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Family Handbook
VISION STATEMENT
Washington Grove Elementary School will be a nurturing community of learners in which students, staff, families, and community partners collaborate to foster a culture of citizenship and lifelong learning.
School Hours
Grades K - 5 |
9:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
AM Pre-K |
9:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. |
Head Start |
9:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
PM Pre-K |
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
SCHOOL BREAKFAST/LUNCH PRICES
School Menus for this month.
Breakfast |
FREE to all students |
Elementary School Lunch |
$2.50 |
Milk |
$.60 |
Reduced Lunch |
$.40 |
| Ice Cream | $.50 |
| Fruit Slushes | $.50 |
| Chips | $.65 |
Fruit Slushes may be purchased on Monday and Tuesday, chips on Wednesday, and ice cream on Thursday.
MARYLAND MEALS FOR ACHIEVEMENT+, FREE BREAKFAST PROGRAM
All students at Washington Grove Elementary will have the opportunity to eat breakfast at school each morning at no charge. Students will eat in their classrooms. Breakfast will include milk, juice or fruit, and an entrée such as a muffin, bagel, croissant sandwich, French toast sticks, or cinnamon roll. Parent volunteers are needed to help distribute the breakfasts to the classrooms each morning. If you would be willing to help one day a week, please phone Mrs. Tadesse.
This program, which is called Maryland Meals for Achievement+ (MMFA+), will be funded with money from the federal School Breakfast Program.
Researchers from Harvard University say the program helps students do better in class and improves attendance, tardiness and other behaviors. Staff reports a decrease in students’ complaints of hunger and tiredness. We are fortunate to be among the schools statewide selected to participate in the program again this school year.
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM
Applications for the free and reduced lunch program are available from the school office.
LUNCH AND RECESS SCHEDULE
Grades K - 1
Recess 11:45-12:15
Lunch 12:15-12:45
Grades 2 & 3
Recess 12:15-12:45
Lunch 12:45-1:15
Grades 4 & 5
Recess 12:45-1:15
Lunch 1:15-1:45
On half days, lunch is served 30 minutes earlier, with no recess.
STUDENT ENROLLMENT FIGURES FOR 2007-2008
| K | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
| Projected enrollment | 54 | 57 | 57 | 52 | 40 | 42 |
| Actual enrollment | 50 | 59 | 56 | 51 | 42 | 47 |
We are pleased to continue implementing the lower class size ratio in first and second grades and the full-day kindergarten program with lower class size.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE GAITHERSBURG CLUSTER HAS A SATURDAY SCHOOL?
The Saturday School is a tutoring and mentoring program that enhances the academic performance and achievement of students in Grades 1 through 12. The mission of the program is to accelerate students’ mastery of academics, specifically reading, math, and science. On Saturday mornings, from 8:30 to 11:00 AM, volunteer tutors work with students on core subjects and teach successful learning/studying strategies. Students also have access to computer labs to assist them in researching information for assignments and learning valuable technology skills. The Saturday School is more than academics! Issues of self-esteem, social and emotional growth, and motivation also are addressed. Click here for more information.
PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER
The Principal’s Newsletter is printed on yellow paper and has calendar information as well as articles of interest. Be sure to watch for it! If you do not receive a newsletter on a regular basis, please remind your child to bring one home. Extra copes are available in the school office, if needed.
MARKING PERIODS
| Marking Period | Marking Period Ends | Report Cards Distributed |
| 1st | October 30, 2009 | November 11, 2009 |
2nd |
January 22, 2010 |
February 3, 2010 |
| 3rd | March 26, 2010 | April 14, 2010 |
| 4th | June 16, 2010 | June 23, 2010 (mailed) |
PARENT CONFERENCES
At the end of the first marking period, a parent/teacher conference is scheduled for all students. This is in addition to the report card itself. (Kindergarten parents participate in a conference with their child’s teacher in November, and receive report cards in February and June). These conferences serve as a vehicle to open lines of communication and to foster positive parent-teacher relationships for the benefit of the child. Your attendance at this November conference is critically important.
Throughout the rest of the school year, either the parent or the teacher may feel the need for additional conferences. If parents wish to meet with a teacher, they should arrange this meeting in advance. Arrangements can be made by sending a note to the teacher or by calling the office.
VISITORS (Parents included)
When visiting the school, you are required to stop at the office before going elsewhere in the building. We ask you to sign in using the computer at the visitors/volunteers table and put on a guest/volunteer sticker. When you are ready to leave, please sign out on the computer. This procedure applies to all visitors anytime they plan to be in the classrooms or hallways.
WE NEED YOU TO VOLUNTEER
Parent volunteers are needed in many capacities at Washington Grove from working in the classrooms with children to making teaching materials at home. If you would like to become a parent volunteer, please complete the volunteer form distributed at the beginning of the year or phone and leave messages for our PTA volunteer coordinators at 301-840-7120.
