Potomac Elementary families have 17 days to get ready. The school's PTA published its 2026-27 calendar on Saturday, Aug. 8, laying out every major event from a kindergarten playdate next week through 5th Grade Promotion in June 2027.
Before school starts
A Kindergarten Playdate on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 2 to 3 p.m. gives incoming kindergartners a chance to meet classmates. Then on Monday, Aug. 24, MCPS holds its second annual Student Transition Day, bringing kindergartners and new students into the building from 9:25 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. Families must RSVP through a Google Form on the PES PTA website.
That same afternoon, a New Family Welcome and a Fifth Grade Clubs Meeting (students only) run from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
On the first day of school, Tuesday, Aug. 25, the PTA is hosting a "Tears & Cheers" Parent Coffee at Potomac Village Bagels 'n Grinds at 9:30 a.m. for parents after drop-off.
Fall highlights
Back to School Nights are split by grade: K–2 on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m. (with a general PTA meeting at 5 p.m.), and grades 3–5 on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5:30 p.m. (preceded by an instrumental music info session for grades 4–5 at 5 p.m.).
Picture Day is Wednesday, Sept. 30. Fall Fest and Book Fair run Oct. 2–9, capped by Donuts with Grownups on Friday, Oct. 9, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The Turkey Trot is Friday, Nov. 6, with a rain date of Nov. 13.
Later in the year: Winter Music Concerts in December (dates TBD), a Read-A-Thon in February, STEAM Week in March, Spring Fair in May and 5th Grade Promotion in June.
The last day of school is Friday, June 11, 2027, with a 1:20 p.m. early release. MCPS built six snow makeup days into the calendar (April 22, May 17 and June 14–17) after last winter's severe weather forced last-minute schedule changes. If unused, those days remain off.
The PTA noted all events are subject to change and encouraged parents to watch email for confirmations.
Broader back-to-school context for Churchill-cluster families
Phone ban: Maryland's Phone-Free Schools Act took effect July 1, requiring all MCPS students to store phones away during class time. The state law allows phone use at lunch and in emergencies, but MCPS updated its Student Code of Conduct to require devices put away "for the entire school day." Exceptions apply for students with IEPs, 504 plans or health needs. The law, signed by Gov. Wes Moore on May 26, applies districtwide.
Back-to-School Fair: MCPS is hosting a regional fair at Richard Montgomery High School on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. The fair covers registration, technology support, school meals, supplies and immunizations.
Vaccinations: The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is offering free student vaccination clinics through Friday, Sept. 25, at county health centers. Montgomery County health officer Dr. Kisha Davis said at County Executive Marc Elrich's Aug. 6 briefing: "I am cautiously optimistic that our numbers of measles vaccinations and all school-age vaccines are good; are where they're supposed to be."
Families can add the PES PTA Google Calendar to their personal calendars at potomacpta.org/pta-google-calendar. The full MCPS calendar PDF is also linked from the PTA's calendar page.
