Montpelier Elementary School s1

MONTPELIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 9200 Muirkirk Road Laurel, Maryland 20708 www.pgcps.org/~mtpelier Mrs. Carla Furlow, Proud Principal Telephone: 301-497-3670 Ms. Denise Mahdi, Awesome Assistant Principal Fax: 301-497-5431 PARENT BULLETIN September 6, 2013 WELCOME BACK! As it always seems to do, this summer has flown by. We hope that it has been a great one for our Montpelier families, and that you found many opportunities to enjoy this more relaxed time of year with family and friends. We are pleased to welcome back last year’s families and extend a special welcome to those of you who are new to Montpelier.

NEW FACES AND ASSIGNMENTS We are pleased to welcome the following new members of our staff. I know that you will all join us in making them feel a part of the Montpelier family.

Ms. Lynn Topel – ESOL teacher Ms. Lauren Fisher – Music teacher (Part time) Mr. Christian Gagnon – PE teacher (Part time) Ms. Cynthia Fraser – Kindergarten teacher Ms. Sabrina Ragland – Instrumental Mustic teacher (Part time) Also, several Montpelier teachers’ assignments have changed. Ms. Lisa Bourne is teaching third grade. Ms. Maria Manthei is teaching third grade. Ms. Judy Sliko is teaching third grade. Ms. Alison Cherowitzo will be our Instructional Lead Teacher for Math.

We would also like to welcome this year’s University of Maryland interns: Ms. Laure Sabrio (Ms. Sliko’s & Ms. Manthei’s class) Ms. Judy Rocco (Ms. Dolan’s class) Ms. Alexandra Dickerson (Ms. Clamage’s class) Ms. Suh Kwon (Ms. Burgess’s class) Ms. Colleen Craynon (Ms. Fominaya’s class) Ms. Cierra Kennedy-Johnson (Ms. Cathell’s class)

TENTATIVE CLASS ASSIGNMENTS Please bear in mind that all class placements are tentative until the end of September. Each school’s staffing is based on a projected student enrollment from the Office of Pupil Accounting. When fewer, or more, students enroll than were anticipated, staffing is adjusted. At the end of September, the Office of Human Resources will review actual student enrollment figures and determine whether or not each school is staffed according to the formulas that are used. This could result in our gaining or losing a teacher. We would then have to reorganize our classes. If it becomes necessary to change your child’s class assignment you will be notified and your understanding of the situation will be appreciated.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT Come join us on Wednesday, September 11th for our Back to School Night. Doors open at 6:15. There will be two sessions during which the teachers will present an overview of their classes including a general overview of what-to-expect during the school year. The first session is from 6:30 – 6:55 PM. The second session begins at 7:00 PM and ends at 7:25 PM. If you attended the Pre K – Kindergarten orientation, this information was already received and there is no need to attend the Back-to-School night. We look forward to seeing you there!

PICTURE DAY Strawbridge Studios will be coming to Montpelier to take school pictures on September 16th. If you would like your student to be photographed on September 16th, complete an order form (look for the order form in today’s Friday folder), select your photo package, place payment in the provided envelope and return to your child’s teacher. Participating students are not required to wear uniforms but must wear school appropriate clothing on Picture Day.

ARRIVE ON TIME! Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:45 AM and no later than 9:00 AM. No supervision is available prior to 8:45 AM. Our instructional day begins promptly following morning announcements. Please adjust your morning schedule accordingly.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS Since 2004, Montpelier has been a mandatory uniform school. This was a parent decision. Uniforms set a tone for learning and place all students on equal ground. When parents choose not to comply with the policy, they negate what it was intended to achieve. Additionally, you place your child and his teacher in an uncomfortable no win situation. Please comply.

NOTES FROM THE NURSE Any medications ordered by a physician and over-the-counter medications (e.g. cough drops, Tylenol, Pepto-Bismol) require the completion and return of a “Physician’s Medication Authorization for Prescription and Nonprescription Medication” form. This form may be downloaded from www.pgcps.org or may be obtained from the school nurse. Any medication must be brought to the nurse by the parent. It will be kept in the nurse’s office. If your child brings medication to school without a physician’s order form, it will be taken from the child and the parent will be called to pick-up the medication from school. If you have any questions, please call Ms. Jordan, RN at 301-497-3670 X 224. SCHOOLMAX FAMILY PORTAL ACCOUNTS The SchoolMax Family Portal is a tool our families can use to stay informed on their student’s progress. For those of you who have used the Family Portal in the past, you are already registered and need do nothing more to view your child’s grades and attendance. For those of you who are new to SchoolMax, your child’s teacher will distribute your Family Portal access key at our Back to School Night on September 11th.

