Dear Families,

In January, we saw Dr. Ronald E. McNair ES pride and community come to life. The Dr. RMES STEM Night was a success! Ms. Dali and I were impressed by the student choices and the variety in projects. The students had great command of public speaking skills and clearly explained the facts and their learning from completing their projects and experiments. During the month of January, we welcomed our sixth kindergarten class. Throughout the process, our kindergarten parents, students, teaching team, and other McNair staff members came together to welcome Ms. Wendy Chalmers to our school. The students’ first day was January 31 and it was a smooth transition for them. Thank you for your flexibility and support, as our kindergarten classes went from 27/28 to 21/22.

February may be a short month, but it is filled with many important dates. On February 4, the PTA will be hosting its second General Meeting with Movie Night of the school year. From February 4 through 8, the SGA will be hosting its Kindness Week challenge. It heralds the 100th day of school, which is celebrated by our Kindergarten classes. This year it occurs during the second week of February; the 13th to be exact. Next, students will be exchanging Valentines at our parties on February 14. Valentine’s Day parties will begin at 2:40. Then, schools will be closed on February 18 for Presidents’ Day. From February 11 through 15, our students will display their jump rope skills in our annual Kids Heart Challenge (formerly known as Jump Rope for Heart) event.

Although we have already had some snow days and a few delayed openings, winter is not over! We know the weather can be very unpredictable. Please create and discuss a plan of action with your child for days when there is an unexpected early school closure. The following are a few sources you can access to be informed of school closures and delays. The complete list can be found at http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/. MCPS cable channel: Comcast 34, Verizon 36 or RCN 89 MCPS homepage: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org Recorded information (English and Spanish): 301-279-3673 AlertMCPS: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/alertmcps.aspx

As we enter into the second semester, please remember it is very important students arrive to school on time. Students who are habitually tardy to school miss important instruction, announcements, and classroom routines that are essential for student success. Being on time is a critical life-long habit necessary for future success as well. In order to ensure a great start to each school day, students should be in their classroom seats before 9:20 a.m. Students buying breakfast may enter the building at 9:05 a.m., or when their bus drops them off, and proceed directly to the cafeteria. The cafeteria closes for breakfast at 9:20. All other students will be admitted into the building at 9:15 a.m. when the first bell rings.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 301-353-0854 if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sherilyn “Sherry” Moses Principal

The first page and

calendar from the

Principal’s Newsletter is

sent home during the first

week of each month. You

may access the newsletter

in its entirety on the

school’s webpage at

http://www.montgomerys

choolsmd.org/schools/ron

aldmcnares/ or by coming

in to the front office..

PTA GENERAL

MEETING /

MOVIE NIGHT,

FEB. 4, 6:00 PM

REPORT CARDS

DISTRIBUTED,

FEB. 6

VALENTINE’S

PARTIES, FEB. 14,

2:45 PM

PRESIDENTS’

DAY, NO SCHOOL

FOR STUDENTS &

STAFF, FEB. 18

NO PREK,

PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT,

FEB. 21

FAMILY FUN

NIGHT, FEB. 27,

6:30-8:30 PM

Sherilyn “Sherry” Moses, Principal February 2019 Amanda E. Dali, Assistant Principal

BELL TIMES

Our important school times are as follows:

9:00 a.m. – students eating breakfast at school are

allowed in the building

9:05 a.m. – Students are allowed on school grounds

(adult supervision begins)

9:15 a.m. – bell rings to admit students to class

9:25 a.m. – tardy bell rings (students must be in their

seats before this time)

3:50 p.m. – dismissal begins**

**This also means that middle and high school

students who come to pick up siblings at McNair will

be waiting for 45 minutes or more until our

dismissal. Please remind your middle and high school

students that our students are still learning during that

time. We ask that they are quiet while waiting outside

the school and stay off of the play equipment. We also

need to remind them to take care of their needs before

leaving their school, as they will not be allowed to enter

our building.

IMPORTANT ITEMS

Emergencies can arise at any time. It is important to

your child’s safety that we have your current address

and current home and work numbers on file. If you

have not already done so, please remember to sign and

return all important forms that were sent home on the

first day of school.

Please label all of your student’s personal items with

their name (especially lunch boxes and jackets.)

Remember to check our Lost & Found rack outside the

front office periodically for missing items.

Parents should keep children at home when an illness is

suspected, a communicable disease has been diagnosed

or lice nits have been found. The child must bring a

note from home upon his/her return. After five

consecutive days of absence, a physician’s note is

required. Parents will receive an attendance call for

students who are absent without notice.

