Glenarden Woods Elementary

[Anonymous]

Re: transportation, this is second poster former Oakcrest mom again.

The bus ride can be long. But, the ride to Oakcrest was also long, and my child handled it OK. I don't mean to dismiss the concern, because it's real, but we look at it as the trade-off of getting to go at all. Nothing terrible happened on the bus beyond the usual bus behavior issues you have everywhere, and I have to say they were handled well.

[Anonymous]

I missed today's event it was from 2-3.

[Anonymous]

I went today to talk to Ms. Carey, the school counselor. She was wonderful and helpful. She took us through and introduced us to all of the all five of the second grade teachers. They were all great. We then went and to check out the third grade for my older child. There are four third grade teachers, or at least that's how many I met. We very briefly met the math teacher. The reading and science teachers made a big impression on my child. The best part of the third grade tour was by far the science room. It is filled with all sorts of animals. Everything from tadpoles to hamsters.

We also saw that there is more than just the tiny playground area. There's a large area with about a dozen swings, another set had rings and a hanging bar. There was also a jungle gym, a blacktop, and a field.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what the deal is with the children having a "space" for their stuff? Do they have a desk in homeroom where they can keep their books and stuff or do they have to carry everything around with them all day? Are you sending your kids with all the school supplies on monday or just some of them?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I am only sending what will fit in the backpack. I figure we can bring tissues, wipes and all of that bulky stuff to back to school night which I believe they said is September 6th. By then they will know who their teachers are I hope!

[Anonymous]

I'm only sending what fits in their bags as well. It's still a ton of stuff and I couldn't fit their lunch boxes in there so they are going to have to hang off their bags.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in 3rd and 4th grade at GWES this year. We are Oakcrest transplants. Actually, we're originally Hyattsville Elementary. Anyway.

The drop-off situation this morning was ridiculous! We ended up parking down the hill and two streets over, although we arrived a bit early.

Also, re: supplies, we brought in everything today although we weren't sure if that was expected. It turns out that all the supplies were meant to be turned in today, as they all were organized in the classroom first thing.

[Anonymous]

My 3rd grader was told she couldn't leave all her supplies (for other classes) in her homeroom. Then she was told that she had to bring in everything else tomorrow. I sent her with everything except the one time donation items. I figured I would send them tomorrow when her backpack was empty. It's not empty because her teacher told them they couldn't leave that stuff in his class (in her desk) so she brought everything back except her math folders. I had heard that the 3rd grade team was pretty difficult about things like that so it wasn't totally unexpected. The note home today from the 3rd grade team said all school supplies need to be in by the 27th.

You can't ever pull up to the school in the AM and you will have to park out on the road. In the afternoon you can.

Our bus was an hour late coming home. My 2nd grader eats at 11am and the bus didn't get here until 5:15. He was starving by the time he got home and I am going to see if he can have an afternoon snack.

I loved that the kids had a nice long recess.

[Anonymous]

Can I just say that I am glad to see a Prince George's County being discussed on this forum?

My children go to Oakcrest. We were sad to see some of our friends get moved to other schools last year and kind of envy those of you who went to GWES, it seems like it will be a real TAG center school.

PP crazy to have the bus 1 hour late -- that happened to us the first day last year, too. But they worked it out.

What I heard from a bus driver was that very few drivers actually drive their routes to practice the week before. Can that be true? It should be required that they do so!! And of course they should be paid for that.

[Anonymous]

The bus was much better today. Only 30 minutes late. DD said that the bus driver didn't know her route so it seems as though she didn't practice the run last week. A police officer had stopped yesterday at our bus stop to tell us not to worry, there were no accidents, there was just the first day issue with bus coordination.

[Anonymous]

Same here our bus was only 20 minutes late today (was 45 yesterday). My DD is in second grade and was really nervous yesterday, didn't want to leave her friends at the old school - but even after the testing today she was much happier - I can tell she likes the challenge that some of the harder test questions posed for her.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, the bus schedule seems to be shaking out a bit more as the week progresses.

I have a fifth grader, and the supplies came back home the first day. He's been carrying them in a few at a time.

[Anonymous]

Is anyone having any luck with kids with IEPs? I just found out that none of the classroom teachers (at least in 4th grade) have seen any of the info for students who have IEPs or 504s. I am basically copying ours and emailing it to everyone.

[Anonymous]

I had talked to Clara Carey just before school started to inform her of my son's 504 and to see about adding to it. We'll have another meeting next month to type up that new 504 but she has the one from last year as well as the added recommendations from last year's teacher.

My child is in a different grade but I wanted to make sure his information was transferred from his old school. My suggestion would be to call Glenarden woods and see if they received last years IEP or 504 and make sure everything is in place for this year.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, yes - I found out via email that they had not received any of the records so I'm glad I was proactive although sometime I feel like the "crazy mom". Oh well, at least now they know.

Question for anyone who was at the school before - is paper basically the main mode of communication? I guess I was spoiled at our last school because they kept up regular communication and announcements via email.