Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
January 1-January 5
Dear Silver Creek Families
Happy New Year & Welcome Back Huskies! I would like to extend my best wishes to all for a happy and healthy new year. I hope each of you had a wonderful winter break with time to rest and renew with family and friends. As a reminder, school resumes on Wednesday, January 3, 2024
As we ring in the new year, we remain energized in our efforts to ensure we provide the best educational experiences for our students. A new year brings new hope, new determination, and new possibilities. Our students, staff and families make our school such a thriving community, and I feel fortunate to continue our work together. In the spirit of the new year, my best wishes for a Happy, Healthy, & Prosperous 2024! I look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
The sections marked with an * have been updated with new information OR is a new section in the newsletter. Please make sure to review. As always, thank you for your continued partnership.
Let's make it a great week, Huskies!
Bell Schedule
*Silver Creek News (SCN) News
Did you miss the latest Husky news. You may access the link below from Friday, December 22, 2023 to hear upcoming news & events: https://youtube.com/live/NsI-dzXn3HY?feature=share
You may also access the following document for the daily links to the Silver Creek News Show (SCN).
*Library Media Center
Happy New Year from the Library Media Program! Click HERE for our JANUARY MEDIA MONTHLY. We have plenty of news and updates about learning, inquiring, and reading together as we kick off 2024.
Silver Creek is proud to announce an exciting event for our entire community, WE ARE the JOURNEY: An Oratorical Contest Celebrating Culture and Community, on Thursday, February 22, at 6:30 pm. All students are invited to perform an original speech, poem, or other creative work, or recite the work of a published author. Please visit our ORATORICAL CONTEST WEBSITE for more information, including prompts, resources, and this commitment form. We look forward to celebrating Black History Month, our inclusive community, and our amazing student participants with all of you! For more information, please contact your child's English teacher, Ms. Hill-Gilliard, or Ms. Diskin.
*Student Course Registration and Articulation for SY24-25
Believe it or not, it is already time to begin thinking about next school year. Below is a timeline of dates as we start the articulation process for our students.
Current 6th and 7th Grade Students
Upon our return from the winter break, SCMS staff will be working to make course recommendations. These will be shared with students and sent home at the end of January.
- January 30th & January 31st--SCMS counselors will visit 6th and 7th grade science classes to share course offerings and explain the course registration process and timeline.
- February 5th--Deadline for completing and submitting Google Course Registration Form. Information on how to complete this registration form will be shared with students when counselors visit their science classes.
- Detailed information regarding course offerings and the course registration process and timeline will be shared with parents at the end of January. It will also be posted on the SCMS website upon our return from winter break.
Current 8th Grade Students (Rising 9th Grade Students)
- January 8th --B-CC counselors will visit 8th grade science classes to share information about High School graduation requirements, 9th grade course offerings, and the registration process and timeline. We will continue to update you with further course registration and articulation information as it becomes available.
- January 15th—Online course registration window opens via StudentVue (This will depend on MCPS and whether or not Synergy is open.)
- January 24th—Course Selection Information Night at B-CC HS at 7:00 PM (Please see flyer attached)
- January 31st—Deadline for completing course registration in StudentVue
*Counseling Department News & Updates
Check out the January Newsletter here: https://www.smore.com/rhu3f
In this edition you will find:
- Registration season
- New Year's resolutions
- Information about vaping and edibles
- Other parent resources
You may also check out resources about middle school children on the Counseling Website. If your family needs help with school supplies, food for the weekend, winter coats or other needs, we would like to help! Please fill out the following form below: https://forms.gle/gdTDMCSSgmU5pVQp9
If you have questions related to registration/enrollment or transcripts, please contact Latonya Abrom at Latonya_N_Abrom@mcpsmd.org
Please note: Transcript requests: Please request transcripts from the main page of the SCMS's website. You can find it under QUICKLINKS on the left hand side. This is the most efficient way to ensure Ms. Abrom, registrar, receives your transcript request. Questions? Call the counseling office at 240-740-2211
Homework Help
Homework Help is available Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:10-4:20 in Room 403. The purpose of Homework Help is to provide a quiet space for students to study and complete homework.
*Please note that this is not a tutoring program and therefore there is limited assistance available for students who need assistance with work or attaining concepts. Please contact Mr. Ed Eibel, Homewrok Help sponsor, at edward_e_eibel@mcpsmd.org for more information.
