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Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The best time to reach a teacher is between 8:00-8:30 a.m. or between 2:45-3:15 p.m. Because of after-school meetings and the fact that our office staff leaves at 4:00 p.m., we cannot provide adequate supervision for students who are not picked up in a timely fashion.
Our school hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. The doors are opened at 8:15 a.m. to admit students. If your children walk to school, please check to be sure they are not leaving home too early. Children should not arrive at school before 8:15 a.m. Children who arrive too early will be required to wait outside the cafeteria door until 8:15 a.m. There is no supervision prior to that time. Teachers use the time before school to prepare for the day's instruction and to hold conferences. Upon arrival, students are to enter the building through the side cafeteria doors. In the cafeteria, students line up by grade level in specified areas of the Multi-Purpose Room.
Parents picking up children at the end of the school day must arrive by 2:40 p.m. Unless a student is involved in an organized after-school activity there will be no supervision after this time. Because of after-school meetings and the fact that our office staff leaves at 4:00 p.m., we cannot provide adequate supervision for students who are not picked up in a timely manner.
Please advise your children that they are not to play on the playground equipment either before school or immediately after school. There is no playground supervision at that time and we do not want children to play unsupervised.
We cannot over-emphasize the importance of this vital communications tool. Every student must have an updated family card on file, with operating phone numbers for parents/legal guardians and an emergency contact number.
Parents are welcome to visit at any time. All visitors must first report to the office with a valid ID and sign in for a pass. This is for the protection of your child. Parents are reminded that unscheduled visitations are for the purpose of observing and must not disrupt the instructional process. If you would like a conference with the teacher, please send a note to the teacher. No children may visit the classroom.
Students are required to be in school every day. Absence may be excused in case of pupil illness, death in the family, quarantine, court summons, violent storms and observance of religious holidays. Please send a note to the office the day your student returns from an absence. As set forth in Administrative Procedure 5113, "The Principal shall require a physician's certificate from the parent or guardian of a child reported continuously absent for illness. A continuous absence is an absence of three or more continuous days. Consistent absence or late arrival will be referred to the County Pupil Services Office. Repeated tardiness will result in a lowered report card grade in work habits. Students are late after 8:30 a.m., but should report to class where their lateness will be recorded by the teacher. Late students arriving after 8:35 a.m. must report to the office for a late pass. Students without late passes are marked absent. One of our goals this year is to reduce the number of tardy students each day.
When a student comes in late, he/she is delayed further in the office waiting for a late slip, and then comes into the classroom after the morning instructions and warm-ups have been given. Valuable organizational and instructional time has been wasted. Please help your child to develop the skill of promptness. You will be teaching your children a life-long skill that will serve them well. Quarterly attendance certificates are awarded to the parents of students who have no absences and no tardies for the quarter.
As soon as you have a definite date for the withdrawal of your student from Fort Washington Forest, please call the office so that a withdrawal card can be prepared for the new school. Please allow a minimum of two days to complete this card and to secure the information needed from the teachers. All textbooks, library books, patrol belts and borrowed items must be returned in good condition--as well as the repayment of any borrowed lunch money or
Permission to have pupils excused from class at any time for any purpose must be approved by the school office and the child must be picked up there. No exceptions! Teachers are not allowed to release students to anyone and students are not allowed to walk home at any time during the school day. Early Dismissal stops at 2:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! This puts a burden on the office staff, interrupts valuable instruction and makes it difficult for your child to organize their homework and belongings. A written note from the parent/legal guardian must be received in the office if a child is to be released early or to someone other than the parent.
Students must have written permission from the teacher before using the phone in the office and this is only granted for emergencies. Students are not allowed to call home for lunches, homework, etc., and cannot be called from class to receive a call. Messages are relayed to children only in an emergency
If it is necessary to close school, delay the opening, or dismiss early, due to an emergency, an announcement will be made on radio and T.V. and will also be posted on the Prince George's County Public Schools webpage: https://www.pgcps.org/weather LISTEN TO THE RADIO. DO NOT CALL POLICE, RADIO STATIONS OR THE SCHOOL. Each family should work out an emergency plan for early school closing. It is impossible for school personnel to contact a parent for every child enrolled, so it is important that children know exactly what to do and where to go when a responsible person is not at home.
