Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
May 16-May 20
Dear Silver Creek Families
We had another great week of school. Interims were posted last week, Thursday, May 12. This marks the midpoint of the quarter with a few weeks left in the school year. This week, Wednesday, May 18, is an early release day.
Here is the most recent MCPS Community Update (5/12). The update includes reminders about COVID-19, online mental health and wellness resources, information about an upcoming LGBTQ+ town hall and summer program registration.
As always, please use this reporting FORM, if your child does test positive for COVID-19. You may review Silver Creek Middle School's reported COVID-19 cases here. As of May 5, 2022, we have had 14 new student cases.
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
As a reminder, Husky connect time on Mondays and Tuesdays will provide an opportunity for students to work on assignments; students will have an additional day of the week (Wednesday- Friday) for a study hall period during their Husky Connect Homeroom. This is an opportunity for students to work on any assignments and/or work with their assigned homeroom teacher for any support. Students will still have outside time one of the days ( Wednesday-Friday) and will participate in either an MYP lesson or No Place for Hate lesson the other day.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Please check out our SCMS Counseling Newsletter with additional information & resources.
*Silver Creek News- Morning Announcements!
Did you miss the latest Husky news. You may access the link below from Friday, May 13, 2022 to hear upcoming news & events.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HEFjEMcroRYO79wAsfyClx1kl9WM7s1Y/view?usp=sharing
*Student Service Learning (SSL) forms due: June 3, 2022
If you have any questions, please contact SSL coordinator, Mrs.Hill-Gilliard at renee_s_hill@mcpsmd.org
*Library Media Center Announcement: Books are due on Thursday, June 2
*Cultural Arts Assembly: Tuesday, May 17
We are excited to have all students participate in a Cultural Arts Assembly on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The purpose of the cultural arts assembly is to provide an enriching and innovative cultural experience for our students. We will have Storyteller, Ms. Diane Macklin, who will present to our students.
You may find more information about Ms. Macklin below:
https://dccollaborative.org/content/diane-macklin-storyteller
*Spring Fling Dance: Ticket Sales Closed!
As a reminder, the Spring Fling Dance is after school on Friday, May 20th from 3-5 PM in the cafeteria. There will be music, dancing, refreshments, fun, and a photobooth with one souvenir photo. Activity buses will also be provided. Face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory.
Additional facemasks and hand sanitizer will be available. Students with COVID-19 symptoms should not attend. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Lacy (ashley_e_lacy@mcpsmd.org), or Mr. Kavanaugh (william_h_kavanaugh@mcpsmd.org).
*Spring MAP testing: May 23 & May 24
All students will take the Spring MAP Growth on Monday, May 23 & Tuesday, May 24. Testing will occur through homeroom. The MAP math will be on Monday May 23 and the MAP Reading will be on Tuesday May 24. Please make sure your child brings their school-issued chromebook to take the test. You may find the bell schedule for testing located below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zo5e_047aeteMc0uFuqkIOnhGEAY-eOQ0yDbJ3JGIG0/edit?usp=sharing
If you have any questions about testing, please contact Mr. David O'Shell, assistant principal, at David_O'Shell@mcpsmd.org
*8th Grade Promotion Ceremony & Six Flags America
8th Grade Promotion. We are so excited to announce that our 8th grade students will have their traditional 8th grade promotion ceremony this school year. The 8th grade promotion is scheduled for Friday, June 10 at 6-8 PM at Silver Creek Middle School.
Six Flags America. In celebration of our 8th Grade students for the successful completion of their middle school years, students will attend Six Flags America in Bowie, MD on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Information about the field trip was sent to students prior to Spring Break. Students also participated in a town hall meeting on Thursday, April 7 to review behavioral expectations prior to the trip and while at Six Flags. You may view the google slide presentation here.
If you have not done so, please make sure your child returns their signed agreement and permission slip to their English teacher. The deadline was Friday, May 13, 2022. Here you may read more details about the Six Flags trip.
We look forward to celebrating our 8th grade students in a very special way this school year!
*8th Grade Promotion Tickets
The Silver Creek Middle School (SCMS) Promotion Ceremony will take place on Friday June 10 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at SCMS outside on the bus loop. We are excited to celebrate and promote all of our 8th grade students during this special ceremony. Space is limited; therefore each student will receive two (2) promotion tickets for their family. This also includes siblings (ex: one family with two children in 8th grade will get a total of 4 tickets.).
You may request up to two (2) additional tickets for your child, if available. Please complete the form below to let us know whether you need additional tickets.
