Coming up
***Dear Parents, Students, Staff and Community Members,
Today (May 6), Governor Larry Hogan and State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced that Maryland public schools will remain closed for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. We strongly believe this is the right decision for the safety and well-being of Maryland students and their families. While this news is not unexpected, it doesn’t diminish the sadness and disappointment that many of us are feeling because we won’t be together in schools to learn and work together; participate in athletic and arts events; and attend end-of-the-year celebrations and graduations.
This weekend, we will provide an update to the community that will address many of the questions and concerns you have on various topics, including the next phase of online learning, graduation, proms, promotion ceremonies, and more. We encourage you to visit our coronavirus webpage frequently and sign up to receive important alerts through the Alert Montgomery system.
Please continue to stay safe and take care of yourselves. MCPS has developed several resources to support the health and wellness of our community. You can view the resources here. We will get through this incredibly challenging time if we work together with kindness and compassion.
Sincerely,
Jack R. Smith, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
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Incoming Kindergartners Fall 2020
Due to the COVID-19 school closure, schools will no longer be conducting face-to-face kindergarten orientation or accept the kindergarten orientation documentation at the school. Instead, parents/guardians will need to complete the registration process and enroll their children by completing and submitting the below forms and documents via email or U.S. mail.
For your convenience these forms are attached. For translated versions of the forms click the link and save the forms to your computer. You may need to download and install a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to complete the forms.
Forms required at the time of registration to qualify for enrollment:
- MCPS Form 560-24, New Student Information
- MCPS Form 565-1, Student Emergency Information
- MCPS Form 345-17, Maryland State Department of Education Prekindergarten Experience
The full letter containing information about our incoming kindergartners can be found here.
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In order to practice social distancing and in compliance with state closures of schools and suspension of events and activities, all PTA events have been cancelled for the remainder of the year. This includes our Spring Fair and Rock N Roll Recess.
Be safe Greenwood.
If anyone in our community needs help please reach out.
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Home Enrichment Websites:
https://www.storylineonline.
https://classroommagazines.
https://www.
Fun educational engaging website
https://www.abcya.com
Breakfast and Lunch available Monday-Friday
Boundary Analysis Update
The MCPS Boundary Analysis Interim report has been released. The full document can be found here:
For a summary found in Bethesda Beat click here.
Order your Yearbook Today!
The early bird price for yearbooks is $20! Go to Lifetouch and order yours today. Our school code is 14087620.
Remember that you can submit photos for the yearbook! Either email yearbook@greenwood-pta.org photos from Greenwood events along with your child’s grade level and teacher’s name OR go to https://greenwoodmcps.
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Volunteer Training!
Remember to update your Child Abuse Training for Volunteers. Training is good for 3 years. If it has been more than 3 years or if you are unsure if you are up to date, go ahead and do it again. Click here for training.
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Greenwood Spirit Gear
Looking for some new Greenwood Gear! Choose from dozens of options at www.greenwoodspiritwear.com
Please email Dawn Daly dawnnelsondaly@gmail.com with any spiritwear questions. Check out some exciting new products and designs updated for the 2019-2020 school year.
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Upcoming Dates
Volunteer
Got 1 minute or 1 month to spare? We can always use your help.
There are small jobs and there a big jobs. Jobs that last an afternoon/evening and jobs that last all year. All of the amazing, fun, and educational things we do cannot possibly happen without YOU!
Calendar
We have a fun-filled year ahead of us. Click below to see our calendar with all planned events for each month!
Upcoming important dates:
4/1/2020
Hello Greenwood,
I hope you and your family are safe (and still sane). I am currently working on arrangements for our April PTA meeting. It will take place as scheduled on Tuesday, April 14th at 7pm. Once I determine what virtual platform will (hopefully) work best I will send out information on how you can participate.
Gator Gala/Auction Update
Thank you again to the generous Greenwood community for your support in the inaugural Gator Gala and Silent Auction. We understand that many of the priceless experiences have not yet been fulfilled. Once school has resumed the PTA will work with administration and staff to ensure that students will be able to redeem their experiences. If you would prefer to request a refund for an unredeemed experience, please email Lindsay Vilardo at LMRinker@gmail.com.
Wellness Night
Our first ever Wellness Night scheduled for mid April will have to be cancelled but we look forward to sharing this event with you next year!
Variety Show
Unfortunately, at this time, the fate of the Variety Show is uncertain. It will not take place as originally scheduled on May 16th. We recognize that many of you have already spent many hours practicing, not to mention effort and money. In the upcoming weeks we will do our best to reschedule or come up with an alternate solution if possible. If you have any suggestions feel free to send them along to Mary at President@greenwood-pta.org. Thank you for your understanding.
