From the Desk of Principal McIntyre

Dear Pointer Ridge Families,

I would like to begin by extending a heartfelt thank you to our parents and guardians for helping us have a successful opening of the 2026–2027 school year! Our students are doing a wonderful job becoming acclimated to their new grade levels, learning classroom routines, building relationships, and meeting our schoolwide expectations.

Most importantly, I am happy to report that our students have arrived at school and made it home safely each day. As we settle into the school year, we remain focused on providing a safe, welcoming, and academically engaging environment where every student can thrive.

I especially want to thank our families for their patience and cooperation during dismissal. Our first-day dismissal took longer than anticipated due to a high volume of students without assigned bus information, families becoming familiar with our new pickup procedures, and the distribution and assignment of car tags. However, by the second day of school, we had cut our dismissal time nearly in half! By the second week, we were already approaching our 2025–2026 dismissal times, and last week we had several days when we surpassed last year’s efficiency—even with this year’s dismissal beginning five minutes later. That is tremendous progress and could not have happened without the cooperation of our families and the hard work of our staff.

I recognize that our new dismissal procedure, which no longer allows walk-up pickup, may not be the preferred option for every family. However, I made this decision with one priority in mind: the safety and accountability of every child entrusted to our care. As principal, I will always prioritize student safety, even when that requires us to make adjustments to long-standing practices. Thank you for your continued cooperation, patience, and understanding as we refine our procedures. We will continue monitoring dismissal and making adjustments when necessary to ensure that our process remains safe, organized, and efficient.

While our dismissal procedures have improved significantly, I remain concerned about some unsafe practices occurring during morning arrival. We have observed multiple vehicles dropping students off in the middle of Parkington Lane each morning to avoid the car drop-off line, vehicles making U-turns in the roadway, and drivers disregarding posted safety signage. While I understand that mornings can be busy and everyone wants to get to their destination quickly, convenience can never take priority over the safety of our children.

I am asking every family to please follow our established arrival procedures, remain patient in the car line, obey all posted signage, and refrain from allowing children to exit vehicles in unsafe locations. One unsafe decision can have serious consequences. Later this month, I will host a virtual parent meeting to discuss our arrival and traffic concerns and explore possible solutions that may help improve traffic flow while maintaining student safety. Additional information regarding the date and time will be shared soon.

This week, we are excited to welcome our families back into the schoolhouse for Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 15, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, learn about grade-level curriculum and instructional expectations, become familiar with classroom routines and procedures, and learn how you can partner with us to support your child’s success throughout the school year.

Please remember that Back to School Night is not a parent-teacher conference night. We want teachers to have an opportunity to share important information with all families. If you have questions or concerns specific to your child that require an individual conversation, please contact your child’s teacher to schedule a separate conference.

Please remember that school will be closed for students on Wednesday, September 16, for a systemic professional development day for teachers. Our staff will use this time to engage in professional learning designed to strengthen teaching and learning and support our continued focus on student achievement.

Parents and guardians, thank you sincerely for the trust you have placed in my leadership and in the entire Pointer Ridge staff. We are off to a strong start, and we remain committed to keeping student achievement, student safety, and student well-being at the center of our work. A successful school year requires a true partnership between home and school, and we are grateful to have you as part of our Pointer Ridge community.

I have also had the opportunity to meet with several families already this school year to discuss challenges, questions, and concerns. I truly appreciate the opportunity to partner with our families to address and resolve issues as they arise. Please know that I am committed to listening, maintaining open and respectful communication, and working collaboratively to identify solutions that are fair, student-centered, and in the best interest of our school community. While challenges are a natural part of any school year, I believe that when we approach them with a spirit of partnership, solution oriented mindset, and a shared commitment to our children, we can work through them together.

Our theme this year reminds us that we are One Team. One Mission. Together We Thrive. I look forward to continuing this work alongside you and to seeing our families on Tuesday evening for Back to School Night!

Warmly,

Mrs. McIntyre, Principal
Pointer Ridge Elementary School

Curriculum Updates

Below are links for instructional updates for March and April. Please access the links and collaborate with your child's teacher to support classroom instruction.

