Welcome New Ashburton Families

1. Welcome New Ashburton Families August 27, 2009

2. The First Day • The first day of school is August 31st. We look forward to meeting and greeting your child. • During arrival that first morning, parents of kindergartners are welcome to join Ms. Eroh and others for Tea and Sympathy in the Media Center.

3. Kindergarten Name Tags • Please send your kindergartner with a NAME TAG. Your child should wear this tag for the first two weeks. It should have the following information: • An information card is helpful for all students who are not familiar with their new information. Students can keep this information in backpacks. • Name:_______________________ • Address: ____________________ • Teacher’s Name: ______________ • Phone Number#: ______________ • Bus Color/Number: _____________

4. Backpacks • Your child should have a BACKPACK with his/her name on it. It should be large enough to hold standard pocket sized folders. Your child will have a home/school folder in their backpack daily with important notices, newsletters and homework. Please empty the folder each night and send it back the following day.

5. Dress • Please dress your child casually and comfortably. We have active days planned. Kindergartners use paint, glue and play dough; and we’ll play outdoors. Clothes should be washable. • Sneakers are safer for active play and required for P.E. • The health tech has some spare clothes for the occasional emergency, however kindergartners may keep a set of clothes in a sealed plastic bag at the bottom of their backpack. Please keep it up to date in terms of size and season.  • NO HEELIES

6. Specials • Art • Music • PE – Physical Education • Computer Lab • Media Center • Chorus & Instrumental Music • Grades 4 & 5

7. Lost and Found • To help prevent lost belongings, please label all of your child’s possessions, including clothing (especially coats, jackets, sweaters, and vests). • Lost items are placed in the lost and found box located on/behind the stage in the all purpose room. Parents can check the lost and found anytime.

8. Items to Keep at Home • All toys, candy and chewing gum should stay home. These are not allowed in school. • Cell phones, electronic devices, trading cards, and NO HEELIES!

9. Homework • MCPS policy states that homework is for reinforcing and practicing concepts learned in school. • Kindergartners will receive a monthly homework calendar and it will be sent home in their folder. • It should take kindergartners about 10 minutes per night to complete. • After completing the assignment your child can color that evening’s box on the calendar and if the assignment results in a product your child can bring it to class to share. • At the end of the month he/she should bring the completed calendar to school, and he/she will bring the new month’s calendar home. • Grades 1-5: • Usually assigned Monday-Thursday • Math, Reading, Spelling • Special Projects

10. Home Supplies • To complete homework students will need a place at home with some basic supplies: scissors, (Kindergarten-safety scissors) crayons/colored pencils, glue, tape, and extra paper.

11. Buses • If you do not live within walking distance to the school your child will ride a school bus. • The school bus is free! • Each bus has designated routes and bus stops that correlate to addresses. • Each bus is called a different color, however all the buses are actually yellow.  • On the first day of school please have your child ride the bus to school because he/she will get a sticker with their bus color on it when he/she exit which lets teachers know what color bus they ride.  • 5th grade patrols ride the bus with students and 4th grade students will escort students to their buses. • ALWAYS communicate with the teacher when there is any changes in the departure routine. • We have copies of the arrival and departure bus schedule. If you have any specific questions regarding bus stops and routes, see Marney Jacobs in the office. She is an expert! 

12. Bikes and Skateboards • Students are permitted to travel to school on a bike or skateboard following the guidelines: • Students must complete the permission slip that is located in the school office. • Students are responsible for locking bikes to the bike racks. Ashburton has two bike racks located in the front and back of the school. Ashburton ES is not responsible for damaged, lost, or missing bikes. • Skateboards can be stored in the school office and retrieved during dismissal. • Students MUST not ride bikes or skateboards on school property. Students must walk the bike or skateboard once they are on school property. • Students should wear a safety helmet.

13. Lunch • We do offer hot lunch everyday at school. • Printed menus are sent home bi-monthly. Lunch menus are also posted on this website: http//www:montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/foodserve/menus/cafemenus.shtm • Each student is issued a four digit pin number that allows them to access their account. • Please make sure that you are monitoring your SNAP lunch account balance. You should deposit money into your account first thing in the morning or parents can send money in with students and it will be put into their account before lunch. Paying during your lunch time will only hold up the line. • Students must have money in their account in order to buy hot lunch. • There are two hot lunch items everyday for students to choose from or a cheese pocket.

14. Allergies • If your child has any allergies (food or otherwise) please notify your child’s teacher and the health room in writing immediately! • Since children will be eating a snack daily in the classroom it is even more important that we are aware of all allergies. • (Snack time varies in Grades 1-5)

15. Snacks • Your child will have a daily afternoon snack in kindergarten. • Please provide your child with 1 healthy dry snack each day. Teachers will not provide snacks. • Examples of healthy dry snacks are: one piece of fruit, one granola bar or one snack sized baggie of dry cereal.

16. Report Cards/Conferences • The parent conferences will be held on November 11th and 12th. There will be sign-up sheets for appointment times at Back-to-School Night. • Kindergarten report cards go home twice a year: February and June. • Grades 1-5 report cards go home quarterly

17. Birthdays • We do not have birthday parties for the students in school; however, your child may bring a store-bought special snack to share with the class. • If your child has a summer birthday they may bring a snack to share on his/her ½ birthday. • Small cupcakes, donuts, cookies, or other small sweet treats work best. No balloons or candles! • Student are not permitted to distribute invitations to individual students, unless they invite ALL students in the class. • Grades 1-5: • Please see teacher for guidelines regarding birthday.

