Sligo Weekly Newsletter
Week of 3/16/24
Calendar
This Week:
March 21: STEM Night
March 25: Spring Break Begins
Save the Date:
April 2: Return from Spring Break
April 9: End of Quarter 3
April 22: Asynchronous Learning Day
Sligo Spotlight
Each week, the “Sligo Spotlight” will showcase the excellent teaching and learning happening within our walls. Please check this link each week for new updates.
April 22: Asynchronous Learning Day
Monday, April 22, 2024, is currently designated as a professional development/possible make-up day in the 2023–2024 traditional school year calendar. This day will shift to an asynchronous learning day where students will engage in learning experiences and complete work asynchronously. Students will have 10 days to submit their asynchronous work from the virtual day. Submission of the asynchronous work will be used to take attendance in order to meet the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) attendance requirements.
More information will be shared regarding how to access work as we approach the date.
6th Grade Families- we need parent/caregiver chaperones!
On April 11 and 12th, 6th graders will be travelling to the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, DC. We would love to have parents and caregivers join us for the day! We hope chaperones can join us at school to ride down to the museum and attend lunch at Wheaton Mall following the trip. All of the information needed is provided on the field trip permission forms sent home last week via English or ELD class. Please email Mrs. Goodwin and Mrs. Shuchatowitz, 6th grade team leaders, if you are interested in chaperoning the trip and please indicate this when you return your students’ permission slip. All permissions slips are due Friday, March 22nd prior to Spring Break.
Superintendent's SSL Award
PTSA Volunteers Needed for Next Year!
The PTSA needs volunteers to serve in several elected positions on our board next year. Interested in learning more or joining the slate of candidates? Let us know and we'll be in touch!
Spring Testing Dates
➢ March 5-6 - MISA (Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (8th Grade)
➢ March 7 - MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education) Student Survey
➢ May 7 - MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) Math
➢ May 8-9 - MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) ELA-English/Language Arts
➢ May 15-20 - MAP-R (Measure of Academic Progress Reading)
➢ May 15-16 - MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) Social Studies (8th Grade)
➢ May 22-24 - MAP-M (Measure of Academic Progress Math) in math classes
Maryland School Survey
State law requires that all public schools in Maryland survey students about school climate. The purpose of the survey is to gain valuable information about the quality and character of each school’s learning environment so that schools can promote a climate that supports student learning.
Students will take the Maryland School Survey during regular school hours on March 7. The survey will ask students about topics such as student engagement, interactions with adults and with other students in the school, the school environment, bullying, and safety. The survey will not ask about a student’s personal experiences, and students will not be asked to provide any information that might violate their privacy.
The survey is confidential and school personnel will not have access to the responses of specific students. The responses your child provides will be combined with the responses from other students in the school, and results will be reported for each school and district.
We are eager to receive this very important information about your student’s school and about schools across the state. Frequently Asked Questions and the Survey Item Bank may be found on the Maryland School Survey page at https://marylandpublicschools.org/marylandschoolsurvey .
If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Kim Johnson-Redder.
STEM Night
STEM Night is this week! We are looking for adult volunteers during an evening that will DAZZLE you with REMARKABLE student-created projects, on March 21st from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The flyer contains an embedded link to sign up as a volunteer for our STEM Night event.
Link to STEM Night Flyer.
Yearbook Sales
Chromebook Best Practices
Hello families, we need your help to ensure students are ready to learn each and every day. Part of that readiness is ensuring that students bring their charged chromebook to school every day. We have an extremely limited number of loaner computers and are, at times, unable to accomodate the number of students who did not bring a computer. We appreciate your support in ensuring that your student is prepared for school every day.
After School Activities
Sligo MS is proud to host a robust offering of after-school activities, clubs, and athletics this year! Please review the link here to view all of the opportunities for students to get involved. This information is also present on the Sligo MS Website under the “After School Info” tab.
Please note the activity sponsor, dates, times, and location of each club. Some activities (Interscholastic Athletics, intramurals, and certain clubs) require permission slips, which students can ask the sponsors for. Any club requiring a permission slip will inform students at the first meeting. All grade levels are welcome in each activity, with the exception of the Interscholastic Athletics teams, which are for 7th and 8th grade students only. Please reach out to the activity sponsor or coach with any specific questions you may have.
Limited MCPS transportation is provided for activities on Tuesdays-Thursdays. Your bus stop may not be your regular bus stop. Please review the after school buses here. Speak with your students about their method of transportation home and how they will get home from activities safely.
We are looking forward to a great year of after-school activities!
Personal Mobile Device Policy- "Away All Day"
Personal Mobile Devices (PMD) such as cell phones, tablets, wireless headphones, handheld gaming systems, etc. will not be used during the school day. Students should expect to keep devices out of sight upon arrival, or keep their devices at home. PMDs can be used after school or after-school activities. Parents will be asked to pick up devices used during the school day.
Parents and caregivers, we appreciate your support in helping our students stay engaged in learning. If you need to send a message to your child during school hours, please contact the main office at (301) 287-8890. We are happy to relay messages to students during non-instructional times.
Below are useful parent resources about kids and personal mobile devices.