College Gardens Elementary School

August 4, 2023 

Dear College Gardens Elementary School Community, 

Welcome back! We hope this letter finds you excited and ready for a fantastic school year at College Gardens, International Baccalaureate (IB) world school. As we prepare to open our doors once again, we extend a warm and heartfelt greeting to all our returning students and  families; we are especially thrilled to welcome new members into our gator community.

The first day of school this year is Monday, August 28, 2023. This is a regular, full school day.  A calendar of scheduled school closings and early release days is also enclosed. Please keep these pages for reference throughout the year. 

Our annual “Sneak a Peek at Your Seat” will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2023.  The schedule is as follows: 

• 2:30 - 3:00 - Families with students with special needs (by invitation only) 
• 3:00 - 3:30 - All families  (K-5)  

Class assignments will be posted in ParentVue, on Wednesday, August 23rd - if you need support getting into your account, please contact Mrs. Armi at Armineh_N_Sardarbegians@mcpsmd.org.  

I am excited for you to meet our new staff members: 

Ms. Emma Coggins- Fifth grade teacher
Mrs. Lulu Blake- Second grade teacher 
Ms. Lorrie Bennett- .5 Home School Model teacher and .5 Math focus teacher 
Mr. David Chilin-Pineda- Paraeducator
Mr. Kenny (Jenkong) Wang- .1 Instrumental Music teacher 
Ms. Sylvia Lee- .2 Instrumental Music teacher 
Mrs. Elizabeth Chung- .2 ESOL and .1 Math focus teacher 

We have several staff members to whom we bid a fond farewell.  They all were a terrific asset to the entire school, and we are sorry to lose them.  We thank them for being members of the College Gardens family:   Ms. Jennifer Bryan, Mrs. Brenda Falk, Mrs. Tina Giustiniani, Mrs. Jennifer Green, Mrs. Sri Panchangam, Mr. Nate Peterson, Ms. Vonda Walker, and Mr. Ben Wright.  

Thank you for your continued trust and support in making College Gardens Elementary School an exceptional place of learning. Together, we will embark on an unforgettable journey of exploration, growth, and success.  I am thrilled to begin my 13th year of being your principal at College Gardens and my 23rd year as an educator. I am energized and grateful for the unwavering support of our dynamic school community, incredible staff, and tremendous students. Welcome back! Let us embrace this new school year with enthusiasm and optimism. We are excited to witness the wonderful accomplishments that lie ahead for each and every one of our 500+ students.

Respectfully, 
Stacey Rogovoy 

See below for a message from our CGES PTA President and other important infomation about CGES and the upcoming school year.

A message from our CGES PTA president:  

Dear CGES Community,

Welcome back to another exciting academic year at CGES! On behalf of the PTA, I am delighted to extend my warmest greetings to all students, parents, teachers, staff and administrators. 

As we embark on a new academic year, we are filled with optimism and enthusiasm for the growth and development of our students. The PTA is committed to create an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone. This year, we will have an array of exciting events planned for our students and community. We strongly encourage parents’ involvement to make a difference in creating an environment for our children to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. 

I am excited to work hand in hand with each of you, listening to your ideas, and collaborating on initiatives that will enrich our school experience. I look forward to the incredible journey ahead.

Wishing everyone a fantastic academic year!

Warm regards, 
Ying Goh 
CGES PTA

GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION

School Name: College Gardens E.S. 
Address: 1700 Yale Place Rockville, MD  20850 
Phone Number: (301) 279-8470 
SchoolWebsite: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/collegegardenses/about/
 Student School Hours: 9:15 am- 3:50 pm 

MAIN OFFICE CONTACTS

Principal: Stacey Rogovoy 
Stacey_F_Rogovoy@mcpsmd.org 
Assistant Principal: Dave Dove 
David_L_Dove@mcpsmd.org 
Administrative Secretary: Armineh (Armi) Sardarbegians 
Armineh_N_Sardarbegians@mcpsmd.org 
Attendance Secretary: Katherine (Kate) Savage 
Katherine_Savage@mcpsmd.org

School Colors: Green & Yellow 
School Mascot: The Gators

SCHOOL CLUSTER 
Richard Montgomery (Richard Montgomery HS, Julius West MS, Bayard Rustin ES, Beall ES, College Gardens ES, Ritchie Park ES, Twinbrook ES) 

PTA INFORMATION  
PTA Website: https://www.myvlink.org/cgespta/index.php  
PTA email: President@cgespta.org

Breakfast and Lunch Updates:  Click here to find the info for meal payment.  MCPS meal payment info

MCPS will resume regular meal services during the 2023–2024 school year. 
Meal prices:
Breakfast—$1.30
Lunch—$2.55 (Elementary).  

Upcoming Dates to Hold

Date	Activity
August 21st	10 month staff return back to work
August 23rd	Class assignments are posted in ParentVue
August 24th	CGES Classroom Sneak a Peek 2:30 -3:00 Special Needs classroom visit time (invitation only) 3:00 - 3:30   All Families “sneak peek at your seat” Back to school night for kindergarten grown-ups only 6:00 - 7:00 pm Childcare will be provided by our school-based childcare program- Bar-t, if needed
August 26th	Kindergarten Meet and Greet, sponsored by the CGES PTA 10 am at the College Gardens Playground
August 28th	First Day of School
September 4th	Schools and Offices closed
September 6th PTA meeting 6:00- 6:30 Session 1: 6:30 - 7:15 Session 2 7:20 - 7:50	Back to School Night Grades 1-5- grown-ups only PTA meeting will be on Zoom from classrooms during the 1st session beginning at 6pm. (Link will be provided for K parents that wish to attend.)   Childcare will be provided by our school-based childcare program- Bar-t, if needed
September 8th	Back to school bash! 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
September 22nd	Early Release Day- Dismissal begins at 1:20
September 25th	No school

Other important information to note:  

CGES PTA 
We need your support!  We are still looking for members to fill roles on our PTA board.  Please fill out this survey that was sent mid-July if you have not already: community engagement survey

A Statement about Bullying

Bullying is strictly prohibited at College Gardens Elementary School.  Students should be aware that acts of bullying in any form will not be tolerated.  If students carry out such acts, appropriate consequences aligned to the MCPS student code of conduct will be determined by administration.  The school administration and staff appreciate your support in stressing with your child(ren) the importance of refraining from and/or tolerating such behaviors and reporting them immediately when they occur. Bully report can be found here:  bully form

MCPS Calendar: MCPS School Calendar FY24.pdf

CGES Discipline Policy: CGES School Discipline FY24 

School Supply List: CGES FY24 School Supply List

Backpacks: Please make every effort to provide your child a backpack without wheels.  The wheels pose a safety hazard in the halls and stairways.

Bus Route Schedules NEW 
Please take a close look at our bus routes, as some colors and locations have changed.  
Bus information here.  

 Cell Phones: In accordance with MCPS policies, students may carry cell phones to school.   Students must make sure that the cell phone is off during the school day, left in the backpack, and not used until they leave school. Please note staff cannot be responsible for phones if lost or stolen.  Please review the updated regulation for Personal Mobile Devices (PMD) for more information.

Health Room Information:
Below is an important message from our School Nurse, Mrs. April Medellin,  April_D_Medellin@mcpsmd.org

Health room staff plan to be available beginning August 23, 2023. Forms may be submitted over the summer by: 

1. a) Emailing to April_D_Medellin@mcpsmd.org
2. b) Mail: College Gardens Elementary School, 1700 Yale Place Rockville, Maryland 20854
3. c) Drop off to the health room beginning August 23, 2023

Please Note: - Health room staff will intermittently be monitoring health forms sent to the nurse's email and/or school over the summer. For school-related health matters that require planning during the summer, please email Mrs. Medellin at April_D_Medellin@mcpsmd.org.

• Summer physicals & healthcare appointments: 

Please plan to bring health forms that are applicable to appointments your child may have this summer:

Health Inventory Form,  Medication Authorization Form,  Anaphylaxis Medication Form,  Asthma Action Plan/Medication Form, Dental Health Form

• Medication requirements for 2023-2024 School Year: 

All medications at school require an authorization form to be completed by a healthcare provider and parent/guardian. This pertains to all prescription, over the counter and emergency medications kept in the health room. Links to these forms are contained in section 1, above.  Parents/guardians are requested to call the health room prior to dropping off medications and forms so we can arrange to meet you. 

