Letters from Principal Adams
August 22, 2025
Dear Accokeek Academy Family,
Wow—what an incredible evening! We are truly grateful for the overwhelming turnout at our Back to School Fair. Seeing so many of you come together with such energy and excitement for the new school year filled us with joy. Your presence, your smiles, and your enthusiasm remind us why our Accokeek community is so special. Thank you for starting the year with us in such a powerful way!
We’re excited to keep the momentum going as we officially begin with Student Orientations on Monday:
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6th Grade Orientation – 9:30am–1:15pm (transportation provided). Students should gather in the Upper Campus Cafeteria starting at 9:00am.
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Kindergarten Orientation – 9:30am (no transportation). Parents, please join us in the Upper Campus Gym as we share ways to help your child thrive in school.
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New Students Grades 1–5 Orientation – 9:30am (no transportation). Parents and students, we look forward to welcoming you in the Lower Campus Multipurpose Room.
We cannot wait to meet our newest Eagles and welcome our 6th graders into middle school!
Then comes the big day—the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL on Tuesday, August 26, 2025! Please remember:
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Students may not be dropped off before 9:00am.
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School day runs 9:30am–3:50pm.
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Breakfast and lunch are provided.
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Traffic will be heavy the first day—if possible, please have your child ride the bus.
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For safety reasons, parents are asked not to enter the building unless completing registration or addressing transportation needs.
Together, let’s carry the excitement from our Back to School Fair into the first day and beyond. With your partnership, we know this will be a year full of growth, success, and joy as we continue striving for Excellence for Every Learner…THE ACCOKEEK WAY!
With gratitude and excitement,
Judy N. Adams, Ed.D., Principal
August 8, 2025
Dear Accokeek Academy Parents, Guardians and Students:
I am humbled and honored to serve this community for my 14th school year and wish everyone a successful school year. We do not take it lightly that you are members of our community because not only are you entrusting your children in our care, you are also our partners to ensure their success. We want you to engage with us in this academic journey and collaborate internationally for their social and emotional growth.
We welcome the return of our Administrative Team: our Kindergarten through 2nd grade Assistant Principal, Dr. Elizabeth Bell;. 3rd through 5th grade Assistant Principal, Dr. Karen Cushman; Mr. John Moore, Assistant Principal for grade 6; Mr. Leon McCants, our 7th grade Assistant Principal and Mr. Donald King, our 8th grade Assistant Principal. We hope that each of you will embrace our Administrative Team as you have in the past.
Our goals this year are wrapped in our vision of becoming a student-centered school with inclusive and innovative educational opportunities that focus on the whole child. We want our scholars to take ownership of their learning and advocate for social justice and equity. We will focus on our data, both quantitative and qualitative, for our continuous improvement in all aspects of our community: student academic achievement in all content areas, teacher instructional improvement, chronic absenteeism, discipline referrals and report card grades, to name a few. We will continue to keep our culture and climate at the forefront of everything we do. And we will enhance our support for social and emotional learning. We also invite you to volunteer and assist your child’s teachers in every and any way possible for you. We know it takes a village to raise our children.
We encourage each of you to visit our website twice each week: https://www.pgcps.org/schools/
As you know, we are a one-to-one Chromebook School.. This year all Kindergarten through 3rd grade students will have their Chromebook housed in their classroom and remain there throughout the school year. All other grade levels will receive a Chromebook which is the student’s and parent’s financial responsibility and stewardship to keep the chromebook clean, handled properly and safely. When students are unable to properly care for their device, the Student Device Agreement identifies fees incurred for lost or damaged devices and peripherals along with the importance of student care usage. A payment plan may be offered by the school administration. A loaner device to use in school may be offered while payment is being collected. While we provide the electronic device for your scholar, we also have a List of School Supplies by grade level that you are asked to provide. We are adopting a color-coded content organization system, as we must prioritize student organization skills. This year we will provide each student in grades 3 - 7 with an Agenda Book for daily assignments and 2-way communication with families. PGCPS also recommends clear backpacks for students. However, it is not mandatory at this time.
Having a safe and orderly environment is our number one goal. Each child has a civil right to the best education possible. We achieve this by having all scholars meet behavioral expectations of mutual respect of person and property. Prince George’s County has updated the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook and has created a Code of Conduct for Families, Volunteers and Visitors. Please review each to ensure that we have a great and productive learning environment for all and at all times. It is important to review the Cell Phone Policy with your student. Please note that iPads, tablets, Smart watches and Smart glasses are not allowed in school. Also students are to turn off their cell phones before entering the building. Students may turn on their cell phones after dismissal at 4:15pm. All cell phones are off during the school day. If there is a need to call home, they are to come to the main office and use the designated school phones which are available throughout the school day..
Our school hours for all students are from 9:30 am until 4:10 pm. Students are not supervised on site until 9:00am. Please do not drop your student off before 9:00am any morning unless attending activities requiring your written permission and when you do arrive early, please remain in your vehicle for the safety of your child. Early dismissals are discouraged but we understand that it may be necessary on an infrequent basis. Those having daily early dismissals are subject to failing their last class of the day. No early dismissals will occur after 2:30pm to allow for staff to prepare for dismissal of all of our students.
As you plan ahead, our Uniform Policy is found on our school website. There will be strict adherence to the uniform policy this school year, as we return to the use of lockers in our middle school. The 2025-2026 Accokeek Academy Hoodies are also on sale for $35 each. The sale ends on Friday August 15th. Expected delivery is September 3rd. Please keep in mind that all hoodies/sweatshirts must be a solid color and match the student’s grade level uniform color to be worn during the school day. School Breakfasts & Lunches will have the following prices: Breakfast for all students is $1.60; Lunch for elementary students (Grades K - 5) is $2.75; Lunch for middle school students (Grades 6 - 8) is $3.00. We encourage all parents to apply for Free and Reduced Lunches. All families that approved last school year, must reapply this school year. School meals are not free unless the application is approved. To make breakfast and lunch payments, please visit the Food and Nutrition Website for instructions. It is important to make note:
Elementary K-5 select Accokeek Academy II
Middle School grades 6, 7, and 8th Select Accokeek Academy I
Additionally, please consider that bringing in fast food lunches for students creates disruption in the cafeteria and is discouraged.
You are asked to join our PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) and suggest your ideas. Please become a member at Membership on the PTSA website. Parents, students, staff and community members are encouraged to join. You may also consider volunteering at the school or your child’s classroom or attending field trips. The Volunteer Link will provide the necessary steps.
All students at certain grade levels have required immunizations found here Maryland State Mandatory Immunizations. Additionally, the current Immunization Certificate for your child must be on file. This school year Maryland is requiring ALL immunizations before your child may attend school.
In light of the continued shortage of bus drivers regionally and nationally, we ask for your patience during the first weeks of school. Transportation Information can be found on their website. Please update phone numbers, emails and emergency contact info in ParentVUE. To view your bus stop, use our Infofinder tool. Transportation questions can be submitted online.
Important Dates:
August 6th - September 27th Back to School Immunization Clinics in Prince George County
Thursday August 21st 6:00pm - Accokeek Academy’s Back to School Fair - please join us as we celebrate the new school year! Meet your child’s teachers, visit with community partners,school supplies, food and more.
Monday August 25th - 9:30am - 12:30pm Kindergarten and New Student Orientation In-Person for all incoming 6th graders, our new elementary and middle school students to Accokeek. Bus transportation will be provided. Kindergarteners are to come with their families. This is an Early Dismissal Schedule for the day (Except Kindergarten). Breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge.
Tuesday August 26th is the First Day of School for ALL STUDENTS!
Students are encouraged to be on time everyday. On-time attendance and staying for the completion of the school day is critical to student academic success. All students will receive their schedules via email prior to the first day of school. Schedules may also be found online in Synergy. While we all wish to celebrate the first day, please keep in mind the amount of traffic we experience at Accokeek Academy. We encourage you to think about ways you can celebrate the first day with your child. Bringing them to school on the first day can be overwhelming with the amount of traffic.
Our Back to School Nights are scheduled for in-person from 6:30pm - 8:00pm on the following nights:
Tuesday September 9th - Kindergarten - 2nd Grades
Wednesday September 10th - Grades 3 - 5
Thursday September 11th - Grades 6 - 8
All parents and students are encouraged to attend and meet their teachers to learn the expectations of their schedules and course work. Please keep in mind that parent involvement in your child’s education is a significant factor in their success. We encourage you to have your child practicing their Math facts and reading at least 20 minutes each day to be ready to learn upon their return to school.
Wishing our Accokeek Academy community the best school year ever, as we emphasize our values of respect, effort, efficacy and excellence while ensuring that we motivate our scholars in every way possible and recognize Excellence for Every Learner…THE ACCOKEEK WAY!
Educationally yours,
Dr. Judy N. Adams
Principal