Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
September 27-October 1
Dear Silver Creek Families
We look forward to another great week of school. This week, 6th grade students will take the Math MCAP assessment on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be NO Husky Connect/advisory period this week due to testing. Please see testing schedule below. There are only 2 more weeks until Q1 interims (October 8). Please continue to check ParentVue for your child's academic progress and reach out with any questions you may have.
Last week, I sent out a community letter informing families that Silver Creek had its first positive COVID case. If you did not see the communication, you may read the letter here.
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
Please see Husky Connect Calendar & Information
MCAP Testing begins Monday, September 27!
All students will participate in the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) beginning September 27, 2021. Please see dates below:
- To learn more about MCAP, please click on the link: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/mcap/
Questions about Testing, please contact Mr. David O'Shell, assistant principal, at David_O'Shell@mcpsmd.org
*Did you miss Back to School Night?
Student Service Learning (SSL) opportunities
Any questions about SSL, please contact Ms. Renee Hill at Renee_S_Hill@mcpsmd.org
Family Life Parent Meeting: September 28, 2021
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/81263195850?pwd=NmJyOWhyQUc0TlM1aUNTbWpVbE9xUT09
Meeting ID: 812 6319 5850
Passcode: Health
One tap mobile
+13017158592
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ryan Junghans at Ryan_B_Junghans@mcpsmd.org.
*COVID Pool Testing this week, Tuesday, September 28th!
One significant mitigation tactic Montgomery County Public Schools will use this fall is random COVID-19 screening tests for students. Silver Creek is scheduled for COVID screen testing this Tuesday, September 28 from 10-11:45 am. MCPS has now opened this up to students in Grades 7-8 as well. A random sample of students (Grade 6-8) who have a parent consent form on file will be selected to be tested this week.
MCPS, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health, is offering COVID screening tests to students at no cost. Please read the process outlined from MCPS below:
*Immunization Extension
MCPS has been granted a 45-day extension for students to submit documentation of required immunizations for grade 7. While we still need documentation of required vaccinations for your student, they will be permitted to attend school tomorrow and remain in school during the 45-day extension.
During this extension, please work to schedule an appointment for your child to receive the necessary vaccinations and submit updated records to Silver Creek.
You may drop vaccination records off at the school or you can email them to our nurse, Ms. Thecla Alexander, at Thecla_Alexander@mcpsmd.org and health room tech, Ms. Tigest Teshome, at Tigest_Teshome@mcpsmd.org.
If you have any questions, please call the Silver Creek Health Room at 240-740-2202.
After School Activities
After school activities have started and will run from September 14 through May 16 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 can be found in our After School Brochure which is linked below. The link will also take you to a google registration form to be used to sign up for an after school activity.
Registering for an activity will be on-going. 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 after school sponsor to ride the bus. After school Activity Brochure & Registration Form: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/silver-creek-parent-handbook/after-school-activities
Any questions related to after school activities, please contact Dr. Matthew Okun@Matthew_Okun@mcpsmd.org
Book Club Opportunity for Students
Meetings will take place during Husky Connect on Mondays. The first book is New Kid and we have plenty of copies in the media center. The first meeting is October 4th and the link to join is located here: https://forms.gle/FVWpeQKsfZaVJ7mv7. Students will have the opportunity to pick our next book. Please share this information with your child. You may also find information on the counseling website under the tab "Overbooked".
Any questions, please contact Ms. Diskin at Trayce_R_Diskin@mcpsmd.org or Ms. Levine at Susan_A_Levine@mcpsmd.org
Library Media Center (LMC): News
Please see our book list and reading schedule on the Book Wars tab on the LMC website with any interested students. We look forward to seeing all interested students on Thursday, September 23. LMC Lunch Events: Starting Tuesday, September 28, we will be hosting two new monthly lunch events: Trivia Tuesday and First Chapter Friday. Encourage your students to join in the fun as we learn together and celebrate the power of language and inquiry! No sign up needed other than a lunchtime pass from the cafeteria. Trivia Tuesdays features a student-hosted Jeopardy game, and First Chapter Fridays features new books chosen by our readers. See our Library Media Center website for specific dates and more information.