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL Thanks to Food Lion, Giant Food, Safeway, Target, Box Tops for Education and Campbell’s products, it is easy for you to help Montpelier by simply shopping and, in some cases, clipping!  Food Lion-visit www.foodlionmvprewards.com to link your MVP card to Montpelier. Enter code: 219779  Giant-go to www.giantfood.com and enter school ID 00402. You must register each year.  Safeway escrip-Register with escrip at www.escrip.com. Enter school ID 65339186  Target’s Take Charge of Education-Use your Target Visa. Register at www.target.com (code 58364)  Box Tops for Education-clip from participating products & send to school. (We earned over $750 last year)  Campbell-Labels for Education-clip the UPC codes from participating products & send to school.

THANK YOU OFFICE DEPOT! Our 2013-2014 Student Handbook was printed courtesy of Office Depot. Special thanks to them and their employees for their support of Montpelier Elementary and its students.

ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS Before you may chaperone your child’s field trips, volunteer in our media center or your child’s classroom, or assist at school during the school day, you are required to submit to either a background check (cost of $7.00) or to be fingerprinted (for volunteering on a regular, fixed schedule basis or overnight trips @ cost of $61.07). For your convenience, processing of Fingerprinting/Commercial Background checks will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Bond Mill Elementary (16001 Sherwood Avenue) on September 23rd and at Scotchtown Hills Elementary (15950 Dorset Road) on September 17th. A completed application should be presented along with a valid photo ID and payment (cash or money order). Tell them that you are from Montpelier Elementary. Present your receipt to our Main Office upon completion. If you have additional questions, please contact the Fingerprinting office by calling 301-952-6775.

ENGLISH CLASSES FOR ADULTS Community United Methodist Church, located at 300 Brock Bridge Road in Laurel, is sponsoring English classes for adults from September 10 – November 19th on Tuesday evenings from 7-9 PM. The classes are FREE. Registration Night is Tuesday, September 10th at 7:00 PM. For more information, please call 301-725-4918.

SCHOOL PLANNERS Again this year, we are requiring that each student in grades 2-5 utilize a school planner. School planners have proven to be very effective in helping students keep track of their homework assignments and turn them in on time. They also provide a convenient way for teachers and parents to communicate with one another. We provided agenda books to the students in grades 2-5. Should a replacement be needed, the cost will be $6.00. In addition, Friday Folders were sent home with all Montpelier students. This is another school-to-home communication tool. The replacement cost for a Friday Folder is $3.00.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES We begin dismissal procedures each day with the afternoon announcements at 3:10. This takes approximately one minute and then the walkers and car riders are dismissed. Once the walkers have moved a safe distance away from the front of the school, we begin calling the buses/day care vans in the driveway. During this time, Mrs. Furlow and the bus duty teachers are in constant communication via walkie-talkies to ensure that students are called up in the correct order and that any students missing from buses are located. Mrs. Furlow and the classroom teachers are in constant communication via the public address system to locate students missing from the buses and to ensure that buses are held for any students who do not leave their classrooms on time. Dismissal has been taking approximately 10-15 minutes during these first weeks of school. That time should lessen somewhat as students become more familiar with the routine and begin to listen more carefully for their bus colors. Dismissal is a hectic time of day for us, both in the office and in the classrooms. Please understand that, because of the need for the office to be in constant communication with the bus duty teachers and the classroom teachers, we are unable to accommodate parent/guardian requests to call into the classrooms for the early release of students after 2:55. Similarly, because of the need for classroom teachers to supervise their students, it is not in the best interest of a smooth dismissal to allow parents/guardians to go to the classrooms to pick up their children and/or speak with the teachers. Your cooperation is appreciated.

DATES TO REMEMBER: September 11 Back-To-School Night (6:15 PM – 7:25 PM) 16 Picture Day (pre-payment required/no uniforms for participants) 27 Professional Development for Teachers – Schools closed for students October 7-11 Scholastic Book Fair 10 1st Quarter Progress Reports released 18 MSEA Convention – Schools closed for students & teachers 25 End of 1st Quarter (46 Days) 28 Grading/Teacher planning – Schools closed for students