors matched with bus routes with all families prior to the first day of school. Please contact the Randolph transportation office at 240-740-2608 with questions about bus transportation, routes, and times.
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/transportation/busroutes/
Bus Rider Safety
Please meet students at the bus stop at the end of the day to ensure your child's safe return from school on the bus. If you are not able to meet your child at the stop, please make 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, please call the school as soon as possible to have your child held at the school for pick-up. Please call the front office 240-740-3420 before 3 p.m.
We encourage you to review the school bus rules with your child if they are a bus rider so they
are aware of the expectations. Those rules can be found at https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/transportation/rules/a_parents_role.pdf
Please understand that safe student transportation is a joint responsibility. Please remind
your child to look for you before leaving the bus. We look forward to a safe and successful
school year.
Guest Bus Riders
Students may ride only their own bus to and from school. Students are not permitted to
ride to school or to home from school with friends on any other bus.
Breakfast and Lunch
Meal prices:
Breakfast—$1.30
Lunch—$2.55 (Elementary), $2.80 (Middle and High)
Students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will not be charged for breakfast or lunch meals!
FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEAL APPLICATIONS
Apply online NOW so that benefits will be in place when school starts! Families who meet certain federal income standards are eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits. All children use their MCPS ID number at the register so confidentiality is maintained and no child is overtly identified as receiving free or reduced-price meals.
Only one application is needed for all students in a household. A new application must be completed for any family requesting assistance this school year.
**The online application is now open for families to submit applications. https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application. ** SEE BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
For more information and How-To videos visit the Food Services website: www.montgomeryschools.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/meal-payments/#FARMS
Breakfast
Breakfast is served from 8:40-8:55 a.m. in the cafeteria.
Lunch Room Seating
All students have assigned seats for lunch where seating includes an allergy-free
table. Please be sensitive to student allergies in your child's classroom
and work with the classroom teacher to support any event or activity that
includes food.
Menus and Food Services information:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/menus/
Low and Unpaid Balance Notification from MCPS Food Services:
The MCPS school nutrition programs provide nutritious meals to children during the school day. In order to serve healthy, high-quality meals to all children, we must make sure we are financially secure. You play a key role in this effort, and are responsible for purchases made by your child in their school cafeteria. As parents/guardians, MCPS wants to ensure that you are notified when student cafeteria accounts are low and/or go into a negative balance. All are expected to pay.
The following efforts will be utilized to ensure that low or unpaid meal balances are addressed by you in collaboration with your school:
- If your student has a low or negative balance, a Cafeteria Account Statement will be sent home weekly to all parents at the elementary level and biweekly at the secondary level.
- When a negative balance exceeds $10, a Connect-Ed message will be sent weekly from the school level and biweekly from the Division of Food and Nutrition Services to you to ensure communication and updates.
- When a negative balances rises to the level of $20 or more, a school administrator, school counselor, pupil personnel worker, or parent community coordinator will contact you by phone to discuss the negative balance and to determine a method of repayment. If a method of repayment is not possible at that time, then the school will work with you to apply for FARMS services.
Central Office support will entail the following:
If your child's growing negative balance is concerning you, your child may be eligible to receive Free or Reduced-Price meals. You may apply online at MySchoolApps.com or complete a Household Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals, available from your child's school.
MySchoolBucks.com is a service for parents/guardians to make prepayments to your child's cafeteria account for breakfast, lunch, and a la carte meals via the Internet with a credit/debit card. This service is offered as a convenience for interested families. Call the MySchoolBucks toll-free customer support center at 1-855-832-5226 for assistance with enrollment or questions about your account. MySchoolBucks support staff are available Monday to Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. eastern standard time.
Further Information: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/meal-payments/#FARMS
MENU PLANNING
Our dietitians work diligently to balance many aspects of menu planning — regulations established by the United States Department of Agriculture, food safety, cost, preparation, storage, seasonal availability, Healthy Guidelines for Americans and donated government foods — to provide healthy meals that are acceptable to our customers.
In addition, we collaborate with manufacturers and develop specifications to provide foods that not only taste good, but also are lower in fats and sodium. New products are tested periodically with student groups and, if results are positive, the products are introduced on menus for all students.
Sometimes, foods, such as whole grains, are not particularly acceptable to students, but recognized as highly beneficial and healthy. In these instances we will try different forms of the product, believing that, over time, students will become more accustomed to having these foods as a regular part of their diets.
MCPS menus are planned in cycles during the school year. Different menu items may be offered for a specified period of time and then replaced with new offerings. This allows us to increase the variety of foods offered during the year.
Free and Reduced Meals Applications are due now!