SECURITY SYSTEM

All doors to the building, including the main entrance,

are locked between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

If you need to enter the building during that time, please

come to the main door by the bus loop and follow the

directions to be admitted.

All visitors wishing to gain access to the building

beyond the main office, will be required to have a

photo identification. Your photo ID will be scanned into

our Visitor Management System and you will receive a

visitor’s badge. This badge must be worn at all times

when in the school. Any, and every, time you are entering

McNair your photo ID will be required to gain access

beyond the main office, including coming to visit your

child(ren) during their lunch time.

TARDY BELL

Students who arrive at 9:25 a.m. or later are tardy.

All students who are tardy must have an ADULT sign

them in at the office and receive a pass to enter the

classroom. Please do not drop your child off, if they are

late, without walking him/her into the office. We would

like to remind parents that they must sign their

child(ren) in at the office if they are not in their

classroom by 9:25 a.m.

SAFE ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL

If you drive your child to or from school, you know the

importance of following the posted signs and the traffic

flow. In addition, if you are walking your child to

school, you are a model for your child. Please

remember to cross at the cross walks and follow the

directions of the staff. The biggest safety issues in the

morning are parents and children crossing the roads

not at the crosswalks, and parents and students walking

into our bus lane. Both of these issues are easily solved

by crossing only at crosswalks and listening to the

directions of staff on duty.

The biggest safety issue in the afternoon is parents

parking illegally. Please don’t park on Eternity Court

or where the signs are posted along Eternity Road.

Finally, children cannot walk through the parking lot at

any time without an adult.

I have included a link for Back to School Safety Tips. I

hope you will read and follow so that we can be safe

coming and going from school:

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs-

info/news/2013/08252013.html

WINTER HAS ARRIVED Now that the cold weather has arrived, students need to

be prepared to be outside for recess but, also be in warm

classrooms. Please remember to dress your child for the

changing temperatures. Layering clothing works best. A

shirt with a sweater over top is great for the classroom

and then, he/she can add a heavy coat for recess. Please

remember to label EVERYTHING with your child’s name.

That way, as they shed their layers, we can make sure the

items make their way back to the correct children.

WINTER WEATHER INFORMATION

Winter weather emergencies, such as snow and ice, may

cause disruptions in school operations, including the

closure of school, a delayed opening, or an early

dismissal. Information about school operations is

announced publicly as soon as possible on area radio and

television stations, Montgomery County Public Schools

Cable TV, Outlook, on the Internet at

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org, and on a recorded

telephone message at 301-279-3673. Emergency e-mail

announcements are available by signing up for MCPS

Quicknotes on the school system’s home page. If schools

are closed or delayed, the announcement is made no

later than 5:00 a.m. (or the night before if possible). If

schools are closing early, the announcement is made by

11:00 a.m. Please make sure you have a plan for delayed

openings and early closings.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, Feb. 6th.

Please make sure to check your child’s backpack for this

important document. This is a great time to check in

with your child’s teacher if you have any questions

and/or concerns.

KIDS HEART CHALLENGE (formally known as

JumpRope for Heart)

Parents, it’s time for your child to show heart! Before

winter break, all students brought home a packet of

information about the Kids Heart Challenge. On January

4, every student attended an assembly to learn about this

great cause! It’s your child’s chance to be a Heart Hero

by learning about heart health, spreading the word and

raising funds to save other children. If you would like to

donate, please have your child register at

http://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=3997&pg=co

mpany&company_id=179232 so they can take one of

the three challenges and email family and friends to ask

for donations. Your child will earn a glow-in-the-dark

wristband just for registering online. When they get

donations, they will receive Echo, Finn and a clasp.

There’s also an app titled “Kids Heart Challenge” where

you can keep track of special rewards and donations on

the go! From February 11-15, all students will

participate in a special Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course

during their regularly scheduled Physical Education class

as the culminating event! Students have already started

donating, and all donations are due by February 15,

2019. Thank you for supporting the physical and

emotional well-being of our students and the American

Heart Association.

FIELD TRIPS

Our third grade students will travel to the College Park

Aviation Museum on Thursday, Feb. 7th. The Aviation

Museum offers students the opportunity to utilize the

exhibits and participate in interactive, hands-on

activities to encourage them to be more excited about

the history and science of flight. The buses will leave

promptly at 9:40 a.m. and cannot wait for late students.

The buses will return before lunch time, so students will

eat lunch as normal.

As with all field trips, please make sure you return the

permission slip and field trip fee by the deadline.

CENTER FOR ENRICHED STUDIES PROCESS

Information regarding the Center for Enriched Studies

(formerly the Center for the Highly Gifted) was mailed

directly to all parents of Grade 3 students in Montgomery

County Public Schools (MCPS) the week of December

10th. All Grade 3 students in our school will be centrally

reviewed for potential candidacy for the CES rather than

parents submitting an application. MCPS offers both

regional and local programs. All Grade 3 students will be

considered for a regional CES program, which is based

on their address, unless they attend a school that houses

a local program.

Schools that currently house a regional program include: Lucy V. Barnsley, Chevy Chase, Clearspring, Cold Spring, Charles Drew, Fox Chapel, Mill Creek Towne, Oak View and Pine Crest elementary schools.

Schools that currently house a local program include: Rachel Carson, Piney Branch, Spark Matsunaga, and Stonegate elementary schools.

Students who demonstrate an overall above average

academic profile will be considered for one of the seats

in the CES. You will be notified in early February as to

whether your child will be considered for CES. Upon

notification, you will have the option of requesting or

declining CES testing. Testing at McNair will occur on

February 21, 2019, with the selection results occurring

in late March.

NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK

National School Counseling Week 2019, “Providing

Lessons for Life,” will be celebrated from February 4-8,

2019 to focus public attention on school counselors and

their unique contribution in implementing

comprehensive school counseling programs. The school

counseling program actively engages students in

examining their abilities, strengths, interests, and

talents; and works in partnership with

parents/guardians as they encounter the challenges of

raising children. School counselors support teachers and

other educators in providing an educational system

where students can realize their potential.

I know you join us in expressing our appreciation and

support to Mrs. Privman and Mrs. O’Malley, McNair

School Counselors, for all they do to support the students

in our community!

VALENTINE’S DAY PARTIES

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! McNair’s

Valentine’s festivities will take place on Thursday, Feb.

14th from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. Classroom room parents are

busy planning the parties and should be contacting the

other room volunteers soon (if they have not already

done so). Please do keep in mind that only the

designated room parent volunteers may be in the

classroom during the party. There are no middle/high

school volunteers on that day and we ask that younger

siblings do not come with adult volunteers.

It’s Time to Order Your Candy Grams!!!

A Candy Gram is a Valentine Edition Lollipop with a

Personal To/From card attached! Parents and family

members can send them to the children and the kids can

send them to friends, teachers, and staff! Each lollipop

costs $1 and you can order as many as you like. You can

also order grams for an entire class for just $20.00. All

proceeds will be donated to our 5th grade class for their

promotion and end of year celebration.

The Candy Grams will be delivered to classrooms on

Valentine’s Party Day (Tuesday, February 14th). They

will be sold on a first come, first served basis, so get your

orders in early.

SGA UPDATE

Our annual Great Kindness Challenge will take place Feb.

4th through 8th. All McNair students will participate in

school-wide kindness activities each day, as well as

additional activities in their classrooms. We will work on

giving compliments, reflecting on how each of us can be

more kind, making Valentine's Day cards for the kids at

Children's Hospital, and learning how to be a kind friend.

Thank you for your cooperation and support with this

great program!

STUDENT TRANSFER APPLICATION PROCESS FOR

2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR

Montgomery County parents/guardians who wish to

request a Change of School Assignment (COSA) for their

children from their home school may begin the process

during the upcoming transfer season – the first school

day in February 2019, through the first school day in

April 2019. All COSA requests must be submitted no later

than April 1.

Except for students in the Northeast Consortium (NEC),

Downcounty Consortium (DCC), and Middle School

Magnet Consortium (MSMC) areas, MCPS students are

assigned to a school on the basis of their place of

residence or their Individualized Education Program

(IEP) and are expected to attend their home school.

Assignment changes for students from one school to

another are permitted under limited circumstances. For

more information, visit

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/transfers.

Please also see the attached flier for information about

the process.

VOLUNTEERING

All volunteers must complete online training on the

prevention, recognition, and reporting of child abuse and

neglect. Volunteers may access the training,

“Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect: for

Volunteers and Contractors,” by visiting training found at

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/childabuseandneglect.

If you completed this training last year, you do NOT need

to take the training again. The training is valid for three

years!

ONLINE SCHOOL PAYMENTS

Would you like to be able to pay for your child’s field

trips online via your debit or credit card? Well, you can

do that! On the front page of McNair’s website is a link to

Online School Payments. Look for your child’s field

trip, make sure you have the correct teacher and follow

the prompts to make your payment. It’s super-easy and

you don’t have to worry about sending in cash or a check.

Please remember to still send in your child’s permission

slip. If you have any questions on how to use the Online

School Payment system, please call the school at 301-

353-0854.

PTA INFORMATION

FAMILY FUN NIGHT – Please join

us for an evening of fun and

games, Wednesday, Feb. 27th at

Family Fun Night! The fun will take place from 6:30 to

8:30. Play games, and possibly win prizes! Borrow a

game to play with family and friends (or bring one from

home)! Also, enjoy pizza, snacks, and drinks to help raise

money for the 5th grade promotion!

Prize donations are currently being accepted. All

donations are welcome as we are looking for items that

appeal to both children and adults. Some examples

include board games, coloring books and crayons,

candles and gift cards. Donations can be dropped off at

the Ronald McNair main office and will be accepted until

Tuesday, February 23rd. Families who donate prizes

will receive 5 free bingo cards at the door. Please be sure

to leave your name with Mrs. Patterson or Mrs. Lynch

when dropping off donations.

Bring the whole family for a night of fun and

frivolity! Who knows, you may be one of the big

winners!

We also need volunteers to run this event and make it a

success. Please visit the PTA website to volunteer.

MCPS NEWS

DON’T BE DISTRACTED CONTEST OPEN TO ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY STUDENTS A Safe Kids study demonstrated that one in four high school students and one in six middle school students walk distracted. These distractions were most often texting or wearing headphones. Research also indicates that for teen drivers, a single glance off the road for two or more seconds increases the risk of a crash or near crash by almost four times. When students are distracted while walking or driving, they are putting themselves and others in danger. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is inviting all MCPS students to help raise awareness of this critical issue by participating in the 2019 Don’t Be Distracted Contest. Students are asked to create a 30- to 60-second public service announcement (PSA) video or artwork about one or both of the following topics:

1. Tell your peers the importance of not walking or driving distracted.

2. Tell adults the importance of not being distracted while driving, especially in school zones.

All entries are due Monday, March 4. For more

information and to submit an entry, visit

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-

PedSafety/SRTS/creative-contest.html.

STUDENTS CAN DESIGN THEIR DREAM CLASSROOM IN UNITED WE LEARN CONTEST Montgomery County Public Schools is launching the third

year of its student contest, United We Learn. This year’s

contest, United We Learn: Schools of the Future, allows

students to design their ideal learning space and

challenges them to think critically about how their

physical environment affects their ability to learn.

The contest follows a November 2018 survey that asked

students and staff about how they use learning spaces at

their schools, and what they would like classrooms and

schools to look like in the future. Recurring elements

mentioned in the survey feedback included

considerations regarding color, lighting, furniture,

technology, and security. That feedback will be used to

support the continuous improvement of our educational

facilities. The contest tasks students to consider these

same elements as they design their vision of what an

ideal learning space might look like in the future. By

participating in this contest, students may also have the

ability to help influence future design. More details are

available on the contest website:

www.montvgomeryschoolsmd.org/events/unitedwe

learn/.

HONORING CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPECIAL EDUCATION Students and parents/guardians are encouraged to submit nominations to recognize individuals who have contributed to the success and acceptance of students with special needs. The recognitions are being given by the Special Education Committee of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs, Inc. (MCCPTA, Inc.). Nominations are being accepted in four categories: Staff, Programs, Parents, and Students. Electronic submissions are strongly encouraged. Applications are due by Friday, March 22. Nominations can be submitted by e-mail attachment or in the body of an e-mail message to SpecialEd@mccpta.org. If you are unable to submit an electronic nomination, you may send a completed nomination form and a nominating statement, along with supporting statements, to the MCCPTA, Inc. office: Montgomery County Council of PTAs, Inc., P.O. Box 10754, Rockville, Maryland 20849. The nomination form can be accessed at the following link: news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/wp-

content/uploads/2019/01/MCCPTA-2018-2019-Special-Education-Award-Nomination-Form.pdf. WINTER 2019 PARENT ACADEMY SCHEDULE The MCPS Parent Academy offers parents/guardians and community members the opportunity to attend workshops that provide information, resources, tools, and tips to support their children’s success in school. The 2019 winter season of workshops has begun. You won’t want to miss sessions on mindfulness, college and career planning, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) resources and much more. Parent Academy workshops are free. Childcare and interpretation services are provided at all sessions. A full list of courses is available on the Parent Academy website www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/. Registration is available here.

