FES News: Back to School Edition!

Dear Fallsmead Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year at Fallsmead Elementary School! We had such a wonderful opening week, and I hope you and your family enjoyed a relaxing weekend to recharge for the week ahead.

I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing staff for setting such strong foundations this past week—building community in our classrooms and establishing positive routines for the days to come.

This week, our students will begin setting their academic baselines through beginning-of-year assessments, including DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) for reading and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing for math and reading. These benchmark assessments give us valuable insight into each child’s unique starting point, helping us monitor and support their growth throughout the year and tailor our instruction to best meet every learner's needs.

As we walk through this school year together, we will continue to embrace The Treasure Within us all—discovering, developing, and celebrating the unique gifts each person brings to our school family. This year, we are excited to explore what becomes possible when we bring those treasures together through The Treasure Cup: One Team, One Goal, Champions Together.

No matter where the year takes us, at Fallsmead, we will SOAR. We will work together to be Safe, Organized, Accountable, and Respectful in our classrooms, throughout our school, and across our entire community. These shared expectations help us create a warm, welcoming environment where every Falcon feels valued, supported, and ready to learn.

Our partnership with families is essential to everything we do. Together, we will help our students grow in knowledge, confidence, character, and belief in the treasures they carry within.

In this Back-to-School edition of our newsletter, you will find important information organized in alphabetical order to help your family prepare for the year ahead—including arrival and attendance procedures, upcoming events, staffing updates, school supplies, and transportation. Please take a few moments to review these details.

Thank you for entrusting your children to us. It is a privilege to serve the Fallsmead community, and we look forward to an incredible year of learning, growth, teamwork, and celebration together!

All my best,

Ms. Spaugh

In July, Ms. Betty Kim, our new assistant principal, introduced herself to the Fallsmead community. As we prepare to begin the school year together, we invite families to read her message below and learn more about the warmth, experience, and commitment she brings to our Falcon community.

Dear Fallsmead Falcons,

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer! My name is Betty Kim, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Assistant Principal at Fallsmead Elementary.

This year marks my 16th year in education and my third year as a school administrator with Montgomery County Public Schools. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and an Administrator certification through McDaniel College. My educational journey has included serving students and families as an elementary teacher, middle school science teacher, and most recently, Assistant Principal at Julius West Middle School. My personal and professional experiences have shaped my core values of equity, relationships, accountability, and communication. While I have thoroughly enjoyed supporting students and staff at the middle school level, I am especially excited to return to my roots in elementary education. There is something truly special about the joy, curiosity, and sense of wonder that young learners bring each day, and I look forward to partnering with our students, families, and staff during these foundational years.

On a personal note, I immigrated from South Korea at a young age and began school as an English Language Learner. My husband, KJ, and I are proud parents of three children: Evangeline, Asher, and Isaiah. We love to eat out, watch funny shows, and work on jigsaw puzzles together.

As I begin this new chapter at Fallsmead, I look forward to getting to know the students, families, and staff who make this community so special. I am excited to learn alongside you, celebrate student successes, and support the incredible work already happening here. Thank you for welcoming me to the Falcon family.

Late Arrivals:

• Any student arriving after 9:00 a.m. is considered late and must be signed in by a parent/guardian. When you arrive, enter the car rider loop, proceed around it, and park in the designated spots facing the City of Rockville playground. The adult dropping off the student MUST enter the building and sign in the student. Students may not just be dropped off at the entrance.

• Please note that students will be marked as tardy for late arrival. If your child has a doctor/dentist appointment, please submit a note or an email stating that they have/had an appointment for the tardy to be excused. The same procedure is for early dismissals.

We understand that occasional absences due to illness or appointments are sometimes necessary. If your child will be absent for any reason, please notify the school before 9:00 a.m. by completing the Fallsmead Absence Reporting Form.

Families should also email their child’s classroom teacher and copy Ms. Lisa Lynch and Ms. Aiko when reporting an absence. If you call outside office hours, you may leave a voicemail that includes your child’s name, teacher, and the reason for the absence. When your child returns to school, please send a written note from home explaining the absence.

