The Gator Gazette

Hello Greenwood Families,

The month of February went by in a blink, with a little snow mixed in there. As the calendar turns to March, we are reminded that spring break actually starts at the end of this month, so spring weather must be in sight! Our Gators continue to put forth their best efforts, meeting success along the way.

This month starts our spring testing season, as our fifth grade students take the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) and the Maryland Student Survey. As we move into April, our grade 3-5 students will take the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments in math and reading. Further details may be found in this issue.

In March, we will celebrate reading through Read Across America Spirit Week, which coincides with the PTA Book Fair. We will celebrate our scientists at the PTA Science Fair. Several grades have field trips in the works, and the calendar is really filling up.

As a reminder, instruction begins each day at 9 a.m. We ask that students are in their classrooms and ready to learn at this time. Daily attendance and arriving on time are critical for student success.

We look forward to the month ahead! It's going to be a good one!

Warmly,

Mrs. Seidel and Mrs. Sinon

After a long winter, spring is just around the corner. Below you will find the comprehensive spring testing schedule for Greenwood students.

Our fifth grade students will kick off the testing season by taking the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) on March 3 and March 5. Additionally, the will participate in the Maryland School Survey on March 12.

Select fourth grade students will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on March 16. Families have been informed if their students were randomly selected by the NAEP program to be assessed with further details about this testing.

When we return from spring break, third, fourth and fifth grade students will take ELA and Math assessments as part of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP).

Later in the spring, K-5 students will take the MAP assessment. Your child's classroom teacher will be adding these dates and times for testing in their weekly newsletter.

Spring Testing Schedule:

LINK

You can help by supporting your child with a good night's sleep, a healthy breakfast and positive encouragement! Please consider scheduling any appointments for the afternoons, as most testing will occur first thing in the morning when our students are at their best. As always, thank you for being such a great partner in your child's school success! Should you have any questions about the assessments, please reach out to Mr. Bobby Hoffmaster, school test coordinator, Robert_W_Hoffmaster@mcpsmd.org.

Friday, March 20, will remain a non-instructional day for professional development and will not be used as a make-up day for weather-related closures.

Due to the weather-related closure on Monday, Feb. 23, the last day of school has now shifted to Friday, June 26. This will be an early release day.

The following days will be full instructional days:

• Thursday, June 18 (full day)
• Monday, June 22 (full day)
• Wednesday, June 24 (full day)
• Thursday, June 25 (early release day)
• Friday, June 26 (early release day)

Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth) remains a systemwide closure for the federal and state holiday (schools and offices are closed), and Tuesday, June 23 will be a non-instructional day to allow for county elections (schools are used as polling locations and will be closed).

For the 2026-2027 school year, ONLINE Kindergarten registration is open through the ParentVUE portal.

Registration sessions will be held in person beginning March 16, 2026.

Please be aware that you do not need to provide medical information at this time. As long as you provide birth verification, Parent ID, and Proof of Residence, your registration can be accepted. Medical information may be provided prior to the start of the school year. Staff allocations and the ability to attend our Open House in the spring are based on the number of registered students only so please do not hesitate to register your kindergartener.

Further information:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/enroll/kindergarten/

Bingo Night Tonight!! Meet us at Rosa Parks MS from 6-8:30pm for our annual Bingo Night. Please bring cash!

• 3/3: PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.

• Please join us in-person in the Media Center at Greenwood!
  You can also join virtually via Zoom (Click Here for the Login / Passcode: GreenGator).

• 3/9 - 3/13: Book Fair Students can shop during the day when their teacher allows or after school with an adult. On Wednesday, March 11th we will have late night hours from 6:30-8pm while the Science Fair is going on.

• 3/11: Science Fair- we are so excited for our first Science Fair. Thank you to all who plan to present. We welcome everyone to attend and walk through the APR to come see the different projects put together by our students!!

Upcoming events:

-Saturday, April 18th- Family Spring Dance from 6-8pm at Greenwood with DJ Mrs. Schneider!!! Rainbow Bash theme! Look for a flyer to come home soon.

We need people to run for the upcoming board elections. Positions that need to be filled: President (2 year term), Vice President (1 year term), Secretary (2 year term). Please email president@greenwood-pta.org if interested.

Check out all upcoming events on our website: https://sites.google.com/greenwood-pta.org/greenwood-pta/home

Thank you!

Katie Phillips

GES PTA President

Please consider sharing your photos of school or PTA events to be used in the Greenwood ES yearbook. Below is the link families will use to upload yearbook photos. There are folders for each grade level and school event.

https://books.yearbooks.me/cg/3gnqfe5mufkeemhmeexfw3r39kpecwxk5

The password to upload photos is: GreenwoodES1!

Once families enter the password for their chosen folder, the upload process is simple and allows them to submit their selected photos on a mobile device or desktop. The deadline for families to submit photos is Monday, March 16th.

