Student Information System (SchoolMAX) 

Prince George's County Public Schools uses the SchoolMAX Student Information System to manage student data, including grades, attendance records, and schedules. The Family Portal is a feature of SchoolMAX that allows authorized caretakers to log into SchoolMAX from any computer with an Internet connection and view a child's student information.  

Prince George’s County Public School teachers maintain electronic grade books that list every assignment, the score the student received for the assignment, and other information as well. SchoolMAX Family Portal allows you to view student scores as teachers post them. Progress reports as well as final quarterly report card grades are published in SchoolMAX. In addition, an unofficial version of the child’s complete transcript is available in SchoolMAX, as well as all discipline incidents which are recorded and may also be viewed.

 A record of caretaker contact information is also kept in SchoolMAX and includes a mailing address, a phone number, and email address. The My Profile page may be used to request a change or addition to your contact information to assure that the school office has updated emergency information for your student.

 This browser-based application works best on any of the these web browsers:

• Internet Explorer 7.0 or later

• Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or later

• Apple Safari 3.0 or later

A Parent Access Key is required in order to register and begin using the Family Portal.  Caretakers will receive information from    the school to notify them when the Access keys are ready to be distributed. Additional information will be provided at that time. If you have already received an access key in a previous year and created a username and password as directed, you may continue using the Family Portal and will not require another access key.  

 ARRIVAL

The staff of Pointer Ridge strongly urges that your child not arrive at school before the appointed time. Also, please instruct your child to follow the safest route to school -- safety patrols are located at hazardous crossings.

Walking students who do not purchase school breakfast are requested to arrive at school no earlier than 7:35 and before 7:45. All students will enter the building through the front school doors. Students who purchase lunch tickets for more than $5.00 will do so before going to their classrooms. The procedures for buying lunch tickets and waiting for the 7:35 bell will be explained the first day of school.

TARDIES

Children who are late to school should report to the office before going to class. Remember that in order to have perfect attendance there can be no tardies. Perfect attendance is recognized at the completion of the grading periods.

BICYCLES

Students are allowed to ride bicycles to school. They should be parked and locked in the racks provided. The school is not responsible for losses. The use of motorized scooters is prohibited on school grounds.

TRAFFIC PROCEDURE

Students not riding a bus to school must walk to the front entrance of the school from Parkington Lane. Cars are not permitted to enter the school driveway or circle when buses are present, or between 7:15-7:45 a.m. and 1:25-1:55 p.m. Patrols are stationed at the entrance to admit staff and volunteers for the day. Please offer them the courtesy you would want for your own children.

Students should exit the car on the same side of the street as the school, so as not to cross the street.

For the safety of all children, a new traffic pattern at the school circle has been instituted. It will promote single line drop-off or pick-up of students. Please line up in a single file and have children exit on the curbside. If it is necessary to accompany your student inside the school, please do not park in the circle area.

CLASSROOM INTERRUPTIONS

All persons visiting the building must report to the office. Volunteers will sign their name in the appropriate Visitor book and wear identification to distinguish themselves as a volunteer. When visiting the school to observe your child, to put money on a lunch account, or to volunteer in any way, please be advised that a picture ID must be presented at the Main Office, each and every time you wish to enter the building.  If you have something to give your child, please bring it to the office. We will see that your child gets the item without interruption to the class. Teachers are not interrupted during the instructional day for telephone messages. If you leave a message, the teacher will be able to call you back after school as soon as it is possible. We encourage you to call before 7:35 a.m. or after 1:55 p.m.

THE CAFETERIA CONNECTION

RECESS BEHAVIOR

A twenty-five minute period of free play is provided daily. Each teacher establishes standards for playground activities with students in order to promote their fair play, cooperation, and safety. Contact sports and activities are not permitted because they often result in injuries and misunderstandings. Students are not allowed to re-enter the building without permission. Students unable to participate in outdoor recess must bring a note from parents in order to be excused.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION INFORMATION

In order for a child to be excused from Physical Education, it is necessary for the child to bring a note to that effect, signed by the parent. When your child must be excused for an extended period of time, a doctor's note is required.

CLASSROOM VISITATION

We encourage parents/guardians to visit the school. Classroom visitation provides you an opportunity to observe the great things happening in the classrooms and to view your child in relationship to his/her peers. Appointments can be made with the classroom teacher. All visitors should enter at the main entrance and must report to the office prior to going to the classroom. Visitors will be given a pass for identification. Also, parents/guardians are requested to report to the office when leaving the school. If a court has ordered restrictions against any persons regarding visitations with your child, please provide us with copies of the court orders.

