The Pine Crest Newsletter

Pine Crest Elementary School

Email: Joan_M_Stump@mcpsmd.org

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

Location: 201 Woodmoor Drive Silver Spring, MD 20901

Phone: 240-740-1970

• Message from Ms. Stump
• Safety at Recess
• Preventing Head Lice
• Back to School Night Bash!
• Back to School Night Salads & Desserts
• Instrumental Music
• Community Closet Available

• Important Messages from MCPS

• Two Schools One PTA

• Important Dates

We have wrapped up another fantastic week of school, and I am incredibly proud of the energy, kindness, and hard work our students continue to bring to our classrooms every day!

As we move into mid-September, we are excited to begin celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month across our campus. This is a beautiful time to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. It also serves as a wonderful reminder of the incredible diversity and beauty of our own school community. We are so fortunate to learn and grow together in an environment made stronger by our unique backgrounds and shared warmth.

As a reminder, Friday, September 18th is an early dismissal for our students. Dismissal will begin at 1:20 PM. We look forward to seeing you at our Back to School Night Bash on Thursday, September 17th!

We are so grateful for our vibrant, supportive school community and the wonderful partnership we share with you. Our campus thrives when our families are involved, and we love seeing the energy and warmth you bring to our school. At the same time, the safety and well-being of our students is always our highest priority. Recess is a vital time for our children to run, play, develop social skills, and take a much-needed brain break. To ensure that this time remains safe, structured, and securely monitored by our designated staff, we are asking for your support with our campus safety protocols.

Please avoid interacting with students at recess.

While it is always wonderful to see our students smiling and playing, we ask that parents, guardians, and visitors refrain from approaching or interacting with children on the playground during school hours. Our recess monitors are trained to closely track student interactions, and unexpected adult presence can disrupt our safety monitoring and screening processes.

Please avoid the field from 11:40 AM to 1:45 PM.

The field is utilized for student recess during these hours. For security reasons, we ask that community members please avoid the field area during this window. Keeping this space clear ensures our staff has an unobstructed line of sight to supervise all students safely.

Please visit us through the front office.

Whenever you are coming to campus—whether to volunteer, attend a meeting, or drop something off—please always start your visit by checking in at the front office. We always love to greet you there!

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our playground safe, secure, and fun for all of our students.

As we settle into the new school year, we want to take proactive, preventative measures to address head lice. Lice are a routine childhood nuisance that can affect anyone, regardless of personal hygiene or cleanliness, and the back-to-school season is a common time for them to spread.

To help prevent head lice, please talk to your children about these simple defense habits recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Avoid head-to-head contact

The most common way lice travel is through direct head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play, sports, or while working closely together. Remind your child to maintain personal head space.

Keep personal items personal

Teach your children not to share items that touch the head. This includes hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, barrettes, combs, brushes, or towels.

Tie back long hair

Keeping long hair tied back in ponytails, braids, or buns can help minimize the surface area lice can grab onto.

Do regular home checks

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends checking your child's hair regularly. Carefully inspect the scalp—especially behind the ears and near the back of the neck—for crawling lice or tiny nits (eggs) attached to the hair shaft.

If you do happen to discover lice at home, please remember not to panic. According to the CDC Head Lice Guidance, an infestation is completely treatable. If you suspect your child has head lice or if you need assistance identifying nits, please do not hesitate to contact our school nurse. Our health office is always here to provide confidential support, guidance, and treatment resources.

Strong partnerships between home and school make all the difference in a child's success. That is why we are thrilled to invite you to our Back-to-School Night Bash on Thursday, September 17th at 5:30 PM!

This special evening is designed to connect our wonderful community and give you an inside look at your child’s daily life at school.

Classroom Connections. Head straight to your student's classroom. Teachers will break down learning expectations, communication channels, and tips for supporting your child's growth at home.

The Bash! Once the learning wraps up, the party starts. Connect with other families over delicious pizza, catch an exciting live performance from Blair High School's talented poms team, and more!

We cannot wait to kick off an amazing school year together. We look forward to seeing you there!

The PTA is treating our wonderful staff with salad and desserts on Back to School Night. Please consider signing up to donate a salad or dessert for our amazing staff.

