Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
April 12-April 16
Dear SCMS Parents/Guardians
I hope you all were able to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend. We had a great reopening last week with the return of our 6th grade-Cohort A students. Students were excited to be back and were able to navigate their classes well, while following all health and safety guidelines. We look forward to welcoming back our 6th grade- Cohort B students tomorrow, Monday, April 12th (please see reopening update/timeline below).
This week is a 4-day week. There is NO school for students on Friday, April 16 in order for teachers to prepare Quarter 3 Report Card grades. Since the end of the quarter is fast approaching, it will be important for students to review their grades and complete any missing assignments and/or assessments in their classes. It is also important for students to take advantage of the Focused Student Intervention in the mornings to receive support and to complete any outstanding work. We are here to support all students, and want to ensure they finish the marking period successfully.
Let’s make it a great week Huskies!
Weekly Assignments at a Glance
Hybrid Bell Schedule
Please find the Adjusted Hybrid Schedule here for the remainder of the school year. Please review the schedule in great detail.
**Please note: This week students who attend in-person learning will come to the building all 4 days including Wednesday, April 14 (which is periods 5, 6, 7 ,8).
Students who attend in-person learning, please review the Rotation Weeks here. Make sure students know the weeks they come for in-person learning.
Reopening of School For In-Person Learning Updates/Reminders
This week begins Reopening for our 6th grade -Cohort B students only. Please read carefully the information below.
A few reminders/highlights
- This week is a 4 day week. All students coming to in-person learning will come to school all 4 days, including Wednesday, April 14.
- All 7th & 8th grade Cohort A students will return on April 19th. The 7th & 8th grade- Cohort B students return Monday, April 26th.
- An email was sent to families of each grade level cohort last week as a reminder of the start date. An email communication will also be sent out this week to 7th & 8th grade parents sharing a few reminders prior to students' return.
- The adjusted schedule for Semester 2 including the cohort weeks and the schedule for April 12-April 16 can be found HERE.
- A letter with all information pertaining to reopening was sent via email to families who have requested in-person learning. The 6th grade letter was sent on March 12 & the 7th & 8th grade letter was sent on March 25. Please make sure to review this letter in its entirety as it has your child’s rotation, class schedule, and important reopening information.
- Please make sure all students returning to in-person learning view the reopening orientation video (must be logged into mcpsmd.net account).
- Lunch is available for all students at no charge. However, students can bring their own lunch.
- MATERIALS TO BRING to school.
Focused Student Intervention/Support time- Students who remain virtual will not see any changes to their schedule except for the Focused Student Intervention (FSI) period is now at the beginning of the day (8:15-8:55 am). There will NO longer be an FSI period at the end of the day. Due to the short amount of time available in the afternoon and staff supervisory obligations, this time will be devoted to student planning/wrap up and preparation for the next day.
**Please note: On the first day of in-person learning for each grade level cohort, there will be NO FSI in the morning in order to acclimate in-person students to the building. Therefore, there is NO FSI on April 12, 19 & 26. The virtual/hybrid schedule can be found here.
We are very excited to see our students return to school as we continue to provide an optimal learning experience for both virtual and in-person students.
Silver Creek News from April 9, 2021
Virtual Library Media Center
Beginning April 12, the Library Media Center will be offering "Holds to Go." In-person students may place up to five books on hold each week they are in the building. Books will be delivered to classes, or may be picked up from the LMC during wellness breaks or after school. Virtual students can pick up their books on Wednesdays. All information and instructions are in this video or printed here. We ask that all students return books they have at home so we can keep our books circulating to new readers! Ebooks and audiobooks are always available in SORA, and we're adding great new reads weekly!
We also invite all students to our weekly Book Bites programs, for games, socializing, new books and authors, and other book-related fun. Visit our library media website for more information. We ask all families to please return all library books to the bin inside the front doors, any school day from 9 am - 3 pm. The more returns, the more books we can loan out to our wonderful, voracious readers!
Husky Huddle Lesson
During Husky Huddle on Tuesday, April 13, students will participate in a No Place for Hate Lesson. You can find the lesson HERE. On Thursday, April 15, students will have a Fab Friday lesson. This is the opportunity for students to organize their assignments from the week, and email their teachers with questions/request for support in preparation for the end of the quarter.
Attendance Reminder: Students are expected to attend all 8 of their classes. Attendance is taken in all classes including Husky Huddle (8th period/Homeroom).
Student Member of the Board (SMOB) Election
If students were not in Husky Huddle this past Friday, April 9, please make sure they review the following slides for important information about the Student Member of the Board Election and to learn about the two candidates: Henry Kaye and Hana O'Looney. There will be a "chat" with both candidates this Wednesday, April 14, 6-7:30 pm. If interested, please RSVP via this link.
Reach out to any member of SGA if you have questions!
Deadline to register for the Fall Athletic Season is Monday, April 12!
Welcome to the Silver Creek Middle School's Fall 2nd Semester Athletic Season! The fall season will begin on April 20 - May 6, 2021. The middle school interscholastic athletics program is available for all students in 7th and 8th grade only and will consist of the following sports: Coed Cross Country; Boys’ Softball; and Girls’ Softball
- The fall season at SCMS will remain virtual and will include three virtual engagement sessions per week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 pm. This will be a total of 9 engagement sessions over the course of three weeks. You may register at the following link: Silver Creek MS Fall Athletics Registration. Registration deadline is this Monday, April 12.
If you have any questions, please email the Silver Creek Athletic Coordinator, Mr. Ryan Bingaman (Ryan_H_Bingaman@mcpsmd.org).
PARENT RESOURCES
Save the date for the next Tea Time with Dr. Awkard
The next Thursday Tea is scheduled for Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 4:30-5:00 pm.
Please use the following google form to provide input on possible topics you would like to hear more about.
Zoom Information
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/87475693647?pwd=eWpibmRKTEJrWFRmMGdLb2J5ZmdvZz09
Meeting ID: 874 7569 3647
Passcode: 636638
+13017158592
You may find the google slides for each month's "Thursday Tea" on our website.
Counselor News & Updates
Please check out the April newsletter. The counseling team is looking for parents to join the counseling advisory committee.
What is it? An Advisory Council is a representative group of stakeholders selected to review and advise on the implementation of the school counseling program. The Council meets at least twice a year.
When is the next meeting? May 20th at 3:00 PM
How do I get involved: Email susan_a_levine@mcpsmd.org of your interest. You can attend every meeting or just one; there is no long term commitment. We are stronger with parent partnership. If possible, please have your child attend with you. We need their voices too!
Please check out our Counseling Website periodically for upcoming parent drop in sessions https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/scmsmcpscounseling/parent-resources
Parent/Guardian Resource 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
Summer School Program
MCPS will be offering both virtual and in-person summer school opportunities this summer. All summer school programs are free for all students. Virtual opportunities will be managed by central office, and the in-person summer school program for your rising 7th or 8th grader will be held in person at Silver Creek Middle School from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. beginning July 6, 2021 through July 30, 2021. Students will take a math, English, and elective class for the full day. Current 8th graders interested in summer school will need to register with the high school they plan to attend.
If you are interested in your child attending summer school, please fill out the google form below. This is not a registration form, but a form to gauge our community’s interest. Please click the link below to complete the form. Please complete by Wednesday, April 14.
More information about course offerings along with the registration form will be sent out in May.
Spring Drama Production Coming Soon!
Don't miss Husky Drama's Epic Radio Show: Arctic Adventure Theatre's Thrilling Episode of Zippy the Wonder Penguin and the Case of the Crazed Crashers! Brought to you by the good folks at Fish Co. The tasty treat that all artic heroes love to eat!
Welcome to Arctic Adventure Theatre! What is the frozen north to do when evil wakes from hibernation? And demands an invite to the Spring Extravaganza? How will Zippy the Wonder Penguin and his sidekick Scooter deal with this Predictable and Pernicious Party Crashing Polar Bear Plague! Issue the Peril Proximity Alert! Grab your Rapier of justice! Will Zippy Save the Extravaganza and the day? Tune in to find out....
- Friday April 23rd 7:00pm
- Saturday April 24th 7:00pm
Reserve your tickets today! Husky Drama Spring Play Ticket Form
Suitable for all ages.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Alison Gee, SCMS Drama Director@ Alison_C_Gee@mcpsmd.org.
SSL Information at Silver Creek
Online Homework Help
MCPS has announced a new, free student online tutoring and homework help service. Tutorme.com is a secure, online resource that will be easily accessible through MCPS student Canvas and StudentVUE accounts and will offer on-demand assistance on any subject from grade 3 through grade 12. More information is available here.
Social Media
We know that many students use social media applications such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. It is imperative that students use these social media applications appropriately. Technology should be not be misused for the purpose of bullying, harassment, or intimidation. I will address any acts of misuse accordingly. The MCPS Policy can be found here.
Thank you for being vigilant and monitoring your child's social media use. Here is a resource for parents on social media.
Wear Silver Creek Colors on Fridays!
Important Dates to Remember & Coming Attractions
April 12- Return to in-person learning for Cohort B- 6th grade students
April 15- End of Marking Period 3
April 16- No School for students; Teacher Professional Day
April 19- Return to in-person learning for Cohort A- 7th & 8th grade students. MP4 Begins
April 22- Thursday Tea Time, 4:30-5:00 pm.
April 23- Drama Production- 7PM
April 24- Drama Production-7PM
April 26- Return to in-person learning for Cohort B- 7th & 8th grade students.
Student Absence & Class Recordings
If a student is going to be absent, the parent/guardian is asked to call the attendance line at 240-740-2201 in 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
You can also email Ms. Rachel Distelhorst, attendance secretary, at Rachel_Distelhorst@mcpsmd.org.
Students are expected to attend the live meetings for all classes listed on their schedules. If students are not able to attend one or more live class meetings on a given day, they should access the recording of the class that is posted in myMCPS Classroom. These recordings will only be available for 72 hours after the live class meeting. After watching the recording, please complete the Live Virtual Lesson Absence Form found here. After the form has been submitted and processed, the absence will be removed from the student’s record. (Please note that it may take several days to process the form after it has been submitted.) If a student is absent from a live class meeting and not able to access the recording within 72 hours due to an extenuating circumstance (e.g., hospitalization, death in the family, etc.) or has questions regarding attendance procedures, a parent or guardian may email a note to Ms. Rachel Distelhorst, attendance secretary, at Rachel_Distelhorst@mcpsmd.org
Important Contacts
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/staff/directory/
Silver Creek Middle School
Principal: Dr. Tiffany Awkard
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Kimberly Heidler
Acting Assistant Principal: Mr. David O'Shell
School Hours: 7:55 am- 3:25 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