Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
November 21-November 25
Dear Silver Creek Families
We have a short week this week. Monday, 11/21 & Tuesday, 11/22 are early release days. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 pm each day. There will be parent/teacher conferences on Monday, November 21 (please see below for more information). There is No School on Wednesday, November 23- Friday, November 25 in recognition of the Thanksgiving Holiday. School will resume back on Monday, November 28, 2022.
Thank you to the SGA & PTSA for all of their work with the food drive last week. There was a significant amount of food that was donated to our families in need. Thank you to our SCMS community for your generosity and kindness.
On behalf of the Silver Creek staff, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our Silver Creek Community and thank each of you for partnering with us to support our students, staff, and school community. We are thankful for your commitment and wish you and your families a restful and relaxing holiday with the joys of thanksgiving.
In the newsletter, the section with an * has 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!
*Latest MCPS Message: Things to Know from 11/17.
*Silver Creek News (SCN)!
Did you miss the latest Husky news. You may access the link below from Friday, November 18, 2022 to hear upcoming news & events. https://youtu.be/gwrcVR1mtyY
Parent & Teacher Conferences- Tomorrow, November 21
Tomorrow, Monday, November 21 are Parent & Teacher Conferences. Conferences will begin at 1:00 p.m. and conclude at 4:40 p.m. Click here to view the flyer for this event. Conferences will be in-person!
Our conferences will be "arena style" and teachers will be available to meet with parents/families for 5 minutes at a time at tables in the cafe (6th grade), main gym (7th grade) and the Large Auxiliary gym (8th grade). Parents/families do not need to sign up for conferences- just arrive and locate your child’s teacher. A schedule of teacher locations will be provided to you when you arrive. Conference information will also be posted on the SCMS website.
Please note that we are reserving 5:45 - 7:45 p.m. for invitational group conferences.
Student Town Hall Meetings this week: November 21.
Students will participate in a student-led town hall meeting on Monday, November 21 (the early release day). Students will hear about grade-specific celebrations, ways to solicit student voice & school expectations. Schedule below:
Pd. 1 8:15 -8:47
Pd. 2 8:51 -9:18
Pd. 3 9:22 -9:49 (7th Grade Town Hall)
Pd. 6 9:53 -10:20 (8th Grade Town Hall)
Pd. 7 10:24 -10:51 (6th Grade Town Hall)
*Parent/Caregiver Grade-Level Town Hall Meetings
This will be a hybrid opportunity. You may come in person ( we will meet in the cafeteria) or you may access the meeting via zoom.
All meetings will be from 8:30-9:10 am
Grade 6-Monday, November 28
Grade 7-Wednesday, November 30
Grade 8-Friday, December 2
Zoom Link
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/83420716275?pwd=TzNOQ0lUTFRUeCtzaWhsa2tUbEZsdz09
Meeting ID: 834 2071 6275
Passcode: Husky
One tap mobile- 13017158592
*Media Moment: Library Media Center News & Notes
BOOK FAIR FUN: This Monday and Tuesday, our fabulous PTSA Book Fair will take place in the Library Media Center. We'll have all your favorite books, and lots of new ones that you'll want to read. We'll also have games and puzzles. Students may visit before school, during lunch, after school, or with their English class. Caregivers, please stop by during conferences on Monday, Nov. 21. Thanks for supporting our Library Media program, and many thanks to our wonderful PTSA for hosting this event.
*Save the Date: STEAM Night- December 1, 2022
Activities at STEAM night this year will include:
Drawbots; Zip Flyers; Ghost Bubbles ; Strawberry DNA Extraction; Recycling Olympics; with the Green Team; Mini STEM challenges; Makerspace; Loom and Spinning Wheel; Stargazing; Estimating Games; Video Games (created by 8th grader Foundations of Computer Science students)
There will also be food to purchase from the PTSA. Please bring your family and join us for a night of fun. Students need to be accompanied by an adult to attend STEAM night.
Any questions, please reach out to Ms. Rosemary McNary at Rosemary_P_McNary@mcpsmd.org or Sandra Cornell at Sandra_Cornell@mcpsmd.org
Silver Creek Spirit Wear: Deadline to order is November 22- Ends soon!
Huskies on the M.O.V.E. with IB
~Motivated Open-minded Visionaries for Excellence~
For the month of October, our IB Learner Profile Trait attribute was Open-minded. Click here to see the names of staff & students who were selected as the IB Open-minded Husky for the month of October. Our IB Learner Profile Attribute for the month of November is Communicator. Click here to see a video by Elizabeth Moeller on what it means to be a communicator. After watching the video, discuss how you and your family already demonstrate being communicators, and brainstorm ways to continue practicing this trait.
Remembrance and Reconciliation Month: November
Montgomery County Public Schools will observe Remembrance and Reconciliation Month by supporting local Emancipation Day celebrations, providing schools with age appropriate lessons on local historic African American communities, and virtual changemaker workshops for students and their families in English and Spanish on November 15 - 17, 2022. Register here to attend a changemaker workshop
Students at Silver Creek Middle School will receive five short lessons through their World Studies classes in the month of November that focus on the history of local Black communities. Additionally, students will be invited to participate in change makers workshops where students can discuss ways to take informed action in their community.
Yearbook Sales
We are excited to announce that SCMS Yearbooks are on Sale NOW. We are getting a head start this year with our Yearbook sales as we sold out fairly quickly last school year. Ms. Boyle & Ms. Rivera Diaz are our Yearbook sponsors. They have been meeting after school on Tuesdays with the SCMS Yearbook club to start designing the 2022-2023 yearbook. Our theme is “Inspiring Each Other.”
