MONTPELIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
9200 Muirkirk Road
Laurel, Maryland 20708
www.pgcps1.org/~mtpelier
Mrs. Carla Furlow, Principal Telephone: 301-497-3670
Ms. Denise Mahdi, Assistant Principal Fax: 301-497-5431
PARENT BULLETIN
October 4, 2013
PTA’s ICE CREAM SOCIAL
What a delicious way to meet and greet other Montpelier families! Come to the Ice Cream Social sponsored by the Montpelier Elementary PTA on October 11th from 6:30 to 7:30PM. For only $3.00 per person, you will get a sweet treat (including toppings). This event is for the whole family (parents must accompany their children). We hope to see you there!
RED RIBBON WEEK
The Red Ribbon Campaign is designed to promote healthy drug-free and violence-free lifestyles among youth. It will be observed this year on October 21st through the 25th. This year’s theme is “A Healthy Me is Drug Free.” The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to raise student and parent awareness to the dangers and consequences associated with illegal drug use. Look for information outlining the special activities planned for Red Ribbon Week later this month.
READY…SET…GO!
All third through fifth graders will be taking theMandatory Unit Testsin Reading and Math onThursday, October 24th and Friday, October 25th. Fifth graders will take the Formative Assessment System Test in Science onMonday, October 14th and Wednesday, October 16th.These tests will cover important reading, writing, math, and science vocabulary and concepts taught during the first quarter. It is VERY IMPORTANT that your child come to school on time!! Also, please make sure your child gets plenty of rest the night before AND eats a healthy breakfast. We want them to shine on these tests!! Please note, we cannot accommodate early departures during testing. Please plan accordingly.
STUDENTS REWARDED FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR
On October 11th, Montpelier students who exhibited good behavior during the month of September will receive a reward. Each student will be given a popsicle! Congratulations to these wonderful students! It is hoped that all of our students will strive to do their very best each day and everyone can be rewarded for their good behavior in our next behavior incentive program!
YOU’RE INVITED TO PARENT VISITATION DAY!
We’ll be celebrating PARENTS on November 13th. As part of our American Education Week observances, you are invited to come to Montpelier Elementary from 9:30AM-11:15AM for a musical extravangaza and classroom visitation. More information on this exciting event will be coming home soon.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED
Our Book Fair is scheduled for October 7th – 11th. The hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:15AM – 2:45PM and Friday, 9:15AM – 11:00AM. Help is needed during the day to assist students with selections and check-out. Please contact Ms. D’Aria or Ms. Stone in our media center if you are able to volunteer during these days. The Book Fair will be open the evening of October 9th from 6:00 until 7:30PM, too. This is a wonderful opportunity to start your holiday shopping!
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
Congratulations to the primary wing for collecting the most Box Tops in our school-wide competition. As a reward, all students in this wing earned a “no uniform” day today. Over 2,225 Box Tops for Education points were submitted worth over $225.00! We have begun a new Box Top competition for October so send those Box Tops in!
LET’S CHEER FOR SCIENCE BOWL
This year we had 30 students interested in being on the Science Bowl Team. Thank you for your hard work on the Science Bowl Test. Congratulations to the following students who will be our Science Bowl Team for 2013-2014:
Haris Chaudhry – Captain Katie Godshall – Team Member Alison DeMik – Team Member
Disomi Okie – Alternate
Practice begins on Tuesday, October 8th at 8:00 AM.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND – MIXED BAG DESIGNS!
We are excited and proud to present to you Mixed Bag Designs as our only major fundraiser this year. Look for the catalogues and order forms being sent home on October 21st. We think you will agree that Mixed Bag Designs offers high quality home and personal accessories. And, they will be ready for pick-up just in time for the holidays! Your support would be greatly appreciated.
MESSAGE FROM NURSE JORDAN
Recently there has been an increase in the incidence of illness in our school. The isolation of ill students at home can help to prevent the spread of illness throughout the school. Please keep students at home when they are ill or have a temperature over 99 degrees orally, 100 degrees rectally or 98 degrees auxiliary (under the arm). Students who have elevated temperatures, are vomiting, or have diarrhea should remain home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours without medication. Students with symptoms of acute illness should be observed at home and seen by a doctor, if necessary. Please contact Ms. Jordan in the Health Room if you have any questions by calling 301-497-3670 and press 3.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR VOICE MAIL
“Did someone call me from this number?” Please check your voicemail before you return a phone call from Montpelier Elementary. Our entire staff uses the same 3 main phone lines and we cannot easily determine exactly who called you. We will be happy to check the nurse’s office in case your child is sick. Beyond that, we cannot interrupt important instructional time to determine whether or not your child’s teacher called. Checking your voicemail just might give you the information you need. Please check it first.
CAFETERIA ACCOUNTS
You can help your child(ren) avoid waiting in long lines each morning by putting as much money as possible into the cafeteria account(s). Remember, too, that writing a check, payable to Food and Nutrition Services with the student’s PIN on it, will save your child(ren) from waiting in a long line. Checks are collected from the students and deposited into their accounts after they have gone to class. Students with cash are given an envelope for the cash. They should then seal it and write their name, the amount and their PIN on the front. A basket is available in the cafeteria to collect theses envelopes. These deposits will also be made after students have gone to class.
Or, consider setting up a convenient, online account by visiting www.SchoolPaymentSolutions.com. While there is a small transaction fee ($2.50), you may immediately fund your child’s meal account and charge it to your credit card or bank card account. If you have any questions, please visit the PGCPS Food and Nutrition Services website at www1.pgcps.org/foodandnutrition/ or call 301-952-6580.
FREE & REDUCED PRICED MEALS INFORMATION
If your child received free or reduced meals at Montpelier last year, he/she continued to receive free or reduced meals through September 30th. As of October 1st, payment is required of students who have not been approved for free/reduced meals for the current school year. (Lunch costs $2.60) Applications for the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) program are available in our main office. Processing of the paper applications can take up to two weeks. Or, if you prefer, the applications are available on-line. Access the PGCPS Food and Nutrition Services website at www1.pgcps.org/foodandnutrition/. There you will find a link to “Free and Reduced-Price Meals”. Most on-line applications will be processed within 24 hours. Contact the Department of Food and Nutrition Services by calling 301-952-6517 for additional information.
DATES TO REMEMBER
October 7-11 Scholastic Book Fair
10 1st Quarter Progress Reports released
11 Ice Cream Social (6:30 – 7:30PM)
18 MSEA Convention – Schools closed for students & teachers
21 Mixed Bag Fundraiser begins
25 End of 1st Quarter
28 Grading/Teacher planning – Schools closed for students
November 7 First Quarter Report Cards released
8 Mixed Bag Fundraiser orders & payment due
11 Parent-Teacher conference Day - Schools closed for students
13 Parent Visitation Day (9:30AM – 11:15AM)
15 Honor Roll Assembly (Grades 2-3 9:30AM/Grades 4, 5 & 6 10:30AM)
27-29 Thanksgiving break – Schools closed