Weekly Update

Dear GKES Families,

Read down for our events, and remember that you can always stay up-to-date by checking our school website.

• We appreciate you taking the time to respond to our Title II and Title IV Stakeholder Consultation Survey. Your input is very important because it informs our application submissions. Please share your feedback regarding current grant activities and possible needs that could be addressed in future grant application submissions.

• Title II & Title IV Stakeholder Consultation: Stakeholder input is requested as we reflect on SY2025-2026 Title II and Title IV grant activities and prepare for the SY 2026-2027 Title II and Title IV grant application submissions.

• This Title II and Title IV Summary Document provides additional information about the grants and currently approved grant activities. It is embedded at the top of the form linked above.

• All feedback must be submitted by May 31, 2026.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) special education parent survey is now open! We invite you to share your experiences regarding your child’s IEP this school year. Click here or use the link below to complete the MSDE survey. Thank you! https://www.mdparentsurvey.com/

2025-2026 SMCPS System Operational Calendar Adjustment #2: The 2025-2026 system operational calendar has been adjusted and approved by the Board for a second time on March 4, 2026. The Digital Media Team (DMT) has posted the amended calendar on the SMCPS website. A press release went out on Thursday, March 5th. Please share with staff, students, and your community accordingly.

Community Resources

Please see the letters below and complete this form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjd5B2K7RoPRrABHpTAyche7nlyOHmhB6Dqu0-fCxhhPoDyA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=118281191133654931043

Students who currently have an outstanding balance owed to the School for incurred expenses (instructional, technology, meal balance, etc.) should be paid before going to middle school. . Please be advised that per Policy JFI and Regulation JFI-R outstanding student debt may lead to certain restrictions, including but not limited to:

• Participation in extracurricular activities

• Dances and school events

• Field Trips

We encourage you to contact the school to discuss your student’s debt. Payments can be made via MySchoolBucks, electronic payment, or check.

For parents of students going into grade 3-5. Please see the attached letters and complete the form for next year's music selection.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePJPijWSpAWEdsKNqyLfeoU-Wdlk-4viwH514zyZ8keAsNBw/viewform

Should you have any questions, please email me at the address below. Also, check the instrumental music website for more information.

https://sites.google.com/smcps.org/bandorchcanseeno/band

Thank you,

Mrs. Cancino mkcancino@smcps.org

Field Day is coming up on Friday, May 8th! If you would like to volunteer, please fill out this Google Form by May 1st. You can sign up to volunteer for a partial or full day.
In order to volunteer you MUST fill out this form AND be an approved volunteer through SMCPS for the 2025-26 school year. ( The link to become an approved volunteer is inside the Google Form if you need to register)
https://forms.gle/Mb7SbehMKd3YvfSs8

Please note: Due to scheduling and safety considerations, I am unable to accommodate last minute or day of volunteer requests. If you would like to volunteer but unsure on your availability at this time, please reach out to me at almerwin@smcps.org

Thank you for helping and looking forward to such a fun day!
Mrs. Merwin

Greenview Knolls has a Little Free Library (LFL).

Starting May 1, our LFL will be open and ready for you

and your child to borrow and or share a book.

Our LFL will be stocked all year round. With summer on

its way there will be books at your fingertips to keep

those reading skills polished.

If you would like to donate books you may drop them

off in the office or simply place them in the LFL when

there is room.

The LFL is located on the corner as you enter the bus

parking area.

Happy Reading

While all schools provide support to students, community schools work in collaboration with community partners, local governments, and other stakeholders to provide wraparound services that address barriers to learning and success.

Community schools leverage the power of neighborhoods through assets-based approaches that strengthen the connections between home, school, and communities and create change for the people that they serve.

In 2019, Senate Bill 1030 (5-203) defined community schools as “a public school that establishes a set of strategic partnerships between the school and other community resources that promote student achievement, positive learning conditions, and the well-being of students by providing wraparound services

Click here to read more- https://www.smcps.org/offices/student-services/community-schools

Is there a teacher, administrator, therapist, assistant to an educator, or anyone in the St. Mary's County Special Education system who has truly gone to extraordinary efforts to contribute, in a compassionate and caring way, to the growth, happiness, and general well-being of your child with a disability? Consider nominating them for a 2026 Rise Up Award! Nomination Deadline is March 1st, 2026. If you are a parent or caregiver who would like to nominate a person who has touched your child’s life, please fill out the nomination form found at: https://smccacse.org/rise-up-award. When educators go above and beyond to help our children “Rise Up” and excel in life, it is our honor to recognize and thank them for the amazing jobs that they do!

Ms. Bussard

St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) is currently collecting Federal Impact Aid and Emergency Information Update forms. Your cooperation in completing these forms no later than Friday, November 21, 2025, is greatly appreciated.

The federal government provides funding to the public school system in lieu of paying taxes on federal property. This funding is based on the number of students whose parent(s) or guardian(s) are federally connected. This includes active-duty military personnel and federal employees who work/telework, or live on federal property. It is very important that SMCPS provides an accurate count to ensure we gain the maximum funds for your child’s education. All information is strictly confidential.

Online Federal Impact Aid Forms are now available through the Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online Impact Aid form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. The form can now be accessed in Spanish by clicking on the Globe in the top right-hand corner once the form has been started. The deadline for the online submission of Federal Impact Aid Survey forms is Friday, November 21, 2025. For more guidance on how to access the Federal Impact Aid Survey, please visit HERE.

Effective communication is critical to the success of St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS). This will be crucial not only for emergencies but for our ability to communicate with families in general. On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a revised Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15). The key updates include new race/ethnicity fields, which incorporate a combined race/ethnicity question and the addition of a new “Middle Eastern and North African” category. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) considers school year 2025-2026 a “transition period” and anticipates full implementation of the new directive in school year 2026-2027. To that end, we are asking all families to provide updated information regarding students’ ethnicity designations.

Online Emergency Information Update Forms are now available through the parents’ Home Access Center (HAC). Once logged in, directions to access the online Emergency Information form can be found HERE. A video with instructions is available HERE. It is vital that all information is updated in eSchool. The deadline for the online submission of Emergency Information Update forms is Friday, November 21, 2025.

If you have any questions regarding these questionnaires, please call your child’s school. We appreciate your cooperation with this important task.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are incredibly grateful for the hard work, dedication, and heart our teachers pour into their classrooms every single day. From inspiring lessons to nurturing support, they go above and beyond to help our students grow and succeed.
Let's show them just how much we appreciate everything they do! We invite you to give a quick shout-out to a teacher or staff member who has made a positive impact on your child's life. A kind word goes a long way and can truly brighten their day!
Thank you for helping us celebrate our incredible educators!

https://forms.gle/X2YmEhakcEqtGQrP9

• The redistricting smore has been updated with new information including approved recommendations related to impacted geographic areas, grandfathering, and transportation.

  
  

  • Link to Redistricting Smore
  • Link to Redistricting Website

  
  

• The enrollment process is easy and getting started is simple. Parents can visit the MySchoolBucks website or download the free "MSB Parent" application from their device's app store.
• Please click the link for more information and create an account today

Please note that all families are required to submit a new meal benefit form each school year.

The meal benefit status from the 2024-25 school year will expire on September 25, 2025, for

Chesapeake Charter School students, and on October 2, 2025, for all other SMCPS schools. To

apply for meal benefits for the 2025-26 school year, visit

https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application via www.smcps.org, or contact your child's school

to request a paper application.

Additionally, students who qualify for meal benefits receive numerous other advantages

beyond free or reduced-price meals. These benefits include waivers for college application fees,

opportunities for dual enrollment with the College of Southern Maryland, and discounted fees

for participating in St. Mary’s County Parks and Recreation programs. Furthermore, eligible

students often qualify for reduced or waived fees on standardized exams such as the SAT, ACT,

and Advanced Placement (AP) tests.