A Message from PGCPS - Supporting Your Child’s Learning, Well-Being, and Connection This School Year Through Balanced Technology

Dear PGCPS Families,

As we prepare to welcome our students back for the 2026–2027 school year, district leadership and school teams are focusing on creating learning environments that support the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally.

Digital tools continue to play an important role in modern education. However, emerging research and insights from families and educators point to a shared priority: achieving a healthy balance between classroom technology, hands-on learning, and screen-free social interaction.

This school year, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is taking purposeful steps across our elementary schools to ensure technology use remains active, intentional, and high-value, while protecting the physical movement and social connection children need to thrive.

What Families Can Expect in SY 2026–2027

1. Screen Time Restrictions to Protect Space for Play and Connection

Children build essential life skills—like sharing, problem-solving, empathy, and friendship—during unstructured moments of the school day.

Chromebooks Closed During Unstructured Times: During lunch, recess, and class transitions, devices will remain closed so elementary school students can focus on face-to-face interaction, physical movement, and play.
Focused Instructional Use: During class, devices will continue to be used for active, teacher-directed learning (such as targeted math and reading programs). We encourage you to visit our Parent Information for Digital Learning in PGCPS webpage, which contains information about our approach to balanced instruction.

2. Safer, Purposeful Instructional Access

To keep digital engagement focused on educational goals, elementary students will no longer have independent search access on YouTube. Teachers will still share high-quality educational videos with students, launching them safely within our district’s Canvas learning platform.

3. A Note on Personal Electronic Devices & Cell Phones

We know many families also have questions regarding student cell phone use. In accordance with the Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act, PGCPS will be actively engaging educators, students, and parents this fall to develop a comprehensive, districtwide cell phone policy for the 2027–2028 school year. In the meantime, current device expectations in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook remain in effect, and individual schools will continue utilizing school-level strategies to minimize personal phone distractions during the day.

4. A Phased Approach and Baseline Year

Establishing healthy digital habits is a community effort. This school year serves as a baseline year for PGCPS, and we will study student screen time across all grade levels to inform further policy and procedure development on this important issue. We will partner closely with our teachers and principals to guide and model these routines with care, and will keep families informed every step of the way.

How You Can Support at Home

Healthy tech habits start at school and build strength at home. Here are a few quick ways to support your child as we start the new year:

Talk About "Screen-Free" Break Time: Ask your child about the games they played at recess or who they sat with during lunch.
Create Tech-Free Routines: Designate screen-free times at home, such as during family meals or before bedtime.
Encourage Hands-On Play: Encourage reading physical books, drawing, or playing outdoor games after school.

Thank you for your partnership as we foster healthy, balanced, and inspiring school communities for all PGCPS students!

Research consistently shows that consistent attendance is vital for students to learn, build relationships, and access essential support.

Important attendance information:

Absences are automatically entered as unlawful (unexcused) until a lawful excuse note is received. Unlawful absences will receive a zero the day.
Log into the Synergy ParentVUE Portal anytime to check your child’s daily attendance, tardies, and absence history.
Attendance Letters: You may receive an attendance letter (or email, phone call) if your student is:
Chronically Absent: Being absent 10% or more of enrolled school days (e.g., missing 3 out of 30 days).
Habitually Truant: Unlawfully missing 20% or more of school days in a marking period, semester, or year (applies to students enrolled 91+ days). Legal consequences may apply.

These letters help keep families informed about attendance thresholds and district policies so we can work together to keep every student on track!

As a reminder, all attendance notes and absence documentation should be submitted through our online Attendance Form. For the most accurate and up-to-date attendance records, please use the form below to submit documentation regarding your student’s absence:

🔗 https://forms.gle/kDkLYWwuP6wATBju6

Using the online form helps ensure attendance documentation is received, reviewed, and processed in a timely manner. Thank you for helping us keep our students’ attendance records accurate!

Hello Pointer Ridge Elementary School Family and Friends!