Sign-up Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4FABA62EA75-65444366-back#/

Ms. Ford hosted an outstanding instrumental music assembly this week to spark interest and promote her music program among our 4th and 5th-grade students. Following the assembly, paper registration forms were sent home with all 4th and 5th graders. In case you didn't receive the forms, they are provided below.

• English 2026-27 Instrumental Music Registration Form

• Spanish 2026-27 Instrumental Music Registration Form

• Amharic 2026-27 Instrumental Music Registration Form

All registration forms are due by Friday, September 18th.

We are wonderful paired schools, and we want to remind everyone that the Montgomery Knolls Community Closet is here to support our entire combined community. The closet offers free clothes and other essential items for all students, families, and community members of both Montgomery Knolls and Pine Crest.

If your family needs anything, please consider utilizing this great resource.

Calendar Reminder: Friday, Sept. 18 is an early release day for all students. Monday, Sept. 21 is a non-instructional day; there will be no school for students and teachers.
See the MCPS School Year calendar online here, or download the family-friendly calendar here.

Attendance Matters. Being Present Matters. Every Day Matters.
We get it, mornings can be hectic. Alarm clocks don’t cooperate, shoes disappear and sometimes getting everyone out the door deserves its own trophy. But being in school really does matter.
Every day in class is another chance to learn something new, see friends, connect with teachers and keep moving forward. And those “just a day here and there” absences? They can add up fast. Missing 10% of the school year, 18 days, is considered chronic absenteeism. That’s not good.
MCPS is a great place to be; it’s a place to belong. We want your student here, connected and part of our school community every day.
Need help?

Saturday School Is Back—The Sixth Day of Learning Can Go a Long Way!
Sleeping in is great. But you know what else feels pretty good? Getting ahead. Saturday School is gearing up for another year of learning, confidence-building and extra academic support for MCPS students. With certified teachers, support aligned with the MCPS curriculum and locations across the county, it’s a Saturday morning well spent.

Opening ceremonies are Saturday, Sept. 19, and registration is coming up—so don’t forget to get your student signed up!

Learn more about Saturday School and register

One Quick, Confidential Application. More Support for Your Family.

Here’s one school form that’s worth a few minutes of your time. If your family may qualify for Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS), apply! There’s no stigma, no special lunch line and no reason to hesitate. A student’s eligibility is confidential, and students receiving free meals use the cafeteria just like everyone else.

Best of all, you only need one application for all MCPS students in your household, even if they attend different schools.

It’s quick. It’s confidential. And it could make a real difference for your family. Don’t count yourself out, take a few minutes and see if you qualify.
Apply for FARMS and learn more

Supporting Math Learning at Home: Visit the Caregiver Hub
As students continue learning with Amplify Desmos Math, families have resources available to help stay connected to what students are learning and support that learning at home.

The Amplify Desmos Math Caregiver Hub provides families with information about the curriculum, what students are learning and simple ways to encourage mathematical thinking outside the classroom. Even asking questions such as, “What did you learn in math today?” “How did you figure that out?” or “How do you know your answer makes sense?” can help students explain their thinking and build confidence.

Remember to visit the Caregiver Hub throughout the year for resources and ideas to support your student’s growth as a confident and capable math learner.

• Visit the Parent Hub in English:
  https://mcpsmd.info/ParentHubEnglish

• Visite el Centro para Padres en español:
  https://mcpsmd.info/ParentHubEspañol

Grading & Reporting: One-Page Guidance
MCPS has updated its Grading & Reporting guidance to provide students and families with clearer, more timely information about assignments, grades and academic progress.

The goal is simple: clear expectations, timely communication and strong academic support so students know what is expected and families have the information they need to help.
See the One-Page Guidance here.

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

The MKPC PTA is a parent-volunteer organization dedicated to providing Montgomery Knolls and Pine Crest Elementary School ongoing support to achieve excellence for our students, teachers and the community.

Check out our fabulous PTA's website.

Join the PTA here.

MKPC Family Calendar

MKPC Family Calendar Spanish

September 15 - October 15 Hispanic Heritage Month

September 17 Back to School Night Bash 5:30-7:30 pm

September 18 Early Dismissal at 1:20 pm

September 21 No School Non-Instructional Day

October 13 1st PTA Meeting at 7:30 (@MKES / Hybrid)

October 16 No School Professional Day

October 22 PTA/PCES Family Yoga Night 6-7:30pm