Spring After School Programs
All spring programs have been cancelled. Creative Enrichment has reached out to all families that had signed up for the Spring session. Families will receive a credit for a future CE program. If you are graduating Greenwood or are unable to use the credit please email creativeenrichment.md@gmail.com, Lori is willing to work with you to resolve any conflicts.
At this time there is an online yoga program available. If you are interested in joining, email your child’s name and grade to Lori at the address above. The cost is $50 for a 6 week course.
Yearbook
We would like to commemorate this unprecedented event in history as well as Greenwood’s amazing response to it by asking you to submit pictures of your child “learning” at home (this can include recess!). Please send pictures to yearbook@greenwood-pta.org with the teacher and grade level in the subject line. In addition our yearbook coordinator is still looking for a few more pictures. for the following pages (if applicable to your child):
1st Grade Class or Recess Time
2nd Grade Class or Recess Time
4th Grade Class or Recess Time
Bingo Night
Craft Night
Glow Run (only need about 10 more)
Movie Night
Spirit Days
Staff with kids
Valentine's Day Party -- Need 4th and 5th grade only
Valentine's Day Class Group Photo (Voorhees, Boray, Kahn, Mankulish, Ramienski, George--4th Grade, Krantz, Pearcy, Floyd, Andriani, Peters)
If you uploaded photos to Shutterfly previously, please do not resend to the aforementioned email address. Shutterfly's images have been downloaded and entered into the yearbook. Photos cannot be uploaded to Shutterfly any longer. The deadline to submit photos is Sunday, April 5th.
Additionally, there are only a couple of weeks left to order a yearbook. Yearbooks can only be purchased online directly from Lifetouch. Our school code is 14087620. For information on how to order please visit the PTA website, http://greenwood-pta.org/.
Community Outreach
Support the local hospital and businesses
I wanted to share a way to support local businesses while also supporting the healthcare staff at Montgomery General Hospital. If you have the means, please consider making a donation which will provide meals from local Olney restaurants to feed our local healthcare heroes. More responders on the frontline means more capacity at our hospitals, and more people will get the care they need. Please help in any way you can! All proceeds go directly to the participating food service businesses to feed our hospital workers!
For more information or to donate go to https://www.facebook.com/donate/536820783696546/10219104367093938/
Help for First Responders Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich sent out a message requesting donations to help alleviate the critical shortage of protective equipment for first responders and medical personnel. Public donations would go towards purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). You can also sign up to donate hand made masks.
Personal Protective Equipment includes:
- Respirators (N95 or KN95)
- Masks (surgical or procedural)
- Gowns (medical, isolation, or surgical)
- Face Shields (medical goggles or safety glasses)
- Gloves
If you have the means to donate please go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYSJpiwEM7oYN3SmJr8yaBlrbO8nGOPZBG6xBEj4U0NlH9aQ/viewform
Boundary Analysis
While we have been at home the Boundary Analysis Interim report was published. It can be found here: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/publicinfo/Boundary_Analysis/interim-report/MCPS_InterimReport_Full.pdf
There are many interesting points made in this document so please take the time to read through it. Visit the MCPS website for more information about the Districtwide Boundary Analysis.
Board Positions/Elections
We cannot hold elections remotely therefore, at this time, we are unsure when elections will be taking place. However our nomination committee is already in place so we ARE still looking for candidates to fill the opening board positions of Secretary, Vice President, and President. All of which are currently 2 year terms. So if you or someone you know is interested in being on the PTA board next year please contact the head of the nominating committee Jen Madison at jenemadison@gmail.com.
Pros to being on the board:
- You will have information on the runnings and dealings of the school.
- You get to make decisions on the direction of the PTA, for instance:
- Programs you love but have ideas to make even better? Fantastic.
- New Programs?
- Change direction of some oldies but goodies.
- Finally tackle the chaos that is the school drop off circle.
- It’s a great way to get involved in and make an impact at the school that your children attend.
One final note, over the past several days our teachers have been working tirelessly to learn how to teach our children remotely. This is an entirely new experiment in education and I have every confidence that Greenwood’s faculty will meet the challenge. There will be a learning curve for all on how to make this work best for our students, if there is something that you need or some way for the PTA to help you please let us know. We are actively thinking of ways to be of service at this time.
And to our Greenwood family emergency responders, health care professionals, and all individuals out there working to help us in our time of need. Thank you. From the very bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Please feel free to contact the PTA with any questions or comments. Your insights are invaluable to our school. If you have not done so already Like our Facebook page “Greenwood Elementary School PTA” and be sure to visit http://greenwood-pta.org/ for up to date information. Please do your part to flatten the curve and keep others in our community safe, stay inside and practice social distancing!
Sincerely,
Mary Quirion