Letters from Principal Adams
December 3, 2025
Dear Accokeek Academy Families,
We want to inform you of a safety incident that occurred today. Authorities reported an active shooter situation at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in National Harbor. Out of an abundance of caution, we initiated a Shelter-in-Place at 12:50 p.m. During this time, our building remained secured with no entry or exit permitted, and all movement outside the building was suspended. Staff remained alert and mindful of all access points while authorities actively patrolled the surrounding area. At 1:40 p.m., we received official notification from law enforcement that the situation had been resolved and the area was clear. At that point, we safely returned to full operations. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. The safety and well-being of our community remains our highest priority. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school at 301-203-3200.
Sincerely,
Judy N. Adams, Principal
November 13, 2025
Dear Accokeek Academy Families,
It’s Write-A-Book time!! Our 2nd – 8th-grade students have the opportunity to participate in this project! “What is Write-A-Book?”. Please read the information included in this information sheet.
Write-A-Book is an excellent opportunity for students to use learned skills and creative talents in writing, illustration, and photography. As students use the elements of plot, characters, and action to develop their stories, they will implement the skills needed for functional reading and writing. This activity is an integral part of the total curriculum and develops skills being taught daily. The categories for the competition at the elementary level are Picture Story Book, Illustrated Fiction, Poetry, and Non-Fiction. Click the link to view 2024-25 Write-A-Book Winners
Please see the attached detailed description of the Write-a-Book competition for this school year. WRITE-A-BOOK PROJECT DETAILS.
We look forward to your child's participation!
Educationally yours,
Dr. Judy N. Adams, Principal
November 10, 2025
Dear Accokeek Academy Families,
I hope this message finds you well. Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day and we thank all of our veterans for their service to our country.
Tomorrow is also Parent/Teacher Conference Day, and we are looking forward to connecting with many of you. While it’s not possible to meet with every family in one day, our staff has prioritized meetings.
Please remember that we also hold parent meetings every Monday and Friday at 8:45 a.m., and additional times can be arranged as needed. If we were unable to schedule a conference with you tomorrow, you are always welcome to call and set up an appointment at your convenience.
We are also excited to celebrate our students’ achievements at the upcoming First Quarter Honor Roll Assemblies. The dates for each grade level are as follows:
-
Tuesday, December 2 – 2nd Grade
-
Wednesday, December 3 – 3rd Grade
-
Thursday, December 4 – 4th Grade
-
Friday, December 5 – 5th Grade
-
Monday, December 8 – 6th Grade
-
Tuesday, December 9 – 7th Grade
-
Wednesday, December 10 – 8th Grade
We look forward to seeing families join us in celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our students.
In recent weeks, we have noticed an increase in classroom disruptions that have affected teaching and learning. We are addressing these concerns directly with students and would appreciate your support in speaking with your child about what may be contributing to these issues. If your child shares insights or suggestions, I would welcome you to share them with me.
As we enter the Thanksgiving season, I want to express my gratitude for your continued partnership. Research shows that parent involvement can increase student success by more than 50%. Please continue to check grades in ParentVUE, monitor independent assignments, and communicate regularly with teachers about both concerns and successes. Together—as families and educators—we can foster each child’s academic, social, and emotional growth.
Yours in partnership,
Dr. Judy N. Adams, Principal
October 7, 2025
Dear Accokeek Academy Families,
It’s time to complete the 2025 PGCPS Climate and Culture Survey! Your feedback is valuable in helping us build safe, welcoming, and supportive schools for every student.
All families with children enrolled in PGCPS are encouraged to participate by sharing their experiences, perceptions, and ideas. The survey is completely anonymous; your responses will never be linked to you personally.
This year, we are also asking about your hopes and dreams for the new PGCPS Strategic Plan, which will guide the future of our schools.
The survey is open from October 1–31. After completing it, you’ll have the chance to enter a prize drawing; one winner will be selected at random.
To support families, free webinars are available in English and Spanish to walk you through the survey. [Register here].
We look forward to hearing from you—your voice matters!
Take the Survey Now: bit.ly/25ClimateSurvey
For questions, please contact strategicplanning@pgcps.org
Thank you for your participation and for helping shape the future of PGCPS!
Very truly yours,
Dr. Judy N. Adams, Principal
October 06, 2025
Dear Families,
I am writing to inform you about an incident at Accokeek Academy.
We received information about a threat of violence made by a group of students in a neighboring community. Immediate action was taken by school administrators and school security to investigate. The threat was determined to be made by students who attend Accokeek Academy. In light of this ongoing investigation, we want to clearly communicate with you about safety issues when they arise.
Providing students and staff with a safe and orderly environment is our top priority and all threats are taken seriously.
