Shady Grove Matters
September 24, 2023
September - October 2023
September Upcoming Events:
Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15/23 -10/15/23)
Monday, September 25th - Non-Instructional Day (No School for Students & Teachers)
Tuesday, September 26th - Community Fundraiser/Restaurant Night (Ledo's Pizza)
Wednesday, September 27th - FLHS Family Meeting
Friday, September 29th - Back to School Dance (3:00-4:15 pm)
October Upcoming Events:
Filipino American Heritage Month
Monday, October 2nd - Picture Day
Thursday, October 5th - Q1 Interims Available in StudentVue/ParentVue
Friday, October 6th - Pride Time
Monday, October 9th - Professional Development Day (No School for Students)
Tuesday, October 10th - PTSA Meeting
Monday, October 23rd - October 27th - SGMS Book Fair
Thursday, October 26th - Family Dinner Night (6:00 pm-8:00 pm) (Note: Date Changed)
Tuesday, October 31st - End of Quarter 1
GOOD INFORMATION TO KNOW
About Us
7:50 am - Building Opens to Students
7:50 - 8:10 am - Breakfast Available
8:15 am - Class Starts
3:00 pm - Dismissal
Location: 8100 Midcounty Highway Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Phone: 240-740-1440
First Community Fundraiser/Restaurant Night
Please join us for our first community fundraiser/restaurant night of the school year! Eat-in or take-out from Ledo Pizza (Derwood/Muncaster Mill Rd) on Tuesday, 9/26 from 12 p.m-9 p.m. and our school will earn a percentage of the proceeds. Thanks to all in advance for your support!
SGMS PTA
Bus Passes
For a student to ride a bus that is not assigned to them, please plan ahead. A note or email by a parent or caregiver must be submitted to the front office staff. A bus pass will be approved and given to the student if the bus is NOT at full capacity.
MAP Testing
Fall MAP Testing
On September 27 and September 28, we will begin our Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment school wide for the fall season. Students will take their assessment during homeroom which will be extended to accommodate the testing block. We will have a modified bell schedule on both days and students are expected to report to school on time. Students will take the Math assessment (MAP-M) on Wednesday, September 27th, and the Reading assessment (MAP-R) on Thursday, September 28th.
Parents, please remind your child to get a good night sleep and to charge their Chromebook each night.
If you have any questions about MAP testing, please contact Ms. Elizabeth Merino, Assistant Principal – Elizabeth_J_Merino@mcpsmd.org.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
After school activities will begin in a few weeks on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, and conclude for the year on Thursday May 9, 2024. Students can sign up for activities in the cafeteria during their grade level lunch, the day before the activity meets. An after-school snack is complimentary to all students staying after school for an activity. The list and description of the activities offered in the fall session, instructions on how to sign up, and bus routes will be presented to students during Homeroom next week. Students who are staying after school will participate in a supervised activity from 3:00 – 4:15pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays. Buses depart from SGMS at approximately 4:30pm. Students should get on the activity bus, get picked up, or walk home by 4:30pm each day. Staff supervision can NOT be guaranteed past 5pm. We look forward to engaging, enriching, and having fun with students!
ADVANCED HIGH SCHOOL NIGHT - REDLAND MS & SHADY GROVE MS
Parents and students are invited to attend an information meeting on Thursday, October 12 at 5:30 PM at Col. Zadok Magruder HS in the auditorium to learn more about the Aviation program available to your Grade 8 student. We will discuss program structure, application process and deadlines.
Spanish
Este mensaje es de las escuelas públicas del condado de Montgomery.