For the latest updates, check out the following:
E-alerts https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/PGCPS/subscriber/new
PGCPS Weather Line: 301-952-6000 (option "1")
The system has implemented a computerized bus route system. Critical to the success of this program is that every student must have up-to-date information on parent names, phone numbers, and address in the school's computer.
Effective and orderly behavior on the bus is absolutely essential to accomplish the educational goals of our school system. There can be no question that the school bus must be a safe and orderly part of the school program. Disruption on school buses will not be tolerated. Riding the bus is a privilege not a right. Procedures and guidelines for maintaining bus standards are clearly delineated in Administrative Procedure number 5131.1. You should discuss with your child the following Student Bus Rider Responsibilities as taken directly from that procedure:
Students will lose bus-riding privileges through a suspension policy if misbehavior is persistent and/or presents a danger.
Changes: A note must be sent to the office to change a child's transportation in any way. If a child does not have a note saying they should not ride the bus on a particular day they will be put on their regular bus. Please do not call the school at the last minute--we cannot properly identify whom we are speaking to over the phone.
Parking Lot: No vehicles are allowed in the front parking lot from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The front parking lot is reserved for the use of Prince George's County Public school buses and school staff members during these times. This is for the protection of our children. Please use extreme caution and patience when dropping off and picking up students. Students may not be dropped off in the front parking lot of the school.
Bicycle Riders: Bicycles must follow the rules of the road. Racks are provided but locks must be supplied by the riders. The school cannot be responsible for bicycles.
Walkers: Walkers will be dismissed immediately after buses have left the grounds. Students should not congregate or play on school grounds after dismissal.
Car Riders: Students arriving at school in the morning via personal vehicles (not riding school buses) must be dropped off in the back parking lot (off of Taylor Avenue). Drive into the back parking lot, around the circle and drop your student off as directed by the person on duty at that time. No students may be dropped off at the front of the school. During the morning hours, the front of the school is reserved for Prince George's County Public School Buses only. It is extremely hazardous for students to be dropped off on Fillmore Road in the front of the school in the morning due to the traffic generated by the school buses.
Field trips are considered to be an extension of the classroom experience and a part of the educational program. These trips require:
Any student having previously paid for a trip and unable to attend, irrespective of the cause, shall not be entitled to a refund unless a standby goes in his/her place.
We continually survey our playground situation to ensure the safety of all children. Safe play and the adherence to all school recess rules is the responsibility of every student. Games that involve pushing, shoving, kicking or hitting are forbidden. We provide appropriate recess balls for use in playing soccer or kickball games. Therefore, children are not permitted to bring them from home. Balls may not be thrown at anyone at anytime. Playing football or bringing a football to school is forbidden. Bats and baseballs are not permitted on the playground unless under the direction of the physical education teacher during class. All recess games must be explained to and approved by the recess duty teacher. Games, which are not approved, are forbidden on the school playground. Picking up and throwing rocks and sticks is forbidden and a punishable offense.
The Board of Education has established clearly defined guidelines, which we are required to follow. All medications that are brought to school must be left in the Health Room where they are placed in locked facilities. All medications require a written permission form from a physician specifying dosage, child's name and time the medication is to be given; with authorization for us to dispense the medication to the child at school. No child, under any condition, is allowed to dispense medicine to themselves. (even non-prescription drugs, such as cough drops, allergy medication, etc.) Questions regarding this policy or its clarification should be directed to the principal or nurse.
A full-time nurse staffs the school Health Room. Nurses are not permitted to administer any medication without written permission from a physician. Forms are available for over-the-counter medications as well as prescribed medications. Please check to see that a child is well before he/she comes to school. Due to limited facilities and personnel, a student who becomes ill at school may remain in the Health Room for 30 minutes, after which the parent must make arrangements for the child to be picked up.
A student injured at school will be sent to the Health Room where minor scrapes and bruises will be attended. Parents are called when there is an injury to the head, neck or back. In the event of a serious injury, if a parent cannot be located, the child is referred immediately to the doctor or hospital listed on the family card. If, after being ill a student is not sufficiently recovered to participate in physical education or go out to recess, that child is probably not ready to return to school. There are some exceptions, such as broken limbs. A doctor's excuse is needed when a student is not able to participate in physical education. The law requires the regular participation of every child unless declared unable by a doctor.
The Code of Student conduct is a set of rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Education that is designed to maintain order and discipline necessary for effective learning. The policies of the Code are carefully followed at Fort Washington Forest Elementary.
