The Gator Gazette

Hello Greenwood Families,

It is hard to believe, but the start of the 2025-26 school year is approaching! We hope you and your family have enjoyed some time together, perhaps moving through summer at a different pace than the school year affords.

We welcome our new students and families to Greenwood! If you are new, you will surely find this community to be highly engaged and welcoming, and we are all thrilled that you are here.

The Gator Gazette is our monthly newsletter shared with families and staff. In this issue, we have included timely and relevant information as the new school year approaches. Please don't hesitate to reach out should you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you soon! Until then, please continue to enjoy your summer!

Warmly,

Mrs. Seidel and Mrs. Sinon

The Department of Student and Data Systems, in collaboration with the staff in the Department of Transportation, are happy to announce that student bus stop data will be available in ParentVue. . Students assigned as walkers will have no transportation data in Synergy. After most routes are scheduled by mid-August, MCPS anticipates displaying bus information in ParentVue/StudentVUE by Friday, August 15, 2025.

We would like to welcome the following staff members to Greenwood ES this fall!

• Ms. Kathleen Bickart, HSM Teacher, from Strathmore ES

• Mr. Tony Deane, Security Assistant, assigned to Greenwood ES

• Ms. Lindsay Debernardis, Grade 3 Teacher, from Luxmanor ES

• Ms. Roberta (Berta) Habeeb, Grade 4 Teacher, from Mill Creek Towne ES

• Ms. Chrissy Hainer, Home School Model Teacher, from Potomac ES

• Mr. Bobby Hoffmaster, Staff Development Teacher, from instructional math coach

• Ms. Marla Werber, PEP Parent Educator, former parent educator at Rock Creek Forest ES and Glen Haven ES

• Ms. Karen Ziegler, Special Education Itinerant Paraeducator, former SDT long-term substitute

We also want to let you know that Mr. Antonio Hernandez, Building Service Manager, will not be returning after many years of service at Greenwood ES and MCPS. Mr. Hernandez has been a dedicated staff member, and we will surely miss him in the hallways of Greenwood. Over the summer, we also said farewell to Mr. Michael Amaya, paraeducator, who has left MCPS. We wish both Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Amaya well, and we thank them for their service.

MCPS will be assigning a security assistant full time to elementary schools in phases over the next few years, as security assistants have previously moved between schools. We are fortunate to be adding Mr. Tony Deane, security assistant, to our team this year, as a full-time staff member here at Greenwood. We have previously worked with Mr. Deane as a security rover, who brings a great deal of experience in MCPS security and beyond. We look forward to having Mr. Deane here each day, and he is looking forward to building relationships with our students, staff, and community. Please help us to welcome Mr. Deane!

Over the summer, the MCPS construction team installed new tile and carpeting in several areas of our building. Additionally, we look forward to updates on the outside of our building over time to come with upgrades to cameras, lighting, and fencing on their way. We thank the many departments of MCPS who have worked to provide these upgrades, as we continue to focus on safety and security here at Greenwood as our top priority.

As we look to the 2025-26 school year, we will be hosting a "Transition Day" on Monday, August 25, for Kindergarten students. This is a day for Kindergarten students to attend school where our team can hone in on and focus on the needs of the Kindergarten students as they transition into elementary school. Details will be sent to Kindergarten parents/guardians later this week.

ALL K-5 students will attend school for the full day on Tuesday, August 26. PEP students will join us for their first day of school on Tuesday, September 2.

The kindergarten team will host Back-to-School Night for kindergarten parents/guardians on Thursday, August 21 at 6 p.m. Please mark your calendars! This is a meeting intended for adults to prepare for the start of the school year. Details will be shared about the first day of kindergarten on Monday, August 25 (also called transition day), as well as other aspects of kindergarten.

We will hold our open house for students in grades 1-5 and their parent/guardian, on Monday, August 25, from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Come by and meet your teacher, drop off supplies, and check out your classroom!

