Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary School

We are having a great year at Spellman. Parental involvement is on the rise with the new Room Parent program and PTA leadership. We are also excited to start the new after-school Spanish classes!
—Submitted by a parent

Our daugther is finishing up 1st grade at Spellman, and she loves it. She feels challenged and has loved both her 1st grade and K teachers (just yesterday she asked to invite them to her birthday party!) The principal is excellent, and both she and the staff welcome parental involvement. The PTA is growing and doing some really great things. I would highly recommend Spellman to any family considering whether to send a child there.
—Submitted by a parent

My son starting at Spellman this year and it has been great! We loves, as do we, his teacher. She is very caring and patient, yet very good at managing the students, which I see first hand as a parent volunteer. It appears to me that the principal, Mrs. Holiday, is very motivating and supportive of her teachers and staff and encourages them all do go above and beyond. The school has made great improvement under her watch. Another great aspect is that they encourage parent participation. I hope that others in the community will consider sending their children to Spellman. I definitely give them my parent approval.
—Submitted by a parent

Our child is doing very well at Spellman this year. The coursework is appropriate for her age and she gets to exercise her creative side through art and music class. The teachers, principal and other staff are very communicative and caring. She is looking forward to moving up to the next grade and making new friends next year. The PTA is in a 'building year' but I am optimistic for next year as there are several engaged parents with energy and great ideas.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter started kindergarten at SPellman this year and has had a great year so far. Her teacher seems top notch, the school is smooth and organized; the principal is approachable and responsive to concerns. My daughter is happy and excited to go to school each morning. She has neighborhood friends in her class; she's enjoying learning to write in her journal, having fun in PE and music, and even doing the simple, relevant daily homework. I get the sense that she feels school is a safe and friendly place. All in all I have been very happy with her experience so far.
—Submitted by a parent

Well it's 2008-2009 school year and a new breath of fresh air at Spellman Elementary. Welcome to Mrs. Holiday, our new Principal and thank you for the planned and implemented improvements, I've seen so far throughout the school. You welcome and encourage parents participation and involvment with the administration. Parents, please review our testing scores on PGCPS website and see that we are amoung the top in the state, not only County. Mrs. Holiday, makes herself available for parent access and has vocalized this to her assistant, Ms. Carter and front office staff. We are blessed that our school has a small enrollment, which means the teachers can have manageable class sizes to be able to recognize individual needs and give attention and personalize their teaching. Hopefully, our school will not be affected tremendously with the rezoning of the bounderies to be announce soon. Stay supportive of change.
—Submitted by a parent

I when i come to the school i never got to sit and talk to the principal she was never there when I come to the school or unavailable when I call.The vice principal basically gave up on my child while other theacher's help me with him.I got no help from the principal or the vice principal.Glady's N.Spellman needs a new principal and vice principal.
—Submitted by a parent

Parents need to become involved and ask Ms. Swan why she thinks the school is not scoring as parents would like. You can get individual scores for your child with regards to MSA testing. This school has many children coming from homes where English is the second language in their homes. These children have problems with the vocabulary on major assessments and more support is needed in this building. Ms. Swan is trying to raise self-esteem and self-efficacy with regards to students in her building and this is most imprtant if children are to succeed.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the other reviews of Gladys Noon Spellman. I have lived in Cheverly for over 15 years and I have had sisters and brothers as well as all four of my kids have attended. Before Ms Swann became principal this was a school that always got praise as the most top rated elementary school in prince george's county. The math and reading scores were above average. I agree that parents should be a part of the PTA board but you have some parents as myself that are unable to participate in alot of the school activity because work. I care about my children and their education so therefore I make sure that I do my part at home as well. I have a daughter in Ms Slaughter's class and Ms. Iskowitz's class and they seem to care about their students as if they were their own children. Thanks
—Submitted by a parent

I think that this school is just fine. If you are soooo concerned about the problem, then offer to assit. Make copies for the teachers, buy the materials needed for science themes. Also, if kids are unrully, how can the teacher teach? Stop complaining and join the PTA, get involved with the school. Stop putting down a school YOUR child attends!
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent I think the problem with this school not performing up to standards start at the top, that means Ms. Swann the principal otherwise this school will go down academically.She has no idea on how to perform as a principal and that is the reason some of the teachers are horrible and should not be in a classroom.Overall this school can be saved but only if a more serious dedicated principal is at the helm to make sure the students have the right teachers for them to perform well and subsequently the school grades will improve.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has really gone down since Ms. Swann took over. The test scores have dropped significantly. The school Board apparently is aware of this because they sent out letters to parents offering them the option of sending their child to another school with better leadership and test scores. ms. j. johnson, ms. p. johnson, ms. swann, ms. porter, mr. manahan and The best teachers there. If your child has one of these teachers he/she is in good hands. I encourage any parent that sends their child here to really stay in contact with the teacher to get a feel for them and make sure you talk to your child to see what is happening in class cause some of these teachers are horrible and should not be teaching!
—Submitted by a parent