Cedar Grove Friday Flash
February 18, 2022
Dear Cedar Grove Families,
We are very excited to share that our PTA is up and running and currently working hard to bring back several of our time-honored traditional events that we have missed due to the pandemic. Be on the lookout for more information coming soon about Around the World Night, Scholastic Book Fair, and Spirit Nights. We are looking forward to spending time with our families at these events, and we hope we will see you there!
As you know, our SGA students collected letters, notes, and cards to be delivered to first responders to thank them for their service to our community. The delivery was very special, as two of our awesome fifth graders took the time to make the delivery. A huge shout out to Saanvi Purohit and Peyton Rushin (pictured below) for surprising first responders with all the kind words of appreciation and thanks.
As a reminder, Monday is a holiday and schools and offices are closed. We hope you and your family enjoy the long weekend!
Mr. Derby and Mrs. German
Two Two Twosday !
On Tuesday, February 22, 2022 a numerical and calendrical anomaly will occur. And so of course we're going to celebrate it! The long weekend is the perfect time to get ready! On 2/22/22, we're asking our students to wear two of something (two headbands? two T-shirts?). Or Tutus. Or be a duet with someone. Or do something in twos with their hair. We want to double our fun, so the more creative the better, but please stick to the "too twos" theme.
March Book Madness
It's time for our annual March Book Madness event! We are asking our students to "read ahead" and access our 2022 March Book Madness bracket selections before March 1. It's easy to do this! March Book Madness read alouds have been ready for you! Voting begins in March, but please start "reading" those books now!
4th and 5th grade Chorus Update!
Our initial plan for the winter performance in both chorus and instrumental music was to record our performance pieces in January and share these with you via video recording. However, we decided to forgo recording due to the high number of Covid and quarantine absences. Thus, we decided not to record because we didn't want any child to miss out on the recorded performance! We had also paused chorus rehearsals for a month to help mitigate the spread of Omicron. As we have found this year, even the best laid plans continue to need adjusting due to the times we are still living in with the pandemic. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding!
As we restart chorus and proceed with instrumental music rehearsals through the end of the year, we will instead add these initial winter performance pieces to our Spring Concert. Our Spring Concert is Thursday, May 12. We can't wait to share our performances LIVE with you! Mark the date on your calendars. More details on time and location will be forthcoming!
Singing Masks & KN95 Update for Music Class & Chorus
Well-fitting KN95 masks may substitute for the singing masks. We encourage your child to wear either their MCPS issued KN95 or a KN95 from home on the day they have music class and Chorus. If students are not wearing a KN95 mask on their music and chorus days, they will change into their MCPS singing mask for music and chorus. We are sooo excited to start singing again!
2021-2022 School Yearbook!
Greetings from your Yearbook Staff! We need your help. We are looking for candid photos to include in this year’s yearbook – photos that show learning and having fun in the classroom, the first day of school, spirit days, the welcome picnic, fall parties, Valentine’s Day parties, read-a-loud night, Winter Sing-Along, Winter Wonderland, etc. The sky’s the limit! Photos can be emailed to CGESyearbook2022@gmail.com or uploaded at ybkpix.com (search for Cedar Grove Elementary School). Please label the photos with the event and/or homeroom teacher and provide the highest resolution possible. We can’t wait to document and share this year with you all. Please send any questions to Ivy at CGESyearbook2022@gmail.com.
Summer School 2022
MCPS is planning a range of summer programs for elementary, middle and high school students this summer, with most programs being tentatively planned during July. Generally, in-person programs will take place in the morning through lunchtime. Afternoon programs sponsored by county and municipal agencies and outside providers will be available in selected schools. For most summer school programs, registration will launch in early April in ParentVUE.
The goal of the summer programs is to mitigate learning disruption and continue to engage students in academic, specials and electives, and social-emotional support, while also narrowing focus to students with the greatest need to accelerate learning.
Tentative offerings include:
- Priority programs such as Extended Learning Opportunities in Title I elementary schools, Extended School Year and high school credit courses for repeat or original credit;
- In-person local school programs offered by elementary, middle and high schools. To maximize resources and available staffing, students with the greatest need may be prioritized first for programs at their local schools.
- A program for newcomer English Learners/Emergent Multilingual Learners.
- Online tutoring with external providers available to all students, on flexible schedules and available 24/7.
- Additional programs and camps, including Summer RISE and Montgomery Can Code.
All programs would be provided to students at no cost, with transportation and meals provided.
Final program offerings will be dependent on enrollment, budget and staffing. For more information, visit the MCPS Summer Programs webpage.
Now Accepting Applications for the Montgomery Virtual Academy 2022 School Year
The Montgomery Virtual Academy, a full-time virtual learning program for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12, is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Students interested in the program are required to apply for admission and must be approved to participate. (Students currently enrolled in the Virtual Academy do not need to reapply). Applications will be considered on a rolling admissions basis. Application reviews will begin March 1 for initial enrollment and staffing purposes.
The Virtual Academy serves students in a comprehensive, full-time online instructional program. The program will continue to expand its infrastructure and services, innovative instructional approaches and flexible options to access coursework, particularly for high school students.
Admission considerations include:
- For elementary school students: Primarily for students with extenuating circumstances related to health or other reasons that can be mitigated through a virtual learning program.
- For middle and high school students: For students to gain access to innovative courses, flexible scheduling and specialty courses that may not be available in all schools, and for students with extenuating circumstances, including health and other reasons, that can be mitigated through a virtual program.
Applications may be submitted now through ParentVUE.
For families needing to submit paper applications or via PDF, please email MoCoVirtual@mcpsmd.org.
For more information, visit these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or the Montgomery Virtual Academy website.
Note for Rising Kindergarteners
Students who will be kindergartners in the 2022–2023 school year must register at their home school prior to applying to the Virtual Academy. To receive a student ID number, contact your local neighborhood elementary school to schedule an appointment. Application reviews for kindergarten students will begin May 1.
Free, On-Demand Online Tutoring Available for K-12 Students
All students have access to free tutoring and 24/7 homework help to support success in their current courses/grade level, through two new approved tutoring providers, FEV Tutor and Tutor Me Education. As part of comprehensive strategies to mitigate learning disruption, all students will have access to these virtual tutoring services through their MCPS Google account, using Clever.
Bear Day Information!
May seems like a long way away, and yet...we know it will be upon us in no time! We are going to have our traditional Bear Day celebration on May 20. Save that date! But we cannot do this without parent volunteers. Please take a moment to read this letter, which explains everything in more detail!
Tech Tips and Reminders
From Mrs. Hirschhorn, Media Specialist
Here is our February Media Monthly which has the media lesson information by grade but also links to our Lunar New Year presentation, our Black History read alouds, and a sneak preview to all the March Book Madness Read Alouds. Please bookmark the link, since I update the media monthly every Friday!
Art, Music, and PE Newsletter
Here is the February Newsletter which gives you a glimpse into what your students are doing in Art, General Music, Instrumental Music, and Physical Education classes.