As we embark on this journey together, building strong routines early is key to your child's success, and that begins with regular, daily attendance. Below, you will find our schoolwide attendance goals and details on how we plan to celebrate our students' commitment throughout the year.

This year we are asking families to commit to ensuring their child attends school at least 94% of instructional days, which means no more than 11 missed days for the entire school year—or about one day per month.

Why Attendance Matters:

• Being present each day allows students to fully participate in lessons, activities, and collaborative learning.
  
  

• Regular attendance supports social-emotional growth and helps students feel connected to the school community.
  
  

• Students with consistent attendance (94%) are eligible to participate in monthly Atten-Dances and the end-of-year Field Day, recognizing and celebrating their dedication.

By working together, we can help every student reach their full potential. Thank you for your commitment to your child’s success and for partnering with Apple Grove Elementary to ensure a strong attendance culture.

As we continue to build a positive, safe, and supportive learning environment for our students, we want to ensure that all families are familiar with the expectations and guidelines that keep our school community running smoothly.

Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) provides a comprehensive guide outlining these expectations in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

This handbook is a valuable resource that details:

• The rights of students to a safe, respectful, and high-quality education.

• The responsibilities students hold regarding attendance, behavior, and academic integrity.

• School policies on dress codes, technology use, and positive behavior interventions.

We encourage you to take some time to review this document together with your child. Openly discussing these standards at home helps reinforce the positive behavior and mutual respect we strive for every day at Apple Grove Elementary.

While we are excitedly anticipating the first day of school, there are some important tips and reminders we should all remember to ensure that everyone in our community has a safe and enjoyable first day, week, and beyond!

• Please pack your patience. Arrival and dismissal will run slower during the first week as students learn their new routines and others get reacclimated to their routines. Please follow all directions of staff so are children are safely and quickly received and dismissed.

• Prepare to do your goodbye ritual at your child's designated school entrance. To support our children's success, complete your goodbye/see you later rituals (hugs/kisses, affirmations, reminders, etc.) quickly at their grade level's entrance. 

• Prioritize our children's safety over convenience and quickness. Be sure you have your photo identification in hand when you come to pick up your child at dismissal and that you complete an Emergency Contact form with all of the adults who you would possibly call to pick up your child in your absence and ensure they are aware of our dismissal procedures. Additionally, if you plan to walk our children to their arrival location, be sure to use the sidewalks and crosswalks.

• 8:10 AM - 9:15 AM and 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Bellefield Avenue is a one-way street. Drive safely and follow the directions of the traffic signs and Apple Grove staff- our sweet beloveds' lives depend on it! 

• Please be safe, courteous, and considerate with your vehicle. We want to be good neighbors and community members, so ensure your vehicle is not blocking someone's driveway, especially on Kingsway Drive; do not park in the car lane; and do not enter the bus lane. Please follow the directions of all Apple Grove staff. 

Hello Apple Grove Elementary School Community!

This post is a reminder that ALL medications must be given to Nurse Wray by an authorized parent/guardian. The parent/guardian or authorized adult must sign a form that serves as proof that medication (s) may be administered to the student.

Per the administrative policy (5163), the Prescriber Medication Order Form (PMOF) is only valid for one calendar school year. This means that every school year a new PMOF must be provided if medication is deemed for your child/children.

Link to the Administrative Policy 5163 (Medication): https://www.pgcps.org/offices/ograc/administrative-procedures/students--5000/ap-5163---medication#:~:text=Students%20are%20permitted%20to%20take,individual%20basis%20for%20each%20student.

SPANISH Link to the Administrative Policy 5163 (Medication): https://www.pgcps.org/globalassets/offices/gov-relations-compliance-procedures/docs---ograc/administrative-procedures/5000/procedimiento-administrativo-5163---procedimientos-de-medicamentos.pdf

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any questions or concerns.

Have a great day.

Thank you.

Kristi.JohnsonWray@pgcps.org

301-449-4966

We hope everyone stayed safe during last night’s storm. We know that power outages can create unexpected challenges, and we want to ensure every family in our school community has the support they need.

If your family is currently without power or needs help with meals, please know that resources are available:

Free Meals & Water: https://pgcfec.org/resources/find-food-food-pantry-listings/

Power Assistance: https://www.pepco.com/outages/experiencing-an-outage/report-an-outage

Please take care, stay safe, and let us know how we can support your family today. We are all in this together!

Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, Synergy will replace SchoolMAX as the student information system for Prince George's County Public Schools.  Families will now use ParentVUE, in place of Family Portal, to access important information about their students. 

ParentVUE is the portal that allows parents and guardians to view information about their student, including classroom assignments and scores, attendance, transcripts, graduation status and more. In ParentVUE, families can also update their phone numbers and emergency contact information and access the Online Registration (OLR) Application.

Learn more about ParentVue here. Additionally, you may reach out to Ms. Graham at (301) 449-4966 or Kimberly.Graham@pgcps.org for help activating or navigating your account. 

"We've got the energy for Synergy!"

At Apple Grove Elementary, we teach and encourage students to show their Bulldog P.R.I.D.E. all year long. This is part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system, which helps create a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment for every child.

What P.R.I.D.E. Stands For:

• P – Prepared: Be ready to learn with materials, homework, and a positive attitude.

• R – Respectful: Use kind words and actions with teachers, classmates, and staff.

• I – Integrity: Do the right thing, even when no one is watching.

• D – Discipline: Make good choices and follow school rules.

• E – Engaged: Stay focused, participate, and give your best effort.

Students are expected to show P.R.I.D.E. in every area of the school: classroom, hallway, bathroom, cafeteria, and playground.

How Parents Can Support P.R.I.D.E. at Home

Families play a key role in reinforcing these values. Here are ways to support:

1. Talk About P.R.I.D.E. Daily
   
   

   • Ask your child: “How did you show P.R.I.D.E. today at school?”
     
     

   • Celebrate their successes with praise or a small reward.
     
     

2. Model the P.R.I.D.E. Values at Home
   
   

   • Show respect by using polite language.
     
     

   • Demonstrate integrity by keeping promises.
     
     

   • Stay engaged during family conversations or activities.
     
     

3. Create Home Routines that Match P.R.I.D.E.
   
   

   • Prepared: Pack backpacks, set out clothes, and review homework each evening.
     
     

   • Respectful: Encourage siblings to share and take turns.
     
     

   • Integrity: Praise honesty, even when mistakes are made.
     
     

   • Discipline: Set consistent rules and follow through with consequences.
     
     

   • Engaged: Limit distractions (like TV or devices) during homework or family time.
     
     

4. Recognize and Reinforce Positive Behavior
   
   

   • Use phrases like: “I’m proud of how respectful you were with your sister” or “Great job staying engaged with your homework.”
     
     

   • Connect school and home by saying: “That’s showing Bulldog P.R.I.D.E. at home!”
     
     

5. Stay Involved with the School
   
   

   • Attend school events, communicate with teachers, and encourage your child to see you as a partner in their learning and behavior growth.
     
     

By working together, parents and staff can help students feel safe, seen, and supported—and live out their Bulldog P.R.I.D.E. everywhere they go! Students who have earned enough PBIS Points will be celebrated September 26.