Join us for an Event-full Tuesday, February 7, beginning at 5:30 pm
--STEM Research Night
--Math Night
--February PTA meeting
Most events are in Multi-Purpose Room, including PTA Pizza Sale at 6:30 pm. Pizza and beverages will be available for sale.
PTA meeting includes a special guest: Peggy Higgins. Ms. Higgins is the elected School Board District 2 representative which includes Greenbelt.
All parents need to know more about the budget issues that will directly impact our students at GES.
Free babysitting provided (in gym) during the PTA meeting only.
The staff of Greenbelt ES is having a fundraiser to raise funds for our school’s technology needs. For a modest fee, you can drop your children off at the school from 6-9 pm on Friday, February 10, for open gym, a movie, open computer lab, crafts and games and a JAM music session for singing and dancing! Pizza, and a light snack included. Parents' Night Out info can be found on the flyer. Please return form to Mrs. Hancock, room 4.
Update from Lauren Cummings, the PTA representative to the School Planning and Management Team (SPMT), from the December meeting:
Schoolwide Writing Program to be Implemented -- Staff has spent several months researching the Writing Fundamentals Program. The goal of the program is implement a program at the school level so it can be sustained and everyone can contribute their expertise, wisdom and experience. PGCPS has stated that this program meets the common core state standards, they have recommended which units should be purchased first and they have confirmed that the county does not intend to purchase a writing program for school implementation in the next two years. Given that information, staff has agreed that to purchase this program to enhance writing skills at all grade levels. Staff at each grade level will have four units of study available to them and professional development training early on in the process. Units of study will likely focus on narrative, non-fiction and opinion writing.
STEM Fair -- The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fair will be held
this spring and volunteers are needed for several events. Ms Zanin (5th grade) is coordinating the STEM Fair and the first event will be held on Monday, January 3rd from 6-7pm prior to the PTA meeting. Look for more information about this in a separate posting on this listserve.
Student Council -- GES students voted this week to elect members of a Student Council. This is the first time that GES will have a Student Council which includes a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Each class will have a representative from grades K-6. Students and staff are excited about ways they can work together.
E-Newsletter -- To save time and money, staff has recommended that the Greenbelt Gazette be sent home in backpacks once a month. Staff is preparing to collect parent email addresses for students in each class and will use those email addresses to send an email outlining what students will be learning that week. This is similar to the grade-level summaries that appear on the back of the Greenbelt Gazette currently. Keep an eye out for additional information about this. While, parents without email addresses will be able to request to receive this information in hardcopy, the idea of this transition is to lessen the amount of time staff spends producing and handing out this information as well as significantly reducing printing costs and duplication for families with multiple children at GES.
Other Informational Items -- Mrs. Bush is back from her leave but will now be moving to J. Frank Dent Elementary School as their new Assistant Principal. Camille Hardimon will stay on at GES as our Assistant Principal.
-- GES is expected to have a 90.7 percent reading proficiency level and an 88.8 percent math proficiency level for all students in grades 3 – 6 for this school year.
All families are encouraged to join the PTA. Please fill out the membership form and return to the school.
Upcoming dates:
Monday, 1/23 : School closed, Teacher Planning Day
Tuesday, 1/31, 7-8 PM : PTA Executive Board Meeting, Media Center
Tuesday, 2/7, 7-8:30 PM : PTA Meeting, Media Center
Monday, 2/13 : Half day for students
Monday, 2/20 : School closed, President's Day
Tuesday, 2/28 : PTA Executive Board Meeting, Media Center
PTA meetings are the first Tuesday of every month, from
7:00-8:30 pm.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Greenbelt Elementary School PTA is to:
a. Promote activities that enhance the joy and well-being of GES
students and staff in a way that complements and enriches the
learning environment;
b. Advocate on behalf of students, staff and the school;
c. Build community within the school, and enhance the
relationship among the school, parents, and the wider community;
and, encourage the community's investment of time, energy and money
into Greenbelt's public schools.
Contact Information
Greenbelt Elementary School PTA c/o Greenbelt Elementary
School 66 Ridge Road Greenbelt, MD 20770 gespta (at)
greenbelt (dot) com