In order to minimize the number of people in the building at once, we would recommend attendance based on first letter of last name, if possible:

1:30 - 2:00 Last name begins with A-M

2:00 - 2:30 Last name begins with N-Z

Please note, our kindergarten students will be in the building on this day, in a separate part of the building during the Open House to afford their attention to their learning and for their safety.

Because our Kindergarten students will be learning the routines of school, we ask that all visitors leave the building/grounds at the end of the open house. To allow for the buses and cars to arrive for dismissal for our kindergarten students, we ask that vehicles are removed from our parking lots, as well. We thank you for your attention to this detail as we move through the transition day and open house, as we want to ensure this day is pleasant and safe for all. Transition Day is new for all of us, and we so greatly appreciate your support as we look forward to this important day.

Back-to-School Night for PEP and grades 1-5 will be held on Thursday, September 11, at 6 p.m. This is a meeting intended for adults to learn more about the school year. Please mark your calendars!

Class assignments will be available in ParentVUE the week of August 18. Further information will be sent early that week.

The supply lists for the 25-26 school year may be found below or at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LLpa7hipw6zFPlyPie2CE8eNQtnVJIof/view?usp=sharing.

The PTA is offering school supply kits for sale for the ease of families. See details below and at this link: https://stb2.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/production/quotes/45074/25/Flyer.pdf?v=104446

Order by August 11 for delivery in time for the start of school!

As we move into the month of August, we encourage all students to keep reading! Reading will allow your children to explore summer from home, on the road, on vacation, or from their own backyard. Keeping your children engaged with reading over the summer months will help them maintain their academic skills and reduce a “summer slide.”

Learn more: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pCP43o1qRYvZ_z4s-zh_eBADq7yc6oKr6ZSByB9Lxpc/edit?tab=t.0

Preparing for the 2025-2026 School Year

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.

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 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.

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

More information:

https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Pages/back-to-school-immunization-requirements.aspx

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

As a reminder, online registration and in-person registration for kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year are ongoing! Spread the word!

Children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2025 are eligible to register. Registration is online through the ParentVUE portal. If your family is new to MCPS, you will need to create a ParentVue account here. For more information about eligibility and the registration process, visit the MCPS Kindergarten Enrollment webpage. Please reach out to Mrs. Susan Ostrinksy, attendance secretary, with questions. (Susan_A_Ostrinsky@mcpsmd.org)

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

https://publisher.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/pdf/2025-2026%20Traditional%20and%20Innovative%20School%20Year%20Calendars.pdf

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.

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

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.

MCPS MealViewer app

MCPS students, parents, and community members can view school menus with MealViewer, providing increased access to:

• School specific menu offerings
• Nutritional information for each meal
• View and filter by the top allergens

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!

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.

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.

Please find the policy in its entirety on the MCPS Website.

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.

The Greenwood ES PTA is very active, and we host activities every month! Over the summer, the PTA board has been working on the PTA calendar for the 2025-26 school year. If you would like to help in some capacity, please let us know president@greenwood-pta.org. Be on the lookout for more information and details about upcoming events soon. Find out more: https://sites.google.com/greenwood-pta.org/greenwood-pta/home

Katie Phillips

President, Greenwood Elementary School PTA

https://sites.google.com/greenwood-pta.org/greenwood-pta/home

To afford students the opportunity to settle into the new school year and develop classroom communities, we will begin welcoming volunteers in October. Further details will be shared closer to October.

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-dependent upon the type of volunteer service, per the Volunteers regulation

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.

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

August

21 - Kindergarten Back-to-School Night, 6p.m.

25 - Kindergarten Transition Day

25 - Open House (Grades 1-5), 1:30 - 2:30 (Recommended: Last name A-M 1:30 - 2:00; Last name N-Z 2:00 - 2:30)

26 - First Day of School for Students K-5

September

1 - No School, Labor Day

2 - First Day of School for PEP students

11 - Back-to-School Night(PEP, Gr 1-5), 6 p.m.

17 - Fall Picture Day

23 - No School

26 - Early Release Day, Dismissal at 12:55 p.m.

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