Intramurals: Attention all 6th-8th grade students
Intramural sports are designed to promote participation in sports to all eligible middle school students of all grade levels. There are no try-outs, no paper work and students don’t need much experience to participate. Intramurals take place after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays from 3:05-4:30. Activity buses are available after every intramural session. Sample sports can include: basketball, football, soccer, badminton, tennis, volleyball, cross country, dance, weight training, track and field, kickball, capture the flag, etc.
Intramurals began last week, September 18. Currently, we have available 5 on 5 Basketball on Tuesdays for 7th & 8th graders & Wednesdays for 6th graders.
As new classes come available, your child's PE and Health teacher will make announcements to their classes. It will also be posted on our school’s website and the intramural bulletin board in the PE hallway.
Yearbook Sales
We are excited to announce that SCMS Yearbooks are on Sale NOW. Mrs. Boyle, our Yearbook sponsor, and our Yearbook Club have been meeting after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to start designing the 2023-2024 yearbook. Yearbooks are $30 until January 31, 2024. See the flyers below for more details on how to order your Silver Creek Yearbook.
Questions? Please email our yearbook sponsor at Jennifer_K_Boyle@mcpsmd.org
PARENT RESOURCES
Principal Coffee
We are excited to have principal coffees once a month on Fridays from 8:30-9:10 am. Thank you to those who joined us for the principal coffee last Friday, December 15. If you missed it, you may find the recording located HERE.
This month's principal coffee is scheduled for Friday, January 26. The topic will be understanding our school's MD Report Card. The zoom link will be sent out soon.
Parent Handbook
Please locate the parent handbook on our website. All the information you need is located here for your convenience.
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/silver-creek-parent-handbook/home
*Latest MCPS Updates from Thursday, December 21
Here are things to know from Thursday Dec. 21. Get information about the superintendent's FY 25 Recommended Operating Budget, get ready for winter break with some reminders and news about MCPS this week.
Restorative Justice at Silver Creek
At Silver Creek, we continue to instill the values of being a restorative justice school. Restorative Justice is a mindset and philosophy toward school climate and relationship building. Important components are: Proactively and intentionally developing relationships and building community; and restoring, repairing, or healing the school community when harm has occurred.
The focus is on education, learning from mistakes, identifying and working on the root of the behavior, making deep-level change, repairing relationships, and restoring students and staff to the environment.
The Key Values of Restorative Justice include:
- Nurturing healthy relationships built on trust
- Fostering mutual respect between individuals
- Feeling a sense of responsibility for your community
- Repairing harm and transforming conflict
- Reintegrating back to your community if harm has been caused
To learn more about RJ at Silver Creek, please see the flyer here.
MD Report Card
The 2023 Maryland Report was released the week of December 13, 2023. Please read the letter that provides a link to our school's report, some background about the MD Report Card, including resources to better understand the report card. LETTER.
Free and Reduced Meals
The application is now open for parents and guardians to complete and submit for assistance with the cost of school meals. Families of students who may qualify for free or reduced-price meals can apply for this service. Eligibility is based on family size and gross income. Beginning this year, students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will not be charged for breakfast or lunch meals.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
January 3- School resumes
January 8–B-CC Counselors visit 8th Grade Science classes to share Course Registration Information
January 15–MLK Holiday, Schools and Offices closed
January 26- Principal Coffee- 8:30 AM (Zoom)
January 26- End of Marking Period 2
January 29–No School for students; Professional Day for staff to complete quarter/semester grades
January 30 & 31- SCMS counselors will visit 6th and 7th grade science classes to explain the course registration process and timeline.
January 31- Deadline for completing course registration on StudentVue (8th grade ONLY)
Link to MCPS Calendar
Student Absence
If a student is going to be absent, the parent/guardian is asked to call the attendance line at 240-740-2201 the morning of the absence. In your message, please include the information listed below:
1. Parent/Guardian name
2. Full name of your student (First & Last); student ID#
3. Date(s)of absence
4. Reason for absence
If you have any questions regarding attendance procedures, parents may email a note to Ms. Pamela Carroll-Sykes, attendance secretary, at Pamela_M_Carroll-Sykes@mcpsmd.org
Important Contacts
Silver Creek Middle School
Principal: Dr. Tiffany N. Awkard
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Kimberly Heidler
Assistant Principal: Mr. David O'Shell
School Hours: 7:30 am- 4:00 pm
Main Office: 240-740-2200
Registration & Counseling: 240-740-2211
Attendance Line: 240-740-2201
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/
Location: 3701 Saul Road, Kensington, MD, USA
Phone: 240 740 2200
Twitter: @SCMSDrAwkard