The Goshen Link
Connecting Home and School
Goshen Elementary School
Linda F. King, Principal
Jason Berg, Assistant Principal
Goshen’s Vision
We, the staff, students and parents of Goshen
Elementary School, will work together to
provide a respectful and equitable education
that prepares every student to be lifelong
learners and successful citizens.
September
15
6:00 p.m. Instrumental
Music Info.Meeting
6:30 p.m. Back to School
Night
28
29
Early Release 1:00 p.m.
No School
October
4 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
7 Individual Student Pictures
10 Open House
11 5th Grade to Strathmore
Music Center 11:00-2:00
Our Mission
At Goshen Elementary School, we
come to school every day the Grizzly
Bear way. We show our:
B:
Best Behavior
E:
Effective Effort
A:
Awesome Attitude
R:
Respect and Responsibility
September 14, 2011
Spotlight on the Goshen ES Leadership Team
At Goshen ES, the focus is on shared leadership and shared
decision-making. In addition to the principal and AP, the
Leadership Team (representing all teams) for FY 2012 is:
Nicole Marmo (Kindergarten)
Kristina DeBold (First Grade)
Sarah Krempel (Second Grade)
Sharon Greenwald (Third Grade)
Ashley Page (Fourth Grade)
Pamela Kerr (Fifth Grade)
Amanda Friedman (Special Ed)
Courtney Bay (ESOL)
Katie Raker (Arts Team)
Katie Swick (Technology)
Elisabeth Portocarrero-Pitt (Media Specialist)
Amy Recks, Counselor
Kelly Jiron (Staff Development Teacher)
Crista Horn (Reading Specialist)
Christine Thompson (Supporting Staff)
The Leadership Team meets monthly to analyze school data
and monitor progress on our School Improvement Plan (SIP)
and to discuss issues and concerns. During the summer, we
meet to analyze the MSA data and to develop our SIP for the
upcoming year. Meetings are open to anyone who wishes to
attend.
Last spring, the Leadership Team discussed several issues of
concern.
Every year, we have more students NOT
participating in Halloween festivities due to religious and/or
cultural beliefs. Last year, over 60 students (10% of our
population) did not participate. Even though we provided an
alternative activity, many of these students were in tears at
not being able to join their classmates at the party. In order to
be sensitive to the diversity of our student population and
inclusive of everyone, the Leadership team decided (with
approval of the entire staff) to celebrate Fall/Harvest instead
of Halloween. The Special Events committee has designed
Fall Festival week with many exciting events and activities
for our students. You will notice that grades 2 – 5 will also
be holding Field Day during this week. Last June, Mr.
Reynolds, our PE teacher, brought his concerns about Field
day to the Leadership Team. He felt that it was hard to
schedule field days for all grade levels in the spring due to all
the other activities happening in May/June. He was also
concerned about the heat. Last year, the temperatures on our
Field Days were high 90s and we had to shorten the events.
He felt that field days for upper grades would be better in the
Fall, but K and Grade 1 Field Day will still be in the spring.
Leadership Team approved this plan.
Please see the back for the details of each day’s activities.
Did you know you have a School Psychologist?
Hi! I'd like to introduce myself. I am Debra Wotherspoon, Goshen’s School Psychologist. School
psychologists help children succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators,
parents, and other professionals to create a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment for all students. I
typically participate on school teams to assist students having academic or social/emotional difficulties. I also
help to identify children that have educational disabilities and assist in developing an individualized educational
program based on their specific needs. I am usually at Goshen one or two days a week. I am also available to
meet with parents to talk about any developmental, behavioral or learning concerns you have about your child.
Please let me know if there are questions I can answer for you or if I can help your child be more successful in
school! The best way for you to reach me is by e-mail: [email protected]
To find out more you can go to my web page. On this page, I provide you with quick access to information
related to parenting, learning, mental health and school psychology:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/goshenes/psychology/
Back to School Night: Thursday, September 15 for grades 1 – 5.
6:00 Instrumental Music meeting for parents
6:30 Session I- Report directly to your child’s homeroom.
7:30 Session II (repeat of session I)- Report directly to the homeroom.
We hope to see all parents at our Back to School nights.
Head Lice and Bedbugs
I want to remind you that head lice are a fairly common condition found in elementary-age children. And,
unfortunately, bedbugs are now a world-wide epidemic. Information is attached which will provide you with
facts on how to identify, inspect, and treat head lice and bedbugs. If you have any questions, please contact our
Health Room.
Thanks to our PTA
Thank you to our wonderful PTA for the fabulous breakfast that was provided to the staff on our preservice day,
Friday, August 26. Everyone enjoyed the delicious treats.
Going Green
At the request of many parents – and in an effort to save trees – the LINK is going green! In September, the
LINK (as well as the grade level newsletters) will be sent home in student backpacks. However, starting in
October, the LINK will NOT be sent home -- but will be posted on the Goshen ES website and can be accessed
there.
If you prefer a hard copy, please notify your child’s teacher or pick one up in the office.
Thank you for helping us to help our environment.