The Paw Print
Week of March 18, 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.
Thank You
A big thank you to Karen Levin for all of her hard work with organizing and running the Variety Show. She has supported the Variety Show for years and we will tremendously miss her as her family moves on to Cabin John next year. We are thankful for all the parents that helped behind the scenes. A special thank you to Noelle Chadwick, Kara Locraft, Julie Melnick and Wendy Schiff for supporting backstage.
As we begin to plan for next year, we are thankful for the many parents that are volunteering to serve in leadership roles on both the PTA and Educational Foundation.
Changes in plans and attendance emails
Churchill Cluster Updates
School System Updates
Annual Report for the 2017–2018 School Year
The 2018 Annual Report to the Community is now available. The Annual Report to the Community includes highlights from the 2017–2018 school year and the factors driving change in the district. The report provides the community with information about who we are, student performance data, operational performance data, and the steps MCPS has taken to fulfill the vision and mission of MCPS. You can view the Annual Report at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/annualreport/2018/index.html.
Montgomery County Hosting Conversation on Racial Equity and Social Justice
Montgomery County Government is holding a community conversation on racial equity and social justice on Wednesday, March 13. The event will be hosted by County Council President Nancy Navarro and County Executive Marc Elrich.
The County wants to hear from residents. Why does racial equity matter? Are you impacted by racial inequity? What changes do you want to see to promote racial equity and social justice?
The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring.
Call 240-777-7832 with questions. For more information, watch this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkIJiojXQHc&feature=youtu.be.
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.
Apply Now to Become an MCPS Summer RISE Host
Calling all Montgomery County businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits! MCPS Partnerships Unit is now taking applications to become a host for the 2019 Summer RISE program!
Summer RISE provides rising Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) juniors and seniors with career-based learning experiences and helps employers to cultivate a talent pipeline. Summer RISE provides educational learning opportunities and introduces students to career options. For more information about Summer RISE and how to register as a host, visit www.MCPS-SummerRISE.org.
Emergency Weather Make-Up Schedule
Recent inclement weather forced MCPS to close schools on four days. The 2018–2019 MCPS school calendar includes 182 instruction days, two above the minimum required in the state of Maryland. As a result of these closures, MCPS will need to use two designated make-up days to ensure that it meets the State-required number of days. The school year has been extended to June 14, 2019. In addition to June 14, students also will attend school on June 5 which was originally scheduled as a professional day. Any additional school closures for emergency weather will result in the need to use additional make-up days. MCPS will continue to closely monitor for severe weather and provide updates on any impact it may have to the school calendar. For more information on the MCPS school calendar, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org.
Join Us for Discussions on Safety and Security
MCPS and the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (MCCPTA) are hosting a series of community conversations on safety and security.
The meetings will feature Ed Clarke, chief safety officer for MCPS, and Dr. Christina Conolly, director of MCPS psychological services. They will discuss school safety issues, student mental health concerns, and lockdown with options protocols.
The community meetings will be held:
Thursday, March 21, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Northwood High School - Cafeteria
919 University Blvd., West Silver Spring, MD 20901
Tuesday, March 26, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Clarksburg High School Cafeteria
22500 Wims Road, Clarksburg, MD 20871
RSVP here: www.mcpsliveevent.org/ and visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/security/resources/ for more information on MCPS safety and security.
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
3/19 - Grade 5 MISA testing
3/20 - Grade 5 MISA testing
3/20 - Thank you to 1st Grade parents for providing lunch to staff today
3/21 - Grade 5 MISA testing
3/22 - Grade 5 MISA testing
3/22 - Grade 4 Field Trip to Historic St. Mary's City
3/25 - Kindergarten Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
3/26 - Grade 1 Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
3/27 - Grade 2 Professional Development Day, provided by SLES Educational Foundation
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