Silver Creek Weekly Newsletter
December 6-December 10
Dear Silver Creek Families
We are excited to start another great week of school. We have a regular bell schedule this week. This week marks the half-way point for marking period 2. Interims will be posted Thursday, December 9. As always, please encourage your child to take advantage of their Husky Connect/advisory time on Mondays & Tuesdays to complete any missing assignments and/or to receive any extra support. Also, if your child needs extra help, please see the additional academic resources in the newsletter below.
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
*Silver Creek News- Morning Announcements!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBEWoYI8x_VrKc2tsTVX7PLT3vAMmdbE/view?usp=sharing
*Spirit Week is Next Week: December 13-December 17
- Monday: Sweater Day- Wear your favorite ugly sweater or festive sweater
- Tuesday: Twin/Matching Day: Twin with a friend or match a favorite character
- Wednesday: Winter White Out: Wear White
- Thursday: PJ Day: Wear your favorite Pajamas
- Friday: School Spirit Day: Wear Silver Creek gear or Blue, White & Grey
Appropriate school conduct and attire is expected throughout Spirit Week. We hope you have fun and we look forward to seeing your school spirit!
*Congratulations to Husky Drama!
Congratulations to the amazing cast and crew. All of our kids did such a great job and we are so proud of all of their hard work. They really made their characters come to life! A fun and humorous play brought to us by the Blue Company (7th & 8th grade), Silver Company (6th grade students), and the awesome stage crew. Way to go, Husky Drama!
Thank you to Ms. Alison Gee, Director. We are so grateful to her for continuing to keep Husky Drama going at Silver Creek. We appreciate her time, amazing talents and commitment to our students. Also, a shout out to all of the former students and parents who volunteered to support the play.
*Yearbook Sales
Yearbook sales have begun! Go to https://yearbookforever.com/schools/silver_creek_middle_school_buy_yearbook_363047/pXKC6AW3mqyz55m7Lkx7RTml to order your yearbook now. Prices are now $28 and will increase starting 2/1/22, so take advantage of the low price while you can!
You can use https://snap.yearbookforever.com/snap/index.html#/upload/1-3AQWI9 to upload and submit your own photos for the yearbook. Be sure to follow the instructions before uploading any pictures. Access code- huskies
Please email sean_p_brennan@mcpsmd.org with any questions!
Student Book Club: Overbooked
Sign up on the counseling tab of the SCMS website. Go to Counseling and then to Overbooked.
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/scmsmcpscounseling/school-counseling-team
Basketball Tryouts this week!
All students must be registered before December 7th. Winter registration began November 12, 2021, through ParentVue. You may find important Middle School Winter Athletics Online Registration letter below: (PLEASE READ)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15NZT4LJ0860LAaWzSMvZ4ltEYdVvo4y5/view.
The first basketball game will be held on January 11, 2022.
For any questions, please reach out to the following coaches:
Boys Basketball coach- Sean Brennan (Sean_P_Brennan@mcpsmd.org)
Girls Basketball coach- Anthony Edmonds (Anthony_D_Edmonds@mcps.org)
Intramural Sports
Mr. Bingaman is the intramural coordinator and will provide more information during PE classes, on the intramural bulletin board, on the morning announcements, and on the school website. Sample sports can include: basketball, football, soccer, badminton, tennis, volleyball, cross country, dance, weight training, track and field, kickball, capture the flag, etc. Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Bingaman at Ryan_H_Bingaman@mcpsmd.org.
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
No Place for Hate (NPFH). If interested in NPFH, please contact Dr. Matthew Okun at Matthew_Okun@mcpsmd.org.
Yearbook Club. If interested in yearbook, please contact Mr. Brennan at Sean_P_Brennan@mcpsmd.org or see Mr. Brennan during PE class.
Any questions related to after school activities, please contact Dr. Matthew Okun@Matthew_Okun@mcpsmd.org
*COVID Pool Testing
One significant mitigation tactic Montgomery County Public Schools will use this fall is random COVID-19 screening tests for students. A random sample of students grades 6-8 who have a parent consent form on file will be selected to be tested.
