BARNSLEY BULLETIN - Montgomery County Public Schools

BARNSLEY
                                              BULLETIN
PRINCIPAL ANDREW J. WINTER                                                         DECEMBER 20, 2019
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL JOAN VILKINOFSKY                                               VOLUME LIV NUMBER 8

     Barnsley Elementary School ABCs – Act Safely, Be Respectful and Responsible, Commit to Learn

                                         Principal’s Message
Dear Barnsley Families,

Season’s Greetings from the Barnsley Staff! I hope that the season finds you in good spirits, good health, and
excited for the opportunities that await our community. Every time during this year, I believe it is so
important to focus on the importance, “That it’s not what you have, “it’s who you have. The people that
make up our community are extraordinary. We have students who are motivated, enthusiastic about
learning, and focused on becoming good people. We have a parent community that is supportive,
encouraging, and proud of what Barnsley represents. We have a staff that is committed to the excellence of
every student and works incredibly hard to ensure this goal is fulfilled. Who we have is what makes
Barnsley extraordinary. The unity of the Barnsley community members is a driving force of student success
and a positive climate.

As we embark on the end of 2019, some people view this as only another turn of a calendar page. At
Barnsley, we look at this as a bright and fresh beginning. With the beginning of 2020, we take a moment to
reflect on what the year meant. 2019 for me could no better be defined by our ability to work together to
create a world class learning environment for all our students and one that was recognized with the Maryland
Blue Ribbon Award. I look forward to the opportunity ahead to work with you and your child to continue to
create the best community school. I do believe 2020 will surely be the year of the Bear and our finest yet!

As the year concludes we will evaluate our goals that were constructed in the summer and determine how we
can grow our successes as a school. I encourage you to do this with your child at home. There is nothing
that provides more direction and focus for students than setting goals. I plan to reiterate this to the students
as I meet with them in the New Year. Goals are merely dreams that have not been realized. I believe that the
teachers and staff members of Barnsley are helping your children realize their dreams.

Enjoy the season and the company of your family and friends during the holidays. Happy Holidays!

                                                  Sincerely,

                                                  Andrew J. Winter
                                                  Principal
BARNSLEY CALENDAR
   • December 21 – January 1 Offices Closed                     •    January 23 7 pm Cluster Instrumental
   • January 2 School Resumes                                        Concert at Rockville High School
   • January 7 7pm PTA Meeting                                  •    January 24 Last Day of Second Quarter
   • January 16 7 pm Cluster Choral Concert
      at Rockville High School                                  The Next Barnsley Bulletin
   • January 20 No School Dr. King Jr.                          will be on Friday, January 10, 2020
      Holiday

NOTEWORTHY INFORMATION
SGA SPIRIT FRIDAYS
Our SGA continues to sponsor Spirit Fridays! Here are the dates for the one remaining in
December and the Spirit Days for January! Show your school spirit and participate!

       January 3rd: Celebrate 2020—wear a shirt, hat, glasses that welcome 2020!

       January 8th: Color Week—wear a different color for each day of this week:
              Monday       Red
              Tuesday      Yellow
              Wednesday Green
              Thursday Purple
              Friday        Blue

       January 17th: Mismatch—wear things that do not match

       January 24th: Winter Wonder Land—dress all in white like a snowflake, wear a ski
       hat/knitted cap, t-shirt/sweater showing a winter scene

       January 31st – Football Day – Wear something to celebrate the Superbowl (February 2)

PTA MEETING
Our next PTA Meeting is on Tuesday, January 7 at 7 pm. There will be an opportunity to learn
about summer camp options in our area Additionally, there will discussion on upcoming events and
plans! Refreshments and snacks are served at the meeting. Free childcare provided for school-aged
children by KAH. We hope to see you there!

THE FACTS ABOUT THE BOUNDARY ANALYSIS
Board of Education President Shebra L. Evans and Superintendent of Schools Jack R. Smith have
sent a letter to the community to clarify misconceptions related to the MCPS Districtwide Boundary
Analysis currently under way. To read the letter, visit
montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2019-2020/boundary-
analysis-update-20191211.html.

LOS HECHOS SOBRE EL ANÁLISIS DE LÍMITES
La Presidenta del Consejo de Educación, Shebra L. Evans, y el Superintendente de las escuelas,
Jack R. Smith, han enviado una carta a la comunidad para aclarar conceptos erróneos relacionados
con el Análisis de Límites de todo el Distrito de MCPS actualmente en curso. Para leer la carta,
visite:montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2019-
2020/boundary-analysis-update-20191211.html.

