The Gator Gazette

Hello Greenwood Families,

It has been an amazing first week of school, and as we head into this Labor Day weekend, we will turn the corner into September. We held our first Town Hall meeting this week where we established our goal to ensure that every student is ready to learn and feels like they belong here at Greenwood. Together, we will work to be respectful, responsible, and safe to accomplish these goals. We also reviewed our expectations for all of our school spaces (classroom, cafeteria, rest room, etc.) this week using our CHAMPS model. Take a few minutes this weekend to ask your child about CHAMPS to learn more!

We also held our first fire drill today, and we were so proud of the students, as we conducted a seamless fire drill. Please find information in this issue regarding the other drills we will do. We approach these drills in an age-appropriate way assuring students that we are practicing. Our goal is to be ready for any situation, but at the same time, it is never our intention to frighten our young students.

We look forward to welcoming our PEP students on Tuesday, September 2, and we look forward to seeing our PEP and Grade 1-5 families at Back-to School Night on Thursday, September 11. Please find details below.

It's going to be a fabulous month and a great school year!!

Warmly,

Mrs. Seidel and Mrs. Sinon

Back-to-School Night for PEP and grades 1-5 will be held on Thursday, September 11, at 6 p.m. We will offer two sessions in classrooms. The first will start at 6 p.m., and the second will start at 7 p.m. to afford families with multiple children the opportunity to visit their various classrooms. This is a meeting intended for adults to learn more about the school year. Please mark your calendars!

MCPS MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing has started. Students in first through fifth grade will engage with this computerized assessment this fall and take the assessment three times this year. Students in Kindergarten will not participate in the fall assessment, however, they will take the winter and spring assessments.

This assessment provides our teachers with information to strategically plan for individualized instruction.

Students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade will take the MAP – P, which is a primary math assessment, while students in grades 3 through 5 will take MAP M – Math and MAP R – Reading. On average these assessments take anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour.

Information about the timing of these assessments will be included in your teacher's weekly email newsletter. Students can be best prepared to show what they already know by getting a good night's sleep, eating a good breakfast, and having a positive mindset. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's classroom teacher.

Please communicate updates about contact information, health, directory withholdings, emergency contacts, and more on your ParentVUE using Online Registration.

Please take a moment soon to complete the Annual Verification of Information through the online registration portal in the right corner of the ParentVue home screen. This information is critical, so we may reach you immediately, if needed. Please be sure to update your ParentVue account over the school year as well when contact information changes.

Mrs. Brooks, instrumental music teacher, will host Zoom meetings with parents and families of 4th and 5th graders on Wednesday, September 10. She is offering two sessions online at noon and 7 p.m. Please reach out to Mrs. Brooks with any questions at Lisa_D_Brooks@mcpsmd.org

We are fortunate to have a wonderful counseling team here at Greenwood. We want to let you know that one of our counselors, Mrs. Lee, will be on leave for an extended period. While she is on leave, Mrs. Cole Bobo, will serve as her long-term substitute. Some of you will remember Mrs. Cole-Bobo, who has served in a long-term substitute capacity for us in the past, and we are thrilled that she is her, as she is an amazing support for students. She will be a fantastic partner for Mrs. Patterson, our other counselor. If you need to reach either one of our counselors, please contact them at: Hiranya_U_Patterson@mcpsmd.org and Glenda_Colebobo@mcpsmd.org.

Families often hear about different platforms for school communication, and it can get confusing. Here’s a quick guide:

• Remind & ParentSquare: Both are messaging platforms used by MCPS schools, teachers, students, and parents. Over the next few months, schools will transition from Remind to ParentSquare (by January 2026) because ParentSquare has acquired Remind. Here at Greenwood ES we are currently using Remind, and we will move to ParentSquare later this fall. More information to follow later this fall.

• ParentVUE: ParentVUE is the parent portal for MCPS. It’s your secure window into important information about your child’s education—attendance, class schedules, grades, report cards, enrollment, athletic registration, and more. Available online and as a mobile app, ParentVUE is the Parent Portal that serves as the primary home-to-school communication vehicle.
  

