The Green Valley Gazette
Dec. 14, 2022
Letter From the Principal
Greetings, GVES Community.
I hope this message finds each of you well and that December brings every family many blessings. I am personally blessed for the opportunity to serve Green Valley, and I genuinely express gratitude for all of your support since I arrived just a short time ago. It did not take long for me to observe firsthand what makes our GVES community so special. Our critical partnerships and collaborative teamwork are deeply rooted in all that we do. Green Valley is a special place. Thank you for embracing me, and for your unwavering support to help our students achieve their very best.
Slime Time
The recent Fun Run was a GIANT success and we were able to raise approximately $30,000! We want to offer a huge shout out to everyone that supported our event. Thank you to all of our PTA members that made it happen. Your collaboration and efforts do not go unnoticed, and we appreciate you! The day was truly fun for all and provided us with an excellent opportunity to bond together. All money raised through our PTA goes directly back into serving our school community. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
To celebrate our success, we will be holding a schoolwide assembly to recognize our achievement. It’s time to slime the principal! We want our students to reflect on our accomplishments, celebrate together, and enjoy a unified GVES moment prior to Winter Break. Let’s go Giants!
Thank You to Dr. Swire and Welcome to Ms. Powell
Here is a recap of a Find Out First message shared Friday, Nov. 9, to ensure all families are aware:
We are dedicated to ensure prompt communication, and we seek to provide clarity for our GVES community as updates are available. Please know that we value our essential partnership with all of our families and community stakeholders. As part of Dr. Swire’s planned retirement, her tenure at GVES will conclude as we head into Winter Break. Dr. Swire has been dedicated to our community this year, and her professionalism and positive impact on students, staff, and families is deeply appreciated. We wish Dr. Swire our best as she embarks on this next chapter of her personal journey!
Our team is excited to announce an important staffing update regarding our new Assistant Principal. We welcome Valerie Powell as she joins our GVES team. She will officially start in January when we return from Winter Break on January 3rd. Ms. Powell is a welcome addition to our GVES family. We have utmost confidence that her leadership, instructional expertise, and dedication to student achievement will positively impact our school community. She is our permanent Assistant Principal moving forward. We look forward to scheduling Meet & Greet opportunities in January to further connect with families. Stay tuned for specifics! Thank you for partnering with our team to help our GVES school community achieve our very best.
A Brief Message from Ms. Powell:
Hello Green Valley Elementary! I am looking forward to joining the GVES community in my 11th year with FCPS. I am a FCPS grad who moved back to the area after completing my undergraduate and graduate programs through Frostburg State University. I enjoy time with my family, being outdoors when the weather is warm, and participating in running events. As both a parent and employee of FCPS, my passion as a school-based leader results from the desire that every child deserves the best opportunity for equitable education and a joy of learning. I value trust, kindness and respect and strive to hold myself accountable for those traits in my daily actions. I am excited to begin supporting the GVES community and eagerly await to meet the students, staff, and families, my door is always open!
I look forward to our continued journey together. Green Valley is a special place because of the people, and our team will continue to provide our students with the excellence that they each deserve on a daily basis. We will continue to actively engage with our families and provide timely updates to ensure clarity for all of our families and community members.
We wish each of you our very best during this holiday season!
Warm regards,
Max Fletcher
Acting Principal
-------Mark Your Calendar------
Dec. 14: Spirit Night at Texas Roadhouse
Dec. 22: Last Day Before Winter Break - FULL DAY
Dec. 23-Jan. 2: Winter Break
Jan. 10: Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A on Urbana Pike
--------------------------------------------------------------
Earn Cash Back & Donations While Shopping
Help Homeless Youth in Frederick County
This holiday season, the Green Valley Elementary School PTA will be collecting donations for SHIP (Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership). Please donate personal hygiene items and other items on their wish list. A donation collection box will be outside the school front door until Dec. 22.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/ls/2F81X1D1URFDQ?triggerElementID=huddles&ref_=wl_cl_ll_vl
Congratulations to Mrs Hobson's 3rd Graders
Be a WatchDOG -- We Need You
Step 1: Complete the WatchDOGS Volunteer Form.
Step 2: You will receive an email confirmation to the email you list on the form.
Step3: Show up and give out some high fives and fist bumps to the students.
Any questions email gveptapresident@gmail.com.
Prioritize These Actions for Attendance Changes
Please make sure you are sending attendance changes to Greenvalley.es@fcps.org.
- Late Arrivals: If your child arrival past 9 a.m., be sure you walk them into the building and sign them in. If they arrive after 9:30 a.m., you will receive an automated call from our central office.
- Absences: If your student is absent, please email the day-of to Greenvalley.es@fcps.org. However, you can still expect to receive the automated call from FCPS Central Office.
- Dismissals: We do NOT allow dismissal changes after 2 p.m., so please make sure you plan accordingly.
- Early Pick-Ups: If you are picking up your student prior to regular dismissal, please make sure you are inside the building by 3 p.m. If you arrive past 3 p.m., you are welcome to wait in the car rider line.
Sneak Preview: Golf Anyone?
Stay Connected
Here are ways to ensure you're getting the latest news and updates from GVES:
- Find Out First E-mails - We use the email address you provided when your student enrolled to send out information. If that email address changes, please email the school (greenvalley.es@fcps.org, also listed in the About Us info below) to update your information.
- PTA Website - This provides information about upcoming PTA events and activities, membership and volunteer opportunities, current and previous editions of this newsletter, and more. Bookmark it today! https://gvespta.memberhub.com
- PTA Facebook Page - Stay informed about PTA events, activities, and school information by liking the Green Valley Elementary School PTA Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/GreenValleyESPTA
About Us
Email: GreenValley.ES@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/gves/home
Location: 11501 Fingerboard Rd, Monrovia, MD 21770, USA
Phone: (240) 236-3400