NEWSLETTER #5 301-599-2442 www1.pgcps.org/mattaponi September 25, 2015
WE LOOK AHEAD
October 2015
1 PGCPS Pink Out Day – PGCPS will acknowledge support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) by
wearing pink. Students and staff are encouraged to wear pink in recognition of the event.
2 Schools Closed - Professional Development Day
6 1st Quarter Progress Reports Released
7 Fall Picture Day
12 Men Make A Difference Day
16 Schools Closed - MSEA Convention
19-23 Scholastic Book Fair
30 2 Hour Early Dismissal – Professional Development Day
30 End of the 1st Quarter
November 2015
2 Schools Closed – Grading/Teacher Planning Day
11 Schools Closed – Parent/Teacher Conferences Day
13 1st Quarter Report Cards Released
25-27 Schools Closed – Thanksgiving Holiday
December 2015
9 2 Hour Early Dismissal (11:55 a.m.) – Professional Development Day
22 2nd Quarter Progress Reports Released
23-31 Schools Closed – Winter Break/Christmas Holiday
January 2016
1 Schools Closed – Winter Break/New Year’s Holiday
4 Classes Resume
PRINCIPAL’S CORNER
Dr. Janice P. Hay, Principal
Pink Out!
When: Thursday, October 1, 2015
What: PGCPS’ Recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Staff and students are encouraged to wear pink to commemorate the month and raise awareness.
Wear: Pink pins, shirts, pants, socks, jerseys, shoes, etc.
Calling all Men! Mark your calendars!
Monday, October 12, 2015 - Men Make a Difference Day!!!
Mandatory Uniform Policy for 2015-2016
As a reminder please review the policy (link above) with your child regularly as we continue to see a small number of students out of compliance with the Mandatory Uniform Policy for 2015-2016.
Smile! It’s Picture Day-Wednesday, October 7th
Individual student pictures will be taken on Wednesday, October 7th. Order forms and payment must be received the day of pictures. All students will be photographed and pictures will be in the 2016 yearbook. Please remember, uniforms must be worn. Students may have an opportunity for a “dress-down” picture day in early spring.
Student Attendance Policy
School achievement begins with regular attendance. Parents/guardians must ensure that all school-age children in their care are in school on time daily. Whenever absent from school, parents/guardians must provide the child with a written note upon their return to school. The following are considered lawful absences; death in the immediate family; hazardous weather conditions; illness of the student; lack of authorized transportation; quarantine; court summons or other emergency approved by the Chief Executive Officer or his designee. Once your child returns to school with an excused absence note, he/she will receive their missed classwork and assignments. Please remember, regular, punctual attendance is one of the many key factors that determines a students’ success in school!
Student school hours are 7:45 am - 1:55 pm. No students are to enter the building until 7:30 a.m., unless your child/children are enrolled in BASELP. Please do not drop your child off until you see a staff member on duty in the kiss-n-ride. If you are picking up your child after school as a car rider, you must be here no later than 2:00 pm. Thank you for your cooperation.
How to Contact a Staff Member
Mattaponi’s school office hours are 7:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Teachers are available for phone calls from 7:15 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Calls will be sent directly to voicemail during instructional time and staff members are asked to return phone calls within 24 - 48 hours, if possible. All conferences must be scheduled with teachers before coming to the school to discuss your child’s academic program or any issues that may need to be resolved. Thank you for your understanding.
School Security and Student Safety
Please help us keep our students and school safe at all times by entering only through the front door, signing in at the front office with your ID and wearing a visitor’s sticker at all times while on school property. In addition, parents/students/visitors should not be in classrooms unless a teacher is present. Items needing to be dropped off should be left in the office. Please note: Neither students or parents are permitted to enter classrooms before 7:30 a.m. or after 1:55 p.m. Children are reminded to take all necessary supplies home to complete assignments. Each student is allowed ample time to gather all belongings at the end of the school day. Forgotten items will have to be retrieved the next day. This policy was implemented to ensure the safety of our students, as they must be under adult supervision at all times. We appreciate your cooperation with complying with this policy.
Dismissal Policy
Students are expected to complete a full day of school, and the instructional day ends at approximately 1:50 p.m. to ensure a prompt dismissal at 1:55 p.m. Please allow your child(ren) to remain in class for the entire day. Early dismissal to facilitate parent convenience not only disrupts the class, but also deprives the student of valuable instruction. Also, parents are encouraged to make medical appointments after school hours. When an early departure is necessary, a note indicating the time, date, and reason for departure must be presented to the teacher at the beginning of the school day. This enables the teacher to provide the student with any homework or class assignments that should be completed. To ensure a safe, orderly and efficient dismissal process, we have made several changes to our dismissal policy. Parents are not allowed to sign our their child(ren) for early dismissal after 1:40 p.m. Parents who need to pick up their child(ren) must do so before this time. We will not remove students from school buses once dismissal has begun. This is an unsafe practice and interrupts the bus schedules for our school and all subsequent schools serviced by our busses.
Lunch Accounts
The cost for lunch is $2.75 and $1.60 for breakfast. If a student does not have lunch money, the cafeteria will provide a cheese sandwich and a drink. Parents may pre-pay for school meals and monitor account balances at www.myschoolbucks.com.
PTO Corner – Mrs. Spencer, President
Men Make A Difference Day will be heldMonday, October 12, 2015. Flyers will go home soon with the students, be on the lookout!
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! Mark your calendars for the week ofOctober 19-23, 2015. More info to follow!
We are still accepting applications for membership in the PTO! Our contest is stillin progressto have the first classroomwith 100% participation receive something special from the PTO! It's not too late to join!! Membership is open to everyone, even if you unable to attend meetings or events! Your membership to the school is ongoing and will allow continued opportunities of excellence at our school. It is easy to join. Simply send your $10.00 membership fee to schoolin an envelope labeled PTO along with both you and your child's name and teacher'sname.
Our next PTO meeting will be heldTuesday, October 6, 2015 at 6:15p.m.
We look forward to you all becoming a part of the exciting events happening all school year! Together we can make a difference! Feel free to contactus at .