Mission: To foster a
community of caring that
nurtures the development of
Debbie Ryan
the whole child academically,
socially, and emotionally by
enabling all students to
become lifelong learners and
productive citizens.
Principal
2111 Porter Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: 301-650-6400
Fax: 301-650-6404
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/rosemaryhillses/
School Day 9:25 a.m. – 3:50 p.m.
[email protected]
Leslie Zimmerman
Assistant Principal
[email protected]
August 2015
Dear Rosemary Hills Families,
Happy summer!! I hope this letter finds you and your families in the midst of creating fun summertime memories. This past
school year was amazing and fast! The summer is a perfect time to reflect on the many accomplishments of the school year.
First on my list of accomplishments is the positive learning environment that our staff, students and parents have collaboratively
created and nurtured. Thank you so much for your dedication to the home-school partnership. Some (certainly, not all) of the
rich and meaningful opportunities that have benefitted our students in this high-quality learning environment include:
 Differentiated, small group instruction every day and in every classroom, designed to meet the needs of all students.
 Environmental awareness opportunities during Earth Week to help build student understanding and support our mission
as a Maryland Green School.
 Multicultural Night, sponsored by the PTA, where families share artifacts and food from the many cultures represented at
our school.
 Family Game Night, hosted by Rosemary Hills staff, providing students and parents time to engage together in a fun setting
while learning strategies that support Curriculum 2.0.
 Artist-in-Residence experiences for students in kindergarten through 2nd grade made possible through the generosity of
the PTA.
 Field trips that present students with hands-on experiences to enrich their learning.
 ESOL Family Night, presented by our ESOL team, to provide resources and share school and county processes.
 Career Day, highlighting college and career choices for the future and staffed by many parent volunteers.
 End-of-year showcases of learning, such as the Poetry Teas and Author’s Teas.
Campus Updates This year we enjoyed the relocation of all staff and students from the portable classrooms to the new building
addition prior to spring break and ahead of the August 2015 original completion date. I am thankful for the team effort of our
MCPS Division of Construction and our contractors for making this early move a reality. I am most grateful for the staff, parents
and student volunteers who accomplished the move in a single day!
All second grade teachers, several non-classroom teacher specialists and our instructional data assistant have been moved into
the new wing. Over the summer, we will have more improvements. The portable classrooms are being dismantled and removed.
The temporary parking lot will also be removed and the field restored to its original state. The main parking lot and bus loop
will be paved and the rest of the landscaping will be completed. We are excited to have the much needed additional instructional
space and as a result, we will be able to cluster grade level teams and locate other support staff more strategically throughout
the campus to support teaching and learning – all inside the building! We are also working with the PTA to create outdoor
classroom spaces, thanks to your generosity. These outdoor learning environments are under construction as of this writing,
and I can’t wait for you to explore these beautiful areas during the Open House on August 28. We are proud of our
accomplishments and have much to look forward to this fall!
I look forward to seeing many new and familiar faces at our Open House on August 28 from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. School
begins on Monday, August 31 and the new school hours are 9:25 a.m. – 3:50 p.m. Please enjoy the remaining days of
summer!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Debbie Ryan
1
Open House
Our annual Open House will take place on Friday, August 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This event provides an opportunity for you
and your child to see the classroom and meet the teacher. Teachers will be mailing postcards to students on August 25, welcoming and
informing them of their class assignment. We will have staff available throughout the building to assist and direct you during the Open
House, so if the postcard does not reach you for some reason, please know that there will be staff available to assist you when you arrive
on Friday, August 28, 2015. During the Open House, maps will also be available.
Back-to-School Night
This event is an opportunity for parents to meet the teachers and learn about the curriculum. This is an important evening for parents
only. The dates for the Back-to-School Nights are as follows:
September 3, 2015
Kindergarten
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Grade 2
7:15 – 8:15 p.m.
September 9, 2015
Grade 1
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Please proceed directly to your child’s classroom for the event. On September 3, it will be extremely important that parents attending
the first session (Kindergarten) exit the building and parking lot promptly at 7:00 p.m. so that parents attending the second session
(Grade 2) are able to park. Thank you for your understanding.
Save the Date: Monday, October 19, 2015. Our wonderful specialist team will host a Specialists Back-to-School Night, providing
opportunities for parents to rotate through art, music, physical education and media to experience a glimpse of what happens in specials
classes.
