Cedar Grove Friday Flash

Dear Cedar Grove Families:

Thank you to all our parents and caregivers who came to visit during Open House last Monday. We hope you enjoyed your time in your child's classroom and had an opportunity to see the wonderful teaching and learning that is occuring every day.

The process of converting air conditioning to heat began this week. Air conditioning will not be available after the changeover process. As the weather may be warmer or cooler, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately. Children will continue to go outdoors for recess if the temperature is above 32 degrees.

Each year, families have an opportunity to purchase a piano at reduced prices through an agreement between MCPS and Schaeffer's Piano Company. The sales event will take place between November 15 and 23 at 105 North Stonestreet Avenue, Rockville, MD. For more information, please click on this link: Piano Sale Program

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mr. Wynne and Mrs. Roberts

To translate this newsletter, click here. Then click the "Websites" tab, choose the language desired, and copy and paste the Smore link into the box. Click on the blue arrow, and the newsletter will be translated in your chosen language

Please see weekly updates from MCPS HERE.(Updated Weekly)

Parents, please click on your child's grade level to view class weekly newsletters. Any questions regarding the content of the newsletters should be directed to your child's teacher. Thank you.

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Holiday Giving Program Referral:

If you and your family are in need and would like to be referred for possible assistance for the holiday season, please complete this form to provide the required information. Resources are limited: please apply only if you and your family are truly in need. While a referral is NOT a guarantee of assistance, the Project helps as many families in need as donations allow.

Please use the link below to complete the Google Form if your family is in need of assistance

HOLIDAY GIVING REFERRAL FORM

Please complete this form as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact our school counselor, Erin_M_Spoales@mcpsmd.org

We are excited to share that a series of community engagement sessions for the new Damascus High School Capital Improvement Project (CIP) is coming this fall! As planning continues, stakeholder feedback remains vital to our progress. MCPS Central Services invites all staff, families, and community members to join us to review project updates, ask questions, and share input.

Upcoming Community Engagement Meetings

• Meeting #2: Wednesday, October 28 | 6:00 p.m. (DHS Cafeteria) NEW DATE!
• Meeting #3: Monday, November 9 | 6:00 p.m. (DHS Cafeteria)

• The first community engagement meeting on Monday, October 12, at Damascus High School for the upcoming Major Capital Improvement Project. During the meeting, we introduced our architectural design team, Perkins Eastman, and our construction management team, Dustin Construction, and provided an overview of the project and the design process.

  HERE you will find a link to the presentation shared during Monday evening’s meeting as well as well as a Mentimeter Survey to give input

  
  

Over the last two weeks, we have shared the reason, schedule and the process MCPS will follow as it considers elementary and middle school closures and consolidations. This week, we’re taking the next step: a closer look at the conversations we want to have with our community and what you can expect when you attend an engagement session.

At the center of this work is a goal that goes beyond buildings: ensuring an excellent student and staff experience. Enrollment is declining for the first time in more than 40 years; growth is uneven across the county, and resources are limited. This work is about taking a thoughtful look at how our schools are organized, where students are located and how our buildings and resources are being used so schools have the people, programs and spaces needed to support students and staff.

Two Rounds, Two Different Conversations (see the full schedule here)

Round One: Fall Engagement — October

The first round is about building a shared understanding of the challenge and the experience we want for students and staff. We want participants to explore three fundamental questions:

• Why are we doing this work? Understand the changing enrollment landscape, the choices MCPS faces and the challenges we are trying to address.
• What should every student and staff member have access to? Talk about the people, programs, services and spaces that should be available in our schools to support a strong student and staff experience.
• How will the process work? How and when will decisions ultimately be made?

Round Two: Winter Engagement — December

The second round will build directly on what we hear this fall and move the conversation toward how potential closure and consolidation decisions should be evaluated.

• Criteria Development. See how community feedback from the fall is being considered alongside requirements in state law, Board policy and MCPS regulation.
• Help determine how the criteria should be applied. Discuss how different factors should inform the decision-making process — not simply what should be considered, but how.
• Collect additional feedback. What refinements should be considered for the approach?

That progression is important: October is about understanding the challenge and defining what we want our schools to provide; December is about using that foundation to help shape how potential decisions are evaluated.

What to Expect

Each in-person session will give participants multiple ways to learn, ask questions and share feedback, including:

• A brief opening presentation will explain the work ahead and what participants need to know.
• Multiple information stations focused on key topics and criteria.
• Content experts will be available to answer questions and discuss the information in greater detail.
• Multilingual staff will be available to help participants access the same information and opportunities to engage.
• Participants will be able to ask questions, offer feedback and help inform the work ahead.

Families new to MCPS are encouraged to sign up for a ParentVUE account. ParentVUE is the online parent portal that serves as the primary communication vehicle for schools to share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, access to myMCPS Classroom and more.

ParentVUE Quick Guides

English / español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

We have new lessons and other information for this coming week in our October Media Monthly! Please consider encouraging your child to participate in the Great Pumpkin Event.It's just so much fun to display them in the media center - our entire school does a Walk About to admire them on Friday, October 23and they are still there to be enjoyed during our Fall Festival. The PTA Silent Auction is in full swing and yes, I have two contributions to the auction! Finally, we are pinking out on Wednesdays this month and I am anxious to see your pinked out pictures! Don't forget to send them to me so I can add them into our annual pink-out video. As always, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions related to our media program and the events that we sponsor. Have a wonderful weekend!

Please click the link below for the September overview of what your students will be doing in Art, General Music, Instrumental Music, and Physical Education. We hope you will take a few moments to read what is happening during these instructional spaces.

Counseling with Mrs. Spoales started this week! If you have a specific child or family need to share with Mrs. Spoales, please use the link to access her Parent Input form. This form is confidential and will only be seen by Mrs. Spoales.

https://forms.gle/q8Y9QzyWFvG5pDfx7

Silent Auction

READY, SET, BID!!!! Our annual Silent Auction is officially LIVE! We’re featuring amazing items, gift cards, services, tickets, and special experiences donated by our local businesses and Cedar Grove staff. There’s something for everyone, so start browsing and get those bids in! Every bid supports PTA sponsored events and student enrichment initiatives at Cedar Grove.

Bidding is OPEN NOW through October 25th at 10pm

Click HERE to view the flier, or just use this link: https://www.32auctions.com/CGES2026

Fall Festival

Join us Saturday, October 24th from 12:00pm - 2:00pm for an afternoon of fall fun, games, and activities for the whole family!

We need volunteers! Help us make this event a success by signing up for a volunteer shift. It’s a great way to get involved, support our school, and have fun with fellow CGES families. SSL hours are also available for student volunteers! Sign up to volunteer and join the fun!

Cedar Grove Care Closet
Our Care Closet helps CGES students access essential clothing and hygiene items so they can feel comfortable, confident, and ready to learn! We are collecting:

- kid-sized pants, shirts, & shoes

- new underwear & socks

- toothbrushes & toothpaste

- menstrual products

- deodorant & more...

If you have GENTLY used, outgrown clothing, or shoes, we would love to put them to good use!

You can also shop our AMAZON CARE CLOSET WISHLIST and have items directly shipped to the school. If your child brings home an article of clothing from the Care Closet (excluding underwear), please wash it and return it to the school so we can continue helping other Bears. Thank you for your support!

Haven’t JOINED the PTA yet?

There’s still time to join! Your PTA membership helps support our students, teachers, and school community throughout the year. Every membership makes a difference—and we’d love to have you be part of the CGES PTA!

Sign up HERE

• Friday, October 16: No School for Students

• Saturday, October 24: PTA Fall Festival