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

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.

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!"