What do I do if my child will not be at school or will be late?
If your child will not be at school or will be late, please call the main office (301-924-3130) to let us know. If it is before or after school hours leave a message on the answering machine. A child who comes in late must be signed in BY A PARENT in the Main Office. PLEASE CALL BY 11 a.m. if you wish to request work for your child and you would like to pick it up or have it sent home with another student the same day. Otherwise, it will be available the next day. When your child returns to school Maryland State Law requires that you send a note to the main office with the reason for the absence.

How can I stay informed about what's happening at school?
We have many ways for you to keep up to date with 'Cashell Happenings'. Every Wednesday, the youngest child in the family (as per MCPS guidelines) will bring home the Wednesday Weekly folder. This folder contains important information from both the school and the PTA. Be sure to check out the Spotlight, a bi-weekly newsletter from the principal. You'll also want to read the PTA's monthly Communiqué that contains news from the classes and what's happening in the PTA. Many teachers also send home weekly or monthly newsletters, along with data notebooks or Friday folders. One of the best sources of information is Cashell's web page: http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/cashelles - it contains online versions of newsletters, grade level and special subject information, along with links to the MCPS and other websites!

How do I drop off and pick up my child?
Thanks to many wonderful parent volunteers, we have a morning drop off in the main parking lot of the school. Our Kiss 'n Ride is very popular with parents. Starting at 8:20 you can drive into the main parking lot and patrols and parent volunteers help your child out of the car and escort them across the bus lane. On nice days, students line up on the blacktop by grade; on cold or rainy days, line-up is in the All-Purpose Room. Teachers and patrols supervise students starting at 8:20, so make sure to drop your child off AFTER 8:20.

Students are dismissed from the back doors of their classrooms at 3:05. You can meet them there, or have them walk up to Cherry Valley to meet you. PLEASE do not come into the building and wait in the hallway for your child. It's disruptive, and presents security problems as well.

What do I do if I need to give my child a message or there is a family emergency?
We try very hard not to interrupt classes for any reason. We do not call students to the office for phone calls, and we can only deliver messages in an emergency. If there is an emergency, call the office to inform us of the situation. Students may not carry cell phones. Let us know what you need for us to do. Mrs. Yates, the school counselor, is also available to assist.

What if my child forgets homework, musical instrument, or a project?
Again, it's not possible to let students call home for these things. We are trying to teach students to be responsible. If your child forgets something, you may bring it to the main office and we will put it in the teacher's box or send it to the classroom. We will not disrupt the classrooms to call the student to come and pick it up.

What if my child is going home with another student?
If your child is going home with someone else, you must send a note with your child in the morning giving permission for your child to do so and explaining the change. Teachers will not allow children to leave with another student unless they have a signed permission note from you. Likewise, students may NOT ride on the bus with a friend if they do not have this note. (If the bus is too crowded, students will not be able to ride home with a friend). These arrangements must be made prior to the day of the scheduled get-together. Students are NOT allowed to use school phones to make arrangements to go to a friend's house.

What happens if my child gets sick or hurt?
Cashell has a full-time health technician who is trained in first aid and CPR. Ms. Nancy Ruffner, our school nurse, is also here one day a week. If your child is feeling ill, she will take his/her temperature. Any student with a fever or vomiting must be sent home. If there is no fever, she may have the child rest for a while and then return to class. She will call you if necessary. If your child is hurt, the health tech will administer first aid as needed. She will call you if there is a head injury or a more serious cut or scrape. In a serious health emergency we will call 911 first, and then notify you.

What do I do if my child needs money for lunch or forgets lunch at home?
It's not possible to let students call home every time they forget their lunch (or anything else). The best - and easiest - solution is to keep a small amount of money in your child's SNAP account at all times and to make sure that you send money in as soon as you get a 'low balance' letter from the cafeteria. Mrs. Campos, our cafeteria manager, has occasionally let students borrow money with the expectation that it will be returned (in cash) to the cafeteria as soon as possible so that she can lend other children money. Unfortunately, students often do not pay her back. If needed, students will be given a cheese sandwich so that no student goes hungry. We also have a "share table" where students can place unopened items such as milk or fruit for other students to take.