Bell Times Change – PEASE READ CAREFULLY
As you have heard, the school hours are changing beginning this school year. The student day will begin 10 minutes later and end 20
minutes later next year. This means the school day has been extended by 10 minutes. These 10 minutes will be added to the
lunch/recess period per the MCPS guidelines. For Rosemary Hills, this means that the instructional day will begin at 9:25 a.m. and
end at 3:50 p.m. Doors will open at 9:05 a.m., and students will line up outside their classrooms until 9:15 a.m. when teachers welcome
students into the classrooms. Please do not drop students off before 9:05 a.m. as there is no supervision at this time. Instruction will
continue until dismissal, which will begin at 3:50 p.m. After school programs will not begin until 4:05 p.m. Please be sure to adjust
your schedules and after school appointments so that students do not miss valuable instructional time.
Saying Goodbye and Congratulations
Several of our Rosemary Hills staff members will be taking on new professional growth opportunities. They will be missed dearly and
we are extremely proud of them and their new professional and personal endeavors. I know you will join me in thanking them for their
spirit of teaching and learning, and for providing the best for the students at Rosemary Hills.
Mr. Billy Barbour, physical education teacher, has relocated to the Maryland Eastern Shore.
Ms. Diane Dalius, part-time physical education teacher, will be the part-time physical education teacher at Ashburton Elementary
School.
Ms. Kelly Davis, special education paraeducator, will serve as a special education paraeducator at North Chevy Chase Elementary
School.
Ms. Amy DeLoreia, part-time music teacher, accepted a position as the full-time music teacher at Bel Pre Elementary School.
Mrs. April Duncan, second grade teacher, has relocated to San Diego, California.
Ms. Jena Filler, first grade teacher, returned to school to pursue a master’s degree in speech pathology at Loyola University.
Mrs. Tracy Franze, reading initiative teacher, will serve as a reading initiative teacher at Carderock Springs Elementary School.
Mrs. Carolyn Goldstein, media specialist, retired after 14 years of service with MCPS and Rosemary Hills Elementary School.
Mrs. Patricia Grieg, school nurse, retired.
Mr. Andrew Kormann, special education paraeducator and CITE Intern, will continue his internship at Strathmore Elementary School.
Ms. Carole Lightfoot, part-time art teacher, will serve as a part-time art teacher at Bel Pre Elementary School.
Mrs. Michelle Moller, media assistant, accepted a media assistant position at Gaithersburg High School.
Ms. Cheryl Sbaa, ESOL teacher, will serve as an ESOL teacher at Cresthaven Elementary School.
Ms. Jenny Steiger, music teacher, returned to school to pursue a master’s degree in social work at Catholic University.
Mrs. Anne Marie Tagliaferri, special education teacher in the K-2 Autism Program, returned to school to pursue leadership in special
education as a Fellow at the Kennedy Kreiger Institute.
Mrs. Suchita Vozenilek, special education paraeducator, K-2 Autism, will serve as a special education paraeducator at Carderock
Springs Elementary School.
Ms. Karen Zinkgraf, special education paraeducator, K-2 Autism, will serve as a special education paraeducator at Rock Creek Forest
Elementary School.
2
New Staff Members
It brings me great joy in welcoming the following new staff members. I am excited about each member who will join our family this
year. They have demonstrated the characteristics of great teaching that have made Rosemary Hills such an outstanding place to learn.
Ms. Kecia Hayman
Mr. Aaron Knoll
Ms. Beverly Grant
Ms. Allison Becker
Full-time Music Teacher
Full-time Physical Education Teacher
Full-time Media Specialist
Part-time ESOL Teacher
In addition, we welcome Ms. Rosemery Orihuela, part-time building service worker as a full-time member of the building service
team at Rosemary Hills.
Grade Level & Program Changes
Mrs. Mandy Joholske will return to first grade for the 2015-2016 school year. Mrs. Marlo Kach will serve as the part-time reading
initiative teacher supporting students in second grade.
Enrollment Updates
Kindergarten enrollment is up this summer and as a result, we were allocated an 8th kindergarten teacher for the 2015-2016 school year.
First grade will have 7 classes and second grade will also have 7 classes for the 2015-2016 school year.
Baby News
We welcome two new bundles of joy – Mrs. Liz McLaughlin and her husband welcomed a baby boy on June 15. Mrs. Tedra Walker
and her husband also welcomed a baby boy on March 29.
First Day of School Information
School begins on Monday, August 31, 2015, for students in Kindergarten through Grade 2. This is an important time for students,
parents, and staff. While I understand it may be difficult to part from your child on the first day of school, please say your goodbyes
at the entrance doors and then allow him/her to walk to class. This allows for a much smoother start and routines to be established
from the first day. We will have many staff members and parent volunteers throughout the building and at the front of the school to
direct and escort students.