Families can request more information by contacting SMCPS Food and Nutrition Services Office

at 301-475-4256, Option 5, or via email at foodservice@smcps.org.

https://forms.gle/ETVQBEHMXt4XEm7x5

Bus Rider

All students have been assigned a bus. If you need more information please call the office.

Car Rider

AM- Please do not line up before 7:45. You will block staff and buses. Do not pass cars in line unless a staff member directs you to do so and the cut off time is 8:05. After that, you will need to go to the main office to sign your child in.

PM-Parents will pick up students from the cafeteria. Parents are asked to park around back and come into the cafeteria with their photo ID. The cafeteria door will open at 2:40 to begin the check-out process.

There are 8 parking spots around back reserved for parent pick up; however, parents may park in any available spot. As soon as you have your student(s), please exit as parking is limited.

If you are after 2:50 you will need to come the front office to pick up your child.

Walker

You must be walking, no cars permitted. Cars will be directed to park around back and come in to pick up your child.

Walkers will be dismissed at the side door to the left of the main entrance. We will begin dismissing Pre-K and Kindergarten students as these students require a parent for dismissal from school and anyone else who requires a parent to walk home. Once this group of students has been dismissed and assigned to their parent/guardian, we will then dismiss the remainder of walkers and bike riders who are allowed to walk/ ride home alone with parent permission. You must complete the transportation plan.

If there is bad weather and you will be picking your child up by car please call the office and let them know. Park in the spots in the back of the school and pick them up from the cafeteria from car riders with your ID.

Unplanned/ Surprise Car Rider

If you need your child before dismissal they will need to be picked up in the front office by 2:00.

Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten Transportation Procedures

To ensure safety, a responsible person (at least 13 years old) must be on time to meet the bus at the bus door at the assigned stop for Pre-Kindergarten and/or Kindergarten students. This applies to when a student is boarding the bus at the bus stop and when a student is disembarking the bus at the bus stop.

When a responsible person is not available to receive a Pre-Kindergarten and/or Kindergarten student on a return trip home, the driver will return the student to the school. Parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will be notified by the principal to come and pick up their child from the school. The school administrator will discuss this concern with the parent(s)/legal guardian(s).

If a second incident occurs, the child will be returned to the school and the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will be notified to pick up their child at school. The regulation will again be reviewed with the parent(s)/legal guardian(s). The school administrator will mail a follow-up letter to the family indicating that a third incident may result in loss of transportation privileges.

If a third incident occurs, the child will be returned to school. Parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will be notified to pick up their child at school. Transportation privileges will be revoked at that time. A written notice will be mailed to the family by the principal.

• Bus Stop Locator - This is for parents, guardians and school staff to look up bus stops. This is live as of August 1, 2025

• Here Comes the Bus - This is for parents and guardians to receive notifications as the bus approaches their student’s bus stop. This is live as of August 1, 2025. Please encourage parents and guardians to use the app.

GKES Attendance Matters - April

Pre K 92%

K 90%

1st 92%

2nd 91%

3rd 94%

4th 92%

5th 94%

GK Total 92%

Report an absence- https://www.cognitoforms.com/StMarysCountyPublicSchools1/ReportAnAbsence?entry=%7B%22School%22%3A%20%22Greenview%20Knolls%20Elementary%20School%22%7D

• Students are responsible for the care and upkeep of all of their SMCPS-assigned resources, both print and technology. This newsletter and this document outlines all of the policies and procedures in addition to pricing for lost or damaged devices.

Volunteer Sign Up

Both new and previously registered volunteers must complete a new volunteer application every school year.

SMCPS believes volunteer service to our schools is an essential component of student success. The support of parents, grandparents, other significant relatives, and community members creates an environment filled with opportunities for our students. Ensuring the success of students is a partnership between the school and home.