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORKSHOPS SET FOR FEB. 5 AND APRIL 2 Parents, guardians, and community members are invited

to attend a workshop on Tuesday, February 5, at Julius

West Middle School, and on Tuesday, April 2, at A. Mario

Loiederman Middle School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to

learn more about the district’s restorative justice vision

and how this social justice platform allows students to

actively engage and problem-solve physical,

psychological, and disciplinary issues that affect their

lives and the community. More information can be found

here.

HBCU FAIR The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on February 22 at the Universities at Shady Grove, Building 3, 9640 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. All high school students and their parents/guardians are invited to participate. Dozens of colleges and universities will be present to talk to parents, guardians and students about their programs and several will conduct on-the-spot admissions interviews for high school seniors. You can register and view more information at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/familysupport/hbcu/.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

MCPS is holding a series of community conversations with Chief Academic Officer Maria V. Navarro to discuss the future of high school programs. Attendees will have an opportunity to discuss what high school programs MCPS should offer in the future to best support college and career readiness. Staff, students, parents, guardians, and members of the community are invited to attend. The forums are scheduled for:

Monday, February 11, Clarksburg High School, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Monday, April 8, Richard Montgomery High School, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Register online at mcpsweb.wufoo.com/forms/community-conversation/. UPCOMING COUNTY BUDGET MEETINGS Parents/guardians and members of the community are invited to join Montgomery County Councilmember Craig Rice, Superintendent of Schools Jack R. Smith, and Montgomery College President DeRionne Pollard at upcoming Education Budget meetings scheduled for February and March. Attendees can find out how budget decisions are made, what the County is doing today to get ready for FY 2020 and beyond, and the opportunities residents have to influence budget decisions. The meetings will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the following locations: February 20, Neelsville Middle School, 11700 Neelsville Church Road in Germantown February 27, Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School, 11800 Monticello Avenue in Silver Spring March 6, Rockville High School, 2100 Baltimore Road in Rockville March 11, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, 4301 East-West Highway in Bethesda March 27, Montgomery College Takoma Park Campus, 7600 Takoma Avenue in Takoma Park (Cultural Arts Center Theater 1)

The county executive will announce his Recommended

FY 2019 Operating Budget in March. In April, the County

Council will hold public hearings and approve the

operating budget at the end of May.

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS

In order to ensure a safe, productive, and positive

learning environment, Montgomery County Public

Schools (MCPS) publishes two documents that help

students, parents, and staff and understand school rules

and regulations; the expectations for student conduct;

and the possible consequences for violating the rules.

A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities is an

overview of the rights and responsibilities students

enjoy in MCPS and a summary of the laws and

regulations that affect students.

The MCPS Code of Conduct provides an overview of

discipline procedures and protocols and the range of

consequences students could face for violating various

policies, regulations, and rules. The guide also discusses

the MCPS philosophy to discipline and defines the

various disciplinary responses.

Both booklets came home with students the first week of

school. Additionally, all students have met with Mrs.

Moses, Ms. Dali, Mrs. Privman, and Mrs. O’Malley to go

over behavior expectations. Parents and guardians are

encouraged to review these document with their

child(ren) so that our students understand their rights

and responsibilities and the district’s expectations for

student conduct. If you have questions, please feel free to

contact the school at 301-353-0854.

MCPS QUICKNOTES

MCPS QuickNotes is a free e-mail service that provides

subscribers with important news and information about

MCPS programs and activities, plus emergency

information. MCPS QuickNotes is offered in six

languages: English, Spanish, French, Korean, Chinese,

and Vietnamese. Visit www.mcpsquicknotes.org to

subscribe.

ALERT MCPS

Alert MCPS allows you to receive text messages or e-mail

from the school system during weather-related

emergencies and other major events that impact school

system operations. Signing up for Alert MCPS is free, but

please check with your wireless provider about charges

associated with text messages. Sign up at

http://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov.

HOMEWORK HOTLINE LIVE CELEBRATING 33RD SEASON

Need homework help? Then call Homework Hotline Live.

With HHL, you get free after-school homework help from

MCPS teachers. You can call the live TV show at 301-

279-3234 or send a question online via text or e-mail.

When school is in session, watch teachers answer your

homework questions live on MCPS-TV from 4:30 to 6:00

p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. You can

also get online help from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Monday

through Thursday. Go to www.AskHHL.org for more

info and to download the free HHL app! If you call in and

correctly answer a BrainTeaser question, you could win

an HHL 8GB Flashdrive! Tune in to see the HHL

Mathema-Chicken pluck out some math questions.