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 (fingerprinting)-dependent upon the type of volunteer service, per the Volunteers regulation. Fingerprinting is now required on trips where a volunteer takes on full responsibility for a group where the teacher is not present for any length of time. This falls under the “unsupervised field trip chaperones” in the last column of the chart below. Further information is available on the MCPS Volunteer Information Page on the MCPS website as well.

Only volunteers who have met these requirements will be able to volunteer. MCPS will notify the school via list of the completion and submission of these items. The system takes 24 hours after completion to update, so please complete all steps at least 24 hours prior to volunteering. We will not be able to have you volunteer in the building or on field trips until the items are completed and submitted, and the verification shows in the system 24 hours after completion.

Take the First Step — Enroll in Kindergarten Today
For the 2026-2027 school year, kindergarten registration is being held online through the ParentVUE portal. Children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2026 are eligible. If your family is new to MCPS, you will need to create a ParentVue account here. After creating an account, you will be prompted to register when you first log in. Don’t delay; do it today! Registration sessions will be held in person beginning Monday, March 16.

Prekindergarten and Head Start Fall Registration Now Open
Prekindergarten and Head Start registration for the 2026–2027 school year is open online. Free prekindergarten is available to income-eligible families with children who will be 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2026.

Parents can apply online or in-person at community locations during March. Families may also visit the Prekindergarten/Head Start office at 4910 Macon Road in Rockville, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

For more information on free programs located in public and private settings, visit the MCPS Prekindergarten/Head Start website or call 240-740-4530.

Don’t Forget

● Summer school registration for high school opens on Monday, March 9. For information about registration, students should see their school counselor. Read more about schedules and costs.

● Interims available March 6: We are closer to the halfway point of the third marking period. The recent weather events have impacted the number of days in the first half of the marking period. As a result, the interim due date for teachers to enter grades has been adjusted to Tuesday, March 3. Read more.

● SAT School Day: MCPS will hold its annual in-school administration of the SAT on Wednesday, March 11. All high school juniors (students who were first time 9th graders in the 2023-2024 school year) are required to take the SAT on this date. MCPS will cover the cost for students required to participate.

Board Work Sessions Scheduled on Boundary Studies
The Board of Education is holding work sessions on a modified version of Option B for the reopening of Charles W. Woodward and a modified version of Option H for the relocation of Thomas S. Wootton High School to Crown Farm in early and mid-March. Read more.

Watch previous public hearings:

● Feb. 23, Crown/Damascus boundary study

● Feb. 24, Woodward/Northwood boundary study

Future Ready Starts Here: Career and Technical Education Month
February marks Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, highlighting this year’s theme, Future Ready Starts Here: CTE for What’s Next. Throughout the month, students have explored potential career pathways and participated in learning experiences building on the knowledge and skills needed for their futures. MCPS CTE programs help students develop problem-solving, collaboration and digital literacy skills, while earning industry-recognized credentials and engaging in real-world learning experiences. Read more.

For Students

● Heads Up, Phones Down: Create a 30-second video promoting pedestrian safety. Champion the importance of focusing on your surroundings and not your phone while walking, driving or riding a bike. Submissions can be in English or Spanish. Win a Macbook Air or hundreds in Visa gift cards. Deadline: Saturday, Feb. 28

● “If I Were Mayor” Essay Contest: Fourth grade students are invited to participate in the “If I Were Mayor, I Would …” essay contest from the Maryland Municipal League. Deadline: Thursday, March 5.

● Latina Legacy Conference: Open to Latina female high school students, this conference will be held Saturday, March 7 at Gaithersburg High School. Register

● The Matt Papirmeister Award: Open to high school senior art students. Cash prizes: $3,500, $3,000 and $2,500. Deadline: Sunday, March 15.

● BWI Airport Youth Art Gallery: In partnership with the Maryland Art Education Association, the airport is hosting a K–12 art show this spring. Deadline: Sunday, March 1.

● Keeping It Safe Video Contest: Open to middle and high school students, the contest invites students to create a 30-second video on the risks and dangers of under 21 alcohol use. Deadline: Tuesday, March 31.

● Sober Vibes Essay Contest: High school juniors and seniors are encouraged to write an essay persuading their peers not to drink before, during or after prom. Deadline: Tuesday, March 31.

● Maryland Center for School Safety’s Prepare 2026 Art Showcase : This year’s theme, Future Ready Schools, calls on student artists in Grades 3-12 to share their perspectives on what school safety means to them. Deadline: Sunday, May 31.

Stay Connected to MCPS

● VISIT the MCPS homepage.

● CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish (240-740-2845). Visit the AskMCPS website.

● READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.

● FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages:
x.com/mcps / facebook.com/mcpsmd / instagram.com/mcps_md facebook.com/mcpsespanol / x.com/MCPSEspanol / instagram.com/mcpsenespanol

● SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.

● WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89

More MCPS Resources

● School calendar

● Parent resource page

● News and Information page / Noticias en Español

● Latest photo galleries

● MCPS TV videos

MCPS TV español

Instruction starts promptly at 9 a.m. Please be sure to have your students at school prior to 9:00 a.m., so they can unpack, eat breakfast, and prepare their materials. Student drop off begins at 8:40 a.m., and all students will enter through the front doors of the school. 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. Staff are not outside to provide supervision until 8:40 a.m.

Students who arrive after 9:00 a.m. must be accompanied by an adult to sign them in, as they 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 9:00 a.m. start time!

School hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. (Doors open at 8:40 a.m.)

Two-hour delay: 11:00 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. (Doors open at 10:40 a.m.)

* *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.

Please use the link below to report your child's absence from school.

absence-form | Greenwood ES

Additionally, this link can be found under the Quick Links on the left side of the HOME PAGE of our Greenwood Elementary School website by clicking "Report an Absence."

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/greenwoodes/

MCPS requires a written note for absences, and completing the form will take care of that requirement and save you the phone call!

This link is also the place for you to report all planned late arrivals and early dismissals. Just click the appropriate box and add the reason and any other details in the comment section at the bottom entitled “Anything else”. If the late arrival or early dismissal is due to a doctor’s appointment, please remember to provide a (required) doctor’s note upon your student’s return to school.

Please bookmark the page for future use, and reach out to our attendance secretary, Mrs. Susan Ostrinsky (Susan_A_Ostrinsky@mcpsmd.org) with any questions.

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 any changes with your child's classroom teacher and our attendance secretary, Mrs. Ostrinsky. 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.

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.

Car Loop

Please enter the car loop by turning RIGHT into the loop from Gold Mine Road. Please DO NOT turn left into the lot. Please go around the block so you can turn RIGHT into the loop. This helps us to ensure the safety of our walkers who have to cross at the car loop!

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 into a parking space to do so, to avoid holding up drivers behind you in the loop.

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.

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.

Meal prices:

Breakfast: $1.30

Lunch: $2.55

Funds can be added to student meal accounts at no charge by bringing cash or checks directly to the Greenwood cafeteria manager, Mrs. Frias.

Prepayments on student meal accounts can be made through www.MySchoolBucks.com; note the increase from $1.95 to $2.49 per transaction for the 2025-2026 school year.

Meal Payment Procedures:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/food-and-nutrition/meal-payments/mealpaymentprocedures.july2025.pdf

Further information: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/meal-prices--payment-procedures/

Menus and Special Dietary Needs Menus, including nutrition and allergen information, can be viewed at:

DFNS website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/menus/

MealViewer: https://schools.mealviewer.com/district/MontgomeryCountyPublicSchools

MealViewer can be accessed on a computer browser, through the MealViewer app on Android and iPhone, or using any browser on a smartphone. No sign-in or passwords are required to view menus. It is also possible (but not required) to rate food items, star favorite items, utilize a nutrition calculator, and create a profile. Check out your schools' menu today!

MCPS Form 240-23, Special Dietary Needs Form https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/detail.aspx?formID=3699&formNumber=240-23&catID=2&subCatId=0)

This form may be used to request meal accommodations for students eating in the cafeteria.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 8:40-8:55 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Lunch Room Seating

Our cafeteria includes an allergy-free table to ensure the safety of all students. 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.

Greenwood ES MealViewer: https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/GreenwoodElemSchool

Introductory Video: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/menus/

How to Print a Menu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNLhHfLijQM

Apply online NOW so students receive free meals. All meals are free for students who qualify for Free And Reduced-price Meals; students who are approved for reduced-price meals eat for free!

The Department of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) encourages families with students enrolled at non-CEP schools to complete a FARM application online. Applications for the 2025–2026 school year will be available July 30, 2025.

APPLY ONLINE (TRANSLATIONS AVAILABLE)

Click here for an English video tutorial on how to complete the FARM application.
Vea aquí un vídeo paso a paso en español sobre cómo completar la solicitud de FARM.

Click here for additional "How To" PowerPoint (in English & Español) made by MCPS Family Engagement Specialist, Alejandra Jarquin.

• Households must apply for FARMS every school year. Student meal benefit eligibility from the prior school year carries over for the first 30 operating days OR until a new eligibility is determined. If a new eligibility is not determined by the 30th school day, students default to a paid status and will be charged for meals.
• Households may apply for meal benefits at any time during the school year.
• Students qualify for free meals when total household income is the same or less than the amounts on the Income Chart below.
• Use ONE application for ALL students in the household—including Pre-K, kindergarten, and foster—even if they attend different schools. **If one student in household attends a CEP school, a FARM application must still be submitted for students enrolled in non-CEP schools. Include ALL student names on the application (see list of CEP schools above).
  