We constantly strive and continue to make many opportunities available to our students that encourage them to learn and fully enhance their academic and social development. A wide range of learning experiences, both in and outside of the classroom, provides for many great opportunities and teachable moments. Volunteer service to our schools will continue to support the vast learning experiences we are able to offer. We have recognized the importance and necessity of properly vetting all volunteers who have contact with our students. We want to ensure that all of our expanding learning horizons are, first and foremost, safe and secure for our students and your children. Procedures are in place to ensure an appropriate level of background screening.

Screening for all of our school volunteers and visitors.

All volunteers must review the Child Abuse and Sexual Harassment (C.A.S.H) training and the Volunteer Manual annually.

Link to certify that you have reviewed the C.A.S.H training and Volunteer Manual and to complete the Raptor volunteer application.

Ice cream- Is available for purchase at lunch time. Students will purchase when they go through the lunch line with cash or MySchoolBucks. An opportunity will also be given to packers toward the end of lunch.

Join the PTO this year!

Get involved, stay connected, and help make this school year the best yet. Sign up today using the link below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0715JWNyxK6fIr9G6q-vXMhmOhCoYxc6Y1c5DhdgLXcrp9A/viewform

• Sing Up genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094EA8AA23A2F5CE9-63742443-teacher#/

Please report any communicable diseases (COVID, flu, pink eye, strep, etc.), to Nurse Farr so that we can monitor the cases that are being reported. It would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Nurse Farr. Thank you!

What to do if your student is ill

While school attendance is vital to your student’s education, a sick child belongs at home. Please review the Sick Day Guidelines below to assist you in making that decision.

KEEP ME HOME IF...

• I have a temperature higher than 100°F.

• I'm throwing up or have diarrhea.

• My eyes are pink and crusty.

SEND ME BACK TO SCHOOL WHEN...

• My symptoms have significantly improved or resolved.

• I haven't had a fever or fever-reducing medication for 24 hours.

• I haven't thrown up, had diarrhea or had medications to control these symptoms for 24 hours.

• If antibiotics have been prescribed, I have been taking them for at least 24 hours.

CALL THE DOCTOR IF...

• I’ve had a temperature higher than 100°F for more than 2 days.

• I've been throwing up or having diarrhea for more than 2 days.

• I've had cold symptoms for more than a week and they aren't getting any better.

• I still have asthma symptoms after using my asthma medicine (and call 911 if I'm having trouble breathing after using an inhaler).

The School Based Health Center has 2 locations and is a great resource and is open to all SMPCS students and staff. To enroll to receive health care services through the SBHCs, please click here or give the location center a call to make an appointment.

https://smchd.org/sbhc/

GKES Promise

GKES MTSS 3R Matrix

GKES is an MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) school. MTSS is a way we support all our students’ behavior and social-emotional needs through different levels of help, making sure everyone gets the support they need to be successful.

At Greenview Knolls we give out a variety of hoots to acknowledge expected behaviors that align with our MTSS mission of being respectful, responsible, and resilient. New this year- Students have had the opportunity to earn attendance hoots just for coming to school each day. Demonstrating the 3R's starts with being present! We know consistent attendance takes commitment from our guardians as well which is why at the end of each month we will select a family from the attendance hoots to win a gift card!

The April winner was Cairo Tured. Way to go!

Please scan this QR code to provide feedback on our whole school behavior support system!

May

4 Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser

4-8 Teacher/ Staff Appreciation week

8 Field Day

21 Spring Concert

22 Two Hour Early Dismissal

25 Holiday - Memorial Day - All Schools and Offices Closed

June

8 5th grade and Kindergarten celebrations

8 Last Day for PreKindergarten Students

9 Two Hour Early Dismissal – Last Day for Students Grades K-12 – End of 4th Marking Period

The vision at GKES is to create a nurturing environment for all students that promotes lifelong learning where students work hard to become respectful, responsible, and resilient.

The mission at GKES, in partnership with parents and communities, we believe that every Students Success Story becomes a testament to their determination and our unwavering commitment to fostering their academic, social, and emotional wellness.

GO OWLS!!!