Our AWESOME POINTER RIDGE READING RALLY Donation Fundraiser kicked off last week and we are super excited!! Our students will be doing some extra reading and using teamwork to unlock incentives and rewards! We have created a special donation page for your student.

Check it out: Click on this link and type in your student's name:

https://app.mydonatepage.com/fundraisers/3fc0e4fb-fd09-4470-a013-5c5b30e6aae2/participant/lookup-by-name/

The student Donation website and email correspondence will be the primary method of communication throughout the program. We hope we can count on your generous support. With 100% participation, we will be able to reach our donation goal!

Click on the Video Button on your child’s fundraising page to watch the Daily Reading Challenge and read more about what we are raising money for on your student's page!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Here are some tips:

Make your donation now to set a good example for other potential donors to follow.
SHARE your donation page with at least 10 family and friends with the email function on your donation page.
Forward the link to family and friends.
From your donation page you can easily post on FACEBOOK, send TEXTS, and post to SOCIAL MEDIA!

Can’t find your student by name? Click HERE to register your student:

https://app.mydonatepage.com/fundraisers/3fc0e4fb-fd09-4470-a013-5c5b30e6aae2/register-participant/

Thank you for your generous support!

For your convenience, I am providing a link to previous Principal Newsletters so families can easily revisit important information, reminders, updates, and resources shared throughout the school year. I encourage you to use this link whenever you need to reference information previously provided.

Pointer Ridge PTA – Join Us!

Pointer Ridge is excited to kick off a new PTA, and we would love your support! The PTA is an integral part of our school’s success, playing a vital role in collaborating with families and staff to support students, strengthen programs, and build a thriving school community.

We invite you to join the PRES PTA, because every membership counts. Increasing our membership one by one makes it possible to provide important resources, speak up on critical issues, and create a stronger, united community. There is no right or wrong way to be involved—any contribution of time, talent, or support helps unlock your child’s potential.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday, August 24th from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm for our Kick-off Membership Drive Event. More information will be shared soon from our new PTA Board.

Together, we thrive!

We look forward to seeing you at our Annual PTA Back to School Bash on Saturday, September 19th at Pointer Ridge Elementary from Join us for music, food, face painting, games, a petting zoo, magician, and fun with friends!

Finally, our PTA meets the second Thursday of each month from 6:00pm - 7:00pm in the cafeteria. Due to Back to School Night in September, our first PTA meeting will be Thursday, October 8, 2026. We look forward to welcoming our PRES families.

💙💛 Happy Grandparents Day from Pointer Ridge! 💛💙

We celebrate the wonderful grandparents and grand-friends who fill the lives of our Panthers with love, wisdom, encouragement, and unforgettable memories. 🐾❤️ Please enjoy this special Grandparents Day video tribute featuring our Pointer Ridge families. 🎥Grandparents Day Video Tribute Link

To all of our grandparents and grand-friends—thank you for the love you give, the lessons you share, and the lasting impact you make in the lives of our children. Your love leaves a legacy! 💙💛

🐾 One Team. One Mission. Together We Thrive.🐾

In partnership with PGCPS’ Department of Family and Community Engagement and an array of other key teams across the district, our recurring virtual workshops are designed to help set you and your child up for success this school year.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://pgcps-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/DUIFa1F7QuigUK79J7j3AA#/registration

SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCE NIGHT - Supporting Students • Empowering Families • Building Partnerships

Join us for an informative evening designed especially for our families of students receiving special education services.

🤝 Meet Our Service Providers — Connect with the professionals who support our students.
📋 Understand the IEP Process — Learn more about IEPs, services, meetings, and your role as a parent/guardian.
💡 Explore Resources & Supports — Discover school and community resources available to support your child’s academic, social-emotional, and developmental needs.
💬 Ask Questions & Make Connections — Get information and connect directly with members of our Special Education team.

More information and the evening schedule coming soon!

Click Here to Join Pointer Ridge on ClassDojo

Click Here to Join Pointer Ridge on Social Media via X - formally Twitter