• Paper applications are available in each school's front office. Households who apply online should not submit a paper application.
• If applying for a child who is homeless, a migrant, or a runaway, please complete and submit MCPS Form 335-77 Homeless Status, call the child's school, or contact the MCPS Homeless liaison at 240-740-4511.
• Each student will be notified of meal benefit status (including both those approved, and those who do not qualify) by mail. Please keep this important document for your records and use throughout the school year.
  
• Meal Eligibility is confidential information. Federal regulations governing school meal programs require that a student's eligibility for FARMS are used only to provide meal benefits.
• Verification of FARM applications is conducted annually each October. A random selection of households approved for FARMS will be required to verify the information listed on the application. Households selected will be notified, including details for how to comply with the verification process.
• Households that are unable to apply online should contact their school or the Department of Food and Nutrition Services at 240-740-7400.

Students who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive meals at no charge!

Students use their MCPS ID number when receiving a meal, so confidentiality is maintained and no child is overtly identified as receiving free or reduced-price meals.

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

The Annotated Code of Maryland (10.06.04.03) requires all Maryland students new to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and those entering Grade 7 and Grade 9 provide documentation of required, age-appropriate vaccinations or a medical or religious exemption. This documentation is required within 20 calendar days from their date of admission. Principals will receive a list of students who have not provided documentation by the deadline from School Health Services (SHS) staff. Students on this list must be excluded from school until such documentation is provided.

Hard copies of the vaccination records are to be submitted to the Greenwood ES School Health Services health room staff.

All medication/treatment authorization form(s) must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Please ensure that the appropriate authorization form is completed by your healthcare provider. Per MCPS and School Health Services regulations, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to deliver medication/treatment authorization form(s) and medications directly to health room staff.

Please do not send your child to school with medication of any kind.

Important Dates:

Tuesday, August 26, 2025: Students must provide documentation of required vaccinations or a permitted exemption as explained above by the first day of school or their date of admission. Students who have not received their vaccinations may enter school if they provide evidence of an appointment to be vaccinated by Monday, September 15, 2025, (or 20 calendar days from their day of admission).

Monday, September 15, 2025: Students who have not provided documentation of the required vaccinations by this date (or 20 calendar days from their day of admission) must be excluded from school until such documentation is provided.

More information:

https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Shared%20Documents/2025-2026_Preschools_and_Schools_Vax_Requirements_Final.pdf

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact the health room staff at 240-740-3422.

We have several students in the building with identified food and other allergies, some of which can be life-threatening. As a result, we are very careful about any food brought into the building, and we ask for your cooperation to ensure the safety of all. Some of our students also have health plans, which require us to notify families ahead of time when food will be served in the classroom. As a result, we are very cautious about which foods may be served at events, including class parties. We work closely with our health room team to ensure that all items coming in are store-bought with clear labels that can be shared with the appropriate families as needed. Thank you for helping us to maintain safety for all students in this area.

MCPS regulation COG-RA prohibits elementary school students from using personal devices (phones, smart watches, etc.) during the school day. Personal devices(phones, smart watches, etc.) may only be used before or after the student day. Students will be asked to keep these devices in their backpacks during the school day. It is advised that students keep such devices at home, if possible.

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.

As always, our priority is ensuring that every student at Greenwood ES is challenged academically and supported socially and emotionally. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the MCPS personal mobile device policy, please review Regulation COG-RA Personal Mobile Devices.

We love birthdays at Greenwood, and each day on our GGTV morning program, we announce those who are celebrating, and students are invited to come to the office for a birthday pencil.

While we do not do any formal in-school birthday celebrations with food or other items, we do make sure that each student feels special on their special day.

We do ask that birthday party invitations be sent outside of school, and unfortunately, due to federal privacy issues, we can not provide class lists or contact information.

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.

How You Can Report

March, 2026

3 - Grade 5 MISA Testing

3 - PTA Meeting, 7 p.m., Media Center and Zoom

5 - Grade 5 MISA Testing

9-13 PTA Scholastic Book Fair and Read Across America Spirit Week

10 - Gr 2 field trip to MD Science Ctr

10 - Gr 5 field trip to SHS Rock n Roll Revival

11 - PTA Science Fair, 6:30 p.m.

12 - MD School Survey, Grade 5

12 - Gr 1 Field Trip to Glen Echo

16 - Grade 4 NAEP Testing (Selected students' families have been notified.)

16 and 17 - Class Photos, Spring Individual Photos and Gr 5 Panoramic Photo

20 - Professional Day, No School for Students

27 - PTA Assemblies, Gym,

1:30 - 2:15 Grades 2, 3, 5

2:30 - 3:15 Grades K, 1, 4

30 - April 6 - Spring Break

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