Silver Creek is scheduled for COVID screen testing every Tuesday for those students who have consent forms ONLY. Testing did not occur last week due to the early release schedule. We did test last week, November 30. The vendor will communicate results to schools within 24-48 hours. We have NOT received any results and, if so, will contact families if there is a positive result.
Please read the process outlined from MCPS below:
*8th Grade SSL Opportunity
Choose Respect will host a sexual assault prevention virtual event for students in grades 8-12 on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, from 7-9 p.m.
The title of the event is Choose Respect: Let's Talk Consent. The event will include MCPS partners from the Victim Assistance/Sexual Assault Program, Montgomery County Police Department, and Family Justice Center.
If interested, students may register at the link below. Once registered, they will receive a link to the event: bit.ly/consentsignup.
Students will receive 2.5 SSL hours for attending.
Student Service Learning (SSL) opportunities
Any questions about SSL, please contact Ms. Renee Hill at Renee_S_Hill@mcpsmd.org
Academic Supports for Students
SCMS Mathematics Tutoring
Does your child need help in math? Do they want to work with a current BCC high school student?
If so, you may sign up for tutoring on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays from 3:20-4:20 pm every week. After school activity buses will be available on each of the three days.
If interested, please fill out the Tutoring Interest form to express your interest. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Okun at matthew_okun@mcpsmd.org
SCMS Spanish Tutoring
Spanish 3 students who need support, please make sure to check with your teacher.
MCPS: George B Thomas Saturday School
The George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. is pleased to offer academic support and/or acceleration on the 6th day of learning (Saturday mornings). Certified teachers are available to support your child with mitigating learning disruption.
Class sessions begin at 8:30 am each Saturday with a motivational session. To register, please see flyer here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/mainstory/published/2018/2018-08/Program%20Flyer%20English%2018-19%20Final.pdf
The cost for Saturday School is $85. The cost for students who receive free and reduced meals is $40. This cost covers the entire school year through May and registration is open all year.
PARENT RESOURCES
Principal Coffee
We are excited to bring monthly principal coffees this school year. This is a great time to hear about school-wide happenings and events related to students' academic and social well being.
If you missed the latest principal coffee from Thursday, 10/21, you may access the recording below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kf84ew1GtCbXMm_8YGhaFE_uOAMrslpf/view?usp=sharing
Our next principal coffee is scheduled for Thursday, December 16, 2021
Counselor News & Updates
Grief is especially hard around the holidays. Caring Matters is offering virtual support for families. Please check out their flyer here : Parent Resource Counseling Webpage
The SCMS Counseling Newsletter is updated and ready to be read by you! Check out all the great resources for parenting middle school children. https://www.smore.com/2w6xdk
Check out what's new on the Counseling Website.
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/scmsmcpscounseling/school-counseling-team
Parent Handbook
Did you miss the parent grade-level town hall meetings? You may access meeting recordings in the 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
*Leader In Me: MRA Survey
*ESL Classes for parents
Two virtual live conversations, one in English and one in Chinese, about the ESL classes will be livestream on the MCPS YouTube channel and Facebook page on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. https://news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/quicknotes/literacy-council-offers-free-esl-classes-for-parents/
Cell Phone Policy
The use of cell phones in the school has become a large distraction for our students. We will continue to reinforce our cell phone expectations that it must be out of sight during instructional time. Beginning Quarter 2, aligned with MCPS regulations, all personal mobile devices must be turned off and away at the start of school. Students may use their cell phones before school, at lunch, and after school ONLY. They should not have their cell phones out during transition times.
The absence of mobile devices will allow teachers to continue to create a conducive learning environment with fewer distractions for our students as well as lessen behavioral infractions related to cell phone use during hallway transitions and other learning spaces. If students are not able to follow the cell phone policy, consequences will be given based on the Student Code of Conduct.
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
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
December 8- Orchestra/Chorus Concert 7 PM
December 9- MP2 Interims
December 9- Band Concert 7 PM
December 16- Principal Coffee - 8:30 AM -In person/zoom option
December 21- Student Vs. Staff Basketball Game
December 23- No School for students and teachers
December 24-December 31- Winter Break
Link to MCPS Calendar
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. Pamela Carroll-Sykes, attendance secretary, at Pamela_M_Carroll-sykes@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