2020–2021 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
The Board of Education has adopted the school year calendar for the 2020–2021 school year. The
traditional school year will begin on Monday, August 31, 2020, and the last day is scheduled for
Wednesday, June 16, 2021. The calendar includes 182 days of instruction; a 10-day spring break;
closures for planning and professional development; and an operational closure in September.
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/calendar/proposed-calendar-2020-21.aspx to see the
calendar for all closures and early release days.

The calendar was developed to comply with closings required by state law, guidance from the state
superintendent of schools regarding emergency make-up days, and early release days that are
contractually required by the Montgomery County Education Association.
The Board also adopted an Innovative School Year for Arcola and Roscoe R. Nix elementary
schools. School will begin on Monday, July 6, 2020, for these schools.

CALENDARIO ESCOLAR 2020–2021
El Consejo de Educación adoptó el calendario escolar para el ciclo escolar 2020-2021. El ciclo
escolar tradicional comenzará el lunes, 31 de agosto de 2020, y el último día de clases está
programado para el miércoles, 16 de junio, 2021. El calendario incluye 182 días de instrucción; 10
días de vacaciones de primavera; cierres para planear y desarrollo profesional; y un cierre operativo
en septiembre. Visite www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/calendar/proposed-calendar-2020-21.aspx
para ver el calendario de todos los cierres y días de salida temprana.

El calendario fue creado para cumplir con los cierres de escuelas exigidos por ley estatal, las guías
del superintendente de escuelas estatal en lo relacionado con días de recuperación de días lectivos
por emergencias y días de media jornada de clases que la Asociación de Educación del Condado de
Montgomery (Montgomery County Education Association) exige por contrato. El Consejo también
adoptó un Ciclo Escolar Innovador para las escuelas Arcola y Roscoe Nix Elementary Schools. Para
estas escuelas, las clases comenzarán el lunes, 6 de julio de 2020.

BE SAFE, BE SEEN CAMPAIGN EMPHASIZES PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
MCPS is joining safety and transportation officials throughout the region to encourage everyone to
exercise caution as they go to and from schools, especially during the darker hours early in the
morning and in the early evening. The district has launched a Be Safe, Be Seen campaign and
created Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to raise awareness around pedestrian safety.

Shorter daylight hours in fall and winter typically lead to a spike in crashes involving pedestrians.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2015, 74 percent of pedestrian
fatalities nationwide occurred during the dark, dusk-till-dawn hours, with one in four occurring
between the hours of 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Other pedestrian safety resources include: MCPS Safe Routes to Schools, a program that works to
significantly improve safety for students who walk and bike to school, and BeStreetSmart.net, a
public safety campaign of Metro, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

The Be Safe, Be Seen PSAs can be seen here. The Spanish versions are available here.

LA CAMPAÑA BE SAFE, BE SEEN ENFATIZA LA SEGURIDAD DE LOS PEATONES
MCPS se une a los funcionarios de seguridad y transporte en toda la región para alentar a todos a
tener precaución al ir y venir de las escuelas, especialmente durante las horas más oscuras temprano
en la mañana y temprano en la noche. El distrito lanzó una campaña Be Safe, Be Seen y creó
anuncios de servicio público (PSA, por sus siglas en inglés) para crear conciencia sobre la seguridad
de los peatones.

Las horas diurnas más cortas en otoño e invierno suelen provocar un aumento en los accidentes que
involucran a peatones. La Administración Nacional de Seguridad del Tráfico en las Carreteras
informó que en el 2015, el 74 por ciento de las muertes de peatones en todo el país ocurrieron
durante las horas oscuras del anochecer hasta el amanecer, y uno de cada cuatro ocurrió entre las
6:00 y las 9:00 p.m.

Otros recursos de seguridad para peatones incluyen: MCPS Safe Routes to Schools, un programa
que trabaja para mejorar significativamente la seguridad de los estudiantes que caminan y van en
bicicleta a la escuela, y BeStreetSmart. net, una campaña de seguridad pública de Metro, el Distrito
de Columbia, Maryland y Virginia.

Los anuncios de servicio público Be Safe, Be Seen se pueden ver aquí. Las versiones en español
están disponibles aquí.