SHADY GROVE MATTERS WEEKLY UPDATE
January 7, 2024
THE ADMINISTRATOR'S CORNER
Greetings Shady Grove families! I hope that everyone had a restful winter holiday break. We have a busy week coming up. All students will participate in the winter administration of the MAP-M and MAP-R assessment and all students will receive an information presentation regarding classes and electives for the next school year during Homeroom. Our sixth graders also have Outdoor Education. Session 1 goes from Monday- Wednesday and Session 2 goes from Wednesday-Friday. Finally, our current 8th grade students’ parents and caregivers are invited to attend the Magruder High School Registration Meeting held at Magruder on January 10 at 6:30pm. If you are interested in the PEAC program at Magruder, that meeting is on the same evening and begins at 6pm. Wishing everyone a lovely week.
~Ms. Cooper
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2024
January Upcoming Events:
Monday, January 8th-Friday, January 12th - 6th Grade Outdoor Education
Monday, January 15th - Holiday (School System Closed)
Tuesday, January 16th - MLK Week of Service
Friday, January 26th - End of Quarter 2
Saturday, January 27th - International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Monday, January 29th - Grading & Planning Day (No School for Students)
Tuesday, January 30th & 31st - 7th Grade Finance Park Field Trip
February Upcoming Events:
Black History Month
Friday, February 5th - Quarter 2 Grades Available in ParentVue & Report Card Distribution
Friday, February 9th - Valentine's Day Dance (3:00 pm - 4:15 pm)
Friday, February 16th - Pep Rally
Monday, February 19th - Holiday (School System Closed)
WINTER - MEASURES OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS [MAP] TEST
Attention Shady Grove Families,
Testing season has officially begun and we will start with our winter session of the Measures of Academic Progress [MAP] test in the areas of Reading and Math on Monday, January 8th and Tuesday, January 9th. All 7th, 8th, and 6th grade students who are going to the second session of Outdoor Education will test on Monday, January 8th and Tuesday, January 9th. Our 6th grade students who are going to the first session of Outdoor Education will take their MAP test on Thursday, January 11th and Friday, January 12th. Any 7th and 8th grade student who misses the session on Monday and or Tuesday will have the opportunity to make up on Friday, January 12th. On Monday and Tuesday, our bell schedule will accommodate for a whole school testing to occur during homeroom classes. The bell schedule can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HzbvzxoG263tBs_Q5Ws6DE4-zdFOpn0_4QCF6S69kaI/edit#heading=h.29b6w3rstcq2.
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Merino at Elizabeth_J_Merino@mcpsmd.org.
SCHOOL YEAR 2024-2025 ARTICULATION AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Greetings Shady Grove Families,
During the month of January, all students will be learning about available electives and participating in course registration for the 2024-2025 School Year.
Rising 7th and 8th Graders
- Students will view a pre-recorded video by counselors on the registration process and available electives during Homeroom on Friday, January 12.
- Counselors will be visiting Science classrooms the week of January 16 to assist students in selecting their electives.
Rising 9th Graders
Magruder High School will be hosting the Rising 9th grade Registration Information Session for Parents/Caregivers on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 6:30pm. Please attend to meet the staff and hear information about classes, the registration process, and more about what to expect in high school. The PEAC Scholars Info meeting will be held the same night from 6-6:30pm. Flyer link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF3uHv0Q0U/vdv6nfOjja07wZTNmaMztA/view?utm_content=DAF3uHv0Q0U&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor
- Magruder High School counselors and elective teachers will be visiting SGMS during an extended Homeroom period block on 1/23/24 to present an introduction to high school life and give an overview of available elective options.
- Magruder HS counselors will then return to SGMS on 1/18/24 during Homeroom to assist students to register for their classes.
Please view the SGMS Online Course Bulletin to find out more information about available classes and more! You or your student can reach out to your student’s grade level counselor if you have any questions.
Shady Grove Middle School Course Bulletin 2024-2025
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/sgms-course-bulletin-2024-2025/home
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Greetings Parents and Caregivers,
In alignment with the Well-Being and Family Engagement and professional and Operational Excellence pillars of MCPS Strategic Plan and MCPS Regulation JEA-RA Student Attendance, each classroom teacher is responsible for recording accurate attendance for all students. The period attendance calculations and guidance in will fully go into effect beginning Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the first day of the second semester. The guidance is as following:
If a student is:
Present at the time the bell rings- The Attendance will be recorded as PRESENT.
Late for up to 50% of the scheduled class period- The attendance will be recorded as TARDY, either Tardy Excused (TE) or Tardy Unexcused (TU).
Absent for 50% or more of the scheduled class- The attendance will be recorded as ABSENT.
Classroom teachers have been instructed they can begin using this guidance right away. This means that if a student misses more than 50% of a class because they are out of the building or in a different location such as in the main office or counseling office, and return to class late, the default will be to mark them absent from the entire period. Administration will work with teachers and parents/caregivers on any potential exceptions, case by case. Thank you for your support.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - 7TH GRADE FIELD TRIP
Dear families of a 7th grade student at Shady Grove Middle School:
Our 7th graders will attend Finance Park at Edison High School in Silver Spring, MD on January 31, 2024. We are in need of at least 18 volunteers to join us on this field trip. If you choose to volunteer, you will go to Edison High School at 8am to attend a training in order to help run the simulation for our school that day. Students will arrive at 9am and then take a tour of Edison and then they will join you in the Junior Achievement Finance Park wing of Edison High School. The simulation is to prepare students by teaching financial literacy, you know, paying bills, buying a car and groceries. We would love to have you help us "run" a storefront and help teach our students about the importance of financial literacy and responsibility. This is a great opportunity to interact with our school community, meet your child's friends, and help teach an important message to our students. If you are interested, please complete the instructions located in the Google Drive document here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TMtNN8dRZO5oFwHNbmcF88THYSrcBkmB/view
Email Vassiliki_A_Key@mcpsmd.org for more questions or information.
SGMS SPRING MUSICAL IS BACK!
This year's performances of High School Musical Jr. are scheduled for May 17th and 18th. Students interested in auditioning for a role should complete an audition packet and submit to Mrs. Rahmati no later than January 15th. Students can pick up an audition packet in the cafeteria during lunch or in Mrs. Rahmati's classroom (D-229). The first audition workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23rd. More detailed information about the full audition, casting and rehearsal process is noted in the audition packet. Questions may be directed to Mrs. Rahmati at julie_a_rahmati@mcpsmd.org.
EXCITING CONTESTS!
Electric Vehicle Wrap Design Contest:
All MCPS students and staff are invited to participate in the Division of Sustainability and Compliance's (DSC) 2024 EV Wrap Design Art Contest! The focus of this contest is to increase awareness and demonstrate our school district's commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable actions. All entries must be received by Friday, February 2, 2024. For more information, visit: EV wrap contest | Montgomery County Public Schools | Rockville, MD (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)
2024 Sustainability Poster Contest:
All MCPS students and staff are invited to participate in the Division of Sustainability and Compliance's Sustainability Poster Contest. The focus of this annual contest is to increase awareness and demonstrate your school's commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable actions related to energy conservation, waste reduction, and responsible recycling. Posters must be submitted to DSC by Friday, April 5, 2024. For more information, visit: poster contest | Montgomery County Public Schools | Rockville, MD (montgomeryschoolsmd.org)
Green Inventors Challenge:
The Green Inventors Challenge is a contest for high school students from Montgomery County, Maryland. Teams of 2 to 4 students are invited to create an invention, product, or service that addresses a problem related to climate change, water pollution, or food waste. Students may enter the Challenge between Dec. 9 and Jan. 10. For more information visit, https://bit.ly/49VjfmA
MCPS COMMUNICATION
Dear MCPS Families,
Here are things to know. Get information about upcoming opportunities for students to get in front of college representatives, recent health update from the medical office, a new talk show on MCPS TV to help you understand district programs and initiatives, addition to the MCPS team and more.
GOOD INFORMATION TO KNOW
7:50 am - Building Opens to Students
7:50 - 8:10 am - Breakfast Available
8:15 am - Class Starts
3:00 pm - Dismissal
Shady Grove Middle School
Principal: Dr. Alana Murray
Asst. Principal: Ms. Jennifer Cooper
Asst. Principal: Ms. Elizabeth Merino
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/shadygrovems/
Location: 8100 Midcounty Highway Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Phone: 240-740-1440