REPORT OF STUDENT ABSENCES
Please telephone the school office at 301-840-7120 to report your child's absence. A tape machine is in operation when school is not in session for your convenience. MCPS policy requires that we verify every student's absence daily. Telephoning us to report this absence will greatly reduce the number of calls we will need to make. Your assistance in this regard is greatly appreciated. A written note to your child’s teacher explaining the absence should follow any absence from school.
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION TO STUDENTS
No medication will be administered in school without the parent's/guardian's written authorization and a written physician's order. This includes both prescription and over-the-counter medications. The parent and doctor must complete form 525-13, Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication. The medication must be delivered to school by the parent/guardian or an adult designated by the parent/guardian. MCPS and school health department personnel will not administer medication brought to school by a child. This is necessary for the safety of all students.
LATE OPENING, EARLY DISMISSAL, AND CLOSING OF SCHOOLS
It is sometimes necessary to delay the opening of school, send students home early or close schools entirely because of bad weather or other emergencies. Information about school operations is announced publicly as soon as possible on radio and television stations, Cable Channel 60 (converter box), Cable Channel 6 (cable ready) or Cable Channel 34 (digital), Outlook, on the Internet at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org or at Schools-Out.com, and on a taped telephone message service at 301-279-3673. If schools are closed or delayed, the announcement is made no late than 6:00 a.m. (or the night before if possible). If schools are closing early, the announcements are made by 11:00 a.m. Please discuss with your child the procedures they are to follow in the event of a late opening, early dismissal, or school closing. Rather than calling the school office, please use one of the above resources for information.
Parents may receive automatic e-mail notification directly to your mailbox about weather closings. You may subscribe by going to Schools-Out.Com. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and click “I Want E-Mail.”
STUDENT SAFETY TO AND FROM SCHOOL
Please discuss with your child the importance of exercising safety and common sense in coming to school and returning home. On the first day of school the staff will share the need for safety in this regard. Some of the things I will request that they discuss with students are as follows:
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In an effort to make arrival and dismissal a safer time for all students, safety patrols are located at the driveway with orange pylons. At arrival parents will drop their children off at the Kiss and Learn. At dismissal no cars will be allowed to enter the school driveway, so parents may pick their children up at the walkway on Oakmont Street near the school sign or at the walkway on Chestnut Street. It is recommended that Pre-K and kindergarten parents park on Chestnut Street and walk to the building to pick up their children. If you are visiting the school prior to dismissal, please plan on waiting until the pylons have been removed to proceed out of the parking lot. The safety patrols need your support and cooperation as we keep our arrival and dismissal times safe.
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES
Parents who have transportation issues and feel that their issues have not been resolved may call Pat Snowden, the Shady Grove Transportation Supervisor, at 301-670-8272.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EVACUATION PLAN FOR WGES
In the event that there is an emergency and we must evacuate the building, the following plan will be in effect: Students will leave via the normal fire evacuation routes. The students and staff will assemble at the lower end of the school boundary near the Walnut Hill housing area where attendance will be taken and students will wait for buses. Students will be transported to the Gaithersburg High School auditorium. There they will await buses that will transport them home at the conclusion of the regular school day.
DRESS CODE
Your child should wear comfortable clothes to school. Shoes for physical education and recess should be comfortable and safe. High heels or flip-flops that can damage ankles and cause sprains are not suitable. If your child comes to school in inappropriate clothing we will try to loan him/her a tee shirt to wear or phone you for help. Although we respect the individual right of children to select clothing of their choice, we also must be sure that the selection is responsible in choice and that it does not offend others or interfere with the educational process in any manner.
Key chains worn around the neck should be placed inside the shirt so that other children cannot grab them and injure your child’s neck.
TOYS, TRADING CARDS, ELECTRONIC GAMES, GAME BOYS
Please do not allow your child to bring any toys, trading cards, electronic games, or any Game Boy items to school. Items such as these interfere with the educational program and are not a benefit to your child’s learning. The classroom teacher or principal will take these items that your child brings to school, and a parent then will need to come to school to get them back.
LOST AND FOUND
There is a lost-and-found bin located in the all-purpose room. If an item is lost, please ask your child to look for it there. At the end of the year, any items remaining will be donated to charity.
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE GREATER GAITHERSBURG-GERMANTOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Greater Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce supports the Gaithersburg cluster schools through the production of the Classroom Connection Assignment Book. Every child in grades 3 - 5 will receive a free assignment book that will help to keep them organized and you aware of assignments. You should be reviewing this assignment book each night with your child. We are so happy to have the Chamber interested in supporting the education of our students.
PUBLICATION OF M.C.P.S. DOCUMENTS
M.C.P.S. public documents are available in an alternative format, upon request, by contacting the Department of Information at 301-279-3191 or TDD at 301-279-3323.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETING
Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request. Please contact our school office seven business days prior to the event in which accommodations are needed.
VIDEOTAPING OR PHOTOGRAPHING OF YOUR CHILD
There may be times during the school year where your child may be videotaped or photographed for instructional purposes. If you do not want your child to participate in this kind of activity, please contact your child’s teacher.