Woodfield Wire
March 3, 2024
Message from the Principal
Dear Woodfield Parents and Caregivers,
Spring is just around the corner, and Spring Break begins in just 3 weeks! We have a lot going on in the next few weeks, please make sure that you look at the dates below for spring testing, we appreciate your support in being able to assess students on their specified days. While we can administer make-up assessments, it creates difficulty in our daily routines and supports for students in classrooms
In February:
- All students celebrated Black History month by learning about and reflecting on the contributions and achievements of Black leaders, past and present, to inspire future contributions, innovation, and achievement.
- We celebrated Kindness week!
- Our kindergarten students learned about motion and communities.
- Our 1st grade students learned about how people modify, protect and adapt to their environment.
- Our 2nd grade students learned about biodiversity and habitats.
- Our 3rd grade students analyzed how the point of view affects a story.
- Our 4th grade students created and tested a bumper car.
- Our 5th grade students went to the Planetarium at Robinson Nature Center.
We look forward to the warmer weather and playing more comfortably outside. Please continue to make sure that your student in prepared for the weather, we try to go out to recess every day!
Please email, call or stop by if you have any questions or concerns. Katherine_A_Schwartz@mcpsmd.org
Katherine Schwartz
Acting Principal
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, March 5
PTA meeting 7:00pm Virtual
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/89943981449?pwd=ZHFnOVhwbVJEcHBzT1BGQTU2a2VYdz09
Meeting ID: 899 4398 1449
Passcode: WESPTA
Wednesday, March 13
PTA Bollywood Zumba
Monday, March 25 - Monday, April 1
No School
Spring Break
Tuesday, April 9
International Night
More information to come
Here is the link for the MCPS calendar.
IMPORTANT: UPCOMING STATE ASSESSMENTS
There are a number of assessments that are coming up for select grade levels. Please review the information below regarding the specific dates and assessments for students. In preparation for assessments, it is important that students attend school, are well rested, and have had a healthy breakfast.
Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA)
Grade: 5th grade
Dates: March 5, 7, 12, 14
Maryland School Survey (School Climate & Safety)
Grade: 5th grade
Date: April 4th
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP)
Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th
Dates for English/Language Arts: April 18, 26; May 2, 6
Dates for Math: May 7, 10, 13, 17
Kindergarten Registration
In the past, elementary schools would cancel school for current Kindergarten classes in order to invite future Kindergarten students and parents in to register and participate in orientation activities. Kindergarten Orientation will no longer be held in this manner. Be on the lookout for information on how Woodfield Elementary will welcome new students!
MCPS Communications Updates
Asynchronous Instruction on April 22
There have been three inclement weather school closures in the
2023-2024 school year thus far. Monday, April 22 is now an
asynchronous learning day and will be used as a make-up
instructional day for students. Students will be sent home with
assignments to complete independently.
Asynchronous learning describes educational activities and
assignments that engage students in learning without live
instruction or use of technology. Students must complete
assignments to count towards their attendance for the day.
Additional time for students to complete assignments will be
granted for any challenges or unforeseen circumstances.
Inviting All Students, Staff and Families to Share Your Feedback
We want to hear from you on how we are doing. MCPS is
inviting ALL students, staff and parents/caregivers to share your
experiences and thoughts on academics, communication, and
overall satisfaction with your school and the district and/or
experience working at MCPS. Your input and insight are
essential in helping us understand what is working well and
areas of improvement. Your participation and any identifying
information are completely confidential. The feedback collected
will be used to inform decisions and help create a more
supportive and enriching environment for students, staff, and
families in our district.
Click here to access more information about the surveys.
The survey will be open until March 15.
Prekindergarten and Head Start Registration Opens March 1
Fall 2024 Prekindergarten and Head Start registration begins
Friday, March 1 for the 2024-2025 school year. Children must
be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, and families must be income
-eligible to apply. Families can register their children online or in
person. Registration information
Girls on the Run
Registration for Girls on the Run for girls in grades 3 - 5 is open! Practices will be on Monday & Thursday after school from 3:30 - 5:00pm. Register here. Spaces are limited to 20 girls for GOTR teams. Our first practice is March 11! The season-culminating 5K will be held on Sunday, May 19th at the Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda.
