October, 2015
Lee F. Derby, Principal
Courtney Jones, Assistant Principal
www.mcpsmd.org/schools/cedargrovees
Off to a Great Start!
The 2015-2016 school year is off to a great
start. We began the year with 585 students
and have enjoyed getting to know those who
are new to us and seeing how our returning
students have grown and matured.
As usual, we kicked off the school year with
two school-wide meetings in our All Purpose
Room. During these town hall meetings, we
welcomed returning and new students; talked
about some of the exciting plans for the year;
and reviewed our school rules and
expectations. These expectations and the
Code of Conduct have been shared with you,
and we hope that you will reinforce them at
home as well.
We also reviewed changes to our new schoolwide positive behavior incentive program,
The Bear Way. While Grover will no longer
be visiting classrooms, students and classes
are still recognized or exemplary behavior in
the hallways as well as at lunch, recess, and
specials. Our top classes for September
were:
K-2
3-5
Ms. Lightner
Ms. Thompson
This program will be expanded to other areas
as the year goes on, and we seek to recognize
and reward the great behavior we see on a
daily basis.
We had a good turnout recent Back to School
Nights, and we appreciate you taking this
important first step in creating or continuing
a strong home-school partnership. I hope
that you found the information we shared
useful, and I look forward to working with
you throughout the year as we build on our
past successes and strive for even greater
outcomes for all of our students.
Monday, October 12, is our annual Parent
Open House. This is a time for parents,
many of whom may be off work for the
Columbus Day holiday, to visit their
children’s school to sit in on their classes
and see firsthand the curriculum and
instruction that make up our school’s today.
I invite you to join us Monday morning
from 9:25 -11:00 a.m. If you do visit,
please be sure to sign in on the clipboard in
the front hallway when you arrive and to
wear a visitor badge throughout your stay.
Also, please remember that this is a time
for observation and not for parent-teacher
conferences. We look forward to seeing
you. Parking will be available on the
blacktop that morning, but you must move
your vehicles by 11:00 so we can proceed
with our first recess on time.
Parent Survey Informs School Plans
Thank you to the parents who completed our
back to School Night Survey. Your input is
valuable and has helped us in making
decisions about several events for this school
year. The most timely of these events are our
upcoming fall parties. While a small
majority of families indicated that they
preferred Halloween costumes and a parade,
there was a sizable number of families who
said that their child would not be able to
participate in those types of activities.
Because we are always striving to be an
inclusive school and community, I’ve
decided to continue our recent tradition of
Fall Festival parties with no costumes or
parades, enabling all students to participate
and enjoy a party together with their
classmates. Unfortunately, due to our large
enrollment and our very limited parking, we
must continue to limit parent participation in
these parties to our volunteer room parents.
Look for information from them soon about
how you can contribute to the parties. Our
PTA will continue to have a costume contest
and other Halloween-themed activities at
their Fall Harvest Festival, which will also be
held on October 30
Parents responding to the survey clearly
indicated that they would like an expanded
Science Expo, even if that meant moving to
an alternate location. As a result, the expo
will be held at Rocky Hill and open to
students in all grades. I’m grateful to our
PTA for agreeing to partner with us on
producing the expanded Science Expo.
Finally, the survey revealed considerable
interest in parent workshops in several areas.
Top vote getters were Math, Technology, and
Reading. Staff has already begun discussing
ideas for format and content of these
workshops, and I will share more details with
you as they become available.
Thanks to all the parents who helped guide
our decision making by completing the
survey. Your input matters.
Heavenly Hats Returns
Next Wednesday, October 7, Heavenly Hat
Day will return to Cedar Grove. We are
asking for a $1.00 donation for the
privilege of wearing a hat to school that
day, and all money collected will be
forwarded to the Heavenly Hats
Foundation, which provides hats to those
suffering from cancer and other diseases
and treatments that cause hair loss. You can
find out more about this organization,
which was started by a 10-year-old, on their
web site.