Students may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household size and income. They may also qualify if they are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), or Medicaid benefits. Families may apply for meal benefits by completing an Application for Free and Reduced-price Meals for the current school year.
Students who qualify for reduced-price meals will eat for free!
Apply online at MySchoolApps.com (translations available) Click here for an English video tutorial.
Vea aquí un vídeo paso a paso en español sobre cómo completar la solicitud de FARMS.
- Federal eligibility guidelines change each school year; therefore, you must submit a new application each school year.
- You must list all students in the family on one household application.
- Each student will be notified by mail, if you are approved for meal benefits or if you do not qualify for meal benefits. Please keep this important document for your records and use throughout the school year.
- Families may apply for meal benefits at any time during the school year.
- Households that are unable to apply online should contact their school or the Division of Food and Nutrition Services at 240-740-7400.
Please click here to apply online.
Household Application for Free and Reduced-price Meals 2023-2024
Online applications are available now for Free and Reduced-price Meals for the 2023-2024 school year. Questions? Please call 240-740-7400.
Meal benefit eligibility from last school year will remain current only through the first 30 scheduled school days OR until a 2023-2024 application is processed.
- APPLY ONLINE for faster processing. Households who apply online should not submit a paper application.
- Please complete paper applications in black ink (not pencil).
- Your first name, last name, and middle initial are required on the application.
- Please provide birth date, grade, and school name to expedite processing.
- Use ONE application for ALL students in the household—including Pre-K, kindergarten, and foster—even if they attend different schools.
- If you are applying for a child who is homeless, a migrant, or a runaway, please call your child's school or contact the MCPS Homeless liaison at 240-740-4511.
Montgomery County public schools serve breakfast and lunch every school day. If your total household income is the same or less than the amounts on the Income Chart below, your child may qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Students in households participating in Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-priced meals.
The following students qualify for free meals:
- Foster children
- Students certified as homeless or runaway
- Students enrolled in the Migrant Education program
- Students enrolled in the Head Start program
- Students enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), or Medicaid.
Health and Safety
Greenwood Elementary School's health room is staffed by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services with a full-time health technician, Ms. Teresa Edwards, and an assigned nurse, Ms. Angela Niemiec. MCPS schools follow guidance from the CDC, state & local health departments. We strongly recommend, if your child has a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or other symptoms of illness, that you keep your child home from school.
Required Childhood Vaccinations for Preschool Programs and Schools
All students enrolled in Maryland schools are required to provide documentation that they have received the appropriate vaccinations at the required intervals. This applies to students who are new to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) (i.e. entering Prekindergarten [Pre-K], or Kindergarten, or transferring from another school district [at any grade level] or who are entering Grade 7). Maryland State law requires students to receive vaccinations on a schedule determined by the Center for Disease Control in order to attend preschool programs and schools. Students may be exempted from these requirements if a healthcare provider states that the vaccinations are medically contraindicated or for religious objections. Maryland State law requires families to provide proof of vaccinations within 20 days of the first day of school which is Monday, August 28, 2023.
Parents/guardians may contact their healthcare provider for a copy of their children's vaccination records to verify which vaccinations have been received to date. In addition, parents/guardians can view and print their children's vaccination records at the Maryland Department of Health Center for Immunization website: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Pages/forms.aspx.
All healthcare providers in Maryland now are required to record vaccinations administered on ImmuNet, Maryland's secure immunization information system.
Hard copies of the vaccination records are to be submitted to the Greenwood ES School Health Services health room staff.
School Cash Online User Guides (English and Spanish)
Register for School Cash Online today
It’s fast, easy & free
School Cash Online is an account for field trip funds and other events with fees. This is NOT an account for cafeteria funds, but rather for field trips and other events with fees.
School Cash Online User Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13EbViIFj5nhAujblLdBFL82x4clBt-EC/view?usp=sharing
School Cash Online User Guide (Spanish):
Guía del usuario de School Cash Online (español):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15g_0VlHseNK1SvzLTE07Bi1KaG9K6Ceh/view?usp=sharing
Chromebook Information
Every student will have a chromebook at Greenwood ES for use during the school day.
MCPS will loan a chromebook for home use for those families whose students do not have access to a personal or home device. Families may make this request through this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDNdqO31soXKLffjcEzgVQ9C2Z2koPm6ifKm7-K77e44ZhAg/viewform
Staff at central office will monitor the requests through the form submissions, will prepare a device, assign it to the student, and will deliver it to the school. The school will distribute it to the student. The home use device is to be kept at home. Requesting the device implies consent of use in accordance with MCPS policy (IGT-RA) and acknowledgement that the Chromebook, software, and issued peripherals are owned by MCPS.
