Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
November 7-November 11
Dear Silver Creek Families
We look forward to another great week of school. It is daylight saving time! Hopefully you have pushed your clocks back an hour. There is NO school tomorrow, Monday, November 7 & Tuesday, November 8. Students will return back to school on Wednesday, November 9.
We are now in Marking Period 2. The Marking Period 1 report cards will be available on Parent Vue by November 15. Overall, students have done a great job this marking period. We are very proud of our students' hard work and dedication and we will continue to support their efforts throughout the school year.
In the newsletter, the section with an * has 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!
*Latest MCPS Message: Things to Know
*Silver Creek News (SCN)!
Did you miss the latest Husky news. You may access the link below from Friday, November 4, 2022 to hear upcoming news & events. Silver Creek News - YouTube
*SGA & PTSA Food Drive ( November 9- November 18)
The SGA and the PTSA invite you to donate to our Thanksgiving food drive. We welcome all donations of un-expired, shelf-stable food. This year we have some specific needs, so we created a sign-up genius for each grade to guide families to the most helpful contributions. Some usual food drive items (beans, pasta, tuna) are missing from the sign-up genius on purpose because we already have plenty of those items.
- Sign up now and bring your items to school starting November 9.
- The grade that contributes the most items will win a popsicle party. Sign up now and bring in your items to help your grade win!
- Donated gift cards can be left with the front office staff or dropped through the mail slot at 3102 Woodhollow Drive, Chevy Chase, 20815.
Food donated through this drive will help fill holiday baskets for Silver Creek families and stock the food pantry for the winter months.
If your child or any student you know is in need of a holiday food basket, please contact Susan Levine in our counseling department for assistance (Susan_A_Levine@mcpsmd.org).
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support. If you have any questions about the Silver Creek Cares Committee programs including the food drive, please feel free to contact Ms. Camellia Jacobs (camelliajj55@gmail.com) and Ms. Kate Carpenter (kits76@hotmail.com).
*Transportation & Canceled Bus Routes- Interested in volunteering to drive our Huskies?
*Silver Creek will communicate these changes to you as soon as possible via email. In an effort to ensure students impacted by these routes arrive to school, the PTSA has coordinated efforts to provide volunteer drivers. Please read the communication from Ms. Kimberly Clarkson, SCMS PTSA president, in reference to this coordinated support.
Please see Communication & Volunteer Form.
Thank you so much for your understanding and patience during these challenging times.
*Silver Creek Spirit Wear: Re-opened. Deadline to order is November 22
*Silver Creek Fundraiser- Great for the Holidays!
We are excited to share our Silver Creek Fundraiser for the month of November. We are selling cookie dough and scented candles. Please see information below:
Our Online Store is: www.iraisemore.com
- For Cookie Dough Enter Group ID: 64202
- For Scented Candles Enter Group ID: 76667
The order and payment deadline to have your Cookie Dough and Candles delivered before Winter break is Saturday, November 26th, 3 pm EST. Please feel free to place your order before the Thanksgiving break. Please note: Silver Creek will receive orders on December 16. Items are not able to be delivered or mailed- items will be hand-delivered. The proceeds go to the various needs of our students, staff and school. Thank you for your support of Silver Creek.
Parent & Teacher Conferences November 21
Please mark your calendars for Monday, November 21, 2022 for Parent Teacher Conferences. Conferences will begin at 1:00 p.m. and conclude at 4:40 p.m. Click here to view the flyer for this event. Conferences will be in-person!
Our conferences will be "arena style" and teachers will be available to meet with parents/families for 5 minutes at a time at tables in the cafe (6th grade), main gym (7th grade) and the Large Auxiliary gym (8th grade). Parents/families do not need to sign up for conferences. Conference information will also be posted on the SCMS website.
Please note that we are reserving 5:45 - 7:45 p.m. for invitational group conferences.
Emancipation Day: November 1
Montgomery County Public Schools will observe Remembrance and Reconciliation Month by supporting local Emancipation Day celebrations, providing schools with age appropriate lessons on local historic African American communities, and virtual changemaker workshops for students and their families in English and Spanish on November 15 - 17, 2022. Register here to attend a changemaker workshop
Students at Silver Creek Middle School will receive five short lessons through their World Studies classes in the month of November that focus on the history of local Black communities. Additionally, students will be invited to participate in change makers workshops where students can discuss ways to take informed action in their community.
Huskies on the M.O.V.E. with IB
~Motivated Open-minded Visionaries for Excellence~
For the month of October, our IB Learner Profile Trait attribute was Open-minded. Click here to see the names of staff & students who were selected as the IB Open-minded Husky for the month of October. Our IB Learner Profile Attribute for the month of November is Communicator. Click here to see a video by Elizabeth Moeller on what it means to be a communicator. After watching the video, discuss how you and your family already demonstrate being communicators, and brainstorm ways to continue practicing this trait.
Media Moment: Library Media Center News & Notes
Yearbook Sales
We are excited to announce that SCMS Yearbooks are on Sale NOW. We are getting a head start this year with our Yearbook sales as we sold out fairly quickly last school year. Ms. Boyle & Ms. Rivera Diaz are our Yearbook sponsors. They have been meeting after school on Tuesdays with the SCMS Yearbook club to start designing the 2022-2023 yearbook. Our theme is “Inspiring Each Other.”
How to Order
- Go to yearbookforever.com and order your yearbook now. You can also use Yearbook Snap to upload and submit your own photos for the yearbook.
- Access to Yearbook Snap can be found at the top of the order page.
- See the flyers below for cost information and easy access to order with the provided QR code:
Calling ALL Husky Artists
Want to see YOUR ARTWORK on the COVER of the 2022-2023 Yearbook?
- Click HERE for more details and a QR code to upload your artwork.
Questions? Please email our yearbook sponsors at Jennifer_K_Boyle@mcpsmd.org and Roxana_RiveraDiaz@mcpsmd.org.
Winter Athletics Registration: Basketball
Winter registration is open. The ParentVUE online registration portal, available in English and Spanish, incorporates all required paper forms and documents into an internet-based platform that can be accessed using a secure ParentVUE Portal login. Parents/guardians are also able to scan and upload their child's physical, as part of the registration process. All students must be registered on ParentVue and have a valid SR-8.
You may find important Middle School Winter Athletics Information here: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/athletics/programs/default/564092/
The first basketball game will be held on January 5, 2023. Information related to tryouts will come out soon. Please email Ms. Tara Whitney (tara_a_whitney@mcpsmd.org) if you have any questions.
Tutoring Available for Students
MCPS is offering expanded tutoring opportunities to every school as part of our learning recovery efforts. Tutoring and intervention opportunities will enhance strong first instruction and other supports already underway in classrooms to support learning for every student. You may review their website for all tutoring opportunities.
We are excited to offer local tutoring at Silver Creek Middle School. Tutoring has begun. Several staff will be available in Room 407 every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:15- 4:15 to support with all subject areas. Please complete the following INTEREST FORM if you are interested in your child receiving tutoring. After school buses are available for students.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Okun at: Matthew_Okun@mcpsmd.org.
Student Service Learning (SSL) Information & Opportunity for our Huskies!
*High School Regional/Countywide Application- Deadline Extended to November 11.
The application season for the High School Regional/Countywide Application Programs has opened. To learn more about which high school regional/countywide application programs your child is eligible, please review the personalized program eligibility report in both the StudentVUE and ParentVUE – in DOCUMENTS (located on the left navigation bar of Synergy). The deadline to apply is November 11, 2022 (Deadline Extended from 11/4). You may also visit the High School Programs At-A-Glance at MCPS website for additional information: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high/
If you missed the information session offered by Silver Creek last week, you may view the Slides and Recording below.
Slides: SCMS HS Programs Meeting Presentation
Recording: GMT20221013-230900_Recording_1920x1040.mp4 - Google Drive
After School Activities
After school activities have started! After school activities will run from Tuesday, September 13 through Thursday, May 25 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 is posted here in the Extracurricular Activities Brochure.
The date and times are listed under each activity. There is no need to register & students can register throughout the school year. Students may stay after school and meet in the location noted under the activity. 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 sponsor to ride the bus.
Any questions related to after school activities, please contact Ms. Carman at Claudia_Carman@mcpsmd.org.
PARENT RESOURCES
Principal Coffee
We are excited to have monthly principal coffees once a month. Our next principal coffee is scheduled for Wednesday December 7 from 8:30-9:10 am. This is a great time to hear about school-wide happenings and events related to students' academic and social well being. More information about the December topic will come out soon.
Thank you to those who joined us for our last principal coffee. Here you may find a copy of the slide deck.
Counselor News & Updates
Check out our November Counseling Newsletter! It is all about study skills
Caring Matters November Program for grieving families. Please check out their website for more information. https://www.caringmatters.org/family-nights
Parents - Our wonderful PTSA has created a pantry for students to take food home over the weekend. If you would like your child to be a part of this program, you need to fill out the Husky Help form. If you did not see the Husky Help form last week, please send your student to counseling to get a form.
There are other programs you may also sign up for on that form including a winter coat, book fair coupon and winter holiday help. Please contact your student's counselor if you have additional questions.
You may find the counseling website located below: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/scmsmcpscounseling/school-counseling-team
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
*Parent Academy
Please find below a flyer for an upcoming Parent Academy on "The 7 Habits for Highly Effective Families".
English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uex1fhFDcz-81CwP8pK8nHHsEEoEaplt/view?usp=sharing
Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zzxvwKsD_-olkY8CSHbyjrjjy3QJ_Sf7/view?usp=sharing
*Message from PTSA- Important information about the National PTA School of Excellence Program
The PTSA is applying to be a National PTA School of Excellence. The National PTA School of Excellence program is a recognition program that supports and celebrates the partnership between families and the school to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. In an effort to begin the process, we will need baseline data. We are asking that our families please fill out the survey below no later than Sunday, November 13.
English: https://forms.gle/KnZrFVy3n4ambmoe9
Spanish: https://forms.gle/3cxt8ZHCQkPVgLkX8
Amharic: https://forms.gle/DYdHyFdfJAP843to8
Thank you for your feedback, participation and support of our ongoing partnership with the Silver Creek school community.
Important Dates to Remember
November 7- No school for students. Professional Day for Teachers
November 8- Holiday. Schools and Offices Closed
November 11- School Make-up Picture day
November 21- Parent & Teacher Conferences 1:00-4:40 PM
November 21 & 22- Early Release days for students
November 23- Systemwide Closure. Schools and Offices Closed
November 24, 25- Thanksgiving. Schools and Offices Closed
Link to MCPS Calendar
Student Absence
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. Pamela Carroll-Sykes, attendance secretary, at Pamela_M_Carroll-Sykes@mcpsmd.org
Important Contacts
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- 3:30 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