How to Order
- Go to yearbookforever.com and order your yearbook now. You can also use Yearbook Snap to upload and submit your own photos for the yearbook.
- Access to Yearbook Snap can be found at the top of the order page.
- See the flyers below for cost information and easy access to order with the provided QR code:
Questions? Please email our yearbook sponsors at Jennifer_K_Boyle@mcpsmd.org and Roxana_RiveraDiaz@mcpsmd.org.
*Winter Athletics: Basketball Tryouts- December 6-13.
The upcoming basketball season for Silver Creek Middle School will hold tryouts December 6-13, 2022.
All students must be registered before December 6th. Winter registration is now open through ParentVue. You may find important Middle School Winter Athletics information, including Online Registration below:
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/athletics/programs/default/564092/
The first basketball game will be held on January 5, 2022. For any questions, please reach out to the following coaches: Boys Basketball coach- Sean Brennan (Sean_P_Brennan@mcpsmd.org); Girls Basketball coach- Anthony Edmonds (Anthony_D_Edmonds@mcps.org)
Tutoring Available for Students
MCPS is offering expanded tutoring opportunities to every school as part of our learning recovery efforts. Tutoring and intervention opportunities will enhance strong first instruction and other supports already underway in classrooms to support learning for every student. You may review their website for all tutoring opportunities.
We are excited to offer local tutoring at Silver Creek Middle School. Tutoring has begun. Several staff will be available in Room 407 every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:15- 4:15 to support with all subject areas. Please complete the following INTEREST FORM if you are interested in your child receiving tutoring. After school buses are available for students.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Okun at: Matthew_Okun@mcpsmd.org.
Student Service Learning (SSL) Information & Opportunity for our Huskies!
After School Activities
After school activities have started! After school activities will run from Tuesday, September 13 through Thursday, May 25 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 is posted here in the Extracurricular Activities Brochure.
The date and times are listed under each activity. There is no need to register & students can register throughout the school year. Students may stay after school and meet in the location noted under the activity. 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 sponsor to ride the bus.
Any questions related to after school activities, please contact Ms. Carman at Claudia_Carman@mcpsmd.org.
PARENT RESOURCES
Principal Coffee
We are excited to have monthly principal coffees once a month. Our next principal coffee is scheduled for Wednesday December 7 from 8:30-9:10 am. This is a great time to hear about school-wide happenings and events related to students' academic and social well being. More information about the December topic will come out soon.
Thank you to those who joined us for our last principal coffee. Here you may find a copy of the slide deck.
Counselor News & Updates
Check out our November Counseling Newsletter! It is all about study skills
Caring Matters November Program for grieving families. Please check out their website for more information. https://www.caringmatters.org/family-nights
Parents - Our wonderful PTSA has created a pantry for students to take food home over the weekend. If you would like your child to be a part of this program, you need to fill out the Husky Help form. If you did not see the Husky Help form last week, please send your student to counseling to get a form.
There are other programs you may also sign up for on that form including a winter coat, book fair coupon and winter holiday help. Please contact your student's counselor if you have additional questions.
You may find the counseling website located below: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/scmsmcpscounseling/school-counseling-team
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
*George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy
This support is offered every Saturday . MCPS students Grades K through 12 may attend after registering for Saturday School for $85 per year ($40 for students who receive FARMS).
Please see flyer for more information.
Silver Creek Fundraiser- Great for the Holidays!- Ends Soon!
We are excited to share our Silver Creek Fundraiser for the month of November. We are selling cookie dough and scented candles. Please see information below:
Our Online Store is: www.iraisemore.com
- For Cookie Dough Enter Group ID: 64202
- For Scented Candles Enter Group ID: 76667
The order and payment deadline to have your Cookie Dough and Candles delivered before Winter break is Saturday, November 26th, 3 pm EST. Please feel free to place your order before the Thanksgiving break. Please note: Silver Creek will receive orders on December 16. Items are not able to be delivered or mailed- items will be hand-delivered. The proceeds go to the various needs of our students, staff and school. Thank you for your support of Silver Creek.
Parent Academy
Please find below a flyer for an upcoming Parent Academy on "The 7 Habits for Highly Effective Families".
English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uex1fhFDcz-81CwP8pK8nHHsEEoEaplt/view?usp=sharing
Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zzxvwKsD_-olkY8CSHbyjrjjy3QJ_Sf7/view?usp=sharing
*Upcoming Dates to Remember
November 21- Parent & Teacher Conferences 1:00-4:40 PM
November 21 & 22- Early Release days for students
November 23- Systemwide Closure. Schools and Offices Closed
November 24, 25- Thanksgiving. Schools and Offices Closed
November 28- Grade 6 Parent/Caregiver Town Hall Meeting- 8:30-9:10 AM
November 30- Grade 7 Parent/Caregiver Town Hall Meeting- 8:30-9:10 AM
December 1- STEAM Night- 6- 8 PM
December 2- Grade 8 Parent/Caregiver Town Hall Meeting- 8:30-9:10 AM
December 2 - Husky Drama Production - 7 PM
December 3- Husky Drama Production- 12 PM; 6 PM.
December 7- Winter Orchestra and Chorus Concert- 7 PM
December 7- Principal Coffee- 8:30 AM; Early Release
December 8- Winter Band Concert- 7 PM
Link to MCPS Calendar
Student Absence
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
Important Contacts
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- 3:30 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