SHADY GROVE MATTERS WEEKLY UPDATE
January 28, 2024
THE ADMINISTRATOR'S CORNER
Greetings Shady Grove families! There is no school for students tomorrow, Monday, January 29 as it is a grading and planning day for teaching staff. See everyone on Tuesday. This will be the first week of the third quarter and therefore we are halfway through the year. We hope all students keep working hard in classes, cultivating positive peer relationships, and purposely doing their best each day. This week our EML students will continue with WIDA testing and all students will participate in making up MLK Jr. Week of Service lessons during Homeroom. On Wednesday, our 7th graders will be going on the Finance Park Field Trip. Finally, our basketball teams are both currently undefeated! We are so proud of them! Our Lady Timberwolves will play the make-up home game against Montgomery Village MS on Tuesday and both teams will take on Redland Middle School on Thursday (Girls are at home). I hope you have a spectacular week.
~Ms. Cooper
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2024
January Upcoming Events:
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)
THE SGMS SPRING MUSICAL IS BACK!!
This year's performances of High School Musical Jr. have been rescheduled for May 31st and June 1st. Students interested in auditioning for a role should complete an audition packet and submit to Mrs. Rahmati no later than February 12th. Students can pick up an audition packet in the cafeteria during lunch or in Mrs. Rahmati's classroom (D-229). Auditions have been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 13th. 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.
WIDA ACCESS Testing
WIDA ACCESS Testing
This is just a reminder that beginning Tuesday, January 30th through Thursday, February 1st, Shady Grove Middle School will continue to administer the WIDA ACCESS test for all students receiving or eligible for English Language Development services formally known as ESOL. Students who are testing will do so during Periods 1 & 2 during this testing window. Students who are testing will receive their testing information including location during homeroom on Tuesday morning. If your child is testing, please remind them to be well rested, and to charge their chromebooks each night. If you have any questions, please contact, Ms. Merino.
FINANCE PARK AT EDISON HS
Dear Families of SGMS 7th Grade Students:
7th graders will attend Finance Park at Edison High School in Silver Spring, MD on January 31, 2024. Finance Park is a simulation to prepare students for all things finance by teaching financial literacy, you know, paying bills, buying a car and groceries. All students should bring a coat and water bottle with their name on it, and a lunch if they have not purchased a school lunch. We will leave at 8:45 and return by 2:00pm. If you have any questions email: Vassiliki_A_Key@mcpsmd.org . We still have space for chaperones. If you are interested check out this link to sign up: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TMtNN8dRZO5oFwHNbmcF88THYSrcBkmB/view
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.
16TH ANNUAL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) COLLEGE FAIR
8th Grade Families:
16TH ANNUAL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) COLLEGE FAIR
FEBRUARY 16, 2024
This free in-person event at The Universities at Shady Grove will provide students in Grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 HBCUs. Representatives will share information and answer questions from students and parents about admissions, financial aid, testing, majors and much more. The event will also feature a college preparation workshop for middle school students and parents, a discussion on college life, FAFSA completion assistance, scholarship information and more.
Registration will open on January 19, 2024. All students and parents/guardians must register to attend. Students may earn 3 SSL hours for attending at least 2 workshop sessions during the fair and completing an SSL Google Form that will be provided to participants after the event.
Students and parents, registration and learn more information here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/familysupport/hbcu/
FROM THE SGMS PTSA
iParent 101
Please join us on February 28, 2024 at 7pm in the Magruder HS Cafeteria for this important event
Learn how to support your family's healthy relationship with technology
Aprenda cómo apoyar la relación saludable de su familia con la tecnología.
Se proporcionará traducción al español.
The PTSA is selling snacks and drinks during the lunch periods on Fridays. Please sign up for a slot or a few slots if you are available to help.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054CA4A8292-45592427-sgms#/
The PTSA has croc charms and magnets for sale for $5 each. They can be purchased on Fridays from school store or
https://shadygrovemsptsa.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true
VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PLAN (CODE PURPLE)
Virtual Instruction Information (Code Purple)
Good morning, Parents/ Guardians:
In case there is inclement weather MCPS may assign a Code Purple and we will implement Virtual Instruction Plan from 9:50 am to 3:00 pm on those days. To assist you in planning and accessing the classroom on a CODE PURPLE Day, I am sharing the following information:
Students should have their Chromebooks charged.
First, to start the day students should log in to their first period Canvas course by 9:50am to access coursework and the Zoom link for live instruction.
Next, they will follow the bell schedule below, again using Canvas to access course materials and Zoom links.
If your student cannot access Canvas or Zoom, please email or use Remind to let their teacher know they are having technical issues.
We have also provided for you this document which will provide guidance on how to access the myMCPS Classroom (Canvas), Zoom, Chromebook troubleshooting guide, Support Available.
Shady Grove Middle School is ready to support you and your family during this time. We will have staff members available to assist with technology support as well as working with the students during the instructional day. Please feel free to email Dr. Murray (Gr 6) at Alana_D_Murray@mcpsmd.org, Ms. Cooper (Gr. 7) at Jennifer_K_Cooper@mcpsmd.org, or Ms. Merino (Gr 8) at Elizabeth_J_Merino@mpsmd.org for support and they will be able to assist you personally or direct your question to an expert.
MCPS COMMUNICATION
Dear MCPS Families,
In this week's Things to Know, tell us what you think about the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) program, inclement weather make-up days, food menus, and get information about the student transfer application, HBCU fair and Summer RISE registrations, upcoming Girls' Summit, response to the latest OIG report, and news about our students and staff.
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