Additional PES Information
Arts Integrated Model School
Birthdays
Chinese Immersion Program
Clothing/Appropriate Dress
Dismissal Procedures
Field Trip/Collection of Money
Free/Reduced Lunch Program
Homework Policy
Inclement Weather Delay
Lost and Found
Mustang Mail
PTA Programs and Activities
Tutoring
Arts Integrated Model School
Potomac ES is one of three MCPS arts integrated model schools. Through professional
development opportunities, teachers learn to integrate various art forms into their daily
instruction. Staff members participate in training at the Kennedy Center and the Maryland
Arts Teacher Institute. Additionally, artists-in-residence work closely with the teachers and
also perform in the school for students.
Teachers plan lessons, units, and grade level experiences with the arts leadership team,
which includes the art teacher, music teacher and physical education teachers. For
example, students in 2nd grade participate in a program called “Creating Original Opera.”
Students in 4th and 5th grades create museums based on content area objectives.
Students design, install and interpret artifacts for an exhibition in the school, based upon
curriculum concepts. Students install the artifacts, host an opening and conduct tours for
the school community.
Birthdays
We announce student birthdays on Potomac Beat, our school in-house TV show, and
each student receives a birthday card and pencil.
Chinese Immersion Program
Since 1996, Potomac ES students have had an opportunity to participate in a Chinese
Immersion program. In this internationally renowned program, the students study reading
and language arts in English and learn math and science in Chinese. Parents may select
this program for their kindergarten and 1st grade students and the students remain in the
program throughout the elementary years. The program continues in middle school and
high school through a Chinese language program at Herbert Hoover MS and Churchill HS.
Our Chinese Immersion staff teaches the standard Montgomery County Public School
curriculum in math and science explicit Chinese language instruction. Children acquire
Mandarin Chinese naturally in the classroom setting as they participate in hands-on
learning experiences that are directly related to learning the MCPS curriculum.
In our increasingly interdependent world, parents realize that there are many advantages
to knowing two languages. Chinese Immersion offers a unique opportunity for children to
acquire a high level of proficiency in Chinese at an early age in a natural learning
environment.
Clothing/Appropriate Dress
Children should be dressed in a manner that is appropriate for the weather. They should
bring a warm coat with them during winter months as students will have outdoor recess
whenever weather permits. They should wear proper-fitting shoes and it is recommended
that they wear sneakers on P.E. days. Flip-flops and other loose-fitting shoes should not
be worn to school.
Dismissal Procedures
Walkers and car-riders go directly to the All Purpose Room (cafeteria) when they are
called for dismissal. Drivers should pull up in the car-pool lane and display the car-pool
number. This number is provided to each family at the beginning of the school year, and it
will remain the same throughout the elementary years. When a number is called, students
will be dismissed through the car-pool entrance. Bus riders will be dismissed directly from
their classrooms by bus number as their buses arrive. Bus arrival times will vary
according to traffic conditions.
Field Trip/Collection of Money
Any funds turned into school for payment of field trip fees, room fees or other expenses
should be in the form of a check made out to “Potomac Elementary School”. This is to
prevent students from carrying large amounts of cash with them to school.
Free/Reduced Lunch Program
Information about the MCPS Free/Reduced Price Meal System (FARMS) program and
application forms are available in the school office. Please note that access to this
program is handled on a yearly basis and applications must be submitted each year for
admission to this program.
Homework Policy
A homework assignment should be made as an extension or follow-up of clearly defined
school and classroom activities. Homework assignments of this type help pupils to
become self-directing in their development. They provide pupils with activities that may be
used to reinforce and enhance the school experience. Students are not expected to ‘selfteach’ new skills, nor are parents expected to teach new skills in order for their child to
complete homework assignments.
The purpose of homework is to ensure that each student has the opportunity to practice,
reinforce, and/or extend the skills and concepts taught during the instructional day. The
purpose of homework may be to:
Strengthen basic skills
Extend and reinforce classroom instruction
Stimulate and further interests
Provide opportunities for independent work
Provide a way in which parents can monitor the student’s learning activities
Develop initiative, responsibility, self-direction and organizational skills.
The time allotted to homework should increase gradually from grade to grade. The
following is a list of approximate daily time allotments for homework.
Grades K-2
Grades 3-4
Grades 5
15-30 minutes
30-45 minutes
45-75 minutes
Parents are permitted and encouraged to assist their child with homework. If a child’s
homework is consistently too difficult or exceeds the recommended time allotment,
parents are encouraged to communicate with the child’s teacher so that modifications to
the assignments can be made. If you have questions about homework or if you would like
to receive a complete copy of the Homework Policy, please contact the teacher or the
school office.
Inclement Weather Delay
Normal school hours are from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. When there is a one or two hour
delay due to inclement weather, school will start at 10:15 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. On those
days the bus schedule will also be shifted one or two hours. Register for MCPS Quick
Notes to receive notification of school schedule changes at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/quicknotes.
Lost and Found
The Lost and Found is located in the All Purpose Room. Parents are encouraged to
periodically check the collection to retrieve any lost or misplaced items. Items not claimed
will be donated to charity twice a year.
Mustang Mail
Potomac ES PTA uses an e-mail/messaging system through YahooGroups to
communicate to its membership. All members are encouraged to sign up with the system
to receive timely information about the school and notices of events and activities at the
school. To subscribe, send an email to mustange-mail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
PTA Programs and Activities
The Potomac ES PTA is a volunteer organization which works to enhance the educational
experience for our children. They operate a large number of programs around the school,
ranging from before-school and after-school programs to clubs to celebratory events and
fundraiser, all aimed at supporting the school and enriching the school experience for your
child(ren). If you would like to participate in these activities, you are encouraged to
contact the VP of Programs or one of the other members of the Executive Board to find
out how you can help!
Tutoring
MCPS regulations prohibit any teacher from tutoring children attending the teacher’s base
school at any time, whether during the school year, summer recess or during the holiday
periods.