Back to School Newsletter - graceknights.org · Back to School Newsletter August 2019 Dear Parents,...

Back to School Newsletter August 2019

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students:

Happy Summer! I pray that your summer has been relaxing, fun and full of memories. It is great pleasure that I take the time to welcome all new and returning students/families to the 19/20 school year. I am excited to serve as director and know that the Lord will do great things during our school year. We've been working diligently to accomplish our mission statement- To provide academic excellence to students from all walks of life in order to develop servant leaders to live and love like Jesus. On your mark, get set GO! First day of school is Wednesday, August 21st. Room and teacher assignments are underway along with secondary schedules. On Monday, August 19th we will have our Meet and Greet. Hope to see you there! Here are a few things that have been implemented for the 19/20 school year:

-Campus Pastor -SAT Math Prep specialist -Updated curriculum across the entire academy -Forensic Science, French and Life Skills, American Sign Language added - Secondary -Project Lead the way- some elementary and middle school -STEM curriculum in some preschool and elementary classrooms -Online learning (dual enrollment) secondary -Google Classroom utilized K-12 -Knightly News-YouTube channel for live announcements weekly-school wide -Preschool Homecoming -New senior lockers -locker cabinets in elementary classrooms Serving Christ, Ms. Charletta Jones Interim Director of School

A NOTE FROM THE REGISTRAR Every student needs to have a 2019-2020 Financial Agreement and Emergency Form on file before the first day of school. We are also accepting updated health inventory and immunization records.

13000 Zekiah Drive, Waldorf, MD 20601 (301) 645-0406 • Fax: (301) 645-7463

www.graceknights.org

School Hours

PRE-K HALF DAY

8:30AM – 2:30PM

PRE-K FULL DAY

8:30AM – 11:45PM

ELEMENTARY

8:30AM – 2:30PM

SECONDARY

8:00AM-3:15PM

FOR CONFIDENCE: Philippians 4:13

FOR COURAGE: Joshua 11:9

FOR ENDURANCE: Galatians 6:9

TO FORGIVE OTHERS: Colossians 3:12-14

TO BE OBEDIENT: Proverbs 19:20-21

VERSES FOR A

FAITH-FILLED

SCHOOL YEAR

8/15/19 – Binder Orientation &

Study Skills, 6pm Location: Learning Commons

8/19/19 – Meet & Greet, 4pm – 6pm Location: Gymnasium

8/21/19 – First Day of School

9/2/19 – School Closed Labor Day

9/13/19 – HALF DAY, AFTER CARE OPEN Teacher Professional Development

10/14/19 – SCHOOL CLOSED Columbus Day

10/22/19 – END OF FIRST QUARTER

10/23/19 – HALF DAY, AFTER CARE OPEN TEACHER WORK DAY

START OF SECOND QUARTER

10/31/19 – NO SCHOOL Teacher Professional Development

*Full schedule on website and ParentsWeb.

Monday, August 19, 2019 • 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Pre-K & Elementary Drop-in for New Families

Ice Cream Social for New Middle & High School Students

Meet Administrators

School Store

Grades 3-8: Must purchase dividers and agenda book

Bibles and other school supplies available for purchase

Uniforms

Place new orders & pick-up existing orders from Keri Cohen

Checkout our overstock of gently used uniforms that will

be sold for $2 per item

Receive class schedule

See your classroom(s) and meet your teacher(s)

Receive locker number & combination (Grades 6-12)

Lunch Sign-up & Payment

Meet the nurse: medication and forms drop-off

Athletics Information Table

O Sign-up Pizza for Sale

Join Us For A Getting to Know You

Monday, August 19th 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

for NEW GCA Preschool – Grade 6 Families!

Q&A with Mrs. Vetta Cash, Parent Relations Light Refreshments

RSVP: [email protected]

Location: Learning Commons

New Middle School Students: Join Us For A

Getting to Know You


for New 7th and 8th Grade Students!


