SHADY GROVE MATTERS WEEKLY UPDATE
January 14, 2024
THE ADMINISTRATOR'S CORNER
Greetings Shady Grove families! There is no school tomorrow, Monday, January 15 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. See everyone on Tuesday. This week, counselors will begin to visit rising 7th and 8th grade science classes to register students for their classes and electives for the next school year. Magruder HS counselors will also be returning on Thursday to help Rising 9th graders to register for classes for next school year. Please see the announcement regarding the 2024-2025 Course Bulletin to learn about courses. Finally, our basketball teams will be playing against Gaithersburg MS, the boys are at home and the girls team is away. If students want to attend the home game, there are limited tickets, and they must follow the procedure to receive tickets in advance during lunch time. Good luck to both teams! Wishing everyone a cozy week.
~Ms. Cooper
VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PLAN (CODE PURPLE)
Virtual Instruction Information (Code Purple)
Good morning, Parents/ Guardians:
I hope this email finds you and your family doing well! 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.
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2024
January Upcoming Events:
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)
MLK WEEK OF SERVICE AT SGMS
Attention SGMS Families:
Are you interested in participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Service starting on January 15th? The Student Government Association (SGA), National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and Minority Scholars Program (MSP) have joined together to plan many activities to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Service. We will hold a spirit week with special dress for each school day and sponsor three SSL projects after school. Our goal it to have a positive impact on our SGMS community and we encourage every SGMS student to find a way to participate in this impactful event.
Spirit Week
Monday, 1/15: No School – Celebrate Marting Luther King, Jr. Day
Tuesday, 1/16 : “Dreaming of a Better Future” – Pajama Day
Wednesday, 1/17: “We are One” – Unity Day (Dress head-to-toe in one color to create the rainbow with peers)
Thursday, 1/18: “Be Nice on the Inside and Out” – Dress Up Day (Wear your nicest outfit)
Friday, 1/19: “Team Up Against Bullying” – Team Day (Wear your favorite sports jersey or shirt)
Community Service Projects
Tuesday, 1/16 After School SSL Project: SGMS Clean-Up
Wednesday, 1/17 After School SSL Project: Making Bookmarks for the Media Center
Thursday, 1/18 After School SSL Project: Community Letter Writing
Please sign-up for these events in the cafeteria!
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.
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/
MCPS COMMUNICATION
Dear MCPS Families,
Here are things to know. Get information about a bus tracking app announcement, upcoming virtual Parent Academy TO GO workshops, upcoming events, reminders, 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