If available, extra tickets will be distributed to families through a lottery process. If you have not done so, please complete this form no later than Friday May 20. After May 20, the form will NO longer accept responses. Please click here to open the form.
Summer School Information: Registration will Close Soon!
Registration is now open! Silver Creek Middle School will offer a free, in-person summer school program this summer. The summer school program will help address learning loss with a focus on mathematics and literacy to help students prepare for the next grade level. We may also offer an elective class depending on enrollment. Our summer school program for our rising 6th, 7th or 8th graders will be held in person at Silver Creek Middle School from 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. beginning July 6, 2022 through July 29, 2022. All rising 9th grade students will need to register with the high school they will attend.
If interested, please click the following link to open our Summer School Flyer. To register, please click the following LINK. More information about summer school offerings is available here. If you have any questions about summer school, please contact Mr. Bingaman at Ryan_H_Bingaman@mcpsmd.org
*Rising 9th Grade Summer School Information
Message from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Attention Rising 9th Grade Students: We are happy to announce that we will be offering free in-person enrichment courses this summer. We have a course that is targeted towards rising 9th graders to help with the transition to high school. Check out more information about all our courses and the registration process by clicking here.
Registration closes Sunday, May 22.
You can click here for an FAQ document. If you have any questions please contact, Christine Rizkallah, assistant school administrator, at christine_s_rizkallah@mcpsmd.org. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
*Spirit Week: May 23-May 27
Here are the days:
Monday: Husky Day- 8th grade will wear blue, 7th grade will wear silver or grey, and 6th grade will wear white!
Tuesday: Character Day - dress up as your favorite book, TV or movie character! School expectations apply.
Wednesday: Culture Day - represent your culture! Please be respectful of others and their culture.
Thursday: Throwback Thursday - dress up as your younger self, or represent your favorite decade!
Friday - Anything but a backpack day! No carts, siblings, animals, or anything that will prohibit movement in the hallway. You must be able to carry it.
We hope you have fun, and we look forward to seeing your school spirit!
*Annual Pride Town Hall
Gratitude Corner
Library Media Center Announcement
Congratulations to Husky Drama!
Thank you to SCMS PTSA!
PARENT RESOURCES
*Principal's Coffee
Principal Coffees are a great time to hear about school-wide happenings and events related to students' academic and social well being.
Our last principal coffee of the school year will be this week, Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 8:30-9:15 am. The coffee will be via zoom ONLY. The zoom link is below. Please feel free to add any questions/topics for discussion HERE.
Zoom Link: https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/84440306298?pwd=YThYdmRNcFNKcnFWMHpMQVVuK2tqQT09
Meeting ID: 844 4030 6298
Passcode: Husky
One tap mobile: 13017158592
If you missed any of the principal coffees, you may access them in the parent handbook.
Counselor News & Updates
MAY is Mental Health Awareness Month. Check out the May Counseling Newsletter ! https://www.smore.com/y4w1x
Parent Handbook
Did you miss the parent grade-level town hall meetings? You may access meeting recordings in the 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
Cell Phone Use
The use of cell phones in the school has become a large distraction for our students. We will continue to reinforce our cell phone expectations that it must be out of sight during instructional time. Aligned with MCPS regulations, all personal mobile devices must be turned off and away at the start of school. Students may use their cell phones before school, at lunch, and after school ONLY. They should not have their cell phones out during transition times.
The absence of mobile devices will allow teachers to continue to create a conducive learning environment with fewer distractions for our students as well as lessen behavioral infractions related to cell phone use during hallway transitions and other learning spaces. If students are not able to follow the cell phone policy, consequences will be given based on the Student Code of Conduct.
*Important Dates to Remember
May 18- Early Release for students
May 18–Chorus & Orchestra 7 PM
May 19- Band & Jazz Band 7 PM
May 19- Principal's Coffee 8:30 AM
May 19- 8th grade Panoramic Picture
May 20- SGA Dance 3 PM
March 23 & March 24- Spring MAP testing
May 30- Memorial Day Holiday- No school
June 2- Arts Festival at Silver Creek Middle School 6 PM
June 10- 8th Grade Promotion 6PM
June 14- 8th Grade End-of-Year Trip to Six Flags America
June 17- Last day of school - Early release
*Recently updated
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. Pamela Carroll-Sykes, attendance secretary, at Pamela_M_Carroll-sykes@mcpsmd.org.
Please note: If a student needs to quarantine/isolate for 5 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