7400 Bellefield Avenue, Fort Washington, MD 20744 | (301) 449-4966 | www.pgcps.org/applegrove
7400 Bellefield Avenue, Fort Washington, MD 20744 | (301) 449-4966 | www.pgcps.org/applegrove
🍎 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.
January 8 - January 30- Grades K - 5 iReady Reading Assessment Window Opens
January 8 - March 4- English Language Development (ESOL) English Language Proficiency (ACCESS) Assessment Window
January 13 - February 7- Grades K-3 DIBELS Assessment Window Opens
January 20- SCHOOLS & Offices CLOSED | MLK, Jr. Holiday Observed
January 21- Grades K-5 Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment Window Opens 📗➗
January 21- Fifth Grade ELA Benchmark Assessment
January 22- Fifth Grade ELA Benchmark Assessment
January 23- Third, Fourth, Fifth Grade iReady Assessment
January 23- Systemic Shelter-in-Place Drill
January 24- End of Second Quarter 🛑
January 27- 3-Hour Early Dismissal for Students | Grading and Reporting Day for Teachers
January 28- Family Food Market 3:00 PM 🍎🥕🥒
Apple Grove Elementary's Student Attendance Data
Do you know that children who miss at least two days of school a month …By the end of the school year students can have missed so much instruction that they experience difficulty learning to read, mastering important math concepts, passing courses and ultimately graduating from high school?
💭 What makes it hard for you as a parent to get your child or children to school every day? 💭
Principal's Message
Greetings Apple Grove Friends and Families!
"And how are the children?
I hope this message finds you well as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This week, as a community, we reflect on his vision of unity, justice, and service to others. At Apple Grove Elementary, we are proud to serve a beautifully diverse community of African, African-American, Latino, Asian, and White families, from all walks of life, each contributing to the rich tapestry that makes our school so special. Dr. King’s dream of equality and mutual respect reminds us of the importance of working together to create an environment where all children feel safe, seen, and are supported to succeed.
As we close out the first semester this Friday, January 24. I want to commend our students, families, and staff for their hard work and dedication. It’s a great time to celebrate achievements, set goals for the remainder of the year, and recommit to attendance and academic excellence. Your partnership in your child’s learning journey has been invaluable, and I encourage families to review their child’s progress by logging into ParentVue and have conversations about goals for the second semester (Quarters 3 and 4). If you have concerns or questions, reach out to your children's teachers to schedule a phone or in-person conference.
I’d also like to take a moment to emphasize the importance of regular attendance. Aim for your child to have at least 94% attendance this month, which means attending 14 out of the 15 school days in January. Every day of learning matters, and students thrive when they are present and engaged. If your child has been absent, let’s work together to address any challenges and ensure they can participate fully in their education.
This month also brings important assessments for all students. We encourage you to:
Read the assessment guides linked below to familiarize yourself with the tests.
Complete the daily practice activities included in this newsletter to help your child prepare and build their confidence.
Finally, as we navigate the colder months, let’s continue supporting our classrooms in keeping our children healthy. You can help by:
Ensuring your child has appropriate outerwear for the weather.
Encouraging good hygiene habits like regular handwashing.
Keeping your child home if they’re unwell and communicating with our school nurse as needed.
Together, we can create a safe, nurturing, and healthy environment for every student to learn and grow.
This January, carry out small acts of kindness. Today's Action for Happiness encourages us to focus on what's good even if today feels tough.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we support our children in achieving their very best. Together, we’ll make this a successful month for all! Together, with you, we are the Greatness at the Grove and we will continue the work that has been done at AGES because we are 2 Legit 2 Quit the greatness at Apple Grove!
DON'T MISS OUT! SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
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
Synergy ParentVue help: Ms. Graham, School Secretary, Kimberly.Jumaniyazov@pgcps.org
Attendance, Enrollment or Withdrawal: Ms. Graham, School Secretary, Kimberly.Jumaniyazov@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. Epps, Professional School Counselor, Robbin.Epps@pgcps.org
Student health: Nurse Dillard, Nurse, Mary.Dillard@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
I encourage you to support a cause close to our community. Barnaby Manor Elementary School in Oxon Hill recently experienced a fire that destroyed a classroom and displaced students.
We can support their rebuilding efforts by donating in addition to our prayers. Let us honor Dr. King's call to serve our community by coming together to help rebuild the classrooms and provide a safe, nurturing space for the children of Barnaby Manor Elementary.
To donate, you can bring in items to Apple Grove Elementary beginning Tuesday or purchase items using this link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/24EIQB04AWTO6?ref_=wl_share
Zakyia Goins-McCants, a former teacher-leader and student within District 8 schools, has dedicated her career to ensuring educational excellence and equity for all children. In her 10+ years in the field of education, Zakyia has been a classroom teacher and teacher-leader, supported teacher training as a coach and data manager, and successfully advocated for education policy change or advised on the local, state and national levels. Currently, Zakyia leverages her expertise to coach school leaders on using data to drive decision-making and enhance student outcomes. Zakyia graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Howard University after writing her award-winning honors thesis on the history of Education Policy. She earned a Masters degree and Certificate in Administration & Supervision from Johns Hopkins University School of Education.
A steadfast commitment to excellence and equity drives Zakyia's candidacy. She believes that by leveraging the collective genius of our students, staff, families, and the broader community, Prince George’s County can be a national model of educational success for Black and Brown children. Her plans involve cultivating safe, positive learning environments, increasing access to mental health supports, bolstering student achievement, and implementing strategies to retain and attract exceptional staff.