Those unable to pay can still wear a hat to
school on Wednesday to show their
support. We want as many students and
staff as possible to participate in this very
worthwhile event!
Important Annual Notifications Posted
Please check the Parents page of our Web
site for information regarding the school
system’s integrated pest management and
asbestos abatement programs as well as
forms for you to report bullying or gangrelated activity. While there, you may also
want to check out information posted from
our health room staff about administration of
medication and treatments at school, lice
prevention and treatment, and guidelines for
determining when your child should come to
school and when he/she should stay home.
Keeping In Touch
Safety Drills
Home/school communication is critical to our
children’s success. By now, hopefully you
and your children’s teachers have shared with
each other your preferred and most effective
methods of communication. I will be sharing
information with you a few ways. First is
this newsletter. It will be posted on our Web
site on a monthly basis, with telephone and
email alerts sent when they are posted. If
you would like to receive a paper copy,
please let me or your child’s teacher know.
We will also be sending periodic emails and
flyers to remind you of upcoming events, and
you can get even more timely updates of
school news and happenings by following
Mrs. Jones and me on Twitter.
We have already had two very successful fire
drills this year, as required by school system
and fire department regulations. Next up is a
combined Lockdown/Shelter drill, which we
will have this Thursday, Oct.8. These drills
are designed to keep everyone safe and
accounted for under unusual or threatening
conditions in or near the school building.
Our students have been practicing these drills
under their teachers’ direction and should be
well prepared for the drill. While these drills
are necessary and we need everyone to
approach them seriously, we emphasize
being prepared over being scared and assure
students that they will be safe. You may
want to discuss the drill before Thursday and
then discuss with them afterwards how it
went, as we will do, as well.
If you are interested in receiving information
about MCPS in general, there are several
ways you can stay connected. I encourage
you to take advantage of these varied
communication tools to stay informed.
Fall Field Days
Once again this year field days for students in
grades 2-5 will be in the fall. Grades 2 and
3 will have their field day on Thursday,
October 22, from 9:45-11:45 a.m. Grades
4 and 5 will have theirs all day on Friday,
October 23.
We will be having exciting stations like, disc
golf, parachute, champion/knockout, sack
relay, spoon relay, ring relay, sock darts,
bocce, jump rope skills, and cup stack. We
will also be having our outdoor picnic at 12.
It takes many adults to make these events
special days for our kids. Any parents that
would like to help out and volunteer from
8:30am-12 noon should contact Mr. Jansson
or call him at the main school number. Even
if you can’t help, come on out and cheer on
your kids, enjoy the day, and have a picnic
lunch with your child. As always field day is
a time to be active, get outside, have fun, and
show GREAT sportsmanship. I hope you
can join us.
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 November for children 18 and under at
many MCPS schools. On Monday,
November 2, 2015, flu clinics will be held at
John F. Kennedy, Richard Montgomery, and
Seneca Valley high schools from 9 a.m. to
noon. No classes will be held on that day
because it is a professional day for teachers.
These clinics will be open to any school-aged
child.
All MCPS elementary schools will host a flu
clinic on either Wednesday, November 11, or
Thursday, November 12, 2015, following
early dismissal of students on those days. All
clinics are free, but registration is required
due to limited vaccine supplies. For more
information, visit the DHHS website
or call 311
Snacks Available
Our students in grades 3-5 are able to
purchase snacks at lunchtime in addition to
the regular meals. The snacks (all of which
have to meet county guidelines for fat,
saturated fat, and sugar content), and their
prices are as follows:
Ice Cream
75¢
Chips + Popcorn
75¢
CapriSun Juice
75¢
Bottled Water
50¢*
*(free with lunch purchase)
Fan Friday Returns
More nutritional information is available.
Snacks are available after all students
buying lunch have gone through the line.
Parents can limit what their children are
permitted to buy by contacting Mrs.
Pannell, our cafeteria manager.