Location: E4

The Student Government Association of GCA invites you to


for NEW High School Students,

ALL Students Entering 9th Grade and Current High School-SGA members


Location: Mezzanine

BINDER ORIENTATION & STUDY SKILLS Thursday, August 15th

• 6:00 pm

This orientation is mandatory for all 3rd grade students (new and returning)

and new 4th-8th grade students. During this orientation your student will

learn proper study skills and the school wide Notebook System. The school

wide Notebook System is mandatory for grades 3rd-8th.


CLOTHING IDENTIFICATION

Please put your student’s name on all uniform items.

Many uniform items that are misplaced could be

returned if names were in the items.

ELEMENTARY TRAFFIC PATTERN

SECONDARY TRAFFIC PATTERN

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF CONTACTS

Mrs. Charletta Jones, Head of School [email protected]

Mr. Dwayne Johnson, Dean of Student Life [email protected]

Mrs. Barbara Greenawalt, Director of Events [email protected]

Mrs. Nancy Kemmerer, Comptroller [email protected]

Mrs. Blair Salvas, Director of Admissions [email protected]

Mrs. Jodie Duranske, Academic Advisor [email protected]

Mrs. Amy Baker, Registrar [email protected]

Mrs. Sharon Dewees, Director of Before & After Care [email protected]

Mrs. Stacie Buhl, Athletic Director [email protected]

Mrs. Lisa Johnson, Attendance Secretary [email protected]

FALL SPORTS KICK OFF! Boys Varsity Soccer Tryouts (grades 7th-12th) August 7th-9th from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Girls Varsity Volleyball Tryouts (grades 9th-12th) August 12th-16th from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Girls Middle School Volleyball Tryouts (grades 5th-8th) August 22nd-23rd from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm All players must have an up to date physical on hand to participate. All the forms can be found on the website under Athletics. If you have any questions please contact Stacie Buhl, the Athletic Director, at [email protected].

2019-2020 LUNCH OPTIONS

Monday – Friday: Apple Spice Junction Lunch delivered daily • must purchase online • Begins September 3rd

Thursdays only: Chick-fil-A Day Pre-paid by the month, semester or school year • Begins September 19th

Fridays only: Pizza Day (Pizza Hotline) Pre-paid by the month, semester or school year • Begins September 20th

Secondary AM Grab & Go Snack Bar – Grades 7-12

Secondary Lunch Snack Bar – Grades 7-12 Begins September 3rd

Elementary Ice Cream Fridays – Grades K-6 Purchase each Friday No pre-sales • Begins September 6th

ELEMENTARY ICE CREAM FRIDAYS! Starting Friday, September 6, 2019

For Grades K-6 (To benefit Student Activities)

Freeze Pop (small) - $.25 Ice Cream Sandwich - $.75 Dixie Cup - $.75 (3oz small cup of ½ vanilla + ½ chocolate) Jr. Firecracker - $.75 (Cherry + White Lemon + Blue Raspberry Ice) Fudge Pop - $1.00 Cotton Candy Bar - $1.00 Bubble Gum Bar - $1.00 Outshine Bars - $1.25 (All flavors are gluten free. Flavors are subject to

change) Sponge Bob Pops - $1.50 (Fruit Punch + Cotton Candy Ice) Ninja Turtle Pops - $1.50 (Cherry with other fruit flavors) Hello Kitty - $1.50 (Strawberry + Cherry) Minions - $1.50 (Blue Raspberry + Strawberry-banana) Oreo Pop - $2.00 Chocolate Chip Sandwich - $2.00

Please send in correct change to your classroom teacher on Fridays.

(Teachers may not be able to make change.) Ice Cream money will be collected first thing in the morning.

Once money is collected from your teacher, no additions can be added. The school office does not collect ice cream money.

No yearly orders will be accepted for Ice Cream!

To provide academic excellence from a biblical perspective in order to develop servant leaders of all walks of life who live and love like Jesus Christ.

SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS BY GRADE (click on link below)

PK3 Supply List PK4 Supply List

Kindergarten Supply List 1st Grade Supply List

2nd Grade Supply List 3rd Grade Supply List

4th Grade Supply List 5th Grade Supply List

6th Grade Supply List 7th-12th Grade Supply List

W E L C O M E NEW TEACHERS & STAFF

Deenalin Crook – 2nd Grade Teacher

Stephen Forrester, Sr. – Campus Pastor

Stephen Forrester, Jr. – Preschool Aide

Brenda Holland – Nursery Assistant

David Mendez – Preschool Aide

Sharee Moore – 4th Grade Teacher

Tiffany Morris – Elementary and Middle School Technology

Ogor Otuya – Middle & High School Science

William Rausch – Maintenance

Laurel Russell – Kindergarten Teacher

Candice Stokes – Secondary Math & Science Teacher

John Stokes – Secondary Computer & Math Teacher

Stephanie Windsor – Preschool 3 Teacher

Keep working hard to get your summer reading finished. The last day to take AR tests in the office is Friday, August 16th. Summer Reading book reports are due the first day of school.

Follow us on Instagram & Twitter

GCA_Knight_Life

IMPORTANT DEADLINES/TIPS FOR UPCOMING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS Now - College Tours (Make a list of your family's Top Six college choices. Contact schools' admission offices and make plans to visit the school.) It is important to see for yourself and to examine the surrounding area and check safety & crime stats. Aug - Sept 2019- Collect the Following Documents to build your "Senior Portfolio": A) Recommendations from two teachers and two extracurricular activities' leaders. (i.e. Girl Scout Troop Leader, Soccer Coach, Church Leader, Debutante Organization, etc.); B) Generic College Essay; C) Resume (to include any Honors Classes & Extracurricular Activities); D) Certificates from any honors, awards, certifications, training). KEEP THE PORTFOLIO AS A QUICK RESOURCE FOR APPLICATIONS. Aug 16th and Sept. 20th- Deadline dates to register for the last two ACT test dates of: Sept. 14 and Oct. 26th (before applying to college). Sept 6th and Oct. 3rd- Deadline dates to register for the last two SAT test dates of: Oct. 5th and Nov. 2nd (before applying to college). Oct. 26, 2019- Last Date to Take ACT (for early decision admissions) Oct. 31, 2019- College Applications Due for Early Decisions. This means your student should have heard yay or nay from colleges they have applied to by Jan 15, 2020. Nov. 2, 2019- Last Date to Take the SAT (for early decision admissions) Nov 1st - March 1st- Submit multiple scholarship applications, as often as possible. Dec- May 1st- Submit all College Acceptance Letters & Scholarship Offers to your School's Counselor to be published in the graduation program. ADVICE: Every year, our elected Maryland Delegates provide scholarships to students who attend in-state colleges and universities. In 2016, every applicant was awarded a scholarship (due to the limited number of applicants). The College of Southern Maryland is one of the most inexpensive colleges in the nation. It is very easy to submit an application and to get a decision. Sometimes, it is a good idea to apply and get an early acceptance letter, because some college scholarships require an acceptance letter. Thanks to the Maryland Governor, it is now free to attend many state community colleges for parents whose income level does not exceed the required maximum. For more information, visit: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Gov-Hogan-Signs-Bill-to-Offer-Free-Community-College-Tuition-482105591.html Avoid "FOR PROFIT" Colleges & Universities. They tend to be more expensive and do not have a higher success rate of helping students find employment (compared to universities that are not-for-profit). SCHOLARSHIP SITES to FOLLOW: www.Twitter.com/ResumesEssays; www.Fastweb.com; www.thepennyhoarder.com; https://scholarships.uncf.org; www.FAFSA.ed.gov

www.renweb.com

We are please to provide our students and parents with FACTS ParentsWeb Portal, an online link between school and home! Specifically, FACTS provides families with academic, attendance and financial information, as well as general school information. When logging in, please use our District Code: GBCS-MD. Should you need assistance utilizing FACTS, please email Mrs. Baker at: [email protected].

How Parents Can Prepare for Back to School Time https://www.teachhub.com/how-parents-can-prepare-back-school-time

1.

1. Get back into your sleep routine. 2. Shop for school supplies together. 3. Re-establish school routines. 4. Set up a homework station. 5. Prepare for the unexpected. 6. Make an after-school game plan. 7. Turn off the TV and video games. 8. Review school material and information. 9. Get organized. 10. Get your child’s yearly checkup.

Back to School Newsletter - graceknights.org · Back to School Newsletter August 2019 Dear Parents,...

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