The Paw Print
Week of April 1, 2019
Updates from Mrs. Murphy
Our next PTA meeting is on Tuesday, April 2nd at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Moran, Director of Learning, Achievement & Administration, and Mr. Boatman, Cluster Security Coordinator, will join us to review safety and security procedures used within MCPS and at Seven Locks.
Our lost and found has been growing. Over Spring Break we will be doing some spring cleaning. Items left behind will be donated. Please be sure to check the lost and found in the next few weeks!
Thank You
Thurgood Marshall, Jr. Visits 4th & 5th Grade
Mrs. Russell, our Math 4/5 and Math 5/6 teacher, has planned an opportunity for Thurgood Marshall, Jr. to visit with 4th & 5th grade students on April 16th. His background is shared below. We look forward to his visit.
Thurgood “Goodie” Marshall, Jr., a prominent Washington attorney who has served in all three branches of the federal government, is the son of the late legendary Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall Sr. who earlier in his law practice had argued a case before the Supreme Court making racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Thurgood Jr., age 62, recognized by numerous respected publications as one of Washington’s top lawyers, is a partner with the Washington law firm of Morgan Lewis where he provides counsel to clients in a variety of areas including ethical compliance, corporate governance, and legislative strategies. Many years prior to commencing private law practice he had served as a clerk to federal judge Barrington Parker. He then moved to Capitol Hill where he served as counsel to a number of Senate committees, a position that led him to become deputy counsel to Vice President Gore. From 1997 to 2001 he served as Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary in the Clinton White House.
Changes in plans and attendance emails
Homework Hotline
Homework Hotline is an excellent, yet underutilized resource for our students. The TV portion ends on April 11th, 2019, but the online service continues through May 9th, 2019.
Here’s the youtube link to the new HHL Promo: https://youtu.be/SrwOafuRzAk.
Kindergarten Orientation
Will Your Child Be Attending Seven Locks In The Fall?
Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day
Churchill Cluster Updates
School System Updates
Elementary Class Size Data Dashboard Now Available
The Class Size Data Dashboard reports teacher-to-student ratios for elementary homeroom classrooms for Grades K‒5. Dashboard data will be updated each quarter and this dashboard currently includes reporting data for three quarters. View the dashboard at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/enrollment/.
Update on the Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget Recommendation for MCPS
County Executive Marc Elrich released his Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget recommendation on March 15. The recommendation includes $2.6 billion for Montgomery County Public Schools.
The county executive’s recommendation includes a $2.5 million increase above the minimum funding Maintenance of Effort, however, the recommendation is $14.5 million less than the Board of Education’s request.
Visit
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8304&type=&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode to read the joint statement from Board President Shebra L. Evans and Superintendent of Schools Jack R. Smith. The county executive’s recommended budget will now go to the Montgomery County Council for review. The Council will hold public hearings on the budget in April and will take action on the budget in May. Stay informed on the budget by visiting www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/budget/.
Poster Contest Open to Staff and Students
Get ready to let your creativity flow! The School Energy and Recycling Team (SERT) is holding its annual poster contest for elementary, middle and high school students and staff.
The Watt’s Up poster contest is open to staff and students in Grades K–12, and creations should encourage others to conserve energy and to recycle responsibly. This year’s theme is “SERT In Our School.” Show everyone what your school does to be “green.” Entries are due by Monday, April 1.
Winning entries may be used in future MCPS and local government educational or promotional campaigns. Send entries to Watt’s Up? Contest, Montgomery County Public Schools, 45 West Gude Drive, Suite 4000, Rockville, Maryland 20850.
More information is available at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/facilities/greenschoolsfocus/Watts_Up_Contest_Info.pdf.
Restorative Justice Workshop Set for April 2
Parents, guardians, and community members are invited to attend a workshop on Tuesday, April 2 at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. to learn more about the district’s restorative justice vision and how this social justice platform allows students to actively engage and problem-solve physical, psychological, social, and disciplinary issues that affect their lives and the community at large. RSVP at docs.google.com/forms/d/1WfjOKCki49fhD4z5Vg9Pkb0noUO4-fYnq9UG7RZY0SU/edit.
Annual Nancy Dworkin Awards for Outstanding Service to Youth Seeks Nominations
The Montgomery County Commission on Children and Youth is seeking nominations for the 33rd Annual Nancy Dworkin Awards for Outstanding Service to Youth. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made a difference in the lives of children and youth in Montgomery County.
Nominations must be received by Tuesday, April 2.
Award Categories:
- Youth – a child or young person, 21 years of age and younger, who has performed a service for children and youth.
- Service Provider – an individual (e.g. teacher, counselor, police officer, fire fighter) who provides services to children and youth.
- Volunteer – an individual who provides volunteer services to children and youth.
- Organization – an organization that is in the business of providing services to children and youth.
- Business – a for-profit business in the county that provides an outstanding volunteer service for children and youth.
The award is named in memory of Nancy Dworkin, past chair of the Commission, who died in 1987. Nominations may be made by anyone who knows of the nominee’s service.
Nominations should be sent by email to erin.stillwell@montgomerycountymd.gov.
For a copy of the nomination guidelines, please go to bit.ly/2u9j2cG. For more information, please contact Erin Stillwell at 240-777-1716 or via e-mail at erin.stillwell@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Prekindergarten/Head Start Registration Under Way
Parents/guardians who want to register their child for an MCPS prekindergarten or Head Start class for the 2019–2020 school year can do so starting March 1. Children must be four years old on or before September 1, 2019, and families must be income-eligible to apply. For more information about eligibility guidelines, location and times of community registrations, or required documents to complete an application, please call 240-740-4530.
Board of Education Seeks Applicants to Fill Position on Ethics Panel
The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking to fill one vacancy on its five-member Ethics Panel. The vacancy is for a three-year term beginning on July 1, 2019. Members serve without compensation.
Panel members may not be incumbent members of the Board of Education, school officials, employees, or persons employed by a business entity subject to the authority of the Board of Education, or spouses of such individuals. The Panel meets once a year to review financial disclosure forms and as needed to review complaints and requests for advisory opinions. Applicants must submit a letter of interest along with a resumé or other documentation to support the application by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 13, 2019, for the appointment to be made at a June 2019 Board of Education meeting.
More information is available at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8300&type=current&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode.
Elementary Immersion Programs
Applications for elementary school language immersion programs in MCPS are now available. The application deadline for the 2019–2020 school year is Friday, April 26, 2019. Elementary school language immersion programs begin in kindergarten and are offered in Chinese, French, and Spanish. For more information about elementary immersion programs and to download the Immersion Interest Form, visit the Special Programs website: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/immersion. Forms are also available at elementary schools.
Student Transfer Application Season Began February 1
Parents and guardians who wish to request a Change of School Assignment (COSA) for their children from their home school may begin the process during the upcoming transfer season which begins on February 1. All COSA requests must be submitted no later than April 1.
Except for students in the Northeast Consortium (NEC), Downcounty Consortium (DCC), and Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) areas, MCPS students are assigned to a school on the basis of their place of residence or their Individualized Education Program (IEP) and are expected to attend their home school. Assignment changes for students from one school to another are permitted under limited circumstances. For more information, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/transfers.
Important Dates
4/1 - Grade 5 Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
4/2 - Grade 4 Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
4/2 - PTA Meeting - School Safety and Security Presentation
4/3 - End of 3rd Marking Period
4/3 - Early Release - Students are dismissed at 1:20 p.m.
4/4 - Thank you to Kindergarten parents for providing lunch to staff today
4/4 - Grade 3 Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
4/9 - Spring Bus Evacuation Drill, 10:00 a.m.
4/9 - Thank you to Grade 3 parents for providing lunch to staff today
4/11 - Community flyer distribution
4/16 - Report card distribution
4/17-4/22 - Spring Break
4/23 - MCAP Testing - Grade 3 in the morning; Grade 4 in the afternoon
4/24 - MCAP Testing - Grade 3 in the morning; Grade 4 in the afternoon
4/25 - Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
4/26 - PTA Plant Sale Pick Up
4/26 - Wildcats Jam
4/29 - MCAP Testing - Grade 3 in the morning; Grade 4 in the afternoon
4/30 - Thank you to Grade 2 parents for providing lunch to staff today
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