More information:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-nfeYkPGdgXdetCwTu2_eM_3XkUZgGCf/view?usp=sharing
Cell Phones, Smart Watches and Other Personal Mobile Devices
Please be aware that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) COG-RA regulation around personal mobile devices was updated on May 2, 2022. This is relevant to any of our elementary students who own and carry a personal mobile device, which includes phones and smart watches.
A personal mobile device (PMD) refers to any non-MCPS-issued device used to send or receive data via voice, video, or text. Mobile phones, e-readers, tablets, personal computers, smart watches, or other devices equipped with microphones, headphones, speakers, and/or cameras are all considered PMDs.
While students may possess PMDs on MCPS property and at MCPS-sponsored activities, they may not turn them on until the end of the school day for independent use; with the following exceptions:
■ Students with an IEP or 504 Plan, special needs, learning differences, or disabilities may use the PMD to support or provide an accommodation service for the student’s special need. Principals may authorize the use of the PMD to provide an accommodation to students without an IEP.
■ Elementary Schools: Allowed before or after the student day; prohibited for instructional use, during lunch and recess periods, and between classes/transitional time.
Students riding to or from school or school-sponsored activities on MCPS or commercially chartered buses may use PMDs, as long as such use does not impact the safe operation of the bus and is compliant with this and other related MCPS regulations.
RESPONSIBLE USE GUIDELINES COG-RA
By using the MCPS network with a PMD or MCPS-owned device, students agree to adhere to the following Student Responsible Use Guidelines:
A. Students will use the MCPS network productively, appropriately, and for school-related purposes and will avoid using any technology resource supplied by either the district, the student, or the student’s family in such a way that would disrupt the activities of other students and staff members.
B. Students will use email and other means of communication (e.g., Twitter, blogs, wikis, podcasting, chat, instant-messaging, discussion boards, virtual learning environments) responsibly.
C. Students will give acknowledgment to others for their ideas and work.
D. Students will keep personal information (including home/mobile phone number, mailing address, and user passwords) and that of others private.
E. Students will report inappropriate use of technology immediately.
F. Students understand that MCPS administrators will use regulations and policies (e.g., MCPS Regulation IGT-RA, User Responsibilities for Computer Systems, Electronic Information, and Network Security) to deem what conduct is inappropriate use, if such conduct is not specified in this regulation.
G. Students understand that all MCPS equipment, the MCPS network, and the student’s MCPS network account are the property of MCPS that must be used for educational purposes only and can be monitored, logged, and archived.
H. Should students violate Board policies or MCPS regulations or rules, students understand that the consequences of their actions could include suspension of computer privileges, disciplinary action (as set forth in the Student Code of Conduct and related regulations), and/or referral to law enforcement.
RESPONSIBILITY/LIABILITY
MCPS will assume no responsibility or liability for loss, theft, or damage to a device or for the unauthorized use of any such PMD.
COG-RA At-a-glance:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eowlLog5Wly9828YtyFwRXF_wySghvAF/view
Please find the policy in its entirety on the MCPS Website:
Volunteers
Volunteers
To afford students the opportunity to settle into the new school year and develop classroom communities, we will begin welcoming volunteers in October. Now is the time to complete your required volunteer training so you're ready to go when the opportunity allows!
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 )
More information: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/volunteer
Bullying and Harassment
Bullying, harassment (including sexual misconduct and sexual harassment), intimidation, hazing, incidents of hate-bias, and concerning issues involving student gender identity are not tolerated in MCPS. We are committed to ensuring our students feel safe, valued, and respected in our schools. Please see the multiple ways you can file a report below.
Dates to Remember
October, 2023
*Every Wednesday is College Colors Day, and every Friday is Greenwood spirit day!*
Tuesday, October 3
- PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., APR and Zoom
Wednesday, October 4
- Walk and Roll (Bike) to School Day
Thursday, October 5
- Interim grades available on ParentVue
Friday, October 6
- K Field Trip to Butler's Orchard
Monday, October 9
- No School, Professional Day
Wednesday, October 18
- Dining Night Out: California Tortilla, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 19 - Friday, October 27
- PTA Scholastic Book Fair
Thursday, October 26
- Grade 5 Field Trip to Strathmore
Friday, October 27
- Classroom Fall Festivals: Grade 2: 1:35 p.m.; K, 1, 3, 4, 5: 2:35 p.m.
- PTA Trunk or Treat, Greenwood Parking Lot, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. (Photo booth and parade: 5:30 p.m.)
MCPS 2023-24 School Calendar
Contact us
Email: Jennifer_A_Seidel@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/greenwoodes/
Location: 3336 Gold Mine Road, Brookeville, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 740-3420
Twitter: @GES_Principal