Welcome Back Letter for SY25
Dear CGES Students and Families:
Clinton Grove Elementary School would like to welcome all new and returning students for the 2024 - 2025 school year. Please join us throughout the school year in celebrating the many academic and personal successes our students will encounter. Our theme this year is “Leading Through Change”. Clinton Grove Elementary is extremely proud of the positive changes we are making together. With your continued help, we will ensure that the 2024-2025 school year will yield continuous improved academic performance. We lived up to our motto last year and “we made a difference”!
Attendance & Hours of Instruction
Instruction begins promptly at 7:30 AM and ends at 1:40 PM. Students are expected to enter the building at 7:15 AM and in their homeroom class by 7:30 AM each day. Any student that arrives in a car or van after 7:30 AM must be accompanied by an adult to the front door and signed into school. No student should be dropped off before 7:15 AM and left unattended. The school doors open at 7:15 AM every day. Instructional time lost cannot be made up simply by doing make-up work. Student illness is an excused absence. In order for the absence to be excused, a note from the parent or physician must be provided stating the reason for their absence. Absence codes will be assigned in Synergy in alignment with Administrative Procedure 5113. Without a note, the absence will be marked as unexcused.
Your child should arrive at school on time and attend every class each day. All educators will record attendance in Synergy throughout the day to ensure that students are in attendance. Our Professional School Counselor, Community Schools Coordinator, and PPW (Pupil Personnel Worker) monitor attendance weekly and may contact you if your child’s attendance becomes a concern. Should an unforeseen issue arise, please contact us so that we can assist you.
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Clinton Grove Elementary for the upcoming academic year 2024-2025 has been designated as a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a program under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) that aims to reduce administrative burdens and increase access to nutritious meals for students in eligible schools. Clinton Grove Elementary School can provide free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students without the need for individual meal applications.
What this means for our students and families:
Enhanced Participation: By removing financial barriers, CEP often leads to increased participation in school meal programs, benefiting the overall health and well-being of students
School Supplies and Devices
With the help of our community partners; Clinton Baptist Church will be hosting a Drive-Up Backpack Giveaway on August 17th from 10am-12pm. Immunizations for adults and children will also be offered!
On Wednesday, August 21st at Clinton Grove, we are partnering with St. Job Baptist Church and Kaiser: Marlow Heights Medical Center for a Material Distribution Day from 2pm-4pm.
Orientation Day for New Students Only
On August 23rd, all Prince George's County Schools will have a New Student Orientation Day. During this time, students and two family members can report to the school to participate in an abbreviated instructional day. During this time, families will receive important information regarding the instructional program. It is imperative that all families are prompt and present for this event during the grade level’s designated time. Each child can bring a maximum of two adults for orientation due to limited seating. Please see the event details below.
When
Friday, August 23, 2024 - New Student Orientation (Sneak a Peek)
9:00 am for PreK Orientation
9:00 am for Kindergarten Orientation
9:30 -10:00 - Grades 1st - 5th - new students only for Orientation
10:00 - 10:30 Grades 1st and 2nd can sneak a peek at their seat in the classroom
10:30 -11:00 Grades 3rd- 5th can sneak a peek at their seat in the classroom
During sneak peek hours parents can drop off any supplies and students can sneak a peek at their desk. Teachers will not be available for any conferencing. Teachers are working on classrooms to be completely ready on August 26, 2024.
Each orientation will last approximately 45 minutes, starting in the cafeteria. Please use the cafeteria ramp to enter the orientation and exit through the front doors in the school lobby at the conclusion of the building tour. We will not have space for any early arrivals, please arrive during your designated time.
Where
This event will be held at the Clinton Elementary School with a limit of two adults to accompany the student for orientation and to take a quick peek at the classroom.
More information
Arrival
● All students are expected to exit cars on the sidewalk. No
cars are allowed to double park and allow students to cross through
the bus loop. Cones will be placed to direct car flow
Dismissal
Dismissal will begin at 1:40 pm. PreK and Kindergarten will begin slightly earlier.
Van Riders, Late Busses and After Care Students
Walkers/Car Riders
Transportation
In light of the continued shortage of bus drivers regionally and nationally, we ask for your patience during the first weeks of school. Please update phone numbers, emails and emergency contact info in Synergy/Parentvue. To view your bus stop, use our Infofinder tool. Transportation questions can be submitted online. This school year, all students can also ride TheBus operated by Prince George’s County to school for free with their school ID. No registration is required. View school routes here.
Main Office Hours
The main office is available via telephone or by in-person appointments Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm. The first hour is reserved for the arrival of students and attendance.
Because of your effort and participation every year, we receive additional money from the government as a Title I school, which allows our school to receive additional resources, including classroom teacher positions.
You will have the opportunity to provide input on our 2024-2025 Home-School Compact. Once all input is gathered, we will send the final document electronically through Class Dojo. It is important that all parents Read and Sign the Home-School Compact so that everyone understands what the expectations are for the parents and the students, and what we as a school pledge to do. As a Title I school this is a must.
No Shots? No School.
Need shots for school? Head to a free immunization clinic in school wellness centers to get up-to-date with vaccinations. Appointments are required. View clinic dates and visit www.marylandvax.org to make an appointment. On September 16, 2024 any student that is on the exclusion list, will not be able to attend school. Our school nurse and community school coordinator are available to support us with resources.
Some final reminders
information and announcements will be posted on Class Dojo
throughout the school year.
|
Date |
Event Time |
|
August 23, 2024 |
PreK Student Orientation 9:00 am - 9:45 am Kindergarten Student Orientation 9:00 - 9:45 am Grades 1-5th (new students only) 9:30 - 10:00 am |
|
August 26, 2024 |
** First Day of School Arrival: 7:15 am - 7:30 am Dismissal 1:40 pm |
|
September 12, 2023 |
Back to School Night 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm |
The staff and I considered all input into our discussions concerning classroom assignments for this school year and spent many hours on this process. We have created well-balanced classes with the best interests of all children being considered. This letter will provide you with information needed to prepare for the 2024 - 2025 school year. Please be sure to check our school webpage,https://www.pgcps.org/clintongrove/ ,which will contain the latest news and updates. As always, should you have any specific questions please feel free to contact me at renee.gibbons@pgcps.org . I look forward to partnering with you and your children throughout the school year to provide a productive and safe learning environment that supports student success.
Sincerely,
Renee Hall-McNeil
Principal