Change of School Assignment(COSA)
The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) 2024-2025 Change of School Assignment (COSA) transfer season opens on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. The COSA process allows families to submit a request for their children to transfer out of their assigned home school. All COSA request applications must be submitted no later than Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
New for the 2024-2025 COSA transfer process:
- COSA request applications now can be submitted online instead of the traditional paper form. When an application is submitted online, a “receipt” email notification will be sent to the parent/guardian submitting the request shortly after the administrative team of the student’s assigned home school receives the application. If the request is successfully completed online, a paper form submission is not necessary. The link to the online COSA request form can be found on the Student Transfers website.
MCPS students are expected to attend the school within the established attendance area in which they reside (home school) or according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Students may apply for a COSA from the home school or the school of assignment through the IEP process based on the following criteria:
- Unique Hardship: When an extenuating circumstance(s) related to a student’s specific physical, mental or emotional well-being or their family’s individual or personal situation could be mitigated by a change of school assignment.
- Family Move: When a family moves within Montgomery County and wishes to continue attending their current school, they may request a COSA without demonstrating a unique hardship. Such requests may be considered for the remainder of the current school year only, with the exception that students in Grade 11 or 12 may be granted a COSA to stay through high school graduation.
- Siblings: When a student seeks to attend the school where a sibling will be enrolled in the regular/general school program, or a special education program, during the year the student wants to enroll.
- When a sibling attends a magnet, language immersion or other application program at the elementary level, a COSA may be approved to the regular school program for other siblings on a case-by-case basis. Such approval requires consideration of available classroom space, grade-level enrollment, staffing allocations or other factors that impact the schools involved.
The sibling exemption does not apply if the sibling is in Pre-K or if a boundary change has occurred.
The transfer process begins in the assigned home school. Applications can be found online or in the Change of School Assignment (COSA) Information Booklet, which also provides useful information on the COSA process. Exempt countywide programs that do not fall under the transfer guidelines are listed in the booklet. Booklets can be obtained from the student’s home school. Visit the student transfers website to learn more.
For information about assignments for students residing in the Northeast, Downcounty or Middle School Magnet Consortium areas, please contact the Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (DCCAPS) at 240-740-2540 or visit the DCCAPS website.
For more information about the transfer process, parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the principal at their home school. Non-English speaking students and parents/guardians who require assistance can call ASK MCPS at 240-740-3000.
2023-24 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest
Every year, thousands of school districts in over 40 states participate in local and state-level competitions to select artwork that depicts school bus safety-related themes and encourages and promotes school bus safety. The winning posters are used to promote safer school transportation for everyone. State winners advance to the national poster contest.
Submissions for the contest must be received by the Office of Pupil Transportation/Emergency Management by March 15, 2024.
For questions, please contact Gabriel Rose, Director, Office of Pupil Transportation/Emergency Management at gabriel.rose1@maryland.gov or 410-767-0209.
Personal Mobile Devices - including apple watch and other "smart watches'
It has come to our attention, that some students are sending and receiving texts during school hours - in accordance with the procedures, they must be turned off and unable to send/receive messages during the school day. Please help us with this.
Personal mobile devices (PMD) can include cell phones, smart watches, etc. Please consider these MCPS personal mobile device procedures when making the best decision for your children. To receive approval to bring a personal mobile device to school, please complete this document. You must have approval to bring a personal mobile device to school. In accordance with the Montgomery County Public Schools Student Code of conduct, elementary students cannot use or possess PMDs (e.g. smart watches, mobile phones, etc) during the student day. Any PMD must be turned off and kept out of sight during the student day.
Stay Connected with MCPS During Inclement Weather
With winter weather just around the corner, a reminder MCPS offers numerous ways to learn about your student’s school closures, delayed openings and early dismissals when there is inclement weather. Learn more about how weather decisions are made and how to receive information about any changes.
Chromebook for Home Use
Woodfield uses the "cart model" for chromebooks. If you do not have access to a home/personal device. Go to this website or see a staff member for assistance. Once the request is processed the device will be given to the student at school.
Interested in becoming an MCPS Volunteer? There are a few steps to complete before beginning your service as a volunteer in our schools.
Complete the mandatory online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training. This training is required for any volunteer who regularly supports schools, chaperones a field trip, etc. and is available in multiple languages. When the course is completed, a report is created to serve as proof of satisfying the training requirement.
Proof of COVID vaccination is no longer required.