Summer Hours

June 17, 2013- August 12, 2013

7:00 am -5:30 pm

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Parent Welcome Letter

Dear Members of the Panorama Community:

                I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your family to the 2012-2013 school year at Panorama Elementary School.  We are excited because we have once again made our Annual Year School Targets, making AYP. The staff and I are looking forward to working with you and your children.  We will continue to ensure that all of the students acquire knowledge and develop skills and understandings that will enable them to become productive citizens and lifelong learners.  This will continue to be accomplished through a rigorous curriculum, our dedicated staff, positive home-school communication, and a safe and orderly environment. Together, we can make this another outstanding year for our students.

                The first day of school for students will be Monday, August 20, 2012.  Our school hours are 7:45 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.  If your child is a walker or car rider, he/she should not arrive at school before 7: 40 a.m. unless he/she will eat breakfast or monitored by an adult.  Breakfast will be served beginning at 7:20 a.m. on Monday, August 20, 2012.

                Lunch will cost $2.60 (reduced price lunch $0.40) per day and breakfast is $1.50 (reduced breakfast $0.30) each day.  Students who received free and reduced lunch and breakfast in the Prince George’s County Public Schools System will continue until September 30, 2012.  You must complete a new application to determine your eligibility and receive a written notice of your child’s status before September 30, 2012 or you will have to pay the full price for all meals.  Students, who paid full price last year, new to the county or entering the public school system for the first time, must pay full price or bring a lunch from home each day until the free/reduced lunch application is completed.

                As you are preparing for the opening of school, please remember that uniforms are mandatory. (COLORS- Navy blue and white)

• Boys- A white or baby blue dress shirt or three-button style pullover (polo style) shirt with navy blue slacks (no jeans).  Knee length navy blue walking shorts (come to the knee) are also acceptable during the season of hot weather. Black or white rubber sole sport shoes are acceptable.  No Hoodie Jackets
• Girls- White or baby blue dress blouse or three-button (polo style) shirt with navy blue skirt, jumper, pants, or walking shorts (come to the knee).  Girls may wear shorts underneath their uniforms during Physical Education classes. Black or white rubber sole sport shoes are acceptable.  No Hoodie Jackets, vest. Bangles or big hooped ear rings.

State law requires that your child/children attend school every day unless there is a legitimate excuse for the absence.  Students who arrive after 7:45 a.m. are considered tardy and must be accompanied by an adult to sign them into school or a note from the parent/guardian.  We must strive to keep absenteeism and tardiness to a minimum in order to better ensure student progress.

It is also, the goal of Panorama Elementary to maintain a safe and orderly environment for students and staff. In doing this it is important that all parents and daycare providers be aware of the policies and procedures one must follow when entering the building. Please know that all visitors (parents, daycare providers ect…) must report to the main office and sign the visitor’s log, present a photo ID, and receive a visitors pass before going to any location in the building. Before entering the classroom you must present the visitors pass and introduce yourself to the classroom teacher/Substitute that will then assist you. Without a visitors pass, no child will be released. This is a Prince Georges County system wide procedure that we expect everyone to follow. We are also, asking if you pick your child up daily for dismissal that you please pick them up before 1:00 p.m. and sign the early dismissal log. Please know that any child being picked up after 1:00 p.m., you will need to wait outside for them until all students are dismissed.  Please know that in no way are we trying to inconvenience anyone but we feel the need to enforce this procedure for the security and safety of our children.

Student supply list can be accessed on the Prince Georges County web page, click on schools, locate Panorama Elementary and the link to our website is located there.

Orientation for Pre-Kindergarten students and their parents/guardians will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Kindergarten students and their parents/guardians will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please join the PTA, visit your child’s classroom, and volunteer in the school.

Thanking you in advance for your commitment to our students, school, and community. 

Sincerely,

Ms. P. Wells, Principal

Mission Statement

The mission of panorama Elementary School is to provide our students with the skills necessary to function successfully in a our society as active and responsible community members.  The opportunity to develop these skills will be provided in a safe and orderly environment through the cooperative efforts of parents, community members, and school staff members.

School Colors and Mascot

Our school colors are blue and white.  Our mascot is a panther.  We are the Panorama Panthers.

School Hours

The school hours for the general education students are 7:45 a.m. - 1:55 p.m.  The school hours for special needs students are 8:00 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.  Late dismissals must be arranged before 2:00 p.m.  After 2:00 p.m. No visitors will be allowed to enter the building.

School Office

Please feel free to contact us with any problems or concerns.  The main office number is (301) 702-3870.  Office hours are 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Secretarial Staff

Mrs. Williams
Mrs. Shepherd
Mrs. Pearson

School Visitors

We welcome and encourage parents/guardians to visit the school and their child's classroom.  Any individual visiting the school for any reason must first report to the school's office and receive a visitor's pass.  If it should be necessary to set up a conference, please see the classroom teacher.  It is extremely important that classroom activities are not interrupted.

Attendance

All children are expected to be in attendance each day unless they are ill or a family emergency arises. Please remember that a written note explaining the absence is required after a student has been absent.  We are asking a parent/guardian to call the school each day that a student is absent.

Arrivals

Classes begin at 7:45  a.m. daily. Students may enter the building at  7:30 a.m. for breakfast and  7:40 a.m. if they are not eating breakfast and line up in the designated areas.

Late Arrivals

Children who arrive after 8:00 a.m. are tardy and must report to the office for a late slip.  a note must accompany your child to explain the reason for the tardiness.  This late slip admits them to class and removes their name from the absence list for the day.  We realize that there will be instances when your child must be tardy, but please try to avoid this whenever possible.

Parents/Guardians of students who are continually tardy will be asked to provide proof of residence.  Tardiness interrupts the instructional time.  Thank you in advance for your full cooperation.

Early Dismissal

We encourage you to schedule appointments after school hours (1:55 p.m.) If this is not possible, you must come to the main office to sign your child out.  Students will not be allowed to sit and wait in the office.  For your child's safety, the teachers will not release a child until the office calls for the child.  For safety reasons, please provide appropriate ID upon request as well.

Bus Students

Parents/Guardians receive an updated bus schedule each year.  Students should be at their designated stop five to seven minutes prior to pick-up time.  We encourage parents to monitor students at the bus stop.  Children are only to ride the bus to which they are assigned.  There are no exceptions.  They should remain seated while the bus is in motion and keep noise down by talking in normal classroom standards of conduct.

It is essential that a safe and orderly environment is present on each school bus.  A referral from the bus driver for misconduct may result in a Suspension of the child's privilege of riding the bus.  Fighting will not be tolerated.

Special needs students are picked up and dropped off at their individual residence.  Parents/Guardians must be present and should be ready 15 minutes before designated bus arrival times.

Due to insurance regulations, Parents/Guardians are not allowed to ride the school bus.

Emergency School Closings

If the decision is made to close school due to inclement weather, the local television and radio stations will broadcast the information.  You may also access the Prince George's County Public School's Website at www.pgcps.org to obtain emergency school closing or early school dismissal information.

School Uniform Policy

Panorama Elementary School has a Uniform Policy.  All Students are expected to wear the uniform daily.  The attire for boys is navy blue pants (no jeans) and white/light blue shirts with collars.  The girl's attire is blue jumper or skirt with white/light blue blouse with collar.  Uniforms worn by students should be neat, clean, and properly fitted.  If you have uniforms your child can no longer wear, please donate them to the school.

Registration Requirement

Items needed at time of registration:

Must be one of the parents of record (named on birth certificate) or have papers of legal custody.

    ·       Proof of residence with your name on it

o     Current lease or deed – (Address must be within Panorama’s boundary)

o     If your name is not on the lease or deed, you will need to bring a copy of the person’s current lease or deed with you and show proof* that you are living at that address in order to register.  At registration you will be given a Shared Housing Disclosure to have notarized and returned to the school.  (*Some mail coming to the address in your name–bank statement, social service, W-2 form, etc.)

o     Maryland Driver’s License and Notarized letters are NOT accepted as proof of residence.

·       Birth Certificate – (With parents’ names)

·       Social Security Card

·       Current Shot Record

o     DtaP/DTP/DT/Td – 4

o     Polio – 3

o     Measles - Mumps -Rubella (MMR) – 1 and 2

o     Varicella (Chickenpox) – 1

o     Hepatitis B – 3

 If your child is missing any of the shots listed above, please have him/her vaccinated.  We cannot register children unless all immunizations are current.

Current Report Card & Transfer Card - If your child is coming from another school, we must have a copy of his/her current report card and transfer card.  Please Note:  Your child’s placement in a class may be temporary pending receipt of previous school records.