Student Transportation Tag
You should have received a small mailing this summer that included a Student Transportation Tag. Please be sure to complete the
information on this tag and pin it to your child’s backpack during the first weeks of school. This information informs the school staff
and transportation staff how students arrive and go home each day. Read more about this on page 5.
First Week of School Information
During the first week, you will receive a packet of information and several forms to complete. This information will be sent home with
your child. Please be sure to check your child’s backpack each night and take the time to complete these forms accurately and
completely. Please make every effort to return these forms to school by the next day since this information is greatly needed for us to
establish an accurate database and to have ways to contact you throughout the year. During the school year, please inform the school
of any changes to your contact information. It is vital for us to always be able to contact you about your child.
On the first day only, we will have the following arrival procedures in place for teachers to greet students and practice the arrival
procedures as a whole class:
 Kindergarten students will meet their teachers in the all-purpose room where they will line up by class. Teachers will escort
students to their respective classrooms where they will have students practice sitting in the hallway near their classroom door.
 First grade students will meet their teachers in the center hallway, where they will line up by class. Teachers will escort students
to their respective classrooms where they will have students practice sitting in the hallway near their classroom door.
 Second grade students will meet their teachers in the new addition, where they will line up by class and have students practice
sitting in the hallway near their classroom door.
After the first day, students will proceed directly to their classrooms upon arrival and sit outside their classroom until the teacher brings
them in at 9:15 a.m.
Pre-kindergarten students will begin the year with a graduated schedule. Home visits will be conducted during the week of August 31,
when the pre-kindergarten teacher, Mr. Kentfield, will provide specific information and schedules to all parents of pre-kindergarten
students. Some of the pre-kindergarten students will attend a half-day class on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, and another group will
attend a half-day class on Wednesday, September 9, 2015. Both morning and afternoon classes will start regular attendance on
Thursday, September 10, 2015. The first day for students in the Pre-school Autism Program (CAPP) will be Tuesday September 8.
3
Breakfast and Lunch Information
All schools in Montgomery County use an automated system for purchasing lunch and beverages called the School Nutrition
Accountability Program (SNAP). A SNAP prepayment form is enclosed. The price of breakfast is $1.30 and lunch is $2.55. Milk,
if purchased separately, costs $.60. Breakfast will only be available from 9:05 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. All students must be in class and
ready to learn at 9:25 a.m. when instruction begins, therefore it is important that students buying breakfast arrive before 9:20 a.m.
Student ID numbers and cafeteria PIN numbers will be sent home with kindergarteners and new students on the first day of school.
Students in first grade and second grade will find their ID number on their report card and have the same PIN as in prior years. Menus
can be found on the MCPS website and will be distributed during the first week of school.
Lunch & Recess Schedule:
Each grade level will have one lunch and recess period. Kindergarten will have lunch before recess. First grade and second grade will
have recess before lunch. Due to the change in bell times throughout the county, the 10 additional minutes in the school day has been
added to recess. The schedules are as follows:
Grade 1
Recess
Lunch
11:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Grade 2
Recess
Lunch
12:10 p.m. –12:50 p.m.
12:50 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Kindergarten
Lunch
Recess
12:20 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.
12:50 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
We appreciate all parent volunteers during lunch and recess and hope that you will be able to assist with this important volunteer
opportunity. It’s a great way to meet staff, parents and students in your child’s grade. We will conduct a volunteer training during the
second week of school in order to review lunch and recess procedures.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Arrival Procedures: All students must enter the building through the main doors at the front of the building. Staff members are on
duty each morning to greet and monitor students throughout the school. Students will proceed directly to their classrooms where they
will sit quietly in the hallway with a book until the teacher brings them into the classroom at 9:15 a.m.
Dismissal Procedures: The end of the day is a very busy time in the classroom. Teachers are giving final instructions at 3:45 p.m.
and students begin packing up at this time (Rhino Time) to be ready for 3:50 p.m. dismissal. Once we begin preparing for dismissal,
it is very difficult to have interruptions to the office and the classroom. If a student has a doctor appointment and must leave school
early, the student must bring a note in the morning indicating the time that they will be picked up and the person who will be picking
them up. This is for their safety and it is important for students to learn the afternoon routines. Please do not sign students out early
to avoid afternoon dismissal procedures. This is very disruptive to the office and classrooms at an extremely busy time of the day
as we prepare for the safe departure of 600 students. Please try to schedule all appointments before or after the school day. Staff
members and parent volunteers will be located throughout the building to assist students with dismissal routines.
 If your child rides a bus, please help us by reviewing proper safety rules with your child. Students must remain seated while on
the bus and they must keep their hands and feet out of the aisles. Students are expected to Ride by the Rules (you can find this
document on the Rosemary Hills and MCPS websites). Students who do not follow bus rules may lose the privilege of riding the
MCPS school bus.