Please set aside time to discuss with your child and remind them of the serious consequences that can result from making threats of violence.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact 301-203-3200 or email me at judy.adams@pgcps.org
Sincerely,
Dr. Judy N. Adams
Principal
September 30, 2025
Greetings Families,
We are committed to providing every student at Accokeek Academy with a high-quality education that supports academic and personal growth. As part of this commitment and in accordance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), I want to inform you that Accokeek Academy has been identified by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) as a school in Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI).
This designation is based on our school’s performance in one or more areas, including student achievement, growth, and the performance of student performance groups. Specifically, our English Learner and Free and Reduced Meal student groups did not meet academic targets in English Language Arts and Math.
Being designated as a school in improvement provides us with a valuable opportunity to focus on strengthening instruction, enhancing student supports, and building partnerships with families. Our team has developed a school improvement plan that includes:
-
Targeted academic interventions
-
Ongoing professional development for teachers
-
Regular monitoring of student progress
-
Family engagement activities to support learning at home
We appreciate your partnership and continued support in the effort to improve and meet our school’s goals. We invite you to join us for a School Improvement Information Night on Tuesday October 7, 2025 at 6:30pm to learn more about this school improvement designation and share your input. Zoom Link: https://pgcps-org.zoom.us/j/
You are encouraged to stay in communication with your child’s teachers about your child’s academic progress and share your ideas on how we can improve together.
Accokeek Academy remains dedicated to embracing the possibilities for growth and transformation. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting me at judy.adams@pgcps.org or 301-203-3200.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education. Together, we can ensure that every student thrives.
Warm regards,
Dr. Judy N. Adams
September 26, 2025
Dear Accokeek Academy Families,
Today marks the close of 1st Quarter Progress Report Grades. You can view your child’s progress in both ParentVue and their student account. These grades are not final judgments but helpful indicators of where your child is thriving and where they may need extra support.
When you talk with your child about their progress, we encourage you to make it a positive, collaborative conversation:
-
Start by listening – ask open-ended questions and let your child share their perspective.
-
Focus on effort and strategies – celebrate hard work and talk through new ways to approach challenges.
-
Set achievable goals together – create small steps toward improvement.
-
Reassure them – remind your child that grades do not define their worth, but rather highlight opportunities for growth.
As we move forward, know that you are not alone in this journey. Please reach out to your child’s teacher—we are eager to partner with you to find solutions and provide support. Together, we can help every child grow, learn, and succeed.
Thank you for your continued partnership. It truly takes all of us, working together, to nurture and guide our students.
Warmly,
Dr. Judy N. Adams, Principal
September 23, 2025
Dear Families,
As we begin this new school year together, we want to ensure every student has access to the resources they need to thrive—starting with healthy, nutritious meals each day.
If your child received free or reduced-price meals last school year, their eligibility has carried over temporarily into this year. However, this grace period ends on October 10, 2025. To continue receiving these important meal benefits, families must submit a new application for the 2025–2026 school year.
We kindly ask that you complete a new Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS) application before 11:59 p.m. on October 9, 2025, to avoid any disruption in meal benefits. Without a new application, your child’s meal status will automatically change to paid beginning October 10.
There are also many students who are using the Principal's Lunch Fund daily and this is not the purpose of the Fund. If you need a free daily lunch, please also complete the below application even if you think that you do not qualify.
You can complete the application quickly and easily online at:
https://www.myschoolapps.com
If you’re unsure whether you’ve submitted your application for this school year, or if you need support with the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school.
Respectfully,
Dr. Judy N. Adams, Principal
September 12, 2025
Hello ACCOKEEK ACADEMY Family and Friends!
Our AWESOME READATHON Donation Fundraiser kicks off today and we are super excited!! Our students will be doing some extra reading and using teamwork to unlock incentives and rewards! We have created a special donation page for your student. Check it out:
Click on this link and type in your student's name! https://app.pledge-dri
The student Donation website and email correspondence will be the primary method of communication throughout the program. We hope we can count on your generous support. With 100% participation, we will be able to reach our donation goal!
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Here are some tips:
Make your donation now to set a good example for other potential donors to follow.
SHARE your donation page with at least 10 family and friends with the email function on your donation page.
Forward this email and the link to family and friends.
From your donation page you can easily post on FACEBOOK, send TEXTS, and post to SOCIAL MEDIA!
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
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:
-
6th Grade Orientation – 9:30am–1:15pm (transportation provided). Students should gather in the Upper Campus Cafeteria starting at 9:00am.
-
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.
-
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:
-
Students may not be dropped off before 9:00am.
-
School day runs 9:30am–3:50pm.
-
Breakfast and lunch are provided.
-
Traffic will be heavy the first day—if possible, please have your child ride the bus.
-
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