Division of Title I & Early Childhood Programs and ... · March 3 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center March 8 Health & Nutrition Parent Meeting—6:30-8:30

Division of Title I & Early Childhood Programs and Services

Prekindergarten/Head Start Calendar2015–2016

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND

2015–2016 PREKINDERGARTEN/HEAD START CALENDAR

2016January 1 New Year’s Day—OFFICES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED

January 7 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

January 18 Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Day—OFFICES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED

January 21 Policy Council Meeting—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

January 25 Professional Day for Teachers—NO SCHOOL

February 4 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

February 15 President’s Day—OFFICES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED

February 16–19 Head Start Home Visits—NO CLASSES FOR HEAD START STUDENTS

February 18 Policy Council Meeting—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

February 26 Early Release Day—Students Dismissed after Lunch

March 3 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

March 8 Health & Nutrition Parent Meeting—6:30-8:30 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

March 14 Prekindergarten/Head Start Registration for 2016–2017 Begins

March 17 Policy Council Meeting—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

March 24 Professional Day for Teachers—NO SCHOOL

March 25, 28, 29, 30, 31 and April 1

Spring Break—NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, OFFICES CLOSED MARCH 25 & 28

April 7 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

April 19 Personal Safety Parent Meeting—6:30-8:30 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

April 21 Policy Council Meeting—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

April 26 Primary Election Day—OFFICES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED

May 5 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

May 19 Policy Council Meeting—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

May 30 Memorial Day—OFFICES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED

June 9 Policy Council Meeting—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

June 17 Last Day of School for Students—Early Release Day

June 20 Professional Day for Teachers

2015July 31 Last day of Summer School

August 24 Teachers Return to Work

August 25 Head Start Family Service Workers and Paraeducators Return to Work

August 31–Sept 4 Prekindergarten/Head Start Home Visits—NO CLASSES FOR STUDENTS

September 3 Prekindergarten/Head Start Parent Orientations Begin

September 7 Labor Day—OFFICES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED

September 8 & 9 Staggered Opening

September 10 First day of School for all Prekindergarten/Head Start

September 14 NO SCHOOL for students and teachers

September 23 NO SCHOOL for students and teachers

October 1 Policy Council—Orientation—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center Representatives and all other parents are encouraged to participate

October 2 Early Release for all students—planning/grades/interims

October 8 Head Start Parent Orientations End

October 15 Policy Council—Training—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

October 16 MSEA Convention—NO SCHOOL for students and teachers

October 24 Health Fair

October 29 Policy Council—Regular monthly meeting —7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

October 30 Prekindergarten Parent Orientations End

November 2 Professional Day for Teachers—NO SCHOOL for students

November 5 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

November 11 Parent Conferences—NO SCHOOL for Prekindergarten/Head Start students

November 12 Parent Conferences—NO SCHOOL for Prekindergarten/Head Start students

November 17 Child Growth & Development Parent Meeting—6:30-8:30 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

November 19 Policy Council Meeting—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

November 25 Early Release Before Thanksgiving

November 26 & 27 Thanksgiving—OFFICES AND SCHOOLS CLOSED

December 1–4 National Head Start Parent Engagement Conference—San Diego, CA

December 3 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

December 4 Winter Lights Event

December 8 Language & Literacy Parent Meeting—6:30-8:30 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

December 11 Winter Lights Event

December 17 Policy Council Meeting—7 PM Rocking Horse Road Center

December 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31

Winter Break—NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, OFFICES CLOSED DEC. 24 & 25

AUGUST 2015

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JULY 2015S M T W T F S

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Head Start Family Service Workers and Paraeducators Return to Work

Back-to-School Fair, CESC, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Prekindergarten/Head Start Home Visits

NO CLASSES FOR STUDENTS

Teachers Return to Work

Read and share good books/visit the county fair.

