Tubman Tiger Times

Hello families!

We are excited to see our students this week!

Transition Day begins tomorrow morning, August 24, for our new students.

We will welcome all of our returning students during Open House at 1:30 pm.

The first day of school is Tuesday, August 25th for kindergarten through 5th grade!

August 31 is the first day of school for PreK and PEP.

-Dr. Cavena Griffith

Principal

Transition Day begins the morning of Monday, August 24 for kindergarten students and new 1st-5th grade students to Tubman only. This day is an opportunity for new students to spend time in the school building before the first day of school on August 25.

Families have received specific information if Transition Day applies to them.

Only kindergarten students and students new to Tubman may attend school the morning of Transition Day.

Join us on Monday, August 24 at 1:30 pm for our Open House and Back to School Party! All students and families are invited! All students will have the opportunity to meet their teacher and see their classroom from 1:30-2:00. Then, join us on the blacktop for a community party, food, and resource fair from 2:00-2:30!

Back to School Night is a time to learn more about the school day, student learning, and ask teachers questions.

Join us on:

September 9 from 6:00-7:30 for Back to School Night!

• There is a single public point of entry during the instructional day. At Tubman, that is the front entrance.
• All exterior doors will remain secured and are never propped open.
• Visitors are asked not to hold a door for a visitor entering behind them.
• All visitors will be required to stand in front of the doorbell camera, will be asked to identify themselves, and state their purpose for visiting the school prior to entry through the main office.
• Once in the main office, visitors must present valid identification, and follow the established visitor management procedures before accessing the building.
• All approved visitors will be issued a visitor badge that must be visibly displayed while visitors are in the building. Visitors will be stopped to ask for badges that cannot be seen.
• Assigned staff will manage visitor access in the building throughout the duration of the event.

We have school supply lists by grade level. In addition to the grade level lists, you can support your child's classroom by donating the following as well:

• kleenex/facial tissue
• hand sanitizer
• clorox wipes
• gallon ziploc bags

MCPS uses the ParentSquare App.

ParentSquare is a messaging platform that will be used to communicate among MCPS schools, teachers, students and parents. School staff, central office staff, students and parents will all have Parent Square accounts to enable them to send and/or receive messages using a preferred mode of communication, such as text message, email or phone call and in their preferred language.

ParentVUE is the Parent Portal that serves as the vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, access into myMCPS Classroom, and more.

Directions in English

Directions in Spanish

Directions in Portuguese

Directions in Chinese

Doors open at 9:10 a.m. Instruction begins at 9:25 a.m. Students will be considered tardy after 9:25 a.m. Dismissal will begin at 3:50 p.m.

On early release days, dismissal will begin at 1:15 p.m.

On 2 hour delays, doors will open at 11:10 a.m.

Students arrive and dismiss by bus, car, bike, or by walking. Please read below for important information regarding the safety of our students during arrival and dismissal.

All students dismissing as a car rider will receive a car rider visor tag and number.

The car rider lane begins on Victory Farm Drive and loops around in our side parking lot. Parallel parking is not permitted on the side of Victory Farm Drive closest to our building, during arrival and dismissal.

There are staff and 5th grade safety patrols who will help your child in and out of the car for arrival and dismissal. During arrival, students should not exit the vehicle before 9:10 am. Please have your child enter and exit the vehicle on the right side. Drivers are to remain in the vehicle at all times. Thank you!

The car rider lane will not open until 3:20 pm, for dismissal. Please do not arrive in the car rider lane until 3:20 pm.

Students who live within a mile of our school are walkers. This includes students who live in the Saybrooke Community, and students who live off of Girard Street and Victory Farm Drive. Caregivers are asked to model safely walking for students by staying on sidewalks and crossing in crosswalks only. Students in grades PreK-3 will not walk home alone unless the school is provided written permission by the guardian.

Students may bike to school. Once arriving on our school sidewalk, students should walk their bike to the bike racks and lock their bike on the rack.

During the first few weeks of school, bus times may not be accurate as drivers are learning students and their routes.

Bus routes will be available in the coming weeks from the MCPS Department of Transportation.

Attendance is important! There is a direct connection between chronic absence and a student’s academic achievement. Please read this important information, from our partners at Attendance Works.

When your child is going to be absent, please call our school or send a message via Parent Square or email to your child's teacher. Students who are absent for three consecutive days need a note from their doctor to excuse absences.

We love to celebrate birthdays at Tubman! Birthdays are celebrated during lunch in the cafeteria. Adult caregivers are invited to attend. We are not able to accommodate siblings and other young children.

Cupcakes are welcome and must be store-bought with the ingredient label. Because of student allergies, we are not able to serve treats that do not have the store ingredient label attached.

Balloons: balloons are not permitted.

Gift bags: gift bags are not recommended but if offered, will be placed in student backpacks at the end of the day to go home.

MCPS' regulation helps students stay focused and connected in the classroom.

All personal mobile devices must be out of sight in the student's backpack. Students are responsible for ensuring their devices are turned off and out of sight. Any devices seen during the day will be confiscated and will be the parent's responsibility to retrieve from school.

MCPS does not assume responsibility or liability for loss, damage, or theft to a device or for the unauthorized use of any personal device.

Each student will be assigned a chromebook to use and keep at school. Families are financially responsible if students damage their chromebook.

Each student is financially responsible for damage or loss to any Chromebook and charger that is checked out to the student. The device is loaned to the student to be used for instructional purposes only and in accordance with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Regulation IGT-RA, User Responsibilities for Computer Systems, Electronic Information, and Network Security. No cost is associated for a student to borrow, possess, or use a Chromebook. A family is only financially responsible when there is avoidable damage to the device. If the device is faulty, there is no charge to the family; however, if the damage is considered avoidable or the device or charger is lost, the family will be charged according to MCPS current parts and replacement costs.

Student Emergency Information should be updated through ParentVUE. Each year parents/guardians are required to complete the Annual Verification of Information through the Online Registration portal (in the right corner of your ParentVUE home screen). We highly recommend that you complete this as soon as possible. It is critically important that we have accurate parent contact information on file with the school and system as soon as possible. Here are links to the ParentVUE Support Guide and directions for completing the annual verification of information.

Health room staff are available each school day from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Health forms may be submitted by:

a) Dropping off during school hours

b) Emailing our nurse: Nida.Khan@montgomerycountymd.gov

c) Fax: 301-956-1670

Read here for information about when to keep your child home from school.

If there are several cases of lice in a classroom, parents will receive a letter as a reminder to check their children’s heads for any sign of lice.

Below are resources to educate and support families with lice.

Tubman ES partners with Global Childcare for before and after care from 6:30 am- 6:30 pm. Before and after care begins on Tuesday, August 25 (first day of school).

Breakfast and lunch are provided for free for every student at Tubman ES! Students are welcome to bring a lunch to school as well. There are not microwaves available for students at school.

Menus are available on MealViewer.

We are happy to offer a variety of after school programs for our students!

• Kindergarten through 5th grade
• Wednesdays from 3:50-5:50 starting in October

• Kindergarten through 5th grade
• Thursdays from 3:50-6:30 starting September 17

• 2nd through 5th grade
• Mondays through Fridays from 3:50-6:30 starting October
• Registration link will come soon

We have new designs in our spiritwear store!!! Make sure you have your Tubman Tigers spiritwear for the school year!

The Tubman Tigers PTA is a membership based non-profit organization which supports our Tubman community through staff appreciation, community events, advocating for our children and our school, and fundraising for these efforts. We volunteer our time to serve our community and we need you! Join us here during our back-to-school rates for membership: https://www.tubmantigerspta.com/membership

• Set up an e-wallet for your student on the book fair website: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/harriettubmanelementaryschool The e-wallet is a convenient way for your student to buy their books at the fair, no cash needed!

• Help us make sure that every student goes home with a book! Donate with ‘Share the Fair’ on the book fair website linked above, or bring cash to the school office.

• If you have time during the school day that week, we need you to volunteer! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AA9A928AAFAC07-64871247-tubman#/

View our full calendar, membership info, and more at www.tubmantigerspta.com or follow us on Facebook!
Questions or comments? Email us at contact@tubmantigerspta.com. Hablamos español!

Community Hope Center and MCAEL are offering FREE in-person ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes for adults this fall! Classes focus on everyday speaking and understanding, reading and writing, and practical English for work, school, and community life. Classes, textbooks, and workbooks are all provided as a tool at no cost to students. We simply ask students to commit to attending as many classes as possible throughout the semester.

📍 Community Hope Center – 13 Firstfield Rd., Suite 100, Gaithersburg
📝 In-Person Registration: September 8, 9, 15 & 16 at 6:00 PM OR September 12 & 19 at 9:00 AM
📅 Saturday Classes Begin: September 19 at 9:00 AM
📅 Evening Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00 PM
📞 Questions? Call 301-941-3842

This is a great opportunity to practice English in a welcoming and supportive environment with friendly teachers and classmates. Please share with family and friends who may be interested! Complete the Fall ESOL Interest Form here.

Taught by certified teachers, Saturday School provides Kindergarten through Grade 12 academic support programs in math and English/Language Arts. There are in-person and virtual options. Tutoring begins Sept. 26. Fees increase Sept. 1. Register early!

We are thrilled to have your family join us at Harriet R. Tubman Elementary School! We have a great community, amazing students, and a dedicated staff. We look forward to working with you to provide the best educational program for your child. Your partnership is valued and welcomed. Please know that we are fully committed to creating the conditions needed for every student to thrive, every day!

Website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/tubmanes/

Phone: 240-740-6770

Twitter/X: @HarrietTubman ES