The Paw Print
Week of January 20, 2020
Updates from Mrs. Murphy and Mr. Ajamian
We are excited to share that our school has joined all of the schools in our cluster as a No Place for Hate® school. No Place for Hate® is an organizing framework to combat bias and bullying in schools. Since 1999, over 1,700 school and communities have participated in No Place for Hate® to earn designation as No Place for Hate® by organizing projects/activities to combat bias and bullying in the community. We have formed a committee of students, staff and parents to help support this work. Recently, our student leaders created a short video to launch the No Place for Hate® Promise in all classrooms. In the coming weeks we will have a kick-off assembly. Please ask your child about this! A huge thank you to our committee: Julie Corcoran, Henry Corcoran, Nicole Tremper, Danielle Warren, Nicole Warren, Cameron Jones, Coleman Jones, Kate Nielsen, Lucas Nielsen, Nicole Waheed, Jahlil Waheed, Dominique Wallace, Campbell Wallace, Rafael Pardo, Emilia Pardo, Sabah Iqbal, Sabine Rana, Ms. Gronseth, Ms. Luca, Mrs. Steinberg, and Ms. Torrey.
Our Valentine's Day parties will be on Friday, February 14th from 2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Please remember that if students pass out Valentines, they must have one for each student in their class. If you plan to join us for the parties, you will need to be signed in through the main office. We will share a link in our next newsletter for you to pre-register.
Please feel free to stop by the school and check in the lost and found, as our lost and found inventory is full. Items not claimed will be donated to a local charity at the end of the month.
Thank You
A huge thank you to all families that turned in Box Tops. The school recently received a check for $186.80 for the box tops turned in thus far. We appreciate the efforts of Kathleen Tayman for organizing our submission of Box Tops. Please continue to save Box Tops!
Upcoming PTA Meeting - 2/4/19
Please join us on Tuesday, February 4 at 6:30 pm during the PTA meeting for a Social Emotional Learning presentation from our teachers and staff. Hear from our teachers about how they are using the data driven curriculum, Sanford Harmony, in their classrooms to support students Social Emotional wellbeing. Learn more about Montgomery County’s new initiative Be Well 365 and all of the programs in place at SLES to support this county-wide plan. Understand more about the cluster-wide framework No Place for Hate and how Seven Locks is working to create a school culture where every student feels connected, included, accepted, safe, and themselves.
Kidsco will be providing childcare during the meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!
Staffing Update
5th Grade Beach Buck Bonanza
On Friday, January 24th the 5th graders will have their first Beach Buck Bonanza. All 3rd and 4th graders have been invited to come shop. For those of you unfamiliar with this Bonanza (formerly known as Mini Mall), as part of their classroom economy the 5th graders have created businesses to sell goods, services, and activities. Each shopper will be receive $10 Beach Bucks (5th grade's currency) to spend. Both grades will have about 30 minutes to shop. A few 5th graders will have stores where they will be selling store-bought foods. Of course, all food will be nut-free, and the information about the ingredients will be available. The teachers will be extremely vigilant to ensure no one purchases anything to which they are allergic. Some examples of goods, services, and activities sold at previous events include popcorn, bowling, Pokemon cards, books, stuffed animals, raffles, lemonade, and ice cream sundaes. Students will bring their purchases home on January 24th, where they should remain. Beach Buck Bonanza is always an exciting event for the 5th graders and the younger students. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please contact your child's teacher no later than January 22nd.
Save the Date
June 3rd - Spring Choral and Instrumental Concert
June 9th - 5th Grade Promotion
Grade 3 CogAT Testing
SCHOOL SYSTEM UPDATES
Superintendent Smith Recommends $2.8 Billion Operating Budget
Superintendent Jack R. Smith is recommending a $2.8 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 that will allow the district to manage significant growth and ensure that students have the access and opportunity they need to meet their full potential. The recommended operating budget for FY 2021 is a $121 million (4.5 percent) increase over FY 2020. Most of the recommended spending increase will be used to provide services to a growing number of students; fund ongoing salaries and benefits; and manage increasing operational costs.
The recommendation also includes $23.7 million to expand and implement strategic key bodies of work including expansion of Head Start and full-day prekindergarten programs; increasing exposure to language opportunities; and increasing investment in support for English Language Learners.
The process and timeline for the FY 2021 operating budget is:
· Mid-December 2019 through early January 2019: Signups for operating budget hearings
· January 13 and January 15, 2020: Board of Education holds operating budget hearings
· January 22 and January 28, 2020: Board of Education holds operating budget work sessions
· February 10, 2020: Board takes action on the recommended budget
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/ for more information.