Prekindergarten/Head Start Staff

ADMINISTRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301-230-0676

Claudia Nash Simmons Supervisor, Prekindergarten/HS Arlinda Woods School Registrar

Verna Washington Supervisor, Prekindergarten Pilot Penny King Secretary

Gloria Diaz Accountant Jeannette Escobar Office Assistant

Gyungae Kim Data Systems Operator

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH SERVICES—EDUCATION STAFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301-230-0676

Maxine Coven Instructional Specialist Marcena Beatty Speech/Language Pathologist

Louise Tolin Instructional Specialist Joe Ann Robinson Speech/Language Pathologist

Hillary Hill Program Support Teacher Mary Kate Ryner Speech/Language Pathologist

Jeffrey Seltzer Psychologist Lynne Teoman Speech/Language Pathologist

Kim Watson Psychologist

Debra Wotherspoon Psychologist

MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240-777-1553

Judy McMillan Health Services Manager Antoinette Alaimo Dental Hygienist

Stacy Balmer Nurse Lesley Konigsburg Dental Hygienist

Eileen Carroccio Nurse Nancy Farhood Dental Hygienist

Barbara Cassidy Nurse Marsha Kudlick Dental Hygienist

Pam Gambon Nurse Teresa Soodak Dental Hygienist

Aurora Gavilan Nurse Norma Davis Health Aide

Lynn McConnell Nurse Cheryl Pyle Health Aide

Draw a picture of something you liked about school.


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SEPTEMBER 2015OCTOBER 2015

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Prekindergarten/Head Start Home Visits—NO CLASSES FOR STUDENTS



Prekindergarten/Head Start Parent Orientations Begin


LABOR DAY—NO SCHOOLSchools and offi ces closed Staggered Opening Staggered Opening

First Day of School for all Prekindergarten/Head Start

NO SCHOOL for students and teachers

NO SCHOOL for students and teachers

Parent, Family and Community Engagement

SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301-230-0678Lisa Conlon Social Services SpecialistRenee Foster Social WorkerAnnette Harris Social WorkerBeverly Brown Parent Engagement/Volunteer SpecialistMaral Abkarian Family Service WorkerRose Cox Family Service WorkerTeresa Delgadillo Family Service Worker Michelle Dove Family Service WorkerReyna Escamilla Family Service WorkerRosa Escobar Family Service WorkerEsperanza Flores Family Service WorkerDeborah Garcia Family Service WorkerRosa Hardy Family Service WorkerTerri Harris Family Service Worker Samira Hussein Family Service WorkerVicki Johnson Family Service WorkerSaroj Joshi Family Service WorkerNuha Khalaf Family Service WorkerJennifer Kotun Family Service WorkerMilena Parra Family Service WorkerKatie Potter Family Service WorkerAmabilia Reyes Family Service WorkerDaniela Rodriguez Family Service WorkerCesiah Ventura Family Service Worker

Find leaves from different trees, put like ones together, and trace them with sidewalk chalk.

OCTOBER 2015


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Policy Council—Orientation, 7:00 p.m.Rocking Horse Road CenterRepresentatives and all other parents are encouraged to participate

Early Release for all students—planning/grades/interims

Head Start Parent Orientations End

Policy Council—Training, 7:00 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center MSEA Convention—NO SCHOOL

Health Fair

Policy Council—Regular monthly meeting —7:00 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center

Prekindergarten Parent Orientations End

PTA Meetings■ Elementary schools—First Tuesday evening of the month.

■ Middle schools—Second Tuesday evening of the month.

Board of Education meetings: All day on the second Tuesday of each month and the sec-ond Monday following the second Tuesday night meeting at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.

Montgomery County Council meetings: All day each Tuesday at the Werner County Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.

Community Action Board meetings: Fourth Tuesday evening of each month at 401 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

Policy Council meets: First, third, and last Thursdays of October, and the third Thursday evening of each month from November until June.

Service Areas of the Prekindergarten/Head Start ProgramProgram Design And ManagementAdministration: The administrative service area provides total program coordina-tion, budget preparation, and linkages within the school system and the community: Ms. Claudia Nash Simmons, supervisor.

Policy Council: To make decisions about the program, prekindergarten/Head Start has a Policy Council (PC) whose members are parents elected from each prekindergarten/Head Start school. The Council meets at 7:00 p.m. in the Rocking Horse Road Center auditorium, located at 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, MD 20852.

■ All Policy Council (PC) meetings after October are held on the third Thursday evening of each month in the Rocking Horse Road Center auditorium.

In October, the Policy Council representatives receive the proposed program budget for the next year and decide how the Parent Activity funds will be spent. Not all parents are voting members of the Policy Council; however, all parents are welcome at all meetings. Your input is needed. Election of new Policy Council officers occurs at the December meeting. Be sure your school is represented. January is budget month for the school system. Watch for an announcement of when the Policy Council representative will give testimony before the Board of Education about the budget for prekindergarten/Head Start. Show your sup-port by attending the meeting. Help spread the good word about prekindergarten/Head Start. The recruitment committee plans ways to reach new eligible families, recommends guidelines, and plans the recruitment for next year’s children. For more information call Ms. Beverly Brown, parent engagement volunteer specialist, at 301-230-0690.

Parent, Family and Community EngagementSocial Services: This service area recruits and enrolls families and helps link families to community services and resources. A family service worker is as-signed to each class and provides support and resource assistance to families.

is your family service worker. If there are any further questions, please contact Ms. Lisa Conlon, social services specialist, at 301-230-0678.

Parent Engagement: Each class has Parent Center meetings for parents to become acquainted with each other, to visit the classroom and teaching team, and to share information about child development, reading and mathematics literacy, nutrition, safety, health, arts and crafts, as well as learning about how the program operates. You may ride the school bus with your child, and Head Start parents may have lunch. All meetings are planned and run by parents with support from family service workers. You may sign up to organize meetings on the Parent Volunteer Questionnaire. Head Start younger siblings also may come. Questions? Call your family service worker at 301-230-0678.

Children gain more from the instructional program when their parents are involved. Prekindergarten/Head Start has many ways parents can participate: volunteering in the classroom, making decisions about how prekindergarten/Head Start operates, using learning activities at home with children, and working with staff and other parents to plan activities and to develop parent education programs. Parents meet monthly, and each class elects representatives to the countywide Policy Council. Call your family service worker, the Policy Council chairperson, or the parent engagement specialist, Ms. Beverly Brown, at 301-230-0690.

Career Development: Opportunities are available for prekindergarten/Head Start parents to be employed as paraeducators or as substitutes. You may make arrangements for com-pleting your high school education or any other career goals by calling the prekindergarten/Head Start office at 301-230-0678.

Community Resources: Prekindergarten/Head Start has prepared and will distribute a Community Resource Guide listing helpful community services. The list includes phone numbers for food assistance, health clinics, housing, and area clothing centers where good used clothing may be secured. Ask your family service worker for a copy if you have not received one.

Go on a scavenger hunt and line up all items in ABC order.

NOVEMBER 2015


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OCTOBER 2015S M T W T F S

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DECEMBER 2015S M T W T F S

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Professional Day for Teachers—NO SCHOOL

Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center

Parent Conferences—NO SCHOOL for Prekindergarten/Head Start students

Parent Conferences—NO SCHOOL for Prekindergarten/Head Start students

Child Growth & Development Parent Meeting—6:30–8:30 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center

Policy Council Meeting—7:00 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center

Early Release Before ThanksgivingTHANKSGIVING—Schools and

offi ces closedTHANKSGIVING—Schools and

offi ces closed

Important InformationEarly Head Start: Early Head Start is an exciting program for families with chil-dren birth to 3 years of age. It provides many of the same services as Head Start, and some that are special to Early Head Start. For more information about the program, call 301-840-3272 in Gaithersburg, 301-891-1900 in Rockville/Silver Spring, or 301-543-8040 in Silver Spring/Takoma Park.

Growth: If you measure your child when she/he first goes to prekindergarten/Head Start and again the last day of school, you’ll be surprised at how much she/he has grown!

Child care: If you need child care, call LOCATE at 240-777-3130 or CHILDLINK at 240-777-4769. Staff will refer you to quality child care programs in your area. You may be eligible for help with your child care costs; call the child care subsidy programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) at 240-777-1155, to see if you qualify for vouchers through the Purchase of Care (POC) or Working Parents Assistance (WPA) programs.

Community-Based Head Start Program: Head Start continues to offer a full-year/full-day, community-based program at Montgomery College, Rockville, for families who have been approved for POC or WPA vouchers and/or are Montgomery College students. For more information, call Ms. Arlinda Woods, at 301-230-0676.

Early Childhood Development and Health Services Education: Programs are designed to meet the individual needs of each child and to share ideas with parents for assisting their children at home. Our centers provide the children with learning environments and varied experiences that support them in developing socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally. When necessary, prekindergarten/Head Start has speech clinicians and psychologists to work with you and your child. The education services specialist can be contacted at 301-230-0676. Parents are invited and urged to visit, volunteer, go on field trips, help with parties, and/or help at home. To vol-unteer, call Ms. Beverly Brown in the prekindergarten/Head Start office, at 301-230-0690 for more information.

Health: Children receive medical screenings such as blood tests, vision and hearing, and dental. Dental services include teeth cleaning and dental treatment, if necessary, at no cost to you. The health services specialist is Ms. Judy McMillan at 240-777-1553.

Health Clinics: Call the Service Eligibility Unit for information, assistance, and health resources: Rockville/Piccard Drive Health Center, 240-777-3120; Silver Spring Health Center, 240-777-3066; and Germantown Health Center, 240-777-3591.

Disability Services: Head Start is a federally funded program, with a mandate to serve children with disabilities. Identified students must occupy at least 10 percent of the pro-gram’s enrollment slots. Children with disabilities are coded and have one or more of the following medical diagnoses: deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind, speech impaired, visually impaired, intellectually disabled, multi-handicapped, orthopedically impaired, brain in-jured, autism, and developmentally delayed. In addition to the child having a disability, there must be an educational impact, that is, the disability must interfere with the child’s ability to learn.

Children with disabilities share prekindergarten/Head Start classrooms with children who have no disabilities (inclusion) and receive all services and privileges enjoyed by all prekindergarten/Head Start children. Classroom activities and experiences are adapted to accommodate children with disabilities, if and when needed. Parents, educators, and children enjoy the inclusion model as it is one instance when diversity is recognized and celebrated daily. Prekindergarten/Head Start serves children with a variety of disabilities (speech and language, physical, mental, emotional) in regular classrooms and in one 4-hour class. An interdisciplinary staff provides services as needed. For more information, call the prekindergarten/Head Start office at 301-230-0678.

Sick Care: For children and youth under 21, you can call Community Clinic for sick care at 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 1200, Silver Spring, 301-585-1250; 7676 New Hampshire Avenue, Takoma Park, 301-431-2972; or 200 Girard Street, Suite 212, Gaithersburg, 301-216-0880. You must call to make an appointment and bring proof of income.

Permission Slips: If you want your child to have the prekindergarten/Head Start health screenings and dental services, you must sign and return the permission slips!

Health Information Line: This service provides rotating health and safety messages from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on a variety of medical issues. Call 240-777-6981.

Nutrition: Prekindergarten/Head Start has the same lunch program that serves the public schools. Educational opportunities in nutrition are provided for parents and children. Nutrition information is available by calling the prekindergarten/Head Start office at 301-230-0676.

Program Self-Assessment: A committee of parents and staff will be completing the an-nual program evaluation for Head Start. For information or to join the committee, call Ms. Beverly Brown at 301-230-0690.

Bake cookies with a friend, measure and count, talk about the experience.

DECEMBER 2015


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National Head Start Parent Engagement Conference—San Diego, CA



Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6:00 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center


Winter Lights Event

Language & Literacy Parent Meeting—6:30–8:30 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center Winter Lights Event


WINTER BREAK—Schools and offi ces closed

WINTER BREAK—Schools and offi ces closed

WINTER BREAK—No school for students and teachers




Immunizations: Your child must be immunized according to state law before attending prekindergarten/Head Start. Immunizations are available at your area health center’s for a small donation. Be sure to keep a record of the immunizations your child receives. Children will need that record to enter school.

Medication: Teachers and school staff are not allowed to give your child any type of medication unless they have a signed medication form from your doctor or the clinic. This includes prescription medicines as well as cough drops, cough syrups, and aspirin.

Emergencies: IMPORTANT! Please be sure the school and the prekindergarten/Head Start office have an emergency phone number where someone can be reached if you are not at home. If you change your phone number or address, please let the school and the prekin-dergarten/Head Start office know your new number and address by calling 301-230-0678.

Illness: If your child has a fever, a bad cough, or does not feel well, please keep him/her at home. Your child cannot enjoy school when ill. If your child has been ill (measles, chicken pox, etc.), please continue to keep him/her home until your doctor says it is all right to return to class.

Bus: Please walk your child to the bus each morning and meet the bus each after-noon. If no responsible adult is waiting to meet your child after school, he/she will be taken back to the school office and you will have to pick up your child there. If you or your designee fails to meet the bus three times, you must meet with the family service worker. Since the bus drivers have very tight schedules, they cannot wait. A par-aeducator is on some of the buses to help children. Please do not send any food with your child on the bus. You and your younger children are welcome to ride the bus to visit, volunteer, or to attend parent meetings when space permits. Because our insur-ance covers only prekindergarten/Head Start families, you may not bring anyone else’s children with you.

Clothes: Because all prekindergarten/Head Start children go outside every day, weather permitting, please dress your child appropriately for play and for all types of weather. In the fall and spring, be sure to send along a light jacket or a sweater. For winter, your child needs mittens or gloves, a warm hat, boots, and a heavy coat. Also, send a change of clothing that can be kept at school. (For example, an old pair of pants and a top.) To prevent mix-ups, put your child’s name on all clothing. If you need help with clothing, call your family service worker.

Messages: You will be receiving many notices from prekindergarten/Head Start, and we count on your child to be the message carrier. Tell your child how important this job is and that we all count on him or her to get messages to and from home and school. Reminder: You need to check his/her backpack each day.

Volunteering: A family member is asked to volunteer in the classroom weekly or when possible. A current TB test or chest x-ray is suggested. If you are employed, you can vol-unteer by doing things at home for the class. For example, save egg cartons, paper bags, tubes, meat trays, and other household throw-a-ways, or cut out materials that can be used in the class. Talk to your child’s teacher or contact the prekindergarten/Head Start office at 301-230-0676.

Snow Days: Please, listen to your radio! Also, information on school closings will be available on the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) channel, other television channels, and the MCPS website.

In case of bad weather, schools may be closed for the entire day or school openings may be delayed two hours. For prekindergarten/Head Start students, if school is delayed for two hours, there will be no morning classes. Afternoon classes will meet as usual. Radio announcements about school closings will be broadcast at 6:15, 6:30, 6:45, and 7:00 a.m. Information on early closing will be broadcast at 11:00 and 11:30 a.m., and noon. All-day or early closings of schools automatically cancel afternoon and evening activities in all school buildings. There will be no Policy Council meeting or adult education classes.

Absences: If your child will be absent from school, please notify the teacher and the classroom assistant or call the school as soon as possible. Please let the teacher know the type of illness your child has. When the child is ready to come back to school, please call the school so the bus can pick up your child.

Prekindergarten/Head Start TOTLINE: If you have questions about your child’s behavior or development, call 301-230-0688; weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

HOTLINE: For adults, telephone crisis-intervention informal counseling, information, and referral services are available. There is 24-hour professional assistance for problems. Call 301-738-2255.

Make a snowman—measure his height and the size of his belly.

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NEW YEARS’ DAY—Schools and offi ces closed

Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY—Schools and offi ces closed


Professional Day for Teachers—NO SCHOOL

Imaginative Play:■ Use dress-up clothes (hats, caps, ties, dresses). ■ Use cardboard boxes for pulling, pushing, climbing in and out of; tunnels for climb-

ing under and through. ■ Make a hideout: drape a blanket over a chair or small table. Give the child a flashlight

and some favorite belongings.

Play StoreUse canned goods, empty food containers, boxes, pans, and cartons. Make play money.

Play DoughIn a pan, combine 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of salad oil. Add a little food coloring, if you wish. Heat and stir mixture over moderate heat until it pulls away from the pan. Cook about 2 or 3 minutes; knead until desired consistency. Keep in the refrigerator when not in use.

Blowing BubblesAdd some dishwashing detergent to a bowl or glass of water. Give the kids a straw and let them blow!

CraftsUse up old paper bags by letting the kids paste pictures on them (artists call them collages) bits of lace, buttons, seeds, toothpicks, colored magazine pictures, and ribbons.

Parents Build Literacy SkillsConsult the local library for a wide selection of age-appropriate books for children. The children’s librarian can help families make good book selections. The child’s teacher also can help with book selections. There may be a classroom lending library. Students check out books from the school library/media center to read in the classroom.

Always read the books yourself before you read them with your child. Be familiar with the story for appropriate content. It is more fun for you and your child if you like the book too.

Begin by reading the title and author of the book . Be enthusiastic before, during, and after reading any book.

■ Be excited about the story. ■ Point to the pictures as you are reading the story and talk about what is happening. ■ Talk about the story when you are done.

Be dramatic when you read . ■ Change the tone of your voice. ■ Use different voices for different characters. ■ Bring the story to life.

Interact with and involve your child in the story . ■ Read with, rather than to, your child. ■ Show the pictures while you read. ■ Have your child point to the pictures. ■ React positively to children’s comments with verbal and nonverbal responses.

Ask questions such as— ■ What do you think will happen next?■ What would you do if you were...?■ How do you feel about this story?

This encourages the development of both language and critical thinking skills.

Simple and Inexpensive Activities for Preschoolers

Make a tent with a friend, have lunch, and cozy up to tell stories.

FEBRUARY 2016


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PRESIDENTS’ DAY—Schools and offi ces closed

Head Start Home Visits—NO CLASSES for Head Start Students





Early Release Day—Students Dismissed after Lunch

Helping With Cooking:Let your children help while you are cooking by—

Rolling out cookiesRolling out pie doughHelping with tortillasMixing dry and wet ingredientsCounting raisins and nuts

Parents’ Questions: If you have a specific question about your child or the classroom, call your child’s teacher. If you have a question about the bus route, call the prekindergarten/Head Start office at 301-230-0678. If you need special assistance or community services, call your family service worker or the prekindergarten/Head Start Office at 301-230-0678.

Files and Records: Your child’s records are kept confidential and may not be released without your written consent. If you wish to see your child’s file, contact your child’s teacher and arrange a meeting.

Field Trips: Field trips are an important part of the prekindergarten/Head Start program and provide a wide variety of experiences for your child. If you want your child to par-ticipate, you must sign a permission slip at the beginning of the year. Each semester, the teacher will send you a list of individual field trips. You will need to sign that permission slip, too. Of course, you and Head Start younger siblings are welcome to come along. Let the teaching staff know about any near-by trips your family has enjoyed. They can then include these as possible class outings.

Finger PlaysI Had a Little TurtleI had a little turtle, (cup hands together) that lived in a box.He swam in the water (swimming motion) and climbed on the rocks. (fingers walking on hands)He snapped at a mosquito (clap hands) He snapped at a flea! (clap hands)He snapped at a fly (clap hands) and he snapped at me! (clap hands)He caught the mosquito. (catching motion) He caught the flea. (catching motion)He caught the fly. (catching motion) But he didn’t catch me! (Shake head and hold hands open.)Good for playing while waiting in line or at an office or the clinic!

Make and fly a kite, tell a friend about the adventure.

MARCH 2016


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Health & Nutrition Parent Meeting—6:30–8:30 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center

Prekindergarten/Head Start Registration for 2016–2017 Begins


Professional Day for Teachers—No school for students

SPRING BREAK—Schools and offi ces closed

SPRING BREAK—Schools and offi ces closed

SPRING BREAK—No school for students and teachers



Story TimeFive-minute stories are great. Next time you read or tell a story to your child, you might try one of the following:

1. Substitute her name for the name of the boy or girl in the story.

2. Make the sounds of the animals, cars, or babies.

3. Find something round, square, long, or short to include in the story.

Using Old NewspapersPainting or drawing on newspaper will aid in large muscle development. Find a place where your child’s designs and pictures can be put up for all to see, perhaps on the wall or refrigerator.

Crumpling paper into a ball is good for improving finger muscles. Newspaper balls can be used inside for tossing, throwing into wastebaskets, and as “snowballs.”

Outside Games and ActivitiesChalking on the sidewalk is fun and washes off easily. The difference in texture adds inter-est. You can use colored chalk on wet paper too.

Give your child an old large paint brush, a bucket of water, and let him/her paint the side of the house, the hall, the sidewalk, or any available surface that water will not hurt. Call it magic writing–it disappears as it dries.

The ABC’s of Family InvolvementActively listen to childrenBelieve in each otherCheck backpacks dailyDelight in specific successesEnjoy children’s enthusiasmFind space for children to keep special treasures and suppliesGive a gift from the heart; make one togetherHug your child every dayInvolve family in activities: hike, sing, read, and start collectionsJump with children just for funKeep a list of words to shareLaugh together

Mark your calendars for family timesNotice acts of kindnessOpen the door to independencePlay games as a family Quest and Question togetherRead aloud together, oftenShare a smileTreat children to the public libraryUnderstand the many ways that children learnValue children’s schoolwork and schoolWalk and wonder togethereXtend a helping handYield to the family’s need to be togetherZap into positive thinking

Transition to Kindergarten: Moving on to kindergarten is easier for prekindergarten/Head Start children because they have been attending school, riding the bus, participat-ing in the classroom with other children, and receiving health screenings. To smooth the way, teachers introduce the children to the kindergarten teacher, visit the kindergarten classroom, and transfer the child’s records. Parents are invited to Kindergarten Orientation meetings in April and May.

Play ball with a friend, keep score, and write a story about the fun you had.

APRIL 2016


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MAY 2016S M T W T F S

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MARCH 2015S M T W T F S

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Personal Safety Parent Meeting—6:30–8:30 p.m.Rocking Horse Road Center


PRIMARY ELECTION—Schools and offi ces closed

Beall 301-279-8460Bel Pre 301-460-2145Bells Mill 301-469-4046Brooke Grove 301-924-3154Brookhaven 301-460-2460Brown Station 301-840-7172Burnt Mills 301-649-8192Rachel Carson 301-840-5333Cashell 301-924-3130Clearspring 301-253-7004Clopper Mill 301-353-8065College Gardens 301-279-8470Capt. James Daly 301-353-0939Dr. Charles Drew 301-989-6030East Silver Spring 301-650-6420Fairland 301-989-5658Fields Road 301-840-7131Flower Hill 301-840-7161Forest Knolls 301-649-8060Fox Chapel 301-353-8055Gaithersburg 301-840-7136Galway 301-595-2930

Let Your Child Know You Love Him/HerBy showing:

Winking, SmilingWhistling, LaughingHolding Child, PattingNodding, KissingPlaying Together, HuggingWalking, Clapping

Georgian Forest 301-460-2170William B. Gibbs, Jr. 301-353-0800Glenallan 301-929-2014Glen Haven 301-649-8051Greencastle 301-595-2940Harmony Hills 301-929-2157Highland 301-929-2040Jackson Road 301-989-5650Kemp Mill 301-649-8046Lake Seneca 301-353-0929JoAnn Leleck ES at Broad Acres 301-431-7616Maryvale 301-279-4990Christa S. McAuliffe 301-353-0910Ronald McNair 301-353-0854Mill Creek Towne 301-840-7149Montgomery College @ Rockville 301-279-5000Montgomery Knolls 301-431-7667New Hampshire Estates 301-431-7607Roscoe Nix 301-422-5070Oakland Terrace 301-929-2161William Tyler Page 301-989-5672Judith A. Resnik 301-670-8200

Montgomery County Public Schools Prekindergarten/Head Start Classes

Dr. Sally K. Ride 301-358-0994Rock Creek Forest 301-650-6410Rock View 301-929-2002Rolling Terrace 301-431-7600Rosemary Hills 301-650-6400Rosemont 301-840-7123Sargent Shriver 301-929-4426Flora M. Singer 301-649-8000South Lake 301-840-7141Stedwick 301-840-7187Strawberry Knoll 301-840-7112Summit Hall 301-840-7127Takoma Park 301-650-6414Twinbrook 301-230-5925Viers Mill 301-929-2165Washington Grove 301-840-7120Watkins Mill 301-840-7181Weller Road 301-929-1020Wheaton Woods 301-929-2018Whetstone 301-840-7191

By telling him/her in different ways:

“Good”“You make me happy”“Show your father”“Good for you”“Excellent”“Thank you”“You did just right”

Have a Great

Summer!

Take a walk and talk about the colors of all the flowers you see. Count the different kinds.

MAY 2016


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APRIL 2016S M T W T F S

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JUNE 2016S M T W T F S

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MEMORIAL DAY—Schools and offi ces closed

Read or tell a story every night.

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JULY 2016S M T W T F S

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Last Day of School for Students, Early Release Day

Professional Day for Teachers

Published by the Department of Materials Management for the Division of Title I & Early Childhood Programs and Services

0070.16ct • Editorial, Graphics & Publishing Services • 9/15 • 1,800

Documents

Division of Title I & Early Childhood Programs and ... · March 3 Policy Council Executive Committee Meeting—6 PM Rocking Horse Road Center March 8 Health & Nutrition Parent Meeting—6:30-8:30