7400 Bellefield Avenue, Fort Washington, MD 20744 | (301) 449-4966 | www.pgcps.org/applegrove
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🍎 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 1 - December 5
Week of December 1 - December 5
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
🎄 December ☃️
December 1-12 - English Language Development (ELD) Writing Assessment Window
December 1 - Poppin' Homeroom Perfect Attendance Party 🍿
December 1 - AGES Parent Toolbox Series | Grades PK , K, 1, 2 | 5 PM 🧰
December 3 - ELD Family Night | WIDA | 4:30 PM
December 5 - AttenDANCE
December 8-12 - Scholastic Book Fair 📚
December 9 - Winter Concert @Friendly HS | 5 PM 🎤
December 11 - County Lockdown Drill
December 11 - Books-At-Night 3 PM - 6 PM 🌜📚
December 12 - Quarter 1 Honor Roll Assembly | Grades 2-3 | 9 AM 🏅
December 12 - Quarter 1 Honor Roll Assembly | Grades 4-5 | 10 AM 🏅
December 15 - AGES Parent Toolbox Series |Grades 3, 4, 5 | 5 PM 🧰
December 16 - Family Food & Clothing Market | 3 PM
December 18 - PBIS 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
video1270935152.mp4Principal's Message
Greetings Apple Grove Friends and Families!
"And how are the children?
Welcome to December! I pray your break was restful and enjoyable! Thank you for joining us at our 6-7% celebration last week! What a joy it was to collectively celebrate!
This first part of the month is focused on student growth and family engagement. Please note the English Language Development (ELD) Writing Assessment Window is active from December 1st through 12th for our language learners. We encourage all parents of English language learners to join us for ELD Family Night on Wednesday, December 3rd, at 4:30 PM to learn more about their child's participation in the WIDA program.
We are also celebrating success with a Poppin' Homeroom Perfect Attendance Party on Monday, December 1st, and a school-wide AttenDANCE celebration on Friday, December 5th—thank you for prioritizing consistent attendance! Finally, we invite Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grade families to the AGES Parent Toolbox Series on Monday, December 1st, at 5:00 PM to gain valuable insights for supporting your child's success. Your child's success starts at home!
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
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
Apple Grove ES is launching The Grove Parent Toolbox Series — a twice-monthly parent engagement opportunity focused on equipping families with practical tools to support student success at home and in school. Topics will include routines and structure, behavior supports, wellness, homework strategies, SEL, and more.
Looking forward...
Personal Safety Lessons (Grades K, 2nd, and 5th)
Schoolinks: Career and College Readiness Platform (Grades 1st and 4th)
Quarter 1 Honor Roll Assembly- December 12 | 9:00 AM- Grade 2 and Grade 3 | 10:00 AM- Grade 4 and Grade 5
Counselor Virtual Office.pptxEnglish Language Development (ELD) Program
English Language Development (ELD) Program
WIDA ACCESS Family Night (Q2)Don't Miss It! Unlock Your Child's Success!
WIDA ACCESS Night Dec 3rd, 4:30. Be informed, be empowered!
This essential evening is designed to help you decode the WIDA ACCESS test and understand its importance for your child's educational journey.
Understanding the Score: We will clearly explain what the scores mean and how they measure your child's English language proficiency (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).
Impact on Learning: Learn how the WIDA ACCESS results directly influence the support and services your child receives in the classroom.
Tips & Resources: Discover practical ways you can support your child's English language development at home.
Q&A Session: Get your questions answered directly by our Language Program Specialists.
Be Informed, Be Empowered! Wednesday, December 3rd, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
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
From Nurse Wray👩🏽⚕️
From Nurse Wray👩🏽⚕️
Hello Apple Grove Elementary School Community!
As we move into the fall season, we want to take a moment to update you on common illnesses we are seeing in school, including hand-foot-and-mouth disease, colds, COVID-19, and the flu. These illnesses can spread quickly among children, and we appreciate your partnership in helping keep our school community healthy.
What You Can Do at Home:
Remind your child to wash their hands often with soap and water.
Teach your child to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.
Encourage healthy habits: plenty of rest, nutritious meals, and staying hydrated.
When to Keep Your Child Home:
Please do not send your child to school if they have:
A fever of 100.4°F or higher (they must be fever-free for 24 hours without medicine before returning).
Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
New or worsening cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath.
Rashes, blisters, or sores that could be contagious (such as those from hand-foot-and-mouth disease).
How We Are Supporting Students at School:
Extra attention to handwashing and sanitizing in classrooms.
Regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces.
Monitoring of student symptoms and communication with families when needed.
Together, we can reduce the spread of illness and keep our students learning in a safe and healthy environment. Thank you for your cooperation and care.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our school nurse at Kristi.JohnsonWray@pgcps.org or 301-449-4966
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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