18. Parties • We have two class parties each year. On for Halloween, and one for Valentine’s Day. • Room parents help organize the classroom parties. ALL parents are welcome to volunteer. Please coordinate with the room parent. • There is always an alternative party option if your child does not celebrate Halloween or Valentine’s Day. Please inform the classroom teacher if your child will not participate in the party.

19. Half-Days • Dismissal is at 12:35. It is very important your child’s teacher knows where your child is going on half-days. Please provide a note to the teacher if your child is not going to leave school the way they do for a normal dismissal. • Please make sure your paperwork in the office is update because your child can not be released to anyone that you have not given permission to on the release form.

20. Attendance • Student success in school is directly tied to daily attendance. Students needing to leave school early need a note from their parent or guardian. For security reasons, you MUST always sign your child in and out of the school building when arriving or departing at a time other than the scheduled arrival and dismissal times. • When your child is absent, please call the office at 301-571-6959 by 9:30 a.m. to let us know. When a child returns to school following an absence, s/he must always bring a dated note from a parent or guardian stating the reason for the absence.

21. Daily Arrival Routines • School doors open at 8:30 a.m. and students may sit in the hallways until the first bell. Students may not enter the school prior to 8:30 a.m. • The first bell rings at 8:40a.m. and students may enter the classrooms. • The second bell rings at 8:50 a.m. and morning announcements begin. The back door will be locked at this time and you must enter through the front doors. • If you arrive after 8:50 a.m. you are considered TARDY. You must stop by the office, be signed in by a parent and get a late pass. It is essential to the instructional program that all students are on time for school each day. If your child is absent for any reason, please call the office and notify them that your child will be out and write a note and send it with your child the date of his/her return. • - When visiting or volunteering, always sign-in and wear a visitor sticker. • - Kiss and Say Goodbye Procedures

22. Daily Dismissal Routines Please send a note granting permission for any schedule changes, including: • Child to go home with Grandparent or another adult, per your request. • Child to go home with a friend on another bus or via other modes of transportation – BOTH children MUST have a note. • Play-dates should be scheduled in advance of the school day. • CHILDREN MUST HAVE A NOTE AND GIVE IT TO THE TEACHER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING OR THEY MUST GO HOME PER THE REGULAR ROUTE! • *Please refrain from sending emails during the day to inform the teacher of a change in a dismissal routine. In case of an emergency, contact the office so the teacher is notified immediately.

23. Walkers • Please instruct your children to use a walking route that ensures safety. Walking students who are met by adults will meet in the gym lobby or the breezeway and be released to their parents or others with permission. Children who are to walk home by themselves should leave the building and walk directly home after school. Please make sure you are there promptly for pick-up; supervision is available until 3:15 p.m. and then students will be sent to the office. • Please discuss weather emergency procedures with your child.

24. Parking • Ashburton has limited parking and one entrance for buses. To protect the safety of the students, the driveway is blocked to auto traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and from 2:45 to 3:25 p.m. Only buses may enter to drop-off or pick-up. • The new drop-off in the rear of the building off Pomona Drive has been constructed to help alleviate the congestion in the front of the school. You may drop-off or pick-up students there or park and walk in. The doors will be locked after 8:50 a.m.; students who arrive after that time should not be dropped off at this location since they would have to walk around the building to enter. Walkers or children who are to be picked up can be met at this drop-off loop in the afternoon.

25. Weather Delays • Please listen to the radio or TV for weather delays and school closings. • MCPS also posts the announcement online at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ • Email Alerts: Subscribe to MCPS Newsfeed to receive alerts to your computer about early dismissals, emergencies, and other news. http//www:montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/newsfeed/

26. Field Trips • Field trips are an important part of the instructional program of each class. Students will go on different field trips throughout the year. • When a field trip approaches, teachers will send home a permission slip form and ask for volunteers. Written permission from a parent or guardian is required for a child to attend. Parent volunteers aid the teacher with supervision on these outings; however, regulations prohibit siblings from attending. • There is usually a fee for bus transportation; often there is also an admission fee. Financial assistance is offered by the PTA through Mrs. Gillespie, counselor, for those children in need; please contact Mrs. Gillespie directly.

27. Safety Drills • Fire Drills • Code Blue • Code Red • Shelter in Place • Tornado Drills

28. Ashburton Elementary School – A Great Place to Learn! • Differentiated Instruction: • Reading Initiative – Grades 1 & 2 • Accelerated Math Classes/Groups – K-5 • Departmentalization in Grades 3, 4, 5 • After School Activities • School & PTA Sponsored • Parent Involvement • Student Recognition • Birthday Announcements • TQ Stars (Top Quality Stars) • Weekly Announcements, Pictures, Awards & Monthly Luncheon with Administration and Mrs. Gillespie • End of the Year Awards in Special Areas http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/ashburtones/

29. PTA • President: Amy Cohen • Co-Administrative Vice Presidents: Kathy Rose and Wendy Calhoun • Co-Membership Vice President: Ellie Damo • Treasurer: Christine Furman • Secretary: Veronica Walgamotte