The Glade Gazette
November 17, 2023
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Nov 1-21: PTA Sponsored Winter Coat Drive
Nov 22-24: Thanksgiving Break, School Closed
Nov 29: Picture Retakes
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
Dear Glade Families,
This week has been American Education week. On Monday during morning announcements, students were reminded of the hard work that they, the Glade staff and their families do to help support learning. It takes a team and we are always appreciative of your support! Continuing to look back on this week, Wednesday was Education Support Professionals Day. Members of this group are the noncertified Glade staff members that help assist in many (and often flexible) ways to support anything that is needed to set the stage for Glade’s certified staff to teach. Someone once pointed out to me that teachers are the drivers and support staff are the pit crew; both are needed to keep the car on the track! Today’s date marks Substitute Educators Day. I’d like to thank our substitutes that come in on a regular basis when we try to fill the coverage needs for staff that will be away from the building that day. They are a daily support! Which brings me to a reminder, Glade continues to have needs for even more substitutes on a daily basis. If you are curious or interested, please feel free to call the Glade office or visit this link, https://www.applitrack.com/fcps/OnlineApp/default.aspx?Category=Substitute&subcategory=Other Make sure you apply to Job ID 13159. Thank you for considering helping Glade in this way!
Gladefully,
Steve Raff
2023-24 FCPS Family Survey
Glade Elementary School wants to hear from you. You are invited to participate in the 2023-24 FCPS Family Survey. Our goal is to continue to build on our strengths and work to make upgrades based on your feedback as a partner in your child's education. Your participation is completely voluntary. Your responses will remain confidential and anonymous and will be summarized with other responses.
If you have more than one child enrolled in FCPS, please complete one survey per child.
The survey will close on November 21, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
A link to the survey can be found here or via the QR code below.
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Estimados padres/tutores de Glade:
Glade quiere saber de usted. Usted está invitado a participar en la Encuesta Familiar de FCPS 2023-24. Nuestra meta es continuar construyendo sobre nuestras fortalezas y trabajar para hacer actualizaciones basadas en sus comentarios como socio en la educación de su hijo. Su participación es completamente voluntaria. Sus respuestas serán confidenciales y anónimas y serán resumidas con otras respuestas.
Si tiene más de un niño inscrito en FCPS, complete una encuesta por niño.
La encuesta se cerrará el 21 de noviembre de 2023 a las 11:59 p.m.
Enlace de encuesta en línea: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SysSur-Family_23-24
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
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.
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
GES continues to welcome optional donations for Blessings in a Backpack on our spirit days*
*Approved Menu Items
- Individual cereal bowls/boxes
- Cereal/Granola bars
- Shelf-stable yogurt or milk packages
- Fruit pouches or cups
- Sunflower seeds
- Meat sticks (i.e., Jack Links, Slim Jim)
- Individually packaged crackers (i.e., Cheez-Its, Goldfish Cheddar Crackers, Animal Crackers)
- Pretzels, or popcorn
- Raisins or craisin packets
- Chef Boyardee (or generic brand) ready-to-eat pasta bowls (pop-top lids required)
- Ready-to-eat soup (pop-top lids required)
*Food Items to Avoid
- Bulk items that require further packaging (I.e., bulk cereal repackaged in individual bag/containers)
- Food items prepared by an individual or group (food items must be packaged in a sealed container by the manufacturer)
- Due to allergies, avoid any products that contain peanuts.
- Fresh produce items that bruise easily (i.e., berries, bananas, peaches)
- Canned products. Choose products with a pop-top lid or pouches.
- Items high in sodium (I.e., greater than 100mg per package)
- Perishable items
- Candy, gum, or food of no nutritional value
Learn more: https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/
GES School Counseling Website: https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/ges-school-counseling-program/home
Lauren Gordon, School Counselor
PTA NEWS
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The book fair was a huge success thanks to all the families and loved ones for joining us in our Winter Wonderland of books. Our wonderful Book Fair Fairy, Erin Rethemeyer, and her team are still working hard to get all the books ordered and distributed to your kiddos. When they arrive, they will be delivered to the school and come home in your child's backpack. Once again, thank you to all of you for your support!
Coat Drive runs through November 21.
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.
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We started a volunteer appreciation initiative this year. We will draw names from the volunteers for each PTA event to receive a gift card of their choice. We know none of us has the time so we wanted to make sure you know how much we appreciate your heart. The winners for this term are: Debbie Begosh - Walkathon, Tara Jurich - Fall Fest/Trunk or Treat, Janey Kravitz - Book Fair. Thank you!
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