You can reach Ms. Goins-McCants at E-mail: zakyia.goinsmccants@pgcps.org or Phone: 301-952-6115.
January kicks off another round of assessments!✨🚀
This month, students will participate in important assessments to measure their progress in English, reading, math, and science.
iReady beginning January 8
ACCESS (English Language) beginning January 8
DIBELS beginning January 13
Benchmarks beginning January 21
These assessments help us understand your child’s learning and identify areas where they may need additional support.
To help your child succeed, please review the assessment guides linked below. These guides provide detailed information about the tests and helpful tips to prepare your child. A good night's rest, a healthy breakfast, and arriving to school on time will ensure they are ready to do their best.
Thank you for your support in helping your child shine!
Parents, do these short, engaging and impactful activities daily for reinforcing key skills at home while fostering a love for learning.
English Language Development:
Label in English: Point to items in the picture or objects around the house, say the word in English (if you know it), and encourage your child to repeat it. You can also use a bilingual dictionary or a translation app to learn the English word together, if applicable.
Sight Word Practice: Use flashcards with common English words. Practice saying and using them in sentences. Use a translation app (Google Translation) to learn the English word together, if applicable.
Repetition Practice: Repeat new words or phrases to build pronunciation confidence.
Word Practice: Practice spelling and writing new vocabulary words in sentences.
Pre-Kindergarten:
Reading: Read a storybook together. Ask your child to point to pictures that match the words or describe what’s happening.
Math: Count objects around the house, like toys or utensils. Practice identifying shapes in the environment (e.g., "Find something shaped like a circle").
Critical Thinking: Play “I Spy” to encourage observation skills and ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think will happen next in the story?”
Kindergarten:
Reading: Practice letter recognition by identifying letters on cereal boxes, street signs, or in books. Have them sound out simple three-letter words (e.g., cat, dog).
Math: Count forward and backward to 20. Use household objects to practice simple addition and subtraction (e.g., “You have 2 apples, and I give you 1 more. How many do you have now?”).
Critical Thinking: Sort objects by size, color, or shape and ask your child why they grouped them that way.
First Grade:
Reading: Practice sight words or play a word-matching game. Read a short story and ask your child to retell it in their own words.
Math: Use everyday activities like setting the table to practice counting by twos. Practice simple word problems using addition and subtraction.
Critical Thinking: Solve simple puzzles or riddles. Ask your child to predict what will happen next in a story and explain why.
Second Grade:
Reading: Read a short passage together and ask your child to identify the main idea and key details. Encourage them to read aloud to build fluency.
Math: Practice skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s. Use coins to teach the value of money and create simple math problems.
Critical Thinking: Play “Would You Rather?” games with reasoning (e.g., "Would you rather eat ice cream or pizza? Why?").
Third Grade:
Reading: Read a nonfiction article or book and discuss what they learned. Introduce vocabulary words and ask them to use them in sentences.
Math: Practice multiplication facts through flashcards or apps. Solve real-world math problems, like calculating how much something costs with tax.
Critical Thinking: Encourage your child to ask “why” questions about the world and research answers together.
Fourth Grade:
Reading: Read a chapter from a book and discuss the characters’ actions and motivations. Have your child write a summary in their own words.
Math: Practice multiplication and division facts through flashcards or apps. Solve multi-step word problems or practice fractions using objects like pizza slices. Practice rounding numbers in everyday contexts.
Critical Thinking: Play strategy games like chess or card games that involve planning and decision-making.
Fifth Grade:
Reading: Discuss a news article or nonfiction text and ask your child to express their opinion and back it up with evidence from the text.
Math: Practice multiplication and division facts through flashcards or apps. Work on decimals and percentages, such as calculating discounts or tips while shopping. Practice long division with real-world examples.
Critical Thinking: Debate simple topics (e.g., "Should recess be longer?") and encourage your child to present clear arguments and counterarguments.
Here are a few health reminders:
1. Please let Nurse Dillard know if your child/children test positive for any communicable diseases. As of right now, RSV, pneumonia and influenza cases are rising.
2. The Maryland Department of Health has reported a high combination of COVID-19 and Influenza (Flu) hospitalizations in the state of Maryland.
3. Please protect yourselves. Stay home from school/work if you are not feeling well.
4. Facemasks are highly encouraged during this respiratory season.
5. Please practice safe hand hygiene. Wash hands frequently.
6. Get vaccinated against Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV (if applicable).
7. Rest, hydrate, maintain a healthy diet and move your bodies daily. Build and maintain your immune systems!
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
mary.dillard@pgcps.org
301-449-4966
Thank you.
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.Jumaniyazov@pgcps.org for help activating or navigating your account.
"We've got the energy for Synergy!"
Please view the video on activating a ParentVUE account for parents who previously had a SchoolMAX account.
Please view the video on activating a ParentVUE account for parents who did not have an activated SchoolMAX account.
We have an exciting announcement: for the current school year, Prince George's County Public Schools is offering all students access to free online counseling and doctor visits through our partnership with Hazel Health. This service is 100% confidential, and is completely free to families. Hazel Health provides high-quality care for all students — no matter their insurance or immigration status.
Your child can work 1-on-1 with a licensed therapist in weekly video sessions, which they can have at school or at home. They can also see a doctor within minutes using any device.
Please note, students will not receive care without guardian consent.
Signing up takes less than 5 minutes, visit getstarted.hazel.co.
Thank you, and have a wonderful day!
🍎 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.