Padres y estudiantes están invitados a una reunión informativa el día jueves 12 de octubre a las 5:30 PM en la sala de la escuela secundaria de Col. Zadok Magruder para aprender más acerca del programa de Aviación disponible para su estudiante de 8vo. Grado. Se hablará de la estructura del programa, proceso de la aplicación y la fecha de vencimiento de la aplicación
SGMS PTA REFLECTIONS 2023-2024
National PTA Reflections Program - ENGLISH
Do you enjoy art, music and dance or have an interest in writing, producing films and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with PTA Reflections! This year’s theme, “I am Hopeful Because…” calls for your own unique interpretation through the arts. Email sgmsptareflections@gmail.com for submission guidelines and an entry form today and return by November 10, 2023. For inspiration, visit the Reflections virtual art gallery and learn more about prizes and scholarships at PTA.org/Reflections/Awards.
National PTA Reflections Program - SPANISH
¿Te gusta el arte, la música y la danza o te interesa la escritura, producir películas y tomar fotografías? ¡Entonces, únete a nosotros y diviértete liberando a tu artista interior en PTA Reflections! El tema de este año es “Tengo Esperanza Porque…”. Retira las pautas de presentación y el formulario de inscripción hoy mismo en sgmsptsreflections@gmail.com. Fecha límite para las presentaciones es 10 de Noviembre. Si buscas inspiración, visita la galería virtual de arte de Reflections y conoce más acerca de los premios y las becas en PTA.org/Reflections/Awards.
MCPS Reminds Families to Apply for Federal Meal Assistance Program
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) reminds families enrolled in the Free and Reduced-price Program (FARM) during the last school year to complete an application this year to continue receiving benefits. Students previously enrolled in the FARM program will receive the meals for the first 30 school days or until a 2023-2024 application is processed.
Parents with questions about the Free and Reduced-price Meals program may find more information on the MCPS website here or call the Division of Food and Nutrition Services at 240-740-7400. Another option is to contact DFNS via email at DFNSOffice@mcpsmd.org.
COVID-19 Outbreak Measures and Vaccine News
As new cases of COVID-19 increase locally, we have seen outbreaks occurring in multiple schools across the county. Temporary outbreak precautions for individual classrooms where COVID-19 is spreading rapidly helps prevent spread to vulnerable individuals and to the rest of school. Check out the FAQ page for more information about how outbreaks are managed. The newly approved COVID-19 updated vaccine will be available in our area in the next few weeks. For information about COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccine availability, refer to Vaccines.Gov.
MCPS to Host Girls’ Summit
The district is inviting all MCPS families to the Girls’ Summit on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Clarksburg High School. This event will provide informative workshops geared towards middle and high school girls on a variety of current topics. Join us for a chance to network, participate in fun activities, learn valuable skills and enjoy a fashion show presented by White House Black Market celebrating diverse body types!
Sessions will be provided in English and Spanish, and will be organized by grade level. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours will be available for students. Topics and activities will include:
Healthy relationships/dating violence
Social media use and mental health, including cyberbullying
Self-esteem
Identifying symptoms of depression and anxiety
Healthy eating and body image
Music therapy, Zumba and Kaiser Permanente spin bikes for art therapy
Narcan kits will be distributed and training will also be available.
Share Your Feedback on the 2024–2025 School Year Calendar
MCPS is seeking the community’s feedback as it works to finalize the 2024–2025 school calendar. Please complete this survey to share your input.
Your feedback represents an important component of the development process. MCPS will consider educational interests, operational needs, mandated school closures by state law, compliance with minimum instructional days and credit hour requirements, inclement weather and other emergencies, staff professional days and early release days, alignment with assessment schedules and more.
Earn SSL Hours and Fulfill Graduation Requirement
All Montgomery County Public Schools students must earn 75 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours to graduate from high school. Middle school and high school students should continue earning SSL hours towards this state graduation requirement by engaging in SSL opportunities during the 2023-2024 school year, including traditional in-person opportunities and select virtual/remote opportunities that follow the SSL guidelines posted on the MCPS SSL webpage
Register and Verify Your ParentVue Information
The Annual Verification process allows families to update contact information, collect important information about you and your student, including any medical, immunization, language preferences, and emergency information that school staff need to know. MCPS uses ParentVUE to collect this information electronically. Online registration is available now until October 20th.
We have online registration quick guides in several languages available to support you in this process.
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