Takoma Park Elementary School
Newsletter
March 5, 2023
Snacks at School
Please send your child to school with a healthy snack. We are constantly faced with snack shortages that leave children without a healthy snack. Please remember, candy and cookies should not be sent as they are treats but not healthy snacks. Unfortunately, teachers are having to look for snack alternatives when children bring candy or snacks that are extremely messy and/or unhealthy. Snacks like hot Cheetos, Takis, candy and other options of this type should be saved for at home snack time. Pack a snack for your child each day that will help them learn. For those parents who send fruit, vegetables, snack bars (the healthy kind) and other things, thank you.
Gifted and Talented Identification for Second Grade Students
Second Grade Families: Don't forget to fill out the Parent Input Form for the gifted and talented screening process by March17!
- Instructions in English: http://bit.ly/3lV5pfj
- Instrucciones en español: http://bit.ly/3IQNRKg
- መመሪያዎች በአማርኛ: Instructions in Amharic: http://bit.ly/3Kv1mkj
Link to survey: https://bit.ly/GT-parent-input
BIRTHDAYS
Students are permitted to bring in goodies to be shared with classmates. Given the current demands of the curriculum, we cannot have birthday parties for students (no balloons, candles, party favors, hats, etc.). However, parents can arrange an appropriate time for treats to be shared with the class by contacting the classroom teacher. All birthday treats must be store bought and nut free. It is the parent’s responsibility to make arrangements with the teacher to identify a date and time to honor your child’s birthday. Non-MCPS or TPES children are not permitted in the classrooms. In the event that a Non-MCPS child must accompany you, teachers can arrange for the celebration to be held in a common area of the building.
STEM Night is Coming
STEM Night is coming up Thursday, March 16th, 7-8pm at Takoma Park ES.
Families are invited to join us for an evening of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math activities!
Introducing Food Forrest and Gardening Club!
Thanks to our friends at the Food Forest group of Takoma Park we are redesigning and replanting the side garden area on the back playground for both educational and ecological purposes! It will serve our school and greater community for years to come! In conjunction with this amazing project, we are also hosting an after-school gardening club! Students will have the opportunity to gather once a week to plant seeds, sprout, transplant, and care for plants in our garden. This club will be free thanks to the generous donations of our larger community! For more information and to express interest, please fill out the following Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtsLIqUMI5q-ECxWgM55kx7E21T199T6DU8-7zbBuER2r_Gg/viewform?usp=sf_link
We look forward to this awesome hands-on learning opportunity!
PTA Meeting This Week
There is a PTA meeting this Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. We will hear from Ms. Oberdorf, principal at Piney Branch E.S. on the MCAP testing for students in grades 3-5. We will also hear about reading at TPES from Ms. Bozel, reading specialist at TPES,. The meeting will be virtual and the Zoom link will be sent on Tuesday afternoon. Please join us to hear about testing and reading in elementary school.
Resources for Parents
As Black History Month comes to a close, here are links to book lists that have been compiled by African American authors and thought leaders. Families can continue important conversations with their children about racism.
1. Jacqueline Woodson (for Oprah Daily)
3. National Museum of African American History & Culture
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