PARENT RESOURCES
Principal Coffee
We are excited to bring monthly principal coffees this school year. Principal Coffees will begin on October 21. This is a great time to hear about school-wide happenings and events related to students' academic and social well being.
Counselor News & Updates
The counseling department is looking for members for its Counseling Advisory Committee to ensure our department is meeting the needs of our community. This will also align us with our national organization the American School Counselor Association.
This committee will meet 2 times this year (November 11 and May 12 from 3:15 – 4:15.) We will meet on zoom, but students can stay after school with their counselors to participate). Students can earn SSL hours for participation. Parents will hear about what counselors do each day, our programming and other pertinent information. There will be opportunities for feedback at each meeting.
Interested parents and students can RSVP to susan_a_levine@mcpsmd.org.
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
*Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation
Ways to Report: English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1areawDK08nMCq-2z3wW0PctPntog0eVX/view?usp=sharingSpanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVC11h8vBYrzL1yyJgMYLRyE-SLmbDFg/view?usp=sharing
Message about Social Media
There is a current national trend called a "Devious Lick,” in which Tik Tokers vandalize or take items from their school and display them on Tik Tok to obtain the most “likes”. Many MCPS middle schools have been hit pretty hard. At Silver Creek, we have had one situation that has occurred where a student took a soap dispenser from a bathroom and displayed it on Tik Tok.
Parents, I encourage you to have a conversation with your child, monitor their social media, and check their belongings. If you find videos of inappropriate acts and/or find unusual items such as soap dispensers, bags of soap, Kool-Aid packets, clocks, or school electronics, please contact us immediately. If a student is caught participating in one of these challenges, they run the risk of being removed from sports and clubs, or other disciplinary actions according to the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities.
We want to ensure that these actions do not occur at Silver Creek Middle School as we continue to focus on fostering a safe, respectful, and conducive learning environment for our students.
Thank you so much for your support.
Message from the PTSA: Joining SCMS Diversity Council & Listserv
Are you interested in issues related to diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)? Do you want to ensure that a diverse set of voices are heard and elevated within the Silver Creek Middle School community? Please consider joining the SCMS Diversity Council. Current vacancies on the council include:
- NAACP representative: https://naacppc-md.org/
- LGBTQ+ representative: https://twitter.com/sbcmte and lgbtq@mccpta.org
- Special Education representative: https://www.mccpta.org/special-education.html
- African American Student Achievement Action Group (AASAAG) representative: https://nitter.mha.fi/aasaag_mcps
Questions? Please contact Julie Inlow Muñoz (ptsainlowmunoz@gmail.com) to learn more.
Joining the SCMS Listserv
If you haven't already, we strongly encourage you to join the SCMS Listserv managed by the PTSA. The SCMS Listserve is the PTSA's best tool for communicating with parents and provides parents with an opportunity to share and get information quickly about what's happening in the school and the wider community. If you're new to Silver Creek, this is an especially effective way to connect with others.
To participate in and be informed of what's going on at Silver Creek, join the listserve by emailing scmsptsa+subscribe@groups.io or email Jill Fioravanti (the SCMS Listserve Moderator) directly at jillbfioravanti@gmail.com. Be sure to include your affiliation with Silver Creek (i.e., my daughter Elyse is a rising 6th grader), as this is a closed group.
The PTSA thanks you and welcomes you to Silver Creek!
Community Food & Clothing Resources
Free and Reduced Meals
Free breakfast, lunch and dinner meals will be provided to all students in schools and at designated food distribution sites.
While school meals are free, families are still encouraged to apply for Free and Reduced Meal status so they are eligible for community resources and services. Apply here: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
Important Dates to Remember
September 27-September 29- MCAP testing, 6th graders
September 28- Virtual Parent Information Meeting: Family Life & Human Sexuality Unit for Health Education, 6PM. (Zoom link above).
October 5 -October 7- MCAP Testing, 7th & 8th graders
Link to MCPS Calendar
October 8- MP1 Interims; Early Release for students
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. Victoria Hill, attendance secretary, at Victoria_R_Hil@mcpsmd.org.
Please note: If a student needs to quarantine/isolate for 10 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