Welcome Letter
Greetings Avalon Families!
Welcome back to school year 2024 - 2025. I hope that you and your family had a wonderful and safe summer break. It is time once again to plan our return to Avalon, for another school year. We have accomplished so much over the past several years, and I believe that this year will be another great one.
I often say, Avalon has all of the components to be a five-star school in practice and on paper. In just a few weeks, we will stand in the doors of Avalon, anxiously awaiting our scholars.
Nelson Mandela said, “A winner is a dreamer who never gave up.”
Harriet Tubman said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer.”
Stephen Spielberg said, “I don’t just dream at night. I dream all day long. I dream for a living.”
These quotes sum up my hopes for SY25 to be a year where we make dreams happen. So, 2025 is “The Year of Dreams” at Avalon Elementary School. We will ground this work in our school mission, vision and core values.
The Mission of Avalon Elementary School is to be a safe and nurturing learning environment where students are prepared academically and socially for the college and/or career of their choice.
The Vision of Avalon Elementary School is to be a Mecca of Greatness, a Beacon of Excellence ~ the place where Eagles soar.
Avalon Elementary School strives for Effort, Efficacy and Excellence ~ from every student, every teacher, EVERY DAY!
Avalon’s Promise to Parents, Families & Community is as follows:
We are here for their children
We are here for this community
Children are safe here
Children are treated well here
Children learn here
To continue our collaborative efforts, we need a clear, shared understanding of who we are, why we’re here and what we hope to accomplish. The students are always our WHY, and we are now clear on how.
PGCPS continues to ground its work in the Instructional Framework and Student Learner Profile, and Superintendent Millard House has challenged us to be “CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE” and to “LEARN and LEAD with TRACTION.” And, in doing so, we will continue alignment of our efforts, to systemic priorities as follows:
- Building a Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment
- Monitoring and Supporting Data Driven Instruction in Mathematics
- Improving Student Achievement through Effective Feedback
There will be several opportunities for parents and families to get helpful information about the new school year.
- Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Orientation will take place, Friday, August 23, 9:00 am and 10:00 am respectively. This event is IN-PERSON and will take place at Avalon Elementary School. Please arrive on time and follow the instructions of the staff on duty.
- 1st through 5th Grade Orientation for parents and families will take place, Thursday, August 22, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, VIRTUALLY. Registration is REQUIRED and can be done at this link. REGISTER HERE.
There will be three Principal Chat & Chew “State of The School” Addresses, held quarterly at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. The first Principal Chat & Chew “State of the School” will take place, Wednesday, September 25, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, IN PERSON. Parents and families will get information about the final SY25 budget, school data, goals and objectives, community partnerships, after school clubs and activities, intervention programs, tutoring and other types of support. In addition, information about the Avalon’s Community Schools and Title 1 Programs will also be shared.
For helpful school information in ONE LOCATION, please read the “ALL THINGS AVALON” One Page Information Sheet for Parents and Families (SPANISH version coming soon). In addition, parents and families should also visit the PGCPS Parents Resource page, for information and assistance.
Important Planning Information
- New School Hours - 7:30 am - 1:40 am
- Instruction begins promptly at 7:55 am, and students are late at this time.
- The arrival and dismissal travel patterns are the same for walkers, car riders and bus riders.
- Avalon’s uniform policy is still the same (Blue uniform bottoms, white or navy blue polo shirts, mostly black or brown shoes and socks, black or brown belts, and navy blue sweaters or jackets. (No jeans, leggings, sweatpants, tee shirts, hoodies are permitted).
- Thursday, August 22 - 1st through 5th Grade Parents/Families Orientation Q&A (VIRTUAL). Registration Required. REGISTER HERE
- Friday, August 23 - Pre-K and Kindergarten Orientation (In-Person)
- Monday, August 26 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
- Thursday, September 12- BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT (In-Person)
Thank you again for your continued support. I look forward to an exceptional year where we will partner with one another to build a mecca of greatness and a beacon of excellence in educational experiences for all students. They deserve it and we can do it TOGETHER!
Transformationally Yours,
Veda A. McCoy
Principal
Avalon Elementary School
Mark your Calendar
Back 2 School Drive & Dash
Saturday, August 17 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. or while supplies last.
Charles Herbert Flowers High School
10001 Ardwick-Ardmore Road
Springdale, MD 20774
High Point High School
3601 Powder Mill Road
Beltsville, MD 20705
Oxon Hill High School
6701 Leyte Drive
Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Pack with Purpose: A Toolkit for a Healthy Future
Free Conference for Youth ages 11-21
Saturday, August 17, 2024
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Largo High School
505 Largo Road
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
Free Food Give Away (Tuesdays, 11 am - 3 pm)
Free Clothes Shoes and Accessories (1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9 am - 12 pm)
St. Stephen Baptist Church, 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748
MERCY House, 4402 Cedell Place, Temple Hills, MD 20748
SCHOOL INFORMATION
School Hours
The first day of school for students is Monday, August 26. The school hours are 7:30 am - 1:40 pm. Remember, in order to receive the full benefit of the instructional program at Avalon Elementary School, it is important to be present and on time every day. For the safety of our students, children are not permitted to arrive at school before 7:30 am. If you bring your child to school before 7:30 am, you must remain present with them until the main doors open at 7:30 am.
Visitors and Volunteers
Prince George’s County Public Schools are once again open for visitors, volunteers and one-time volunteers. Please visit the VISITOR SCREENING PAGE on the PGCPS website, to begin your approval process. Field trips are also back, and we want our scholars to have these important learning experiences and opportunities. All parent chaperones will need to be screened following these procedures. Avalon’s Visitation Policy will be posted on the school website, prior to the first day of school.
Morning Routine/Drop-offs (CAR RIDERS)
Parents will drop off students on the side of the building. Parents will enter at the first entrance to the side parking lot and form a single line and follow the direction of the staff on duty. Your cooperation is appreciated! Buses will use the front of the building in the morning for arrival. , This space cannot be shared with vehicles or walkers. So please do not enter in the morning, until after school starts, at 8:15 am.
PM Dismissal Procedures (CAR RIDERS)
We will use the same check-in/call down process as last school year. The instructions will be shared during next week’s orientation and additional information sessions.
Early Dismissal Procedures Routine
In order to ensure the safety of our students, children who are being picked up for early dismissal must be signed out. We check I.D. and match students according to those individuals listed on the emergency card or through a written note only. Students will not be permitted to be signed out for early dismissal after 1:15 pm.
School Uniforms & Supply Lists
All Avalon scholars are required to wear uniforms. We also have published the school supply list on the school website. Please see the links below for further information.
Breakfast
Breakfast will be FREE (No Cost) for all students regardless of meal benefit status for this upcoming school year. Students will eat breakfast in their classrooms, starting at 7:30 am and ending at 7:55 am. Instruction begins at 8:00 am.
Quarterly Chat & Chew “State of The School” Address
As scheduled. First session, Wednesday, September 25, 5:30 - 7:30 pm (In-Person), Media Center.
Have a Bus Rider? Download StopFinder
Bus routes cards will be mailed to the last address of record in Synergy Families with students who will be riding the bus this fall can download the new StopFinder mobile app for info on bus locations and schedules. Please note that you must have an email address on record in SchoolMax to use the app. Learn about additional changes and upgrades to transportation and our school bus fleet!
Forms & Family/Emergency Cards
Please complete all forms that will be sent home within the first few days of school, especially Family/Emergency Cards and return them to your child’s teacher the next day. You will find three Family/Emergency Cards in the school communication folder. We need all three completed, legibly, front and back. One card is kept on file in the main office and the other is kept in the Health Room for medical emergencies. It is extremely important that we have accurate emergency information on file for every child. We are also asking for email addresses as a form of communication with our families. Sending newsletters and other mass correspondences in this manner will save time and ensure timely and accurate communication.
Immunizations
To help you prepare with ensuring that your child is properly immunized, Prince George's County Public Schools is offering free immunization clinics for students.CLICK HERE for more information. Remember: No Shots, No School! Make an appointment for routine immunizations today! Kindergarteners in the state are required to get a second dose of the chickenpox vaccine, while students in the seventh grade must get the vaccination for Meningococcal and Tdap, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
Social Media
Please follow Avalon on Twitter @AvalonEagles and join the Avalon ES Parents Facebook Group to help stay abreast of school information.
Technology Devices
Students are expected to bring their fully charged device to school each day. If you have a child currently enrolled at Avalon who needs to exchange his/her device, please contact Mr. Kendric Carroll via email at kendric.carroll@pgcps.org.
PERTINENT SCHOOL INFORMATION:
https://schools.pgcps.org/avalon/
Email: avalon@pgcps.org
Office Hours:
Office Hours: 8:15 am - 2:30 pm
7302 Webster Lane, Fort Washington, MD 20744
Office Number: (301) 449-4970
Fax Number: (301) 248-0734
Principal Veda A. McCoy veda.mccoy@pgcps.org
Monika Dowdie, Assistant Principal monika.dowdie@pgcps.org
Leslie Finley, Special Education Coordinator leslie.finley@pgcps.org
Jacqueline Frye, Community School Coordinator jacqueline.frye@pgcps.org
Rechelle Fowler-Jones, School Nurse rechelle.fowler@pgcps.org
LaWanda Brown, Secretary I lawanda.brown@pgcps.org
Cynthia Holland, Principal Secretary cynthia.holland@pgcps.org