Attendance Policy

AM Absence: Recorded if a student arrives more than 2 hours late in the morning.
PM Absence: Recorded if a student leaves more than 2 hours early in the afternoon.
Half-Day Absence: Recorded if a student is absent for more than 2 hours during the school day.
Full-Day Absence: Recorded if a student is present for less than 2 hours of the entire school day.

Please join me in giving a big round of applause to our PTA! Thank you for hosting the Boo Hoo/Yahoo Breakfast to welcome our Kindergarten and new families, and for wrapping up the week with an incredible Back-to-School Bash! Your hard work made the start of the school year truly special. THANK YOU, THANK YOU! It was wonderful to see so many families connect to build community. We are grateful for your support and invite you to join our PTA. Click the link below!

This year, Fallsmead's KidsCo program is led by a talented team, with Xavier Simmons serving as our Director and Renee Staples as our KidsCo Co-Director. Ms. Renee is also the Director of the on-site KidsCo, Jr. Daycare & Pre-School. KidsCo uses the All Purpose Room for before- and after-care. KidsCo Junior will continue to operate in the school building and utilize the two rooms in the Turquoise pod. Please contact Ms. Renee Staples for more information.

You can reach Xavier at XSimmons@KidsCoOnline.com and Renee at ReneeKelly@KidsCoOnline.com. Please contact them directly for more information.

Fallsmead maintains high expectations for student behavior to support a safe and productive learning environment. Students may be recognized through classroom and schoolwide incentives when expectations are met.

When expectations are not met, consequences are designed to help students reflect, understand the impact of their choices, and make better decisions. In alignment with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct, we begin with the least intensive response and provide additional support as needed. Responses may include reflection, restorative conversations, an apology, missing part of recess, or completing work in the main office. When administration is involved, families will be contacted and may receive a student reflection form to review and sign.

Levels of Disciplinary Responses

Level 1: Classroom and Teacher-Led
Level 2: Teacher-Led/Referred and Administrative-Supported
Level 3: Administrative-Supported and/or Removal
Level 4: Short-Term Out-of-School Exclusionary Responses
Level 5: Long-Term Exclusionary and Referral Responses

Fallsmead welcomes families and visitors who are attending scheduled meetings, appointments, school events, or approved volunteer activities.

To help us maintain a safe and secure environment, all visitors must enter through the main entrance, ring the doorbell, report directly to the main office, and sign in using the Visitor Management System (VMS). A valid photo ID is required for every visit. Because we are a small and familiar community, we know many of our families and volunteers well; however, everyone—including frequent visitors and volunteers—will still be asked to show identification. Please come prepared, and thank you for adhering to this important safety protocol.

During the school day, parents and visitors may enter the building only for a scheduled meeting, appointment, event, or volunteer activity. When picking up a student, families should remain in the main office, and the student will be called to meet them.

The main office may be reached at 240-740-3545 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Our secretaries check the school voicemail daily. Thank you for partnering with us to keep Fallsmead safe, welcoming, and secure for all.

This year, we will continue to use animal names to identify bus route numbers. If your child will be riding the bus to and/or from school, please carefully review the route information to determine the bus stop closest to your home. Be sure to note the start time at the top of each route, and estimate your child’s stop time based on its order in the route. This will help you determine the approximate arrival time at your designated stop. If you have any questions about transportation, bus routes, or schedules, please contact the Shady Grove Transportation Office at (240)740-6210. After 5:30 pm or on weekends, call MCPS Security at 240-740-6200.

Please Read 📕: Ride by the Rules: A Parent's Role

Please View 📺: Ride by the Rules: for Elementary School Students

Food: Montgomery County Public Schools prohibits homemade food for student parties. All food served in class must be purchased from a store or bakery that is peanut/nut-free.

Class Celebrations: Class celebrations occur in each class at various times throughout the year. Class celebrations for Halloween and Valentine’s Day are held in each class. Teachers or room parents arrange the celebrations; therefore, the refreshments and activities vary by class. An alternative activity will be arranged for students who do not participate.