HHL General Info:

o Telephone: 301-279-3234

o Text: 724-427-5445

o Live TV show on Comcast 33, Verizon 35,

RCN 88

o www.AskHHL.org

Student Transfer Application Season Scheduled from the First School Day

in February 2019, Through the First School Day in April 2019

ROCKVILLE, Maryland—Montgomery County parents/guardians who wish to request a Change of School Assignment

(COSA) for their children from their home school may begin the process during the upcoming transfer season—the first

school day in February 2019, through the first school day in April 2019.

Except for students in the Northeast Consortium (NEC), Downcounty Consortium (DCC), and Middle School Magnet

Consortium (MSMC) areas, students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) are expected to attend the school

within the established attendance area in which they reside (home school) or assigned in accordance with their

Individualized Education Program (IEP). Students may apply for a COSA from the home school, or the school of

assignment through the IEP process, based on the following criteria:

When a documented unique hardship is shown. Problems that are common to a large number of families do not

constitute a unique hardship.

When a family moves within Montgomery County, preference to remain in the original school will be considered

to complete the current school year only, with the exception that Grade 11 and Grade 12 students may be

permitted to stay through graduation.

When a younger sibling seeks to attend the school where an older sibling will be enrolled in the regular/general

school program, or a special education program, during the year the younger sibling seeks to enroll. When an

older sibling attends a magnet, language immersion, or other application program, a COSA may be approved to

the regular school program for younger sibling on a

case-by-case basis. Such approval requires consideration of available classroom space, grade-level enrollment,

staffing allocations, or other factors that impact the schools involved.

The criteria above regarding siblings does not apply if a boundary change has occurred.

The transfer process begins in the home school where parents/guardians may request the Change of School Assignment

(COSA) Information Booklet that contains the COSA form, describes the process, and provides useful information.

Beginning the first week of February 2019, the COSA booklet will be available in schools and online at

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/transfers. The booklet will be available in English and translations in other

languages. Exempt countywide programs that do not fall under the transfer guidelines are listed in the information

booklet.

For information about assignments for students residing in the NEC, DCC, or MSMC areas, please contact the Division

of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services, 240-740-2540, or visit the website at

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/schoolchoice.

For more information about the transfer process, parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the principal at their home

school. Non-English speaking students and parents/guardians who may require assistance may contact ASK MCPS to

get the information they need by telephone at 301-309-MCPS (6277). Telephone operators who speak English and

Spanish are available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parents who speak languages other than

English or Spanish who call the ASK MCPS telephone line and identify their language will have their questions

answered through a telephone interpreter.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday/ Sunday

1 2/3

4:15 Chess Club Student Transfer Application

Season Opens

4 5 6 7 8 9/10

National School Counseling Week

SGA Kindness Challenge this week

4:15 Club SciKidz 6:00 PTA General Meeting /

Movie Night

4:15 Young Rembrandts Report Cards Distributed 3rd Flyer Distribution Date

9:40 Gr K-2 Town Hall 4:15 Yoga

4:15 Talent Show Practice in Room 12

8:10 Coding Club 9:40-1:10 Gr 3 to Aviation

Museum

4:15 i9 Sports 4:15 Bollywood Dance

4:15 Chess Club

11 12 13 14 15 16/17

Kids Heart Challenge this week

4:15 Club SciKidz

LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY

4:15 Young Rembrandts

8:40 SERT Meeting

4:15 Yoga

VALENTINE’S DAY 8:10 Coding Club

2:45 Valentine’s Parties

4:15 i9 Sports 4:15 Bollywood Dance

CES Reply Deadline for Gr 3 Parents

4:15 Chess Club

18 19 20 21 22 23/24

PRESIDENTS’ DAY HOLIDAY

NO SCHOOL BAR-T CLOSED

Schoolwide Spelling Bees held this week

4:15 Young Rembrandts

4:15 Yoga Ends 4:15 Talent Show Practice in

GYM

NO PREK – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 8:10 Coding Club

4:15 i9 Sports 4:15 Bollywood Dance Ends

WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY

4:15 Chess Club

25 26 27 28

4:15 Club SciKidz 4:15 Young Rembrandts 6:30-8:30 Family Fun Night 8:10 Coding Club 1:20 Patrol Meeting

4:15 i9 Sports Ends