We are excited to share that this year Greenwood Elementary School will be partnering with Harvest Intercontinental Church in Olney, MD to support families in need of food assistance.

The Harvest Mid-County Hub Program, established in 2020, serves as a central hub for delivering essential resources and services to underserved families in the Mid-County region.

If you and your family are in need of food assistance this year and would like to be referred, please complete the Google Form linked below or contact me at Hiranya_U_Patterson@mcpsmd.org. All information shared will be kept confidential.

Form for Assistance

This year our grade 5 and grade 4 students will have the opportunity to engage in Chorus for the first time in a few years. We are very excited to offer this experience to students in grade 5 once per week this fall and to students in grade 4 once per week in the spring! More details to follow from Mrs. Wepasnick closer to the start of chorus.

This year, we have built a very purposeful instructional block into our days for grades K-5 to afford opportunities for focused and differentiated instruction based on student needs. This block will allow time for enrichment and support opportunities. Teachers will share more about how this will look at back-to-school night.

Please remember to label all of your child's belongings with their first and last name (water bottle, lunch box, coats, sweatshirts, etc.). We typically have a lot of items in our lost and found, and it is so hard to return items to their rightful owners with no names on them. Thanks for your attention to labeling items, so that we can work to ensure that a lost item finds its home.

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 and Grade 9 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. Principals will receive a list of students who have not provided documentation by the deadline from School Health Services (SHS) staff. Students on this list must be excluded from school until such documentation is provided.

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

Important Dates:

Tuesday, August 26, 2025: Students must provide documentation of required vaccinations or a permitted exemption as explained above by the first day of school or their date of admission. Students who have not received their vaccinations may enter school if they provide evidence of an appointment to be vaccinated by Monday, September 15, 2025, (or 20 calendar days from their day of admission).

Monday, September 15, 2025: Students who have not provided documentation of the required vaccinations by this date (or 20 calendar days from their day of admission) must be excluded from school until such documentation is provided.

More information:

https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/OIDEOR/IMMUN/Shared%20Documents/2025-2026_Preschools_and_Schools_Vax_Requirements_Final.pdf

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

The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families is always our top priority. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) takes a comprehensive approach to emergency preparedness that follows guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education. As part of this work, this school year, MCPS has adopted the nationally recognized Standard Response Protocol, developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation. This shared language helps students, staff, and first responders know how to respond quickly and clearly in different types of emergencies. Please see the language we will utilize during emergency situations below.

It’s important that everyone in our school community understands what happens during different kinds of emergencies, especially a Lockdown. A Lockdown is used when there is an immediate and serious threat of violence inside the building or nearby. During a Lockdown, staff will be trained to “locks, lights, out of sight.”

The school’s first priority is to call 9-1-1 to receive support from local authorities and police. The school will then communicate to the school community approximately every 20 minutes (when practical) any relevant information and updates throughout and at the conclusion of the lockdown. Communication is coordinated through the Public Information Officer of the Montgomery County Police Departments and the Montgomery County Public School System’s Department of Communication. Following the conclusion of the lockdown, you can expect a more detailed communication of what occurred.

Students, families, and staff each play a part in keeping our schools safe. Being prepared starts with knowing what to expect and understanding the role each of us has during a serious situation like a Lockdown. We encourage you to review them together at home and talk with your child, so we all have a shared understanding of how to respond if an emergency ever happens.

MCPS has introduced the Refrigerator Curriculum—a one-page overview of what students will learn each marking period. Designed to post on the fridge, these guides help families stay informed about key themes and texts, stay engaged in their student’s education, and, if needed, request alternative assignments if a text conflicts with religious views. See the documents for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

This year’s revised MCPS Student Code of Conduct emphasizes building a positive school culture rooted in respect, safety, and accountability. At Greenwood ES, we are committed to fostering a learning environment where every student feels supported and empowered to succeed. These updates to the Code of Conduct reflect the belief that discipline and behavior are not separate from instruction, but foundational to ensuring all students are ready and able to engage in learning.

The updates reflect a focus on the following: restorative practices to repair harm and restore relationships, clear behavioral expectations and consistent responses to misconduct, and increased collaboration between home and school to address behavioral concerns.

Restorative Practices to Repair Harm and Restore Relationships

Restorative Approaches is not just a practice — it’s a mindset. The consistent use of restorative approaches strengthens student decision-making and fosters positive, trusting relationships among students and adults. When applied with fidelity, restorative practices rebuild trust, promote accountability, and repair harm in a way that punitive measures often cannot.

The revised code of conduct centers restorative approaches as a key component of our response when students do not meet our expectations for their behavior. The new Office of Student Conduct and Appeals will support our system accountability by ensuring school-based actions are reviewed with fidelity to policy and legal guidelines. Schools will be receiving on-going professional development to ensure staff are equipped to lead restorative conversations and help students take meaningful ownership of their actions.

Clear Behavioral Expectations and Consistent Responses to Misconduct

The code of conduct is based on five levels of consequences. We have reviewed how these levels are applied and ensured consistency that a serious infraction will result in a serious consequence. Students and families should have a clear understanding of what a school’s response will be should a student make a poor decision. In the code of conduct, clear levels of intervention and consequence are outlined (Levels 1–5) based on the behavior.

The consistent application of the code of conduct is important and equally important is consistency with the tools we will use to respond to support your child. The supports outlined in the revised Code — behavior intervention plans, check-ins, restorative circles, mentoring, and counseling — are not optional. Please review the MCPS Student Code of Conduct with your child, linked here.

Increased collaboration between home and school to address behavioral concerns

Student conduct is everyone’s responsibility. When expectations aren’t met, we must respond as a team — bringing together staff, families, and students to ensure the behavior is addressed and learning continues. When the serious decision is made to suspend a student from school, families/parents, staff, and the student will be required to come in for a mandatory intake conference. During this intake conference, focus will be on reconnecting to support reentry, reviewing expectations, providing support and resources to your child, and creating a timeline to catch up on missed work. These changes reflect our shared values and our commitment to working in partnership with families to support all students.

Recent findings from the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General identified areas for improvement in how background checks are processed and monitored for school-based employees, contractors and volunteers. Your children are safe at school, and we are taking immediate and sustained action to make sure it stays that way.

Learn more.

Just Ask MCPS! The district’s revamped website offers improved access to information. From the Most Requested webpage (simply search “most requested” in the main search box on the MCPS website) to the informational AskMCPS chatbot (it can answer MCPS-related questions in any language), we’ve got your questions answered!

Hi! We are so excited for the '25/'26 school year! We are working on our PTA calendar . You can find it on the PTA website: https://sites.google.com/greenwood-pta.org/greenwood-pta/home along with many other updates.

Your PTA Executive Board for the '25/'26 school year is:

• President- Katie Phillips president@greenwood-pta.org
• Vice President- Kat Bachiochi vicepresident@greenwood-pta.org
• Secretary- Kim Taccini secretary@greenwood-pta.org
• Treasurer- Alisha Creel treasurer@greenwood-pta.org

Please feel free to reach out to any one of us with questions or suggestions.

How to Join and Volunteer

• Join: Visit here to pay by credit card: https://sites.google.com/greenwood-pta.org/greenwood-pta/join-the-pta?pli=1
• If you would like to pay by cash or check, please email treasurer@greenwood-pta.org and let Alisha know.
• Volunteer: Please fill out this form and we will get back to you or join us at a meeting and let us know. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFV3_T1pi_2-kVq_sQTzlYp9cCPc_XUcGT5nUl9ffRfxweMQ/viewform
• MCPS Volunteer Training: If you would like to volunteer for a PTA event during the school day please make sure you have done your volunteer training. Instructions are listed on our website here: https://sites.google.com/greenwood-pta.org/greenwood-pta/volunteer
• Room Parents: Please make sure you have joined the PTA. We will be sending out an email to our PTA listserv, letting everyone know the date and time the sign up genius will go live in September.

