I am excited to welcome you to a new school year at Ashburton. It was nice to see so many of you at the Open House on Monday. I enjoyed seeing you and I look forward to getting to know our new parents and their children better. Ms. Cino, our Assistant Principal, and I share your enthusiasm and excitement that a new school year always brings.
We had a busy time prior to the opening of school, with a few staff changes late in the summer which necessitated some room changes. We hired two new reading initiative teachers, Mrs. Sarah Booth and Mrs. Michelle Barry. Mrs. Kelly Kraft will be on childcare leave.
The construction of our 10 room addition is finished! There are a few minor details to complete, but all of our staff is moved into the new spaces. We know the students will feel right at home and appreciate the new rooms inside the building and especially enjoy the new playgrounds.
In your child’s backpack today and throughout this first week, you will find important information and “homework” for parents. Please read, complete and return these important forms to help ensure the safety and well-being of your child(ren). You should receive the following:
- Student Emergency Information — These yellow cards have contact information from previous years or from enrollment; please verify the information and make corrections if necessary (OR if you do not receive a pre-printed form, please complete the blank form), sign it and return it immediately. These emergency forms play a critical role in ensuring the safety and well-being of students and are our prime source of contact information from the teacher, the health room or the office. Please remember to notify the office when there is a change in home, work or cell phone numbers. Notification of change in residence must be accompanied by proof, such as a new lease or settlement papers.
- Application for Free/Reduced Lunch—Complete and return immediately. See the eligibility chart on the back page and if your family does not qualify, discard the form. There is ONE FORM PER FAMILY and are pre-printed if your child had an account last year. Applications for Free or Reduced lunch should be returned to the school office as soon as possible, since they become effective as soon as processing is completed by Food Services. Students who received free/reduced meals last year are eligible to continue in the program until the end of September. However, new applications must be filed yearly to continue eligibility. Parents and guardians need to fill out the forms COMPLETELY for the children for whom they are applying. Incomplete applications will be returned and delay approval status. Applications are sent to the youngest child in the family.
- MCPS Authorization for Releasing Students- (Release of a student to an adult other than the parent/guardian.) You may complete ONE form per family surname, list each child on the form and complete and return immediately. You should make changes throughout the year as needed.
- School Lunch Menu- (Menus can also be found on the MCPS website) Lunch prices have increased- Lunch is $2.40, milk is $.60, reduced price for lunch is $.40. I am requesting that students bring lunch, have money in their SNAP (School Nutrition Accountability Program) account, or bring lunch money each day. In addition to the regular and alternate choices, there will always be a grilled cheese pocket on the menu.
- Ashburton Parent Handbook- This revised handbook provides information on Ashburton and MCPS policies and procedures. We will provide all new families with a handbook. We are a Green School so we are not going to hand out copies to all parents, but you may request a handbook or go to our website.
- Request to Withhold Directory Information- (Complete one for each child only if you wish to withhold information- otherwise discard) The MCPS Request to Withhold Directory Information must be received in the school office no later than September 12. Request to withhold information prohibits printing the student’s name in the PTA Directory AND from MCPS releasing your child’s name to solicitors.
- Ashburton Homework Policy (Complete one for each child) This document should be reviewed carefully with your child, signed by you and your child and returned by Friday, September 5. If you have questions about homework, please discuss them with your child’s teacher. Grade level homework expectations will be discussed at Back to School Night.
- New Race Code Designations This is a new form from MCPS to clarify and update race/ethnicity designations. For the first time, parents may select more than one applicable designation. Return this form by September 2.
- Ashburton Discipline Policy (Complete one for each child) Review with your child, each of you signs it and return by September 5. Please discuss the expectations and consequences as defined in the policy.
The Ashburton staff will continue the “Hats Off” policy. Children are not permitted to wear hats inside of the building, during school hours. Wearing of hats during class is a distraction and can interfere with instruction.
Additionally, we ask that students wear appropriate footwear to school each day. Wearing loose sandals or flip-flops limits activities on the playground. HEELIES are not permitted at school.
MCPS will issue a publication “A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities in Montgomery County Public Schools.” Copies will be available in the school office.
We are proud of the Ashburton staff as they collaborate to share information and skills, if you did not have a chance to meet everyone at Open House, you’ll have another opportunity at Back-to-School Night on September 18, at 7:00 p.m.
I look forward to working with you, your children and the staff as we begin a year focusing on making every child a successful part of the Ashburton Learning Community. Thank you for sharing your most precious gift—your children—with us.
Sincerely,
Charlene Eroh
While you are here: