August 10, 2015
Dear Wayside Families,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you back to the 2015-2016 school year! I hope that the summer months
have provided you with rest, relaxation, and an opportunity to rejuvenate with your family. Now that
the summer is quickly coming to a close, we are ready for the start of a fantastic new school year.
I am privileged to have the opportunity to return this school year as your principal and I feel grateful to
work with our highly qualified staff, our wonderful students, and all of our supportive parents. I look
forward to working with all of you to make this school year successful.
We are fortunate at Wayside to have staff members that are so dedicated to our children and skilled in
delivering high quality instruction. This year, as we say goodbye to a few, we have the opportunity to
welcome new team members:
Our fondest farewell …
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Courtney Jones will be assistant principal at Cedar Grove ES.
Joyce Eisenberg is enjoying her retirement!
Barbara Hoffman is enjoying her retirement!
Nancy Averill will be a counselor at Hoover MS.
Molly Snow will be teaching 3rd grade at Bannockburn ES.
Sarah Free will be teaching kindergarten at Rachel Carson ES.
Dana Gibbs will be on child care leave enjoying her beautiful new baby girl, Mary Catherine.
Soraya Assaf will be a special education resource teacher at Flora Singer ES.
Heidy Rodriguez will be a secretary at Hoover MS.
Jane Chi will be a para educator at Fairland ES.
Lori Ugolini will be a para educator at Strawberry Knoll ES.
We will miss them and we wish them well!
A warm welcome …
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Karen Johnston comes to us from Wyngate ES and will serve as our assistant principal.
Lita Yates comes to us from Ronald McNair ES and will serve as our counselor.
Michelle Deutsch, new to MCPS, will join our 3rd grade team.
Lilit Bayburtian, returning from child care leave will join our 4th grade team.
In-house staff changes…
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Debbie Pollack will be our new reading specialist.
Sherri Chester is joining the 4th grade team.
Claire Adams will be on child care leave during the first quarter. Leanne Bartholomew will be the long
term substitute in her absence.
The first day of school is Monday, August 31, 2015. This will be a regular full-day session with buses
running their regular routes. A complete calendar with all the scheduled school holidays and early
release days is also posted on our website. Please bookmark these pages for reference throughout the
school year.
Our bell times have changed! The student school day is now 9:25AM – 3:50PM.
Students will be able to enter the building at 9:10AM.
Our Back-to-School Information, including the school calendar, supply lists, lunch and
transportation information, can be found on our school website.
We are very excited to publish our newly designed website! Please read the Back-to-School
Information on the site thoroughly, as it will answer many of your questions regarding our school
procedures and policies. If you should need a paper copy of this information, please inquire in
the office.
I am looking forward to seeing you during our annual Sneak Peek, on Friday August 28, 2015,
from 11:00AM to 12:00 noon. If you are new to Wayside you are invited to the New Student
Orientation on August 28, at 10:30AM, in the all-purpose room.
Class lists will be finalized the week before school starts. Students will be notified of their teacher
assignments through the following:
 Each household will receive a Connect-Ed call and email message informing them that the class
lists have been posted on our Wayside website.
 Visitors to Sneak Peek will be able to see class lists posted outside of the office.
Wayside staff will also be available on the first day of school to assist students and their families.
Our instructional program will be explained at our Back-to-School Nights, which are scheduled
as follows:
o Grades PEP, SCB, K, 1, 2 – Wednesday, September 16, 2015 - 7:00PM
o Grades 3, 4, 5, - Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 7:00PM
During the school year, I encourage everyone to check Wayside Waves and the Wayside Website
for important notices, reminders and information.
Supporting our students to do well at school, and in their lives, is the center of our work. I am honored
to serve this community, and will work hard to maintain your trust and respect as Wayside’s
principal. Thank you for your support as we work together to make this a great year for our students!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Donna Michela
Principal