Upcoming Events!

• PTA Meeting: Tuesday, September 2nd at 7pm at Greenwood in the Media Center. Please join us in person for our first meeting of the school year (we will offer a hybrid format starting in October).
• Dining Night Out (DNO): Wednesday, September 17th at California Tortilla, Olney
• Movie Night: Saturday, September 20th at 7:30pm on the blacktop at Greenwood (we are hoping waiting for rental company to confirm). Movie will be announced asap!

Help!

We are looking for a Skate Night Coordinator. If your kids love to skate, please reach out to president@greenwood-pta.org or fill out the volunteer form above. It's a pretty easy event to coordinate (make a phone call and a flyer).

After School Activities

• Creative Enrichment: Offers activities everyday after school from art to drama to cooking! More information and to sign up online visit https://creativeenrichment.org/fall-greenwood
• Creative Adveuntures: Offers an art class on Wednesdays. Please visit their website for more information: https://www.artinyou.com/schoolyearclasses

Greenwood PTA Website

Katie Phillips

President, Greenwood Elementary School PTA

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.

Meal Payment Procedures:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/food-and-nutrition/meal-payments/mealpaymentprocedures.july2025.pdf

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

Menus and Special Dietary Needs Menus, including nutrition and allergen information, can be viewed at:

DFNS website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/food-and-nutrition/menus/

MealViewer: https://schools.mealviewer.com/district/MontgomeryCountyPublicSchools

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!

MCPS Form 240-23, Special Dietary Needs Form https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/detail.aspx?formID=3699&formNumber=240-23&catID=2&subCatId=0)

This form may be used to request meal accommodations for students eating in the cafeteria.

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.

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.

Imagine the relief a child feels when they can choose their favorite school meal, knowing it's already paid for. For many of our students, this simple dignity is a daily concern. By donating to the MCPS Educational Foundation’s Dine with Dignity campaign, you directly provide a vital lifeline for students, ensuring no child goes hungry or feels anxious about a financial responsibility in the school lunch line.

Help the Foundation reach its $500,000 goal this year, ensuring every MCPS student has the fuel they need to succeed. Donate today.

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.

As always, our priority is ensuring that every student at Greenwood ES is challenged academically and supported socially and emotionally. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the MCPS personal mobile device policy, please review Regulation COG-RA Personal Mobile Devices.

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

September

1 - No School, Labor Day

2 - First Day of School for PEP students

2 - PTA Meeting, 7 p.m. Media Center

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

17 - Fall Picture Day

17 - PTA Dining Night Out, California Tortilla

20 - PTA Movie Night, Greenwood Blacktop

23 - No School

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

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

Student Code of Conduct: Read the revised document and watch the video.

Changes to Grade Calculations at the secondary level: Watch the video

Now You Know (Video Series) Find Your Bus Route: Easy as 1, 2, 3

How We’re Handling Cellphones in School: Less phone time means more learning time.

Vape Detection Sensors in High School Bathrooms: Helping to maintain a safe and healthy environment.

Things to Know Newsletter
English / español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

Stay Connected to MCPS

• VISIT the MCPS homepage.
• CALL 240-740-3000. Staff take calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish (240-740-2845). Visit the AskMCPS website
• READ news and information sent via email and text message and on the MCPS News page.
• FOLLOW the MCPS social media pages:
  x.com/mcps / facebook.com/mcpsmd / instagram.com/mcps_md facebook.com/mcpsespanol / x.com/MCPSEspanol / instagram.com/mcpsenespanol
• SIGN UP for emails and text alerts and make sure your ParentVue information is up to date.
• WATCH the MCPS cable channels Comcast 34 (1071 HD), Verizon 36 or RCN 89

More MCPS Resources

• School calendar
• Parent resource page
• News and Information page / Noticias en Español
• Latest photo galleries
• MCPS TV videos
• MCPS TV español

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