Greenwood PTA

We are still looking for individuals interested in filling the three PTA board positions that became vacant in June. President, Vice President, and Secretary positions are all two year terms. As of now, no one has expressed interest. Unfortunately, if not filled by the end of this year, we will essentially be board-less. Members of the last year’s board are willing to stay in their positions for this coming year (which requires a public vote to amend by-laws), however it would be best to have at least one of the three positions filled now so that there will be carryover of administration next year. I know this is a stressful time for everyone right now but if you are at all interested in making Greenwood the best school it can possibly be, please contact Mary at President@greenwood-pta.org immediately if you are interested. We will be having a public meeting in September to either amend the by-laws or vote in new board members.

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***MCPS Just announced that all learning will be virtual for the first semester. 7/21/2020***

Plan to be reassessed in November 2020 for Second Semester

Fall 2020 Draft Recovery

***Note this is just a draft, the official plan will be announced by the BOE on August 25th.

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School Supply Lists

Administration has provided school supply lists. Note that these are optimized for in person learning. Use lists as a reference when setting up your at home stations but teachers may have suggestions once classes begin. I would recommend earphones and a dry erase board of some sort (page protector works just fine). Click the link below to view lists.

http://greenwood-pta.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/school-supply-list.pdf

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School supplies for those in need:

The annual Give BACKpacks campaign is pivoting this year to respond to the needs of our students. For just $10, you can provide a student in need with supplies for virtual learning, which could include, paper, crayons, pencils/pens, white boards, dry erase markers, and more.

Not all students have the materials needed to learn at home.  Your donation will help provide students with the necessary supplies to engage successfully in their lessons.

If you would like to donate to this program to help others in our community please visit here.

https://news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/quicknotes/provide-school-supplies-for-students-in-need/?fbclid=IwAR2JOYXuKKRxQvNQPHMQfsGn1e0DACmhhn3igTehv9vf_euYCwXi1KiSjdU

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Plan to be reassessed in November 2020 for Second Semester

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students and Staff:

I am writing to provide an important update on our Fall 2020 recovery plans. MCPS has been working closely with county and state health officials on the potential reopening of schools. Yesterday (July 20), we received additional guidance from Dr. Travis Gayles, county health officer, in which he shared that “based upon the current state of surveillance and epidemiological data, I would not recommend in-person instruction for students inside school  buildings at this time. I recommend investing in a virtual instruction model until, at earliest, the completion of the first quarter in November, with consideration for virtual instruction through the first semester.” As I have shared previously, our plan has always envisioned starting in a virtual-only model. However, given this updated guidance, the safest choice for our district is to remain in a virtual-only instructional model through the first semester—January 29, 2021; or until state and local health officials determine conditions in our county allow for students to return safely after the first semester. This decision includes the cancellation of all fall and winter sports. Working with Dr. Gayles and county elected officials, we will reassess at the end of the first quarter (November 9, 2020) to determine if we are able to implement a phased blended model in the second semester (beginning February 1, 2021). We will continue to engage with our community as we continue to navigate this incredibly complex situation.

We anticipate that Governor Larry Hogan and Dr. Karen Salmon, state superintendent of schools, will also provide an update on the state’s recovery plan for schools this week. We will review their guidance and make all necessary adjustments to align our plans.

We continue to explore creative ways to support students receiving special services and families with significant challenges in accessing curriculum through a virtual model. We also know that this decision to extend virtual instruction will significantly impact the work schedules of many parents in our county. We are seeking the ability to allow buildings to remain open in a limited capacity for essential purposes, including meal service; to support access to technology and other materials; and for use by some child care providers.

On August 6, 2020, we will provide an updated plan to the Board of Education. This update will reflect adjustments stemming from changes in guidance from local health officials and the important feedback we’ve received from students, staff and the community. The Board of Education will vote on this plan at that time.

We are building on what we learned during the spring to provide a robust and dynamic virtual learning experience for our students. Our staff is being provided additional professional development to enhance their instructional abilities in a virtual model; we have put systems in place to ensure all students have access to digital devices and access to the internet when they are away from school buildings; and we are building in additional time for student support and learning opportunities. We are also streamlining digital tools and platforms to make it easier for our students, staff and families to engage in teaching and learning.

Our students are the heart of what we do and why we exist. There is no doubt in my mind that we all want what’s best for students. This decision is incredibly difficult as we know how much students need school for their academic success and social-emotional well-being. We take the immense responsibility of ensuring staff and student safety, educating our students and creating opportunities for all seriously. Thank you for your continued support and collaboration as we work together to meet the needs of our students, staff and families.

Sincerely,
Jack R. Smith, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools

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2019/2020 Yearbook

Because of the state closures yearbooks were delayed. Unfortunately as of now we do not have a delivery date for yearbooks. As of early July we know that it will still be several weeks before yearbooks will be delivered. We will determine a distribution plan once we have a production date. Thank you for your patience.

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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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