Any student bringing a weapon of any sort, drugs or an alcoholic beverage to school will be subject to immediate suspension or expulsion from school. This warning is posted throughout the building.
The Board of Education approves the following disciplinary actions:
Toys, Pets, Gum: Toys (electronic games, radios, cards, action figures, Pokemon cards, etc.) will be confiscated and kept in the office until picked up by the parent. Parents should make arrangements to pick up items within 3-5 days after the items have been confiscated, as secure space is very limited. We cannot be responsible for the safety or value of these items. Chewing gum is not permitted.
Lost and Found: The "lost and found" box is kept in the Multi-Purpose Room. Parents should encourage children to check the box for lost articles. Possessions should be clearly marked for there is little the school can do to recover or pay for lost articles. Extra money and valuable items should not be brought to school.
Supplies: The County supplies most of the necessary instructional materials for each child. However, there is a limit to the number of smaller items that can be supplied. Students are asked to bring certain materials to school during the first week. Teachers on each grade level will make known to the students and parents the supplies that will be needed. If parents have access to usable paper or supplies, please consider donating them to the school.
Lunches: We are delighted to have a computerized lunch program. This program requires all students to use a 4 or 5 digit code that must be entered whenever a purchase is made. The price of a full lunch including milk is $2.75. Milk is available for those students who bring their lunch at a cost of $.50. Lunch may be paid for by cash or check to be deposited in your child's account. Cash can be deposited at any time; however checks must be deposited on Mondays only. Please make sure the student's name and four-digit code is written on the check. Parents may also register online to make online payments and receive emails whe account balances become low. To access this service, go to www.pgcps.org, click on the "Parents" tab and choose "Lunch Menus". Student account numbers remain the same from year to year. Students transferring from another school system will receive a number within 24 hours following registration. Every effort will be made via a reminder slip given to your child, to let you know when funds are low; however it is the parent's responsibility to keep an accurate account of your child's expenses. Please be aware that money in your child's account can be used for breakfast and lunch as well as ala carte items. Therefore, your expectations as to how you want the funds spent should be explained to your child.
Lunch Loans: There are no provisions for loaning lunch money to students. Students will receive a cheese sandwich when they do not have lunch and a carton of milk. Parents are expected to pay the school for the cost of the milk.
Free or Reduced Lunch: Students approved for free or reduced lunch for the 2023 - 2024 school year will receive free or reduced lunch until approximately the end of September. After this date all students must have a 2024 - 2025 approved free or reduced lunch application on file.
It is a time-honored tradition of the public schools of this County to extend the free use of textbooks and other similar study guides to pupils upon the express condition that such materials are returned in the same basic condition as issued, ordinary wear and tear excepted. Also, the proper use of textbooks and similar materials is part of the educational process.
Students will not receive their report cards in a timely manner unless the student:
The Value of Homework
Homework is an important part of your child's education. When related directly to the daily curriculum, homework can be beneficial by providing practice of skills and processes taught in the classroom. It can aid in the development of self-discipline and work habits. Homework is truly an extension of the classroom, providing every student with the opportunity for enhanced learning.
Homework assigned by the teaching staff is directly related to the school curriculum. The assignments are specific so that the student knows exactly what is expected. The teaching staff will communicate with parents if individual students are repeatedly having problems completing homework assignments. When assigning homework, consideration is given to the individual needs and abilities of the students and to extra-curricular and planned school activities.
After the return of a student from an excused absence, the student is allowed the same number of days to make up the work as he/she was absent (out two days, student has two days to make up work).
Safety Patrols: Composed of fifth and sixth grade students who have been recommended by teachers and approved by the principal. These members are selected for their leadership, reliability and conduct.
Youth Development: This group provides selected students with the opportunity to improve study skills, self-esteem and social behaviors. Usually the students come from grades 4 and 5 and they must go through an application process as well as being recommended for participation.
Volunteers: All of our activities need the support of our parent community. We are delighted to have volunteers working in our building. Please adhere to our regular policy of first reporting to the office, signing in, and receiving a pass. For the safety of our students, all volunteers and chaperones are required to undergo fingerprinting and possible background checks before being allowed to volunteer or chaperone in any Prince George's County Public School. Clink the following link for more administration procedures: Fingerprinting and Background Office
Honor Roll: The following county-wide honor roll system has been implemented for students in grades 2-5: