Principal's Welcome Letter

August 4, 2025

Dear North Forestville Elementary Families,

Welcome back! We hope you’ve enjoyed a peaceful and joyful summer with your loved ones. A special shout‑out to everyone who joined us for our first Tuesday Tea Talk on July 22, 2025—it was a warm, meaningful morning, and your presence helped spark real conversation and community connection!

We’re eagerly anticipating the start of the 2025–2026 school year on Tuesday, August 26! As we prepare, I’d like to share an important update about our morning arrival routine designed to support your child and our staff:

First‑Week Only: Classroom Walkthroughs

During the first week of school (August 26th – 29th), parents and guardians are welcome to walk their child to the classroom door. This brief time helps ease the transition and offers that special moment for a hug or goodbye.

Beginning Tuesday, September 2nd, we kindly request that parents remain at the school entrance or drop-off lines, allowing students to walk independently to their classrooms. Please know that we will have staff assisting students with finding their classrooms.

Why This Shift After the First Week?

• Supports teachers in setting effective routines and expectations without congestion in the hallways.
• Helps students acclimate quickly—research shows that minimal lingering during drop-off leads to smoother transitions and less anxiety.
• Fosters independence and confidence—children who walk to class on their own begin to build a strong sense of school belonging and self-regulation.
• Strengthens separation skills—quick, calm goodbyes help children manage transitions and grow emotionally.

Please Begin Talking About This at Home

Over the next two weeks, please start having conversations with your child so they know what to expect:

• Practice goodbye routines at home—such as a hug, a special wave, or a simple phrase like “I love you and I’ll see you after school.”
• Role-play walking to the classroom, saying a confident “see you later!” then having you wave from the door before leaving—and reassure them they’re safe and cared for.
• Label and normalize any big feelings—letting your child know it’s OK to feel sad, but that they will be alright once they enter the classroom and that there will be people here to make sure they get to their classroom. They will not get lost, they will make it to their classroom on time!

What to Expect In Practice

If your child is new to the school, is working through anxiety, or has a longer adjustment period, please connect with us so we can plan a supportive transition together.

We deeply appreciate your understanding and support. By entrusting our staff to guide your child with independence and confidence, we can all foster a strong start to each day. If you have any questions or would like extra resources for at-home anxiety or routine prep, don’t hesitate to reach out.

What’s Ahead: Monthly Invitations You Can Count On

To honor your time and make school engagement easier, here’s our plan for the rest of the year:

• Tuesday Tea Talks | 4th Tuesday, 7:00 – 7:20 a.m.

Catch up with Principal Wheeler and Assistant Principal Richardson in a casual, twenty-minute tea chat (yes, there’s good tea!) in our cafeteria. Bring your questions, ideas, or just yourself. Non-school aged children are welcome!

• Parent‑Teacher Empowerment Team (PTET) | 4th Tuesday, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. |

For deeper conversation on school priorities and ways you can help shape programming—plus light refreshments (and sometimes dinner), participation acknowledgement, and free childcare. Meeting logistics will be shared at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

News You Can Use

You may notice a few new faces around North Forestville Elementary:

• Ms. Marshall (Kindergarten)
• Ms. Elum (5th‑grade RELA & Social Studies)
• Ms. Bizzell (Special Education – ISEA)
• Mr. Uzoma (position pending)

We’re thrilled you’re a part of our school family, and we’re grateful to our returning educators for their continued dedication, creativity, and compassion.

Our School Theme & Goals

Every year, we rally around a guiding theme. For 2025–26, it’s:

Children: Character – Creativity – Curriculum

We believe that academic excellence and social‑emotional growth go hand‑in‑hand with creative expression and positive character development.

Aligned to that theme, these are our key priorities:

• Literacy: Stronger Readers’ & Writers’ Workshop, cross‑grade coordination, and measurable growth in decoding and comprehension.
• Writing: A “try‑again” mindset—encouraging multiple drafts, feedback, and voice development.
• Critical Thinking: Inquiry-based learning, Socratic circles in ELA, and hands-on projects in math and science.
• Social & Emotional Learning (SEL): Daily mindfulness moments, restorative circles, and emotional-coaching strategies to build resilience and empathy.
• Family Engagement: Bringing more parents into classrooms, hosting literacy events, and embedding voices like yours at our decision‑making table.

We will continue to invite you to mini-lessons, literacy nights, and interactive workshops—these events help children learn that school is a partnership between home and school.

What You Can Do Now

1. Mark your calendar: Every 4th Tuesday, 7:00‑7:30 a.m. or 6:00‑7:30 p.m.
2. Invite a friend or family member to join you, especially for the PTET evening meetings (childcare available when we have our in-person sessions).
3. Stay in touch: If mornings/evenings don’t work for you, let us know—we’ll arrange alternative options or virtual access.
4. Ask short but big questions: What can I do to support character-building at home? How can my child become a more confident writer? Bring these thoughts to any of our meetings or send them in advance.
5. Follow our school channels: Newsletters and ClassDojo to keep current.

In Closing

Thank you for being part of our mission to lift up every child—with character, creativity, and curriculum—side by side. North Forestville Elementary isn’t just a school; it’s a learning community where families matter, voices count, and every child belongs.

If you’d prefer to share feedback or ideas privately, feel free to email me at falecia.wheeler@pgcps.org or call the office at 301-499-7098.

We look forward to seeing you soon! Gentle reminders are included below:

SNEAK-PEEK: New Student Orientation Day - August 25, 2025: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. This is a time for brand new students to meet their teacher(s) and take a peek at their seat.

First Day of School - August 26, 2025: Students may arrive as early as 7:00 a.m. Join us in the back of the school for our line up and entrance into the school.

With gratitude and hope,
Falecia Wheeler
Principal