 If your child is a car rider, you must use the designated parent drop off /pick up area in the school parking lot. Please follow the
directions of the school staff to keep the traffic patterns orderly and safe for all children. Do not drop children off on Porter Road
in front of the school. This is extremely dangerous!
 If your child is a walker, this means they live within walking distance of the school. Walkers enter the building at the main
entrance in the morning. At dismissal, walkers line up in the gym by grade level and are only released to the parent or authorized
adult. At dismissal, walker parents will enter through the entrance closest to the gym. After connecting with your child, please
exit through the door at the back of the gym. Please adhere to the directions provided by the staff members who are on duty in the
all-purpose room each afternoon. Please also model safe street crossing by only crossing where there are crosswalks and a crossing
guard.
If your child’s transportation arrangements change for any reason, he or she must bring a note to school in the morning signed by a
parent. Without a note, students will be required to go home as usual, per the information we have on file. Please do not park in
the No-Parking zones. This presents a safety hazard for the families that cross Porter Road on a daily basis and impedes the buses
that must maneuver through the neighborhood to get to and from school safely each day. There are signs posted across the entire front
of our school on Porter Road that clearly indicate that this is a No Parking area. In addition, please do not drive or park in the bus loop
before 9:45 a.m. or after 3:15 p.m. We have many buses arriving before and after school and children’s safety depends upon adherence
to these rules. Thank you for your help.
4
Attendance & Absences
To be successful in school, students need to attend school regularly. Students arriving at school after the start of the school day (9:25
a.m.) must be signed in by a parent at the office (please say your good-byes there). It is important that every student arrive at school on
time and that they not be dropped off outside the building after 9:25 a.m. When a student arrives late, he or she does not benefit from
the important routines and work already in progress. Instruction is interrupted when students arrive late to their classrooms.
Only parents and/or persons authorized in writing by parents may pick up a child from school. Parents may designate these other
individuals on the emergency information form and the parent/child reunification form that you complete on the first day of each school
year. Parents also may send the school a note authorizing a specific individual to pick up their child.
Please make every effort to limit the amount of school missed due to appointments. Teachers plan instruction from 9:25 a.m. through
3:50 p.m. Instruction is interrupted when students are pulled out of class early. MCPS follows the Maryland State Department of
Education regulations in recording absences and tardies.
 A student is counted present for a full day if the student is in attendance four hours or more of the school day. A student is counted
present for ½ day if in attendance for at least two hours of the school day, but less than four hours.
 Students arriving after 9:25 a.m. will be marked tardy. All students who arrive after this time must report to the office where they
will be signed in by a parent and will receive a pass to class.
 Students need to be here on time. The start of the school day is 9:25 a.m. If your child is absent or tardy 3 or more days in a month,
you will receive a letter from the principal.
 Parent requests for make-up work will be provided for excused absences of 2 or more days with 24 hour notice given to the teacher.
Excused absences are: illness, death in the immediate family, religious holiday, and state emergencies. Work will NOT be given
ahead of time for unexcused absences such as vacations or trips of any length. Remember that quality classroom instruction cannot
be replaced! Please schedule family vacations during breaks when school is not in session.
Please remember to call the main office to report an absence. Also, please inform the health room if your child will be absent due to
conditions such as strep throat or if your child has lice. A child who has been absent from school for any reason MUST bring a note
from home upon his or her return. Students absent for more than three days for illness should bring a doctor's written note. Absences
and late arrivals are closely monitored by the school and the school system.
Bus Transportation and Safety
The bus schedule from the Department of Transportation with current arrival bus routes and dismissal bus routes is attached. Please
review both morning and afternoon schedules to make sure you have accurately identified your bus stops and the correct route
numbers, as there have been a number of changes, including the times. To help establish a routine, it is very beneficial for your
child to ride the bus to and from school starting on day one. There will be parent volunteers both morning and afternoon to assist and
ease this important process during the first two weeks of school. We are requesting that you complete the yellow Student
Transportation Tag and pin it to your child’s backpack. Kindergarten students should keep this tag on the outside of the backpack
for the first two weeks of school. Students in first and second grade should keep the tag attached to the backpack for at least the first
two days of school. Please use large print and complete all sections.
So that all children are prepared for those occasions when parents may be unable to meet the bus or are late, parents are encouraged to
instruct their children what they are to do in their parents’ absence, as bus operators are not able to ensure that each student is met by a
parent (see MCPS Regulation EEA-RA, Student Transportation located on the Rosemary Hills and MCPS websites). Always have a
plan.
Safety and Security Procedures
Access Control System/Visitor Management System: The access control system (ACS) at Rosemary Hills consists of surveillance
cameras at the front entrance with a remote strike release entry system connected to an audio device that provides office staff the ability
to remotely grant access from the main office. All parents, visitors, and volunteers must make their first stop the school office. Visitors
are not permitted in the classroom unless a visit has been prearranged with the teacher. All parents, visitors and volunteers must
sign in through our visitor management system (VMS) to receive a visitor badge which must be worn at all times. Visitors are
not permitted to take pictures of students. This is for the safety of all of our children.
Safety Drills: Schools are required to practice emergency drills throughout the school year. Fire drills are practiced once a month. We
will have our first fire drill during the first week of school. We also practice Shelter and Lock Down drills. Shelter is a term used to
alert staff that an emergency exists at or near an MCPS facility, including severe weather. Lock Down is a term used to alert staff that
imminent danger exists inside or outside of the building and requires moving to an immediate Lock Down mode. One additional drill
that we practice is called a reverse evacuation, where students and staff are moved as quickly as possible back into a secure building
and roll is taken. Additionally, during one of these drills we will review our Parent/Child Reunification Plan. All schools have a plan
in place to reunite students with their parents/guardians in the event of an emergency at school. We routinely practice all of these drills
during the school year so that students will know what to do in case of an emergency. Please make sure that the school has on file the
names of all adults who are authorized to pick up your child in case of an emergency.
5
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
Rosemary Hills was awarded the PBIS Maryland Bronze Recognition for the second year in a row for the successful implementation
of PBIS during the 2014-2015 school year. At the beginning of the new school year, we will receive another banner for our school.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a research based, school-wide systems approach to establish processes that
focus on improving a school’s ability to teach expectations and support positive behavior for all students. Mrs. Katie Miffleton, PBIS
coach (CAPP) attended training this summer to build capacity for leading the school in efforts to improve positive behavior for all
students. In addition, Mrs. Katie Miffleton, Ms. Tiffany Goldstein, Ms. Leslie Zimmerman and I met with Mr. Michael Muempfer,
Instructional Specialist with the Department of Student Services, to hone our skills and strategies for leading and nurturing a positive
school culture. Remember, at Rosemary Hills, students are expected to demonstrate the 3 R’s - Respect, Responsibility and Ready to
Learn each day.
Birthday Recognition
We recognize every student’s birthday at Rosemary Hills. Students celebrating birthdays are recognized during morning announcements
and they receive a birthday pencil and a birthday sticker from the office team.
 Birthdays falling on a weekend or holiday date will be announced the last day before the weekend or holiday.
 Summer birthdays will be announced over a period of days at the end of the school year.
In the interest of health and wellness, please do not send in food items of any kind. Also, we are not able to distribute goody bags,
invitations or toys, so please do not send in such items.
Curriculum Connections
“MCPS Curriculum 2.0 is built around developing students’ critical and creative thinking skills,
as well as essential academic success skills, so that students are prepared for a lifetime of learning.”
Our instructional focus for 2015-2016 provides daily opportunities for students to engage in differentiated instruction and demonstrate
thinking and academic success skills in an equitable environment. We are very fortunate to have the support of our wonderful parent
community as partners in the learning process. As a result of your generosity, this summer we are adding two wonderful outdoor
classroom learning environments to support teaching and learning aligned to Curriculum 2.0. As a Maryland Green School, these
outdoor teaching & learning spaces will allow teachers and students to engage in meaningful outdoor experiences for learning about
the environment.
While we are not able to provide separate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) classes this year, we will
continue to provide all students with STEM experiences through integration of the curriculum. We will also have a Mobile Lab/STEM
lab equipped with a Promethean board and laptops for teachers to engage students in STEM activities.
Please visit the Rosemary Hills Elementary School website (www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/rosemaryhillses/) to stay
informed and for resources to use at home, such as parent newsletters for reading and mathematics and Curriculum 2.0 grade level
information for parents. Follow the links at the bottom left of our home page that will direct you to many resources on the MCPS
website. On the Rosemary Hills website, you will also find calendar updates and newsletters that are published during the school year.
Enclosures -the following documents are included at the end of this newsletter:
 PTA Welcome Letter
 Rosemary Hills School Supply List
 MCPS/Rosemary Hills 2015-2016 School Year
Calendar
 MCPS 2015-2016 Cafeteria News and Elementary
School Meals Information
 Transportation/Bus Route Schedule (please check
this schedule carefully for your child’s a.m. and
p.m. stops)
 Student Transportation Information Tag
 How to Receive MCPS Emergency Information
 Loyalty Program Flyer
6