• Immunization Requirements for 2023-2024 School Year:  

All students must have up to date immunization records prior to the start of the 2023-2024 school year.  Parents should contact their child’s healthcare provider to ensure their child is properly immunized and submit a copy of the documentation to the Health Room at your child’s school as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, August 28, 2023, the first day of the 2023-2024 school year.  

Immunizations for students new to MCPS and children in Kindergarten through Grade 12, are available Monday through Friday, by appointment, at locations in Rockville and Germantown.

Appointments are available at: 

• School Health Services Immunization Clinic at Rocking Horse Road: 4910 Macon Road. Rockville; Phone: 240-740-4430   

• Germantown Health Center: 12900 Middlebrook Rd. Germantown; Phone: 240-777-3380 

Visit this webpage to view the full list of immunization requirements for students. 

• Asthma & Allergies: Please complete and submit a Student Asthma Management Plan (SAMP) and Allergy Form if your child has asthma and/or allergies. For medications at school relating to Asthma and Allergy management, please refer to sections 1 and 2 above for forms and medication requirements.

The health room looks forward to supporting your Beall ES student in the upcoming school year! 

MCPS Attendance Policy  

Our focus on attendance is part of us getting back to “normal” after covid.  We certainly do not want sick kids at school but let’s work together to make sure our healthy students are here regularly.  

Missing a day of school here and there may not seem like much but it adds up.  

When a student misses 2 days a month, they will:  

• miss 20 days a year
• miss 30 hours of math
• miss 60 hours of reading and writing
• miss over 1 year of school by graduation

When a student misses 4 days a month:  

• miss 40 days a year
• miss 60 hours of math
• miss 120 hours of reading and writing
• miss over 2 years of school by graduation

Missing a few days here and there doesn't seem like a big deal, but as you can see, a few school absences add up to a lot of missed instruction! Regular attendance is vital for student success. Research shows that students with chronic absenteeism are less likely to read proficiently by third grade, achieve in middle school, or graduate from high school. 

Help your child succeed academically by talking with them about the importance of school. Establish morning and evening routines making bedtime and mornings less stressful and schedule non-essential appointments and vacations outside of the school day. 

Reporting an absence:  

Please call or email Katherine_Savage@mcpsmd.org/

Armineh_N_Sardarbegians@mcpsmd.org or call (301- 279-8470) by 9:30 am to report your child's absence.  The office opens at 8:30 a.m. If you need to call prior to that time please call and leave a message on the answering machine stating your child’s name and classroom teacher.   

Morning Arrival Procedures

As we continue to maintain safety as a high priority we want to inform you of our morning arrival procedures.  Students continue to be expected not to arrive before 9:15 am.  Doors will open at 9:15 am.  If buses arrive early, students will remain on their bus until 9:15 am.  We do not have supervision for your child prior to that time.  

Student Safety  and Dismissal

For the safety of all College Gardens students, please send a note to your child’s teacher if he/she is going to an after school program or home with a friend. A note or email is required for any changes to a student’s normal dismissal.  

• In the interest of safety, students unsure of their after school plans should notify their teacher or the school office as soon as possible. Once a student has raised a concern regarding their after school plans, or a school official has detected one, the school will attempt to contact the student’s parent or guardian to confirm the after school arrangements. If contact cannot be made, the student may be required to remain at the school until a responsible adult can be reached.  
• A student without a note who does not let staff know they have different dismissal plans will be sent home on their regular bus or to walk home as they normally do. So please have a plan for what your child should do if they get home or off of the bus and their trusted adult is not there. Will they stay on the bus? Ask another parent to call? Do they know their adult’s phone number? Will they go to a trusted neighbor's house?  

Toys: Please do not allow your child to bring any toys, trading cards, and/or electronic games items to school.   Items such as these interfere with the educational program and are not a benefit to your child’s learning.  

Volunteers: If you would like to volunteer please complete the required training and review information at: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/volunteer 

Student Emergency Information  

Student Emergency Information should be updated through ParentVUE. Each year parents/guardians are required to complete the Annual Verification of Information through the Online Registration portal (in the right corner of your ParentVUE home screen). We highly recommend that you complete this as soon as possible. It is critically important that we have accurate parent contact information on file with the school and system as soon as possible. 

Here are links to the ParentVUE Support Guide and directions for completing the annual verification of information.

Kiss and Ride Map - for AM drop off

Kiss and Ride FY24