Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
October 18- October 22
Dear Silver Creek Families
We look forward to another great week of school. This week concluded testing for all grade levels. We are very proud of our students for all of their hard work throughout the first half of the quarter. We will continue with a regular schedule this week. As a reminder, we would like for students to take advantage of their Husky Connect/advisory time on Monday & Tuesdays to work with their teacher on any missing assignment(s) and/or to receive extra support.
A community letter was sent out to all families on Friday, October 15, 2021 in reference to our efforts with continuing to foster a school environment based on Empathy. If you were not able to read the letter, you may access the letter here.
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 for this Week
Please see Husky Connect Calendar & Information
*High School Regional/Countywide Application for 8th grade students ONLY
The application season for the High School Regional/Countywide Application Programs has open. To learn more about which high school regional/countywide application programs your child is eligible, please review the personalized program eligibility report available in both the StudentVUE and ParentVUE – in DOCUMENTS (located on the left navigation bar of Synergy). This report includes programs for which your child is eligible along with program descriptions and directions to access the application. The deadline to apply is November 5, 2021.
You may also visit the High School Programs At-A-Glance at this website for additional information: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high
Silver Creek Middle School held an Informational meeting on Thursday, October 14 from 6-7 pm. If you were not able to attend, you may access the video and presentation/slide deck below. We will also follow up with a Q&A document soon and send to 8th grade families
- Recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PheX6XwXralv3s7KHJUxAG3s263cmo5o/view?usp=sharing
- Slide Deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1a1ZgKVYiiyhEAQoRZY42mSdp1JU8aBu_6hgjmNI68dU/edit#slide=id.gf17dc2a9a2_0_14
If you need any assistance navigating the application process or completing the application, don't hesitate to reach out to your child's counselor, Ms. Kristin Kehr, at kristin_n_kehr@mcpsmd.org. If you need assistance activating your ParentVue account, please reach out to David_O'Shell@mcpsmd.org
*Silver Creek News- Morning Announcements!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KOJLZbJM5xsvrnxGEJs_zFitaORbuZEv/view?usp=sharing
Personal Body Safety Lessons (PBSL) the week of October 18
During the week of October 18 during PE classes, school counselors and Health Education teachers will be presenting lessons on the topic of Child Abuse and Neglect. The lessons are known as Personal Body Safety Lessons and their purpose is to help students to:
- Develop knowledge, decision making skills, and behaviors which promote safe living in the home, school, and community;
- Learn skills for self-protection and identifying child abuse and neglect;
- Learn skills for asking for help for self and others and practice reporting to a trusted adult;
- Engage in positive and appropriate interactions with peers and adults.
If you have any questions or concerns about the topics that will be covered, please contact your child’s school counselor.
Book Club Opportunity for Students
*UPDATE: Due to testing, the first meeting of OVERBOOKED has moved to NOVEMBER 9th. That is great news . You can read New Kid and join us for the group. Don't forget to sign up on the OVERBOOKED tab on the counseling website.
You may also find the link to join here: https://forms.gle/FVWpeQKsfZaVJ7mv7.
Any questions, please contact Ms. Diskin at Trayce_R_Diskin@mcpsmd.org or Ms. Levine at Susan_A_Levine@mcpsmd.org
*COVID Pool Testing
One significant mitigation tactic Montgomery County Public Schools will use this fall is random COVID-19 screening tests for students. A random sample of students grades 6-8 who have a parent consent form on file will be selected to be tested.
Silver Creek is scheduled for COVID screen testing every Tuesday for those students who have consent forms. Students will be selected by last name. This week, however, there was no testing. We we will have testing this week. Students with last name A-L will be tested. The vendor will communicate results to schools within 24-48 hours. We have NOT received results as of yet and will contact families if there is a positive result.
Please read the process outlined from MCPS below:
Student Service Learning (SSL) opportunities
Any questions about SSL, please contact Ms. Renee Hill at Renee_S_Hill@mcpsmd.org
*Lost and Found
Intramural Sports
Mr. Bingaman is the intramural coordinator and will provide more information during PE classes, on the intramural bulletin board, on the morning announcements, and on the school website. Sample sports can include: basketball, football, soccer, badminton, tennis, volleyball, cross country, dance, weight training, track and field, kickball, capture the flag, etc. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Bingaman at Ryan_H_Bingaman@mcpsmd.org.
After School Activities
After school activities have started and will run from September 14 through May 16 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays only. The activities will meet on one of the three days from 3:15-4:30 pm. A list of activities can be found in our After School Brochure which is linked below. The link will also take you to a google registration form to be used to sign up for an after school activity.
Registering for an activity will be on-going. After school buses are available and will depart by 4:30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Students must be given a bus pass from their after school sponsor to ride the bus. After school Activity Brochure & Registration Form: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/silver-creek-parent-handbook/after-school-activities
Any questions related to after school activities, please contact Dr. Matthew Okun@Matthew_Okun@mcpsmd.org
PARENT RESOURCES
Principal Coffee
We are excited to bring monthly principal coffees this school year. Our first principal coffee will be on Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 8:30 -9:15 AM. This will be in person and available via zoom. This is a great time to hear about school-wide happenings and events related to students' academic and social well being. If you are interested in any particular topic, please feel free to fill out the google form for suggested topics. Google Form.
Zoom Link: https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/89787711716?pwd=NHBEbHQvbytJSVNsK3IvY2hnOVRGQT09
Meeting ID: 897 8771 1716
Passcode: Husky
+13017158592
Counselor News & Updates
Please see the SCMS Counseling Newsletter for OCTOBER.
As a reminder, the counseling department is looking for members for its Counseling Advisory Committee. To date, we have one student and no parent interest for the committee. Please consider this opportunity. This committee aligns us with our National Organization the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). This committee will meet 2 times this year (November 11 and May 12 from 3:15 – 4:15.) We will meet on zoom, but students can stay after school with their counselors to participate.
Students can earn SSL hours for participation. Parents will hear about what counselors do each day, our programming and other pertinent information. There will be opportunities for feedback at each meeting. RSVP to Susan_a_levine@mcpsmd.org
Interested parents and students can RSVP to susan_a_levine@mcpsmd.org.
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
Recognitions in the Month of October
Filipino Heritage Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
*Parent/Community Forum to support LGBTQ+ youth
This webinar is for parents, caregivers, family members, friends, and allies of LGBTQ youth. We hope you’ll attend. Zoom information will be shared closer to the date.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Diskin at Trayce_R_Diskin@mcpsmd.org
Holiday Gift Project
If you and your family are in need and would like to be referred for possible assistance for the holiday season, please complete this referral form to provide the required information. Resources are limited: please apply only if you and your family are truly in need. While a referral is not a guarantee of assistance, the Project helps as many families in need as donations allow. Some families have been emailed because they self referred at the beginning of the year.
Please fill out this form if you have not received information in your email and would like to be referred. https://forms.gle/apssvyCV6d6tFpW49
Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation
Ways to Report: English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1areawDK08nMCq-2z3wW0PctPntog0eVX/view?usp=sharingSpanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVC11h8vBYrzL1yyJgMYLRyE-SLmbDFg/view?usp=sharing
Message about Social Media
There is a current national trend called "Devious Licks,” in which Tik Tokers vandalize or take items from their school and display them on Tik Tok to obtain the most “likes”. Many MCPS middle schools have been hit pretty hard. At Silver Creek, we have had one situation that has occurred where a student took a soap dispenser from a bathroom and displayed it on Tik Tok.
Parents, I encourage you to have a conversation with your child, monitor their social media, and check their belongings. If you find videos of inappropriate acts and/or find unusual items such as soap dispensers, bags of soap, Kool-Aid packets, clocks, or school electronics, please contact us immediately. If a student is caught participating in one of these challenges, they run the risk of being removed from sports and clubs, or other disciplinary actions according to the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities.
We want to ensure that these actions do not occur at Silver Creek Middle School as we continue to focus on fostering a safe, respectful, and conducive learning environment for our students.
Thank you so much for your support.
Please read message from MCPS about the Tik Tok Challenge that was communicated this week:https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2021-2022/Community-Update-20211001.html
Community Food & Clothing Resources
Free and Reduced Meals
Free breakfast, lunch and dinner meals will be provided to all students in schools and at designated food distribution sites.
While school meals are free, families are still encouraged to apply for Free and Reduced Meal status so they are eligible for community resources and services. Apply here: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
Important Dates to Remember
October 21- Principal Coffee- In person & zoom. 8:30-9:15 am
November 4- End of Quarter 1. No school for students.
November 5- School Make-up Portraits
November 22, 23, 24- Early release days for students (Communication about Parent Teacher Conferences will come out soon and will be on one or more of these days).
Link to MCPS Calendar
Student Absence or Quarantine
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. Victoria Hill, attendance secretary, at Victoria_R_Hil@mcpsmd.org.
Please note: If a student needs to quarantine/isolate for 10 days due to a COVID 19 direct exposure or positive test, Silver Creek Middle School has established a plan for the virtual continuity of learning. A letter with the student's virtual continuity of learning plan will be communicated to families whose child has been identified to quarantine.
Important Contacts
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/staff/directory/
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