Once again we are celebrating sports and
building school spirit through Fan Friday.
Each Friday since September 18 and
continuing for ten weeks, Mr. Jansson and
student helpers have been tallying the
numbers of students and teachers wearing
jerseys or other sports-related clothing.
Teams/Classes with the highest percentages
(one in K-2 and one in 3-5) receive The
Golden Football and be recognized on the
afternoon announcements. At the end of the
10 weeks the 2 team/class with the most
footballs will play each other in the
championship game. The championship
game may have different rules. Complete
guidelines are available on Mr. Jansson’s
Web page.
I want to remind all parents of our school
policies regarding birthday celebrations.
As I shared previously, in-school birthday
celebrations are limited to recognition in
the classroom and on the morning news
show, along with a small gift from the
office. Please do not send in food or
other items on your child’s birthday.
Fan Friday is designed to bring everyone
together as a team, have fun, and show good
sportsmanship. Please try to wear a jersey or
sport shirt every Friday. Thanks for your
support. Have fun and go team!!!
For parties outside of school, invitations
will only be distributed in class if all
classmates are invited, in order to avoid
hurt feelings. Thanks in advance for your
understanding and cooperation.
Sign-up for MCPS QuickNotes
MCPS QuickNotes is a free e-mail service
that provides subscribers with important
news and information about MCPS
programs and activities, plus emergency
information. MCPS QuickNotes is offered
in seven languages: English, Spanish,
French, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and
Amharic. Visit www.mcpsquicknotes.org
to subscribe.
Cedar Grove Makes a Difference
Over the summer, I received a letter from
the Leukemia and Lymphoma society
thanking Cedar Grove for participating in
the 2014-2015 Pennies for Patients
program and recognizing our generous
donation of $879.97. As noted in the
letter, “The money raised by (our) school
community funds life-saving research and
supports local patient services….Your
support truly makes a difference!” I join
the society in thanking you for your
donations and in extending appreciation
for Mrs. Spoales, who sponsors Pennies
for Patients for us.
To provide feedback on the policy and
grading options, visit the MCPS website,
search “assessment strategy.” Feedback is
due by October 19.
The Board also has tentatively approved
Policy IDA—School Year Calendar. This
is a new policy that will guide procedures to
develop, adopt, and disseminate a school
year calendar. Policy IDA will ensure that
the MCPS calendar meets the educational
and operational needs of the district and
complies with all relevant state and federal
laws. To learn more about Policy IDA and
provide feedback, visit the MCPS website
and search “policies.” Comments are due by
October 9.
MCPS Launches New, User-Friendly
Calendar Tool
Fall 2015 Parent Academy
Under Way!
The MCPS Parent Academy is back with
an exciting lineup of free workshops for
parents. The 2015 fall session is under way
and includes sessions on choosing the right
college, teen substance abuse, religious
diversity, special education, cyber safety,
and more. All workshops are free and are
held at schools and locations throughout
Montgomery County. The schedule of
workshops is being sent home to all
families.
Comments Sought on
Grading and Calendar Policies
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 here.
Enroll Your Child in PreK!
The Board of Education has tentatively
approved revisions to Policy IKA—
Grading and Reporting. The Board also has
endorsed the interim superintendent of
schools’ plan to replace two-hour semester
final exams in high school courses with
quarterly marking period assessments. This
would require a change to the way that final
semester grades are calculated for high
school courses and parents, students, and
staff are asked to provide feedback on four
different grading options.
MCPS offers a free, half-day
prekindergarten program in schools
throughout the county for income-eligible
families. This program gives children the
skills and knowledge they need to be ready
for kindergarten. Spaces are still available
for the 2015-2016 program. Children must
be 4 years old and families must be
income-eligible to apply. Prekindergarten
students attend daily classes Monday
through Friday, in the morning or
afternoon. Enroll your child today! Call
301-230-0676 to begin the enrollment
process.
Guidelines for Respecting
Religious Diversity
MCPS has developed a new guide that
answers many of the frequently asked
questions about the accommodation of
students’ religious beliefs and practices in
school and during school-sponsored
activities. The publication, Guidelines for
Respecting Religious Diversity, was
developed in collaboration with the
Montgomery County Executive’s Faith
Community Working Group and other
stakeholders to provide clear information for
students, families, staff, and the community.
MCPS is committed to promoting respect and
appreciation for the religions, beliefs, and
customs of its diverse student population.
The publication has been translated in eight
languages—Spanish, Chinese, French,
Vietnamese, Korean, Amharic, Farsi, and
Arabic. A copy is being sent home to every
family.
Hot or Cold?
With the arrival of Fall, we start thinking
about changing leaves, changing weather,
and……heat. The changeover from air
conditioning to heat in county schools and
facilities begins this week and will be
completed over the next few weeks.
Details about the process may be found
here. During this time, there may be days
when neither service is available. In
addition, students will be going outside
regularly for recess, PE, and curriculumbased activities. Please check the forecast
daily and send your child to school dressed
for the weather
Keeping Up Appearances
New Season of Homework Hotline Live!
Homework Hotline Live! (HHL) is back for
its 30th season, offering students in grades
K–12 free homework assistance from MCPS
teachers. Students can contact HHL teachers
from 4:30–6 p.m. on the phone or 4:30–9:30
p.m. online on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays, and 6-9:30 p.m. online on
Mondays.
Students can ask questions by:
• Making a phone call to 301-279-3234
• Visiting the HHL website
• Sending a text message to 724-427-5445
• Sending an email ([email protected]
• Posting a message to Facebook
(facebook.com/AskHHL)
• Send a tweet to @AskHHL
• Posting to Instagram (AskHHL)
Homework Hotline Live! can be viewed on
MCPS-TV (Comcast 34, Verizon 36, RCN
89) and on the Web.
Our Landscape and Gardening Committee
continued their hard work over the summer,
and it shows! I just wanted to thank the
following CG families and staff that helped
keep things alive and neat by weeding and
watering and installing our new hose reel
over the summer:
The Henry Family
The Jankowski Family
Mrs. Janet Kukla
The Phillips Family
The Whitney Family
Mr. Tracy Greene
Miss Dana Troup
We really appreciate all you do around the
school and grounds to keep us looking
great.
Pink Out Wednesdays in
October!
In honor of a teacher, Mrs.
Kerns, who used to work at Cedar
Grove, we are once again going to celebrate
Breast Cancer awareness by wearing pink
on Wednesdays in October! We are asking
staff and students (and visiting parent
volunteers!) to find the pink in your
wardrobe -- pink hat, pink shoes, pink
ribbons, pink shirts, and pink socks and go
PINK!
A HUGE Thank You to all of
our parents and others who
support Cedar Grove through
participation in different
fundraising programs. Your
participation in these programs
has enabled us to make the
following recent purchases:
Box Tops-Math Olympiad
enrichment materials for our
compacted math class
Safeway-materials and
incentives for the lunchroom
Target –school calendar
magnets sent home with all
students
Many of these programs require
annual renewal. Please visit the
PTA fundraising page to check
out all the programs and ensure
that you are up to date and that
Cedar Grove can continue to
benefit when you shop
Thanks!
Dates to Remember
10/6
10/7
10/8
10/14
10/16
10/21
10/22
10/23
10/28
10/29
10/30
PTA Meeting @ 7:00 PM-IMC
Pink Out
Emergency Drills
Pink Out
No School
Pink Out
Field Day-Grades 2&3
Field Day-Grades 4&5
Pink Out
Bus Evacuation Drill
Marking Period 1 Ends
Fall Festival Classroom Parties
PTA Fall Harvest Festival
11/2 No School
11/11 Early Release-Parent Conferences
11/12 Early Release-Parent Conferences