7400 Bellefield Avenue, Fort Washington, MD 20744 | (301) 449-4966 | www.pgcps.org/applegrove
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Hello Apple Grove Bulldog Families!
🍎 The Apple Grove Way 🍎
School Mission: The Mission of Apple Grove Elementary School is to ensure that all students acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to become a college and career ready member of a diverse global society and workforce with an understanding of their role, impact and responsibilities within that society.
School Vision: Growing in Greatness: Rooted in Community, Diversity and Academic Excellence
Apple Grove Elementary School is a place where every community member feels safe, feels seen, and is supported to succeed.
Week of December 15 - December 19
Week of December 15 - December 19
MONDAY- DECEMBER 15 - 2 HOUR DELAY
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
🎄 December ☃️
December 15 - AGES Parent Toolbox Series |Grades 3, 4, 5 | 5 PM 🧰
December 15 -18 - Fourth and Select Fifth Grade Talented and Gifted Testing (COGAT)
December 16 - Family Food & Clothing Market | 3 PM
December 17 - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc Story Time for PK-2 | 9 AM
December 17 - Third, Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade SY25 Drama Club Field Trip | 9 AM
December 18 - Parent Meeting for Chronically Absent Students | 10 AM | 3 PM
December 18 - PBIS Game Truck Event 🎉
December 18 - Melwood Toy Giveaway 🪀
December 19 - Student Early Dismissal | 11:45 AM
December 19 - Winter Holiday Movie Day 🎞️
December 19 - AGES Winter Wonderland | 3 - 6 PM ❄️
December 22- January 2 - SCHOOLS & OFFICES CLOSED | Winter Break
January 5 - Return to School
Principal's Message
Greetings Apple Grove Friends and Families!
"And how are the children?
Thank you for the love and partnership you’ve shown our students and staff!
Your support of our Winter Concert and our Scholastic Book Fair helped create joyful moments that build confidence, community, and a love of learning. Thank you as well for encouraging our scholars enrolled in ELD as they complete the Writing Task—your steady support at home makes a real difference.
Grade 3–5 families: please join us for the Parent Toolbox Series via Zoom to gain practical strategies you can use right away to support learning at home.
And all families: come out and enjoy our FREE Winter Wonderland Festival on Friday, December 19, from 3:00–6:00 PM—bring the whole crew and celebrate with us!
Finally, a quick reminder: Friday is early dismissal—please be on time. Dismissal begins at 11:45 AM.
Attendance Challenge: Every Day Counts!
Attendance Challenge: Every Day Counts!
We only have 15 days of school this month, making attendance more crucial than ever! To stay on track for our exciting end-of-year Field Day extravaganza, students must maintain a 94% overall attendance rate. This means students need to attend at least 14 of the 15 school days in December. Please remember that students who miss 12 or more days of school throughout the year will not be eligible to attend Field Day. Help your child reach this important goal by prioritizing being in school, on time, every day!
Join Us On Campus!
Join Us On Campus!
We warmly invite you to step into The Grove experience!
Come enjoy lunch or morning meeting with your child. Seeing you right next to your child makes a huge difference in their day!
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
We are still powered by the generosity of our families and community members, and we need your help to make this week a success! If you have a passion for students, we have a spot for you. We need volunteers to assist with:
Main office support
Student arrival and dismissal
Lunch and recess
Reading to students (in English or Spanish!)
Assisting in classrooms, making copies, or creating bulletin boards for our amazing teachers.
Go to www.pgcps.org/volunteer to volunteer.
Thank you for being such an essential part of the Apple Grove community. Your commitment to your child's education is truly what makes our school special.
Be sure to scroll to the bottom for new announcements and opportunities for your child and family!
We Are Too Legit to Quit the Greatness at the Grove!
This newsletter will be updated Sunday nights and posted on the Apple Grove Elementary website to keep all students, staff, families and community members informed. Be sure to read and make note of all details.
Click the handbook ⬆️
Who to contact
A Guide to Addressing Questions and Concerns.pdfSynergy ParentVue help: Ms. Graham, School Secretary, Kimberly.Graham@pgcps.org
Attendance, Enrollment or Withdrawal: Ms. Graham, School Secretary, Kimberly.Graham@pgcps.org
To schedule a parent/teacher conference: Your child's teacher(s) or Special Education Case Manager
Grades, Instruction or Student Work: Your child's teacher(s) or Special Education Case Manager
Special Education Services: Your child's teacher(s) or Special Education Case Manager or Ms. Nelson, Special Education Chairperson, Jamie2.Nelson@pgcps.org
Academic or Behavioral support: Your child's teacher(s) or Special Education Case Manager, Mrs. Branch, Professional School Counselor, Keisha.SmithBranch@pgcps.org
Student health: Nurse Wray, Nurse, Kristi.JohnsonWray@pgcps.org
Discipline: Ms. Worrell, Assistant Principal, nicole.worrell@pgcps.org
General questions: Apple Grove, agrove@pgcps.org
To schedule an appointment with Principal Broussard: Ms. Hughes, Principal's Secretary, alethia.hughes@pgcps.org
Claim Your Child's Lost Items
Claim Your Child's Lost Items
Dear Apple Grove Families,
On Monday, December 15, all Lost & Found items will be placed on tables at the front of the building and will be available for viewing from arrival through dismissal.