SAFETY FOR CHILDREN

The safety of children is of primary concern to us. Safety, school pride, discipline, and responsible decision-making go hand in hand. Children from our fifth grade serve our school as safety patrols. They are chosen on the basis of their willingness to obey the rules, to respect authority and to cooperate in maintaining safety and accepting responsibility. We ask your cooperation in impressing upon your child the importance of obeying the patrols as they are insuring your child's safety when he is under their supervision. This applies to walking and bus children as the students on patrol duty serve the bus stops as well as at the crossings.

DISMISSAL

Students MUST have a written note from their parents to request alternate dismissal plans for one or several days. This policy has been set for the safety of your child. Children frequently get confused about when, where or how they will go home on these rare occasions, and often cannot be trusted to convey the correct wishes of their parents with regards to dismissal. Without written documentation from the parent of a desire to change the dismissal procedure, students must follow the regular routine set forth by their parent/guardian--no exceptions. The school office must be notified prior to 1:15 P.M. if there is going to be a change in your child’s dismissal procedure. In addition, students are not permitted to ride a bus if they have not been assigned to it without the approval of the principal. Written documentation is mandatory for this authorization.

If a student has to be released from school during the school day, a parent or legal guardian must show proper identification and sign the student out in the Early Dismissal Book, which is in the office. Please have a picture ID ready for verification. No exceptions. No child will be dismissed with a stranger or on the basis of a phone call. Parents or legal guardians must report to the school office to pick up their children at which time he/she will be asked to sign the child out in the Early Dismissal Book. Parents need to arrive in the office to request early dismissal by 1:40 P.M.

BUS REGULATIONS

According to regulations issued by the Board of Education, unless a student is assigned as a bus rider, he or she can't ride a bus to or from school with friends. IF YOUR CHILD IS PLANNING TO VISIT A FRIEND AFTER SCHOOL WHO IS A BUS RIDER, ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE FOR THE PARENT TO TRANSPORT THE CHILD. These arrangements should also be made in advance and a note should be sent to the school office stating that the student has parental permission to go to a friend's house. Regulations also prohibit the parents from riding the buses to and from school.

School Bus Safety

PGCPS has launched a new school bus safety campaign that ties directly in with Superintendent Deasy’s Children Come First Campaign: Safety Awareness & Friendly Environment (SAFE), to help students start the school year with an increased awareness of safety when riding the bus. The campaign focuses on parents and their responsibilities, rules to ride, and what measures the transportation office takes to ensure safety. Campaign brochures emphasize the important roles that students and families play in the safe transportation of more than 94,000 students to and from their homes and schools. The transportation campaign encourages students and parents to discuss the following safety rules for riding the bus and how parents can support bus safety efforts.

How Parents Can Help                     

   • Monitor and supervise your children at bus stop locations. Children under the age of seven need adult supervision to get on and off the bus safely.
• Explain bus conduct guidelines to your children who ride the school bus to and from school.
• Accompany your chil­dren to and from their designated bus stop location.
• Allow Prince George’s County bus drivers to enforce the guidelines set by the Board for student rider conduct.
• Refrain from approach­ing bus drivers/attendants at bus stops, schools, or bus lots with complaints, threats, or other negative situations.

Complaints should be made to school administration or transportation administrators. Failure to adhere to this policy could cause the affected student to lose bus-riding privileges.

Rules to Ride

• Respect and cooper­ate with the driver. The driver is the authority on the bus.
• Keep your body and all objects inside the bus, and remain in your seat.
• No cursing or loud talk­ing on the bus.
• Keep bus clean. Do not litter or damage the bus in any way.

For further information about the campaign, call the Transportation Office at (301) 952-6570 or by email at Transportation@pgcps.org. For detailed information on rules for student conduct while on the bus, refer to PGCPS Administrative Procedure 5131.1 (at your school or on the website, www.pgcps.org/~procedur/), or call the Department of Transportation at 301-952-6570.

LOST AND FOUND Please put children's names on clothing and personal items brought to school. If a lost article is labeled, the child will be notified to claim it. Lost items are stored until owners claim them. We call a charitable organization when lost and found becomes too full. Please encourage your child to periodically check the lost and found located in the cafeteria.

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Please send your comments and feedback about this web site to
pridgeem@pgcps.org