Birthday Celebrations: To maximize instructional time and promote physical well-being through healthy food choices, Fallsmead classes do not participate in birthday celebrations or offer treats. Students are recognized for their birthdays on the Fallsmead morning television show and are given a birthday pencil. Only kindergarten students are permitted to celebrate birthdays with specific guidelines.

Dismissal begins at 3:25 pm. If you need to pick up your child early from school, please arrive before 3:00 p.m. to sign your child(ren) out. Early Release Days: Students are dismissed at 12:55 p.m., and parents/guardians must plan accordingly.

Change in Regular Dismissal Schedule: We realize that emergencies arise, but we appreciate as few changes to dismissal for students as possible. If an emergency requires a dismissal change, please email Ms. Lynch and Ms. Aiko and/or call the school before 3:00 p.m. Thank you for your cooperation.

Bus Riders:

• Students will be dismissed from the classrooms or the gym upon arrival of the buses through the front lobby.

Car Riders:

• Car riders will receive a car rider number to help our staff identify the correct car for each child.

• Students will be dismissed from the classroom to the hallway, located near the rear side entrance of the school, adjacent to the car rider loop.

• Drivers will enter the car rider loop at the rear entrance of the school, located on Gerard Street. Stay to the right of the cones and turtle signs, moving all the way forward in the car rider lane. Please remain in your cars and allow our staff or patrol to open your child's door. Students should enter on the right side of the vehicle, the side closest to the side entrance.

• When exiting the car loop, all cars MUST turn right onto Gerard Street to avoid congestion and potential accidents.

Walkers:

• Walkers in Grades 1- 5 will be dismissed from the classroom through the front lobby.

• Kindergarten walkers will be dismissed from the exterior door of Room Y3 (Door #3). Kindergarten teachers will send families additional details.

• We ask that all parents/guardians who drive to the school pick up their walkers park their vehicles before picking them up. Parents/guardians may not park in the bus loop or staff parking lots.

Thank you to everyone for your incredible engagement over the past weeks—from the MCPS Regional Fair to our PTA Boo-Hoo / Yahoo Breakfast for new families, Open House, and the Back-to-School Bash! It was wonderful connecting with so many of you.

Please note that Districtwide Updates will be featured in a dedicated section in each monthly edition of the Sunday Message. Be sure to check in regularly to stay up to date on important district news and resources.

At the start of the school year, all MCPS schools conduct required emergency preparedness drills. Last week, our students and staff participated in emergency preparedness drills and practiced the MCPS Standard Response Protocols (SRP). Thank you to our students and staff for practicing these safety routines, and thank you to our families for your ongoing support in keeping our school community safe!

Watch the short video below on the MCPS Standard Response Protocols.

• Hold – Students stay in classrooms; hallways stay clear.
• Secure – Students quickly return to the building from outside.
• Lockdown – Students move to a secure space, stay quiet, and out of sight.
• Evacuation – Fire drills and directed evacuations to a safe location.
• Shelter – Severe weather (move away from windows) and earthquake (Drop, Cover, Hold) response.

The cost of a regular lunch is $2.85. Students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive lunch for free. If you are applying for Free and Reduced-Price Meals, please visit: www.MySchoolApps.com. The Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application is available for this school year. Families must reapply yearly to determine eligibility, even if their child qualified the previous year. Until a new application is approved, students will be charged the standard meal rate.

MCPS now uses MealViewer to make it easy to see school-specific menus, check nutritional information, and filter meals by top allergens—all in one place.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Monday, August 24th, for our Kindergarten Open House, the PTA Boo-Hoo / Yahoo Breakfast, and our Grades 1–5 Open House!

It was wonderful seeing our newest Falcons explore their classrooms, welcoming all our new and returning families, and connecting together in the Butterfly Garden. Thank you to our amazing PTA for hosting such a warm and welcoming breakfast, and to our dedicated staff and families for making transition day and open house such a success. We are so excited for a fantastic school year ahead!

To help us avoid a backlog of clothing in our Lost and Found, items left behind will be donated quarterly throughout the school year. Please label jackets, coats, sweatshirts, and other clothing items with your child’s name to make it easier for us to return lost items to their owners. We encourage families to check the Lost and Found regularly for any missing belongings.

We are excited to welcome our returning Falcons and families back to Fallsmead for Open House on Monday, August 24th!

Open House will give students the opportunity to visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, reconnect with friends and our school community, and begin preparing for a wonderful year ahead.

This event is separate from Student Transition Day and will follow its own schedule. Open House is a brief meet-and-greet where our staff welcomes families and caregivers for all our students. If you need more time with classroom teachers to discuss how we can best support your child, please reach out to staff to schedule a conference.

Grades 1–5 School-Wide Open House

For our returning and new 1st–5th grade Falcons, join us on Monday, August 24th, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.! Sneak a Peek at Your Seat: Drop in to meet your teacher, check out your desk, and drop off supplies if you'd like! We're excited to get ready for a fantastic year ahead!

ParentSquare is the primary communication platform for MCPS and Fallsmead for sharing schoolwide announcements, classroom updates, reminders, forms, and important information with families.

Families are encouraged to download the ParentSquare app and review their account settings to ensure that contact information, language preferences, and notification preferences are up to date. Keeping your account current will help you receive timely messages from Fallsmead and your child’s teachers throughout the school year.

Families are asked to complete the annual verification process in ParentVUE. This important step allows you to review and update your contact information, emergency contacts, your child(ren)’s medical information, and your preferred primary language. Selecting a language other than English as your primary language ensures that you will automatically receive district and school messages in that language.

📂 Reminder: ParentVUE is also where you can access your child’s student data—including report cards, MAP scores, schedules, and more.

✅ Please be sure to complete your annual verification. If you need support, call our office at 240-740-3545.

Recess is an important part of our students’ day, providing time to move, play, connect, and recharge. To keep student safety and well-being at the forefront, our school leadership follows MCPS Recess Safety and Weather/Temperature guidelines when determining whether recess will be held indoors or outdoors.

Weather conditions, temperature, and air quality are reviewed carefully throughout the day. Recess plans may be adjusted as needed to ensure students can participate safely.

The staff believes that students perform at high levels (both academic and behavioral) when their learning occurs in a safe, respectful, energetic, and rigorous school environment. To enhance our efforts to create and sustain such an environment, Fallsmead will use the SOAR behavior matrix for students. The core components of this system’s approach include:

• Providing school-wide structures to explicitly define, teach, and communicate the four positive behavior expectations: Safe, Organized, Accountable, and Respectful.

• Students earn GEMS from teachers and staff members when displaying SOAR behaviors.

Character Trait Recognition Program: To further emphasize positive and respectful behavior and interactions, Fallsmead highlights a character trait each month, recognizing students whose behavior demonstrates the monthly character trait.

As we welcome the new school year, I want to share some staffing news. We wish the following staff all the best as they embark on new adventures.

• Ms. Heidar, 1st-grade teacher, found an opportunity closer to home and will be teaching 5th grade at Meadow Hall ES
• Ms. Armor, 4th-grade teacher, welcomed her first child, a daughter, and is enjoying her time with her bundle of joy!
• Ms. Prokos, 5th-grade teacher, will teach 7th grade at Westland Middle School.

We are thrilled to welcome new team members to the Fallsmead family:

• Ms. Karen Jacob, our new 1st grade teacher, joins us from Georgian Forest ES,

• Ms. Gloria Nam, our new 5th grade teacher, joins us from Diamond ES,

• Ms. Betty Kim, our new Assistant Principal, joins us from Julius West Middle School,

• Ms. Jennifer Chen, Media Specialist, joins us from Candlewood Elementary School,

• Ms. Katherine Flamenco Orellana, Building Service Manager,

• Ms. Eliana Stover will be our Long-term substitute while Ms. Rogoza is on maternity leave. Ms. Rowan Jordan received an offer for a permanent position. We wish her well!

