Monocacy Elementary School Principal’s Newsletter A Look Ahead

Monocacy Elementary School
December 3, 2015
Principal’s Newsletter
18801 Barnesville Rd., Dickerson, MD 20842
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/monocacyes/
Thanks & Celebrations
A Look Ahead
Below are important reminders to help
you stay involved in your child’s success
during the school year at Monocacy
Elementary.
12/7-12/8


Thank you to PTA for providing dinner to the staff during conferences. It was a
nice treat for staff on a very long day!
The holiday season is upon us! Winter break begins on December 24th and we
resume classes on Monday, January 4th, 2016. On behalf of myself and all of the
staff at Monocacy, I’d like to extend our best wishes for a wonderful holiday
season to all of our families.
InView Testing, Grade 2
Information & Reminders
Wed. 12/9 PTA Mooey’s Night3:30-6:30
Wed. 12/23
Grandparents Day/ Sing
Along Assembly 10:30
12/24-1/3
Tues. 1/5
301-972-7990

Winter Break
PTA Meeting 7 pm
Make a Difference with Books

Parents, are you doing some fall
cleaning? Want to find a home for the
books you no longer use?
Please send age appropriate books in to
Mrs. Beaudoin! She will be putting
together a “Book Share” cart in her
office. Students in need of books will be
encouraged to choose books from the
“Book Share” cart to read at home. Thank
you to the families who already donated;
students were excited to get books before
the Thanksgiving break.
Have you been clipping those Box Tops?

Grandparent’s Day: Wednesday, December 23rd~
We invite all grandparents to come spend some time visiting classes and
participating in the Sing Along at 10:30. (Parents are also invited to the Sing
Along). Please make sure grandparents know they will need to show a driver’s
license if they plan on going into the classrooms. Additionally, any
grandparents who are planning to participate in the tradition of taking their
grandchild(ren) out to lunch, will need a note from the parents granting
permission to sign out the child(ren). This is always a special day in our school.
We look forward to sharing it with extended families.
PREPARING FOR COLDER WEATHER-As we experienced this week some
colder weather, parents are reminded to make sure children are dressed
appropriately for outdoor activities. All students should bring a jacket, coat
and/or sweatshirt for our cold weather days. We will be going out for recess
every day unless it is raining. During the winter months, we will monitor the
temperature carefully and decide whether to go out or stay inside based on
the temperature outside. Having our students ready for the cool and colder
temperatures is important and we appreciate your help!
Reminder for all GRADE 2 parents: InView™ occurs at Monocacy Elementary
School December 7, 8 & 9. Please avoid scheduling morning appointments for
your child on those dates. As always and every day, have your child get plenty
of sleep, eat a healthy breakfast and arrive to school on time. Thank you!
Dear Parents,
It is hard to believe that we have already completed the first
quarter of the school year! There is a lot of great teaching and
learning going on, and our Monocacy staff is committed to making
Please continue sending them into the
this an excellent school year for all the students! Our instructional
school! Right now many products have
focus this year is on differentiated small group instruction to meet
double and triple Box Tops available.
the needs of each student in reading and math. Students are looking
at their data and setting goals for the school year. We are excited
Through the Box Tops for
by the progress we are already seeing from our students.
~ Ms. Alban
Education Program our school has raised
thousands of dollars that have been
used to enhance our classrooms.
I can be reached at [email protected]
News from Staff and Community
SUPPORT FOR THE HOLIDAYS
If your family needs any support for the holidays please contact Mrs. Beaudoin at 301-972-7990 or email
[email protected].
SGA TOY DRIVE
Please support the SGA Toy Drive by bringing in new toys. You may bring in new toys From Monday, December 7thMonday, December 14th. A collection box will be in the front hallway. The toys will be delivered to WUMCO. Thank
you, SGA
SIGN UP FOR THE 2015 SCHOOL-BASED FLU VACCINE CLINICS
Flu season is upon us. There are simple steps you and your child can take to stay healthy and help prevent the flu.
That includes getting a yearly flu vaccine. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) will conduct free nasal spray flu vaccine clinics (FluMist) in all MCPS elementary schools the week of
December 14, 2015. Monocacy’s will be on December 15.
All clinics are free, but registration is required due to limited vaccine supplies. Parents/guardians must sign up for
their child(ren) to receive the flu vaccine by contacting the school health room. Health room staff will send home
the Vaccine Information Statement and parental consent forms only to the families who contact the health room
to set up an appointment. For more information, visit the DHHS website at
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/flu or call 311.
MCPS LAUNCHES NEW, USER-FRIENDLY CALENDAR TOOL
MCPS has launched a new, user-friendly online calendar tool for families. The tool is customizable and users can “build their own
calendar” based on select categories and what interests them most. The calendar can be displayed by month or up to 12 months
at a time. Users can CHOOSE to see the days that schools are open and closed, Board of Education meeting information, fine
arts events, cultural and religious holidays, and more, such as Parent Academy workshops. The calendar can be viewed as a list or
in a calendar template; it can also be printed or downloaded to a computer or mobile device in iCal format. Access it from the
MCPS home page or at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/calendar/ .
INCLEMENT WEATHER
Winter weather emergencies, such as snow and ice, may cause disruptions in school operations, including the closure of school, a
delayed opening, or an early dismissal. Information is provided on the MCPS website about the weather contingency plan that
would add student instructional days to the end of the scheduled school year if schools are closed for more than four days due
to excessive weather emergencies.
Information about school operations is announced publicly as soon as possible on area radio and television stations, Verizon Fios
Channel 36 or Comcast Channel 34—MCPS TV, on the Internet at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org or http://twitter.com/mcps,
and on a taped telephone message service at 301-279-3673. Emergency e-mail announcements are available by signing up for
MCPS QuickNotes on the school system’s home page (http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/sources.aspx).