If your child is missing any items (jackets, sweaters, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc.), please feel free to stop by and check the tables to see if the item has been turned in. Classes will also be given time during the school day to visit the Lost & Found.
Please note that any items not claimed by the end of the day will be donated.
Thank you for helping us keep our space organized and ensuring belongings are returned to their owners!
Please Do Not Block Driveways
Please Do Not Block Driveways
As part of our commitment to being good neighbors in our community, I want to kindly remind everyone to be mindful when parking and dropping off or picking up your children from school. Please refrain from parking in or blocking our neighbors' driveways. Not only is this unneighborly, but it is also against Maryland laws.
We value our relationship with the community and want to ensure that we are respectful to those who live nearby. I have asked our neighbors to record the license plates of any vehicles that persist in blocking driveways or parking in their spaces, which will be shared with the authorities to assess fines and further correction.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for helping us maintain a positive relationship with our neighbors.
Resources for Students & Families
Resources for Students & Families
Copy of ML Family Resources.pdfEnglish Language Development Resources for Families
Website for ELD Family Resources:
Support At Apple Grove.docxResources for Families during the Government Shutdown
Counselor's Corner
Counselor's Corner
🧰The Grove Parent Toolbox Series
Reminder: Grove Parent Toolbox Series – Session 2!
Great news! This session will be VIRTUAL to make it easier for families to join.
✨ Learning After School: Balancing Screens, Sleep & Study
📅 December 15, 2025
🕔 5:00–6:00 PM
Families will gain practical strategies to support homework routines, healthy screen use, and positive sleep habits—all from the comfort of home.
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/ParentToolboxSeries
💻 Join virtually: https://tinyurl.com/VirtualParentToolboxSeries
Personal Safety Lessons (Grades K, 2nd, and 5th)
Students in Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 5th grade will participate in age-appropriate Personal Safety lessons this quarter, as required by PGCPS. Lessons focus on body safety, understanding appropriate and inappropriate contact, and identifying trusted adults.
Families may preview the lessons before or after school on Wednesday and Thursday, December 17–18. Please contact Mrs. Branch (School Counselor) at keisha.smithbranch@pgcps.org with any questions.
Schoolinks: Career and College Readiness Platform (Grades 1st and 4th)
At Apple Grove, we are excited to continue using SchooLinks, Prince George’s County Public Schools’ career readiness platform, with our 1st and 4th grade students. SchooLinks helps students begin exploring interests, building awareness of future goals, and tracking learning activities in an age-appropriate way.
Families are encouraged to log in with their child to review progress and completed To-Do List items. This shared experience supports student growth and helps families stay informed.
If you have an email on file in Synergy, you received SchooLinks login information in November. If you would like further information, please connect with Mrs. Branch, School Counselor.
Counselor Virtual Office.pptx
From Nurse Wray👩🏽⚕️
From Nurse Wray👩🏽⚕️
Hello Apple Grove Elementary School Community!
General announcement: Please notify the nurse (kristi.johnsonwray@pgcps.org) if your child has a health concern or health issue. It is very important that I know about conditions such as asthma, food allergies, heart issues and even if your child frequently spits up, or vomits. It is important to let the teacher and the nurse know every year of any conditions that may present at school.
Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade: After Winter Break, I will begin planning for conducting vision and hearing screenings. The screening will be for Pre-K, newly enrolled Kindergartners and 1st graders. Over the break, please review these shapes with your child and make sure they know the proper names. House, Circle, Apple (some say Heart and that's okay), and Square.
5th grade parents: If your child has recently received their Tdap and or Meningococcal (MCV4) please send me an email with that information. If during this school year, your child receives these vaccines( December- June) please email me the updated vaccines. My email address is kristi.johnsonwray@pgcps.org.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our school nurse at Kristi.JohnsonWray@pgcps.org or 301-449-4966.
English Language Development (ELD) Program
English Language Development (ELD) Program
How can I support my child's education if I don't speak English?
We are excited to share a new tool to support our English Language Learners and their families — the English Language Development (ELD) Family Resource Website (https://sites.google.com/pgcps.org/resourcesforesolfamiles/home). This website is designed to give parents and guardians quick access to helpful resources, tips, and information to support your child’s growth in English at home and at school. You’ll find activities, guides, and connections to school programs that make learning engaging and accessible.
Together, we can ensure that every child is safe, seen, supported, and successful!
Copy of Primary Grades- Tips for Parents of MLs.pdf
Follow us on Twitter!
Follow us on Twitter!
🍎 The Apple Grove Way 🍎
School Mission: The Mission of Apple Grove Elementary School is to ensure that all students acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to become a college and career ready member of a diverse global society and workforce with an understanding of their role, impact and responsibilities within that society.
School Vision: Growing in Greatness: Rooted in Community, Diversity and Academic Excellence
Apple Grove Elementary School is a place where every community member feels safe, feels seen, and is supported to succeed.
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