The Gator Gazette
September, 2023
As the days get a little shorter, and the daily routines become a little more set than those lazy days of summer, we know September is here! It has been a great first week of school at Greenwood ES, and we have enjoyed every moment with your children.
The month of September will provide opportunities for us to get to know each other better at Back-to-School Night, PTA movie night, and PTA fundraising night. The Greenwood ES community is known for being tight-knit and more like a family, and your family is an important part!
We will focus as a school on Being Our Best Selves in the month of September, which you can find more information about below.
Thank you for your partnership as we work together this year to support your child's academic and social-emotional growth and success. It's going to be a great school year!
Warmly,
Mrs. Seidel and Mrs. Sinon
Daily Attendance and On-Time Arrival hits a high this week! Nice work!
Congratulations to our Gator students and families! This first week of school was our best in the last few years in terms of high attendance, low absences, and low tardies! Let's keep it up! Remember, our doors open at 8:40 a.m., GGTV begins at 8:55 a.m., and instruction begins at 9:00 a.m. Anyone arriving after 9:00 a.m. must walk into the building WITH an adult to sign them in, as students are marked tardy beginning at 9:01 a.m.
Our focus on attendance is in alignment with MCPS, as the last school year saw startling absence and tardy rates. This week MCPS announced the launch of its innovative Attendance Action Plan, "ALL TOGETHER Now: In School Together, Learning Together, Achieving Together." This multifaceted initiative is designed to address the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism and promote consistent attendance among students across the district. By implementing data-driven strategies and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, MCPS aims to reduce barriers to school attendance and empower students and families.
To learn more:
Back-to-School Night
Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 7, from 6-8 p.m. (All grades)
You are invited to our Greenwood Back-to-School Night! This is an evening for the adult family members, which provides an opportunity to meet your child's teacher, learn about your child's school day and the curriculum, and spend time with other families.
We will hold two sessions, for your convenience. Session One will be a little longer than Session Two, as it will begin with a GGTV welcome from Mrs. Seidel and Mrs. Sinon. This will be a great opportunity to see what your child experiences each day at 8:55 a.m. when they view our GGTV morning program.
6:00 - 6:50 Session One (Begins with GGTV administrative team welcome!)
7:00-7:35 Session Two
We would love to see you there! Please join us!
Sanford Harmony SEL Curriculum Resources
A Message from Greenwood's Counseling Team: Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Patterson
We are excited for our first Greenwood Town Hall, which will be held on Friday, September 8. This town hall will focus on our school-wide expectations based on the CHAMPS system. (See below.)
We are working to spell CHAMPS by showing respect, responsibility, safety and readiness for learning!
Good Grief Clubs
This fall we are offering small groups for students who have had a loss of a loved one. These seven week support groups are brought to MCPS through a partnership of the Montgomery County Hospice. The good Grief Clubs will be co-facilitated by a counselor and a trained Caring Matters volunteer. The students will have a chance to explore their feelings, learn about healthy coping strategies, and find comfort in understanding that they are not alone by building relationships with other students who are also going through loss and grief. If you have any questions or if you feel that your child could benefit from this small group, please reach out to us at Sandee_N_Lee@mcpsmd.org and Hiranya_U_Patterson@mcpsmd.org.
Spirit Day: September 18, 2023- Being My Best Self by Getting Enough Sleep- Pajama Day
During the week of September 18-22, Greenwood will celebrate Student Sleep Health Week by starting the week with a spirit day. Students and staff can wear pajamas as a reminder for following healthy sleep habits. Throughout the week, students will also receive tips for healthy sleep on GGTV.
Annual Notice for Directory Information and Student Privacy
This form must be returned to the school by September 11, 2023.
Please Update Student Emergency Information on ParentVue
Please take a moment soon to complete the Annual Verification of Information through the online registration portal in the right corner of the ParentVue home screen. This information is critical, so we may reach you immediately, if needed. Please be sure to update your ParentVue account over the school year as well when contact information changes.
MCPS Pathway to College, Career and Community Readiness
PTA Update
Hello Gator Family!
We hope you are having an enjoyable start to the school year!
Please join the PTA and stay connected throughout the year by also joining MemberHub. By joining, you will help the students in our school, support our school faculty, help improve our school facility, receive our newsletter, and easily learn about fun PTA events and activities. Please see below for signup information.
Please plan to volunteer to help out during the school year. We are planning many great events for our children, school, and community. Currently, we are looking for volunteers to help plan:
· Movie Night on the Black Top on September 29th and
· Trunk or Treat on October 27th
Please email President@greenwood-pta.org if you can assist. As always, we welcome new ideas and creative ways to make this already great community even stronger.
Be sure to join our Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/GreenwoodPTA and to use the information below to join both the PTA and MemberHub.
We will see you soon at Back to School Night!!
Sincerely,
Amin Salaam
Greenwood PTA President
PTA Panera Bread Fundraiser
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 NOW OPEN! Apply today!
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
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.
Activate an account today so you will be notified via email and pay for your child(ren)’s school activity fees online. This is NOT an account for cafeteria funds, but rather for field trips and other events with fees.
Why register?
· 24/7 shopping convenience
· Secure, contactless & easy-to-use
· Receive email notifications as new items are available for purchase
· Manage all of your child(ren)’s school activity fees from a single account
· Check your account history at any time
· View & print receipts as needed
· Eliminates the need for your child(ren) to carry cash
How to register
· Go to https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/ and click Register.
o Enter your first name, last name, email address, and create a password
o Select a security question
o Select Yes to receive email notifications (note that you will not receive any promotional emails)
· You will receive a confirmation via email. Check your Spam folder if you don’t receive it.
· Use your email address and password to log in to your account.
How to add children to your account
· Sign in to School Cash Online: https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/.
· At the top of the page, navigate to My Account.
· From the dropdown menu, select My Students.
· Click to add a child:
o Type your school board name.
o Choose your school from the list.
o Enter your child’s details.
o Click Confirm.
How to make a payment
· Select the item which you would like to purchase & click Add to Cart.
· Once you have finished adding items to your cart, always review the cart.
· Click Continue to make a payment.
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
Monday, September 4
No School, Labor Day
Tuesday, September 5
First Day of School for PEP students
Thursday, September 7, 6 p.m.
Back-to-School Night (PEP, K-5))
Monday, September 18
Pajama Day - Wear your pajamas to school! Remember, sleep helps you to Be Your Best Self!
Monday, September 18, 4-8 p.m.
PTA Panera Bread Fundraising Night
Friday, September 22
Early Release Day, Dismissal at 12:55 p.m.
Monday, September 25
Non-Instructional Day, No School for Students and Teachers
Wednesday, September 27
School Picture Day
Friday, September 29
PTA Movie Night
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