What do I do if my child needs to take medicine at school?
Montgomery County Schools and the Health Department have a very strict medication policy. As a general rule, it's better if children receive medication at home whenever possible. For children who must take medication at school, required medication forms can be picked up in the health room. These forms must be completed by parents and signed by the physician. We will accept a written order from the physician on his/her letterhead or prescription pad, provided it includes the following information: (a) your child's name; (b) name of medication being ordered; (c) dosage, time, and route of administration; (d) possible side effects. In addition, you must administer the first full day's dosage of any new prescription at home. Prescription medications should be in the original container and properly labeled by a pharmacist (keep the home supply in your own container). All medications kept in school will be in a secured area accessible only to authorized administering personnel.

Over-the-counter medication, e.g., Tylenol or Benadryl, must also be prescribed by a physician, and brought to school by the parent or guardian in the original container with the dosage labeled by the manufacturer and the safety seal intact. If you have any questions, please call the nurse at 924-3133.

An adult must deliver and pick up any medications. No child may bring medication to school. We cannot administer any medication brought to school by a student.

What if I need to pick my child up from school early?
If you know ahead of time, send a note to your child's teacher. This will allow the teacher to have your child packed up for dismissal and give any assignments. If you need to pick up your child unexpectedly, call as soon as you know and we will notify the teacher. The secretary will call your child to the main office once you arrive and sign him/her out.

Can my child have a party in the classroom?
Each year Cashell Elementary School has two parties. Our annual Halloween Parade starts around 2:00PM. (Morning Kindergarten will parade through the school during the morning). Please make sure the costumes that you allow your child to wear to school are appropriate for pre-K through fifth grade audiences- No weapons, blood, guts etc! The parties begin after the school parade. Valentine's Day Parties are normally held in the classrooms after lunch.

We do not permit birthday parties at school. (Kindergarten students celebrate birthdays on a monthly basis). On a related note, please mail birthday party invitations (another great reason to make sure you have a Cashell Directory)! We don't allow students to distribute party invitations at school. This avoids hurt feelings and interruptions to instruction.

When can I visit my child's classroom?
We always welcome visitors to our school. Please call first out of respect for the wonderful teachers we have here at Cashell! Students may not bring student guests to school. Please do not go directly to your child's classroom without signing in.

IF YOU ENTER THE BUILDING FOR ANY REASON OR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME, ACCORDING TO MCPS POLICY, YOU MUST SIGN IN AND OUT AT THE OFFICE AND LET US KNOW WHY YOU ARE IN THE BUILDING. Approved visitors MUST wear a VISITOR or VOLUNTEER badge while in the building. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT CHECKED IN AT THE OFFICE, AND WHO ARE NOT WEARING A BADGE, WILL BE STOPPED BY STAFF AND SENT TO THE OFFICE TO CHECK IN. We need EVERYBODY to honor these guidelines. While visiting we ask that you silence cell phones and pagers. We strive to limit any interruptions to the instructional program. While observing or visiting, do not engage in a discussion with your child or the teacher. If you would like to speak with the teacher, please call to schedule a conference. The MCPS official Open House for parents is scheduled for Monday, October 9, 2006. We hope you'll be able to attend.

If you need to pick up your child, drop off forgotten items, or speak with a staff member you MUST come by the office. We will be glad to help you. Help us keep everyone safe by doing your part to follow these guidelines when at school.

How can I volunteer at school?
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS! They are an integral part of our home/school partnership in education. Parents, grandparents, or community members who are interested in serving as volunteers at Cashell should contact the teacher, office, or PTA Volunteer Coordinators to get more information about how to get started. Teachers will have sign up sheets for volunteers at Sneak Preview and Back to School Night. The PTA also needs many, many volunteers for all their fabulous programs. There are things you can do at home as well as at school. If you have a special talent or skill that you'd like to share, please let us know!