Peace Program: As of today, our students have achieved 117 days of peace out of 126 days of school.

We are very proud of all of our students for working so hard on maintaining a safe and orderly school. They are very proud of their accomplishment.

Because we are certain the students will be breaking last year's record of 158 days of peace, we will be forming a committee to plan an end-of-the-year school-wide celebration.

Science Fair Winners: Congratulations to the following students for doing so well in our school-wide science fair:

Physics
1.	Erin Jenkins
2.	Crystal Manalac
3.	Corey Carpenter
Honoroable Mentions: Jocelyn Johnson, Sheiaka Rodgers, Rashanda Dunn

Chemistry
1.	Anthony Cofield
2.	Jocelyn Sudds
Honoroable Mentions: William Riley, Reondo Harley, Kiana Adams

Earth Science
1.	Marcus White
Honoroable Mentions: Vicent Dill, Anthony Herbin

Microbiology
1.	Marques Turner
Honoroable Mentions: Darren Young, David Simon

Social Science
1.	Sterling Copelin
Honoroable Mentions: Kadeejia Williams, Corisa Johnson, Raquaiyah Burtaan

Botony
1.	Donovan Dow
Honoroable Mentions: Dominique Cooper, Justin Smith

Primary Grades
1.	Taylor Knapp
Honoroable Mentions: Kurtes Walls, Danielle Alston

Congratulations to the following students who have been named Citizens of the Month for their exemplary behavior:

Mrs. Jamie Bunche is still collecting Box Tops for Education. Please be sure to save them!

You may obtain information about the Emergency Weather Plan(s) by accessing the school system's web page at www.pgcps.org.

Monday, May 3, 1999 our fifth graders will begin taking the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP). The test will continue for five days through May 7, 1999. Our third graders will take the test from May 10 through May 14, 1999. It is essential that everyone of our students be here, on time, for those five days. For every absence of a student, that student will receive zeros for that day's assessment. The rules of the test do not provide make-up time for tests missed. The student and the school are therefore penalized for absences.

We ask that no appointments be made for your third and fifth grade children for the mornings of the weeks during which they are to be assessed. Should it be necessary to make appointments during school time, we ask that you achedule these for after 12 noon. Usually, the testing time runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Because of the essential nature of this test, we will call the homes of the students who are absent at the start of school on the testing days. It should be extremely helpful if all of our students are in school and on time those days so that we can begin and end the testing sessions in an orderly, efficient manner.

Our scores for the 1998 administration of this assessment increased by 12 percentage points over those from 1997. It is imperative that we continue the upward climb. To assist your children as they undertake these assessments, please attend to the following issues:

	Each child should go to bed by 9:00 p.m. and have at least eight hours of sleep so s/he will be refreshed and ready to participate.
	Each child should eat a good, balanced breakfast.
	Each child should ride the bus to school so that s/he is here on time and can begin the day in an orderly fashion.
	Each child should have plenty of fresh air and activity after each day of school.
	Each child should leave home in a happy, relaxed frame of mind so s/he is free to focus on the assessment activities.

There will be no homework for the third and fifth graders during the week of their testing.

We have been doing much to help our students be ready for these assessments. The preparation actually begins in kindergarten and continues throughout the years they are in elementary school. Reading accurately and with understanding is how the students get into the test, writing with with clarity and detail is how they complete the test. Because reading and writing well are the keys to success both on the assessments and in life, we have placed a heavy emphasis on these areas in school.

You can assist your child by providing a quiet reading and writing time at home each evening, on the weekends and throughout vacation time. If your child claims to have no homework, don't believe it. We stated at back-to-school-night in September, during conferences, in newsletters and at PTA meetings that if your feel the homework provided is not enough, you should add reading and writing time to your child's after school schedule. They can never read and write too much!

We look forward to our students continuing the trend of improvement. With your assistance in getting them here on time, every day, well fed and relaxed, we know that they will be able to undertake the challenges of these assessments. Thank you in advance for your assistance and good luck to all of our students as they take these assessments!

The current calendar may be viewed here.

Banking hours are from 8:00 until the last person is served every Friday morning.

Applications are accepted any time. Mrs. Behenna can answer any questions you may have regarding this exciting program. Please call her at (301) 599-2414.

As of April 12, 1999, there have been 117 days of peace!