Our grade-level teaching teams have changed this year.

• Kindergarten: Ms. Basilio, Ms. Rind, and Ms. Amann
• 1st Grade: Ms. Wasser, Ms. V. Levin, and Ms. Jacob
• 2nd Grade: Ms. Stracke, Ms. A. Levin, and Ms. Leaman
• 3rd Grade: Ms. Schultz, Ms. Mack, and Ms. Kelly (Ms. Meaghan Cohan got married!)
• 4th Grade: Ms. Nicole Cohen, Ms. Lee, Ms. Brown, and Ms. Robbins
• 5th Grade: Ms. Evans, Ms. Caplan, and Ms. Nam

Immunization Requirements for the 2026-2027 School Year

All students must have up-to-date immunization records prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Parents should contact their doctor to ensure their child is properly immunized and submit a copy of the documentation to the Health Room at your child’s school as soon as possible, but no later than Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the first day of the school year.

Immunizations for students new to MCPS and children in Kindergarten through Grade 12 are available Monday through Friday by appointment at locations in Rockville and Germantown. Appointments are available at:

• School Health Services Immunization Clinic at Rocking Horse Road: 4910 Macon Road. Rockville; Phone: 240-740-4430

• Germantown Health Center: 12900 Middlebrook Rd. Germantown; Phone: 240-777-3380

Visit this webpage to view the full list of immunization requirements for students.

We are working to finalize class lists for the 2026–2027 school year. On Thursday, August 20th, families will receive an emailed postcard introducing their child’s teacher as we prepare to welcome students and families to Open House on Monday, August 24th. Additional Open House details, including scheduled times, will be shared soon.

On Monday, August 24th, MCPS will hold its second annual Student Transition Day, an all-day, non-instructional school experience designed to support students entering a new school level or building. It is an opportunity for students to practice their school routine, become familiar with the building, and feel more prepared before all students return.

Transition Day is only for:

• Incoming kindergarten students
• Students who are brand new to Fallsmead

This special day will provide our youngest learners and new Falcons with an opportunity to explore the building, meet their teachers, and begin developing a sense of comfort and belonging before the first full day of school. Families of kindergarten and new students will receive a separate email with detailed times and instructions.

This school year all Montgomery County Public Schools will be restricting the use of cell phones during school hours. These restrictions are in alignment with the Maryland Phone-Free School Act (HB 525). Effective the first day of school, August 24, 2026, all students are not permitted to utilize personal mobile devices (cell phones, tablets, e-readers, personal laptops, smart watches, smart glasses, and anything with a microphone, camera, speaker, or headphones/earbuds (including AirPods) during the instructional day. This includes during lunch and in the hallways as students transition to class.

We believe that by restricting personal mobile devices it will reduce distractions to your child’s learning, support their social development through increased engagement in discussions with their peers and teachers, and promote a safer school environment. For more information, including how you can support your child, please visit the MCPS Family FAQ - Personal Mobile Devices.

We love our volunteers. MCPS has different requirements for three volunteer categories. Volunteers must meet all MCPS requirements before participating in classroom or school activities (field trips, etc)

• One-Time Volunteers: Volunteers participating in one-time events, who work under the supervision of MCPS staff members, are exempt from completing compliance measures beyond registering as campus visitors through the Visitor Management System (VMS) using valid identification.
• Regular Volunteers: Volunteers who regularly support school or school-sponsored activities must complete the MCPS online training on Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect.
• Frequent Volunteers: Volunteers who have frequent and independent contact with students, unsupervised by MCPS staff members, must complete the MCPS online training on Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect AND a criminal background check, including fingerprinting.

Stay tuned for more information about supporting recess and other opportunities. If you’re interested in helping, please be sure you’ve completed the required MCPS Volunteer Compliance modules.

Just Ask MCPS! The district’s revamped website offers improved access to information. From the Most Requested webpage (simply click the button below) to the informational AskMCPS chatbot (it can answer MCPS-related questions in any language), we’ve got your questions answered!