2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Tribute Set for January 20
The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Tribute and Celebration will be held from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, January 20 at the Music Center at Strathmore.
The event will celebrate Dr. King’s life through presentations, music, and theatrical performances. A visual arts exhibit prepared by MCPS students interpreting “Children of the Dream” will be displayed. There will be performances by Dem Raider Boyz Step Squad, the Akhmedova Ballet Academy, Kevin Dukes, and a special performance by Ronnie Diamond Hoard – former lead singer of the Ohio Players. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School and the Vast Expressions of Song Ensemble will be performing and lead by local artists Vohn Higgonbotham.
This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available the day of the celebration only on Monday, January 20 in the Music Center foyer beginning at 3:00 p.m. Seating is general admission and one ticket will be distributed per person. Seating will begin at 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit the Strathmore website or the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights website. The Music Center at Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda.
Science Night Coming January 21
MCPS and the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA) are hosting a Science Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, at Gaithersburg High School. The snow date is Tuesday, January 28. At the event, parents/guardians will hear from MCPS teachers about science standards and what they can expect their children to learn in class. Sessions are targeted to parents/guardians with students in elementary and middle school.
Councilmember Rice to Host Forums on the State of Education in Montgomery County
Montgomery County residents are invited to participate in two upcoming meetings on the state of education in Montgomery County. The forums, hosted by councilmember Craig Rice, will provide an opportunity for community members to learn about academic readiness, career pathways, and work-based learning opportunities that take our students from prekindergarten to jobs. The meetings will be held on Tuesday, January 28 at the Montgomery College Germantown campus and Wednesday, March 4 at Northwood High School. Dr. Smith, Montgomery College President Dr. DeRionne Pollard, and Dr. Stewart Edelstein, executive director of the Universities of Shady Grove, will participate in the conversation.
Winter Weather: Stay Informed
Winter weather is coming soon. MCPS offers numerous ways for parents to learn about school closures, delayed openings, and early dismissals due to inclement weather.
- AlertMCPS: Subscribe to AlertMCPS
- Receive text messages or emails from MCPS during weather-related emergencies and other major events that impact school system operations. Parents can also sign up to receive alerts specific to their child’s school.
- MCPS homepage: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
- MCPS cable channels: Comcast 34, Verizon 36 or RCN 89
- Recorded information: 301-279-3673
- Ask MCPS: 240-740-3000
- Staff takes calls from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, in English and Spanish.
- Twitter: twitter.com/mcps
- Local radio and TV stations
- Please make sure emergency contact information on file at your child’s school is up to date.
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/sources.aspx for more information on how to receive MCPS emergency information.
2020-2021 School Year Calendar
The Board of Education has adopted the school year calendar for the 2020–2021 school year. The traditional school year will begin on Monday, August 31, 2020, and the last day is scheduled for Wednesday, June 16, 2021. The calendar includes 182 days of instruction; a 10-day spring break; closures for planning and professional development; and an operational closure in September.
Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/calendar/proposed-calendar-2020-21.aspx to see the calendar for all closures and early release days.
The calendar was developed to comply with closings required by state law, guidance from the state superintendent of schools regarding emergency make-up days, and early release days that are contractually required by the Montgomery County Education Association.
The Board also adopted an Innovative School Year for Arcola and Roscoe R. Nix elementary schools. School will begin on Monday, July 6, 2020, for these schools.
Important Dates
1/20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, No school for students or staff
1/21 - 3rd Grade Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
1/21 - Spelling Bee First Elimination Round, during recess
1/22 - 1st Grade Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
1/23 - 5th Grade Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
1/24 - Beach Bucks Shopping, for 3rd and 4th Graders
1/24 - End of 2nd Marking Period
1/24 - Early Release, 1:20 p.m.
1/27 - Professional Day, No School for Students
1/28 - Geography Bee (Grades 3-5), 10:20 a.m., APR
1/29 - Cabin John Middle School Counselors to visit 5th Grade, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1/31 - International Night, 6:30 p.m.
2/3 - National School Counseling Week
2/4 - Report Cards Distributed
2/4 - PTA Meeting about Social Emotional Learning, 6:30 p.m.
2/10 - Severe Weather and Drop, Cover, Hold Drills, 3:00 p.m.
2/14 - Valentine's Day Classroom Parties, 2:45 - 3:30 p.m.
Seven Locks Elementary School
Email: Megan_H_Murphy@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/sevenlockses/
Location: 9500 Seven Locks Road, Bethesda, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-0940
Twitter: @SLESPrincipal