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Galway Chronicle The Galway Pledge : We pledge to respect one another, to be trustworthy and fair. We will care about each other, and be good citizens. Above all else, I will take responsibility for my actions, in a quest to build a better you …and a better me. Volume 12 Issue 4 October 15, 2021 Dorothea Fuller, Principal Nathaniel Hamilton, Assistant Principal Latina Bobo, Assistant School Administrator Our Vision: Galway Elementary School will empower students to be valued, productive members of a global society. Principally Speaking: “Protecting Instructional Time” I believe all of us are concerned about the impact on learning that occurred during the pandemic, school closures and virtual learning. It is imperative that we dedicate our selves to maximizing the instructional day. The six hours of instruction are valuable and we must protect it. Teachers will be focused on making sure students are taught everything expected at their grade level before the school year ends. Implementing the curriculum is a priority for our children to get the most out of their day. The staff has intentionally designed instruction to address student learning needs by setting individualized goals for each child. We understand the disruption the quarantine policy has on families and students ability To be in school when they display symptoms or are sick. Unfortunately quarantines, and rapid testing will continue to be used until our younger students have access to vaccinations. MCPS is planning on implementing a Test to Stay Program soon which will also help keep students in school. I want to remind parents of best practices that are already in place to maximize the instructional day and keep students safe. • Students should arrive to school on time! When children continually come to school 10-15 minutes late, they lose valuable instructional time. That could quickly add up to 75 minutes of instructional time per week. • Instruction begins at 9:25 am, if your child is late to school, they must be signed in by an adult. Recently we have had several students coming in after this time that are not signed in by an adult. Students miss the beginning routines of the day when they are consistently tardy. • If you are picking up your child early from school, do so before 3:30pm. Picking your child up everyday at 3:00 pm causes them to miss 45 minutes of instruction per day. • Students are called for an early pick-up when you arrive. We cannot have stu- dents waiting in the office for a parent or an appointment. The office cannot ac- commodate this, and it becomes wasted time for students during the instructional day. • Notify your child’s teacher in writing of dismissal changes. We cannot make changes from a child’s statement. The teacher will send your child home from the written communication on file at the school. We understand emergencies can happen, but telephone calls to the office on a daily basis increases chances for a communication breakdown. • Dismissal begins at 3:45. All children should be picked up by 4:05 at the latest. "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men" Frederick Douglass Galway Chronicle 4 UPCOMING EVENTS October 18-31 Scholastic Book Fair October 19 -No Pre-K-Professional Day -5th Grade Parent Magnet Meeting 6:30-7:30pm Zoom October 20 -Galway ES Walk to School Day -5th Grade Strathmore Concert -Parent ROARS Workshop 6:30-7:30 pm Zoom October 21 Grab & Go Food Distribution 5:00pm October 27 Title 1 Parent Engagement Meeting 7:00-8:00 pm Zoom October 29 Fall Festival School link to order https:// www.scholastic.com/bf/ galwayelementaryschool2 Galway Chronicle
