Parents, students and others in the community are invited to join the PGCPS family on Saturday, Nov. 18 for the Family Institute Conference at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville to explore opportunities within the school district and learn how to create a great education experience for all students.
At this year’s conference, workshops and STEM stations will aim to show parents and guardians how to best access resources to maximize their child’s education.
Beginning at 7 a.m., free transportation from satellite sites in Oxon Hill (Glassmanor Elementary), Langley Park (Langley Park McCormick Elementary) and Landover (Dodge Park Elementary) will be provided.
Updated Policies for Abuse, Lunches
PGCPS officials have updated several of their policies to ensure the safety and well-being of students, including how to handle and report suspected child abuse and neglect, and procedures to follow for students without funds for lunch.
The revisions also include clarification of the definitions for abuse and neglect to better align with state law and a new reporting form that requires additional information from employees regarding suspected abuse or neglect.
The new student-lunch procedure states that all PGCPS students are to be treated with dignity and respect to prevent any embarrassment in the lunch line due to lack of funds in student’s meal account.
The procedure outlines steps for school administrators to follow when a student repeatedly comes to school without a lunch or funds to purchase a meal.
Child Safety Workshop, Background Checks
PGCPS’ Family Institute, in collaboration with the Division of Human Resources, is hosting several “Keeping Our Children Safe” workshops for parents and guardians.
Two of the upcoming workshops will be held Thursday, Nov. 16 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at William Beanes Elementary School and Dec. 7 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at Langley Park-McCormick Elementary.
Included will be Fingerprint Background Check and Child Protective Services clearance sessions for persons interested in volunteering in their neighborhood schools more than once a year.
The fingerprint check and CPS sessions will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The $56.57 clearance fee will be waived for families whose children receive free and reduced-price meals, though each applicant must first provide their FARMS certification letter.
Teacher Recruitment Fair
PGCPS will host a recruitment fair next month to hire teachers from across the nation.
School officials are seek talented, committed educators who hold, or are eligible for, a teacher certificate issued by the Maryland State Department of Education.
The Dec. 2 fair takes place from 8 a.m.-noon at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro.