Cedar Grove Friday Flash
September 2, 2022
Dear Cedar Grove Families,
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! We hope you had a wonderful summer, and we are looking forward to what is sure to be another exciting year of learning for your child. Students were smiling and happy as they came into the school building and reconnected with old friends and met new ones. The children are off to a great start to their year as they are learning routines, expectations, and participated in our first fire drill.
Back to School Night for parents of students in Grades 1-5 will be held on Thursday, September 8. There will be two sessions, with the same information presented at both sessions. The schedule is as follows:
6:50-7:30 p.m. - Session 1, including a video presentation from Mr. Wynne and the PTA
7:30-7:40 p.m. - Transition to session 2
7:40-8:10 p.m. - Session 2
We hope to see you then!
Parents and guardians who have not already done so are encouraged to register for a ParentVue account. ParentVUE serves as the primary communication vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, access to myMCPS Classroom and more. It also provides a way to view school-related information and data for students. If you need assistance setting up your account, please contact our main office.
Our greatest priority is the physical and emotional well-being of all members of our school community. Please take some time to review the information from MCPS found on the links below, which are also available on our school website. Information found in these links include community resources for students, staff, and families.
The staff at Damascus High School would like us to remind our families that middle school and elementary students must be accompanied by an adult to all sports events and must remain with that adult throughout the games. This is also important for children to have adult supervision at any events held here at Cedar Grove. Thank you in advance for ensuring student safety.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mr. Wynne and Mrs. German
To translate this newsletter, click here. Then click the "Websites" tab, choose the language desired, and copy and paste the Smore link into the box. Click on the blue arrow, and the newsletter will be translated in your chosen language.
Grade Level Newsletters
Parents, this year we will be sending all grade level newsletters each week in the Friday Flash, rather than having individual teachers send them. Please click on the link to your child's grade level below. Any questions regarding the content of the newsletters should be directed to your child's teacher. Thank you.
From Our PTA:
The CGES PTA hopes you had a wonderful summer and we are looking forward to creating a memorable school year with you!
To keep up with the PTA, please register/login at https://cedargrovepta.org and Join the PTA!
View our September CGES PTA Newsletter to obtain more information on how to join, volunteer and be kept up to date on PTA news and events!
Join us for our first PTA General Meeting of the year on September 6th at 7:00 PM via Zoom! Please see links for meeting agenda and proposed budget below.
Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy
Schools provide directory information for public listings such as honor roll, awards, and other notices in the newspaper or on the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) website. A student’s name, address, and telephone number may also be released to organizations of any combination of parents, teachers, and students of a school. Unless you tell them not to, schools can release the information without your prior consent. Directory Information includes the following items: student’s and/or parent’s name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number; student’s date of birth; major field of study; grade level; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; degrees and awards received (including honor roll); most recent school attended; dates of attendance; photograph, or other likeness; the weight and height of members of athletic teams; and other similar information.
If you do not want your school to release your directory information, complete the information and return this notice to your school by September 12, 2022. Additional copies of this notice can be found on the MCPS website, and are available in Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Amharic, and Portuguese. This form must be completed every year. We will be sending home paper forms with your child as well.
Student Rights and Responsibilities and Student Code of Conduct
In order to ensure a safe, productive, and positive learning environment, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) publishes two documents that help students, parents, and staff and understand school rules and regulations; the expectations for student conduct; and the possible consequences for violating the rules. A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities is an overview of the rights and responsibilities students enjoy in MCPS and a summary of the laws and regulations that affect students.
The MCPS Student Code of Conduct provides an overview of discipline procedures and protocols and the range of consequences students could face for violating various policies, regulations, and rules. The guide also discusses the MCPS philosophy to discipline and defines the various disciplinary responses. We have paper booklets in our main office for your convenience as well.
Annual Integrated Pest Management Notices
Maryland Law requires that school staff and parents/guardians of all students be notified prior to planned pesticide applications in the school or on school grounds, or within 24 hours of an emergency application. Without exception, notices will be sent to all parents/guardians and circulated among school staff members.
New Online Payment System Available for School-Related Fees
SchoolCash Online helps parents and guardians pay school-related fees—such as field trip costs—safely, quickly and easily. This new system puts school-related fees online so payments can be made using a credit card or e-check, increasing efficiency and security by making payments directly into schools’ bank accounts and eliminating the need for teachers to handle money. Cash and check payments directly to schools will remain an option.
To register, visit: https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/Apply Online Now for Free and Reduced Price Meals Benefits
The application is now open for parents and guardians to complete and submit for assistance with school meals. Families of students who may qualify for free or reduced-price meals can apply for this service. Eligibility is based on family size and gross income. Beginning this year, students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will not be charged for breakfast or lunch meals.
Apply here.Learn more about the program.
Sign up for Alert MCPS
Alert MCPS provides emergency information about school closures or emergencies via text or email messages to devices you register. Sign up here.
From Mrs. Hirschhorn, Media Specialist
Welcome to an exciting new year in the media center. This is the time when schedules are set, routines are remembered, and books are checked out! There are so many events to plan for in the next few weeks, not to mention getting the morning news started. Please bookmark the August/September Media Monthly and visit it often. It gets updated every Friday!
The morning news show is getting ready for the year and we need your help! If your students have a joke they'd like shared on the morning news once we get started, please have them fill out this form! And of course, you know that Cedar Grove is huge on recognizing acts of kindness. If your students witness an act of kindness, please have them fill out this Acts of Kindness form!
Art, Music, and PE Newsletter
Our team is so excited to once again give you a monthly overview of what your students will be doing in Art, General Music, Instrumental Music, and Physical Education. This newsletter is full of information about the specific content curriculum so you get a good idea of what is happening in these instructional spaces! Please bookmark this link so it's easy to access!